The NCAA is a breeding ground for NHL talent these days, and over the next few weeks the top free agents will be snapped up by clubs all across the league. Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) reports that two names in particular are getting a ton of interest.
Daniel Brickley of Minnesota State has apparently been contacted by 30 teams, while Jimmy Schuldt from St. Cloud State has spoken to 22. Both players went undrafted and can sign with a team as soon as their collegiate season ends, though both are juniors and could potentially return to college for another year. Both are left-handed defensemen who could step into an NHL lineup with little development, and they both will turn 23 before the end of the regular season.
- The NHL handed out embellishment fines to both Nick Cousins and Brad Marchand, for their second incidents of the season. The first time a player is caught embellishing by the league, he is given a warning. Now, Cousins and Marchand will have to pay $2,000 and could face stiffer penalties if it continues. On the fifth such incident, the player’s coach starts to be fined as well.
- Eeli Tolvanen continued his dominance of the KHL today, scoring two goals to send Jokerit to the next round. That will unfortunately delay his appearance in the NHL even further. Adam Vingan of the Tennessean reports the earliest Tolvanen’s season could now end is March 20th, but could play even later than that if Jokerit keeps winning. The outstanding young sniper has seven goals in six playoff games after finishing the regular season with 36 points in 49 games.
Would love to know who that 31st team is that hasn’t decided to reach out to a guy who has been contacted by every other team in the league.
This also struck me as odd.
Well is anyone still at 50 contracts? Maybe even 49 and they want the flexibility. Does Nashville have 48/49 with a spot earmarked for Tolvanen because it could be them. Plus they would likely have to send either college player to the AHL with how loaded on defense they are. Just a thought.
Even then, you would figure you would reach out to him. If he’s really interested in a specific team (for whatever reason) he’d likely be willing to wait for the end of the season (and/or playoffs) when some contract spots open up.
Would love the see both in Montreal. They’ve already been rumoured to be the favourites to land Schuldt. With the amount of injuries and lack of LD depth, they could conceivably offer one or both immediate NHL roles with inside tracks to full time job(s) next season.