Scouting reports on recently signed CHL/NCAA free agents

Mar 27, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 27, 2026, 09:40 EDT

Scouting reports on recently signed CHL/NCAA free agents

Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

The NCAA men’s hockey tournament will kick off regional play this weekend, leading us even closer to one of the best events of the year – the Frozen Four in April.

With many of college hockey’s top stars done for the semester, we’ve already seen an influx of prospects signing NHL entry-level contracts and turning pro. While some top prospects – such as Cole Hutson and Cole Eiserman – have signed, we’re focusing on undrafted players realizing their dreams today. Others are highly touted talents looking to take their games up another level.

Has your team signed one of the top college free agents this year? Or maybe they locked in a 21-year-old CHLer? Most UFAs are expected to play depth roles at best, with others likely becoming AHL lifers. But either way, it’s time to get to know some of the newest faces looking to make impacts with your favorite teams:

Tyson Gross, C, 23 (Calgary Flames)

This was the guy most teams seemed interested in. He had 45 points in his first two college campaigns combined and nearly matched that this season alone. He’s an excellent skater who consistently creates plays at a high pace. Gross generates high-quality chances often and spends a lot of time around the net looking to bang home some rebounds. Gross is physical, smart and always involved, with and without the puck. He recently made his NHL debut, showing a bit of physicality in a limited offensive role. Look for Gross to be a bubble guy in training camp, although spending time in the AHL to develop his hockey sense at the pro level is likely the best course of action.

Gustav Stjernberg, RHD, 23 (Colorado Avalanche)

Stjernberg’s appeal is easy to understand – he’s a mean, mean dude. He registered 19 penalty minutes in his AHL debut with the Colorado Eagles, including a fight with another tough dude in John Hayden. Stjernberg is a hulking 6-foot-4, 209-pound human wrecking ball. The Swedish blueliner spent three years with Bowling Green State, and while he never really produced much offensively, he physically laid out anyone who got near him. The Avalanche aren’t banking on a future offensive contributor – instead, maybe he’s a call-up for when they need someone to land a beating on a divisional rival. At the very least, he’ll be a fan favorite in the AHL.

Jack Anderson, LHD, 23 (Dallas Stars)

Anderson had a modest 25 points in three years at Lindewood University before exploding for 11 goals and 24 points with Michigan Tech. The 23-year-old’s rise in offense – while playing more than 25 minutes a night most games – quickly put him on the radar of NHL teams. Anderson has a huge frame and is fully capable of taking on anyone physically. But adding that scoring touch, while showing a lot more confidence with the puck in general, made him an intriguing prospect. He’s not a great skater, which won’t help his NHL potential. But given his massive frame, and uptick in offense, Anderson should be a decent AHLer.

Dylan Hryckowian, RW, 21 (Dallas Stars)

The Stars always seem active on the college free agent front, with Justin Hryckowian being one of their prized grabs in recent years. So why not do the same with his brother, Dylan? At 5-foot-10, he lacks the size teams were chasing after. But the same goes for his brother, Justin, who could finish the year with 30 points as a useful rookie in Dallas. Dylan often played more than 20 minutes a night for Northeastern and tallied 107 points in 100 college games over three seasons. He has been incredibly productive at every level, and he plays with so much pace. The Stars aren’t likely worried about Hryckowian’s lack of size – it hasn’t seemed to slow his brother down one bit.

Josh Kotai, G, 23 (New York Islanders)

Kotai was the first goaltender off the board, and scouts are definitely interested. The 23-year-old finished with a .938 save percentage, five shutouts and a 20-11-4 record with Augustana. Kotai was named both CCHA Player and Goaltender of the year while earning First-Team All-CCHA honors in the process. His numbers allowed him to become one of the top goaltenders in the NCAA. Kotai finished his three-year college run with a 39-30-9 record with eight shutouts and a .931 save percentage. Kotai is quick, athletic and while he’s not huge by any means, he moves well enough to take the upper half of the net away. His glove hand was also one of the best in college, and he does a great job of tracking pucks through traffic. The Islanders will have four goaltenders set to become free agents this summer, with David Rittich, Marcus Hogberg, Henrik Tikkanen and Tristan Lennox all needing new deals. This could be Kotai’s opportunity to shine.

