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Will College Hockey Players Earn An Extra Year Of Eligibility?

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Few groups have been hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic than college athletes. The NCAA announced on Thursday that all 2020 winter and spring championships have been canceled, effectively ending college sports for the year. While the decision did not specifically ban conferences from continuing to host postseason tournaments for winter sports and regular season games and tournaments for spring sports, all winter tournaments have been canceled nonetheless and the vast majority of conferences have canceled all practice and competition for the year.

While obviously the proper decision was made in regards to public safety, student-athletes who work year-round to play a relatively short college season have lost their chance at a championship and in many cases the majority of their regular season as well. This is particularly hard on seniors competing in their final season. To make matters worse, college athletes typically have just four seasons and five years to participate in NCAA athletics, and the possibility that this year would be lost entirely had students around the country reeling. To remedy the situation, the NCAA was quick to announce that eligibility relief will be available for spring sports athletes, extending their playing opportunities by another year.

However, the NCAA also made mention that they “will also discuss issues related to seasons of competition for winter sport student-athletes who were unable to participate in conference and NCAA championships.” So could college hockey players also receive an additional year added to their eligibility? The case against this idea is that the vast majority of the season had already been completed, with most conference tournaments already underway by the time of this announcement. However, the statement alluded to the opportunity only being available to the athletes whose teams were still competing in conference tournaments or expected to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

At the time the decision to cancel all college athletics competition occurred, 40 programs were still competing in conference tournaments and technically all had an equal chance at winning their respective conference and an automatic berth into the national tourney. If the NCAA decides to grant waivers for an extra year of eligibility for winter athletes, they could choose to grant that aid to hockey players on all of these rosters.

The alternative option, one being championed by men’s basketball coaches around the country, is to instead name the teams that would have been selected to the national tournament based on conference standings and national rankings. Some quick “bracketology” using the Pairwise rankings would produce the following list of teams whose players could qualify for an additional year of eligibility under this model:

No. 1 North Dakota – NCHC regular season champion
No. 2 Minnesota State – WCHA regular season champion
No. 3 Cornell – ECAC regular season champion
No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth
No. 5 Denver
No. 6 Boston College – Hockey East regular season champion
No. 7 Penn State – Big Ten regular season champion
No. 8 UMass
No. 9 Clarkson
No. 10 Ohio State
No. 11 UMass Lowell
No. 12 Bemidji State
No. 13 Arizona State
No. 14 Michigan
No. 15 Maine
No. 26 American International – Atlantic Hockey regular season champion

The problem with this process is that the actual NCAA Tournament field likely would have had some slight differences from the final standings and rankings. The Atlantic tournament for instance is often a crap shoot, while skilled teams that underachieved in the regular season, such as Boston University, Harvard, and Minnesota, could have made a run in their respective tournaments. It could be deemed as unfair to select the field without the usual basis of complete tournaments and a final ranking.

It remains to be seen whether winter college athletes will receive eligibility relief at all and by what means the NCAA chooses to award that relief. For now, student-athletes and fans alike will have to appreciate that they got to enjoy a full regular season and will look forward to a return to action next year. Whether or not that return includes some seniors who otherwise would have ended their college careers this year will be the major question.

Blackhawks Expected To Discuss Contracts With Ian Mitchell, Evan Barratt

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Within the next few days, the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to begin discussion with University of Denver’s defenseman Ian Mitchell and Penn State forward Evan Barratt, both college juniors, on signing with the team on entry-level contracts, according to The Athletic’s Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus (subscription required). Early reports suggest that both have shown little interest in returning to their collegiate teams for their senior season.

Both players had their college seasons cut short due to the NCAA opting to cancel all winter championships on Thursday due to the Coronavirus. It was assumed that both players would have the first year of their entry-level deal burned if their college seasons ended before the Blackhawks’ season was over. That could conceivably still happen and a player doesn’t even have to play an NHL game to burn the first year of his contract. They just need to be on an active roster.

Regardless, Mitchell could be a key addition to a Blackhawks team that needs help on defense, whether that is this year or starting next season. Chicago was hoping to bring Mitchell in after his sophomore year at Denver, but the 21-year-old wanted to return to his team in hopes of challenging for a collegiate championship as well as to challenge for the Hobey Baker award. Mitchell had a dominant season with Denver this season, posting 10 goals and 32 points in 36 games as well as playing at the Spengler Cup for Team Canada, where he posted a goal and two points in four games.

