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NCAA Prospects. (Discussion)


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Zach Aston-Reese’s head coach Jim Madigan summed it up nicely: ““If he’s not the best college free agent, I haven’t seen who’s better than him.”

Aston-Reese is an absolute beast working along the boards and in heavy traffic situations. He’s continued to develop his two-way play, and put in a lot of work on his shot to become a more effective scorer.

You can read more about why Aston-Reese is the best NCAA free agent available in this feature piece, with some more great quotes from his coach.

2. Daniel Brickley, Defenseman, Minnesota State

Last year, Minnesota State’s Casey Nelson was one of the top free agent defensemen available out of the NCAA, eventually signing with the Buffalo Sabres and jumping right into their lineup. Brickley is an extremely similar, if not slightly more polished, prospect.

Brickley isn’t a lightning-fast skater, and is still developing on the defensive end, but his combination of size—listed at 6-2 205 lbs.—and tremendous offensive abilities give him a tantalizing amount of upside. He missed time this year with a fractured wrist, but his time out only increased his value as Minnesota State’s power play struggled without him running things from the point.

 
What he lacks in straight-line speed, he makes up for with a shiftiness laterally which is really impressive for a big defender that allows him to create his own passing and shooting lanes. He’s aggressive in looking for his shot which helps generate a lot of offense. He’s still a bit of a project, but could develop into a second pairing defenseman that is very good on the power play at the NHL level.

3. Mike Vecchione, Center, Union

Vecchione has had opportunities to sign NHL contracts before. He was an integral part of the Union team that won a national championship with the likes of Shayne Gostisbehere and Daniel Carr, and followed that up with a 50-point sophomore season that earned him offers to turn pro.

It looked like the decision to pass up that opportunity was a mistake when his point total dipped to 29 points as a junior, but Vecchione returned for his senior season and has been dominant at the NCAA level. He’s second nationally in scoring with an 18-21-39 scoring in 21 games and is among the favorites to win the Hobey Baker.

Vecchione is a complete, 200-foot player. His skating is good enough to make plays in open ice, and he can win battles along the wall. He’s also capable of playing center and being a go-to guy in the face-off circle, which makes him more intriguing as a pro.

4. Neal Pionk, Defenseman, Minnesota Duluth

In his sophomore season, the Duluth-area native has developed into the top defenseman for the Bulldogs, who have spent much of the season as one of the top teams in the country.

Pionk is a very good two-way defenseman thanks to his excellent skating ability and agility. He moves the puck up the ice reliably thanks to an ability to spin his way out of traffic and is an excellent outlet passer. His quickness also gives him the confidence to hold the line in the offensive zone, rather than giving up ice to give himself more cushion defensively.

He’s just an okay defender one-on-one against the rush, but has an above average amount of toughness and physicality for a guy that will classify as a smaller defenseman at the next level.

5. Blake Winiecki, Center, St. Cloud State

Winiecki is a big centerman—always a valuable commodity at the NHL level—that has started to contribute more offensively now that he is playing a bigger role and seeing more ice time in his junior season with St. Cloud State. Winiecki is solid on face-offs, plays good defense, and has the size to provide a net-front presence, while still having the skill to not be a drain on possession when he gets the puck.

He’ll be a grinder at the next level, but the type of player that plays a valuable role for a team.

6. John Stevens, Center, Northeastern

John Stevens is the son of an NHL coach, and that really shows in his game. He’s not the most physically-gifted athlete, but he makes up for that with incredibly high hockey IQ. He’s a smart, two-way centerman that plays a very complete game. He doesn’t have tremendous upside, but lots of potential to be a reliable defensive centerman at the NHL level.

7. Peyton Jones, Goalie, Penn State

Jones has a prototypical NHL-size frame for a goalie, and like most bigger prospects, it took him a little longer to develop. After a shaky first year in the USHL, Jones was very solid in his second year with the Lincoln Stars, but it wasn’t quite enough of a track record to get him drafted in his final year of draft eligibility. Now at Penn State, Jones is proving last year wasn’t a fluke. He quickly took command of the starting job for the Nittany Lions and is helping to lead them to their best performance in school history. Jones’ has the size and athleticism to compete for a job in the NHL.

8. Mitch Hults, Center, Lake Superior State

Late in his recruitment, Hults passed on the opportunity to play as a near-walk-on at Minnesota in order to take a bigger scholarship offer at Lake Superior State. That move has really paid off because Hults receives a ton of ice time—top line center, point on the top power play unit, top PK unit—and has ample opportunity to show off his skills. Hults is listed at 6-2 205 lbs., which gives him the size to use long reach and protect the puck effectively, but what separates him and makes him an NHL prospect is that he has extremely light feet and is a very fast skater.

