Scouting reports on more than 20 notable NHL signings from the NCAA
The NCAA men’s hockey tournament will conclude this weekend with the Frozen Four – one of the most exciting events on the sport’s calendar.
But with many of college hockey’s top stars done for the semester, we’ve already seen an influx of prospects signing NHL entry-level contracts and turning pro. In some cases, it’s previously undrafted players realizing their dreams. Others are highly touted talents looking to take their games up another level.
Maybe the number of signings overwhelmed you – or maybe you didn’t know your team signed someone in the first place. So let’s catch up and see everything that’s happened over the past 10 days since the NCAA regional tournaments while meeting your club’s new talent:
Dalton Bancroft, RW (Boston Bruins)
Bancroft is the oldest player on this list at 24. He went undrafted after spending four years in the OJHL, which included an MVP designation in 2022. He immediately made an impact at Cornell, registering 21 points in 33 games as a freshman in 2022-23. From there, he boasted totals of 31 and 27 while developing into an intimidating power forward. Bancroft scored in his second AHL game this past Saturday while playing some decent, physical hockey. He likes to throw the body around, take up space and make your life miserable without getting himself into too much trouble. There’s some fourth-line potential here.
Dans Ločmelis, C (Boston Bruins)
Ločmelis had a quiet freshman season at UMass, putting up 14 points in 30 games last season. More importantly, though, he helped establish himself as a legit 200-foot threat at the college level – and anything else would be icing on the cake. So when Ločmelis registered his 30th point of the 2024-25 season, you have to imagine the Bruins’ scouting staff had a smile on its face. Ločmelis is a hard-working forward who uses his speed and work ethic to win battles. He’s not overly creative, but he is a decent puck distributor who is getting better with more confidence. The Latvian forward won’t be a point producer in the NHL, but I could see him becoming a useful, bottom-six forward who doesn’t lose a ton of puck battles and can find players in open space. I like his odds of becoming an NHLer.
Aydar Suniev, LW (Calgary Flames)
I loved Calgary’s pick of Suniev in the third round in 2023 after watching him score at nearly a goal-per-game pace with Penticton of the BCHL. Suniev had 20 goals and 38 points as a sophomore this past season, which wasn’t surprising given just how effective of a producer he has been at every single level. He has a high-end shot, great work ethic and seems to make something out of nothing more than most. Plus, he’s got a nice 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame. His skating is the only thing that’s holding him back from being a slam-dunk prospect for the Flames right now, but there’s still a ton of potential.
Sam Rinzel, D (Chicago Blackhawks)
Rinzel has already played more than 20 minutes in every single one of his NHL outings so far, which is impressive. It’s not entirely surprising, though, given how dangerous he was in college this year. The 6-foot-4 defender has obvious size, but he also had 32 points in 40 games. The fact that he had 10 goals while playing all situations and dealing with tough matchups for Minnesota is remarkable. Defensively, Rinzel is smart, and he’s much better with the puck than scouts gave him credit for ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft. Rinzel should have little issue developing into a solid NHL defenseman very, very quickly.
Taige Harding, D (Chicago Blackhawks)
Harding is big – like, really big. At 6-foot-7, he’s hard to miss, and it felt like he really started to use his bigger frame to his advantage this past season. I like his powerful shot, although I wish he’d use it more. He takes up a lot of space with the way he moves around the D-zone, although I wouldn’t call him a particularly quick or efficient skater. That’s more on how he reads plays, which I think has been one of his biggest improvements in recent years. I think he might become a bottom-pairing defender one day, but one with some decent upside.
Taylor Makar, LW (Colorado Avalanche)
Cale Makar is one of the best defensemen of his generation and a future Hockey Hall of Famer. His brother, Taylor, isn’t exactly on the same trajectory, but it was good to see him go from a seventh-round pick to an NHL-signed prospect. And it’s not completely based on nepotism, either. Makar has a huge 6-foot-4, 209-pound frame and he plays with a ton of pure power. He has an excellent shot release, as shown with his 18 goals this year as a senior at the University of Maine. Makar could end up becoming a decent pro because he can handle the physical challenge while being smart with the puck. I’m not sure he’ll be anything more than a spot-duty fourth-liner, though.
Guillaume Richard, D (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Richard was one of the more underrated pieces from the stacked 2021 Canadian roster at the U-18 World Championship that was highlighted by Connor Bedard, Dylan Guenther, Brandt Clarke, Logan Stankoven, Shane Wright and Wyatt Johnston, among others. That’s partly because he’s never really been much of a point producer. His best college output came a year ago when he put up 18 points. Richard’s game is all about own-zone coverage, though, and he rarely gets egregiously caught out of position. He’s a long shot to make it, but we’ll see if he can take his game up a step in the AHL.