Barratt is another surprise for a Blackhawks, who drafted the forward in the third round of 2017. Barratt is more likely to find himself starting his pro career in the AHL. He had a dominant sophomore season in 2018-19, posting 16 goals and 43 points in 32 games, but saw a minor drop in his production this season as he has 12 goals and 34 points in 34 games. Regardless, it would add another talented prospect into the team’s cupboard.

Of course, with a stoppage in work for the moment, both players and the team have plenty of time to work out a deal.

Jack Rathbone Taking Time On NHL Decision

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When the NCAA season was suddenly ended when the Frozen Four tournament was canceled, a whole other group of players became eligible for NHL contracts. The question during this league “pause” becomes how a contract would even be filed and whether a player could negotiate a deal  that starts this season to burn the first year of entry-level status. Those uncertainties and many others make it very easy to understand any hesitation on the part of college players, meaning it didn’t come as much of a surprise when Rick Dhaliwal of TSN reported today that Jack Rathbone will take his time deciding whether or not to sign with the Vancouver Canucks.

Rathbone, 20, was a fourth-round pick in 2017 by the Canucks and has had two excellent seasons at Harvard. Registering 31 points in 28 games this season he was the highest-scoring defenseman on his team, ahead of lauded New Jersey Devils draft pick Reilly Walsh.

With Quinn Hughes making such an impact in his first season in the NHL, the Canucks’ defensive group already has huge upside for the next decade. Adding in players like Rathbone will only provide some depth behind that star power, especially if they happen to lose Chris Tanev in free agency.

To be sure, it would be hard to expect Rathbone stepping directly into the NHL. But after two excellent seasons at a top program like Harvard, he’d certainly be on a strong development path.

U18 World Championship, Frozen Four Canceled

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The fallout from the coronavirus outbreak continues, this time to the amateur ranks. The IIHF U18 World Championship and the NCAA Frozen Four have both been cancelled for this year. The U18 event was set to be held later this month in Plymouth and Ann Arbor, Michigan while the Frozen Four tournament is part of a wider swath of cancelations from the NCAA. The OHL Cup, the top midget hockey tournament and the prime location for junior hockey teams to scout upcoming talent, has also been canceled.

While not unexpected, these moves will once again have an indirect effect on the NHL as teams can no longer scout the next wave of prospects. The Frozen Four especially is a chance for undrafted collegiate talent to showcase their skills, while the U18 event is always attended by scouts from every NHL organization.

One event still technically on the calendar is the IIHF Men’s World Championship, which is normally attended by NHL players that have been eliminated from the postseason. That tournament is set to start in eight weeks, but could obviously face the same fate.

Minor College Signings: O’Leary, Beaudoin, Michigan State

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While many of the NCAA’s elite can jump right into an NHL contract, and sometimes the NHL itself, the majority must work their way up through the pro ranks. Minor league contracts and amateur tryout (ATO) contracts are common at this time of year and after a number of those deals were signed yesterday, a few more rolled in today:

  • From preseason contender to unranked and out in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, it was a season to forget for Notre Dame. However, senior forward Mike O’Leary enjoyed the best campaign of his collegiate career, recording 23 points in 37 games. The two-way winger is now on his way to the AHL, signing a contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
  • Another four-year starter up front has found a spot in the pros. Brown senior Brent Beaudoin will stay close to home, joining the ECHL’s Worcester Railers. The New Hampshire native recorded 14 points in 31 games to lead all Brown forwards in scoring.
  • Perhaps the best team to have already called it a year, Michigan State sent Patrick Khodorenko to the New York Rangers yesterday and today saw fellow seniors Logan Lambdin and Butrus Ghafari head to the ECHL. Lamdin will stay nearby, as he has inked a deal with the Kalamazoo Wings. Meanwhile, Ghafari joins the Toledo Walleye. The Lebanese-American defender was a dominating stay-at-home presence at times this year.

New York Rangers Agree To Terms With Patrick Khodorenko

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The New York Rangers aren’t going to let the Pittsburgh Penguins be the only team signing college free agents. While they may watch Drew O’Connor head to Pittsburgh, the Rangers have agreed to terms with  Patrick Khodorenko. He will sign a three-year entry-level contract which begins during the 2020-21 season and will report to the Hartford Wolf Pack on an amateur tryout for the rest of the season.

The 21-year old forward just finished his senior season with the Michigan State Spartans, in which he scored 16 goals and 33 points. Khodorenko, who was born in Walnut Creek, California, has been a consistent presence in the lineup for the Spartans and has 120 points across 143 NCAA games. Like O’Connor, there was plenty of NHL interest in the Michigan State forward but he looks like he’ll go to an organization known for getting the best out of the college ranks.