Discipline is the biggest concern with Hults, but he has all the physical traits to be an effective winger at the NHL level.

9. CJ Smith, Left Wing, UMass Lowell

CJ Smith’s combination of first step speed and puck-handling ability makes him a dangerous offensive threat, especially when working off the wall in the offensive zone. Smith is a bit of a tweener, because he definitely plays more of an offensive-minded skill game, but isn’t likely to make it as a top-six forward in the NHL.

10. Adam Johnson, Center/Right Wing, Minnesota Duluth

Johnson was a prospect that drew serious attention from NHL Central Scouting in his first year of NHL Draft eligibility, way back in 2012, due in large part to his explosive skating ability. But ultimately teams backed off because of a lack of physical maturity and a lack of toughness he showed playing against weak high school competition.

Five years later, two years of junior hockey and two years in college hockey has really matured Johnson’s game. He has filled out his frame a bit and plays a much heavier game while still maintaining that explosive quickness. He has the tools to be a very effective winger at the NHL level.

11. Dominik Shine, Right Wing, Northern Michigan

Shine is a bit off the radar because he plays at Northern Michigan, which is currently struggling through one of the worst seasons in school history. But despite that, Shine has managed to remain effective, scoring 12-4-16 in 18 games with minimal help. Shine has an excellent combination of speed and toughness, which makes him difficult to defend. He missed the first six games of his team’s season for an unspecified violation of team rules, which may be a minor red flag, but could be a great find for a team willing to look off the beaten path.

12. Tyler Kelleher, Right Wing, New Hampshire

Kelleher is definitely a boom-or-bust type of prospect. He’s the NCAA’s leading scorer with 40 points in 20 games—no NCAA player has come close to 2.00 points/game since Johnny Gaudreau—and has incredible offensive talent. But it’s questionable whether the small forward will be able to translate his high-skill game to the NHL level. He’ll be worth a shot for some NHL team, but with very little expectation attached.

Honorable Mention

Justin Kloos, Forward, Minnesota

Gavin Bayreuther, Defenseman, St. Lawrence

Sebastian Vidmar, Forward, Union

Joe Gambardella, Forward, UMass Lowell

Griffen Molino, Forward, Western Michigan

Chris Nell, Goalie, Bowling Green

Gerald Mayhew, Forward, Ferris State

Jimmy Schuldt, Defenseman, St. Cloud State

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19 minutes ago, Off_The_Schneid! said:

Zach Aston-Reese’s head coach Jim Madigan summed it up nicely: ““If he’s not the best college free agent, I haven’t seen who’s better than him.”

Aston-Reese is an absolute beast working along the boards and in heavy traffic situations. He’s continued to develop his two-way play, and put in a lot of work on his shot to become a more effective scorer.

You can read more about why Aston-Reese is the best NCAA free agent available in this feature piece, with some more great quotes from his coach.

2. Daniel Brickley, Defenseman, Minnesota State

Last year, Minnesota State’s Casey Nelson was one of the top free agent defensemen available out of the NCAA, eventually signing with the Buffalo Sabres and jumping right into their lineup. Brickley is an extremely similar, if not slightly more polished, prospect.

Brickley isn’t a lightning-fast skater, and is still developing on the defensive end, but his combination of size—listed at 6-2 205 lbs.—and tremendous offensive abilities give him a tantalizing amount of upside. He missed time this year with a fractured wrist, but his time out only increased his value as Minnesota State’s power play struggled without him running things from the point.

 
What he lacks in straight-line speed, he makes up for with a shiftiness laterally which is really impressive for a big defender that allows him to create his own passing and shooting lanes. He’s aggressive in looking for his shot which helps generate a lot of offense. He’s still a bit of a project, but could develop into a second pairing defenseman that is very good on the power play at the NHL level.

3. Mike Vecchione, Center, Union

Vecchione has had opportunities to sign NHL contracts before. He was an integral part of the Union team that won a national championship with the likes of Shayne Gostisbehere and Daniel Carr, and followed that up with a 50-point sophomore season that earned him offers to turn pro.

It looked like the decision to pass up that opportunity was a mistake when his point total dipped to 29 points as a junior, but Vecchione returned for his senior season and has been dominant at the NCAA level. He’s second nationally in scoring with an 18-21-39 scoring in 21 games and is among the favorites to win the Hobey Baker.

