Speculation: 2025 Non-drafted College Free Agents

[montreal]

I would keep an eye on Nikita Nikora from Dartmouth,



Nikora Rings One Off Post 1:21
Nikora Assist 3:11

 

[Brodeur]

On his podcast, Elliotte Friedman said a few teams were keeping tabs on Dartmouth forward Luke Haymes.

 

[Frk It]

Anyone have an opinion on this defenseman from Army?

Saw some clips where he looks intriguing, but hard to say with the level of comp he plays.

Mac Gadowsky - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Mac Gadowsky, 2002-01-10 Fairbanks, AK, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Army (U.S. Military Academy). Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

Anyone have an opinion on this defenseman from Army?

Saw some clips where he looks intriguing, but hard to say with the level of comp he plays.

Mac Gadowsky - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Mac Gadowsky, 2002-01-10 Fairbanks, AK, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Army (U.S. Military Academy). Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

A wild improvement in production from tier two juniors to NCAA. Don’t see that often

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Anyone have an opinion on this defenseman from Army?

Saw some clips where he looks intriguing, but hard to say with the level of comp he plays.

Mac Gadowsky - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Mac Gadowsky, 2002-01-10 Fairbanks, AK, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Army (U.S. Military Academy). Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Saw Army live vs PSU, he didn’t particularly stand out. Black Knights were pretty much hemmed in all game.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

No mention of Quinn Hutson here?

He and TJ Hughes would likely top this list of this year's crop.

 

[Djp]

Anyone have an opinion on this defenseman from Army?

Saw some clips where he looks intriguing, but hard to say with the level of comp he plays.

Mac Gadowsky - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Mac Gadowsky, 2002-01-10 Fairbanks, AK, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Army (U.S. Military Academy). Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Even if he could be signed, he has a military commitment unless he goes reserves.

They generally have not waived them for potential pro athletes

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

Even if he could be signed, he has a military commitment unless he goes reserves.

They generally have not waived them for potential pro athletes

Yep, gotta leave before the start of year 3 or you’re locked in for 10 years. Dan Hinote knew the way.

 

[Thechozen1]

PIONK has been a decent player.

 

[wingerdinger]

No mention of Quinn Hutson here?

He and TJ Hughes would likely top this list of this year's crop.

Jack Williams and these two all make for a very strong right handed shooting winger market.

 

[Djp]

Even if he could be signed, he has a military commitment unless he goes reserves.

They generally have not waived them for potential pro athletes

Academy service is usually 4 yrs full time. Reserves are about twice as longer. If you were to transfer in like from a jr college/ comm college service time is less.If you do an extra year like a 3/2 BS/MS its longer

ROTC has similar service rules but it's also tied to how much of a college scholarship you get. None, Full or half? How many yrs?

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

Academy service is usually 4 yrs full time. Reserves are about twice as longer. If you were to transfer in like from a jr college/ comm college service time is less.If you do an extra year like a 3/2 BS/MS its longer

ROTC has similar service rules but it's also tied to how much of a college scholarship you get. None, Full or half? How many yrs?

Start of your third year you sign a 10 year contract at West Point typically.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

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?

I doubt Drew O'Connor was the most-recent NCAA free agent who's a regular NHLer, but the Penguins signed him as a free agent (out of Dartmouth) in March 2020 (right before COVID hit) and he is currently an NHL regular.

 

[SI90]

No mention of Quinn Hutson here?

He and TJ Hughes would likely top this list of this year's crop.

I mentioned him on the isles board not too long ago! And I agree

 

[uncleben]

I doubt Drew O'Connor was the most-recent NCAA free agent who's a regular NHLer, but the Penguins signed him as a free agent (out of Dartmouth) in March 2020 (right before COVID hit) and he is currently an NHL regular.

No, that's about right!
The closest NCAA FA to his 214 GP since he signed is Walker Duehr (2021) with 91 GP.
Mitchell Chaffee (2020), Nick Blankenburg (2022), and Sam Malinski (2023) are currently sticking as NHL players right now too, though.

Cole Smith was part of O'Connor's 2020 cohort and has 201 GP and is a Nashville regular; and the year before, 2019, was comparatively "star-studded" with Logan O'Connor, Nico Sturm, and Blake Lizotte.


Everyone wants the next Adam Oates or even Tyler Bozak
But the reality is your probably going to get an AHLer out the deal.
Still worth the free wallet though!

 

[Reaper45]

Don’t forget that the Kings signed Alex Iafallo, 558 GP, and Blake Lizotte, 358 GP, as college free agents.

 

[Brodeur]

 

[SI90]

My 2 guys for the islanders to target are

Quinn Hutson and Josh Nadeau

I know Nadeau is smaller but his skills are insane and he’s always been a point producer.

 

[leeroggy]

Does Marc Gatcomb fit the question?

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-marc-gatcomb-nhl-4-nations-face-off-break-bridgeport-islanders-ahl

 

[Kuz]

Does Marc Gatcomb fit the question?
https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-y...tions-face-off-break-bridgeport-islanders-ahl

Not at all.

He is not a non drafted College free agent in 2025.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Not at all.

He is not a non drafted College free agent in 2025.

I think @leeroggy wasn't suggesting Gatcomb as a college free agent for 2025 but rather asking if he counts as an example of a successful college UFA signing in recent years.

 

[Kuz]

I think @leeroggy wasn't suggesting Gatcomb as a college free agent for 2025 but rather asking if he counts as an example of a successful college UFA signing in recent years.

Might be, just not what the thread was about, but yeah Gatcomb was undrafted and other people aswell mentioning there teams undrafted players, but its not being asked for or is what the owner wondered about.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Might be, just not what the thread was about, but yeah Gatcomb was undrafted and other people aswell mentioning there teams undrafted players, but its not being asked for or is what the owner wondered about.

Welp, looks like there'd be a lot of hands to slap here then...

 

[Howie Hodge]

Has always been a bit of a crap shoot.

1985 Detroit signed three free agents, if memory serves me right.

I believe the most heralded might have been Ray Staszak.

Chris Chichoki also. Hardly a who's who.

But, they also signed this guy the same year or time period, so you never know...

 

[Brodeur]

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.

I haven't been watching Michigan as closely this year, but I didn't realize Hughes has had a great rebound after the slow start.

First 10 games: 0 goals - 6 assists - 6 points
Last 22 games: 14 goals - 15 assists - 29 points

He'll turn 24 in November, so we'll see how quickly Hughes adapts to pro hockey if/when he signs in April.