2005 NCAA Free Agent Players

The 2004 thread was pretty popular (and also very useful) so I figured why not let's get to work on a 2005 thread?

Maybe we can get this bad boy stickied and post updates throughout the season.

I'll get us started...

Evan Schwabe (Minnesota-Duluth)

After finish top-five in points (19-38-57) last year, Evan will be relied on heavily at UMD with the loss of Hobey winner Junior Lessard. He is the highest scoring college player returning (Lessard and Brandon Bochenski are gone) and is an early Hobey favorite.

I stuck this thread, so that we can add to it as the season goes along.

Here are a few more that come to mind at the moment (in no particular order):


Brendan Bernakevitch (Harvard)
Ryan Shannon (BC)
Colin Murphy (Michigan Tech)
Preston Callender (UNH)
Barret Ehgoetz (Niagara)
Jeff Legue (Ferris State)
Dave Ianazzo (St. Cloud State)
Jay Latulippe (Clarkson)
Brady Leisenring (Vermont)
Luke Fulghum (Denver)
Les Haggett (Brown)

I'd add T. J. Trevelyan (SLU) and Chris Harrington (Minnesota) to the list, but they'd have to forego their senior years in 05-06 to turn pro as FAs.

Among Goaltenders, these guys come to mind (in no particular order):

Steve Silverthorn (Colgate)
Jamie Holden (Quinnipiac)
Dan Yacey (Dartmouth)
David Cacciola (Providence)
Chris Davidson (UMass-Lowell)

I'll add Derek Nesbit (Ferris St.) to the list.

Mike Lalonde of Michigan State

and although I dont know his chances of landing a deal, but I would rate Mike Brown of Ferris State above half the goalies on OC's list, so lets add him too.

If he can pick up his game, Mike Doyle from SCSU could be someone to look at

Add Kellen Briggs G, for the Gophers, he's a true Soph and is very underated.

Add Kellen Briggs G, for the Gophers, he's a true Soph and is very underated.

I believe he is still draft eligible for this season.

I believe he is still draft eligible for this season.


yea your right, I thought this was a thread for decent players that haven't been drafted yet....whoops

Jon Foster- Denver I really believe if this kid gets to play with the right players, he will be one of the leading goal scorers in the country.

Mac Faulkner?

I had some other names, not sure how much pro potential they have:

Jon Smyth - Colgate
Mike Ouellette - Dartmouth
Andy Greene - Miami (only a junior I believe)
Colby Genoway
Jeff Jakaitis
Tim Stapleton
Marty Sertich

Genoway has matured greatly and is a great playmaker.

yea your right, I thought this was a thread for decent players that haven't been drafted yet....whoops

After watching him play last season, he's definitely picked his game up a notch. Let's wait and see if he plays this well all season. Because last season, he was ok, nothing more.

Ill add the following Merrimack Players:

Steve Crusco
Brendan Clark
Peter Hams

Crusco is the most likely I think, as he if the best player of the bunch. I think that Clark will probably at least attempt to turn pro, as will Hams.

I like what I've seen from Western Michigan's Brent Walton, although he's small, he seems to be very smart. Putting up some impressive points this year. I also noticed transfer Mike Erickson, who scored a nice goal in close from a good play by Walton on the PP. Erickson is tall with a good body frame. I take it he didn't get much time with Minnesota. Never saw these two before, but so far they have stuck out. Paul Szczechura is one of the reasons why I taped the game, but haven't noticed him as much from what I watched so far.

Erickson had some playing time issues and an injury to his foot at Minnesota. Mainly playing issues though. He is currently a Wild prospect however and not presently up for UFA status.

Erickson had some playing time issues and an injury to his foot at Minnesota. Mainly playing issues though. He is currently a Wild prospect however and not presently up for UFA status.


Thanks for the info.

Brendan Cooke, is her any good... or am I just overrating him based on the two times I've seen him play?

I like what I've seen from Western Michigan's Brent Walton, although he's small, he seems to be very smart. Putting up some impressive points this year. I also noticed transfer Mike Erickson, who scored a nice goal in close from a good play by Walton on the PP. Erickson is tall with a good body frame. I take it he didn't get much time with Minnesota. Never saw these two before, but so far they have stuck out. Paul Szczechura is one of the reasons why I taped the game, but haven't noticed him as much from what I watched so far.


