Free agents for NHL teams 2023: Top college, CHL and European players

June 07, 2024

Today we look at this year’s class of free agents coming out of the CHL, NCAA and major European leagues. This is obviously not like NHL free agency — these players are likely not going to be difference-makers in an organization, even if once in a while an Andrei Kuzmenko, Ilya Mikheyev or Danny DeKeyser comes around. This is about building organizational depth and getting older, physically matured players who can play real minutes for an organization, whether in the NHL or AHL.

While I spent many hours on this article, I do not cover the free-agent world as extensively as I do the NHL Draft or drafted NHL prospects. Thus I cannot claim to have a complete, comprehensive scope of the free-agent world. There will be numerous players who sign that I don’t have listed here, but excluding them isn’t necessarily a commentary on the players; I may simply have never gotten around to watching them.

Projected to play NHL games

1. Hardy Haman Aktell, LHD, Vaxjo-SHL: Haman Aktell, a former Nashville draft pick, has been a quality member of a top SHL team this season in Vaxjo. Haman Aktell is a huge defenseman who was often injured shortly after Nashville drafted him. He’s been healthy the last few years, though, and his offensive touch has taken off this season. I don’t view him as a big points producer in North America, but he can make a good first pass and has a strong point shot. His skating will be a major limitation in the NHL, but I think he defends well enough to potentially overcome that and be a third-pair defenseman in the league.

2. Sam Malinski, RHD, Cornell-ECAC: Malinski has been a top defenseman in college this season. He has excellent playmaking ability. He makes a lot of difficult passes in the offensive zone and has the ability to run a pro power play with his vision and shot. His skating is solid too and he can create with his skill and feet. Malinski isn’t the biggest defender but he competes well enough that I think he has a shot to be a good pro.

3. Jake Livingstone, RHD, Minnesota State-CCHA: Livingston was a top free-agent target in 2022 but decided to go back to Mankato. He’s not a flashy player, and while he has a good point shot he doesn’t have a ton of offensive skill and his mobility is just OK. Livingston is a 6-foot-3, intelligent, two-way defenseman though. He has enough puck game to project to make NHL outlet passes and the occasional tough O-zone play. Even with his skating, his size and work rate should allow him to take third-pair minutes in the league.

4. Austen Swankler, C, Bowling Green-CCHA: After bouncing around a few junior teams, including a full OHL season, he was exempted to play college hockey after taking a full year off. Swankler has found his form this year as one of the top scorers in college. Swankler has excellent skill. He is able to dangle college defensemen routinely and shows tremendous small-area puckhandling abilities. He can create a lot with his offensive creativity. The big knock on Swankler was his skating, which used to be terrible. It’s still not an asset, but it’s improved notably, and with a cleaner stride he’s been able to maximize his skill more often. He’s a good pro prospect, but he may be going back to school for his junior season. If he decides to come out there will be plenty of suitors.

5. Victor Ostman, G, Maine-Hockey East: Ostman has been a top goaltender in college this season for Maine. The junior netminder has a highly intriguing toolkit at 6-4 and possesses good athleticism to make tough saves. When he’s on his game and making good reads/decisions with his natural ability, he can look like a pro goalie. I find his reads and puck tracking can be somewhat inconsistent but I think there’s a lot of talent to bet on with Ostman.

Have a chance to play NHL games

6. Jiri Smejkal, LW, Oskarshamm-SHL: Smejkal is a bit on the older side at 26 years old, but he’s having a big year in Sweden and has been a notable part of the Czechia national team, having played for them at the Olympics and worlds. He’s a big, powerful winger with good skills who can help on both special teams. His skating is just OK and whether he will score in North America is a question, but his style lends itself to a real chance to play NHL games.

7. Owen Pederson, LW, Winnipeg-WHL: Pederson has been an important part of a top CHL club in Winnipeg over the last two seasons. He has excellent puck skills and size, and can create a lot around the net which makes him intriguing for the pro game. Pederson’s skating has and continues to be an issue, and I’m not sure I would call him the best playmaker you’ll ever see. I think there’s a toolkit though that gives him a chance, and he’s stood out for me in Winnipeg games when I’m trying to watch other, more highly touted players.

8. Riese Gaber, RW, North Dakota-NCHC: Gaber, like Livingstone, was a priority free agent last season but like many North Dakota players opted to stay in school for another year. He’s an undersized winger, but his skating is excellent and gives him a real chance to play in the NHL. He gives an honest effort every night which when combined with his speed has him buzzing around the ice constantly. Gaber has good puck skills, and can shoot the puck quite well from range too. Whether there’s an NHL role for him given his frame is to be determined.

9. Hunter McKown, C, Colorado College-NCHC: McKown has scored a lot of goals in college over the last two seasons. He’s a highly-skilled forward, he actually was on the power play for Team USA at the summer world juniors because of the offensive touch he brings. His skating is fine, but won’t be an asset in the NHL. McKown’s overall compete can be inconsistent too and he’s probably not a pro center. The skill and scoring touch will be worth a team taking a gamble on.

