This should have been the week in between the conference tournaments and the NCAA regional weekend for college hockey.
Instead, because of the coronavirus that put a halt to the entire sports world, this has been a busy week with college hockey players signing pro contracts.
Massachusetts right wing Mitchell Chaffee was one of those players. The Rockford, Mich., native elected to forgo his final year of eligibility to sign a two-year entry level contract with the Minnesota Wild.
Chaffee, one of the most coveted undrafted free agents in college hockey, had 16 goals and 13 assists in an injury-shortened 2019-20. Over his three years in Amherst, Chaffee scored 47 goals.
Although Chaffee’s goal-scoring ability is a big reason he signed with the Wild, his versatility and ability to slide up and down the lineup played a major role in why many NHL organizations were interested.
And although he hasn’t put pen to paper yet, all signs point toward Chaffee’s teammate, John Leonard, joining him in the NHL sooner than later. The Amherst, Mass., native is expected to sign with the San Jose Sharks, the organization that selected him in the 2018 draft. Leonard led college hockey this past season with 27 goals.
Cotton brothers sign with Carolina
The Carolina Hurricanes inked Boston College senior left wing David Cotton and his brother, Sacred Heart senior center Jason Cotton. The two Parker, Texas, natives couldn’t have arrived at this path any differently, however.
David, a ’97, had a highly successful prep career at Cushing, leading the Hurricanes to draft him in 2015. After a year in the USHL, he headed to BC, where he steadily improved his game. As a senior, Cotton had 15 goals and 24 assists. That was after a 23-goal campaign as a junior.
His entry-level contract with the Hurricanes is for two years and includes a $185,000 signing bonus.
Jason, a '95, started out at Northeastern, but after sitting in the stands more than he dressed for games, he headed back to junior. He transferred to Sacred Heart, where his production increased. His collegiate career culminated with a spectacular 2019-20 season in which he scored 20 goals and added 17 assists. He was named as one of college hockey’s 10 Hobey Baker Award finalists last week.
His entry-level deal is for one year with a $25,000 signing bonus.
Panthers sign UNH’s Gildon
Max Gildon has given up his senior season at New Hampshire to sign a NHL entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers. The 2017 third-round pick from Plano, Texas, finishes his college career with 21 goals and 52 assists, including seven goals and 22 assists this season.
Nashville inks Harper
Boston University senior left wing Patrick Harper has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators. The New Canaan, Conn., native is coming off his most successful college season as a senior. In 32 games, he scored 14 goals and added 23 assists. The Avon Old Farms alum was a 2016 fifth-round pick of the Predators, an organization with a few Terrier alums in the front office.
Rasanen walking away from Eagles
According to multiple college hockey sources, Boston College junior center Aapeli Rasanen is forgoing his senior year to sign a professional contract in Finland, his native country. The 2016 Edmonton Oilers pick had 11 goals and 13 assists in 34 games this past season. While somewhat of a blow, the BC coaching staff could potentially use his freed-up scholarship money to go after an impact player in the junior hockey circuit.
Returning to school
Not everyone is leaving school for NHL contracts. NEHJ has learned that Boston College right wing Logan Hutsko will return to the Eagles for his senior season instead of signing with the Panthers, the team that drafted him 2018.
It is also believed all three 2019 NHL first-rounders, freshman goaltender Spencer Knight, freshman center Alex Newhook and freshman left wing Matt Boldy, will also be back in a BC uniform next season.
According to a tweet by Cory Masisak of The Athletic, Harvard junior defenseman Reilly Walsh of Andover, N.H., will play his senior season with the Crimson. The jury is still out on whether or not fellow Harvard blue liner Jack Rathbone of West Roxbury, Mass., will return next year.
Updates on other flight risks
As I reported a few weeks ago, Boston University freshman center Trevor Zegras and Northeastern sophomore center Tyler Madden are both likely to sign pro deals instead of returning to school. An announcement hasn’t been made, but I still believe both will be coming in the near future.
