2015 College free agents

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by getbak

See, that's the thing for people to remember when they start talking about the Flames not signing Jankowski when he's done college, teams are signing guys like Bardreau within days of being eligible to turn pro. It's not like players have to be absolute superstars coming out of college to get offered NHL contracts.

The Flames signed Van Brabant last year, and he didn't have spectacular stats in college. BVB is at least a big kid who could make the NHL in a non-scoring role. Bardreau isn't even that big, under 6 feet and under 200 pounds.

Oddly enough, Bardreau had 5 goals and 17 assists in 30 games this season, which is the exact same stat line that Jankowski has this year, so far. He did lead Cornell in points, by 8, so it's safe to say they didn't have a good team.

Over his career, right now, Jankowski has 65 points in 103 games at Providence. Numbers that already blow Van Brabant and Bardreau out of the water, and he could still go back for his senior year.

The Stale argument will still remain though, were they a first round pick?
Don't mistake me bringing this up though. I don't subscribe to the Jankowski is a bust club at all. Just noting the all too predictable counter point that is inevitably going to be dredged up.

Janko should stay for his senior year and will sign in CGY. I feel he will have the same amount of loyalty to the Flames as Johnny did for the same reason. They took a chance on him.

[getbak]

Not free agents, but it doesn't really need a new thread: A couple of later 2012 Draft Picks have also chosen to forego their final year of college to sign pro contracts...

• On Tuesday, forward, Devin Shore (not one of Drew's brothers), who was drafted 61st overall by Dallas in 2012, signed his ELC with the Stars. He has already played 1 game in the AHL. He had 34 goals and 70 assists in 112 games over three seasons at Maine.
  
  
• Yesterday, defenceman, Colton Parayko, who was drafted 86th overall by St Louis in 2012, signed his ELC with the Blues. He will be reporting to the AHL. He had 17 goals and 49 assists in 104 games over three seasons at Alaska-Fairbanks.

[sureLoss]

To be fair Bardreau is a pretty highly thought of prospect. He was the only non-drafted forward to make the USA WJC team that won Gold with Gaudreau. He also broke his neck 2 years ago that was pretty close to making him paralyzed and amazingly made it back to playing in less than a year.

[Flame19,289]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

To be fair Bardreau is a pretty highly thought of prospect. He was the only non-drafted forward to make the USA WJC team that won Gold with Gaudreau. He also broke his neck 2 years ago that was pretty close to making him paralyzed and amazingly made it back to playing in less than a year.

I was at the game where he broke his neck. Scary moment, for sure. The entire arena went silent.
I hope the kid makes it to the big time. He's quite the warrior.

[Commandant]

NCAA playoffs have started, as teams get eliminated free agents start signing.

I review the top 40 names and give scouting reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/03/...agents-part-1/

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Flame19,289

I hope the kid makes it to the big time. He's quite the warrior.

Leo Komerov type isn't he?

[Commandant]

Part 2
http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/03/...agents-part-2/

[Commandant]

Part 3 is now out. It features Matt O'Connor, Kenney Morrison, C.J. Motte and Mike Reilly.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/03/...s-2015-part-3/

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Morrison would be awesome of course. Pratt sounds intriguing. Big, fast, shutdown guy for free? Sounds good.

[sureLoss]

nvm

[Flame19,289]

Union College's Daniel Ciampini signs with the Worcester Sharks.
He was in the top five for goals and points in the NCAA this season.

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/201...cester-sharks/

[getbak]

A couple more drafted guys who decided to leave college early:

• Brandon Montour (a soon-to-be 21 year-old defenceman), drafted 55th overall by Anaheim last year, has left UMass to sign with the Ducks after a strong freshman year (20 points in 21 games).
  
  
• Ben Hutton (a soon-to-be 22 year-old defenceman), drafted 147th overall in 2012 by Vancouver, has left Maine to sign with the Canucks after his junior year. He had 65 points in 108 NCAA games, with 21 in 39 games this season.

[Red Menace]

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 4m4 minutes ago
CGY is strong front runner to land college UFA right-shot D Kenney Morrison of Western Michigan University.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 4m4 minutes ago
CGY is strong front runner to land college UFA right-shot D Kenney Morrison of Western Michigan University.

This is awesome. In SureLoss' OP, he mentioned that the Oilers were in on him and were actually trying pretty hard to sign him. If he signs with the Flames, I'd be pumped just because of that.

[jschick88]

Casey Bailey's season comes to end. Guess will see if he decides to sign with an NHL team or goes back to PSU for his final year.

TDC Men's Hockey @TDC_MHockey ·
FINAL: @PennStateMHKY’s season comes to an end with a 3-1 loss to Ohio State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

[sureLoss]

Friedman just tweeted it is very unlikely that Bailey returns to Penn State.

Last I heard there are 12+ NHL teams hoping to sign him.

[GranteedEV]

Would be pretty crazy if we came away with both Casey Bailey and Kenny Morrison. It's interesting that they were both teammates in the BCHL and in the USHL. Maybe they're best friends and want to reunite as undrafted Flames filling our two most crucial needs (Big right defenseman with a hard shot + Big power forward RW)

[jschick88]

Ashley Chase ‏@AshleyChaseTV
As I reported in February, major interest in Penn State free agent Casey Bailey has come from #Sabres #Bruins #Flames

It's not uncommon for NHL scouts to be in college hockey rinks across the country. That was the case here at Pegula Ice Arena last weekend. The Buffalo Sabres taking in Penn State's game against Wisconsin. The Sabres' one of several NHL teams keeping an eye on Penn State Forward Casey Bailey.

The Hobey Baker candidate has been in NHL development camps the last two summers, last year with the Calgary Flames, and two years ago with the Boston Bruins, another team expressing interest in Bailey as a free agent.

http://www.wjactv.com/sports/feature...est-2362.shtml

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by jschick88

Ashley Chase ‏@AshleyChaseTV
As I reported in February, major interest in Penn State free agent Casey Bailey has come from #Sabres #Bruins #Flames



http://www.wjactv.com/sports/feature...est-2362.shtml

I posted that article in this thread back in February. Sounds like she is basing it just on the fact that the Flames invited him to the last development camp, which in the end probably means little.

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Would be pretty crazy if we came away with both Casey Bailey and Kenny Morrison. It's interesting that they were both teammates in the BCHL and in the USHL. Maybe they're best friends and want to reunite as undrafted Flames filling our two most crucial needs (Big right defenseman with a hard shot + Big power forward RW)

Yeah would be a big coup for the Flames to get two of the top college free agents.

[sureLoss]

Friedman just said on Fan 960 that there is a big connection with the Sabres and Bailey. Said the Sabres are the team to beat and are offering NHL games to burn his ELC.