New York is always mining the college free agent ranks, with recent players like Neal Pionk, Jimmy Vesey and Vinni Lettieri all choosing them as the destination to start their professional careers. With so much positivity surrounding the club and their direction right now, it’s hard to blame any young player for wanting to be a part of the rebuild.

Minor College Signings: Zimmer, Lodermeier, Giuttari

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While some college players will step right out of the NCAA and into professional organizations under NHL contracts, many others will have to go another route. Those who aren’t able to secure an NHL deal right away can jump into the minor leagues under amateur tryout (ATO) contracts, trying to prove they can produce at the higher level. There have been several of those today:

  • Max Zimmer from the University of Wisconsin has signed an ATO with the Charlotte Checkers, now that his NCAA career is over. In four years with the Badgers, Zimmer totaled 45 points in 115 games. A 2016 fourth-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, his draft rights will expire in August.
  • Derek Lodermeier has inked his ATO with the Manitoba Moose, following four years at the University of Vermont. The 25-year old forward had just 11 points in his senior season but has served as captain since 2018.
  • Zach Giuttari from Brown University has signed an ATO with the Hartford Wolf Pack, giving him a chance to play in the AHL after four years in the NCAA. The undrafted defenseman served as captain for the team this season, scoring 15 points in 31 games.
  • Sometimes it isn’t even the AHL, as Matt Alvaro and Nick Hutchison have found out. The two collegiate forwards have signed with the Orlando Solar Bears and Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL respectively. Alvaro is coming off four years at the University of Vermont, while Hutchison recently completed his senior season at Canisius College.

Snapshots: College Free Agents, Ceci, Perunovich

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While we have to way until July to get any free agent action among NHL players, the college season will be ending a little sooner. The end of the line for the best NCAA players means a feeding frenzy for NHL organizations, who will be snapping up talent in the hopes that they can step directly into the professional ranks. With that in mind, Frank Seravalli of TSN breaks down five names who are on the radar.

The top name as expected for most of the season is Connor Mackey, who has drawn plenty of speculation over the years. Seravalli reports that 28 of the league’s 31 teams have shown interest in Mackey, including nine that apparently are willing to sign him to an NHL contract this season—allowing him to burn the first year of the entry-level deal he will be restricted to. Remember, to do that the team must have an empty slot under their 50-contract limit, something that the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning currently do not.

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs, who will surely be one of the team showing interest in the college defenseman, are getting back one of their own blueliners. Cody Ceci has been activated from injured reserve, adding some more experience to a group that has very little at the moment. The Maple Leafs have been forced to play Travis Dermott, Rasmus Sandin, Justin Holl, Timothy Liljegren and Calle Rosen all at the same time, a quintet that has 291 games of NHL experience between them. Ceci, for all his faults, has played in 494.
  • Speaking of college defensemen, the St. Louis Blues are monitoring one of their own draft picks very closely in Scott Perunovich, who is having another outstanding season for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic (subscription required) examines the situation and exactly what options Perunovich will have after his year is done. Rutherford points out that there may not be a ton of opportunity right away in St. Louis, which has many speculating about whether the dynamic defenseman will try to find a different destination to start his professional career.

Canadiens To Recommend Cole Caufield Stay At Wisconsin

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One of the most hyped players coming out of the 2019 NHL Draft, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Montreal Canadiens’ Cole Caufield would be in the NHL as soon as possible. A record-breaking goal-scorer for the U.S. National Team Development Program, Caufield had committed to the University of Wisconsin, but most believed that the 15th overall pick would be one-and-done after his freshman campaign. In fact, it was not outside the realm of possibility that Caufield could have made his NHL debut later this season had the Canadiens made the playoffs.

However, things have not gone according to plan for any of the parties involved. Montreal is not a playoff team, the Wisconsin Badgers are not the national contender that many expected them to be, and Caufield is not ready for the NHL, reports Mathias Brunet of La Presse. Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin tells Brunet that he will recommend that Caufield remain at Wisconsin for another year:

Cole Caufield is having a good year. But, in our eyes, he is not ready. We will make a decision at the end of the year. If he really wants to leave college, we won’t force him, but we’ll recommend that he stay [at Wisconsin]. That doesn’t mean it’s a disappointment. We aim for the best in long-term development.

