Getting to know the latest NCAA signings in the NHL

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The NCAA’s Frozen Four field is set, meaning we’re really down to the nitty gritty in this exciting college season.

But it also means more than 50 teams are done for the year, leaving many quality players to sign NHL deals and step in immediately. There’s been a nice mix of drafted players ready to make their mark, as well as some high-quality UFAs looking to add depth at any position.

Early exits meant players like Devon Levi (Buffalo Sabres), Josh Doan (Arizona Coyotes), Aidan McDonough (Vancouver Canucks), Nikita Nesterenko (Anaheim Ducks), Jayden Struble (Montreal Canadiens) and Ryan Tverberg (Toronto Maple Leafs) were able to sign deals and get started earlier this month.

But the bulk of the signings came over the past week, and there’s still some more to come in the next few days. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable players to sign out of the NCAA the past few weeks:

Sean Farrell, C (Montreal Canadiens)

There’s no secret that the Habs fans were excited for Farrell to turn pro. One of the most dangerous scoring forwards in college hockey, Farrell had 20 goals and 53 points as a sophomore at Harvard this year to become a Hobey Baker finalist. That’s after he helped Harvard win the ECAC title and led USA in scoring at the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2021-22, and two years after being named USA Hockey junior player of the year. Those are some significant accomplishments for the 21-year-old since getting drafted 124th overall in 2020, quickly making him one of the top prospects in the organization. Farrell will be with Montreal on the team’s upcoming road trip, so it won’t be long until they get the speedy, play-driving forward that’s capable of playing down the middle and on the wing.

Matt Coronato, RW (Calgary Flames)

Farrell’s teammate at Harvard, Coronato arrives at an exciting time for the Flames. The team is still in the wild-card race, just four points behind the struggling Winnipeg Jets for the final spot. It’s not uncommon for college players to swoop in after a fresh deal, enter with a ton of confidence, and go on a late-season tear. Could that be the case for the Flames? They hope so. Coronato finished third on Harvard with 36 points this year, tying his freshman output as a key contributor to the team’s scoring force. Before heading to college, Coronato helped the USHL’s Chicago Steel to a title after leading the league with 48 goals, good enough to earn himself forward of the year honors. Coronato, 20, looks to be a big part of Calgary’s offense, and this is just the beginning.

Max Sasson, C (Vancouver Canucks)

Sasson was one of the most sought-after free agent forwards. His deal won’t kick in until 2023-24, but fans can get a first look when he heads to AHL Abbotsford. The 22-year-old forward with a strong frame had a breakout campaign, recording 42 points for an offensive-laden top line at Western Michigan. His progress year-to-year shows that despite being a late bloomer, there’s something tangible here from a pro perspective. Sasson can be feisty, but he’s far more controlled and reserved for the most part compared to his junior days. He’s fast, plays a competent two-way game and the points followed him all season long. The Canucks are still in retool mode, and Sasson can give them some solid cap flexibility in the bottom six next season.

Cole Krygier, D (Los Angeles Kings)

A big, 6-foot-3 defender, Kyrgier turned some heads after the Florida Panthers traded his rights to Los Angeles last Monday – well beyond the NHL Trade Deadline. He eventually signed with the Kings and already got into some AHL action with the Ontario Reign. His NHL deal won’t kick in until next year, but getting that extra experience against pros after his five-year run at Michigan State will be a nice testing ground as he looks to crack at L.A.’s roster next year. Krygier is a big, physical blueliner who loves shooting the puck, and his confidence has only grown with time. His ceiling isn’t that high, and he likely won’t be more than a third-pairing blueliner, but he can do an excellent job at that.

Tyler Kleven, D (Ottawa Senators)

If strong, punishing blueliners are your type of thing, you’ll love Kleven. The 21-year-old was taken 44th overall in 2020, and managed to become one of the NCAA’s most menacing defensemen in the process. He finished his junior year with 18 points and 84 penalty minutes, just missing his career-best of 93 the year before. The 2021 NCAA NCHC champion and World Junior gold medalist does a solid job of shutting things down and making life miserable for the attackers coming the other way. Don’t expect him to put many pucks in the net, but as a third-pairing option, Kleven has solid potential.

Carl Berglund, C (Edmonton Oilers)

Berglund is a skilled 200-foot forward that I’m surprised didn’t get picked back in 2020, even as a late-round option. He has good size, is reliable in his own zone, and moves well. We didn’t see huge progression throughout his college career, but his frame and defensive play should be enough to earn a call-up somewhere down the line. Berglund is currently with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors and will attempt to get into games next season. We’re talking about a bottom-six forward here, but one that can do a bunch of different things decently well.

Max Crozier, D (Tampa Bay Lightning)

A fourth-round pick in 2019 by Tampa Bay, Crozier could be yet another mid-round find of significance for the Bolts. The two-way defender started off strong, but lost some momentum due to the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign. A pair of strong seasons with Providence College allowed him to show off some pro-ready qualities, including defensive reads and decision-making with the puck. The Bolts have had some success turning under-the-radar college defensemen into solid contributors – Nick Perbix comes to mind. There’s a chance Crozier can become found money, as well.

Brett Berard, RW (New York Rangers)

Don’t let a dip in offensive production scare you: it was an off-year for Providence. Berard was the school’s top scorer in 2021-22 and continued by showing goal-scoring prowess, physicality and astute defensive awareness. The 5-foot-9 forward is energetic and thinks the game quickly, allowing him to make plays under pressure. While he might not be a high-output forward at the next level, he could challenge for time in the middle six, which should become valuable as the Rangers look to spend to the cap to remain a contender over the next few years. He’s got an aggressive edge to him that’ll make him a fan favorite, too.

Hunter McKown, C (Columbus Blue Jackets)

The Blue Jackets are a disaster this year. Simple as that. But the future looks bright, and they got some inexpensive help after signing McKown, one of the top NCAA UFAs on the market. The 20-year-old forward brings significant muscle and goal-scoring ability, leading Colorado College in scoring the past two years. He grabbed an assist in his NHL debut against the Islanders and should finish the season with Columbus as the club deals with a crazy number of injuries. Columbus will most certainly draft a high-output forward this year, but having McKown as a middle-six goal-scoring option will be very nice down the road.