Best College FA's

Since people seem to be asking all over, I think we should make a sticky with posts regarding this year's NCAA Free Agent Crop.

I'll start it off...

Yann Danis (Goalie - Brown University)
Probably the cream of the crop (along with Pock) amongst this year's crop. Helping lead the Brown Bears to a very successful season, certainly has some NHL potential even if it's just as a back-up.

Sean Fields (Goalie - Boston University)
I personally feel Sean has an ENORMOUS amount of potential. I have felt this way since Sean's freshmen year and advocated the Bruins drafting him back in 2001 (http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=2451) but Sean went undrafted and despite his struggles this season should be signing his name a deal with an NHL team this spring. J.F. Labbe II? Quite possibly.

Thomas Pock (Defenseman - UMass Amherst)
The Austrian native is considered the top defenseman available this spring and also remains a Hobey Baker & All-American candidate. Was ranked 170th by CSB (among North American skaters) in 2001 but went undrafted and is due to cash in big this spring. Already has 28 points in 21 games this year and is on pace for 45 points, about a 23% increase from last year's output. Certainly cream of the crop along-side Danis.

Andrew Canzanello (Defenseman - Colorado College)
The 5' 11" defenseman is another one poised to cash in this spring. With all the controversy/tragedy surrounding the CC Tigers, the Rochester, MN-native has helped lead the 6th ranked Tigers to an 11-4-3 record. The slick skating defenseman leads Colorado College defenseman in scoring (3-11-14) and for his career has 72 points (13-59) over a 132 collegiate career.

What are some of the others people around here know?

Here's my list in no particular order and not including the players that Schlep Rock included. This list only includes seniors. If anyone wants more details on the players on this list, just ask.

GOALTENDERS:
Frank Doyle, Maine
Grady Hunt, Bemidji State
Mike Betz, Ohio State

DEFENSEMEN:
Stephen Wood, Providence
Dan Boeser, Wisconsin
Prestin Ryan, Maine
Dan Andress, Ohio State
Felipe Larranga, Alaska-Fairbanks
Scott Basuik, RPI
Rob Brown, Colgate
Brett Lebda, Notre Dame

FORWARDS:
Ryan Vesce, Cornell
Tony Voce, Boston College
Derek Edwardson, Miami-Ohio
Junior Lessard, Minnesota-Duluth
Tim Pettit, Harvard
Rene Bourque, Wisconsin
Steve Saviano, New Hampshire
Shane Joseph, Minnesota State-Mankato
Dana Lattery, Western Michigan
Joe Tallari, Niagara
Mike Kompon, Miami-Ohio
Paul Camponigri, Ohio State

Which of the d-men mentioned would be right-handed bruising types? FL is still kinda weak on right-handed d-men and especially on crease clearers. Can any of these guys step into the NHL next yr (barring a lockout)?

Which of the d-men mentioned would be right-handed bruising types? FL is still kinda weak on right-handed d-men and especially on crease clearers. Can any of these guys step into the NHL next yr (barring a lockout)?

D-Wise Stephen Wood is a very underrated player in my opinion. Stephen plays right in my back yard here in Rhode Island so I've seen him more frequently than some of the others but Stephen is underrated and he is considered one of the top 5 college FA's this year, so that says something about him.

Step into the NHL right away? No.

It's a tough jump, a lot tougher than Major Junior to the NHL (as Senja has proven this year).

But for every 20 Senja's. there's a Hal Gill who steps right in the show post-college.

I'd like to see the Habs take a shot at anyone of Danis, Bourque or Vesce. Danis is putting up impressive numbers again, Bourque has good size and drives to the net, and Vesce is quick and has good offensive instincts.

D-Wise Stephen Wood is a very underrated player in my opinion. Stephen plays right in my back yard here in Rhode Island so I've seen him more frequently than some of the others but Stephen is underrated and he is considered one of the top 5 college FA's this year, so that says something about him.

Step into the NHL right away? No.

It's a tough jump, a lot tougher than Major Junior to the NHL (as Senja has proven this year).

But for every 20 Senja's. there's a Hal Gill who steps right in the show post-college.

I agree. I've been watching Wood for 2+ years at Providence and he just doesn't get the respect that he deserves.

Speaking of underrated, how about Junior Lessard? This kid has been dynamite for UMD this season. I saw him in a game earlier this season and he was impressive. He's an excellent skater and sees the ice remarkably well, not to mention he can make something out of nothing.

I'd like to see the Habs take a shot at anyone of Danis, Bourque or Vesce. Danis is putting up impressive numbers again, Bourque has good size and drives to the net, and Vesce is quick and has good offensive instincts.

I have a feeling of those three only Danis will be signing a deal this April.