Bergevin would go on to say that playing for the AHL’s Laval Rocket next season would also be a possibility for Caufield next season, but he feels that even that would be a challenge. While Caufield’s offensive ability is apparent, Bergevin notes that the young sniper’s play without the puck has a long way to go, and that is a crucial part of competing at the pro level. He adds that over-inflated media expectations for the likes of Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Ryan Poehling have hurt those players’ development in the eyes of the team and they hope to prevent the same fate for Caufield. While the slow play could be disappointing to Montreal fans, especially as they look to the future during another disappointing season, is it always better not to rush a young player, especially if the team honestly feels that he is not ready to make the jump.

This news will be received much differently in Madison than it is in Montreal. Assuming Caufield stays at Wisconsin, Badgers fans can hold out hope that an NCAA title run may still be possible. This season has been disappointing from a team perspective, but Caufield has been stellar in his freshman season, leading the team with 19 goals and 35 points in 33 games. Fellow freshman standout Alex Turcotte, selected fifth overall by the Los Angeles Kings last year, is not confirmed to be returning next season, nor is sophomore defenseman and 2018 first-rounder K’Andre Miller (NYR). However, if the trio stays put, the likes of Dylan Holloway (2020), Owen Lindmark (FLA), Ty Emberson (ARI), and Ryder Donovan (VGK) take a step forward, and incoming recruit Cameron Rowe (2020) helps to repair the poor results in net, then the Badgers could do a better job of meeting expectations in the 2020-21 season.

 

College Hockey Round-Up: 02/26/20

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With just one or two weekends left in the regular season for NCAA programs, every game counts a little more as teams are jockeying for position in their conference tournaments. The Big Ten, ECAC, WCHA, and Atlantic kick off their tournament play on March 6th, while Hockey East and the NCHC play an extra week of regular season matchups and get underway on March 13th. The winners of each tournament get an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, while the rest of the field is selected based on the national rankings.

In the Big Ten, all seven teams make the postseason and preseason favorite Wisconsin already has the sad distinction of locking up the bottom seed and a meeting with the second seed in the first round. All other spots are still up for grabs, but the conferences only ranked teams – No. 9 Penn State, No. 10 Ohio State, and No. 18 Minnesota – are the only ones left in the running for the coveted first-round bye.

In Hockey East, only eight of eleven teams make the tournaments and Vermont and Merrimack have already been eliminated from contention. That leaves nine teams, all within a nine-point range and having two-to-four games remaining, to battle for seeding in what should be an excellent conference tournament.

The WCHA uses a similar structure as Hockey East, allowing eight of their ten teams into the tournament. It’s a good thing too, as this past weekend showed that the likes of No. 2 Minnesota State and current WCHA bottom-dweller Alabama-Huntsville do not need a playoff series to determine who is better. In fact, the balance of power in the conference is so much that a tournament win by anyone other than Minnesota State or No. 11 Bemidji State would be a major upset and would cause a shift in the NCAA Tournament landscape.

The NCHC has the same 1-8 format, except that the conference only houses eight teams. No team has locked up a specific seed yet, but the field is deep behind No. 3 North Dakota, No. 5 Minnesota Duluth, No. 6 Denver, No. 16 Western Michigan, and unranked but formidable St. Cloud State.

The ECAC also allows all 12 of its teams to compete in the conference tournament, with the top four seeds earning a bye. It is clear that No. 1 Cornell and No. 7 Clarkson will be among that top quartet, but the likes of No. 17 Quinnipiac, Harvard, and surprise Rensselaer will battle for the final two byes this week.

Finally, there is Atlantic Hockey, the spoiler conference. The tournament winner, often a surprise, is also almost always outside the top 16 seeds, causing a shakeup to the national tourney. This year, either one of No. 20 American International or previously ranked Sacred Heart could potentially hold their own on the NCAA, but they will be bumping a better team nevertheless.

Recent Results

There has been another shift at the top of the national rankings in recent weeks. Despite sweeping No. 6 Denver two weeks ago, North Dakota drops to No. 3 after recording a tie and a loss against St. Cloud State this past weekend. In their stead, Cornell moves back up to No. 1 with four wins over four different ECAC opponents, while Minnesota State slides into No. 2 with just two wins but a whopping 18-0 differential against Alabama Huntsville.

Boston College established itself as both a true national contender and the team to beat out of Hockey East this year with a convincing four-win stretch over Merrimack and No. 13 Northeastern. Northeastern fans may be scratching their heads a bit, as the team currently sits one spot behind No. 12 UMass Lowell, who they swept two weeks ago and who picked up just one win in their most recent home-and-home against No. 8 UMass. One way or another, these four programs seem like a lock for the national stage barring a collapse in the final weeks or the conference tournament. The real question is whether No. 15 Maine or the severely slumping No. 19 Providence College can get into the NCAA Tournament on merit or if they will have to win Hockey East to get in, like UConn and Boston University must do.

