Top Potential UFA NCAA Prospects

[Saxon Eric]

 

[cupcrazyman]

What is the pecking order for NHL teams to sign these players .

 

[HockeyFan2022]

Riese Gaber from UND. Kid's a player. Kind of like a Rocco Grimaldi in a way. Think he should garner interest easily. Any word on McBain/Smith btw? Highly doubt they'll sign in ARI but who knows.

 

[Brodeur]

Riese Gaber from UND. Kid's a player. Kind of like a Rocco Grimaldi in a way. Think he should garner interest easily. Any word on McBain/Smith btw? Highly doubt they'll sign in ARI but who knows.

McBain signed today, don't think Arizona would have done the trade without talking to him first (then again Buffalo gave up a pick without assurances from Jimmy Vesey way back when).

Word was that Gaber was expected to return for his junior year.

 

[HockeyFan2022]

McBain signed today, don't think Arizona would have done the trade without talking to him first (then again Buffalo gave up a pick without assurances from Jimmy Vesey way back when).

Word was that Gaber was expected to return for his junior year.

That's shocking to me. Wonder why ARI when he would've had better options.

 

[Brodeur]

That's shocking to me. Wonder why ARI when he would've had better options.

Realistically I don't think McBain cracks the NHL immediately on most rosters. I suppose he considered making 925K next season in Arizona as preferable to making 70K in the AHL elsewhere.

 

[LeafChief]

Have there been any rumours with regards to Ben Meyers? I don't know why but I just picture him on the Rangers.

 

[Brodeur]

Have there been any rumours with regards to Ben Meyers? I don't know why but I just picture him on the Rangers.

Probably focused on NCAA season and then will sift through the 20+ offers he'll have coming his way. And I'm sure that Meyers and his "adviser" probably have a handful of teams in mind. Gophers play Friday (and possibly Sunday), so if they get eliminated this weekend then Meyers will begin that process shortly. If they advance to Frozen Four, Meyers probably wouldn't sign until mid-April.

One benefit that happened because of the Olympic break extending the season, Meyers (or any other free agent in the Frozen Four) could still sign this season to burn the first year of their ELC. In a normal year, the Frozen Four would coincide with the final weekend of the NHL regular season. So somebody like Drake Caggiula could win a national title but then wasn't able to sign with a team before the conclusion of the regular season. Since the 2021-22 NHL season goes until the end of April, anybody in the Frozen Four would have a couple weeks to mull offers (and get wined/dined). In a regular year, a player might get eliminated in the semifinals and only have 24 hours to make a decision if they wanted to burn a year.

 

[Brodeur]

 

[Breakers]

Lots of scouts at this mornings game.
8 teams

 

[SI90]

That's shocking to me. Wonder why ARI when he would've had better options.

Can he play this year and burn a year off his contract. That’s pretty significant of so

 

[Favin]

Rough list of top college free agents (or possible free agents).

Bolded names have signed pro contracts
* means draft rights are still owned but could expire this Summer


1. Jake Livingstone, RD, Minnesota State (undrafted)
2. Ben Meyers, C, Minnesota (undrafted)
3. Jordan Harris, LD, Northeastern (drafted by MTL, signed by MTL)*
4. Bobby Trivigno, LW, Massachusetts (undrafted)
5. Georgii Merkulov, LW, Ohio State (undrafted)

6. Jack McBain, C, Boston College (drafted by MIN, traded to and signed by ARI)
7. Nick Perbix, RD, St. Cloud State (drafted by TBL)
8. Nick Abruzzese, C, Harvard (drafted and signed by TOR)*
9. Brian Halonen, RW, Michigan Tech (signed by NJD)
10. Nathan Smith, C, Minnesota State (drafted by WPG, traded to ARI)*

11. Strauss Mann, G, Michigan (undrafted)
12. Jacob Bengtsson, LD, Lake Superior State (undrafted)
13. Riese Gaber, RW, North Dakota (undrafted)
14. Ethen Frank, RW, Western Michigan (undrafted)
15. Henry Crone, LW, Northern Michigan (undrafted)

