12:35pm: Larry Brooks of the New York Post is reporting that the Rangers are still in the mix, and that agent J.P. Barry expects a decision from Kerfoot before Wednesday.
10:16am: Several NCAA draft picks became unrestricted free agents last week when their teams failed to sign them by the deadline, and one of the most interesting ones was Alex Kerfoot. A fifth-round pick by New Jersey, Kerfoot completed his four year at Harvard instead of starting his professional career and like former teammate Jimmy Vesey last summer is now on the radar of several teams around the league.
Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver reports that Kerfoot should make a decision soon on is future and that his hometown Canucks are still in the running. Kerfoot met with Vancouver last week but wasn’t ruling out any team that was after his services. The playmaking center is already 23, and could make an impact at the NHL level at some point this season. Though undersized, his tenacity and high-end offensive skill could result in a long professional career.
Dhaliwal also reports that the Canucks never did reach out to fellow NCAA free agent Will Butcher. Butcher certainly has a market after not signing with the Colorado Avalanche, but his Hobey Baker trophy as the nation’s best college player hasn’t resulted in the sort of frenzy Vesey created last year.
Signing Kerfoot would be big for New York. They lack center depth after trading Stepan and Zibenajad, Hayes, and Desharnais are the only centers projected to make the opening day roster.