Jake Livingstone, Jason Polin among NCAA free agents to watch

Credit: Apr 7, 2022; Boston, MA, USA; Minnesota State Mavericks defenseman Jake Livingstone (23) controls the puck against Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Blake McLaughlin (27) during the second period of the 2022 Frozen Four college ice hockey national semifinals at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

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The first wave of NCAA regional championship eliminations have come and gone, meaning we know the first four teams vying for spots in the national title game next month.

But that also means we’re that much closer to seeing some of the top NCAA free agents sign NHL contracts. Namely, with Minnesota State University and Western Michigan University now out, a few of the top names on the UFA market are now available. We’ve seen some sign already in recent days, including UMass’ Carl Berglund to Edmonton and Providence’s Max Crozier with Tampa Bay. But at this point, the best are still to come.

So, with some key names expected to make NHL decisions in the coming days, here’s a look at some of the best college UFAs believed to be on the market right now:

Jake Livingstone, D, 23 (Minnesota State University)

The Mavericks came up short on Thursday, thus ending the college career of Jake Livingstone. The 23-year-old is viewed as one of the best free agents on the market, someone with good two-way hockey sense and a solid 6-foot-3 frame. When he wants to, Livingstone can absolutely light you up with a punishing hit and he puts some significant power behind his shot. He’s about to turn 24, so what you see from him is what you’re getting, but he should have no issue cracking an NHL roster full-time next year. Livingstone has been linked to a few teams the past two seasons, most notably Vancouver, but there’s more than a few that could use his services in the near future.

Akito Hirose, D, 23 (Minnesota State University)

Some scouts prefer Mankato defenseman Akito Hirose, a junior defenseman. After receiving some attention last summer after a solid 26-point campaign, he upped it to 37 points while playing a key role again this season. Hirose, the younger brother of Detroit’s Taro Hirose, came close to ending St. Cloud’s shutout Thursday evening but nothing ultimately came from it. Hirose’s speed, with and without the puck, is already NHL-level, and the offense has followed him throughout. Players that think and move like Hirose have good careers. He’s someone that could be a valuable, puck-moving defenseman with some second power-play line opportunities, and if he decides to forego his senior year, it won’t take NHL teams long to snag him up.

Jason Polin, RW, 23 (Western Michigan University)

The only 30-goal scorer in the country, Polin would be an excellent pickup for a team needing some scoring depth. From a pure goal-scoring perspective – obviously, he led everyone – few seemed as natural as Polin once he found space for himself. He rarely gets fewer than three shots a game, and he loved having the extra space on the power play. The 23-year-old senior produced in junior too, so it’s not like he just figured out how to put things together at the last possible second. The ceiling isn’t too high here, but Polin could find himself providing scoring depth in the bottom six in the near future.

Ryan McAllister, LW, 21 (Western Michigan University)

What a freshman campaign for McAllister. The 21-year-old finished the season with 13 goals and 49 points in just 39 games, good for fifth among freshmen and eighth overall. Sure, having the nation’s most dangerous scorer as a linemate helps, but it wasn’t a fluke: McAllister had 57 goals and 139 points in the AJHL the year prior. A dangerous offensive threat, some NHL teams were interested in him last year. Now, after putting up great numbers against older competition, expect that interest to continue to increase. He still has three more years of college eligibility so there’s no need to sign now, but there could be a few times trying to snag his services.

Max Sasson, C, 22 (Western Michigan University)

It won’t be long until a team nabs Sasson. The 22-year-old center is a tremendous dual threat as a shooter and a passer, and after two strong years at WMU, it’s time for the next step. Sasson can be feisty, but he’s far more controlled and reserved for the most part compared to his junior days. Sasson is fast, plays a competent two-way game and the points followed him all season long. Sasson could return for another year, but he’s ready to take the next step.

Austen Swankler, C, 21 (Bowling Green)

An electric sophomore season has helped Swankler rise up the ranks this season. He’s had an interesting career to date, which includes the very unique situation of playing in the OHL before going to college, something that is typically prohibited. When Swankler’s engaged, the puck just seems to find him. He generates scoring chances, has an excellent release and his feet are always moving. Swankler was someone that could have benefited from playing during the COVID-19-affected 2020-21 season, but everything since then has been gravy. With two years of eligibility left, Swankler doesn’t have to turn pro, but his high output this year isn’t a one-off – there’s something here.

Collin Graf, RW, 20 (Quinnipiac University)

At the time of writing this, Graf is the only one still playing. Quinnipiac is ranked second in the country, and Graf is a huge reason why after scoring 20 goals and 55 points in 37 games. There are a few scouts who see some legitimate top-six potential – there are others who wouldn’t mind seeing the 20-year-old go back for another year to round out his overall game, too. Graf is one of the best skaters of the potential UFA class, and, clearly, he knows how to get pucks where he needs them to be. So we’ll see if he decides to go for another shot at the title next year or if NHL teams can convince him to leave early.

David Silye, C, 24 (Minnesota State University)

So, the issue with 24-year-old college products is trying to figure out if their offensive explosions are a sign of some legitimacy or if it’s just a once-in-a-lifetime type thing. With 23 goals and 39 points, Silye was one of Mankato’s most valuable players, but we never really saw that goal-scoring ability before. That being said, he has a great release, can dominate the power play and is a solid skater. He looked much more confident this year than in the past, and the results started to show. He has a chance to play a senior season and turn pro at 25, but this might be the time for him to cash in on a potential NHL opportunity.