2014 College Free Agents

[sureLoss]

Started looking at potential college free agents. Preliminary list follows.

The C and LWs will probably have little interest signing with the Flames given the organizational depth the Flames have at those positions and the likelyhood they would actually get a chance at the NHL is low.

The Flames may look at signing a college goalie if for some reason Gillies goes back to college next season, just to keep the pipeline full.

LW Greg Carey 5'11'' 195lbs (Senior) 23yo
Stats: http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mid,18785/greg-carey/
Gaudreau's main competition for the Hobey Baker. 2nd in college hockey scoring

C Austin Czarnik 5'9'' 150lbs (Junior) 20yo
Stats: http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mi...ustin-czarnik/
Currently tied 3rd in college hockey scoring. Similar size to Gaudreau

C Ryan Walters 6'0'' 188lbs (Senior) 22yo
Stats: http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mi.../ryan-walters/
Considered one of the better College free agents last year. Lustre has worn off a little bit.

C Mark Zengerle 5'11'' 185lbs (Senior) 24yo
Stats: http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mi...mark-zengerle/
Up and down offensive statistics. Probably a good fit for a team that needs C depth on the farm.

D Trevor van Riemsdyk 6'2'' 185lbs (Junior) 22yo
Stats: http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mi...-van-riemsdyk/
Brother of JVR. Offensive minded d man. Currently tied to lead UNH in points amongst skaters.

G Ryan McKay 6'1'' 224lbs (Sophomore) 21yo
Stats: http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mid,21314/ryan-mckay/
Amazing rookie stats. 2nd year stats looking pretty good too.

RW Ryan Haggerty 6'0'' 183lbs (Junior) 20yo
Stats: http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mi...ryan-haggerty/
Offensive explosion this season. Has the pedigree of being part of the USNDT. Leads college in goals scored. Bonus: right handed shot Right Winger.

LW/C Ross Mauerman 5'9'' 170lbs (Junior) 23yo
Stats:http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mi...oss-mauermann/
Leading scorer for Providence.

D Ahti Oksanen 6'3'' 207lbs (Sophomore) 20yo
Stats:http://www.uscho.com/stats/player/mi.../ahti-oksanen/
Another offensively gifted d-man, but also solid in his own zone. Plays BU's top pairing.


At this point I am hoping the Flames will be interested in Haggerty and Oksanen. van Riemsdyk intrigues me as well.

[devo22]

LW Sam Warning 5'9'' 181 lbs (Junior) 21yo
Stats: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=123425
a bit on the small side unfortunately, but good offensive numbers

D Shayne Taker 6'4'' 201 lbs (Senior) 23yo
Stats: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=122267
good two-way defenseman with some size

G Steven Summerhays 6'0'' 187 lbs (Senior) 23yo
Stats: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=116583
had already excellent numbers for Notre Dame last year, but even better so far this season

LW Brock Higgs 5'11'' 185 lbs (Senior) 21yo
Stats: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=121733
a bit of a late bloomer it seems ... had 1 goal in 33 games last year, but 9 in 12 this year

C Shane Berschbach 5'10'' 165 lbs (Senior) 22yo
Stats: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=116457
fell off the cliff offensively last season, but really good output so far this year

D Scott Czarnowczan 5'10'' 176 lbs (Senior) 22yo
Stats: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=123299
only trails van Riemsdyk in scoring among defensemen

D C.J. Ludwig 5'10'' 180 lbs (Senior) 23yo
Stats: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=116532
right handed defenseman, captain at North Michigan, point per game so far

[GreenLantern]

Definitely like to take a run at that Carey... and I forget the connection you already listed sureLoss but was it Jooris?