Damien Carfagna, D (Edmonton Oilers)
Cafagna went undrafted as his junior career, and took a chance on himself by leaving the University of New Hampshire after a decent freshman season in 2022-23. His production dropped by 10 points in his first year at Ohio State, but the move paid off when he jumped up to 28 points in 38 games this year. The puck-moving defender was known more for his defensive play when he skated in the USHL, but he started to use his speed to his advantage more often this year. Carfagna is small at 5-foot-11 and is a longshot to make it to the NHL, but his improved confidence and decision-making with the puck this year make him interesting.
Kenny Connors, C (Los Angeles Kings)
Connors had a solid 29-point junior season at UMass, the best output of his career. He was a consistent producer in college, building upon what was an impressive final year of junior in 2021-22. Connors’ game extends far beyond that, though. He’s a good defensive player who is committed to getting the job done in his own zone. He has a great shot release, but he also knows when to save it and instead look for a pass on the rush. I could see him developing into a reliable two-way player one day who can snag you 10 goals a year while killing penalties in the NHL.
Jacob Fowler, G (Montreal Canadiens)
Samuel Montembeault might hold the crown for now, but it might not be too long until Fowler puts his hat in the ring as Montreal’s goaltender of the future. He is one of just three NCAA goaltenders who boasted a save percentage above .940 this year, and he has played some of his best hockey against other high-end programs. Fowler is listed as 6-foot-2, but he covers the net so effectively. He’s positionally solid, mentally strong and rarely gives up a bad goal. He’ll spend some time in Laval, where he’ll look to show he can translate his game to the next stage. Hopefully, he ends up performing better than Cayden Primeau did once he made the NHL after being a highly touted college prospect.
Cole O’Hara, RW (Nashville Predators)
O’Hara has been tremendously productive since breaking into the OJHL with some excellent numbers in 2018-19. He exploded for 22 goals and 51 points in 40 games this year to make himself one of the NCAA’s most dangerous players. A fourth-round pick in 2022, O’Hara is a good playmaking forward who loves playing in open space, especially on the power play. That’s where a lot of his offense comes from, which concerns some scouts. But his puck play is still dangerous and I love how he takes advantage of scoring lanes. I can see him becoming a decent depth forward.
Matthew Wood, LW (Nashville Predators)
Wood is a fascinating prospect. He’s a big, 6-foot-4 winger who can be hard to strip the puck off of. He had one of the best shots of any player in college, but he also showed he could be a stout playmaker at the University of Minnesota. On the other hand, his lack of footspeed has limited his true potential, and was one of the main reasons he didn’t make Canada’s world junior team in 2025 after doing so previously in 2024 (a poor camp showing didn’t help, either). Wood can play all three forward positions, which helps his versatility. That could become especially valuable on the power play, because he’s willing to shoot from everywhere. But without adding pace to his game, I’m not totally sold on him reaching his top-six ceiling.
Gabe Perreault, LW, (New York Rangers)
Perreault has been one of the most consistent players in the NCAA over the past two years, registering 108 points in 73 games. Next up? Becoming an impact NHLer. While his overall numbers were down as a sophomore, Perreault proved to be better away from the puck. We’ve seen a lot of positive development over the past two years, so much so that there’s a real belief that he can be an impact NHLer right out of the gate next season. He’s been quiet in his limited NHL duty since signing last week, but there’s still much promise given how he makes plays in open space and gets the puck where it needs to be. He reads plays as well as anyone, has an accurate shot (that I sometimes wish he’d use more) and has added some decent acceleration since making his college debut. I hope the Rangers handle Perreault’s development better than some of the other young stars the team has had in recent years.
Callum Tung, G (New York Rangers)
The Rangers added to their goaltending depth by snagging Tung, who has had quite the road to making his pro debut. Two years ago, he spent most of the season playing in the PIJHL – a junior league with very little NHL representation. Tung spent last year in the BCHL before heading off to college, where he served as Tyler Muszelik’s backup for most of the year at UConn. He ended up leading the charge down the stretch, though, and the 6-foot-3 goaltender quickly earned attention from across the NHL. The 21-year-old impressed in his AHL debut in Hartford this past weekend, which is a promising sign. We’ll see if he ends up getting more starts in the ECHL next year.