16. Marc McLaughlin, C, Boston College (signed by BOS)
17. Nick Blankenburg, RD, Michigan (undrafted)
18. Trenton Bliss, C, Michigan Tech (undrafted)
19. Julian Napravnik, RW, Minnesota State (undrafted)
20. Yaniv Parets, G, Quinnipiac (undrafted)

21. Maxim Andreev, LW, Cornell (undrafted)
22. Spencer Stastney, RD, Notre Dame (drafted by NSH)*
23. Brandon Scanlin, LHD, Nebraska-Omaha (signed by NYR)
24. Brandon Bussi, G, Western Michigan (undrafted)
25. Parker Ford, LW, Providence (undrafted)

26. Clay Stevenson, G, Dartmouth (signed by WAS)
27. Ben Brinkman, LHD, Minnesota (drafted by DAL)*
28. Dennis Cesana, D, Michigan State (signed by FLA)
29. Dryden McKay, G, Minnesota State (undrafted)
30. Cole Guttman, RW, Denver (drafted by TBL)*

31. Aidan McDonough, C, Northeastern (drafted by VAN)*
32. Spencer Meier, RD, St. Cloud State (undrafted)
33. Zach Mesta, LD, Quinnipiac (undrafted)
34. Corey Andonovski, RW, Princeton (signed by PIT)
35. Akito Hirose, RD, Minnesota State (undrafted)

36. Josh Ess, LHD, Wisconsin (drafted by CHI)*
37. Declan Carlile, D, Merrimack (signed by TBL)
38. Ronnie Attard, RD, Western Michigan (drafted by PHI)*
39. Nicky Leivermann, LHD, Notre Dame (drafted by COL)*
40. Blake McLaughlin, LW, Minnesota (drafted by ANA)*

41. Colin Theisen, F, Arizona State (signed by Tuscon-AHL)
42. Brandon Kruse, LW, Boston College (drafted by VGK, signed by Henderson-AHL)*
43. Owen Sillinger, C, Bemidji State (signed by Cleveland-AHL)
44. Wilmer Skoog, C, Boston University (undrafted)
45. Carter Berger, LHD, Connecticut (drafted by FLA)*

46. Sam Hentges, C, St. Cloud State (drafted by MIN)*
47. Tyler Inamoto, LHD, Wisconsin (drafted by FLA, traded to CAR)*
48. Logan Neaton, G, Miami (Ohio) (drafted by WPG)*
49. Graham Slaggert, F, Notre Dame (undrafted)
50. Jack St. Ivany, RD, Boston College (drafted by PHI)*

 

[Saxon Eric]

Rough list of top college free agents (or possible free agents).

Bolded names have signed pro contracts
* means draft rights are still owned but could expire this Summer


1. Jake Livingstone, RD, Minnesota State (undrafted)
2. Ben Meyers, C, Minnesota (undrafted)
3. Jordan Harris, LD, Northeastern (drafted by MTL, signed by MTL)*
4. Bobby Trivigno, LW, Massachusetts (undrafted)
5. Georgii Merkulov, LW, Ohio State (undrafted)

6. Jack McBain, C, Boston College (drafted by MIN, traded to and signed by ARI)
7. Nick Perbix, RD, St. Cloud State (drafted by TBL)
8. Nick Abruzzese, C, Harvard (drafted and signed by TOR)*
9. Brian Halonen, RW, Michigan Tech (signed by NJD)
10. Nathan Smith, C, Minnesota State (drafted by WPG, traded to ARI)*

11. Strauss Mann, G, Michigan (undrafted)
12. Jacob Bengtsson, LD, Lake Superior State (undrafted)
13. Riese Gaber, RW, North Dakota (undrafted)
14. Ethen Frank, RW, Western Michigan (undrafted)
15. Henry Crone, LW, Northern Michigan (undrafted)

16. Marc McLaughlin, C, Boston College (signed by BOS)
17. Nick Blankenburg, RD, Michigan (undrafted)
18. Trenton Bliss, C, Michigan Tech (undrafted)
19. Julian Napravnik, RW, Minnesota State (undrafted)
20. Yaniv Parets, G, Quinnipiac (undrafted)

