NCAA

With the Frozen Four tournament on the horizon, there should be some activity on the college free agent front in the coming weeks.  At this time of year, college free agents are rarely coming in as impact prospects with high NHL ceilings (and this year is no exception) 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 defensemen that should be drawing NHL interest in the near future.  Note that not all of these players will sign entry-level contracts as some will ultimately elect to return to college for another season while quite a few others not on this list will sign NHL or AHL deals in the coming weeks.  The forward preview can be found here.

Jacob Bengtsson, Lake Superior State

The 23-year-old made the jump to North America back in 2018 and while it took a bit of time for him to find his footing, he became a key part of the back end for the Lakers the last two seasons.  He has a pro-ready frame and is a strong defender.  Bengtsson was believed to have some NHL interest last season and should have some this time around although it’s worth noting that he has another year of college eligibility remaining.

Akito Hirose, Minnesota State

The younger brother of Taro Hirose who has seen some NHL action after going the college route, the blueliner is a strong skater with a strong offensive game.  The question with him will be if he can defend at a pro level as the offense should translate relatively well.  Thomas Drance and Rick Dhaliwal of The Athletic report (subscription link) that the Canucks are among the teams believed to be interested in the 23-year-old who has another year of eligibility remaining.

Colton Huard, New Hampshire

Unlike most of the blueliners on this list, Huard isn’t quite as far along in his development as he’s only played his sophomore year and spent a good chunk of it on the second pairing.  However, the 22-year-old has shown a promising offensive skillset and, like many other defenders on this list, has the size that will be enticing to NHL teams.  Huard is a strong candidate to stay with the Wildcats next season but expect some teams to try to change his mind.

Luke Krys, Brown

Krys isn’t going to be a blueliner that piles up the points but he is a stable defender in his own end which, coupled with a big frame that has room to fill out still, should attract some NHL interest.  Basically, the 22-year-old is the opposite of his brother Chad, a former Chicago prospect.  The overall raw upside isn’t the highest out of this group but teams looking for a defender that can step right in and play regular minutes in the AHL will have Krys on their lists.

Jake Livingstone, Minnesota State

If you’re looking for a defender that could make the jump to a third pairing spot in the NHL quickly, Livingstone is probably that player.  He has a pro-ready frame and has surpassed the 30-point mark in each of the last two seasons.  The 23-year-old has received NHL interest in the past and with this season being his best, that interest should only intensify.  Livingstone is a strong candidate to land a deal that begins now, getting him to restricted free agency sooner.

Sam Malinski, Cornell

While the 24-year-old is a bit undersized at 5’11, he’s arguably the most well-rounded defender in this UFA class.  He provided eight goals from the back end this season and ran the power play for the Big Red while defensively, he logged big minutes on the penalty kill.  Although Malinski is technically a senior, he missed all of 2020-21 with the Ivy League schools not playing that year so there’s a case to be made that he still has some developing to do which should entice some NHL teams.

Zach Metsa, Quinnipiac

Undersized blueliners don’t always make the jump with success but Nick Blankenburg quickly becoming a regular in Columbus should strengthen Metsa’s market as there are some similarities between the two.  Metsa moves the puck well and his offensive skills are among the best in this class.  The fact he’s 5’9 will hurt his market but there will be some interest in the 24-year-old who has exhausted his eligibility including the bonus year.

Travis Mitchell, Cornell

Cornell’s captain played a much bigger role this season, playing in all situations.  However, Mitchell is someone that profiles as more of a stay-at-home defender in the pros.  At 6’3, he has pro size already and shouldn’t need much of a transition period to play in the minors at least.  Mitchell’s raw ceiling isn’t particularly high but he would be a worthwhile addition for a team that’s looking to add some depth to its prospect pool.  He has previously attended development camps with Boston and St. Louis.

Others To Watch For

Dylan Anhorn, St. Cloud State
Zak Galambos, Western Michigan
Ryan Siedem, Harvard

With the NCAA playoffs in full force and the Frozen Four coming soon, there should be some activity on the college free agent front in the coming weeks.  At this time of year, college free agents are rarely coming in as impact prospects with high NHL ceilings (and this year is no exception) 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 forwards that should be drawing NHL interest in the near future.  Note that not all of these players will sign entry-level contracts as some will ultimately elect to return to college for another season while quite a few others not on this list will sign NHL or AHL deals in the coming weeks.

C Parker Ford, Providence

An undersized middleman at 5’9, Ford nevertheless plays with an edge and can play in all situations.  Offensively, his numbers have been pretty steady throughout his four-year college career, ranging from 19 to 27 points.  Ford is presently the leading scorer on a Friars team that has nine NHL draft picks on it as well.  The 22-year-old might not be in high demand because of his size but he’s still a good bet to land an entry-level deal.

RW Riese Gaber, North Dakota

It’s believed that Gaber had some NHL interest last year but opted to return to the Fighting Hawks for his junior campaign.  A small but speedy winger, the 23-year-old has hovered around the point-per-game mark for the last two seasons and had a pair of years of at least 50 points at the USHL level as well.  With Gaber’s production not really improving too much this year, there would be a bit more risk of him potentially plateauing if he opted to forego signing an NHL deal this time around.

