Speculation: Undrafted FA Thread (NCAA/CHL/Euro) II

[montreal]

Now has seven goals with one assist in eight games. Is he merely net front and power play or is there more to his game?

he's been injured for most of the season I assume

 

[Weber Fan]

Justin Hryckowian, Northeastern

The 23-year-old junior is the center on Northeastern's top line and plays big minutes in all situations. The team captain set up Gunnarwolfe Fontaine's overtime goal to defeat Boston University 4-3 on Feb. 12 and win the 2024 Beanpot championship.

Hryckowian has 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 27 games. He's a team-high plus-21 and has won 62.6 percent of his face-offs.

Could be free agent option. A guy from Quebec who plays for Northeastern!

On Campus: Quinnipiac forward Graf among 10 free agents soon eligible to sign with NHL teams | NHL.com

General managers making rounds to watch top potential targets

www.nhl.com

Justin Hryckowian at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Justin Hryckowian, 2001-02-23 L'Île-Bizard, QC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with Northeastern Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Treb]

Justin Hryckowian, Northeastern

The 23-year-old junior is the center on Northeastern's top line and plays big minutes in all situations. The team captain set up Gunnarwolfe Fontaine's overtime goal to defeat Boston University 4-3 on Feb. 12 and win the 2024 Beanpot championship.

Hryckowian has 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 27 games. He's a team-high plus-21 and has won 62.6 percent of his face-offs.

Could be free agent option. A guy from Quebec who plays for Northeastern!

On Campus: Quinnipiac forward Graf among 10 free agents soon eligible to sign with NHL teams | NHL.com

General managers making rounds to watch top potential targets

www.nhl.com

Justin Hryckowian at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Justin Hryckowian, 2001-02-23 L'Île-Bizard, QC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NCAA with Northeastern Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Played with Harris, Struble, Novak and MSL's son Ryan, so he has connections here.

 

[montreal]

 

[Chili]

There used to be a thread on undrafted prospects, was going to post this link there so if a moderator wishes to move, please do. It s an article on Canadian college/univ. free agents.. Believe the Oilers already signed one of the goaltenders (Ungar). There is a former Habs draft pick among the dmen:

49 picks U SPORTS standouts most ready for AHL and pro leagues

With some scouts on hand at the 2024 U SPORTS Men's Hockey Championship, several players may earn AHL contracts in 2024.

49-sport.com

 

[Adam Michaels]

Gorton was on The Sick Podcast: The Eye Test with McGuire and Murphy. He said he was going to join the team in Vancouver because he was still in Boston talking to some college free agents.

Not sure if Habs will sign one, but they have been looking and communicating with some. He obviously didn't mention any names.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Gorton was on The Sick Podcast: The Eye Test with McGuire and Murphy. He said he was going to join the team in Vancouver because he was still in Boston talking to some college free agents.

Not sure if Habs will sign one, but they have been looking and communicating with some. He obviously didn't mention any names.

Colin Graf would be f***ing amazing

 

[Treb]

Hryckowian off to Dallas.

 

[EveryDay]

Hryckowian off to Dallas.

Weird....the stars lineup is already full and many prospects are ready to join the team, guess he doesn't expect to play in the NHL soon.

 

[Runner77]

James Stefan ... how did the Oil do it? Scoring so badly needed.

 

[Tyson]

Weird....the stars lineup is already full and many prospects are ready to join the team, guess he doesn't expect to play in the NHL soon.

They have such a great farm system. A state of the art venue that is always full. They show patience. Thomas Harley is a perfect example.

 

[themilosh]

They have such a great farm system. A state of the art venue that is always full. They show patience. Thomas Harley is a perfect example.

For the life of me I don't know why MTL didnt do this sooner... actually investing in a system that can ACTUALLY develop prospects into; players, trade bait, system enforcement, culture, depth etc....... it's the only way to win in a hard cap league... you gotta create assets, invent wealth... this is how irganizations stay competitive 10-15 years in a row....