21. Maxim Andreev, LW, Cornell (undrafted)
22. Spencer Stastney, RD, Notre Dame (drafted by NSH)*
23. Brandon Scanlin, LHD, Nebraska-Omaha (signed by NYR)
24. Brandon Bussi, G, Western Michigan (undrafted)
25. Parker Ford, LW, Providence (undrafted)

26. Clay Stevenson, G, Dartmouth (signed by WAS)
27. Ben Brinkman, LHD, Minnesota (drafted by DAL)*
28. Dennis Cesana, D, Michigan State (signed by FLA)
29. Dryden McKay, G, Minnesota State (undrafted)
30. Cole Guttman, RW, Denver (drafted by TBL)*

31. Aidan McDonough, C, Northeastern (drafted by VAN)*
32. Spencer Meier, RD, St. Cloud State (undrafted)
33. Zach Mesta, LD, Quinnipiac (undrafted)
34. Corey Andonovski, RW, Princeton (signed by PIT)
35. Akito Hirose, RD, Minnesota State (undrafted)

36. Josh Ess, LHD, Wisconsin (drafted by CHI)*
37. Declan Carlile, D, Merrimack (signed by TBL)
38. Ronnie Attard, RD, Western Michigan (drafted by PHI)*
39. Nicky Leivermann, LHD, Notre Dame (drafted by COL)*
40. Blake McLaughlin, LW, Minnesota (drafted by ANA)*

41. Colin Theisen, F, Arizona State (signed by Tuscon-AHL)
42. Brandon Kruse, LW, Boston College (drafted by VGK, signed by Henderson-AHL)*
43. Owen Sillinger, C, Bemidji State (signed by Cleveland-AHL)
44. Wilmer Skoog, C, Boston University (undrafted)
45. Carter Berger, LHD, Connecticut (drafted by FLA)*

46. Sam Hentges, C, St. Cloud State (drafted by MIN)*
47. Tyler Inamoto, LHD, Wisconsin (drafted by FLA, traded to CAR)*
48. Logan Neaton, G, Miami (Ohio) (drafted by WPG)*
49. Graham Slaggert, F, Notre Dame (undrafted)
50. Jack St. Ivany, RD, Boston College (drafted by PHI)*

Bengtsson is staying in school, confirmed

It's rumored Gaber and Ford are staying too unconfirmed

 

[Bonin21]

Attard was not eligible to be a FA this summer, and he signed with Philly.

Brinkman probably doesn't belong on that list as he isn't as good as the others there.

 

[uncleben]

Rough list of top college free agents (or possible free agents).

Bolded names have signed pro contracts
* means draft rights are still owned but could expire this Summer


1. Jake Livingstone, RD, Minnesota State (undrafted)
2. Ben Meyers, C, Minnesota (undrafted)
3. Jordan Harris, LD, Northeastern (drafted by MTL, signed by MTL)*
4. Bobby Trivigno, LW, Massachusetts (undrafted)
5. Georgii Merkulov, LW, Ohio State (undrafted)

6. Jack McBain, C, Boston College (drafted by MIN, traded to and signed by ARI)
7. Nick Perbix, RD, St. Cloud State (drafted by TBL)
8. Nick Abruzzese, C, Harvard (drafted and signed by TOR)*
9. Brian Halonen, RW, Michigan Tech (signed by NJD)
10. Nathan Smith, C, Minnesota State (drafted by WPG, traded to ARI)*

11. Strauss Mann, G, Michigan (undrafted)
12. Jacob Bengtsson, LD, Lake Superior State (undrafted)
13. Riese Gaber, RW, North Dakota (undrafted)
14. Ethen Frank, RW, Western Michigan (undrafted)
15. Henry Crone, LW, Northern Michigan (undrafted)

16. Marc McLaughlin, C, Boston College (signed by BOS)
17. Nick Blankenburg, RD, Michigan (undrafted)
18. Trenton Bliss, C, Michigan Tech (undrafted)
19. Julian Napravnik, RW, Minnesota State (undrafted)
20. Yaniv Parets, G, Quinnipiac (undrafted)

