They've signed a few but they just have not had any impact at the NHL level. Halonen is a pretty good AHL player for example. I'm not sure there are any current NCAA four year undrafted UFA players that have made any real impact the past few years?
2024-25 NCAA, CHL and OHL prospects thread
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Justin Danforth and Drew O'Connor are a couple of recent examples.
I think the days of finding a #1D (Andy Greene) or a Selke trophy winning center (John Madden) in the college UDFA market are probably gone. But, you can still get players who contribute.
Omar Little
Omar comin yo
100% there is plenty of opportunity in AHL with us too. This concept extends to CHL and European UFAs too. I don't know why these prospects are signing with Dallas and Carolina, teams who will not really have room anywhere in their lineup for the next 10 years
Not sure how many useful UFA CHL/NCAA forwards there have been lately. When I went to the 2022 Frozen Four, the "big" UFA names were Ben Meyers and Jake Livingstone.
Probably an incomplete list, but ballpark of the CHL/NCAA guys in the past few years:
2022: Henry Rybinski (WSH), Tye Kartye (SEA), Bennett MacArthur (TBL), Jordan Fransoo (PIT), Jordan Frasca (PIT), Taylor Gauthier (PIT), James Hamblin (EDM), Navrin Mutter (NSH), Corey Andonovski (PIT), Arshdeep Bains (VAN), Marc McLaughlin (BOS), Declan Carlile (TBL), Brandon Scanlin (NYR), Taylor Ward (LAK), Ilya Usau (TBL), Jaxson Stauber (CHI), Brian Halonen (NJD), Clay Stevenson (WSH), Ryan Fanti (EDM), Colin Swoyer (PIT), Ty Glover (PIT), Brandon Bussi (BOS), Lucas Condotta (MON), Bobby Trivigno (NYR), Noah Philp (EDM), Nick Cicek (SJS), Nick Blankenburg (CLB), Max Ellis (TOR), Georgi Merkulov (BOS), Wyatt Aamodt (COL), Ben Meyers (COL), Wyatt Bongiovanni (WPG), Strauss Mann (SJS), Bobby McMann (TOR)
2023: Jaxsen Wiebe (ANA), Chrs Sedoff (VGK), Will Zmolek (PHI), Kyle MacDonald (DAL), Cameron Butler (CBJ), Chase Wheatcroft (SJS), Parker Ford (WPG), Ondrej Pavel (COL), Sam Malinski (COL), Yaniv Perets (CAR), Logan Morrison (SEA),
2024: Zac Funk (WSH), Drew Bavaro (BOS), Christian Felton (VAN), Connor Ungar (EDM), Luke Krys (DAL), Tomas Suchanek (ANA), James Stefan (EDM), Cam Thiesing (NYI), Ben Steeves (FLO), Ben Kraws (DAL), Lleyton Roed (SEA), Jaxon Nelson (BOS), Cooper Black (FLO), Victor Ostman (SEA), Dylan Wendt (NJD), Collin Graf (SJS), Samuel Hlavaj (MIN), Oscar Eklind (PHI), Juha Jaaska (CAR), Mikulas Hovorka (FLO), Oliver Okuliar (FLO), Wilmer Skoog (FLO), Waltteri Ignatjew (CAL), Arttu Hyry (DAL), Jake Livingstone (NSH)
This year's NCAA free agent crop was reputedly not great, so maybe not that big a deal if we don't commit an ELC to these guys.
I think the Devils spoiled us by constantly signing UDFAs or otherwise overage players for almost two decades - from Rafalski and Madden to Tomas Harant and Jari Viukhola. Even when Shero got here, they were signing Kalinin and Mozik and Hraberenka and Auvitu and Yakovlev. For the last few years, it wouldn't've made a ton of sense for a lot of UDFAs to sign here, as they wouldn't've had a great opportunity at the NHL level.
But yeah, it'd be nice to get any sort of forward help from that avenue, even though it doesn't particularly fruitful these days.
But yeah, it'd be nice to get any sort of forward help from that avenue, even though it doesn't particularly fruitful these days.
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There’s a small subset of teams that attract the top end undrafted UFAs and we aren’t in it.
There’s a number of contributing factors why that is, some of which are easier to overcome than others.
An important thing to remember is the AHL team and player development resources play a big role.
The top teams?
The Elite
Dallas (w/ Texas since 2009):
Arguably the number one destination.
+ NHL team with sustained success and fantastic management.
+ One of the top AHL organizations: great player development, nice arena and also a team with sustained success.
+ location of AHL team (warm weather, taxes, etc)
Toronto (w/ the Marlies 2005):
Famous for its incredible player development (aka spending lots and lots money).
+ The NHL team’s recent sustained success is just a sexy cherry on top, they probably need it the least.
+ They spend a ton on player development. AHL players have access to an amazing amount of NHL level resources (coaching, staff and equipment). The best support system in the league, with basically daily contact between staff and players.
+ location of AHL team (major city, a lot of players from the area, their AHL arena is 20 minutes away from their NHL arena)
Boston (w/ Providence since 1992)
Legendary NCAA to pro pipeline.