We're in year 2.

 

[Adam Michaels]

They have such a great farm system. A state of the art venue that is always full. They show patience. Thomas Harley is a perfect example.

Dallas is proof that it doesn't matter where you draft, if you're scouting and development are good at their jobs, you will have success and keep restocking your cupboards.

- Hintz (2nd round)
- Oettinger (26th OA)
- Robertson (2nd round)
- Harley (18th OA)
- Bourque (30th OA) - Top scorer in the AHL
- Johnston (26th OA)
- Stankoven (2nd round) - 3rd top scorer in the AHL and already making an impact in the NHL.

Other players who are with other organizations and are NHL regulars but drafted by Dallas:

- Nick Paul (4th round)
- Klingberg (5th round) - his most productive years were in Dallas
- Chiasson (2nd round) - 651 NHL game career
- Reilly Smith (3rd round)


Obviously not the same head scout and regime drafted them all. But it's still good drafting no matter where they pick.

 

[Tyson]

Dallas is proof that it doesn't matter where you draft, if you're scouting and development are good at their jobs, you will have success and keep restocking your cupboards.

- Hintz (2nd round)
- Oettinger (26th OA)
- Robertson (2nd round)
- Harley (18th OA)
- Bourque (30th OA) - Top scorer in the AHL
- Johnston (26th OA)
- Stankoven (2nd round) - 3rd top scorer in the AHL and already making an impact in the NHL.

Other players who are with other organizations and are NHL regulars but drafted by Dallas:

- Nick Paul (4th round)
- Klingberg (5th round) - his most productive years were in Dallas
- Chiasson (2nd round) - 651 NHL game career
- Reilly Smith (3rd round)


Obviously not the same head scout and regime drafted them all. But it's still good drafting no matter where they pick.

They are good at finding studs in the 2nd round with Hintz, Robertson and now Stankhoven, that's impressive.

 

[WeThreeKings]

For the life of me I don't know why MTL didnt do this sooner... actually investing in a system that can ACTUALLY develop prospects into; players, trade bait, system enforcement, culture, depth etc....... it's the only way to win in a hard cap league... you gotta create assets, invent wealth... this is how irganizations stay competitive 10-15 years in a row....

We're in year 2.

Bergevin believed you didn't need it and that it was on the player only to develop themselves.

 

[Rapala]

Any mean SOB's out there who can skate like the wind while handling a puck dissimilar to Josh Anderson?

Sign me up.

 

[themilosh]

Bergevin believed you didn't need it and that it was on the player only to develop themselves.

Leblanc was the perfect example.. no reason we couldn't have developed him to at least be worthy of a trade.

 

[Runner77]

Dallas is proof that it doesn't matter where you draft, if you're scouting and development are good at their jobs, you will have success and keep restocking your cupboards.

- Hintz (2nd round)
- Oettinger (26th OA)
- Robertson (2nd round)
- Harley (18th OA)
- Bourque (30th OA) - Top scorer in the AHL
- Johnston (26th OA)
- Stankoven (2nd round) - 3rd top scorer in the AHL and already making an impact in the NHL.

Other players who are with other organizations and are NHL regulars but drafted by Dallas:

- Nick Paul (4th round)
- Klingberg (5th round) - his most productive years were in Dallas
- Chiasson (2nd round) - 651 NHL game career
- Reilly Smith (3rd round)


Obviously not the same head scout and regime drafted them all. But it's still good drafting no matter where they pick.

Good for them.

Wish the Habs would poach some of their scouting talent.

 

[le_sean]

Good for them.

Wish the Habs would poach some of their scouting talent.

Them and the Jets scouts are great.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Good for them.

Wish the Habs would poach some of their scouting talent.

We'll see what the new head scout team and the development staff can do.

But I feel like the 2022 and 2023 picks are an intriguing bunch.

