Ryan Lin Commits To University Of Denver
A projected top-15 selection in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft will continue his development in Colorado next season. According to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, defenseman Ryan Lin has committed to the University of Denver for his collegiate career.
Lin, 17, has spent the last two years playing for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. He has been dynamic offensively throughout his time there, scoring 19 goals and 110 points in 113 games, with a -8 rating. NHL Central Scouting has Lin ranked as the 13th-best prospect ahead of the draft, and the fifth-best defenseman.
Despite his -8 rating throughout his WHL career, Lin is better defensively than his numbers may indicate, especially as a smaller defenseman. Standing at 5’11”, 176lbs, Lin has the physical makeup of an offense-first power-play quarterback.
However, his skating and hockey IQ make him more of a two-way defenseman. Although he may have some issues muscling forwards off of the puck, he has the edge work and intelligence to put himself in the best position to defend, which is a talent in and of itself. While it isn’t a direct comparison, Tampa Bay Lightning veteran Ryan McDonagh has often been cited as one of the best-positioned defenders throughout his NHL career, and Lin has brought a lot of that to his amateur career.
Additionally, there are few programs better for development than the University of Denver. Even recently, Eric Pohlkamp, the 132nd overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks, is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in his second season after scoring 18 goals and 39 points in 41 games with a +25 rating. Including Zeev Buium in that mix, it’s clear that head coach David Carle has a knack for turning defensemen into better versions of themselves.
2026 Hobey Baker Award Finalists Announced
The NCAA has announced their Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalists. University of Michigan senior T.J. Hughes, University of Minnesota-Duluth sophomore Max Plante, and Universty of Denver junior Eric Pohlkamp will be the last in the race to win college hockey’s coveted MVP award. Hughes and Plante sit second and third in national scoring with 56 and 52 points respectively, while Pohlkamp leads all defenders with 39 points.
All three were true number-ones for their teams. Hughes’ veteran presence and ability away from the puck helped a young Michigan squad rival the top ranking in the country for most of the season. Plante, a Detroit Red Wings prospect, was the motor behind one of the most explosive offenses in the country – in tandem with his brother, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Zam Plante. Pohlkamp, a San Jose Sharks prospect, embraced the top defender on a perennial National Championship contender and added onto it a starring role on the Spengler Cup’s U.S. Collegiate Selects lineup. Hughes and Pohlkamp remain have also reached the Frozen Four, set to kickoff on April 9th.
All three have strong cases for being named college hockey’s top players. It was another difficult year for the selection committee after having to decide between Isaac Howard, Ryan Leonard, and Zeev Buium last year.
Even with the pedigree on the ballot this year, the talent left in the Top 10 is suprising. Quinnipiac University winger, and Calgary Flames prospect, Ethan Wyttenbach leads the nation in scoring, as a freshman, with 59 points. He had a breakout year on the top offense in the country, one that he will be returning to next season. Michigan State University teammates Charlie Stramel and Trey Augustine also had standout years serving as the veteran leaders on a newly-assembled Spartans squad. Even Boston College, and Boston Bruins, center James Hagens and top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna had strong cases for MVP honors. The 2025-26 season, and the first year of CHL eligiblity, brought a wealth of talent to the college flight.
Flames’ Ethan Wyttenbach To Stay In NCAA For Sophomore Season
Calgary Flames fans will have to wait a little while longer to see a breakout prospect take pro ice. Winger Ethan Wyttenbach has announced he will return to Quinnipiac University for his sophomore season after leading the country in scoring as a freshman. It was a breakout performance for the 2025 fifth-round pick that culminated in a top-10 finish in Hobey Baker Award voting, awarded annually to the NCAA’s MVP.
Wyttenbach became only the fifth freshman to lead college hockey in scoring since 2000. He joins an exclusive list of NHL stars, including Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Adam Fantilli, and Will Smith. In each instance, the breakout performance was followed by an immediate pro contract. Wyttenbach will break that mold by returning for a second season.
The Quinnnipiac Bobcats led college hockey in scoring this season but fell well shy of an ECAC conference championship. They haven’t acheived that feat since 2016, despite winning the NCAA National championship in 2023. That is another course they were knocked off of this season, losing to the University of North Dakota in the first round this season.
