With the college playoffs starting to get underway, we’re starting to see a few free agents that were eliminated early sign with NHL teams. Many more players will become available in the coming weeks and quite a few will sign shortly thereafter.
With that in mind, here is a closer look at some of the defensemen that could be of interest to teams in the coming weeks. Zach Whitecloud would have been a prominent name on this list but he has already signed with Vegas. All of these players are undrafted (and are too old to be drafted this year making them eligible for free agency) and unless they’re in their senior season, they could opt to return to their schools for the 2018-19 campaign.
Daniel Brickley (Minnesota State)
The 22-year-old eschewed NHL interest last year and he should have plenty of suitors once again. Brickley has been flirting with the point-per-game mark for the second straight year and at 6’3, has the size that many teams will covet. He lacks the top-end mobility that is becoming more and more coveted around the league but that won’t scare away any suitors. On top of that, he is the reigning WCHA defensive player of the year. Not surprisingly, he is viewed by many as the top NCAA free agent available this year and 30 teams have already been in contact with his advisor.
Jordan Gross (Notre Dame)
Last year, we speculated that he could be a candidate to return for his senior year given that an immediate NHL spot wasn’t on the horizon. That is indeed the route that the undersized Gross took and his final college campaign hasn’t been as strong as his junior year. However, his skating skills are still quite strong which should get him a look. He won’t be someone that teams will look to burn the first year of his entry-level deal this season, however.
Tariq Hammond (Denver)
A lot of players on this list are known for their offensive abilities but Hammond is not one of those. He is more of a pure stay-at-home defender but has the mobility to skate his way out of trouble, even after undergoing multiple ankle surgeries over the offseason which cost him playing time out of the gate this year. He may not sign in the weeks to come but should land an entry-level deal before next season.
Grant Hutton (Miami (Ohio))
Hutton has really taken a big step forward this season and has become a real threat from the point with a career-best ten goals. The right-shot defender has also logged tough minutes defensively and has a decent all-around game. He is eligible to return for one more year but he should receive enough pro interest that allows him to find a fit he likes to forego his senior season.
Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac)
Rafferty actually drew NHL interest after his freshman campaign but chose to stick around. He has improved in his sophomore campaign so it’s likely that he will draw some attention again this time around. However, his overall game isn’t as refined as some of the other players on this list so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him remain at the NCAA level for another year.
Alec Rauhauser (Bowling Green State)
The sophomore has burst onto the scene with a very strong offensive repertoire that has allowed him to however around the point-per-game mark this season. That alone will get the attention of some teams although it’s worth noting that his play in his own end needs some work. It may be better for him to stick around for another year and become more of a two-way option as a result.
Jimmy Schuldt (St. Cloud)
Schuldt received a lot of NHL interest last year but chose to stick around for his junior campaign. Suffice to say, that was a smart decision. He has blossomed offensively into one of the better point producers on the back end at the college level and could be in line for a Hobey Baker nomination. He is someone that teams may be willing to burn the first year of his entry-level deal now but the Huskies appear to be headed for a lengthy postseason run.