As we close out the 2016-17 NHL season teams continue to sign their prospects to entry-level deals, bringing them over from whichever league they’ve played in around the world and installing them into their own systems. CapFriendly reminds us today of all the draft picks that will become free agents should they remain unsigned on June 1st of this year.
Buffalo Sabres
Devante Stephens (5th round, 2015)
Giorgio Estephan (6th round, 2015)
Gustav Possler (5th round, 2013)
Calgary Flames
Riley Bruce (7th round, 2015)
Carolina Hurricanes
Steven Lorentz (7th round, 2015)
Chicago Blackhawks
Robin Press (7th round, 2013)
Roy Radke (6th round, 2015)
Colorado Avalanche
Wilhelm Westlund (7th round, 2013)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Sam Ruopp (5th round, 2015)
Markus Soberg (6th round, 2013)
Dallas Stars
Aleksi Makela (7th round, 2013)
Matej Paulovic (5th round, 2013)
Detroit Red Wings
Hampus Melen (7th round, 2013)
Adam Marsh (7th round, 2015)
Edmonton Oilers
Miroslav Svoboda (7th round, 2015)
Los Angeles Kings
Chaz Reddekopp (7th round, 2015)
Matt Schmalz (5th round, 2015)
Montreal Canadiens
Matt Bradley (5th round, 2015)
Nashville Predators
Janne Juvonen (7th round, 2013)
Evan Smith (7th round, 2015)
Emil Pettersson (6th round, 2013)
Saku Maenalanen (5th round, 2013)
New York Islanders
Ryan Pilon (5th round, 2015)
Victor Crus-Rydberg (5th round, 2013)
New York Rangers
Brad Morrison (4th round, 2015)
Philadelphia Flyers
Samuel Dove-McFalls (4th round, 2015)
San Jose Sharks
Fredreik Bergvik (4th round, 2013)
St. Louis Blues
Santeri Saari (6th round, 2013)
Glenn Gawdin (4th round, 2015)
Liam Dunda (6th round, 2015)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Bokondji Imama (6th round, 2015)
Saku Salminen (7th round, 2013)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Stephen Desrocher (6th round, 2015)
Fabrice Herzog (5th round, 2013)
Nikita Korostelev (7th round, 2015)
Vancouver Canucks
Carl Neill (5th round, 2015)
Tate Olson (7th round, 2015)
Winnipeg Jets
Marcus Karlstrom (7th round, 2013)
Matteo Gennaro (7th round, 2015)
Jansen Harkins (2nd round, 2015)
Obviously, most of these players will never have a sniff of the NHL regardless of what happens in the next few months. Even if they’ve had exceptional seasons, most come with the caveat of being much older than the average player in their respective leagues, and are using physical maturity more than potential to dominate the level.
The standout though is Harkins, who is the only player on the list to be selected higher than the fourth round. When the Winnipeg Jets selected him 47th overall two years ago, they thought they were getting a big, playmaking two-way center capable of turning into a quality NHL player one day. He regressed his next season, and even this year didn’t get back to his lofty high of 79 points in 2014-15.
He does still have a ton of potential—as several of these players still do—and the Jets will need to get him locked up before June in order to keep other teams from jumping on him.