Vecchione is a complete, 200-foot player. His skating is good enough to make plays in open ice, and he can win battles along the wall. He’s also capable of playing center and being a go-to guy in the face-off circle, which makes him more intriguing as a pro.

4. Neal Pionk, Defenseman, Minnesota Duluth

In his sophomore season, the Duluth-area native has developed into the top defenseman for the Bulldogs, who have spent much of the season as one of the top teams in the country.

Pionk is a very good two-way defenseman thanks to his excellent skating ability and agility. He moves the puck up the ice reliably thanks to an ability to spin his way out of traffic and is an excellent outlet passer. His quickness also gives him the confidence to hold the line in the offensive zone, rather than giving up ice to give himself more cushion defensively.

He’s just an okay defender one-on-one against the rush, but has an above average amount of toughness and physicality for a guy that will classify as a smaller defenseman at the next level.

5. Blake Winiecki, Center, St. Cloud State

Winiecki is a big centerman—always a valuable commodity at the NHL level—that has started to contribute more offensively now that he is playing a bigger role and seeing more ice time in his junior season with St. Cloud State. Winiecki is solid on face-offs, plays good defense, and has the size to provide a net-front presence, while still having the skill to not be a drain on possession when he gets the puck.

He’ll be a grinder at the next level, but the type of player that plays a valuable role for a team.

6. John Stevens, Center, Northeastern

John Stevens is the son of an NHL coach, and that really shows in his game. He’s not the most physically-gifted athlete, but he makes up for that with incredibly high hockey IQ. He’s a smart, two-way centerman that plays a very complete game. He doesn’t have tremendous upside, but lots of potential to be a reliable defensive centerman at the NHL level.

7. Peyton Jones, Goalie, Penn State

Jones has a prototypical NHL-size frame for a goalie, and like most bigger prospects, it took him a little longer to develop. After a shaky first year in the USHL, Jones was very solid in his second year with the Lincoln Stars, but it wasn’t quite enough of a track record to get him drafted in his final year of draft eligibility. Now at Penn State, Jones is proving last year wasn’t a fluke. He quickly took command of the starting job for the Nittany Lions and is helping to lead them to their best performance in school history. Jones’ has the size and athleticism to compete for a job in the NHL.

8. Mitch Hults, Center, Lake Superior State

Late in his recruitment, Hults passed on the opportunity to play as a near-walk-on at Minnesota in order to take a bigger scholarship offer at Lake Superior State. That move has really paid off because Hults receives a ton of ice time—top line center, point on the top power play unit, top PK unit—and has ample opportunity to show off his skills. Hults is listed at 6-2 205 lbs., which gives him the size to use long reach and protect the puck effectively, but what separates him and makes him an NHL prospect is that he has extremely light feet and is a very fast skater.

Discipline is the biggest concern with Hults, but he has all the physical traits to be an effective winger at the NHL level.

9. CJ Smith, Left Wing, UMass Lowell

CJ Smith’s combination of first step speed and puck-handling ability makes him a dangerous offensive threat, especially when working off the wall in the offensive zone. Smith is a bit of a tweener, because he definitely plays more of an offensive-minded skill game, but isn’t likely to make it as a top-six forward in the NHL.

10. Adam Johnson, Center/Right Wing, Minnesota Duluth

Johnson was a prospect that drew serious attention from NHL Central Scouting in his first year of NHL Draft eligibility, way back in 2012, due in large part to his explosive skating ability. But ultimately teams backed off because of a lack of physical maturity and a lack of toughness he showed playing against weak high school competition.

Five years later, two years of junior hockey and two years in college hockey has really matured Johnson’s game. He has filled out his frame a bit and plays a much heavier game while still maintaining that explosive quickness. He has the tools to be a very effective winger at the NHL level.

11. Dominik Shine, Right Wing, Northern Michigan

Shine is a bit off the radar because he plays at Northern Michigan, which is currently struggling through one of the worst seasons in school history. But despite that, Shine has managed to remain effective, scoring 12-4-16 in 18 games with minimal help. Shine has an excellent combination of speed and toughness, which makes him difficult to defend. He missed the first six games of his team’s season for an unspecified violation of team rules, which may be a minor red flag, but could be a great find for a team willing to look off the beaten path.

12. Tyler Kelleher, Right Wing, New Hampshire

Kelleher is definitely a boom-or-bust type of prospect. He’s the NCAA’s leading scorer with 40 points in 20 games—no NCAA player has come close to 2.00 points/game since Johnny Gaudreau—and has incredible offensive talent. But it’s questionable whether the small forward will be able to translate his high-skill game to the NHL level. He’ll be worth a shot for some NHL team, but with very little expectation attached.

