It's officially college free-agency season. And this year's crop of NCAA unrestricted free agents is not short on intrigue.
College free agents are players who were never drafted and are no longer eligible to be drafted. Most are in their early 20s, meaning they're about as physically developed as they're going to get, and they have a few extra years of high-level training. Most will end up being depth additions to NHL clubs.
This year's top prize is big forward Nico Sturm, who had a breakout season at Clarkson a year ago and built off of it as a junior this past season. Here's a look at Sturm and the rest of a group who will get interest from scouts around the NHL as college seasons come to an end.
1. Nico Sturm, C, Clarkson
Sturm should garner a lot of offers as soon as Clarkson gets bounced. There's a lot to like about a 6-foot-3 forward who can skate. The 23-year-old junior from Germany is having his best collegiate season, with 41 points through 34 games. He also is renowned around the ECAC for his defensive play, having won the league's best defensive forward award following the 2017-18 season.
It's easy to see why NHL teams will want his services. Sturm is responsible, can play with some power, anticipates plays well and brings a great work ethic to the ice every shift. The size factor is obviously a big one, but the versatility he has shown the past two seasons is bigger. Sturm likely plays a depth role on whichever team signs him, but cheap depth is a hot commodity.
If Sturm signs, he'll be the second quality undrafted free agent to come from the Golden Knights in as many years, after Sheldon Rempal was signed by the Los Angeles Kings a year ago and has been a standout for the Ontario Reign in the AHL this season. The Kings are among the teams rumored to be in on Sturm, but he also attended a player development camp with the Ottawa Senators last summer. Clarkson is still in the mix for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and could threaten for the ECAC title to earn an auto-bid, so it could be several weeks before Sturm is available.
2. Connor Mackey, D, Minnesota State
With two seasons of eligibility left, Mackey might want to stick around for a little while. But expect a number of NHL teams to tempt him with serious offers.
Mackey is a 22-year-old sophomore who spent some extra time in junior and really made the most of it. He is a solid two-way defenseman who moves the puck up the ice well and can play the body. At 6-foot-2, 183 pounds, he has good mobility and higher-end hockey sense. Minnesota State has become a really strong producer of pro-caliber defensemen, with Daniel Brickley and Casey Nelson trending up in the pros. Mackey attended the Buffalo Sabres' player development camp last season.
3. Jimmy Schuldt, D, St. Cloud State
Schuldt opted to return for his senior season to help St. Cloud try to win its first Division I national title (currently the No. 1 team in the nation). He was a first-team All-America selection last season and has a good shot to be again this year, as he leads the Huskies to a NCHC regular-season title and a near-certain No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Schuldt has good offensive tools highlighted by a terrific shot, especially off the pass. He has decent size (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) and mobility. Schuldt, who attended player development camps with the Vegas Golden Knights and New York Islanders last summer, turns 24 this spring.
4. Taro Hirose, LW, Michigan State
Currently the leading scorer in the country with 50 points, Hirose has the option to return to school with a year of eligibility left. That said, I think there's enough interest to get him to leave now. Of the college free agents available right now, Hirose is the most skilled. But at just 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, I'm not certain that he has the explosiveness to be a major producer at the next level.
I do, however, think he is skilled enough for a team to take a low-risk chance on him and see what he can do in the AHL first. Michigan State scored only 99 goals as a team this season, but Hirose was involved in 51 percent of them. He will be 23 before next season starts. The Calgary native was invited to the Detroit Red Wings' development camp last summer.
5. Max Veronneau, RW, Princeton
A talented playmaker who was getting scouted a ton last season, Veronneau decided to return to school. Princeton had a fairly disappointing season overall after winning the ECAC championship in 2018, and the winger's numbers dipped.
Still, Veronneau has some quickness and sees the ice very well, and he has produced just about everywhere he has been. He is also a true senior at 23 years old and has four solid years of NCAA development under his belt. Veronneau is available to sign now after Princeton's season ended in a heart-breaking overtime loss. He attended camps last summer with the Kings and New Jersey Devils.
