Its that time of year. The NCAA hockey season has come to a close and conference tournaments are in full swing. NHL teams are now salivating at the chance to sign the top undrafted college free agents as their teams play their final games of the season.
These prospects don’t always have an impact at the NHL level, but the chances of finding a diamond in the rough ala players like Matt Read, Danny DeKeyser, Chris Kunitz, Andy McDonald, Dustin Penner, Tyler Bozak, Matt Gilroy, Cory Conacher, Jason Garrison, Ben Scrivens, Torey Krug, Christian Folin, and others who have been uncovered in recent years is always a chance that NHL teams seem willing to take. At worst they give out an Entry Level contract, pay a player to play for their minor league club for a couple years, and then let them go. At best they get a player who can contribute at the NHL level, for a relatively low cap hit, without using a draft pick, or trading other assets. These players are low risk/big reward and so the competition to sign them will be fierce.
With that said, who are the top Free Agents available? I’ve listed them in alphabetical order by last name for ease of reference. I will be handling this over the weekend in four parts, with 10 players in each part.
Part 1 is available here.
Part 2 is available here.
Part 3 is available here.
College Hockey Free Agent Class of 2015: Part 4
Nick Saracino, Centre/Left Wing, Providence Friars Junior (5’11” 185 lbs)
Saracino is a great skater. He gets in quick on the forecheck and is a terror to defencemen going back to retrieve pucks, taking away their time and space, forcing them to move the puck quickly, and hitting them into the boards. The style creates a number of turnovers for himself or for teammates which can then be made into quality chances. He gets most of his assists by winning battles and then feeding teammates. He contrinues his gritty game in front of the net where he looks to screen goalies, deflect shots, and bury passes and rebounds. Saracino is a pest as his game gets him in the middle of any scrum and he’s on both the giving and receiving end of many a face wash. The 23-year-old has 33 points in 36 games this season.
Troy Stecher, Defence, North Dakota, Sophomore (5’10 190 lbs)
The 20-year-old defender has put in a very solid season for North Dakota after being passed over in the NHL draft for the third time in 2014. The only undrafted player who is a regular on the UND blueline, he has arguably been UND’s best defenceman, playing big minutes and in all situations when healthy. Unfortunately a leg injury cost him several weeks in December, January and February. In 29 games he has 11 points. Stecher is an outstanding skater, with great speed, tremendous edgeweork, and the ability to cover all areas of the ice. He is confident with the puck on his stick and makes great breakout passes, and plays from the blue line. His shot could use a little more power, but its not bad. Defensively Stecher is extremely tough to beat one on one, and uses his lower body strength and excellent balance to win one-on-one battles with bigger forwards. Stecher is likely one of the most sought after defence prospects on the market.
Eric Sweetman, Defence, St. Lawrence Saints, Sophomore (5’11” 174 lbs)
Now finishing his second year, Sweetman has a huge role for the Saints. In fact his defensive game was so polished that he ended up on the team’s top even strength and penalty kill shutdown unit by the mid-point of his freshman season. Sweetman is a very good skater. His good edgework and agility allow him to maintain excellent gap control and cut down options for forwards trying to make a play against him. He shows a willingness to battle in front of the net and in the corners, and does so effectively thanks to strong balance on his skates. The 21-year-old also shows a bit of an offensive game, with good stickhandling and puck protection, and the ability to skate puck out of danger in his own end before making a crisp pass to start the transition game. He has a good point shot, and has played the point on the powerpay for the Saints. Sweetman has 4 goals and 19 points in 36 games.
Kevin Tansey, Defence, Clarkson Golden Knights, Junior-Redshirt, (6’4″ 216 lbs)
The 22-year-old Tansey redshirted due to injury during his sophomore season, and so even though he has just finished his fourth year of college, he has one year of eligibility remaining if he chooses not to sign a pro contract. He’s got excellent size and uses it to play a robust defensive game. Tansey loves to hit, and if a forward comes down his side of the ice with his head down, he can expect to pay the price. He also blocks shots, and cuts down passing lanes with a long stick. Tansey keeps the front of the Clarkso net clear, and this is welcomed by his coaches and goaltenders. He is a decent skater for a big man, but don’t expect a lot of offence out of the 22-year-old.