10. Christopher Sedoff, LHD, Red Deer-WHL: Sedoff was once thought of as a quality prospect a few years ago. He was on Finland’s U18 team as a 16-year-old. He played up levels because of his skating while also being a decent-sized defenseman who could make stops. There were questions about his skill and ability to move pucks at higher levels and ultimately he went undrafted. Since then he’s been a very good junior defenseman. The offense has been good. As an older WHL player it’s hard to tell whether the puck game is now real or a mirage from an older player in junior, but I think he’s shown enough to warrant taking a shot on.

11. Luke Krys, RHD, Brown-ECAC: Krys, the younger brother of former Chicago draft pick Chad Krys, has been a top player for Brown. He’s a 6-foot-2 defenseman who can skate and competes well, which immediately draws the interest of scouts. He’s a lot better a defender than his brother was, but he doesn’t have near the offensive abilities and whether he can move pucks versus pros will be his challenge even if he shows flashes of skill at the college level.

12. Travis Mitchell, LHD, Cornell-ECAC: Mitchell has played a large role for Cornell this season. The senior defenseman and team captain often lined up on both special teams. He’s a big-body defenseman who competes well and could be a solid pro defender. His skating is fine for his size but not a major selling point. Whether he can move pucks versus men will be Mitchell’s main challenge as I wouldn’t call him a natural offensive type.

13. Anton Malmstrom, LHD, Bowling Green-CCHA: Malmstrom is a 6-foot-4 defenseman who can skate very well for a defender his size. He projects to make a lot of stops at the pro level because of his athleticism. He has very little to no puck game though and his hockey sense will be a major question at higher levels.

14. Cooper Black, G, Dartmouth-ECAC: Black, a freshman at Dartmouth stands out instantly due to his frame. He’s listed at 6-foot-8 but some team sources think he’s closer to 6-foot-9. His technique is rather smooth given that large frame and he shows good hockey sense in net. Not surprisingly, his lower half is a little heavy and how quickly he can move will be his main challenge for the pro game, but Black still moves fairly well for a guy his size. He has a shot to make the NHL, presuming he decides to sign this year which I don’t think is likely.

15. Collin Graf, RW, Quinnipiac-ECAC: Graf has been one of the top scorers in college this season and a big part of Quinnipiac’s success. He’s a skilled offensive player. His vision and his shot are major assets and inside the offensive zone he can be quite dangerous. He can play way too much on the perimeter, though, and his skating isn’t ideal for the pro game.

16. Grigori Dronov, LHD, Magnitogorsk-KHL: Dronov was often injured coming up as a draft eligible, but as a pro he’s looked like a quality KHL defenseman for a top team in that league. Dronov has good size, he can move pucks well and is able to defend well at the KHL level. The big issue for him in the NHL will be his mobility. I think it’s fine, it works in the KHL for sure, but whether he can skate with NHL forwards will be a test.

17. Konstantin Okulov, RW, CSKA-KHL: Okulov has been a rumored NHL free-agent target for a few years. The 27 year old’s KHL deal expires this summer so we will see if he tries to cross the pond. He has very good offensive skills and is a legit goal-scoring threat at the highest levels. His shot can beat quality goalies from the circles. Whether Okulov’s feet will hold up in the NHL is a question. I don’t think either his compete or skating really stand out, so I wonder if an NHL attempt for him will go like how Vadim Shipachyov’s attempt did which ended quickly.

Longshots to play in the NHL

18. Rickard Hugg, LW, Skelleftea-SHL: Hugg has been a top player for the best team in the SHL this season. His skill and playmaking have shone through much more consistently compared to the prior years I’ve been watching him. He competes well and can score, but he’s 5-foot-11 and not a great skater. He gave one shot in North America and it didn’t go great, but I think a team will give him a second chance.

19. Kyle McDonald, RW, North Bay-OHL: McDonald is a big winger with excellent puck skills and a good track record of scoring goals in the OHL. His skating is quite heavy though and whether he can even be an average AHL skater is a question but he should be able to score as a pro.

20. Jacob Bengtsson, LHD, Lake Superior State University-CCHA: Bengtsson has been a top defenseman in the CCHA over the last few seasons. He’s a good-sized defender with strong hockey sense. His offensive touch isn’t that great, but he can make a good outlet pass and shows instances of O-zone playmaking. Bengtsson’s skating will be his major issue for the NHL. His frame gives him a chance to find a role in the NHL if he finds a way to stand out enough defensively in the AHL.

21. Jaxon Nelson, C, Minnesota-Big Ten: Nelson is a big-body center who has played on both special teams for the Gophers this season and put up decent offensive totals. His skating is fine for a 6-foot-4 guy, but I wouldn’t call him a quick-twitch skater by any means. He has decent skill. I don’t think he’ll be a big scorer versus men but there’s enough talent to his game to be intriguing for the next level.

22. Akito Hirose, LHD, Minnesota State-CCHA: Hirose has been an important player for Mankato over the last few years. He’s a talented offensive player. He’s a strong skater, unusually strong for a college free-agent target and has strong playmaking abilities to go with that. Hirose has a chance to make it on what he can do with the puck, but whether he can defend men will be a question. His skating will help him, but I wouldn’t call him the hardest to play against defenseman.

