Speculation: 2025 Non-drafted College Free Agents

[leeroggy]

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

I'll make sure to stay off your lawn too . . .

 

[Your Boy Troy]

I stumbled across this name: Brett Chorske. He's the son of former NHLer Tom Chorske. He's 6'7" and leads Colgate in points. I've never seen him play, so who knows? I can see teams being intrigued. Especially with the amount of massive players that were selected in the entry draft last season.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

I stumbled across this name: Brett Chorske. He's the son of former NHLer Tom Chorske. He's 6'7" and leads Colgate in points. I've never seen him play, so who knows? I can see teams being intrigued. Especially with the amount of massive players that were selected in the entry draft last season.

Only saw him play once - isn't overwhelmingly mobile or skilled. Competes and there is always an opportunity with his size but hard to see him playing at the pro level.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Maybe not for 2025 but is there any pro potential in Minnesota-Duluth goalie Klayton Knapp?

As a 2003-born goalie he is no longer draft eligible.

After splitting time with current Muskegon Lumberjack Stephen Peck in Bismarck (NAHL) last season he has better numbers than Blackhawks' draft pick and fellow freshman Adam Gajan with the Bulldogs.

 

[Brodeur]

Free agents for NHL teams 2025: Top college, CHL and European players

Ranking this year's players to watch coming out of the CHL, NCAA and major European leagues.

www.nytimes.com

Corey Pronman's article on UDFAs today. He says it's a weak crop (other reporters have said the same). His top guy is Michigan State forward Karsen Dorwart who Pronman thinks could play some NHL games down the stretch depending on when he signs.

 

[Lunatik]

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!

I would be more than happy with the next Garnet Hathaway or Ryan Lomberg

But you are absolutely right, they end up being AHLers more often than not. Most turn out like Spencer Foo, then a good chunk like Connor Mackey or Josh Jooris, you a few that end up like Lomberg and Hathaway and then once or twice every decade or so you'll get a Bozek.

The real gems are usually unsigned NCAA picks like Zach Hyman and Kevin Hayes.

 

[barriers]

Free agents for NHL teams 2025: Top college, CHL and European players

Ranking this year's players to watch coming out of the CHL, NCAA and major European leagues.

www.nytimes.com

Corey Pronman's article on UDFAs today. He says it's a weak crop (other reporters have said the same). His top guy is Michigan State forward Karsen Dorwart who Pronman thinks could play some NHL games down the stretch depending on when he signs.

Must be a weak crop if your third ranked free agent is under contract for next season. The Athletic loses more credibility every time I pop back in there. It's not just Pronman, they need editors and fact checkers.

 

[Bonin21]

I stumbled across this name: Brett Chorske. He's the son of former NHLer Tom Chorske. He's 6'7" and leads Colgate in points. I've never seen him play, so who knows? I can see teams being intrigued. Especially with the amount of massive players that were selected in the entry draft last season.

In HS this kid could not skate. I can't imagine it's gotten much better. No way something with that stride could play in the NHL.

 

[Brodeur]

32 Thoughts: What will Jets, Capitals do at NHL trade deadline?

One week out from the trade deadline, Elliotte Friedman writes about what he's hearing around the league, plus some takeaways from the 4 Nations Face-Off.

www.sportsnet.ca

30. In a recent pod, we mentioned Ottawa-born Luke Haymes, an NCAA free agent at Dartmouth. The Rangers, Tampa Bay and Toronto are among the teams pursuing him. Wanted to mention a couple of other names who will be watched as playoffs begin: Tom Chorske played 596 NHL games from 1989-2000. His son, Brett, is a late bloomer at Colgate. The Maple Leafs took a long look at Oregon-born Karsen Dorwart of Michigan State, but he returned for his junior season. Finally, there’s defending-champion Denver captain Carter King. Calgary-born, attended Flames development camp last summer. The success of the program means King will get seen by plenty.

 

[Brodeur]

Free version of the NCAA free agent section of the recent Future Watch issue. Penguins broke the seal on some NCAA guys this week. We'll see more in the next couple weeks as teams get eliminated

Just a reminder, ELC length is determined by age (as of September 15, 2025). So there might be cases where a player is treated by the CBA as a certain age but he hasn't actually turned that age yet. For the 'higher' end guys, they could sign a deal that gets registered for this season which could burn a year even if they don't suit up in a game. But the majority will end up signing ATOs to play in the AHL to finish up this season and have their ELCs start in 2025-26.

18-21 years old: 3 year ELC (although in theory free agents would need to be over 20 to still not be eligible for the draft)
22-23 years old: 2 year ELC
24 years old: 1 year ELC
25+ years old (for North American trained): not required to sign an ELC

 

[uncleben]

Free version of the NCAA free agent section of the recent Future Watch issue. Penguins broke the seal on some NCAA guys this week. We'll see more in the next couple weeks as teams get eliminated

Just a reminder, ELC length is determined by age (as of September 15, 2025). So there might be cases where a player is treated by the CBA as a certain age but he hasn't actually turned that age yet. For the 'higher' end guys, they could sign a deal that gets registered for this season which could burn a year even if they don't suit up in a game. But the majority will end up signing ATOs to play in the AHL to finish up this season and have their ELCs start in 2025-26.

18-21 years old: 3 year ELC (although in theory free agents would need to be over 20 to still not be eligible for the draft)
22-23 years old: 2 year ELC
24 years old: 1 year ELC
25+ years old (for North American trained): not required to sign an ELC

Just for the record and the context of this thread, PIT's two signings were drafted players, so they didn't snag any free agents yet
But any NCAA signings is a good sign that things are starting pick up

 

[Brodeur]

Just for the record and the context of this thread, PIT's two signings were drafted players, so they didn't snag any free agents yet
But any NCAA signings is a good sign that things are starting pick up

Ah my bad, for some reason I assumed they were UDFAs.

 

[wingerdinger]

With Michigan getting from the big ten tourney so early on I can see them making the ncaas.

Is there any news on T.J. Hughes signing anywhere?

 

[Brodeur]

With Michigan getting from the big ten tourney so early on I can see them making the ncaas.

Is there any news on T.J. Hughes signing anywhere?

Michigan is on the bubble, so we'll probably have to wait until the tournament field is announced on the 23rd. Hughes did summer development camp with Tampa, so I can only assume they'd still interested. Albeit it's never a guarantee a guy signs with a team he attended camp. Hughes could go back to Michigan for one more year, but it feels like a good time for him to start his pro career with him turning 24 in November.