 

[Runner77]

We'll see what the new head scout team and the development staff can do.

But I feel like the 2022 and 2023 picks are an intriguing bunch.

How do you feel about missing out on James Stefan? Scoring ability, 6’ tall, seems to have slipped through the cracks on account missed games during COVID.

We lost him to Edmonton, not exactly a destination city. Is there an unsigned comparable or better, still available?

 

[Treb]

How do feel about missing out on James Stefan? Scoring ability, 6’ tall, seems to have slipped through the cracks on account missed games during COVID.

We lost him to Edmonton, not exactly a destination city. Is there an unsigned comparable or better, still available?

Stefan played in the WHL so he's more familiar with western Canada. Edmonton is also a better destination for UDFA because they need cheap depth and don't have that many picks so more space on the farm team.

On our side, we have already have too many (many mediocre) NHL skaters and the farm team is pretty full. Just look at what Laval currently looks like next year (assuming Roy makes the Habs next year) without even signing anyone:

Heineman - Gignac - Farrell
Simoneau - Beck - Perreault
Condotta - Kidney - Mesar

Then you likely have Davidson and Tuch who should get signed. You also have to think they get at least 1 vet to replace Maillet/Andersson/Stephens (or re-sign them), so that's already 12 guys.

Then I would hope they at least re-sign McKay if not get a better tough guy like Baddock.

Biondi and Guindon might get something (but maybe for the ECHL), outside chance of Kapanen and Pitlick who still have time left.

We also have a bajillion picks in the next few years, so unless we start trading them off, I don't expect much quality UDFA coming in. We'll get the 2nd tier that doesn't expect prime time at the start.

 

[Runner77]

Stefan played in the WHL so he's more familiar with western Canada. Edmonton is also a better destination for UDFA because they need cheap depth and don't have that many picks so more space on the farm team.

On our side, we have already have too many (many mediocre) NHL skaters and the farm team is pretty full. Just look at what Laval currently looks like next year (assuming Roy makes the Habs next year) without even signing anyone:

Heineman - Gignac - Farrell
Simoneau - Beck - Perreault
Condotta - Kidney - Mesar

Then you likely have Davidson and Tuch who should get signed. You also have to think they get at least 1 vet to replace Maillet/Andersson/Stephens (or re-sign them), so that's already 12 guys.

Then I would hope they at least re-sign McKay if not get a better tough guy like Baddock.

Biondi and Guindon might get something (but maybe for the ECHL), outside chance of Kapanen and Pitlick who still have time left.

We also have a bajillion picks in the next few years, so unless we start trading them off, I don't expect much quality UDFA coming in. We'll get the 2nd tier that doesn't expect prime time at the start.

Thanks so much for taking the time to provide detailed context.

Only reason I asked was due to Gorton saying in a recent Sick Podcast that he was looking at college free agents and was wondering if there were any suitable to Habs needs.

 

[Runner77]

Anyone from this list? Not sure who has been signed among those listed:



Who knows who else is in on this guy:

 

[themilosh]

Them and the Jets scouts are great.

Ottawa used to be quite good at picking up gems...

Mtl drafting had been so brutal under Timmins, that dude was so overrated. Sure MB is to blame, but how on earth did Timmins actually become a gead scout? Like what qualified him to assess talent?

Did he ever play, coach, ref? Whats his story?

Take Dru Dru for example -- he goes to Colorado with possibly the lowest confidence ever and is about to have his best output season... this is not to say that he got better, it's because he is in a "true" system now, one that works... now imagine if he had gone to Colorado from TB, he might have had a mych better career..

Some players need to fit. Poor organizational scouting (CLB) make huge errors in assessing talent.. johnny hockey worked in Calgary, but clearly was never gonna be a team #1.. hes an accent player (like CC)... but these guys see 100+ points and think everything is equal.. MB used to do the same.... stupid UFA signings, and they call themselves professional... pft