Wyttenbach’s return will help the Cougars attempt to right both wrongs. He was a main play-driver all year long, playing well off of fellow freshmen Antonin Verreault and Markus Vidicek. Their support helped Wyttenbach reach a staggering 58 points in 40 games on the year. It also, more importantly, allowed Boston Bruins prospect Christopher Pelosi to remain in a second-line role, giving Quinnipiac a top-six that was hard to beat. Verreault and Vidicek are both expected to return to Quinnipiac next season, as is top defender and Bruins prospect Elliott Groenewold.
Those returnees will keep Quinnipiac’s lineup formidable into the 2026-27 season. Wyttenbach will undoubtedly continue on as the team’s top forward. He faces a tough challenge repeating his historic freshman season but managing the feat could go far in cementing his spot as one of Calgary’s top prospects. Wyttenbach is only two seasons removed from playing youth, AAA hockey in New England. Before moving to college, he scored 51 points in 44 games with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.
Morning Notes: Panthers, Tracy, Scheel
Florida Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Dmitry Kulikov each suffered injuries in yesterday’s win over the Ottawa Senators, head coach Paul Maurice announced postgame. Per team reporter Jameson Olive, both defensemen “sound like they could miss time” with these injuries.
Ekblad appeared to suffer the injury after blocking a shot with his hand. Maurice told the media, including Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards, that Ekblad doesn’t look good as a result of the injury, and while he is still being evaluated, is likely to miss some time. Ekblad has been Florida’s No. 3 defenseman this season and has 26 points in 72 games while averaging 22:28 time on ice per game. Kulikov has been Florida’s No. 5 defenseman and appeared to suffer his injury after taking a puck to the face. Per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald, Kulikov is set for a CT scan to help determine the full extent of his injury.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
- The Henderson Silver Knights, AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, announced yesterday the signing of NCAA free agent goalie Alexander Tracy to an AHL contract for the 2026-27 season. Tracy will report to the ECHL’s Tahoe Knight Monsters for the rest of 2025-26. He was ranked as the No. 9 player in this year’s NCAA free agent class by the team at Elite Prospects, who called him “a refined goaltender whose greatest asset is that he boasts very few flaws.” Tracy has been a strong goalie at just about every level he’s played at. Playing college hockey for Minnesota State (Mankato), he posted a .927 save percentage in 115 career games, won two conference titles, a conference goalie and player of the year award, and was a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist. He is also a Clark Cup champion and playoff MVP from his days in the USHL, and was a top goalie during his lone season in the NAHL. Now, he’ll hope to sustain that track record of brilliance at the ECHL level to begin his pro career.
- Adam Scheel, a former member of the Dallas Stars organization who proved to be a star goaltender in the NCAA and ECHL, has signed a contract for next season to join the Frankfurt Lions of the DEL. The 26-year-old concluded a four-year run playing pro hockey in North America last summer when he signed a one-year deal to be a tandem goalie for Barys Astana, a Kazakh club in the KHL. He ended up making the KHL’s All-Star Game, posting a .908 save percentage in 32 games despite owning a 10-18-1 record. Scheel is a significant signing for Frankfurt, as he has over 100 games of AHL experience under his belt and has proven himself in the KHL. He is set to join a Frankfurt team that ranked as the second-worst in the DEL this season and surrendered the second-most goals.
Avalanche Sign Matthew DiMarsico
The Colorado Avalanche will once again dip into the pool of college free agents. They have signed Penn State winger Matthew DiMarsico to a two-year, entry-level contract set to begin in the 2026-27 season. DiMarsico will join the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on an AHL contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
This will be another boost to a big season for DiMarsico. The undrafted forward posted a career-high 18 goals and 42 points in 37 games with Penn State this season – one more goal and nine more assists than he managed in 39 games last year. He was also selected to represent the NCAA at the 2025 Spengler Cup, as part of a historic U.S. Collegiate Selects squad. DiMarsico posted two goals and a minus-two in four games at the international tournament. Much of his season was spent alongside, or behind, star prospect Gavin McKenna on the depth chart. Where McKenna offered flashy playmaking, DiMarsico brought poised drive and finishing around the net. His 6-foot, 180-pound frame stood tall against college competition, helping DiMarsico win his battles and fill multiple roles on the forecheck.