The other two I have a feeling will be on AHL deals come next September.

pock is a converted forward, correct? i believe i saw him 2 years ago at a game at BU, and thought he was ok, but he didn't show me that much being a forward. what's his story? obviously he's an offensive guy, but how are his reads? does he play physical? how's his positioning? hockey sense? shot? thanks guys...

Colin Murphy of the MTU Huskies.

Colin Murphy of the MTU Huskies.Since he's a junior, I'm not sure he would be signed at this point in time. Plus, he's playing for my dad's alma mater and Michigan Tech has been horrible the past few yrs. Its possible he's just getting all the chances on a poor team.

Since he's a junior, I'm not sure he would be signed at this point in time. Plus, he's playing for my dad's alma mater and Michigan Tech has been horrible the past few yrs. Its possible he's just getting all the chances on a poor team.

While Michigan Tech certainly isn't the best team in the nation, they do in fact have some talent on that squad.

Their goaltender, Bryce Luker supposidly has some potential in this game. He's ranked 30 out of 30 (I believe) by CSB in their mid-term rankings but is 2nd amongst NCAA goalies (behind David Brown @ Notre Dame who is 1 slot ahead of him).

Sophomore Chris Conner is emerging as one of the top players in the country with 17 goals.

So while the team itself might not be on fire, both Conner and Murphy are pulling their weight and both do have some potential.

pock is a converted forward, correct? i believe i saw him 2 years ago at a game at BU, and thought he was ok, but he didn't show me that much being a forward. what's his story? obviously he's an offensive guy, but how are his reads? does he play physical? how's his positioning? hockey sense? shot? thanks guys...

hey guys- anyone have that scouting report on pock? thanks

hey guys- anyone have that scouting report on pock? thanks



Yes, Pock is a converted forward. I have yet to see a UMass game this season, so the only reports on him that I can give you is what I saw of him last season. The thing that stood out in my mind was those great hands of his.


While Michigan Tech certainly isn't the best team in the nation, they do in fact have some talent on that squad.

Their goaltender, Bryce Luker supposidly has some potential in this game. He's ranked 30 out of 30 (I believe) by CSB in their mid-term rankings but is 2nd amongst NCAA goalies (behind David Brown @ Notre Dame who is 1 slot ahead of him).

Sophomore Chris Conner is emerging as one of the top players in the country with 17 goals.

So while the team itself might not be on fire, both Conner and Murphy are pulling their weight and both do have some potential.

I've seen several MTU games already this season. I can tell you this much.....MTU has no scoring depth. Conner and Murphy (and Taggert Desmet earlier in the season) IS MTU's offense! They account for over 60% of the Huskies total goal output. The offensive production drops off considerably after Conner and Murphy.

As for Bryce Luker, he actually didn't look too bad in the game I saw him play in. He just doesn't get much help from his defensemen. In the series vs. Wisconsin earlier this season, he made some really nice saves on some of the Badgers players. The kid has a good glove and shows some real poise in net. He needs some work positionally and needs to be a more aggressive in challenging shooters and less willing to commit early.

I take it back... Thomas Pock is NOT a free agent...

One of this year's top NCAA free agents, Thomas Pock, may not be a free agent after all.

Red Line Report continues to rank Pock as a draft eligible player which has many people scratching their heads.

The question now that's present is this:
Being from Austria... is he required to be drafted to play in the NHL?

Peter Senja, last year's Hobey Baker winner, was born in Slovakia but played here in North America prior to playing in the NCAA (USHL).

Now Pock, prior to playing NCAA hockey at UMass-Amherst played for the Klagenfurt Athletic Club in Austria and also for the Austrian-National team. So he did not have any North American hockey under his belt prior to his NCAA career.

So either RLR is completely skewered or they're on to something.

I take it back... Thomas Pock is NOT a free agent...

One of this year's top NCAA free agents, Thomas Pock, may not be a free agent after all.

Red Line Report continues to rank Pock as a draft eligible player which has many people scratching their heads.

The question now that's present is this:
Being from Austria... is he required to be drafted to play in the NHL?

Peter Senja, last year's Hobey Baker winner, was born in Slovakia but played here in North America prior to playing in the NCAA (USHL).

Now Pock, prior to playing NCAA hockey at UMass-Amherst played for the Klagenfurt Athletic Club in Austria and also for the Austrian-National team. So he did not have any North American hockey under his belt prior to his NCAA career.

So either RLR is completely skewered or they're on to something.

That has to be wrong because Pock is too old for the draft. He was born 12/8/81, which would make him 22 years old.

That has to be wrong because Pock is too old for the draft. He was born 12/8/81, which would make him 22 years old.

I've done about 20 triple takes at it. Technically that doesn't matter if the NHL is classifying him as a Euro though, 27, 28, 29 year olds are drafted each year.

The question is how they classify him. RLR seems PRETTY convinced that he is classified as a Euro because of no North American experience prior to NCAA.