The Big Ten’s top teams finally appear to be turning things around. While a 2-1-1 record in recent weeks is not stunning, it was enough for Penn State to move up to No. 9. Meanwhile, Ohio State has climbed to No. 10 following a sweep of Michigan State. Quietly, No. 18 Minnesota has also climbed into the national conversation, but will need a strong final week and conference tourney showing to get in.

Three ranked teams that currently qualify as wild cards right now are No. 11 Bemidji State, No. 14 Arizona State, and No. 20 America International. Bemidji has been moving up the rankings for some time now, but a recent 3-0-1 run has catapulted them to right outside the top-ten. Yet, when it comes to evaluating the weak competition of the WCHA, there’s a chance that Bemidji could be a bubble team if they don’t at least reach the conference tournament final against Minnesota State. Arizona State, an independent, must get into the NCAA Tournament on merit, but a recent sweep by Wisconsin to end their regular season doesn’t help. A spoiler or two in conference tournaments seems likely to bounce ASU, as they now have to sit back and be at the mercy of other teams for the next few weeks. Finally, there’s American International, the newest addition to the national rankings. AIC has won eleven straight games and will only move up the rankings further if they close out the regular season by extending that streak. However, the team plays in the weakest conference in college hockey and are 0-6 in nonconference play this season. Barring a drop-off from several top teams over the next few weeks, AIC will very likely need to win the Atlantic to move on with their season.

Tyler Madden Out Indefinitely

When it comes to college prospects, this year’s NHL Trade Deadline was somewhat of a bust. Of all the deals made, only two current NCAA prospects were dealt and zero NCAA-bound prospects were moved. Denver defenseman Slava Demin was traded by the Vegas Golden Knights to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of the three-team Robin Lehner trade, but the sophomore blue liner is still somewhat of a raw product and his acquisition did not move the needle on the national scale. However, the Los Angeles Kings’ acquisition of Northeastern star Tyler Madden is a much bigger deal. Madden, acquired in the Tyler Toffoli deal, is one of the very best goal scorers in the NCAA. The sophomore forward has 37 points in 27 games this season, which places him in the top five of per-game producers at the college level. His 19 goals also places him in the top ten. Madden just recently helped the Huskies win their third straight Beanpot title and has a strong chance of leading the team in scoring this season.

However, his current totals will likely have to hold for the rest of the year. Madden suffered a hand injury on Friday, February 14th against UMass Lowell, just two days before his rights were traded to L.A. Head coach Jim Madigan announced last week that Madden is out indefinitely, while other sources have stated that the timeline is six-to-eight weeks. The early end of that timeline would allow Madden to return in time for the NCAA Tournament, but the latter would only allow him to play in a potential Final Four appearance. Judging by how Northeastern played against Boston College this past weekend, dropping both games and the second by a score of 10-1, the Huskies will have to fight just to get into the national tournament and a long run seems like a long shot. Fortunately, even if he misses the remainder of the campaign, Madden is expected back at Northeastern next year even after his trade to the Kings and will be looking to re-assert himself as one of the best players in college hockey and his team as a national contender.

Bids Placed For Future Frozen Fours

The bidding on hosting the Frozen Four in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 closed earlier this month and featured some interesting locations. This year’s Frozen Four is set to return to Detroit for the first time since 2010, while the next two years are set for familiar cities in Pittsburgh and Boston. However, a new name seems likely to host in the coming years: Las Vegas. After hosting holiday tournaments over the past few years, the city is hoping to move up to the biggest NCAA stage by hosting the Final Four. The games would take place at T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights. Another city itching for a return to the grand stage of college hockey is St. Louis. The 2007 hosts have been frequent bidders in recent years, but now the home of the defending Stanley Cup champs and this year’s NHL All-Star Game have as good a chance as ever. Columbus would also like to get in on the action. The city last hosted in 2005, but on the campus of Ohio State. This time around, Blue Jackets’ home of Nationwide Arena would be the epicenter of the action, while college town atmosphere would still be present. Perhaps the most exciting opportunity could be the bid from Seattle, which has the support of the NCHC. Soon to be the NHL’s newest city, a Frozen Four in Seattle would only further the growth of the hockey fan base in the area. Among other bids were Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, and Tampa.

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