Karsen Dorwart, C (Philadelphia Flyers)
Many teams were in on Dorwart, who might have been the best two-way center of any of the college free agents this season. He really controls the puck well. I saw him a couple of times in person this year, and it felt like he was just involved at both ends of the ice more than anyone. He’s not going to be a high-end producer, pretty much at any level, but I think he’s got the hockey sense and that defensive responsibility that you can plug and play in different spots, and he’s going to perform.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW (St. Louis Blues)
If the Blues make the playoffs, Snuggerud could be a driving piece of the team’s success. The two-time Hobey Baker top 10 finalist just fell short of the 50-point mark, but 49 points in 39 games on a team where he was the primary offensive weapon is still impressive. He has good overall strength, high hockey IQ and a good shot release. Combine those together and he should be a solid top-six NHLer in the near future. Right now, he’s already looking good with a pair of assists in a top-line role alongside Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, giving the line some extra scoring punch.
Lucas Mercuri, C (Tampa Bay Lightning)
As first reported by Daily Faceoff, Mercuri told the Carolina Hurricanes that he wasn’t going to sign with the club, leading to them trading his rights to Tampa. Mercuri is a big forward and isn’t afraid to mix things up. He’s good around the net, often taking space away from goaltenders. The Montreal, Quebec native has established himself as a two-way threat who has some decent offensive upside. His skating has improved in recent years since going in the sixth round to the Hurricanes in 2020, something that could help him adapt better to the NHL. His acceleration could still use some improvement, though. Mercuri’s combination of size, skill and two-way play should allow him to adjust to the pro ranks quite quickly next season.
Connor Kurth, RW (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Kurth had a quiet start to his career at the University of Minnesota, kicking things off with two modest seasons. But he broke out as a junior, recording 18 goals and 39 points in 40 games this year. While he was primarily known as an energy and depth scorer during his rookie season, he became a more refined and dangerous player this year. Kurth plays with tremendous power, frequently laying out hits and winning battles along the boards. He’s also got solid hands, which he showcases in tight spaces, earning him a lot of success in the process. While it’s uncertain whether he’ll develop into a long-term offensive threat for the Lightning, he’s poised to be a valuable depth piece. And given Tampa’s track record, they tend to find hidden gems when least expected.
Trevor Connelly, LW (Vegas Golden Knights)
Connelly is Vegas’ best prospect and someone who would have gone higher in the 2024 NHL Draft if it wasn’t for previous off-ice concerns. He has outstanding hands, and the results have been impressive in just about every showcase event we’ve seen him in. Connelly had 13 points in 23 games for Providence, which isn’t a ton – but given the team’s top scorer had 24 points in 37 games, it wasn’t a highly productive season for Providence as a whole. Connelly usually is one of the best all-around offensive threats on the ice at any given time. I can see him being a dominant power-play presence and a consistent top-six scoring threat. Fun fact: Connelly is the only first-round pick the Golden Knights haven’t traded away… yet.
Jackson Hallum, LW (Vegas Golden Knights)
Hallum took the long road to earning his first NHL contract. He was drafted out of the Minnesota high school ranks in 2020 and only played two full seasons of college hockey after injuries limited him to nine games as a sophomore. The Univ. of Michigan forward never exploded offensively, but he’s always been an outstanding skater. I’m not sure he has proven enough to suggest he’ll be a full-time NHLer – I don’t think his hands or his production are anywhere where they need to be. But he could be an energetic fourth-liner if things work out.
Ryan Leonard, RW (Washington Capitals)
DFO’s Frank Seravalli has called Leonard the Capitals’ biggest trade deadline piece – as in, they didn’t need to bring in any help because it’s coming. So far, so good. He scored his first goal in the same game that Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record and has brought his trademark toughness to every shift. Leonard has shown the ability to dominate in big games. He was instrumental in USA’s consecutive gold medals at the World Juniors in 2024 and 2025 and even took home tournament MVP honors in January. The Hobey Baker finalist can score, hit, intimidate and do just about everything in his power to make himself a danger to society. Leonard and Tom Wilson on the same team? I fear for Washington’s first-round opponents.
David Gucciardi, D (Washington Capitals)
Gucciardi shows why you never give up. Initially drafted in the seventh round as an overager in 2022, he overcame a lack of playing time in both the USHL and his early days at MSU to earn himself an NHL contract. He’s a strong, smart defenseman who isn’t afraid to put you through the glass. But he also has a decent shot and puck-moving acumen. He even scored in his AHL debut with Hershey in an excellent debut this past Saturday. His puck game has come a long way since his Draft year and it feels like he’s overall more difficult to play against. He might just be a depth defenseman at best, but we’ll see if he can seize the opportunity as a full-time pro player next year.
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