I'm sure glad someone here mentioned Brent Walton . For a guy who has been amung the league leaders in points throughout the season in the NCAA, you would think more people would be talking about him. One player that comes to mind when I watch Walton is ... Martin St. Louis. Undersized, skilled, fast, shifty, great penalty-killer, physical, versatile, and plays with a big heart. Of course I don't expect Walton to become the next St. Louis, but the similarities are there. With a little more seasoning and some weight training, he should be more than capable of becoming a scorer at the AHL level.

I'm not too high on Mike Erickson personally. I believe he is lazy and unmotivated, to go along with his awful skating speed/skill. He does have a big frame and great balance though, but almost always doesn't finish his checks which irritates me to no end being one of the biggest guys on the team. Mike has potential, but at this point, I can't see him even keeping a full time roster spot in the AHL. He needs to play with more fire in his belly. Right now, at most Erikcson would be an decent 3rd/4th line winger who takes a beating in front of the net.

Paul Szczechura is sort of a darkhorse. Some games he is just simply on fire, the puck follows him, he lands some huge body checks, he makes Gretzky like passes (and I don't just say that because he is from Brantford like Wayne either), .....then some games he is invisable. I think with Szczechura, he is either a hit or a miss. As his statistics indicate, he is a great playmaker, smart, skilled, and defensivly responsible. Paul absolutely lit up the OPJHL before coming to Western, having some 100+ points in 40 games. I was hoping for a more productive freshman year, but it was hard getting minimal ice time. This year he has been on the top 2 lines getting consistent playing time in all game situations. He could be worth the gamble past the 6th round.

Nobody drafted Preston Callender? He's one of UNH's best scorers, and a team leader too.
If I were a GM, I'd sign him, he could be great for an AHL team in the near future

Nobody drafted Preston Callender? He's one of UNH's best scorers, and a team leader too.
If I were a GM, I'd sign him, he could be great for an AHL team in the near future

When Callander came to UNH he was already 21 years old, his draft year was 7 years ago. During the years he was eligible, he was putting up average numbers in the USHL during years when the USHL was not what it was now and very few prospects were drafted out of the league.

Oh, so he's in his mid-20s now? Didn't know that

It's like when the Florida State football team was winning with a 28-year old quarterback a few years ago...remember that?

Oh, so he's in his mid-20s now? Didn't know that

It's like when the Florida State football team was winning with a 28-year old quarterback a few years ago...remember that?

yeah.

but that isn't uncommon. The average age for a D-1 college hockey player these days has to be at least 21 or maybe 22. Most freshman don't arrive until they are 20 these days, the current trend has kids playing a year in the USHL after they graduate HS like UNH did with Regan, Pouliot, Ayers, Barker etc. Flaishans is the same age Callander was when he came in, Lanny may have been even older.

Last year everyone made a big deal about the year Junior Lessard had, he was 24, and is playing poorly in the AHL.

Dominic Vicari, who went undrafted last year, does that make him eligible again this year, or a free agent?

I'm unfamiliar with NCAA rules, but know Euro and CHL rules. Anybody help me here?

Dominic Vicari, who went undrafted last year, does that make him eligible again this year, or a free agent?

I'm unfamiliar with NCAA rules, but know Euro and CHL rules. Anybody help me here?

I think you would only need to know the date of birth for his eligibility. I believe he has to be an '84 or younger to still be eligible for this upcoming draft (not sure what will happen without a draft this year.)

I'll get us started...

Evan Schwabe (Minnesota-Duluth)

After finish top-five in points (19-38-57) last year, Evan will be relied on heavily at UMD with the loss of Hobey winner Junior Lessard. He is the highest scoring college player returning (Lessard and Brandon Bochenski are gone) and is an early Hobey favorite.

5'9"...fast...

how courageous is this guy? does he have an all-around game?

I guess , many teams will be interested to sign Jon Smyth.