Frank Vatrano, Left Wing, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, Sophomore (5’11 216 lbs)
Signed with the Boston Bruins (March 12th)
The 21-year-old Massachussetts native signed with the hometown Bruins almost immediately after the season ended. He put up 18 goals and 28 points in 36 games with a UMass team that struggled this season. Even though he is technically a sophomore, he was basically playing his first year of NCAA hockey as he only played in one game as a freshman due to some issues with eligibilty. Basically Vatrano had enrolled at Boston College but was found to be academically ineligible before the season began, he transferred to UMass and had to sit out the majority of the year, though he did get in one game late in the year. Vatrano has a very hard wrist shot, and a quick release. He loves to use it rushing in off the wing, and was second in the NCAA in shots this season. He has good top end speed, and has a quick first few steps and smooth acceleration. While he may not be the tallest player out there, he is built like a truck and is very hard to push off the puck or move from the front of the net. He also has some decent vision and passing skills.
Mike Vecchione, Centre, Union Dutchmen, Sophomore (5’10 194 points)
Vecchione had an excellent freshman campaign, as his 14 goals and 34 points in 38 games helped the Dutchmen to win their first ever Frozen Four Title last spring. This season, with some of Union’s best offensive players graduating, or leaving on pro contracts, he has been even better. Vecchione has put up 19 goals and 50 points in 39 games and is amongst the NCAA scoring leaders. Offensively he has good speed, a hard accurate shot with a good release, and the vision and playmaking skills to set up teammates. Vecchione and Daniel Campiani are true offensive catalysts for the Dutchmen. He’s not a one-trick pony though, as Vecchione plays an excellent two way game. He is very good in the faceoff circle. He also provides solid backpressure and helps out his teammates down low. Vecchione has been a solid penalty killer for Union as well.
Sam Warning, LW, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Senior (5’9″ 181 lbs)
The 22-year-old’s numbers are a little bit down from his junior campaign as he has 23 points in 36 games this year. He’s a little undersized and that kept him from being drafted despite a strong season in his last year in the USHL. He has outstanding hands and stick handling ability, he can be a real magician with the puck. An offensive catalyst, he has an accurate shot, and is a very good playmaker with great vision, and the ability to make a pass through the smallest of openings. Any smaller player must be a great skater in order to succeed, and Warning has the speed, agility and balance that will be necessary if he is going to be able to overcome his lack of size to be a contributor at the pro level next season.
Cody Wydo, Right Wing, Robert Morris Colonials, Senior (5’10” 170 lbs)
Signed an ATO with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), March 25th, 2015
Coming off a 54 point junior season, Wydo hasn’t been quite as prolific, but is still having an excellent year with 19 goals and 41 points in 36 games this season. Wydo has attended NHL prospect camps the last two summers, but ultimately choose to return to school. He is a very fast skater, with a tremendous wrist shot and lighting quick release and as such does most of his damage coming down the wing on the rush. He has also shown some very good vision and passing ability over the last two years. While he is certainly one of the best players in his conference, there are certainly some questions about the level of competition he faced playing in Atlantic Hockey.
Oleg Yevenko, Defence, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, Senior (6’7″ 229 lbs)
Signed an ATO with Adirondack (AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames), March 20th, 2015
A huge Belarussian defenceman, the 24-year-old isn’t known for his offence, scoring just one goal and ten points in his four year college career at UMass-Amherst. He showed an ability to fight in his USHL days. He’s improved as a skater and plays a decent defensive game, blocking shots and using a very long stick to take away lanes. Yevenko can be an absolutely punishing hitter thanks to his size, and simply cannot be overpowered in defending in the corners of in front of the net. He’s a ways away from playing in the NHL, but some teams may see that size and potential to be a shutdown defenceman as an intriguing project for their AHL team. He does need to work on dealing with smaller, quicker forwards who can still give him issues.
Matthew Zay, Forward, Mercyhurst Lakers, Senior (6’1″ 190 lbs)
Signed an ATO with Springfield (Columbus Blue Jackets Affiliate), March 23rd, 2015
The 24-year-old has 12 goals and 31 points in 37 games so far this season. He is the key to Mercyhurst’s offence with nearly all plays being generated through him. He is good along the boards and has good vision and a quick accurate shot with a quick release. Zay sees the ice well and has the ability to make tape-to-tape passes to set up his teammates. While he is certainly one of the best players in his conference, there are certainly some questions about the level of competition he faced playing in Atlantic Hockey.