+ Again, sustained success at the NHL level.
+ Like Texas, Providence is one of the premier AHL organizations.
+ Providence always has great coaching staff that work seemlessly with NHL staff. It’s historically has been a Coach Factory, producing current both HCs (Laviolette, Sullivan, Cassidy), highly respected ACs (Leach) and even a GM (Bill Armstrong).
+ location of AHL team (fun college town)
Washington (w/ Hersey since 2005):
Hersey is the most storied AHL franchise in history with 13 Calder Cups and 5 of them were won w/ the Caps since 2005.
+ Again, sustained success at the NHL level.
+ Hersey is a juggernaut and pulls in ~10,000 in attendance. Great coaching.
The Next Best
Seattle (w/ Coachella since 2022)
The new kids on the block is a smart team that spent a ton to become a talent magnet
+ AHL team is wildly successful, plays in an amazing new arena
+location of AHL team (warm weather, golf)
Florida (w/ Charlotte since 2021)
The NHL team’s recent success and great Zito-era management has made them a top destination. The undrafted FAs they sign to AHL deals are better than what most teams attract with ELCs.
+location of AHL team
Tampa (w/ Syracuse since 2012)
Syracuse have slipped after their incredible run under Benoit Groulx (2016-23) but still attract talent
+well-known for many undrafted player development successes
Pittsburgh (w/ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton since 1999)
AHL Pens have scuffled a bit lately but is still one of the top AHL organizations.
+also well-known for many undrafted player development successes
Detroit (w/ Grand Rapids since 2002)
Some down years recently in both the AHL and NHL but still a top organization with NCAA free agents.
+ Big Spenders who do well with NCAA FAs
Montreal (w/ Laval since 2017)
Not particularly strong w/ NCAA FAs but a major draw for CHL FAs, particularly the QMJHL (for obvious reasons).
+ AHL arena is 40 minutes from Bell and very high end
+ 2nd highest attendance in the AHL
Columbus (w/ Cleveland since 2015)
History of producing notable undrafted players like Mathieu Oliver.
+ Cleveland plays in the same arena as the Cavaliers (built in 2007) in front of the biggest crowds in the AHL.
+ location of AHL team (major city)
Nashville (w/ Milwaukee since 2001)
Another top AHL organization with strong undrafted player development successes like Tanner Jeannot. Not sure how they’ll do post-Poile though.
+ well run AHL team has a history of strong coaching (Dean Evason, Lane Lambert)
+ location of AHL team (major city)
Also Notable
Colorado (w/ Colorado Eagles since 2018)
Anaheim (w/ San Diego since 2015)
Los Angeles (w/ Ontario since 2015)
NY Rangers (w/ Hartford since 2013)
- Dec 20, 2018
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I’m putting the conclusion of my last post here so it doesn’t get lost in the wall of text lol.
We can spend more on the AHL team/player development. It sounds like we’re starting to do that more recently.
During the 2023 Development Camp players commented on the increase of staff and resources. Before that camps previously were about meeting coaches and team building exercises. In 2023 they added more meetings with staff (nutrition, skating, kinesiologists, etc).
You need to offer that sort of thing to attract undrafted FAs.
Being AHL vagabonds for decades, playing in a series of ECHL-level arenas in small Rust-Belt cities also hasn’t helped us.
Also spending more would help. We need to be willing to give a one way NHL deal to top tweeners and be less stingy with ELCs.
We can spend more on the AHL team/player development. It sounds like we’re starting to do that more recently.
During the 2023 Development Camp players commented on the increase of staff and resources. Before that camps previously were about meeting coaches and team building exercises. In 2023 they added more meetings with staff (nutrition, skating, kinesiologists, etc).
You need to offer that sort of thing to attract undrafted FAs.
Being AHL vagabonds for decades, playing in a series of ECHL-level arenas in small Rust-Belt cities also hasn’t helped us.
Also spending more would help. We need to be willing to give a one way NHL deal to top tweeners and be less stingy with ELCs.
Dalton Bancroft (Cornell) 1-yr ELC Boston Bruins (ATO Providence AHL)
Ithaca NY is 2 hrs from Utica
Aiden Hansen-Bukata (RIT/Ohio State) ATO Syracuse Crunch AHL
Ross Mitton (Colgate/Maine) ATO Bridgeport Islanders AHL
The Adirondack Thunder signed 3 NCAA UFAs:
- Luke Reid (D) UNH (1G/11A/12Pts/35GP (ECHL SPC)
- Henry Welsch (G) U Mass Lowell (ECHL SPC)
- Elliot McDermott (D) U MASS/Colgate/RPI ATO
Ithaca NY is 2 hrs from Utica
Aiden Hansen-Bukata (RIT/Ohio State) ATO Syracuse Crunch AHL
Ross Mitton (Colgate/Maine) ATO Bridgeport Islanders AHL
The Adirondack Thunder signed 3 NCAA UFAs:
- Luke Reid (D) UNH (1G/11A/12Pts/35GP (ECHL SPC)
- Henry Welsch (G) U Mass Lowell (ECHL SPC)
- Elliot McDermott (D) U MASS/Colgate/RPI ATO
Luke Reid has been loaned to the Utica Comets from the ECHL Adirondack Thunder. See info in Post #108 above.
