School’s Out: College Players Coming to the NHL

Breaking down the newest crop of young talent hitting the NHL

Zach Aston-Reese. Image via pensburgh.com

During the month of March, the eyes of sports fans turn to the colleges. While this is obviously true for the sport of basketball, hockey fans across the country are paying close attention to the college scene as well. Hockey’s version of March Madness, the road to the Frozen Four begins Friday, March 24th. Beyond that, college hockey players who will not be playing in the tournament are eligible to be signed as free agents by NHL clubs. Teams can get a chance to grab the next young talent before the draft even arrives.

Not all college players pan out in the NHL, but the chance to grab young talent before going to the draft is an easy chance to take. A number of players have been signed as college free agents in the last five years with some success, such as Kevin Hayes, Torey Krug, or Tyler Bozak.

So who are this year’s biggest grabs? Where have the top options already landed?

Zach Aston-Reese

Hailing from Staten Island, NY, and a soon-to-be graduate of Northeastern University, this 22-year-old right-winger was the favorite to be signed right out of the gate. He averaged over a point-per-game in four years in college, racking up 148 points in 145 games played. This year alone, he led the NCAA in goals and points, marking 31 goals and 63 points in 38 games played. He was named the NCAA Hockey East Player of the Year and is a Hobey Baker nominee for Top Collegiate Player in the country.

Reports indicate that Aston-Reese has always been a sturdy player who is strong on the puck and plays all three zones effectively. He was able to add a notable offensive presence this season and hopes to continue to improve on that now. Aston-Reese was signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 14th and has already made his first appearance for the Pens’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Pittsburgh found recent success with college free agents like Conor Sheary, and decided to lock up this young man for two years. It looks like this move is already paying off — he made his first AHL appearance Wednesday and scored a goal. The future is very bright for Aston-Reese, and he may be in the NHL as soon as next season.

Gavin Bayreuther

Another senior player coming soon to the NHL is St. Lawrence University defenseman Gavin Bayreuther. Bayreuther was one of the best ECAC defensemen in his four years at the school, and was named to the ECAC First All-Star team in his junior year, as well as the All-Rookie team in his freshman season. He averaged an impressive 0.78 points per game for his college career, leading St. Lawrence in points in his final season. He also showed solid defensive skills, leading his team in blocked shots in his sophomore season while also finding himself near the top of the ECAC leader board in that category. With his consistency, he has been one of the top college defensive prospects.

While originally linked to the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils — Bayreuther’s cousin is Devils defenseman Ben Lovejoy — Bayreuther was signed by the Dallas Stars on March 15. Dallas continues to add talented young defensemen, and Bayreuther’s high hockey IQ makes him a threat on both ends of the ice. As with Aston-Reese, Bayreuther has already proven a worthy signing — in three games with Dallas’ AHL affiliate, Bayreuther has a goal and an assist. Scouts expect him to make the jump soon as well.

Mitch Hults. Image via Twitter

Mitch Hults

Another player accustomed to leading his team in scoring is Mitch Hults, a junior from Lake Superior State University. He led the Lakers with 34 points in 36 games this past season and saw an incredible amount of ice time, playing on the top line in 5-on-5, power play, and penalty kill situations. While there have been criticisms about his discipline, the increased ice time resulted in a great offensive performance that has now landed him an entry-level contract.

Choosing to forego his senior season, Hults decided to make a run at the NHL early and was signed by the Anaheim Ducks on March 20. He will play out the rest of this season with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, and while he has yet to play with his new team, he will certainly be one to watch heading into next season.

Players to watch for:

Some other college players have been signed to deals and will be worth keeping an eye on heading into their respective camps next pre-season. The Washington Capitals signed Kristofers Bindulis, a Latvian-born defenseman who played this year at Lake Superior State and has seen extensive international play over the past four years. Clarkson University’s Sam Vigneault was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, who were likely impressed by the sophomore winger’s 6-foot-5 frame. Minnesota forward Justin Kloos turned down an NHL contract after his junior year, and will now be appearing in the NCAA tournament. Will he get another chance to sign a deal before the draft arrives? What about Spencer Foo? The Union College forward was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award and netted 60 points this past season. Fellow Dutchman Mike Vecchione turned in a similar performance and also has people talking.

Plenty of youthful talent is there for the taking before we even get to the NHL Draft, making this year’s “March Madness” just a little bit madder.