RW Collin Graf, Quinnipiac

It was a bit of a surprise when Graf entered the transfer portal following what was a solid freshman campaign with Union College but it’s safe to say the decision worked out.  The 20-year-old saw his numbers improve across the board to the tune of 19 goals and 33 assists in 35 games, good for first on the Bobcats and second in the NCAA overall beyond only Adam Fantilli.  On the one hand, a year like this is an ideal platform to try to land an NHL contract but he could be better served going back for one more year to fill out and work on his skating a bit more.

C T.J. Hughes, Michigan

Hughes is the Wolverines’ second-line pivot behind Fantilli and is having a nice freshman year, hovering around the point-per-game mark.  In 2021-22, the 21-year-old averaged more than a goal and an assist per game with Brooks of the AJHL.  There’s a strong case to be made for him to stay at Michigan next season where he’ll likely move onto the top line assuming Fantilli turns pro but if he wants to start his pro career now, there should be strong interest.

LW Ryan McAllister, Western Michigan

McAllister burst onto the scene after lighting it up early and often this season, battling Fantilli for the NCAA scoring lead for a good chunk of the year.  While his output has tapered off a bit, he’s still in the top ten in points, quite a freshman campaign on the heels of a 139-point AJHL season in 2021-22.  At 21, he still has a long college career ahead of him if he wants it but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him capitalize on what’s sure to be good interest in the coming weeks and turn pro now.  He attended Toronto’s development camp last summer.

C Hunter McKown, Colorado College

At 20, McKown is one of the youngest players eligible for college free agency but a 20-goal campaign with the Tigers should have him on the NHL radar.  Teams also would have gotten a good look at McKown in last summer’s World Juniors when he saw time on Team USA’s power play in the event; more than half of his goals this year have come on the man advantage.  Already in his junior year, it’s possible that McKown could stick around for one more year and then turn pro when he’d only be eligible for a two-year entry-level deal compared to a three-year agreement if he signed now.

C Jaxon Nelson, Minnesota

Teams are always looking for size down the middle and at 6’4, Nelson checks that box.  The 22-year-old hasn’t been the most prolific of scorers throughout his four-year college career (his seven tallies this season are a career-high) but he has a strong defensive pedigree that gives him a possible fourth-line profile in the pros.  The raw upside isn’t as high as others on this list but Nelson is pretty much a lock to land a contract somewhere.

RW Jason Polin, Western Michigan

The 23-year-old has been part of arguably the most dominant line in college hockey this season and the end result is Polin leading the NCAA with 29 goals.  For context, his previous high in points was 26.  While there will be some question marks as to whether his output was linemate-driven or if it was a legitimate improvement that can carry over to the pros, he’ll be an intriguing free agent addition with a bit of upside once his senior year comes to an end.

C Max Sasson, Western Michigan

Another part of that dominant top line for the Broncos as he’s averaging over a point per game, Sasson’s skating is a strong element that helps him stand out among this group of players.  The 21-year-old sophomore is an all-situations player which gives him a chance to carve out a lower role in the lineup which is where he likely profiles in the pros.  Sasson is young enough that it makes some sense for him to stay in college for another year but if his linemates turn pro, he might decide to follow suit.

C Austen Swankler, Bowling Green

It’s very rare that a player who played a full OHL season is able to play in college but it happened with Swankler.  The 21-year-old sophomore has been in the top ten in NCAA scoring for most of the season and made considerable strides compared to his freshman year, becoming a strong all-around offensive player.  Skating is an element that still needs to improve and will go a long way toward determining what type of success he has in the pros.  He has two years of eligibility remaining but some NHL teams would likely prefer to get him into their system now.

Others To Watch For

LW Matt Brown, Providence
C Justin Hryckowian, Northeastern
C Ondrej Pavel, Minnesota State
C Nick Poisson, Providence
LW Ondrej Psenicka, Cornell

The Wisconsin Badgers announced via a press release this afternoon that head coach Tony Granato has been relieved of his duties. After taking over as head coach of the Big 10 team during the 2016-17 season, Granato will finish his tenure as head coach with a cumulative 103-129-16 record. The 2021-22 season was by far the most successful of them all, as the team finished first in their division, ultimately losing to Bemidji State in the regional semifinals.

Aside from coaching, Granato is well known for being a part of the Los Angeles Kings during their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993. In the best statistical season of his career, the 5’10” forward scored a career-high 37 goals and 45 assists. Unfortunately, the next season, Granato’s career was permanently altered after receiving a hard hit to the head in a game against the Hartford Whalers. There was bleeding in his brain detected, and Granato went out for a time due to surgery as many wondered if he would ever play again. Defeating the odds, Granato returned to the NHL, playing for the San Jose Sharks to finish his career.

Before coaching at Wisconsin, Granato previously coached in the NHL. His most recent coaching position was as an assistant for the Detroit Red Wings from 2014-16. Before that Granato held the same role for the Pittsburgh Penguins between 2009-2014, helping the team win their first Stanley Cup since 1992. The only head coaching position he’s ever had in the NHL was with the Colorado Avalanche from 2002-2004; 2008-2009, finishing with a 104-78-17-16 record.

As with any upcoming offseason, there will be head coaching changes made in the NHL. Although he has not coached at that level since the 2008-09 season, Granato could be of interest to teams looking to make a change behind the bench. Since the news of his dismissal is recent, Granato has not yet commented on his future. Whether he continues in the NCAA, or if he moves back into professional hockey, Granato should be a popular name heading into the offseason.