Smyth has another year of eligibility left after this season. Tyler Burton, Marc Fulton, and Mike Campaner have flashed potential on offense. Not to mention Kyle Wilson should be back as well. The toughest losses will be losing McKinnon and Thomas because of the grit they provide and starting goaltender Steve Silverthorn, who has been one of the best goalies in college hockey the past two seasons. The development of players like Burton and Fulton I think can make up for the offense lost by the graduation of Adam Mitchell

Got to think some NHL/AHL team will be very interested in Bryan Schmidt either this summer or next. I got to watch him play again last night and was impressed with his all round play as well as some quality body checks. What a year he's having!

Got to think some NHL/AHL team will be very interested in Bryan Schmidt either this summer or next. I got to watch him play again last night and was impressed with his all round play as well as some quality body checks. What a year he's having!

AGREED ! :amazed: 30 points in 32 games for a d is ASTONISHING.Plus , he has great size (6'2 230).He's a force for Merrimack.I didn't see him play yet but I think my uncle will tape a game of him when , he's gonna play vs Providence (the 25th february).My uncle's living in Providence and he went to a lot of NCAA games.Anyways , he's a having a HELL of a season.He's a overager (81) but he proved that he's too skilled for NCAA.So , he'll maybe play elsewhere , next season.

AGREED ! :amazed: 30 points in 32 games for a d is ASTONISHING.Plus , he has great size (6'2 230).He's a force for Merrimack.I didn't see him play yet but I think my uncle will tape a game of him when , he's gonna play vs Providence (the 25th february).My uncle's living in Providence and he went to a lot of NCAA games.Anyways , he's a having a HELL of a season.He's a overager (81) but he proved that he's too skilled for NCAA.So , he'll maybe play elsewhere , next season.

He's too skilled for NCAA? He's having a great year but he'd be wise to build on this successful junior campaign with a great senior year and earn more $$$.

mentioned in the original list, but i wanted to mention him again. luke fulghum has been awesome for denver this year. he ended up with 20 goals, many of them were pretty clutch. he busts his butt and seems to be big enough. great forechecker and a quick onetimer + snapper. i would be surprised if someone didnt give him a chance. he reminds me of stafford a little bit, in terms of his playing style.

Forward Pat Bateman NMU Wildcats
6-1, 200+ pounds
11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points
Tied for the team lead in +/- with a (+20)
4 game winning goals

Is Dave McKee a free agent?

Just checking.

Is Dave McKee a free agent?

Just checking.


yes he is

One to watch for the next couple of years is Justin Fletcher D-man from SCSU. Good defensively and very good offensively

I did an interview and article with Domenic Maiani (http://www.uscho.com/stats/gamebygame.php?player=10390&team=86&season=20042005&gender=m) for USA Junior Hockey Magazine (http://www.usajuniorhockey.com/) last year. He's a great kid with good skill. He also had a pretty good freshman season for the Buckeyes this year. His size is a concern, but I think he'd be a good FA signing after another year in the NCAA.

The Great One: I closed the thread you started because I re-opened this one.

In answer to your McKee question....no, he has not signed a pro contract (at least to my knowledge anyway). If he's planning to sign, he'll need to do it soon because most schools (not sure of Cornell's start off hand) starts back up in less than a month.

anyone know what notable players that graduated this year must be signed by the monday (aug 15th) deadline?? i believe that if the flames don't sign nystrom he'll be a ufa...not sure who else it would apply to.

anyone know what notable players that graduated this year must be signed by the monday (aug 15th) deadline?? i believe that if the flames don't sign nystrom he'll be a ufa...not sure who else it would apply to.

I am not sure if that rule applies or not...

but just to answer your question there are plenty of guys out there unsigned...notable players include:

Jim Slater, Eric Nystrom, Dov Grumet-Morris, Sean Collins, Milan Gajic, Bernd Bruckler, Ryan Murphy, Curtis McElhinney, Brian McConnell, Justin Aikins

And borderline signable players like: Knoepfli, Massen, Havern, Adams, Woodford, Gens, Mormina, Lundberg, etc. etc.

I am not sure if that rule applies or not...

but just to answer your question there are plenty of guys out there unsigned...notable players include:

Jim Slater, Eric Nystrom, Dov Grumet-Morris, Sean Collins, Milan Gajic, Bernd Bruckler, Ryan Murphy, Curtis McElhinney, Brian McConnell, Justin Aikins

And borderline signable players like: Knoepfli, Massen, Havern, Adams, Woodford, Gens, Mormina, Lundberg, etc. etc.


