tom webster Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 Now that the trade deadline has come and gone and with the draft still a couple of months away, who are the prize hockey free agents? While its a somewhat over rated pipeline, there are usually a player or two worth talking about. I'm calling on our resident experts to fill us in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 The big dog available is center Greg Carey. Has has put up very impressive numbers in each of his 4 seasons at St Lawrence, but the last 2 he has become an elite scorer. No doubt he will be the most coveted college free agent. The best d-men is 6'3 Finn Ahti Oksanen. He plays for Boston College. He is young, just 20yo, and plays on pairing on BC's defense. Great offensive game and great size. I don't think we will land either of the 2 big free agents, i do think there are few names to watch out for beyond the top 2. -Trevor van Riemsdyk - Brother of James, he plays defense and is a high scoring d-men. Plays for New Hampshire, plays a smart defensive game but scores at a high level. Currently is injured so i wonder how that will effect his stock? -Mark Zengerle - 24yo center plays on Wisconsin. Born in Rochester, plays a hard, in your face game. Has offensive talent but is an elite shutdown center in college ranks. Murray said he wants to bring back local players. Brian Flynn did wonders. He is a similar type player. -Shayne Taker - big 6'4 d-men for Notre Dame. I heard the Sabres had scouted him in the past few months, i forget where i heard it from, somewhere on radio i think it was mentioned. He reminds scouts of Dan DeKayser who was a college undrafted signing with Detroit who has turned out real well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robviously Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 (edited) The big dog available is center Greg Carey. Has has put up very impressive numbers in each of his 4 seasons at St Lawrence, but the last 2 he has become an elite scorer. No doubt he will be the most coveted college free agent. The best d-men is 6'3 Finn Ahti Oksanen. He plays for Boston College. He is young, just 20yo, and plays on pairing on BC's defense. Great offensive game and great size. I don't think we will land either of the 2 big free agents, i do think there are few names to watch out for beyond the top 2. -Trevor van Riemsdyk - Brother of James, he plays defense and is a high scoring d-men. Plays for New Hampshire, plays a smart defensive game but scores at a high level. Currently is injured so i wonder how that will effect his stock? -Mark Zengerle - 24yo center plays on Wisconsin. Born in Rochester, plays a hard, in your face game. Has offensive talent but is an elite shutdown center in college ranks. Murray said he wants to bring back local players. Brian Flynn did wonders. He is a similar type player. -Shayne Taker - big 6'4 d-men for Notre Dame. I heard the Sabres had scouted him in the past few months, i forget where i heard it from, somewhere on radio i think it was mentioned. He reminds scouts of Dan DeKayser who was a college undrafted signing with Detroit who has turned out real well. The Sabres can do what they did with Ruhwedel though -- instead of just offering a contract, they can ALSO offer a guy a chance to play in the NHL *this month*. You figure that would resonate with a guy who is just wrapping up his college career. Hope we make a run at a couple of these guys. I like what we're getting from Ruhwedel. Edited March 9, 2014 by Robviously Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted March 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 The big dog available is center Greg Carey. Has has put up very impressive numbers in each of his 4 seasons at St Lawrence, but the last 2 he has become an elite scorer. No doubt he will be the most coveted college free agent. The best d-men is 6'3 Finn Ahti Oksanen. He plays for Boston College. He is young, just 20yo, and plays on pairing on BC's defense. Great offensive game and great size. I don't think we will land either of the 2 big free agents, i do think there are few names to watch out for beyond the top 2. -Trevor van Riemsdyk - Brother of James, he plays defense and is a high scoring d-men. Plays for New Hampshire, plays a smart defensive game but scores at a high level. Currently is injured so i wonder how that will effect his stock? -Mark Zengerle - 24yo center plays on Wisconsin. Born in Rochester, plays a hard, in your face game. Has offensive talent but is an elite shutdown center in college ranks. Murray said he wants to bring back local players. Brian Flynn did wonders. He is a similar type player. -Shayne Taker - big 6'4 d-men for Notre Dame. I heard the Sabres had scouted him in the past few months, i forget where i heard it from, somewhere on radio i think it was mentioned. He reminds scouts of Dan DeKayser who was a college undrafted signing with Detroit who has turned out real well. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Daddy Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 Great update Loyalty. What is the date teams can begin to sign the available players? