We’re nearing the end of the NCAA college hockey season. Conference tournaments will be starting soon. That will then be followed in early April by the national tournament and the Frozen Four in Boston to determine a national champion. That means that we’re getting close to prospects and undrafted free agents from the college ranks leaving school to begin their professional hockey careers.
In the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning started to pivot more towards NCAA bound players for their draft picks. In the six previous drafts going back to 2011, the Lightning selected eight NCAA players, for 17.