NHL College Free Agent Tracker [Updated April 17]

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Chris Peters

The college free agent signing season has begun. With teams looking to fill out organizational depth or adding key pieces to their future, the college free agent has become one of the more economically valuable commodities in hockey since 2005.

This year, the top end of the class is probably a bit shallow in comparison to previous years, but the sheer number of viable pro prospects available to sign contracts this season is still fairly large. That should make for an intriguing several weeks.

Most college free agents are bound to the NHL’s entry-level system, meaning they can only sign for the maximum allowed under entry-level rules of that season. It makes these players fairly economical for most teams, assuming they are not at their limit of contracts allowed (50). Teams at or near their limit may be quieter around this time.

Additionally, should a team choose to play one of its newly-signed players this year on its NHL roster, the team will burn the first year of that player’s contract, meaning he could become a restricted free agent sooner. Since everyone is bound to mostly the same restrictions, teams have to get creative with its recruiting of each player. Sometimes that ability to burn a year is the big bargaining chip. There are few players in this class that are likely to be granted that incentive.

This running blog will highlight undrafted players that signed with various NHL clubs this off season. It will be updated as signings happen, providing some key details about the player based on personal viewings, thoughts from scouts and available statistics. There is also a running list of best UFAs available at the bottom of the post that will be updated daily.

Continue reading →

Posted in NCAA, NHL | 7 Comments

Strong Class of College Free Agents to Hit Market Soon

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Chris Peters

The college free agent has become one of the more attractive assets to NHL teams over the last few years. The success of a guy like Tampa Bay’s Cory Conacher, who signed after a four-year career at Canisius College, this season only strengthens the desire. Justin Schultz is another top rookie, but he became a free agent the more unusual way, but there are a few guys out there that could make a similar decision.

Undrafted college free agents can sometimes fill out some organizational depth or they can step right into the NHL lineup. Either way, these players give teams an affordable option to fit some sort of need whether it be immediate or something further down the line.

This year’s class of free agents is particularly strong at the top. Many of the best available players are underclassmen, so it also means they’ll have to decide if now is the time to make the jump to pro or if there’s room for additional development in school.

While the class itself is expected to be deep, there is a clear cut top two players that will bring offers from many, perhaps the majority of the teams in the NHL.

Coming up after the jump, a look at those two and some of the other players that will highlight the 2013 college free agent class.

Continue reading →

Posted in NCAA, NHL | Comments Off on Strong Class of College Free Agents to Hit Market Soon

NCAA vs. CHL Battle Hits Minnesota High School Ranks

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Chris Peters

The ongoing recruiting battle between the NCAA and Canadian Hockey League took a new twist this past February, creating what appears to be a new front in the war: Minnesota high school hockey.

Alec Baer (Photo: Vancouver Giants)

Last week, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune documented the intriguing case of Alec Baer, a 15-year-old freshman at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School in St. Louis Park, Minn., and one of the top underclassmen in the state.

Baer was recently kicked off the BSM varsity team by head coach Ken Pauly after he went to visit the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. It has been termed as a recruiting visit. However, in going, Baer missed a practice.

According to Western College Hockey Blog, the school released the following statement upon Baer’s removal from the program:

“Alec Baer has decided to seek out other hockey opportunities and is no longer a part of the Benilde-St. Margaret’s hockey program.”

Baer, who had attended the Giants rookie camp in August, ended up signing with Vancouver on Feb. 15.

This situation is providing a very interesting case study in the high competitiveness of the NCAA-CHL battle and how it trickles down to the other levels of hockey and the fact that there’s a relatively new battleground.

Minnesota-based players used to be long shots to ever consider playing major junior, but that’s starting to change and Baer’s case is the latest example of tensions rising.

Continue reading →

Posted in High School Hockey, Junior Hockey, NCAA | 8 Comments

What if the NHL Doesn’t go to Sochi?

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Chris Peters

As the NHL meets with the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation to come to some sort of understanding on the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the seed of doubt has been planted. There’s a chance, albeit a slim one, that the NHL won’t shut down during the Olympics, thus making its athletes unavailable.

The NHL is seeking something a little more in return for shutting down its business for two weeks in February of 2014. A lot of it has to do with better access to the players and a little more flexibility with Olympic properties like videos and images of NHL players. It’s not asking a lot, but the IOC is not known for making a lot of sense (see: Wrestling getting dropped inexplicably this week).

