A Look At The Next Crop of NCAA Players Turning Pro For 2020-21 Season
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Though hockey on the ice is on hold, NHL teams are still conducting business as usual in regards to signing college free agents as well as their own drafted NCAA prospects to entry-level contracts.
It's shaping up to be quite the crop of players entering the pro ranks, featuring the likes of defensemen K'Andre Miller (2018 1st round - 22nd overall) Scott Perunovich (2018 2nd round - 45th overall) and Mattias Samuelsson (2018 2nd round - 32nd overall) and forwards Alex Turcotte (2019 1st round - 5th overall) and Trevor Zegras (2019 1st round - 9th overall).
While those aforementioned - and all the incoming rookies - will presumably be challenging for NHL roster spots in training camp in the fall, it's likely that most of those who signed entry-level contracts in the last month will be spending some time in the American Hockey League (AHL) next season.
Below is a look at all of the collegiate prospects who have recently signed pro contracts for the upcoming 2020-21 season.
April 2
Forward Justin Richards (University of Minnesota-Duluth) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.
Forward Evan Barratt (Penn State University) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.
March 31
Defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk (Arizona State University) and forward John Leonard (UMass-Amherst) signed two-year entry- level contracts with the San Jose Sharks.
March 30
Forward Tyler Madden (Northeastern University) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
March 27
Forward Wade Allison (University of Western Michigan) signed two-year entry-level contract with Philadelphia Flyers.
Forward Trevor Zegras (Boston University) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks, while forward Jack Badini (Harvard) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Ducks.
Defenseman Scott Perunovich (University of Minnesota-Duluth) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues.
Defenseman Jack Ahcan (St. Cloud State) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins.
March 26
Defenseman Alec Rauhauser (Bowling Green State University) signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers.
Defenseman Max Gildon (University of New Hampshire) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers.
Forward Patrick Curry (Boston Univeristy) signed a two-year AHL contract with Grand Rapids (DET).
March 25
Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (University of Western Michigan) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
Forward Alex Whelan (Quinnipiac University) signed a one-year AHL contract with Hartford (NYR).
March 24
Forward Liam Folkes (Penn State University) signed a two-year AHL contract with Bakersfield (EDM).
Forward David Cotton (Boston College) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Forward Jason Cotton (Sacred Heart University) signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Forward Mitchell Chaffee (UMass-Amherst) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild.
Defenseman Jake McLaughlin (UMass-Amherst) signed a one-year AHL contract with Vegas Golden Knights organization.
March 23
Forward Dawson DiPietro (University of Western Michigan) signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
Forward Tanner Laczynski (Ohio State University) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Forward Max Humitz (Lake Superior State University) and defenseman Tory Dello (University of Notre Dame) signed one-year AHL contracts with the Grand Rapids Griffins (DET).
March 20
Defensemen Colton Poolman (University of North Dakota) and Connor Mackey (Minnesota State University-Mankato) both signed one-year entry-level contracts with the Calgary Flames.
Forward Austin Rueschhoff (University of Western Michigan) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.
Forward Patrick Harper (Boston University) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators.
Forward Hugh McGing (University of Western Michigan) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues.
Forward Nate Sucese (Penn State University) signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes.
March 19
Forward Will Lockwood (Michigan University) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks, while forward Marc Michaelis (Minnesota State University-Mankato) signed a one-year contract with the Canucks.
Forward Cole Smith (University of North Dakota) signed a one-year entry-level contract with Nashville Predators.
March 18
Defenseman Nick Wolff (University of Minnesota-Duluth) signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins, while goaltender Jeremy Swayman (University of Maine) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Bruins.
Forward Brandon Biro (Penn State University) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
Forward Callahan Burke (University of Notre Dame) signed a one-year AHL contract with Colorado Eagles.
March 17
Defenseman Cam Lee (University of Western Michigan) signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
March 16
Defenseman K'Andre Miller (University of Wisconsin) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.
March 11
Forward Alex Turcotte (University of Wisconsin) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
March 10
Forward Mike O'Leary (University of Notre Dame) signed a one-year AHL contract with Hartford (NYR).