21. Maxim Andreev, LW, Cornell (undrafted)
22. Spencer Stastney, RD, Notre Dame (drafted by NSH)*
23. Brandon Scanlin, LHD, Nebraska-Omaha (signed by NYR)
24. Brandon Bussi, G, Western Michigan (undrafted)
25. Parker Ford, LW, Providence (undrafted)

26. Clay Stevenson, G, Dartmouth (signed by WAS)
27. Ben Brinkman, LHD, Minnesota (drafted by DAL)*
28. Dennis Cesana, D, Michigan State (signed by FLA)
29. Dryden McKay, G, Minnesota State (undrafted)
30. Cole Guttman, RW, Denver (drafted by TBL)*

31. Aidan McDonough, C, Northeastern (drafted by VAN)*
32. Spencer Meier, RD, St. Cloud State (undrafted)
33. Zach Mesta, LD, Quinnipiac (undrafted)
34. Corey Andonovski, RW, Princeton (signed by PIT)
35. Akito Hirose, RD, Minnesota State (undrafted)

36. Josh Ess, LHD, Wisconsin (drafted by CHI)*
37. Declan Carlile, D, Merrimack (signed by TBL)
38. Ronnie Attard, RD, Western Michigan (drafted by PHI)*
39. Nicky Leivermann, LHD, Notre Dame (drafted by COL)*
40. Blake McLaughlin, LW, Minnesota (drafted by ANA)*

41. Colin Theisen, F, Arizona State (signed by Tuscon-AHL)
42. Brandon Kruse, LW, Boston College (drafted by VGK, signed by Henderson-AHL)*
43. Owen Sillinger, C, Bemidji State (signed by Cleveland-AHL)
44. Wilmer Skoog, C, Boston University (undrafted)
45. Carter Berger, LHD, Connecticut (drafted by FLA)*

46. Sam Hentges, C, St. Cloud State (drafted by MIN)*
47. Tyler Inamoto, LHD, Wisconsin (drafted by FLA, traded to CAR)*
48. Logan Neaton, G, Miami (Ohio) (drafted by WPG)*
49. Graham Slaggert, F, Notre Dame (undrafted)
50. Jack St. Ivany, RD, Boston College (drafted by PHI)*

I believe Cesana signed just with Charlotte-AHL, not FLA

But great list, thank you!

 

[Brodeur]

Attard was not eligible to be a FA this summer, and he signed with Philly.

Technically Attard could have opted to leave school (without graduating) and then Philadelphia would have had 30 days to sign him. Blake Wheeler and Justin Schultz went that route as juniors. But as you said, Attard signed with the Flyers so cross him off the list.

 

[barriers]

Technically Attard could have opted to leave school (without graduating) and then Philadelphia would have had 30 days to sign him. Blake Wheeler and Justin Schultz went that route as juniors. But as you said, Attard signed with the Flyers so cross him off the list.

I believe the only reason Wheeler and Schultz were able to go that route was because they each played a season in the USHL and BCHL respectively, after being drafted.

 

[Bonin21]

Technically Attard could have opted to leave school (without graduating) and then Philadelphia would have had 30 days to sign him. Blake Wheeler and Justin Schultz went that route as juniors. But as you said, Attard signed with the Flyers so cross him off the list.

I believe the only reason Wheeler and Schultz were able to go that route was because they each played a season in the USHL and BCHL respectively, after being drafted.

Correct. Different situation.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Incorrect. Attard was eligible for UFA this summer. See: Wyatt Kalynuk.

I actually believe he was eligible last year if he wanted being drafted at 20, it would have been 4 years post his original class.

 

[Bonin21]

Didn't realize he was drafted 2 years post eligibility

 

[Saxon Eric]

 

[FLYguy3911]

Friedman mentions Detroit, Minnesota, and Philly for Meyers.

 

[RangersFan1994]

 

[Favin]

*UPDATED* I cannot keep track of all these guys, so let me know what I am missing.

--------

Rough list of top college free agents (or possible free agents).

