With the Tampa Bay Lightning enjoying a rare two-day break before hitching their wagons and heading out west, we figured it’s a good time to see how the next generation of players are doing at the college level. The NCAA regular season is done and we are in the middle of the conference tournaments so, for a few of the Lightning prospects, that means their college careers are coming to an end and it’s time for the organization to make a decision on their future.
We mentioned the two players whose draft rights expire this August when we chatted about Ethan Hay last week. Oddly enough, those two players are also the ones who have seen their seasons end the earliest. The clock has started on the Lightning in regards to their future with the organization. They have until August 1 to sign Alex Gagne and Kyle Aucoin.
Alex Gagne and his University of New Hampshire teammates were eliminated by U-Mass Lowell, 3-2 over the weekend. Gagne led all Wildcats with four shots on goal, but was also on the ice for all three goals against. With the loss, the 22-year-old defenseman wrapped up his four-year stay with a career-high in goals (4), assists (13), and points (17). He is a big (6’5″, 225 lb.) left-shot blueliner that served as the team’s captain for the last two years and projects out to be a third-pairing defender.
The former sixth-round pick by the Lightning was named to the Hockey East Third All-Star team for the second time in his career. After making the 2023 Top 25 Under 25 at the 19th spot, he fell out of favor with the voters last season. Despite that, he plays a position that isn’t very deep in the organization. The Crunch don’t have many left-shot defenders signed past this season so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he signs his entry-level deal soon and joins the Crunch on an try-out contract to get acclimated with the team.
Kyle Aucoin, who was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings, also saw his season come to an end when Harvard was booted from the ECAC tournament by Clarkson, 2-1. Aucoin, son of former Bolts Adrian, was a sixth-round pick in 2020 by the Red Wings. He is another left-shot blueliner and finished the year with two goals and two assists in 28 games. As a defensive defenseman he projects as a fringe prospect who would have to show a vast improvement to have a path to the NHL.
A few other prospects were eliminated from their conference tournaments, but are unlikely to be signed just yet. Connor Kurth and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers were dumped from the Big10 tournament, but could still be invited to the NCAA Championship as they were recently ranked fifth in the nation. Klavs Veinbergs (Colorado College) and Warren Clark (St. Cloud State) crashed out in the first round of the NCHC tournament, but both still have a few years left before their rights expire.
Still going strong are Isaac Howard (Michigan State), Jayson Shaugabay (UM-Duluth), Robert Flinton (Dartmouth), Jack Harvey (Boston University), Joe Connor (Northeastern), and Hagen Burrows (Denver). All of those players have at least one year before their draft rights expire, and if we were to hazard a guess, most will stay in school for at least one more year.
The only one we could see coming out early would be the recently named Big 10 player of the year, and Hobey Baker Finalist, Isaac Howard. The Ice Man is absolutely wrecking goalies this year as he’s posted 24 goals and 23 assists in his second season with the Spartans. Michigan State is considered a contender for the NCAA crown and if they win it, there is really no reason for him to stay in school (he can always go back to finish his communications degree).
We’ve already seen a few teams sign their college prospects Vancouver signed Aku Koskenvuo from Harvard and Veinberg’s teammate at Colorado College, Noah Laba, signed with the Rangers. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lightning follow suit soon.