Honorable Mention

Justin Kloos, Forward, Minnesota

Gavin Bayreuther, Defenseman, St. Lawrence

Sebastian Vidmar, Forward, Union

Joe Gambardella, Forward, UMass Lowell

Griffen Molino, Forward, Western Michigan

Chris Nell, Goalie, Bowling Green

Gerald Mayhew, Forward, Ferris State

Jimmy Schuldt, Defenseman, St. Cloud State

Brickley looks intriguing

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I like college hockey prospects now, they are showing more and more to be steals in the later rounds.

 

And btw if canucks Are signing any buddy in the college ranks it should be Zach Aston-Reese and Daniel brickley. 

 

If u don't know those guys Google them they'll both improve our team big time 

 

Brickley has higher offensive ceiling than stecher and is a big body and is good defensively. 

 

 

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50 minutes ago, orcasgonewild said:

I like college hockey prospects now, they are showing more and more to be steals in the later rounds.

 

And btw if canucks Are signing any buddy in the college ranks it should be Zach Aston-Reese and Daniel brickley. 

 

If u don't know those guys Google them they'll both improve our team big time 

 

Brickley has higher offensive ceiling than stecher and is a big body and is good defensively. 

 

 

ANY BUDDY!

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I suspect that the Canucks will go hard on Zach Aston-Reese. He's a teammate of Adam Gaudette's and I suspect the Canucks will likely try and push for Gaudette to sign (alongside Boeser).

 

Of the list, I don't really expect Brickley to sign in Vancouver. Canucks have a longjam at defense and so I don't see us being a destination for the top tier of College UFA defensemen. Brickley signs if management convinces him that it's convinced that they lose Sbisa on waivers and will have a roster spot for him next season. We may be able to snag a guy like Gavin Bayreuther, though, and have him develop for the better part of next season in Utica and have him be a call-up... but with guys like Jordan Subban, Oli Juolevi, and Evan McEney (who has been a PLEASANT SURPRISE this season)... it may be too much of a log jam in the back to sign a high profile College UFA d-man.

 

That said, I think we have a very good shot at signing a couple of the higher profile College UFA forwards this year. In particular, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Canucks in on Alexander Kerfoot. He was drafted by the Devils in 2012 and has spent the past four years at Harvard. He's a local kid who, it seems, will be hitting the open market in August. He's a smaller centre but he's got great talent. He also played in the BCHL. Like Stecher, the local factor and a legit opportunity to play for his hometown may lure Kerfoot back home. (He'd likely have a good chance at slotting in as the 4th line centre next season if Gaudette opts for another year of college).

 

I also think Tyler Kelleher could be an intriguing signing for the Canucks. High risk, high reward. He's a little guy (5'6" -- probably Gaudreau's size) but he's been putting up a ton of points and likes to score. I know the Canucks are a smaller team but for a team in desperate need of goal scoring, Kelleher could be worth the gamble. He's always put high numbers up in every level of hockey he's played and was likely left undrafted because of his size (much like Gaudreau slid because of his size, though, in a re-draft Gaudreau likely becomes a top 10 pick). Would be a worthy gamble for the Canucks to make since the one thing that's barren in their prospect cupboard is game breaking point getters and that void could be helped (marginally) by Kelleher,

 

And I like Mike Vecchione. Could be a nice moneyball signing too.

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I think we will snag Aston-Reese or it will be the case of us in the final two AGAIN. Makes too much sense. Not a lot of depth with forwards at the moment, especially forwards with a 2-way power forward type of game, who are reliable in the defensive zone. Could be a 4th liner as soon as next year.

 

I for one am hoping this happens, from what i see hes committed to being a pro in all aspects. Has taken a leadership role on his team and has gotten better every year. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Guys! I know we're getting crowded on the blueline, but just thought I'd note that Garett Cockerrill another Northeastern free agent would be a great signing. Right handed defenseman, moves the puck real well, plays physical, and has a great shot. Matt Benning (Jim Benning's nephew) was a Northeastern defenseman free agent signing and is having a pretty good season.

 

Northeastern the new NCAA hockey factory? ::D

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1 hour ago, suitup said:

Guys! I know we're getting crowded on the blueline, but just thought I'd note that Garett Cockerrill another Northeastern free agent would be a great signing. Right handed defenseman, moves the puck real well, plays physical, and has a great shot. Matt Benning (Jim Benning's nephew) was a Northeastern defenseman free agent signing and is having a pretty good season.