Woodford I believe signed with Long Beach of the ECHL, joining Denver's Jon Foster and Kevin Ulanski. I'm assuming he won't be signed by the Ducks? (forget who drafted him)

Thashers have to sign Slater, great player.

Woodford I believe signed with Long Beach of the ECHL, joining Denver's Jon Foster and Kevin Ulanski. I'm assuming he won't be signed by the Ducks? (forget who drafted him)

Thashers have to sign Slater, great player.

Yes he did...and another player from that list, Gens signed in the UHL. Which tells us that the NHL clubs passed on signing them for now. It wouldn't surprise me however if they were still invited to NHL camps, either of the team that drafted them or otherwise.

And it is Florida for Woodford BTW.

Many disagree with this one but Chris Harrington. Plays a well rounded game. Physical and can score. Had some really nice de-skating hits last year. With the NHL opening up he may get a bit longer look with the way he plays in the open ice and can still hit. He is a loose cannon. Hopefully he will relax this year and play well with not as many dumb penalties.

Many disagree with this one but Chris Harrington. Plays a well rounded game. Physical and can score. Had some really nice de-skating hits last year. With the NHL opening up he may get a bit longer look with the way he plays in the open ice and can still hit. He is a loose cannon. Hopefully he will relax this year and play well with not as many dumb penalties.

you mean this chris harrington? http://web.nccray.com/tkessler/spirko.wmv (he is the defenseman in white)

OMG you are right. Let this be known, any d man that gets burned has no buisness playing the game of hockey. After watching that play i agree Harrington is just terrible. Forget all else that he has done. That "One" play will be and should be how he is judged from now on. The gophers should cut him and take away his scholarship to save the U some money.

I will be interested to see how Justin Bostrom does this year with the Gophers. He is smallish but has great skill and likes to be a pain in the ***.

you mean this chris harrington? http://web.nccray.com/tkessler/spirko.wmv (he is the defenseman in white)
Thanks for bringing back a wonderful memory.We will need Spirko,Zajac,and Stafford to really pick up the scoring this year as our D are going to be very young,although by tourney time they should be alright.

OMG you are right. Let this be known, any d man that gets burned has no buisness playing the game of hockey. After watching that play i agree Harrington is just terrible. Forget all else that he has done. That "One" play will be and should be how he is judged from now on. The gophers should cut him and take away his scholarship to save the U some money.
to be fair, he should have sneezed at Spirko, that would have left him flopping on the ice like a fish out of water for five minutes.

to be fair, he should have sneezed at Spirko, that would have left him flopping on the ice like a fish out of water for five minutes.
I don't know where you get that from,but from all the SIOUX games that I attend,Spirko is far from being soft.Now you take that cheap shot artist Paukobiotch and you have yourself a real wimp.

OMG you are right. Let this be known, any d man that gets burned has no buisness playing the game of hockey. After watching that play i agree Harrington is just terrible. Forget all else that he has done. That "One" play will be and should be how he is judged from now on. The gophers should cut him and take away his scholarship to save the U some money.


someone is being a bit dramatic.....face it, Harrington isn't that good, he looked good next to Ballard but on his own he has plain sucked.

someone is being a bit dramatic.....face it, Harrington isn't that good, he looked good next to Ballard but on his own he has plain sucked.
"Sucked" may be a tad strong. He wasn't as good as expected last year but I attribute this to Harrington being asked to do more than he is capable of doing due to the overall youth of MN's defensmen. I suspect he'll have more success this season simply because Goli, Hagemo, & Peltier being able to step up right away in the season and take away some the pressure Harringtion seemed to put on himself.

"Sucked" may be a tad strong. He wasn't as good as expected last year but I attribute this to Harrington being asked to do more than he is capable of doing due to the overall youth of MN's defensmen. I suspect he'll have more success this season simply because Goli, Hagemo, & Peltier being able to step up right away in the season and take away some the pressure Harringtion seemed to put on himself.


to me though, a good defenseman should be able to take on nearly any role at some point..and what was he being asked to do that he didn't do well?
because in watching him, the one thing that he really didn't do well was play defense consistently and that should have been his primary job.

to me though, a good defenseman should be able to take on nearly any role at some point..and what was he being asked to do that he didn't do well?
because in watching him, the one thing that he really didn't do well was play defense consistently and that should have been his primary job.