Riley Thompson, RW, 24 (Philadelphia Flyers)

The 23-year-old recently finished his third year of college hockey, scoring 13 goals and 27 points in 37 games. Thompson was a Big 10 honorable mention all-star team member in 2024-25 after setting a personal best with 17 goals and 33 points. At 6-foot-4, it’s hard to miss Thompson. The strong, two-way center is a solid playmaker who can find players at speed. He does an excellent job of winning board battles thanks to his big frame, and he’s tough to contain when he’s rushing down the ice with the puck. There’s nothing flashy or special about his game. Instead, Thompson is more about keeping things simple and getting the puck where it needs to be at the right time.

Félix Trudeau, LW, 23 (St. Louis Blues)

Trudeau had a slow start to his college career, registering just 13 points in his first two years at the University of Maine. But the 6-foot-2 forward exploded once he went to Sacred Heart University, registering 40 goals and 86 points over the next two seasons to become one of the nation’s top scorers in that time. Trudeau has a solid frame and dominates the competition whenever he needs to use his brute strength to win a physical battle. He loves having the puck on his stick, and he’s always looking to do what it takes to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Defensively, there’s still work to be done – Trudeau can be caught watching the play a little too often. If he can improve his top speed, he’ll have a shot at an NHL career. But this is still a win for the Blues, given Trudeau should be able to play an important scoring role in the AHL immediately next season.

Vincent Borgesi, D, 22 (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Borgesi is a small but skilled defenseman, one who many NHL teams seemed interested in. He had a productive four years at Northeastern, registering 80 points in 134 games. He’s a good skater and a smart playmaker, which allowed him to play between 25 and 30 minutes a night all season long. Some scouts thought Borgesi was one of the best college defensemen, period. At 5-foot-8, there’s definitely a lot lacking in the size department. Fortunately, he proved he could handle the physical game along the boards quite well. Doing that in college is one thing – the NHL is a whole other animal. This is more likely to help bolster the Toronto Marlies’ blueline, but it’s still a nice pickup for the Leafs.

Brandon Buhr, RW, 23 (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Buhr drew a ton of attention this year thanks to his rugged 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame. He hits hard and forces opponents to make quick decisions. Scouts love that he’s a powerful skater, and he does an excellent job of finding his teammates on the rush. Buhr plays with quite a bit of skill, too. Buhr has already looked impressive with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, showing he can handle the pace of the pro game. For now, Buhr will most likely be used as AHL depth. But he has legitimate potential as a bottom-six energy guy who isn’t afraid of anyone. In fact, he has one of the clearest paths to the NHL of any player on this list. The Leafs have had some good success on the college UFA front (Bobby McMann is the most obvious example), and some scouts believe Buhr could have an impact down the road.

Bronson Ride, LHD, 21 (Vegas Golden Knights)

The lone CHLer on this list, it’s hard to miss Ride out there. The 6-foot-7 defender is absolutely massive, boasting one of the best poke checks in the OHL. He takes up a lot of space, and he’s a decent enough skater to get where he needs to be. Ride’s game is primarily about getting in the way, shutting plays down and being truly annoying. He doesn’t do much with the puck and will never be much of a shot generator at the next level. But Ride knows what he’s good at, sticks to it and should be able to carve out a decent pro role moving forward. Ride could have elected to go the NCAA route instead, but he’ll go straight to pro next season – which, at his size, isn’t a bad thing.

Lucas Wahlin, RW, 24 (Winnipeg Jets)

Wahlin quickly caught the attention of scouts this year thanks to his consistent production. The Univ. of St. Thomas alum plays with a ton of straight-line speed and works his tail off to win battles consistently. Wahlin isn’t the most skilled forward, and he isn’t particularly big. But he battles hard and doesn’t lose many puck races, which could allow him to be a fourth-line energy forward down the line. As a 24-year-old, his game isn’t likely to change too much, but he should be a decent contributor right away in the AHL.

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