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 The Sabres can do what they did with Ruhwedel though -- instead of just offering a contract, they can ALSO offer a guy a chance to play in the NHL *this month*. You figure that would resonate with a guy who is just wrapping up his college career. Hope we make a run at a couple of these guys. I like what we're getting from Ruhwedel. I don't know if I agree. Watching him in person Friday, his play in his own end was very suspect. I want to keep an eye on that tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 Oksanen is at BU, not BC. So if you plan on looking up his info, be sure to look in the right place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 Oksanen is at BU, not BC. So if you plan on looking up his info, be sure to look in the right place. Good call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabresBillsFan Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 I wouldn't be surprised if we sign a couple. We have cap space and god knows we have could put a guy or two on the roster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 With all the draft picks we have coming I'm not sure if we will have room to play this market. Two years from now we might need two farm teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 With all the draft picks we have coming I'm not sure if we will have room to play this market. Two years from now we might need two farm teams. It's worth the risk and then dealing with the surplus of players later, if they can land a guy like Brian Flynn for nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 It's worth the risk and then dealing with the surplus of players later, if they can land a guy like Brian Flynn for nothing. Ah more AHLers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted March 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) It's worth the risk and then dealing with the surplus of players later, if they can land a guy like Brian Flynn for nothing. With all due respect to Rhuwedel and Flynn, the top college free agents we are hoping to emulate are guys like Torey Krug and Dan Dekeyser Edited March 10, 2014 by tom webster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasmus_ Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 With all due respect to Rhuwedel and Flynn, the top college free agents we are hoping to emulate are guys like Torey Krug and Dsn Dekeyser I would put Matt Read in that discussion too, just to bring up a smaller school find. He's put up some nice seasons in Philly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted March 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 I would put Matt Read in that discussion too, just to bring up a smaller school find. He's put up some nice seasons in Philly. Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesportsbuff Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 I know nothing about these players other than what has been posted here, but hey, if any of them look like they could eventually be more than just a stop-gap or fringe NHL player, why not take a shot? As mentioned above, if a player wants to get his feet wet in the NHL, Buffalo might be one of only a few teams who could realistically afford them that opportunity. I also like dudacek's point about contracts, though. If we're talking another Brian Flynn, I think the Sabres would likely pass altogether. If they see a higher ceiling in a guy, maybe. I am rooting for them to sign somebody (and insert them in the Sabres lineup :flirt: ) just for some excitement between now and the draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 This is an older article but it should give ppl some names to take a look at. Note not all players in their 25 are Free Agents but the article does indicate which ones are. http://unitedstatesofhockey.com/2013/10/04/2013-14-college-hockey-preview-25-players-to-watch/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 I agree, was thinking about this idea for a while. Great thread and great start to information searching on College FAs. Haven't had a chance to look further myself, but I like the idea sign a few and if only 1 pans out al la Flynn it would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chileanseabass Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 I really like Zengerle. He isn't the biggest or most physical player, but isn't afraid to get his nose dirty. Reminds me a lot sometimes of another center from Wisconsin, Joe Pavelski. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 I would put Matt Read in that discussion too, just to bring up a smaller school find. He's put up some nice seasons in Philly. There's plenty of talent in the college ranks thats untapped. For example, look at NYR backup goaltender Cam Talbot. He was signed as a undrafted free agent from the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Exactly. Who? Also, one of the better undrafted free agent signings has to be by Brian Burke, Tyler Bozak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 (edited) Here's a good list of college free agents since the lockout... A LOT of good names http://eyeonthesens.com/2013/09/02/free-agent-college-signings-in-the-post-lockout-nhl-updated/ Edited March 11, 2014 by Tankalicious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 There's plenty of talent in the college ranks thats untapped. For example, look at NYR backup goaltender Cam Talbot. He was signed as a undrafted free agent from the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Exactly. Who? Also, one of the better undrafted free agent signings has to be by Brian Burke, Tyler Bozak. Agreed and perhaps the best UFA College kid... Martin St Louis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 Agreed and perhaps the best UFA College kid... Martin St Louis. It's all subjective of course, but Adam Oates would like to have a little talk with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 It's all subjective of course, but Adam Oates would like to have a little talk with you. O I didn't realize that. Hmm yes he would definitely be right up there if not best. Let us say that St Louis and Oates are in the top 3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 O I didn't realize that. Hmm yes he would definitely be right up there if not best. Let us say that St Louis and Oates are in the top 3? Them and Brian Flynn, yes. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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