The 22-year-old has spent three seasons in college hockey’s Big Ten. He slowly worked his way up the Nittany Lions roster, propelled by a breakout year across from Nashville Predators prospect Aiden Fink last season. DiMarsico only had one year of junior hockey experience before his days as a college athlete – scoring 25 goals and 46 points in 59 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers in the 2022-23 season, the season after his first year of draft eligibility. He spent his age-18 season playing 18U hockey with the Buffalo Regals and high school hockey at Avon Old Farms.
DiMarsico was a workhorse talent for the Nittany Lions. He played upwards of 23 minutes a night in must-win games and helped push the puck downhill when Penn State broke out. He will get his first chances to translate that to the pro level with eight games left in the Eagles’ regular season. The Eagles are well-positioned for a playoff spot, though they haven’t yet clinched it. DiMarsico’s hot offense could be a major playoff boost and help him work towards the goal of one day slotting into the Avalanche’s bottom-six.
Boston Bruins Sign Max Lundgren
The Boston Bruins have signed NCAA free agent goaltender Max Lundgren to a one-year entry-level contract, per a team announcement.
The deal carries a $952.5K cap hit and will be for the 2026-27 campaign. This news comes just over a week after Lundgren told Mark Divver of New England Hockey Journal that he would be attending Bruins development camp this summer.
Lundgren, 23, was the No. 17-ranked NCAA free agent according to the team at Elite Prospects. The Swedish goalie has had a strong three-season run in North America since crossing the Atlantic in 2022. He put up a .913 save percentage in 41 games as the starter for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers in 2022-23, and began a two-year run at Merrimack College in 2024-25.
He had a solid freshman campaign last season, posting a .909 save percentage despite going 8-13-0. But it’s his sophomore campaign that really positioned him to sign with an NHL team. In 39 games, Lundgren went 21-16-2 with a .920 save percentage.
Lundgren’s performance in his final NCAA game etched his name into Merrimack history. His 49 saves against UConn in the Hockey East tournament final gave his program, which entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed, its first-ever Hockey East playoff championship. Merrimack has been a member of the conference since 1989-90.
With his college career ending on a high note, Lundgren will now join the Bruins organization. It’s a big opportunity for Lundgren, who joins an organization with an excellent track record of developing goalies.
The Providence Bruins already have the reigning AHL Goalie of the Year in Michael DiPietro, who is under contract through next season. But the organization’s No. 4 and No. 5 goalies, Simon Zajicek and Luke Cavallin, respectively, are set to be RFAs this summer.
Cavallin, 24, has been excellent at the ECHL level (including a stellar playoff run last season that ended in a Kelly Cup title) but could end up seeking a spot in an organization with a goaltending depth chart more favorable to him getting AHL games. Zajicek, who is also 24, has a .920 save percentage in the AHL this season but has only gotten into 17 games. There is the possibility to consider that Zajicek, who led the Czech Extraliga in save percentage last season, could elect to return to Europe.
In any case, the Bruins have added a talented young goalie to an organizational pipeline at the position that is already well-stocked with talent. Whether the move is plainly about adding an additional young talent to their organization, or signals something more about the future of the Bruins’ other minor-league goalies, remains to be seen.
Evening Notes: Musa, Stramel, Spurgeon
The scoring leader for the University of Massachusetts has spurned multiple NHL teams to return to Amherst for his senior season. According to Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal, forward Jack Musa has turned down interest from several NHL teams, including the Boston Bruins, to return to the Minutemen for the 2026-27 NCAA season.
It’s a fairly surprising update given Musa’s production throughout his collegiate career. Undrafted, Musa, 22, has scored 46 goals and 100 points in 111 games with a +40 rating since debuting in the 2023-24 season. This season, leading the team in scoring, Musa finished with 16 goals and 36 points in 34 games.