23. Valetti Pulli, LHD, TPS-Liiga: Pulli is a massive defenseman at 6-foot-6 who became a regular this season with a good TPS club and got an invite to Finland’s national team. He has some hockey sense, but his puck game is limited. I’ve seen worse feet on a big guy like him but I wouldn’t call his skating an asset either. He will probably get signed but it’s a long path for him to the NHL I think.

24. Jason Polin, RW, Western Michigan-NCHC: Polin is the right wing on that top Western Michigan line. He’s not as naturally skilled as McAllister, but he has the speed and compete level that could make himself valuable as a pro. Polin plays a direct style, often taking pucks wide and to the net. He has good hands, and has scored a lot of goals the last two seasons in college. I do have some questions about how natural a play driver he is and whether he will have offense versus men.

25. Logan Morrison, C, Ottawa-OHL: Morrison has put up huge numbers in junior over the last few seasons. He’s got very good skill and playmaking ability and is a consistent threat to score from the faceoff dots. His average-sized frame combined with a lack of speed and average off-the-puck play will make an NHL path difficult, but he can score.

26. T. J. Hughes, C, Michigan-Ben Ten: Hughes has been quite good for Michigan as a freshman. He’s a very skilled and intelligent center who has shown he can create a lot of offense at the college level and help a power play. His skating is just OK for me and that will be the big thing preventing him from making the NHL level. I suspect he likely goes back for another season, but if he decides to come out I think there would be interest given his scoring record in college and junior and not being undersized.

27. Ryan Siedem, RHD, Harvard-ECAC: Siedem has been a solid two-way defenseman for Harvard. He’s an intelligent player who can make a good first pass and has seen an uptick in his offense this year at the college level. Siedem’s skating has historically been his issue and it’s still not a strength, but given his frame and sense I can see someone taking a shot on him.

28. Max Sasson, C, Western Michigan-NCHC: Sasson has been the center of the top line for Western. He’s a strong skater, and unusually quick for a college free-agent target, especially given he’s not small which will make him quite attractive to NHL clubs. He works hard enough with his feet to potentially play a lower role on a team. The question with him will be offense. Sasson can make plays but he’s not a natural scorer with a ton of skill.

29. Ryan McAllister, LW, Western Michigan-NCHC: McAllister will almost certainly get an NHL deal after the numbers he’s posted in college this season. He was considered the big fish in the first half of the season on the free-agent front, but his scoring has cooled off. He has a lot of skill and offensive creativity. He has great vision and can make a lot of highly-difficult passes at a high rate. He has the offensive touch for the pros, but McAllister’s game has questions on whether the rest of his toolkit translates. He’s an undersized winger who’s a fine but not great skater and plays a lot on the perimeter. I think he will have a lot to prove in the AHL before we start talking about him as a NHL player, although I’m sure he may get some games at the end of the season as part of a deal to get him signed.

30. Isac Brannstrom, LW, Lulea-SHL: The older brother of Ottawa’s Erik Brannstrom, Isac has been a good scorer in the SHL, especially this season. He’s very skilled and creative with the puck, and can run a pro power play effectively with his great vision. He works hard enough, but he’s not that big and unlike his brother, he’s not an amazing skater.

I’m quickly going to highlight some drafted college players who either will be or have the potential to turn into free agents this summer if they so choose to.

People around the league believe it’s a strong probability that Erik Portillo won’t sign with Buffalo, so I expect him to either be a free agent by June 1 or have his right traded to a team he will sign with. The same goes with Anaheim’s Henry Thrun (who hits free agency on Aug. 15). Both would be “projected to play NHL games tier” prospects but not high-echelon types.

Jackson LaCombe would be the biggest name here if he got to free agency but I believe he is likely to sign with Anaheim. I’ve heard Ryan Johnson will probably sign with Buffalo too. I don’t know what Philadelphia’s plans are with Jay O’Brien but I would be a little surprised if they signed him instead of taking the compensatory second-round pick at this stage.

Dominic Basse, G, St. Cloud State-NCHC (rights owned by Chicago)

Magnus Chrona, G, Denver-NCHC (rights owned by San Jose)

John Farinacci, C, Harvard-ECAC (rights owned by Arizona)

Mitchell Gibson, G, Harvard-ECAC (rights owned by Washington)

Carter Gylander, G, Colgate-ECAC (rights owned by Detroit)

Ryan Johnson, LHD, Minnesota-Big Ten (rights owned by Buffalo)

Jackson LaCombe, LHD, Minnesota-Big Ten (rights owned by Anaheim)

Aidan McDonough, LW, Northeastern-Hockey East (rights owned by Vancouver)

Nikita Nesterenko, C, Boston College-Hockey East (rights owned by Minnesota)

Jay O’Brien, C, Boston University-Hockey East (rights owned by Philadelphia)

Jayden Struble, LHD, Northeastern-Hockey East (rights owned by Montreal)

Henry Thrun, LHD, Harvard-ECAC (rights owned by Anaheim)

Matt Steinburg, C, Cornell-ECAC (rights owned by Colorado)

(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; photos: EurasiaSportImages, Maddie Meyer, Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)

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