Must be frustrating for teams that had him on their radar pre break out.. if he beats Johnny Hockey for the Baker though I hope he never gets signed and ends up playing for the hockey equivalent of the Washington Generals... aka the Edmonton Oilers.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Definitely like to take a run at that Carey... and I forget the connection you already listed sureLoss but was it Jooris?

yes, they played together for the Burlington Cougars in the OJHL in 2009-10:

Josh Jooris - 50 GP, 26 G + 90 A = 116 P
Greg Carey - 48 GP, 72 G + 42 A = 114 P

[moon]

Hopefully they stay away from these guys but hard to imagine with Feaster and Weisbrod that they don't go hard after a bunch of them. Even Burke might be interested if they are Americans.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by moon

Hopefully they stay away from these guys but hard to imagine with Feaster and Weisbrod that they don't go hard after a bunch of them. Even Burke might be interested if they are Americans.

they are free assets. Because of their age, most of the time it's only a one or two year ELC ... there's no risk with these players. Worst case is they don't pan out and you have "wasted" a contract.

[moon]

I think assets is for the most part a stretch for these guys as they rarely turn into anything useful let alone decent.

I guess if they fall in your lap all it costs is money, effort and a roster spot but seems like a pretty pointless effort for the little to no results they produce.

[theg69]

While I agree that they are longshots in becoming impact players at an NHL, I completely disagree that it is a waste of time. For a potential diamond in a rough like Tyler Bozak or Teddy Purcell, it is a useful endeavor to sign these college agents especially when they cost nothing but a roster spot. Even if you can find a depth character player for free, it is already worth if.

Here's an article about the topic.
http://eyeonthesens.com/2013/09/02/f...t-nhl-updated/

I think the key message is expectations. You don't sign these guys expecting them to have an impact. You sign them and if they pan out, great, but let them go if they don't.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by theg69

You don't sign these guys expecting them to have an impact. You sign them and if they pan out, great, but let them go if they don't.

exactly!

There's a few good ones every year ... of the 2013 crop, Danny Dekeyser has been very good for Detroit. Andrej Sustr has also been able to stick with the Lightning as a bottom-pairing defenseman and Drew Leblanc could see some NHL action at some point this season too. Not bad if you can get a guy like that for free.

[Caged Great]

The players I am most interested are Carey, Warning, Oksanen, Taker, and Van Riemsdyk. Any time you have a relatively weak defensive prospect pool, getting any of the 3 bigger D (Oksanen, Taker, VR) will help make it better. Taker VR and Oksanen would probably slot in right behind Sieloff and Wotherspoon on the depth chart right now, and with the lack of qualified options beyond them, it never hurts.

Warning and Carey are in the same category of prospect as Cory Conacher was. Some skill, not overly big players. With the pair of them, worst case is that they can be used in a trade or be a good scorer with the Heat, especially with guys like Knight etc on the verge of ending their AHL careers.

With these guys, it's doubtful that any of them become impact players. What they do provide though is more qualified competition for the other prospects, and possibly a useful roster player.

[FlamesAddiction]

Ryan Haggerty sounds interesting.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by moon

I think assets is for the most part a stretch for these guys as they rarely turn into anything useful let alone decent.

I guess if they fall in your lap all it costs is money, effort and a roster spot but seems like a pretty pointless effort for the little to no results they produce.

Why not take a few shots ?? Extra contract spots and occasionally you pick up a solid complimentary piece. Especially the case during a rebuild when you can afford to try them out.

[djsFlames]

Haggerty and Carey are interesting.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by moon

I think assets is for the most part a stretch for these guys as they rarely turn into anything useful let alone decent.

I guess if they fall in your lap all it costs is money, effort and a roster spot but seems like a pretty pointless effort for the little to no results they produce.

These recently NCAA free agent signings have looked pretty solid. Might be forgetting some players also.


Matt Read
Cory Conacher
Torey Krug
Andrej Sustr
Danny Dekeyser

[neo45]

I think the guy they should go after hardest is Van Reimsdyk. Right handed two way defenseman who is putting up a point per game, yes please.

I'm confident with Burke aboard we might be able to land the quality free agents now. In the past guys like Eddy and Lamb were pretty underwhelming.