I wouldn’t call these demands from the NHL so much as they are wants. As of now, there’s no real financial gain to be made from going to the Olympics. The TV ratings didn’t explode, nor did ticket sales after any of the previous Games (though the league has gotten a lot stronger in the last four years). If the IOC doesn’t grant the NHL at least some of their wants, there’s that chance that this becomes an NHL-less Olympics.

So… what if that were to happen?

Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 Olympics, NHL, USA Hockey | 5 Comments

Video: J.T. Miller Caps Remarkable Month with First Two NHL Goals

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Chris Peters

It’s been an incredible month for J.T. Miller.

In January, he helped lead Team USA to gold at the World Juniors, where he was also tied for the team’s scoring lead. That same month he was named to the American Hockey League All-Star Game. Earlier this week he was called up to the New York Rangers, the team that selected him 15th overall in 2011. He made his NHL debut exactly one month after Team USA won its gold medal and Thursday night, he scored his first two NHL goals.

These weren’t just cheap goals either. Here’s a look at both.

If you’re going to score your first career goal, might as well make it an unassisted snipe job. The second was another terrific read by Miller to find the open ice allowing Ryan McDonagh to hit him with an exceptional stretch pass. He looked like a veteran out there playing on a line with fellow Americans Chris Kreider and Ryan Callahan.

It hasn’t been all great for Miller this month. A few weeks after returning from the World Juniors, his great-grandfather died. Miller was very close to him. So much so that the 19-year-old center placed his gold medal from the WJC in the casket with his great-grandfather, who was buried with it.

“I actually put the medal in the coffin with my great grandfather,” Miller told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale. “Not many can say they had a special relationship with a great grandparent, but that was something very special to me.”

That’s a pretty incredible tribute.

Miller has looked good in his first two NHL games  and even coach John Tortorella has said Miller might take somebody’s job before the year is up.

The way he’s handled this whirlwind month is showing he appears to have the maturity to be able to handle becoming a full-time NHLer. Time will tell if he sticks with the big club, but he’ll never forget Feb. 7, 2013.

Posted in NHL | Comments Off on Video: J.T. Miller Caps Remarkable Month with First Two NHL Goals

Remembering Brendan Burke

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Chris Peters

Editor’s Note: The following was originally published on Feb. 3, 2012. Today is the third anniversary of Brendan Burke’s tragic passing. Since just last year, Brendan’s message of courage and acceptance has become stronger than ever thanks to the efforts of the You Can Play Project, which was co-founded by Brendan’s brother Patrick. Through their work, Brendan’s story will continue to spread and one day, hopefully soon, we will live in a more accepting world. Thank you, Brendan Burke, for showing us the way.

Brendan Burke was every bit the warrior his father Brian has coveted for the National Hockey League teams he’s built over a two-decade career in the front office. Brendan may not have gone about his business with the truculence or belligerence of the combatants of his father’s employ, but showed no less courage. Brendan answered the bell for his teammates. He taught a few lessons. He changed the momentum.

Two years ago this coming Sunday, hockey and the world at large lost one of its brightest young people to a car accident on an icy highway in Indiana. Brendan Burke was lost far too soon, but he is still making an impact today.

Just months before his tragic passing, Brendan made a brave choice to come out as a gay man in one of the most public ways possible. He wasn’t going to  hide who he was, and because of that, he has given many the courage to be honest and open about themselves.

Tolerance and acceptance aren’t always easy to come by. Brendan Burke knew this, but he also knew that he had a platform others may not. So he took his story to John Buccigross of ESPN, and hockey’s greatest friend at the World Wide Leader shared the story of a normal everyday college kid, who happened to be the son of an NHL GM and gay.

It will live on as one of the more important moments in the quest to make hockey and sports overall more accepting of all people, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. Continue reading →

Posted in NCAA, NHL | 1 Comment

Video: The Beanpot Trot

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Chris Peters

The Beanpot, which has become one of hockey’s great annual traditions, kicks off today in Boston.

If you’re not familiar, the Beanpot is a four-team tournament featuring Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern. It’s pretty much become a two-team race annually, but you never know when a surprise might pop up. Especially in this incredibly unpredictable season.

