Aug. 21: As PuckPedia notes, there’s a technicality in college free agency – the player does not become a UFA automatically; they have to submit paperwork declaring their free agency before their respective team actually loses their signing rights. Only 12 of the players below have actually completed that process. Those are Schmaltz (BOS), Hreschuk (CBJ), Bar (DAL), Campbell (NSH), Reid (NSH), Berg (NYI), Karpa (NYR), Spitserov (SJS), Gagne (TBL), Aucoin (TBL), Fusco (TOR), Kunz (VAN) AND Johnson (WSH). The remainder of the players listed below remain property of their draft teams for now, but are eligible to declare free agency at any time. Of the 12 players who have declared UFA status, only Gagne has signed an NHL contract with a different club.
July 9: Every year on August 15, NHL-drafted prospects coming out of the NCAA with at least four years of experience become free agents if they don’t sign entry-level contracts. That’s the easiest way to distill the lengthy fine print around expiring draft rights regarding collegiate players, which will be phased out in favor of uniform signing windows across leagues in the newly ratified Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Regardless, many players from the early 2020s draft classes who chose the college route and have yet to sign ELCs are slated to become UFAs in a few weeks’ time. Here’s the list of this year’s relevant players, courtesy of PuckPedia. An asterisk denotes the player is remaining in the organization for 2025-26 or beyond on an AHL contract. Each player’s initial draft position is noted in parentheses.
Anaheim Ducks: D Will Francis* (2019, 6-163)
Boston Bruins: F Jake Schmaltz* (2019, 7-192), D Ty Gallagher* (2021, 7-217)
Buffalo Sabres: F Matteo Costantini* (2020, 5-131)
Calgary Flames: D Jake Boltmann (2020, 3-80)
Carolina Hurricanes: none
Chicago Blackhawks: F Dominic James (2022, 6-173)
Colorado Avalanche: D Hank Kempf* (2021, 7-208 by NYR)
Columbus Blue Jackets: D Aidan Hreschuk (2021, 3-94 by CAR)
Dallas Stars: D Jack Bar (2021, 5-138)
Detroit Red Wings: F Red Savage (2021, 4-114)
Edmonton Oilers: F Matt Copponi* (2023, 7-216), F Joel Maatta (2022, 7-222), F Tomas Mazura (2019, 6-162), D Luca Munzenberger (2021, 3-90)
Florida Panthers: none
Los Angeles Kings: F Jack Hughes* (2022, 2-51), D Braden Doyle (2019, 6-157)
Minnesota Wild: none
Montreal Canadiens: none
Nashville Predators: F Chase McLane (2020, 7-209), F Isak Walther (2019, 6-179), D Luke Reid (2020, 6-166)
New Jersey Devils: none
New York Islanders: F Cameron Berg* (2021, 4-125)
New York Rangers: F Zakary Karpa* (2022, 6-191)
Ottawa Senators: none
Philadelphia Flyers: none
Pittsburgh Penguins: none
San Jose Sharks: F Timofey Spitserov (2020, 7-210)
Seattle Kraken: F Justin Janicke* (2021, 7-195)
St. Louis Blues: none
Tampa Bay Lightning: D Kyle Aucoin (2020, 6-156 by DET), D Alex Gagne (2021, 6-192)
Toronto Maple Leafs: F Wyatt Schingoethe (2020, 7-195), D John Fusco (2020, 7-189), D Mike Koster (2019, 5-146)
Utah Mammoth: none
Vancouver Canucks: F Jackson Kunz* (2020, 4-113)
Vegas Golden Knights: F Ryder Donovan (2019, 4-110)
Washington Capitals: D Brent Johnson (2021, 3-80)
Winnipeg Jets: none
Jack Hughes LAK, signed with Ontario AHL LAK affiliate
@taco guy – as stated in the piece, that is indeed what the asterisk reflects. He will still be eligible to sign with any other NHL team if he doesn’t have an entry-level contract from the Kings by Aug. 15.
I’d pick up Red Savage is the Wings let him go. The name alone is worth it!
I mean when your two dads are Red Foxx and Fred Savage, you are destined for greatness!
Might as well pick up Spitserov while you’re at it
I would be a rather surprised if Tampa doesn’t extend the big left defenseman Alex Gagne’s rights. I mean the guy was on the Hobey Baker Award voting ballot for potential nominees this past season to be a finalist.
Savage (Detroit) signed with Rochester and did not submit the FA paperwork according to this article