Made some phone calls, we'll see what happens.

I've done about 20 triple takes at it. Technically that doesn't matter if the NHL is classifying him as a Euro though, 27, 28, 29 year olds are drafted each year.

The question is how they classify him. RLR seems PRETTY convinced that he is classified as a Euro because of no North American experience prior to NCAA.

Made some phone calls, we'll see what happens.

Any news on this?

Any news on this?

An Austrian paper reportedly contacted the NHL Central Registry and they REPORTEDLY confirmed to them that Pock does indeed need to be drafted because he played in Austria until he was 18 years old.

Now whoever Pock has an agent, needs to get his act together and make this a known fact in the hockey world OR fight it w/the NHL registry because nobody really knows, even some NHL scouts I spoke with said they are under the assumption he is a free agent. Everyone needs to get on the same page on this one and a statement from Pock or his advisor would be the page turner.

If Pock had an agent - i dont think his eligibility would be his most interesting fact.

College kids cannot have agents -- he would get booted if he did and UMass would get slapped

Think anyone will be interested in Havard's Tim Pettit? He's had a nice career for the Crimson Tide.

If Pock had an agent - i dont think his eligibility would be his most interesting fact.

College kids cannot have agents -- he would get booted if he did and UMass would get slapped

College kids can have "family advisors" which are just agents but with a different name. The word "agent" implies "client" which implies $$$, a no-no for NCAA players.

But about 65% of NCAA players have advisors.

I've seen several MTU games already this season. I can tell you this much.....MTU has no scoring depth. Conner and Murphy (and Taggert Desmet earlier in the season) IS MTU's offense! They account for over 60% of the Huskies total goal output. The offensive production drops off considerably after Conner and Murphy.


This comment I can't necessarily agree with. I will agree that Murphy, Connor and Desmet are the top end talent but the reason for no scoring depth is the coaching. Coach Russell has decided to load up his 1st line with all 3 of his big guns leaving no supporting cast past the 1st line. It's been very easy for teams to shut down the Huskies. They simply have to shut down that 1st line and they're all set.

The other thing people need to consider is that this team is very young. Murphy is a junior, Connor a sophomore, and Desmet a freshman. This year, they will have all 3 back and will have a set of promising freshman that will now be sophomores including Tyler Skworchinski (who led the Manitoba league in scoring), BJ Radovich and Brandon Schwartz who could all add some definite offense if Russell ever decides to give them a shot. For most of the season these 3 have seen 3rd or 4th line minutes but all are capable of putting up points if given the chance.

What about Rich Peverley from SLU? He has had 3 productive and consistent years on a mediocere team! THey have also played some big name teams these past years.

Will Colin Shields be a FA at the end of this year?

If so what is likely to happen to him?

Will Colin Shields be a FA at the end of this year?

If so what is likely to happen to him?
Shields is Flyers property I believe

anyone on this (admittedly stale)thread care to comment on Dana Lattery who is currently working out at the Flames prospect camp?
he looks to have good hands from what I've seen. how's his skating, competitiveness etc?

anyone on this (admittedly stale)thread care to comment on Dana Lattery who is currently working out at the Flames prospect camp?
he looks to have good hands from what I've seen. how's his skating, competitiveness etc?

I posted a thread on Lattery over on the Flames board. Check it out.

What about Jason Gurierro from Northeastern. He is the team captain, and has been probably the MVP of the team last 3 years.

I play with Dan Boeser in a mens league...he signed with Peoria of the ECHL...but came home after the season ended...got married, taking it easy.

But he's told me he has a couple offers on the table to play if and when the NHL gets under way (if ever)

I play with Dan Boeser in a mens league...he signed with Peoria of the ECHL...but came home after the season ended...got married, taking it easy.

But he's told me he has a couple offers on the table to play if and when the NHL gets under way (if ever)

To sign an NHL deal? Or just play minor pro?

To sign an NHL deal? Or just play minor pro?



I am guessing minor...he didn't say tho...someone did tell me that the Houston Aeros were interested in him


he's a class act btw...

Andy Wosniewski (Wisconsin) has played well for St. John's but is injured now.

I am guessing minor...he didn't say tho...someone did tell me that the Houston Aeros were interested in him


he's a class act btw...

Aeros were interested in him from day one and he'd likely be playing there if it wasn't for the NHL lockout.

Anyone have analysis on Ohio State goaltender Dave Caruso? He's coming up on a pretty solid year between the pipes with OSU challenging for the CCHA regular-season title

I love Vicari from Michigan St. Totally outplayed Montoya all year, and specifically this past weekend.

Aeros were interested in him from day one and he'd likely be playing there if it wasn't for the NHL lockout.



it appears he's signed or is signing with someone, he mentioned he's having a going away party last night at our game...