6. Ryan Kuffner, RW, Princeton
One of the best goal scorers in college hockey the past two seasons, Kuffner averaged 0.7 goals per game as a senior. He had 75 goals and 152 points in his four-year career. Scoring at a high level in college hockey, regardless of conference, is difficult to do, and Kuffner has managed to do it better than almost any other player.
The one thing that will hold him back is his speed. He doesn't have that breakaway gear, which could hinder him as a potential NHL talent. But goal scorers will always get a chance. Like Veronneau, whom he has been teammates with for essentially his entire playing life, Kuffner is a true senior. He'll turn 23 this summer. He attended camps with the Chicago Blackhawks and Senators last year.
7. Mat Robson, G, Minnesota
In 44 starts at Minnesota so far, Robson owns a .924 save percentage and 2.59 goals-against average. He has good size and quickness in the crease and has had to play with a very inconsistent team in front of him. Robson will turn 23 later this month, so he might be feeling that pro clock ticking. And there will be teams ready to give him a contract. He camped with the Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild last summer.
8. Colton Poolman, D, North Dakota
A solid defender with good puck-moving skills, the younger brother of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tucker Poolman didn't put up big numbers this season. Despite that, Poolman has pro-level hockey sense and ate up big minutes over the past two campaigns at UND. He skated at the Vancouver Canucks' camp last year.
9. Josh Teves, D, Princeton
Scouted alongside his more highly touted Princeton teammates last year, Teves put up three straight seasons of 20 or more points from the blue line. Teves doesn't have great size (6-foot, 170 pounds), but he's mobile and defends well. He went to camps with the Canucks and New York Rangers last year.
10. Alec Rauhauser, D, Bowling Green
Last season's WCHA Defenseman of the Year didn't produce as much this turn around but played a big role on a pretty good team. There is some concern about his overall defensive skills, but he has size (6-foot-3, 216 pounds) and mobility. Rauhauser camped with the Kings last year, and Bowling Green alumnus Rob Blake is their general manager.
11. Mason Jobst, C, Ohio State
The leading scorer among active NCAA players with 164 career points, Jobst is expected to draw interest, though somewhat cautious interest. He has captained OSU for two straight seasons and has been a dominant offensive player in college hockey, but concerns about his size (5-foot-8, 185 pounds) persist, and he is not necessarily explosive enough for the pro game. He also turned 25 last month.
12. Jacob Pritchard, C, UMass
I haven't heard a lot of buzz about Pritchard as a UFA, but after watching him with UMass a few times this season, I see some pro upside. He skates well, makes a lot of plays and has been an offensive driver for the No. 2 Minutemen after transferring from St. Lawrence. Pritchard isn't the biggest guy, but I think he has enough speed to garner interest.
13. Dylan McLaughlin, C, Canisius
Playing in Atlantic Hockey doesn't attract a lot of scouts, but two seasons of big numbers have to put McLaughlin on the radar to some degree. He's a creative player who skates with some jump. McLaughlin camped with the Rangers last year.
14. Lukas Craggs, LW, Bowling Green
I've heard Craggs' name come up often as a potential UFA, as teams like his hard-nosed, physical style of hockey. I think he skates fine and definitely could be a weapon on the forecheck, but I don't know if this is a guy you're going to get a ton of points out of at the next level. Craggs went to the Jets' player development camp last year.
15. Andrew Shortridge, G, Quinnipiac
After starting the season splitting the net with Red Wings prospect Keith Petruzelli, Shortridge took the reins for the entire second half. He leads the nation with a .944 save percentage, has the prototypical size teams are looking for and shows great confidence in the net. The Alaska native didn't have super inspiring numbers the previous season, but he has another year of eligibility if he wants to bolster his UFA résumé. He was in camp with the Kings over the summer.