If Musa continues his scoring pace for his senior campaign, he has a good chance of breaking school records. At the time of writing, forward Bobby Trivigno ranks fourth all-time in program scoring with 131 points, and Musa will have a good opportunity to break it. Unfortunately, unless he finds a completely different level, he’s unlikely to surpass Warren Norris, who scored 155 points from 1993-1997.
More evening updates:
- Not only did Minnesota Wild prospect Charlie Stramel lose the last game of his collegiate career, but he also left the game with a broken ankle. According to Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News, Stramel, 21, left the first period against his former club, the University of Wisconsin, after taking a shot off his ankle. The Michigan State University Spartan finished his senior campaign with 19 goals and 44 points in 37 games.
- The Minnesota Wild were without their captain tonight in their loss against the Boston Bruins. In an update from head coach John Hynes, defenseman Jared Spurgeon wasn’t available today due to a lower-body injury, and he is expected to miss the next few games. Fortunately, the Wild have a few days until their upcoming matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, so Spurgeon will likely return then.
West Notes: Thomas, Kuzmenko, Castagna
As the Blues continue to remain within striking distance of a Wild Card spot in the West, they’ll welcome back a key piece to the lineup. Lou Korac of The Hockey News relays (Twitter link) that Robert Thomas will return after missing Thursday’s game due to an upper-body injury sustained earlier this week against Washington. The 26-year-old was featured in trade speculation leading up to the deadline earlier this month but ultimately stayed in St. Louis. Thomas leads the Blues in scoring despite missing 18 games due to injury, collecting 16 goals and 30 assists in 53 appearances so far this season.
More from out West:
- Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko has resumed skating as he works his way back from a meniscus injury, notes Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider. He has missed the last month due to the injury and was initially ruled as being out for the remainder of the regular season. However, while it appears that he’s back on the ice a little earlier than anticipated, the team is still proceeding as if he won’t return before the playoffs, should the team qualify. Kuzmenko, in his first full season with Los Angeles, has 13 goals and 12 assists in 52 games this season.
- With Cornell being eliminated from the NCAA tournament yesterday, the Flames have sent two front office staff to speak to Jonathan Castagna to try to get him to sign, reports Sportsnet’s Eric Francis (Twitter link). The 20-year-old was acquired as part of the return for MacKenzie Weegar earlier this month and is coming off a strong season that saw him record 15 goals and 19 assists in 34 games. Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg adds (Twitter link) that Calgary has two contract slots remaining and wants Castagna to fill one of those, suggesting that if he agrees to sign, his deal will begin this season.
Flyers Sign Riley Thompson To Entry-Level Contract
With the 16-team NCAA tournament now set, we know which teams are still playing and those whose seasons are done. In the latter category, their players can now start signing professional contracts; we’ve seen several over the past week with more to come.
It appears that one of those is forward Riley Thompson. PuckPedia reported on March 22nd (Twitter link) that the Flyers have signed the 23-year-old to a one-year, entry-level deal for next season with a $1.025MM cap charge. The Flyers confirmed this deal on Thursday.
Thompson has spent the last two seasons at Ohio State University after playing at the University of Alaska-Anchorage in his freshman year. He had one season of eligibility remaining that he appears to be foregoing. His sophomore year proved to be the most productive of the three, when he tallied 17 goals and 16 assists in 40 games. This season, Thompson’s output dipped to 13 goals and 14 helpers in 37 appearances.
Thompson’s entry-level contract will be coupled with a professional try-out agreement with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the rest of this season. This will allow him to get his feet wet at the professional level and start to make his case for a full-time assignment to that level in 2026-27. The 23-year-old winger has shined as a responsible, two-way impact at the college level. He has shown strong skating and a long reach, helping him control play along the boards and push the pace of play. He projects as a responsible, depth forward who could bring strong awareness to a Flyers offense that continues to grow.
2026 College Free Agency Preview: Forwards
The NCAA tournament has been set and those who aren’t participating have seen their seasons come to an end. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at some of the free agents that could be drawing attention from NHL teams in the coming weeks.
As always, 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 be signing NHL or AHL deals in the coming weeks.