While the Beanpot is a great tradition, we can be thankful that what happened just before the 1986 tournament stayed in 1986.

Days before Boston College was to meet arch rival BU, the Eagles decided to “leak” a video to the press. Perhaps inspired by the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl Shuffle (to which I still know almost all the words), Boston College’s playful bunch recorded “The Beanpot Trot.”

And it went a little somethin’ like this.

Among the highlights…

— Well, the track suits. Obviously.

— The inspired chorus: “This is our song, we’re not gettin’ cocky, we’re just here to rap about hockey.”

— Doug Brown’s (6) utter lack of rhythm.

— Bob Sweeney’s (20) Mustache.

— Bob Sweeney’s solo: “My name is Sweens, the one with the ‘stache. I never get excited, unless it’s over cash. If you can’t find me, I’ll be in the slot, movin’ my feet, doin’ the Beanpot Trot.”

— Scott Gordon doing the splits. Yes, Scott Gordon, former head coach of the New York Islanders.

— The best performer is the team’s broadcaster, “Gracie,” who looks like he might be the lovechild of Jack Edwards and Brent Musburger.

If you were wondering, Boston College lost to BU, 4-1, in the 1986 Beanpot final.

Posted in NCAA | Comments Off on Video: The Beanpot Trot

Photo: Ice in at Soldier Field for Hockey City Classic

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Chris Peters

Though the lockout robbed us of the Winter Classic, Chicago is set to host the Hockey City Classic at Soldier Field. The ice is down and the logos painted. Now all they need are the four college teams that will participate in the doubleheader on Feb. 17.

Photo by Robb Olexin (via Rick Nadeau)

Notre Dame will meet Miami University at noon CT, while Minnesota will take on Wisconsin at 3:30 at the Hockey City Classic. Up until then, several Chicago-area high schools and the Chicago Fire Department hockey team will all have games on the rink and there are also public skating sessions.

More than 45,000 tickets have already been sold for the outdoor event.

I’ll be in Chicago on Feb. 17 and will be filing reports from the Hockey City Classic to United States of Hockey and CBSSports.com.

Posted in NCAA | 4 Comments

Video: Steven Whitney’s From-the-Knees Goal for Boston College

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Chris Peters

The Boston College Eagles have been skidding of late with losses in four of their last five. Playing struggling Vermont on home ice Friday, BC put an emphatic stop to the slide with a 4-1 win.

Steven Whitney helped create some distance between the Eagles and the Catamounts with this awfully impressive goal.

After getting knocked down by a check, Whitney made a full 360-degree spin on his backside. Michael Sit made a somewhat risky pass to Whitney who was still on his knees. Whitney had the presence of mind to collect it and absolutely wired it from the kneeling position.

The goal made it 3-1 and gave Whitney his team-leading 16th of the season. That mark currently ties him for second in the nation.

Whitney is undrafted, meaning he’ll be available as an unrestricted free agent upon the conclusion of his season at Boston College.

Posted in American Prospects, NCAA | Comments Off on Video: Steven Whitney’s From-the-Knees Goal for Boston College

Pittsburgh Awarded 2013 All-American Prospects Game, WJC on Horizon?

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Chris Peters

In a joint announcement, USA Hockey and the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Tuesday that the 2013 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game will be hosted at the CONSOL Energy Center next September.

Pittsburgh seems like a natural fit to host this second-year event with its burgeoning hockey population and a plethora of young prospects coming out of the area. Western PA has been one of USA Hockey’s fastest growing areas in terms of hockey membership as well.

The Pens, quickly becoming one of the strongest organizations in the NHL, are also coming off of hosting the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, which showed the organization’s ability to host a fairly large event and do it well.

The timing is right for the All-American Prospects Game, still in its infancy, to go to Pittsburgh. USA Hockey has hopes this event will continue to grow as both a great showcase for the players and hockey in the U.S. overall. This also allows USA Hockey to build relationships with individual NHL organizations to further its own aims.

Additionally, Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review shared the following pertinent tidbit of information:

The All-American Prospect Game may not be the last marquee hockey event in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are hoping to land an NHL All-Star Game by the end of the decade and have not ruled out trying to land the 2018 World Junior Championship.

That last part should raise some eyebrows…

Continue reading →

Posted in Junior Hockey, NHL, USA Hockey, World Junior Championship | 7 Comments