This is really exciting. After seeing some of the NCAA UFA signings around the NHL/AHL the Comets get this 23-yr old out of NCAA University of New Hampshire on loan from ECHL Adirondack where he has signed an ECHL SPC and played 6 games for the Thunder recording 1G/1A/6GP.
Not impressed whatsoever.
This might be in response to the loss of casey to NJ and the unexplained absence of Edwards and Hatakka from the roster in Toronto on Wednesday. The Comets played 5 D because that's all they had available. Fitz doing his best to nail down a good NCAA UFA to start out in Utica.
N-----O-------T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is really exciting. After seeing some of the NCAA UFA signings around the NHL/AHL the Comets get this 23-yr old out of NCAA University of New Hampshire on loan from ECHL Adirondack where he has signed an ECHL SPC and played 6 games for the Thunder recording 1G/1A/6GP.
Not impressed whatsoever.
This might be in response to the loss of casey to NJ and the unexplained absence of Edwards and Hatakka from the roster in Toronto on Wednesday. The Comets played 5 D because that's all they had available. Fitz doing his best to nail down a good NCAA UFA to start out in Utica.
N-----O-------T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's like the big club views the AHL club as a burden rather than a resource. I really don't understand their approach.
RHD is a spot where I definitely would not expect the Devils to get any help from outside - any UDFA with an NHL dream looking at this depth chart on the right side would not sign here unless he had no other suitors.
You know I could give a s**t about D-men at this point. We have seen a wealth of them under contract to NJ. I have harped, for this the 4th season, as to the dearth of AHL level centers drafted or acquired by what ever means. He should be shaking the trees to find some. The NJ faithful have been filling these pages with the same message. He is either brain dead, doesn't know how to go beyond the TDL or NHL free agency to find any, or plain could care less about his farm where he should be placing them to develop so he doesn't have to make trades and lose draft picks when the injuries hit in NJ and they have happened every single one of those 4 seasons and he had no one here to play in the middle to call up.
Justin Dowling, an AHL #2 center on any good AHL team, has been his only positive recourse and he has been barely adequate, but forget chipping in on the score sheet.
New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: Edwards Signs
News broke shortly after last update. Ethan Edwards has signed with the Devils. Here’s a look at how he’s progressed over his collegiate career and what he adds to the system as well as his debut in Utica.
www.allaboutthejersey.com
Edwards played his 1st game for the Comets 3/29 vs Hershey.New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: Edwards Signs
News broke shortly after last update. Ethan Edwards has signed with the Devils. Here’s a look at how he’s progressed over his collegiate career and what he adds to the system as well as his debut in Utica.
He played the next night (3/30) in Hershey.
He missed the next game on 4/2 in Toronto with no reason given. Don't even know if he made the trip. Hatakka was also missing with the same lack of reason provided. The Comets played the game with 5 D.
Edwards played his 3rd game tonight (4/4) vs Springfield.
He plays a game very much like Casey. He is bigger and uses his body more when necessary, but his strength is his skating and puck handling.
If he and Casey end up here next year, I would like to see them paired together at least once in awhile. They would give any opponent fits.
Word out of NJ was that they wanted to play Casey in Utica next season and I can't see any reason that Edwards wouldn't be there as well.
Edwards is a heck of a skater. He lacks the higher end vision of Casey when I watched him play in college but he is a good two way defender. Casey Edwards and Vilen is half of a talented young defense corps. Hopefully they add someone on the right side to the group.
Nope, but as I have posted earlier they have only signed 2 in the 4 years they have been affiliated with Utica . Halonen is 1 and Wendt, who has been with the Comets off and on all season but only played in 9 games with 2A, is the other. Both are signed for next season.
A guy told me jokingly tonight that Wendt must have a fully packed suitcase in his trunk at all times. He has been going back and forth between Utica and Adirondack. He has spent more time on the NYS Thruway than he has spent in either building. All the Utica call-ups have usually only led to being a practice player and a scratch at game time.
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Hopefully they start seeing some products filter up from college and juniors and they maybe trade for a prospect or two that need a change of scenery. Clearly they will not add AHL vets. I’d like to ask them what shirt plan is and call them out for being dumbasses but I doubt they take my call.
I would love to listen in on that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: Three Devils in the Frozen Four
The Devils will have four prospects in the Frozen Four this year. This post covers who and when.
www.allaboutthejersey.com
- Dec 20, 2018
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Hey, the more the merrier.
1st BU and then NJ signed?
Have to wait and see. They are both from a good blood line.
Not that I have any connection to BU, but I had no idea Scott Lachance married the coach's daughter. Does Pandolfo have a daughter that can be betrothed to Shane a la Game of Thrones?
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