Bolded names have signed pro contracts
* means draft rights are still owned but could expire this Summer


1. Jake Livingstone, RD, Minnesota State (undrafted) (Rumored: returning to school)
2. Ben Meyers, C, Minnesota (undrafted) (Rumored: DET, MIN, NSH, PIT, PHI)
3. Jordan Harris, LD, Northeastern (drafted and signed by MTL)*
4. Bobby Trivigno, LW, Massachusetts (undrafted, signed by NYR)
5. Georgii Merkulov, LW, Ohio State (undrafted, signed by BOS)

6. Jack McBain, C, Boston College (drafted by MIN, traded to and signed by ARI)
7. Nick Perbix, RD, St. Cloud State (drafted and signed by TBL)
8. Nick Abruzzese, C, Harvard (drafted and signed by TOR)*
9. Brian Halonen, RW, Michigan Tech (undrafted, signed by NJD)
10. Nathan Smith, C, Minnesota State (drafted by WPG, traded to and signed by ARI)*

11. Strauss Mann, G, Michigan (undrafted - playing in SHL)
12. Jacob Bengtsson, LD, Lake Superior State (undrafted, returning to school)
13. Riese Gaber, RW, North Dakota (undrafted, returning to school)
14. Ethen Frank, RW, Western Michigan (undrafted, signed by Hershey-AHL)
15. Henry Crone, LW, Northern Michigan (undrafted)

16. Marc McLaughlin, C, Boston College (undrafted, signed by BOS)
17. Nick Blankenburg, RD, Michigan (undrafted, signed by CBJ)
18. Trenton Bliss, C, Michigan Tech (undrafted, signed by Grand Rapids-AHL)
19. Julian Napravnik, RW, Minnesota State (undrafted)
20. Yaniv Perets, G, Quinnipiac (undrafted, returning to school)

21. Maxim Andreev, LW, Cornell (undrafted)
22. Spencer Stastney, RD, Notre Dame (drafted and signed by NSH)*
23. Brandon Scanlin, LHD, Nebraska-Omaha (undrafted, signed by NYR)
24. Brandon Bussi, G, Western Michigan (undrafted, signed by BOS)
25. Parker Ford, LW, Providence (undrafted, returning to school)

26. Clay Stevenson, G, Dartmouth (signed by WSH)
27. Ben Brinkman, LHD, Minnesota (drafted by DAL)*
28. Dennis Cesana, D, Michigan State (undrafted, signed by Charlotte-AHL)
29. Dryden McKay, G, Minnesota State (undrafted)
30. Cole Guttman, RW, Denver (drafted by TBL)*

31. Aidan McDonough, C, Northeastern (drafted by VAN, returning to school)*
32. Spencer Meier, RD, St. Cloud State (undrafted)
33. Zach Metsa, LD, Quinnipiac (undrafted)
34. Corey Andonovski, RW, Princeton (undrafted, signed by PIT)
35. Akito Hirose, RD, Minnesota State (undrafted)

36. Josh Ess, LHD, Wisconsin (drafted by CHI)*
37. Declan Carlile, D, Merrimack (undrafted, signed by TBL)
38. Ronnie Attard, RD, Western Michigan (drafted and signed by PHI)
39. Nicky Leivermann, LHD, Notre Dame (drafted by COL)*
40. Blake McLaughlin, LW, Minnesota (drafted and signed by ANA)*

41. Colin Theisen, LW, Arizona State (undrafted, signed by Tuscon-AHL)
42. Brandon Kruse, LW, Boston College (drafted by VGK, signed by Henderson-AHL)*
43. Owen Sillinger, C, Bemidji State (undrafted, signed by Cleveland-AHL)
44. Wilmer Skoog, C, Boston University (undrafted)
45. Carter Berger, LHD, Connecticut (drafted by FLA)*

46. Sam Hentges, C, St. Cloud State (drafted and signed by MIN)
47. Tyler Inamoto, LHD, Wisconsin (drafted by FLA, traded to CAR)*
48. Logan Neaton, G, Miami (Ohio) (drafted by WPG)*
49. Graham Slaggert, C, Notre Dame (undrafted, signed by Toronto-AHL)
50. Jack St. Ivany, RD, Boston College (drafted by PHI)*

 

[Saxon Eric]