On Campus: Free agents to watch this season

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NHL scouts are out in force at hockey rinks across the United States looking for college free agents to bolster organizational depth, including from the first day of the NCAA season.Though the dream remains to find an undrafted player who will turn into a superstar at the NHL level, that is a rarity. Generally, it is about finding serviceable, depth players who can fill roles in an organization.One of the better free agent acquisitions of the past few seasons is goalie Brandon Bussi, who signed with the Boston Bruins out of Western Michigan University in 2022. He went 22 5 4 with a.924 save percentage as a rookie with Providence of the AHL last season.Bussi's services haven't been needed in the NHL yet https://www.edmontonoilersstoreonline.com/sam-gagner-jersey, but as he continues to hone his game, he provides the Bruins with terrific insurance behind Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.College free agents won't start signing until the end of the season. In the meantime, NHL scouts will continue to watch.Here are 10 undrafted NCAA players who are on the radar of scouts in alphabetical order :Karsen Dorwart, Michigan State UniversityA 21 year old sophomore center, Dorwart has 10 points five goals, five assists in eight games.He scored twice against No. 1 Boston College on Oct. 26 and added another goal against them on Oct. 27.Dorwart, who scored 27 points 10 goals, 17 assists in 38 games last season, attended Detroit Red Wings development camp during the offseason.Christian Fitzgerald, University of WisconsinAfter coach Mike Hastings moved from Minnesota State University to Wisconsin after last season, Fitzgerald followed via the transfer portal.The 21 year old scored 29 points 16 goals, 13 assists in 38 games as a freshman in 2022 23.He has seven points one goal, six assists in eight games this season.He had three assists in Wisconsin's two game road sweep last weekend of the University of Minnesota, the top ranked team in the country at the time.Riese Gaber, University of North DakotaThe 24 year old has been a highly regarded free agent in the eyes of NHL scouts for the past couple of seasons but has opted to remain in school.The forward led North Dakota with 20 goals last year as a junior. This season he has five points three goals, two assists in six games.Collin Graf, Quinnipiac UniversitySome scouts see this 21 year old forward as this season's top free agent, but it's been a difficult start for the skilled wing, who has missed three games with injuries.He has six points in four games, the most notable being a two goal, three assist performance against American International on Oct. 14.The line of Graf, Jacob Quillan and Arizona Coyotes draft pick Sam Lipkin paced Quinnipiac to the NCAA title in April.As a sophomore, Graf finished third in the country in scoring with 59 points 21 goals, 38 assists in 41 games. Only Logan Cooley and Adam Fantilli, each first round draft picks who are NHL rookies this season, outscored him.Luke Grainger, Western Michigan UniversityA steady stream of Western Michigan players have earned free agent contracts during the past few years and the 24 year old Grainger could be next.Grainger is team captain and is center on the first line. He has a team leading 10 points three goals, seven assists in four games and has won 56.8 percent of his faceoffs.Colton Huard, University of New HampshireThis 22 year old defenseman has size 6 foot 3, 200 pounds and a big shot. He has five points two goals https://www.edmontonoilersstoreonline.com/derek-ryan-jersey, three assists in five games this season, including the game winner against Dartmouth University on Oct. 28. Each of his goals have come on the power play.He attended development camp with the St. Louis Blues in July.His father, Bill, played 223 NHL games for the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Nordiques, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings.T.J. Hughes, University of MichiganThe 21 year old center was on fire in a sweep of Lindenwood University this past weekend, scoring three points one goal and two assists on Oct. 27 and exploding for five points two goals, three assists on Oct. 28. The sophomore went a combined 20 9 in face offs in the two games and has won 62.5 percent of his draws this season.In nine games this year, he has 15 points six goals, nine assists.Joey Larson, Michigan State UniversityAfter scoring 27 points 13 goals, 14 assists in 36 games as a freshman at Northern Michigan in 2022 23, the 22 year old transferred to Michigan State.The right wing has nine points four goals, five assists in eight games, including a hat trick at Air Force on Oct. 13.Victor Ostman, University of MaineThe senior goalie stopped 30 or more shots nine times last season.With a.918 save percentage, 2.21 goals against average and five shutouts in 31 starts, the 23 year old earned Hockey East Second Team All Star honors.So far this season he is 3 1 with an.899 save percentage and 1.98 GAA.He attended development camp with the Vancouver Canucks.Jacob Quillan, Quinnipiac UniversityThe junior center scored the game winning goal 10 seconds into overtime when Quinnipiac beat the University of Minnesota in the national championship game in April.There's a decent chance he would have signed an NHL contract after the Frozen Four if he hadn't needed double hip surgery.Now fully recovered https://www.edmontonoilersstoreonline.com/wayne-gretzky-jersey, he's picked up where he left off last season with eight points two goals, six assists in seven games.Entering the season, the 21 year old was the NCAA's active career leader in plus minus with plus 47.