I was concerned about Harrington's decision making with the puck and I think he was asked to fill a role he is not capable of filling - a Ballard or Martin like role. This role is critical in Lucia's schemes and I suspect he (Lucia) was not comfortable having three freshman step in & carry this burden so early in their careers. Anyway, IMO this had an affect on Harrinton's play defensively where he could/should have used his body more, but he was adequate for the most part in this aspect of the game.

Harrington reminds of a more physical Andrei Zyuzin. Some good plays some dumb plays. Doesn't play the huge role of stopper or scorer but on his own looks ok. Not with the upside. Could play at full ability as a journeyman like Andrei is under acheiving.

He could play 4-7 d man. Has some offensive upside and could steal a point here and there. Plus he hits hard. Saw some skates up in the air after he hit the guy. By no means is he a top d guy at the next level. Plus the new no tolerence rule really hurt him. He is physical and plays chippy. Imagine Ballard with his plays under the no tolerence rule. He would have had a worse senior year than his junior year. But any free agent IMO that has a chance to play is worth while. Just because he choose the Gophers over SCCC does not mean he sucks.

Harrington will not make it at the next level. He isn't skilled enough to make it as an offensive defenseman at that level and he isn't physical enough and makes too many mental mistakes to be a defensive defenseman at that level. Yeah, he has a few nice open ice hits and he has some skill but not enough to make it in the big time.

Usually a kid that has a coach for a father ends up being a pretty heady player but that trait must have missed Harrington as he really makes some poor choices at times. I do believe part of his problem is he was put in a position last year in which he may have tried to do too much. When you are following in the footsteps of elite college defensemen like Leopold, Paul Martin and Ballard, he probably felt like he had to play on that same level as opposed to just staying within himself and playing solid hockey.

Fortunately for him, he should probably be a little more relaxed this year as he'll have a much more experienced unit of defensemen out there with him and he won't have to try to do it all.

to me though, a good defenseman should be able to take on nearly any role at some point

Even some of college hockey's best defensemen of recent times don't take on nearly any role. For instance, most of North Dakota's best defensemen in recent years (Hale, Greene, Matt Jones) that have gone on to the pros were relatively weak when it came to the creating offense and playing well in the transition game. For SCSU, Borer is the best defenseman they have and he is not a good all around defenseman. Solid in his own end but not much beyond that.

Just because he choose the Gophers over SCCC does not mean he sucks.


That has absolutley zero to do with anything...he sucks whether or not he chose the Gophers or chose the Huskies.

Even some of college hockey's best defensemen of recent times don't take on nearly any role. For instance, most of North Dakota's best defensemen in recent years (Hale, Greene, Matt Jones) that have gone on to the pros were relatively weak when it came to the creating offense and playing well in the transition game. For SCSU, Borer is the best defenseman they have and he is not a good all around defenseman. Solid in his own end but not much beyond that.


my point is he doesn't have the ability to take on every role...Casey hasn't needed to be an offensive defenseman but he has the ability to do so, its just not the role the Huskies ask him to play

my point is he doesn't have the ability to take on every role...Casey hasn't needed to be an offensive defenseman but he has the ability to do so, its just not the role the Huskies ask him to play

You and I don't see the same player. Borer has never been an offensive defenseman on any team he has been on. He doesn't have that kind of ability. He isn't slick enough at handling, distributing or skating with the puck to play that role. He isn't asked to play that kind if role because he can't do it effectively.

You and I don't see the same player. Borer has never been an offensive defenseman on any team he has been on. He doesn't have that kind of ability. He isn't slick enough at handling, distributing or skating with the puck to play that role. He isn't asked to play that kind if role because he can't do it effectively.


I guess for me, his offense could be limited to the PP because he has a decent enough shot to do that, but at SCSU that isn't required, not with Fletcher, Brocklehurst and Clafton already back there.

But the role Casey does play for us is just fine with me...and it should get him into the NHL a some point.