Interesting NCAA free agents 2023 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Reggie Dunlop · 02-22-2023, 11:31 PM

With a dearth of draft picks in recent years starting to manifest itself, the Flames have to be super aggressive targetting FA.

An interesting name is Akito Hirose out of Minnesota State - Mankato. A Calgary kid. A LD who has a well-rounded skill set with decent size. A Junior, but who may go pro a year early.

FlamesAddiction · 02-22-2023, 11:47 PM

I found this list on an enemy website. Hirose is mentioned.

https://canucksarmy.com/news/23-top-...2022-23-season

Hunter McKown sounds interesting as he is only 20, so lots of development time left. He leads Colorado in points and goals.

Nick Poisson sounds interesting as well. Not putting up the points he did last season where he was almost a PPG, but is apparently a good defensive player. Only 21.

Ryan McAllister looks like a good player as well, leading the nation in points at the time the piece was written. He also already attended a Leafs camp.

Sandman · 02-23-2023, 12:10 AM

https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/80...available-ufas

I think only Livingstone, McAllister, and maybe Hirose and Bengtsson are worth contracts, IMO. I would hope we can sign Anaheim draftee, D Henry Thrun, who has stated he won't sign there. Highly doubt he would sign here, though. He's 6'2", can skate, play physical, and puts up very good numbers.

Sandman · 02-23-2023, 12:22 AM

My write-up on McAllister from earlier this season (before college, he played for the Brooks Bandits):

Hope I get this right, so anyone can correct me if I'm wrong. He's too old to be drafted, but he's not eligible to be signed until the end of his freshman year. At that time, he can sign with an NHL team, but he wouldn't be able to return to the NCAA after signing that contract. He was slated to attend the Golden Knights rookie camp in July, so teams are taking notice. I just read a few articles from a Flyers site, where the writer was urging them to sign McAllister (and/or a couple of his Bandits teammates) before other teams take notice. The Flames may not have any inside track, as McAllister is originally from London,ON.

A few more quick facts:

-McAllister is the highest scoring Bandit in franchise history, at 139 pts.
-In addition to being named MVP of the AJHL,he was the MVP of the CJHL, comprised of 9 leagues across Canada.
-Only the 2nd skater in Bandits history to score 50 or more goals in a season. The record holder is his teammate TJ Hughes, who scored 66.
-The last player in the AJHL to score 130+points in a year was in 1997-98, when Mike Comrie scored 138 pts.

EDIT: Interestingly enough, McAllister's former teammate, 21 yo TJ Hughes, is playing this year in the NCAA for powerhouse Michigan, and is their 3rd leading scorer with 7g/7a/14pts in 12 games. The two players ahead of him in scoring are Mackie Samoskevich, and 2023 Draft darling Adam Fantilli. He also plays with Luke Hughes, Dylan Duke, Rutger McGroarty, Seamus Casey, and Jacob Truscott.
Last edited by Sandman; 11-16-2022 at 01:50 AM.

Sandman · 02-23-2023, 01:26 AM

A few college draftees that may or may not sign with their NHL teams, according to Pronman:

Erik Portillo,G (Michigan)-Buffalo

Dominik Basse,G (St.Cloud)-Chicago

Magnus Chrona,G (Denver)-SJ

John Farinacci,C (Harvard)-Arizona

Mitch Gibson,G (Harvard)-Washington

Carter Gylander,G (Colgate)-Detroit

Ryan Johnson,D (Minnesota)-Buffalo. First-rounder will likely sign with the Sabres.

Jackson LaCombe,D (Minnesota)-Anaheim. He's expected to sign with the Ducks.

Aidan McDonagh,LW (Northwestern)-Vancouver

Nikita Nesterenko,C (Boston College)-Minny

Jay O'Brien,C (Boston U)-Philly. O"Brien is a first-rounder, but they will let him go, and pick-up a compensatory pick.

Jayden Struble,D (Northeastern)-Habs

Henry Thrun,D (Harvard)-Anaheim

Matt Steinburg,C (Cornell)-Colorado

Big ones here are Thrun and LaCombe- who is 6'1", extremely mobile, a good puck mover and distributor, and has put up numbers at every level.

FlamesAddiction · 02-23-2023, 03:22 AM

Hirose is a former team mate of Duehr's as well, so I bet the Flames have a scouted him and have a good read on him.

Canada 02 · 02-23-2023, 09:07 AM

Colin Graf is a sophomore at Quinnipiac. He is 2nd in the nation is scoring, 3rd in points per game.
He is a right shot C/RW. Decent size 6', 180lbs, great shot. Only 20 years old

Reggie Dunlop · 02-23-2023, 02:47 PM

I know bupkis about these kids, other than what others say. Hirose I thought was interesting as he's a local kid and if he's going to start out in the AHL, why not in his hometown.

Jiri Hrdina · 02-23-2023, 03:30 PM

Farinacci is an interesting name too. Thought that kid had a little bit of upside.

Jiri Hrdina · 02-23-2023, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I know bupkis about these kids, other than what others say. Hirose I thought was interesting as he's a local kid and if he's going to start out in the AHL, why not in his hometown.

I would sign a prospect named Bupkis.
Anton Bupkis.

Big stay at home defender. Not a lot of offense though. Could be a player.

Canada 02 · 03-06-2023, 01:55 PM

NCAA college season's are ending for non-playoff teams and teams eliminated in their divisional quarterfinals.

Lake Superior State was eliminated yesterday. The name that pops up is Jacob Bengtsson, 6'3" 200lb defenseman from Sweden. He attended the Lightning development camp last summer

https://ccha.com/sports/mens-ice-hoc...-bengtsson/531

The Blues signed Anton Malmstrom, also a Swede playing college for Bowling Green

https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues...ct/c-341898250

Sandman · 03-06-2023, 03:50 PM

Bengtsson has some GLOWING stats….

Edit: Just looked at the team he plays for, and he’s the team’s second leading scorer, yikes! Makes his numbers even more impressive, that he can put up those stats on that team….

Reggie Dunlop · 03-06-2023, 05:01 PM

Get Bengt!

Reggie Dunlop · 03-07-2023, 01:39 PM

Right now, the Wranglers are scouring the ECHL for depth defencemen... I wonder if they go the college route as well.

cral12 · 03-07-2023, 07:30 PM

Chris Peters' article on top NCAA free agents
https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/10...-teams-in-2023

Sandman · 03-08-2023, 12:22 AM

Hope the brass are looking at a few of these D, we need to re-stock the cupboards.

sureLoss · 03-08-2023, 12:19 PM

Wranglers sign college free agent G Connor Murphy to an ATO per the AHL transactions page.

Stats:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/playe.../connor-murphy

Monahammer · 03-08-2023, 12:26 PM

1 TJ Hughes please

Reggie Dunlop · 03-08-2023, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Wranglers sign college free agent G Connor Murphy to an ATO per the AHL transactions page.

Stats:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/playe.../connor-murphy

The rare goalie/captain.

https://unionathletics.com/news/2023...wranglers.aspx

He joins fellow alum Nick DeSimone.

Wranglers holding try-outs for a depth goalie.

Sandman · 03-08-2023, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monahammer

1 TJ Hughes please

Hughes holds the record for goals in a season by a member of the Brooks Bandits, with 66, last year. He had 127 points in 60 games, while teammate Ryan McAllister had 139pts. The last player to score over 130 points in the AJHL was Mike Comrie. Both players are in their first year of college, but it would be awesome to snag one, or both of these guys when they are ready to go pro. Both players are originally from Ontario, so I bet they are Leafs fans.