 

Northeastern the new NCAA hockey factory? ::D

Watched Matt Benning at the Penticton Prospects tourney and felt he would be a keeper. Smooth with the puck. He has looked good and is getting better with the Oilers. Our GM Benning seems t like the NCAA pool of talent.

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Just now, Boudrias said:

Watched Matt Benning at the Penticton Prospects tourney and felt he would be a keeper. Smooth with the puck. He has looked good and is getting better with the Oilers. Our GM Benning seems t like the NCAA pool of talent.

Haha yeah for sure., he's got a great shot and grit, I really wish we signed Matt Benning. Were we in on this guy? Would've been nice, as our GM is his uncle. 

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1 hour ago, suitup said:

Haha yeah for sure., he's got a great shot and grit, I really wish we signed Matt Benning. Were we in on this guy? Would've been nice, as our GM is his uncle. 

Press says he signed in Edmonton because he grew up there and a chance to play with McDavid. I doubt Jim Benning would have encouraged his signing in Van. The fans and media would have ripped the kid apart if he stumbled. You can imagine the BS.  It certainly does not look like he is stumbling now.

 

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13 minutes ago, Boudrias said:

Press says he signed in Edmonton because he grew up there and a chance to play with McDavid. I doubt Jim Benning would have encouraged his signing in Van. The fans and media would have ripped the kid apart if he stumbled. You can imagine the BS.  It certainly does not look like he is stumbling now.

 

Ahh I see, makes sense thanks! I can only imagine the accusations of nepotism JB would've had to endure. Good pickup for Edmonton.

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On 2/14/2017 at 1:54 AM, Quantum said:

I suspect that the Canucks will go hard on Zach Aston-Reese. He's a teammate of Adam Gaudette's and I suspect the Canucks will likely try and push for Gaudette to sign (alongside Boeser).

 

Of the list, I don't really expect Brickley to sign in Vancouver. Canucks have a longjam at defense and so I don't see us being a destination for the top tier of College UFA defensemen. Brickley signs if management convinces him that it's convinced that they lose Sbisa on waivers and will have a roster spot for him next season. We may be able to snag a guy like Gavin Bayreuther, though, and have him develop for the better part of next season in Utica and have him be a call-up... but with guys like Jordan Subban, Oli Juolevi, and Evan McEney (who has been a PLEASANT SURPRISE this season)... it may be too much of a log jam in the back to sign a high profile College UFA d-man.

 

That said, I think we have a very good shot at signing a couple of the higher profile College UFA forwards this year. In particular, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Canucks in on Alexander Kerfoot. He was drafted by the Devils in 2012 and has spent the past four years at Harvard. He's a local kid who, it seems, will be hitting the open market in August. He's a smaller centre but he's got great talent. He also played in the BCHL. Like Stecher, the local factor and a legit opportunity to play for his hometown may lure Kerfoot back home. (He'd likely have a good chance at slotting in as the 4th line centre next season if Gaudette opts for another year of college).

 

I also think Tyler Kelleher could be an intriguing signing for the Canucks. High risk, high reward. He's a little guy (5'6" -- probably Gaudreau's size) but he's been putting up a ton of points and likes to score. I know the Canucks are a smaller team but for a team in desperate need of goal scoring, Kelleher could be worth the gamble. He's always put high numbers up in every level of hockey he's played and was likely left undrafted because of his size (much like Gaudreau slid because of his size, though, in a re-draft Gaudreau likely becomes a top 10 pick). Would be a worthy gamble for the Canucks to make since the one thing that's barren in their prospect cupboard is game breaking point getters and that void could be helped (marginally) by Kelleher,

 

And I like Mike Vecchione. Could be a nice moneyball signing too.

Even the Calgary smurf is 5'9 from most sources.  5'6 is too small for the NHL

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  • 2 weeks later...

For those who don't read Canucks Army regularly, they have a good series on this year's top NCAA free agents:

 

1) centres: https://canucksarmy.com/2017/03/06/ncaa-ufa-targets-centres-2/

 

2) wingers: https://canucksarmy.com/2017/03/07/ncaa-ufa-targets-wingers/

 

3) defencemen: https://canucksarmy.com/2017/03/09/ncaa-ufa-targets-defencemen/

 

 

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I am always a little bit nervous about a players potential when the scouts say 'his skating is good enough...' I would rather hear that his skating is excellent. Then again nobody said good things about Bo Horvats skating when he was drafted so I guess it's not necessarily a deal breaker...just my early morning rant for the day. Why am I awake this early on my day off??

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