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Speculation: - 2025 Non-drafted College Free Agents | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League
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Speculation: 2025 Non-drafted College Free Agents

Jersey Fan 12

Jersey Fan 12

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Apologize if this thread has already been started and I just couldn't find it.

Wanted to mention Dartmouth senior forward Sean Chisholm.

He was invited to the Coyotes' development camp following his freshman season in 2022 but then flew under the radar the next two seasons.

He may be benefitting from playing with Lightning draft pick Cooper Flinton but he is off to a fast start this year and has adequate size to play a solid two-way game at the next level. Would love to know more about him.
Click to read more...
 
I haven't watched Michigan yet this season, but T.J. Hughes had gotten some attention last spring before opting to return for another year. I vaguely recall that he made a decent impression as a prospect camp invite with Tampa. 32 goals over his first 80 NCAA games but 0 goals in 10 games this season. Michigan isn't nearly as stacked as it had been.


He isn't NCAA, but David Tomasek was angling for an NHL contract after the World Championships last year. He's currently leading the SHL in scoring although I think he's slowed down a little bit in the past couple weeks after a quick start. He led the SHL with 25 goals in 2023-24.
 
Thought there was already a thread for Princeton junior Brendan Gorman but couldn't find it so I thought I'd include him here.

He does not have the size of his older brother Liam (a Penguins' pick never signed and now in the ECHL in his first pro season). Brendan was however invited to San Jose's prospect camp and has been a fixture in the Princeton lineup since he was a freshman - his brother's senior year with the Tigers.

Likely a small sample size to be sure but with Ohio State visiting there were a ton of scouts on hand at Baker Rink (more than usual) this weekend. While most were likely on hand to see the multiple drafted players on the Buckeyes, Gorman was the best player on the ice both nights.

His weekend was more impressive since Princeton was missing several players due to injury and had to shuffle the lines; yet managed to sweep the higher ranked Buckeyes.
 
Who were the last couple of prominent NCAA free agents that have made the NHL as a regular?

Jake Livingstone was the big get in 2023. He was 24 when he signed with Nash in 2023. Now 25. Doing a 2nd year in the AHL.

How have big targets from 2020-2022 fared since signing?
 
StreetHawk said:
Who were the last couple of prominent NCAA free agents that have made the NHL as a regular?

Jake Livingstone was the big get in 2023. He was 24 when he signed with Nash in 2023. Now 25. Doing a 2nd year in the AHL.

How have big targets from 2020-2022 fared since signing?
Click to expand...

Blankenburg started off in the show but is now back in the AHL. Sam Malinski for the Avs is another who seems to have at least turned out to be a regular. Ben Meyer was up and down (now down again).

Seems like most are some variety of AHL player - Zack Metsa is Rochester's best defenseman but doesn't have an NHL deal, Graf leading the AHL in scoring a few weeks back - but NHLers seem to be fringe at best.
 
As to the topic, I see Cornell's Ondřej Pšenička has missed about half of their games. I know he had chatter last year. Same with CC's Gleb Veremyev who had some chatter and while he hasn't missed games like Pšenička, the offensive production is below last season.

*shrug*
 
Fjordy said:
Why doesn't he have a contract? Maybe it would make sense to call him if he had a contract.
Click to expand...

No idea. After his first playoff run in Rochester it seemed like he should get an NHL deal. He's their all-around top d-man and the issue is probably that he's the same size as Bryson and only 1 year younger than Jacob. *shrug*
 
Chainshot said:
No idea. After his first playoff run in Rochester it seemed like he should get an NHL deal. He's their all-around top d-man and the issue is probably that he's the same size as Bryson and only 1 year younger than Jacob. *shrug*
Click to expand...
Well at least he's right-handed and our defensive depth doesn't look very good in terms of quality right now.
 
Chainshot said:
Seems like most are some variety of AHL player - Zack Metsa is Rochester's best defenseman but doesn't have an NHL deal, Graf leading the AHL in scoring a few weeks back - but NHLers seem to be fringe at best.
Click to expand...
Most guys who end up as NCAA free agents are tweeners between AHL and NHL. Every those who go NCAA free agent after being drafted, most don't amount to much.

Hayes as a former 1st, so had more predigree. Vesey was a 3rd and never matched the hype of a potential 30 goal guy in the NHL.
 
Brodeur said:

He isn't NCAA, but David Tomasek was angling for an NHL contract after the World Championships last year. He's currently leading the SHL in scoring although I think he's slowed down a little bit in the past couple weeks after a quick start. He led the SHL with 25 goals in 2023-24.
Click to expand...



Unfortunately the article is paywalled but a Google translation of the tweet teases that Tomasek's NHL interest “Has been a little different this year...” I'm assuming that's a positive thing as he leads the SHL with 41 points in 30 games.

Tomasek was seeking a one way deal last offseason but stayed in Sweden when he only got two way offers. Just realized now that Tomasek could have signed a non-ELC last offseason since he played in North America for his original draft eligible years. As opposed to say Roman Cervenka who still had to sign an ELC when he joined the Flames way back when.
 
Ethen Frank making his debut for the Caps tonight. They signed him out of Western Michigan in 2021 as a college UDFA and he's been an AHL all-star in all 3 years so far.

A good reminder of what a "best case scenario" usually looks like.
 
qc14 said:
Ethen Frank making his debut for the Caps tonight. They signed him out of Western Michigan in 2021 as a college UDFA and he's been an AHL all-star in all 3 years so far.

A good reminder of what a "best case scenario" usually looks like.
Click to expand...

Love hearing things like this.

Edit - nice effort play tonight and picks up a primary on Eller's goal. Good for him! Live the dream.
 
Last edited:
Chainshot said:
Love hearing things like this.

Edit - nice effort play tonight and picks up a primary on Eller's goal. Good for him! Live the dream.
Click to expand...
Yea I thought he looked good last night. Always fun for any rookie's first NHL game but especially the guys on the older side. He's worked his ass off in Hershey and been a key part of their back-to-back cups and I'm glad he's getting a shot.
 
Chainshot said:
And how does that change what I posted? Did he not start off on Columbus and the go to Cleveland? Was he not in Milwaukee when I posted th
Click to expand...
You said he's back in the AHL and he's on Nashville's NHL Roster. He seems to be doing decently enough with the Preds.

I sent you a link showing it. He has two goals and two assists in 19 games.

Here's Milwaukee's AHL roster too. No sign of Blank.

theahl.com

TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League

theahl.com theahl.com
 
Mike Jones said:
You said he's back in the AHL and he's on Nashville's NHL Roster. He seems to be doing decently enough with the Preds.

I sent you a link showing it. He has two goals and two assists in 19 games.

Here's Milwaukee's AHL roster too. No sign of Blank.

theahl.com

TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League

theahl.com theahl.com
Click to expand...

And he was recalled from Milwaukee on Nov. 27th.
 
StreetHawk said:
Who were the last couple of prominent NCAA free agents that have made the NHL as a regular?

Jake Livingstone was the big get in 2023. He was 24 when he signed with Nash in 2023. Now 25. Doing a 2nd year in the AHL.

How have big targets from 2020-2022 fared since signing?
Click to expand...
Colin Graf looks like he has a real
Chance to be a mainstay in the sharks lineup.
 
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