With the college regular season over and the Frozen Four tournament upon us, activity on the college free agent front will pick up in the near future. At this time of year, college free agents are rarely coming in as impact prospects with high NHL ceilings but it’s an opportunity for teams to add some depth pieces that are further along in their development compared to players coming out of major junior.
Here is an overview of some of the centers that could be drawing NHL interest in the near future; we’ll cover the wingers in a separate column this weekend. Note that not all of these players will sign entry-level contracts as some will ultimately elect to return to college for another season (or more) while quite a few others not on this list will sign NHL or AHL deals in the coming weeks. Our look at the goaltenders can be found here while the defensemen are here.
Lynden Breen, Maine
An active checker, Breen profiles best toward the bottom of the lineup. However, his size (5’9) will work against him a bit on the open market, as does the fact he’s only reached the double-digit goal mark once in his four years with the Black Bears. Even so, he’s the type of player who should receive several AHL contract offers at a minimum while some might be inclined to up it to an NHL deal.
Karsen Dorwart, Michigan State
Dorwart is the type of player whose effectiveness could be a bit better in the pros than in college. A strong forechecker, he could benefit from the greater structure. Dorwart also showed that he can kill penalties this season while taking a small jump in his offensive numbers, giving him a reasonable floor to work with which should appeal to some teams looking for bottom-six depth.
Christian Fitzgerald, Wisconsin
The decision to transfer after his freshman year to follow head coach Mike Hastings to the Badgers worked out well. While Fitzgerald’s offensive numbers actually went down, there has been a sharp improvement in his all-around game. A strong skater with a profile that fits in a bottom six group, Fitzgerald could sign now or opt to return for another year (or even two) at Wisconsin. If he does that and takes some strides forward offensively, he could be one of the top options in a future free agent class.
Luke Grainger, Western Michigan
While he might fit better on the wing in the pros, the 24-year-old has done well down the middle the last couple of seasons. He sits 15th in Division I scoring with his playmaking game taking a step forward. That said, he likely profiles as a bottom-six energy player professionally as someone who rarely takes a shift off, giving the type of consistent efforts that will endear him to coaches.
Luke Haymes, Dartmouth
Haymes is one of the younger free agents that should attract NHL interest this year as he doesn’t turn 21 until late July. His sophomore season was a breakout one as he more than doubled his point total, notching 18 goals and 18 assists in just 31 games. It wouldn’t be surprising if he stayed in college but as potentially one of the better offensive players in this class, there’s a case to make for him to turn pro now.
T.J. Hughes, Michigan
Hughes is one of the top all-around middlemen in this year’s free agent class. He’s also not too far removed from averaging over a goal and an assist per game in his final AJHL season so the skill level is certainly there. The 22-year-old plays with an edge which makes him a fit at the bottom of a lineup as well. With that type of versatility, there will be several NHL offers coming his way if he turns pro.
Carter King, Denver
After being more of a role player in his first two seasons, King moved up the depth chart last season and again this year, becoming an all-around threat. One of the more dynamic players shorthanded in the NCAA, the 23-year-old only has five penalties in his career despite playing with plenty of pace and energy in his game. King’s ceiling isn’t the highest which may dissuade some teams but has the type of profile that gives him a shot at some success in the pros.
Jaxon Nelson, Minnesota
It was a bit of a surprise to see Nelson not turn pro after his senior year last season but he opted to go back for his bonus year. He didn’t hurt his stock but might not have necessarily helped it much either. Standing 6’4, the soon-to-be 24-year-old has the frame to have success in the pros but there will be questions as to how much offensive upside he can ultimately provide.
Jacob Quillan, Quinnipiac
After a breakout sophomore year capped by scoring the National Championship-winning goal, Quillan surprisingly opted to return for his junior year, rebuffing NHL interest in the process. The 22-year-old is in the midst of a better season offensively but he profiles more as a lower-end forward in the pros. However, he’s also one of the more likely ones to have NHL success so the interest will be there again shortly unless he decides to go back for his senior season.
Gabriel Seger, Cornell
Seger’s transfer to Cornell last year was a wise decision as he got to play higher in the lineup. This season, he has been even better, leading the Big Red in scoring. One of the biggest players on this list standing 6’4, he’s a pro-ready frame and at 24, he could be ready to jump into an NHL lineup right away. He’ll be capped to a one-year offer which could be burned for the stretch run of the season.
Sam Stevens, Boston University
It’s pretty simple when it comes to Stevens – he’s a quality complementary piece whose defensive acumen gives him a chance to play a fourth-line role in the NHL. Even playing on a dominant Terriers team in his fifth year, the 23-year-old’s offensive game was quite limited. That might limit him to an AHL deal off the hop but he should land a deal somewhere.