2023 NHL Draft: Top 7 unsigned re-entry prospects to watch

Every year on June 1, a list of unsigned NHL prospects will have their rights expire and no longer belong to the teams that drafted them.

For North American-based players this year, that means played drafted in 2021 without deals will no longer be affiliated with their clubs. For European-based players in leagues with transfer agreements, it’s a four-year wait. Some other specific situations, such as Russian-based players in the KHL, will have their rights held indefinitely, so they’re not applicable here.

For most players that are too old to re-enter the draft, they’ll become free agents and are able to sign anywhere they want. Many European-based prospects already have deals in Europe and know what their plans are. Others, like goaltender Benjamin Gaudreau, have already declared they want a second shot at the NHL Draft. If those who don’t end up getting picked, they’ll then too become free agents.

Typically, we see players who fell below expectations or others who don’t have many NHL-caliber qualities in their game. So it’s not like we see many diamonds in the rough appear out of this process. But given these players’ ages range from 20-22, they’re typically closer to pro-ready compared to your average 18-year-old. So maybe you will find some valuable depth.

Sometimes, you can strike gold. Frederik Andersen, Nick Boynton, Jarrett Stoll, Craig Anderson, Matthew Lombardi and Mike Rupp are some of the more well-known examples. Heck, Pierre Dagenais, Mathieu Chouinard and Trevor Hendrikx were all drafted by the same team twice. So it’s not a death knell just because you or your team decided to walk away.

Here’s a look at seven prospects that could re-enter the NHL Draft that might be worth a team taking a chance on:

Benjamin Gaudreau, G (Sarnia, OHL)

Drafted: 81st overall in 2021 (San Jose Sharks)

Once viewed as a goaltender with true starter potential, it simply never materialized for Gaudreau and the San Jose Sharks. He never broke the .900 save percentage barrier in the regular season and ended up losing the starting gig at the World Junior Championship over the winter. So it’s been anything but smooth sailing for Gaudreau, but it still seems unlikely he won’t get drafted. He could play pro somewhere next year, whether that be the AHL or ECHL, and perhaps prove there’s something there. Luckily for the 20-year-old, he played some of his best hockey down the stretch this season after it became clear the San Jose Sharks weren’t signing him. If you’re a betting person, Gaudreau might have the best odds at getting taken.

Connor Lockhart, C (Peterborough, OHL)

Drafted: 178th overall in 2021 (Vancouver Canucks)

Lockhart was the third overall pick at the 2019 OHL Draft, a selection that included Shane Wright, Brennan Othmann, Brandt Clarke, Mason McTavish and Wyatt Johnston in the top six. So it’s a shame that Lockhart, an agile puckhandler with good speed, couldn’t really explode in the OHL. The lost 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 didnt help, but he found a home in Peterborough this year and helped them advance to the Memorial Cup. He has had a quiet championship series and was left off the scoresheet in four of the six OHL final games, which didn’t help. There’s enough talent here to be a decent AHL pickup that can play some NHL games, but being 5-foot-9 doesn’t help.

Conner Roulette, LW (Saskatoon, WHL)

Drafted: 111th overall in 2021 (Dallas Stars)

A second-round pick in the WHL, Roulette looked to be a nice value add for Seattle. He had a solid rookie season and put up over a point per game in his draft year. He also was one of Canada’s better players on the stacked U-18 World Championship team in 2021. Roulette had 66 points in Seattle last year and would have had even more with Saskatoon had he played every game. An underwhelming playoff run didn’t help Roulette, though. There’s no real standout element of his game, but a team willing to add some extra offensive depth in the system could take a shot here.

Cameron Whynot, D (Halifax, QMJHL)

Drafted: 89th overall in 2021 (Calgary Flames)

Whynot is a solid two-way defenseman with a good track record with Halifax. But is there enough for him to become an effective NHLer? He’s missed over 40 games combined over the past two seasons while not really showing a ton of offensive potential. When he’s healthy, he’s a good depth piece for any organization. But there are still many question marks, and no real high-end qualities. A team looking for a more developed defensive prospect could look to take Whynot, but he needs a big 2023-24 season, wherever that ends up being.

Sean Tschigerl, LW (Calgary, WHL)

Drafted: 130th overall in 2021 (Anaheim Ducks)

There’s nothing that really stands out about Tschigerl’s offensive game, with his career-high being his 58-point campaign a year ago with the Hitmen. Back in 2021, he looked like a good sneaky late-round pick by Anaheim after putting up a point per game in a COVID-affected 2020-21 season. His work ethic was always there, and Tschigerl seemed willing to put everything on the line to help his teammates. But a lack of high-end production won’t get you an NHL contract as a forward, and he never broke the 60-point barrier. There might still be value as a hard-working, checking fourth-liner, though.

Ben Roger, D (Kingston, OHL)

Drafted: 49th overall in 2021 (Ottawa Senators)

A second-round pick in 2021, Roger didn’t progress as much as you’d like to see after the draft. He struggled with Kingston and finished his career with 32 points in 140 games. Sure, the Sens didn’t draft him for his offensive ability – he’s 6-foot-4, after all – but there wasn’t enough improvement outside of own-zone play during his tenure in the OHL. Could his status as a previous second-rounder give him some extra leeway? He’s ready to step into the pro game next year, but maybe as a depth AHLer to start.

Cameron MacDonald, C (Gatineau, QMJHL)

Drafted: 160th overall in 2021 (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Once upon a time, MacDonald was a highly rated prospect with a bright future. He dominated the scoring charts wherever he went and was set to join Boston College for this past season. But that all changed in 2020 when he signed with the Saint John Sea Dogs, where but never really found his groove in his first two years there. He was moved to Gatineau midway through this past season and played some good hockey, but not enough to earn an NHL deal.

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