2014 College Free Agents

[devo22]

George Malik ‏@georgemalik
Hotstove: Friedman says teams in running for NCAAA defenseman Christian Folin: Minny, Philly, Wash, Colorado.

* sad trombone *

[tvp2003]

With the Van Babrant signing, I decided to look a little more into the possibility of signing Scott Czarnowczan. He plays for Ferris State, who just lost to North Dakota. Turns out there is a Flames link -- he played on a defence pairing with Chad Billins (two years ago when Billins was also at Ferris State). Coincidence?

[sureLoss]

Chris Peters @chrismpeters
With Notre Dame eliminated, UFA that should draw strong interest: D Shayne Taker. Also believe G Steven Summerhays will get some looks.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Shayne Taker would be a good pickup. 6'4 210 pound defenseman would be a nice add to the system.

[sureLoss]

Kirk Luedeke @kluedeke29
NHL scout last night agreed with me on Folin...good player, but a victim of hype. Said: "Don't be surprised if Minnesota Wild gets him"


Also reports that Kevin Lowe was in attendance to watch Folin last night

[sureLoss]

Edmonton Oilers @EdmontonOilers
#Oilers agree to terms with Western Michigan Broncos (@WMUHockey) d-man Jordan Oesterle (@j_oest15) on a two-year entry level contract.

Edmonton Oilers @EdmontonOilers
Oesterle will join the @okcbarons for the remainder of @TheAHL season.

[OzSome]

I am a bit confused with the college players signing with NHL team. So I noticed Oesterle signed with the Oilers and he doesn't have to play in the NHL the rest of the season. Flames signed Van Babrant and are the Flames forced to play him in the NHL the rest of the season or is he allowed to play in Abby? Players like Agostino and maybe Arnold or Gaudreau(if both get signed after their season ends) who were drafted by the Flames..are they allowed to go to Abby or they have to play in the NHL the rest of the season? Is there a difference between College Free Agent signing rules and Drafted College players signing rules?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by OzSome

I am a bit confused with the college players signing with NHL team. So I noticed Oesterle signed with the Oilers and he doesn't have to play in the NHL the rest of the season. Flames signed Van Babrant and are the Flames forced to play him in the NHL the rest of the season or is he allowed to play in Abby? Players like Agostino and maybe Arnold or Gaudreau(if both get signed after their season ends) who were drafted by the Flames..are they allowed to go to Abby or they have to play in the NHL the rest of the season? Is there a difference between College Free Agent signing rules and Drafted College players signing rules?

- Oesterles ELC only starts next season. Therefore he can go to the AHL if he signs an ATO
- Agostinos and van Brabants ELCs start this season. They can't go to the AHL because they weren't Flames picks and weren't signed prior to the NHL deadline
- Arnold and Gaudreau can go to the AHL because they were Flames picks

[sureLoss]

Essentially the whole issue is CBA rule 13.12j, which states that NHL teams cannot loan players to other leagues after the NHL trade deadline unless

a) they were already recalled
b) qualify for a conditioning stint
c) an injury during the trade deadline prevented them from being loaned (with some other conditions)


So if a player is signed to an NHL deal after the trade deadline, the NHL team cannot loan them to an AHL team.

However to get past this rule, NHL teams can sign a player to an NHL contract that begins next season, but then have the player sign a try out with an AHL team. This allows teams to bypass 13.12j as the NHL team is not loaning a player to the AHL team after the trade deadline.

So in summary it depends on whether the player was signed before or after the trade deadline and when the contract starts nothing to do with draft rights/free agents.


Why do some players get an NHL contract this year and some get it starting next year? It is completely up to the teams and players to negotiate.

[Commandant]

Rangers ink Vermont forward Chris McCarthy.

[sureLoss]

In Jim Matheson's blog about Oesterle he mentions that Right shooting 6'2 200lbs defenceman Kenney Morrison is returning to college for another year:

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...ning-oesterle/

[jschick88]

Mike McMahon ‏@MikeMcMahonCHN 2m
According to @TSNBobMcKenzie on NHL Network, Christian Folin will sign with either TB, MIN or PHI.

Craig Custance ‏@CraigCustance 1m
Wild closing in on signing college UFA Christian Folin.

[jschick88]

Craig Custance ‏@CraigCustance 3m
Wild have agreed to terms with college UFA defenseman Christian Folin (UMass-Lowell). Was most coveted college UFA on the market.

[devo22]

NHL DEALS

Gaudreaus and Arnolds teammate and BC captain Patrick Brown has signed a 2 year ELC (starting next year) with the Carolina Hurricanes

F Daniel O'Donoghue (Mercyhurst) has signed a 2 year ELC with the Phoenix Coyotes

G Ryan Faragher (St Cloud) has signed a 1 year ELC with the Anaheim Ducks

AHL/ECHL DEALS

Shayne Taker has signed with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL

Scott Czarnowczan (some had speculated the Flames had some interest in him) has signed with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL

Steve Summerhays (a finalist for the Mike Richter Award for best college goaltender) has signed with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL

Surprised that Taker and Summerhays couldn't get an NHL deal.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by devo22

NHL DEALS

Gaudreaus and Arnolds teammate and BC captain Patrick Brown has signed a 2 year ELC (starting next year) with the Carolina Hurricanes

F Daniel O'Donoghue (Mercyhurst) has signed a 2 year ELC with the Phoenix Coyotes

G Ryan Faragher (St Cloud) has signed a 1 year ELC with the Anaheim Ducks

AHL/ECHL DEALS

Shayne Taker has signed with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL

Scott Czarnowczan (some had speculated the Flames had some interest in him) has signed with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL

Steve Summerhays (a finalist for the Mike Richter Award for best college goaltender) has signed with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL

Surprised that Taker and Summerhays couldn't get an NHL deal.

Can ECHL and AHL contracts have NHL release clauses? I think those guys could still get an invite in the fall if they would be allowed of course.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Can ECHL and AHL contracts have NHL release clauses? I think those guys could still get an invite in the fall if they would be allowed of course.

from what I've read they only signed contracts for the remainder of the 2013-14 season anyway, so no issue there. They'll again try to find some opportunity in the summer, I guess.

[Commandant]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Can ECHL and AHL contracts have NHL release clauses? I think those guys could still get an invite in the fall if they would be allowed of course.

Almost all ECHL contracts have AHL and NHL releases.

Almost all AHL contracts have NHL releases.

[sureLoss]

Katie Strang @KatieStrangESPN
#NYR Hearing that the Rangers are closing in on college free agent Mat Bodie, offensive defenseman from Union College

[sureLoss]

Steve Zipay @stevezipay
D-man Mat Bodie, Union College captain, agrees to terms of entry-level deal with #NYR, bit.ly/R9lFGh

[saXon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Steve Zipay @stevezipay
D-man Mat Bodie, Union College captain, agrees to terms of entry-level deal with #NYR, bit.ly/R9lFGh

Shocker.