We have tons of contract openings this season (maybe the most in the league?) so we should definitely be offering contracts to Gaudreau, Arnold, Agostino, and maybe some of these guys when the college season is over

[Parallex]

I'd really like to see the Flames take a serious run at landing a D-man or two off this list. Taker and Van Riemsdyk by preference.

[FlameZilla]

TVR is currently out after a horrific leg injury. Looks like he could be done for the remainder of the college season.

Van Riemsdyk will be highly sought-after... Here's to hoping Burke promises him the moon to come to the Flames.

[sureLoss]

If development camp history means anything, Trevor van Riemsdyk attended the Flyers and Senators development camps in the past. The Flyers one he attended even after his brother was traded to the Leafs a few weeks prior.

Greg Carey has attended a Leafs development camp when Burke was GM. He also attended a Dallas camp, and was rumored that then GM Joe Nieuwendyk left a favorable impression on him.

Shayne Taker attended the Canucks camp and is from Surrey BC.

Ryan Haggerty attended the Rangers camp

[Ring of Fire]

A few college free agents that have attended Leafs camps in the past that have decent stats this year:

Justin Baker - D (attended 2012 camp - 6'2 right shot nearly PPG)
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=115245

Nick Sorkin - F New Hampshire (attended 2012 camp - 6'3 - nearly PPG - went to Islanders camp 2013)
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...10&encode=TRUE

Mark Zengerle - F Wisconsin (attended 2011 camp - 5'11 right shot PPG)
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=119611

[The Original FFIV]

OK with Trade Deadline over we can now fully put our focus on the NCAA College Free Agent crop, that is until the Future Watch magazine comes out

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014...gent-nhl-draft

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014...gent-nhl-draft

1-40 are all draftees with the exception of the two players below:

30. Chris McCarthy, Forward, Vermont (Free Agent)

The USNTDP product has had to overcome several serious injuries since his arrival in Burlington, but he saved his best for last in his senior campaign. The Collegeville, Pa. native is a power forward that can play both ends of the ice at the next level. He's very strong on the puck, has a good shot and has deceptively good hands. He has two shorthanded goals and has been very effective in his own end killing penalties and taking care of defensive responsibilities.

Chris McCarthy
Forward -- shoots R
Born Jul 30 1991 -- Collegeville, PA
[22 yrs. ago]
Height 6.01 -- Weight 190 [185 cm/86 kg]

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM +/- GP G A Pts PIM
2008-09 USNTDP Under-18 Team NAHL 19 4 7 11 22 2
2008-09 U.S. National Under-18 Team Ind 42 11 15 26 26
2009-10 U. of Vermont H-East 35 6 11 17 23
2010-11 U. of Vermont H-East 36 8 12 20 20
2011-12 U. of Vermont H-East 5 1 3 4 4
2012-13 U. of Vermont H-East 36 13 18 31 10
2013-14 U. of Vermont H-East 33 16 24 40 10 0

32. Mike Zalewski, Forward, RPI (Free Agent)

The RPI sophomore is a big-bodied winger that has the potential to be a great bottom six forward at the NHL level. He is very strong along the wall, brings a physical presence to the ice and can really muck it up and grind it. He's scored eight goals this season, including two on the penalty kill, but he has the potential to make a living as a third or fourth line winger in the pros.

Mike Zalewski
Defense -- shoots L
Born Aug 18 1992 -- New Hartford, NY
[21 yrs. ago]
Height 6.02 -- Weight 210 [188 cm/95 kg]

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM +/- GP G A Pts PIM
2009-10 Syracuse Stars EJHL 43 16 32 48 28
2010-11 Vernon Vipers BCHL 46 12 17 29 34 16 5 3 8 4
2011-12 Vernon Vipers BCHL 60 38 37 75 83 -- -- -- -- --
2012-13 R.P.I. ECAC 36 12 9 21 22
2013-14 R.P.I. ECAC 32 8 14 22 51 0

2 intriguing prospects that could be had for free. Would add a prospect to the stable and take the sting over not getting a draft pick for Cammy