Forwards
Hank Cleaves (Dartmouth) – Two years ago, Cleaves wasn’t generating much attention in the BCHL. However, big centers tend to stand out and big centers who average well over a point per game in their sophomore year really catch the attention of the scouts. Given that he’s still a sophomore, there’s a legitimate chance that he stays for one more year. However, he should get considerable NHL interest and that might be enough to get him to make the jump.
Matthew DiMarsico (Penn State) – Generally speaking, a lot of the players who sign in college free agency are likely to be role players and not necessarily core producers. Some will look for size, some for skill, and others will prioritize smarts. DiMarsico certainly checks the latter category and as a player in the top 20 in NCAA scoring this season as a junior, the skill is there as well. There’s a high floor to work with which should appeal to some teams.
Josh Eernisse (Western Michigan) – After being limited to just one goal in his junior year, Eernisse has hovered closer to the half-point-per-game mark. That’s not why he’s on this list, however. He’s a big, physical winger with a responsible defensive game. That profile is one that would fit on some NHL fourth lines down the road.
T.J. Hughes (Michigan) – A player who has been on this list before, there is no option for Hughes to stay in college any longer. He has been one of the more skilled players in the NCAA level in recent years and it has resulted in him averaging well over a point per game for two of the last three seasons. There’s a question as to whether he can play an offensive role in the NHL but even if not, a productive AHL player would still be a worthwhile addition in free agency.
Aleksi Kivioja (Providence) – This is more of a projectable signing than some of the others on this list. Kivioja hasn’t been a top offensive producer even going back to his junior days in Finland. However, he has shown some strides this season with the Friars in that regard. He’s also a physical six-foot-five center. His ceiling might not be too high but there should be teams that see his frame and style and think there’s some fourth-line potential. Staying one more year and honing his offensive game is a viable option, however.
Jack Musa (UMass) – Viewed as a strong playmaker, Musa has also shown some scoring potential over the last couple of seasons. While he’s on the smaller side, he’s a strong enough skater and does well in transition which are elements that scouts will appreciate. He still has one more year of eligibility but after boosting his stock this season, making the jump now would make sense. Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal recently reported (Twitter link) that Musa will decide very soon about turning pro or not.
Nathan Pilling (St. Thomas) – More of a speculative add on this list, the ability to go from the CHL to the NCAA has worked well for Pilling. As a 21-year-old freshman, he put up 15 goals and 14 assists in 38 games this season, suggesting that his breakout final season with WHL Seattle wasn’t a one-off. Given that he’s a six-foot-four center who won over 53% of his draws this year, he should be on some radars now. Players don’t often turn pro after one year of college but Pilling is a candidate to do so.
Ellis Rickwood (North Dakota) – While his offensive production hasn’t been quite as high compared to his final season at Clarkson, Rickwood has been a top performer on a team loaded with NHL prospects. He has a pro frame already with a reasonable two-way game and has won over 60% of his faceoffs this season. Rickwood isn’t known as a strong skater, however, which could scare off some suitors but there’s a fourth-line NHL profile if a team thinks they can improve that facet of his game.
Hayden Stavroff (Dartmouth) – One of the youngest players in this group (he’s only 21), Stavroff showed some offensive upside in the BCHL and had a decent freshman year. This season, all he did was lead all of Division I in goals with 29 in just 34 games, a number higher than his point total (22) a year ago. Some teams might want to wait to see if this type of performance is repeatable but it wouldn’t be shocking if enough believe in his scoring ability to sign him now.
Jack Stockfish (Holy Cross) – One of a few players on this list who also appeared on last year’s version, Stockfish ultimately decided to stay in school over turning pro last season. He didn’t really boost or hurt his stock but the same elements that made him appealing a year ago are still there – he’s big, a center, and has shown enough offensive upside to make him intriguing.
J.J. Wiebusch (Penn State) – After playing big minutes in his freshman year last season, the influx of talent this year hasn’t affected Wiebusch’s output as he has been hovering around the point per game mark. He’s a strong enough skater to keep pace in the pros and brings enough skill and compete to the table to have a chance to fit as a bottom-six forward. The question is if he’ll opt to stay for one more year and try to up his production again to give himself a stronger market next spring. If not, he’ll draw some interest in the coming weeks.