Future Considerations: Highlighting hot starts in the NCAA

In this edition of Future Considerations I’m taking a look at what has been trending south of the border at the NCAA level.

The first month of the college season has provided some intriguing storylines. Several prospects who were drafted, or could become free agents, are off to incredible starts to their seasons.

Here’s a look at some who have caught my attention:

Ryan McAllister, FWD, Western Michigan, NCAA
Status: Pending free agent

McAllister was named the MVP of the Canadian Junior Hockey League last season after piling up 139 points in 60 games playing for Brooks in the AJHL.

He hasn’t skipped a beat in the NCAA.

McAllister has scored five goals and eight assists in his first nine NCAA games. This past weekend he chipped in two goals and three assists in two games against Michigan.

A.J. Vanderbeck, FWD, Northern Michigan
Status: Pending free agent

Vanderbeck has enjoyed a productive college career at Northern Michigan and has started this season with six goals and 13 points in nine games. He was originally at Ohio State before transferring to Northern in 2019-20.

Vanderbeck is an interesting free agent in that he’s already 25 years old. A team looking to take a chance on him only needs to invest a one year entry-level contract.

He has averaged a point per game, or better, since his days suiting up for Wenatchee in the BCHL (2016-18).

Jack Randl, FWD, Nebraska-Omaha, NCAA
Status: Pending free agent

Randl originally started his college career at Michigan, but decided to head back to the USHL for a year before joining UNO in 2020-21.

It’s been a bit of a slow burn for Randl, but he’s producing at an elite level to begin the 2022-23 campaign, with 10 goals and 13 points in his first eight games.

He’s being used in all situations, logging over 18:00 minutes of ice time, and contributing offence. He’s scored four power play goals, one short-handed tally, and five even strength tucks. Two of his goals have been game-winners.

His skating is average plus. He’s a “wide tracker” who relies on pushing off his edges more than getting up on his toes to accelerate.

He’s 5-foot-11, weighs around 180 pounds, and is willing to go to the hard areas. He battles to find pucks around the crease and can extend plays along the boards.

Casey Dornbach, FWD, Denver, NCAA
Status: Pending free agent

Dornbach is a fifth-year senior who transferred to Denver from Harvard.

He’s another 25-year-old college free agent who would only require a one-year commitment from an NHL team. He’s being used at even strength and the first power play unit. He rarely kills penalties and averages just shy of 17 minutes of ice time.

Dornbach is a good skater. He’s doesn’t have elite speed, but he is certainly not slow. He’s a right shot who makes plays from his strong side on the power play. He, too, is a player willing to go to the hard areas to score or extend plays.

I’m not sure he is high-end enough to earn an NHL contract, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see a team bring him in on an AHL tryout when his season ends.

Carter Mazur, FWD, Denver, NCAA
Status: Drafted by Detroit, third round in 2021

Mazur has a great release and doesn’t require much time or space to rip pucks on net. He’s being used in all situations at Denver and has 10 goals in eight games.

I especially appreciate his awareness working off the cycle in the offensive zone. When pucks cycle off the boards, he immediately heads to the net looking for rebounds and tips.

Mazur has loads of room to add more strength to his frame. The fact he can be deployed up and down the lineup is a positive. He’s not just offence.

UCONN GOALIES

UCONN is currently first place in Hockey East and have been receiving stellar goaltending to start the year. Logan Terness is an undrafted 20-year-old who could become a free agent at the end of the season. He has a 4-0-1 record with a 1.18 GAA and .956 save percentage to start the season

And then there's freshman Arsenii Sergeev, a seventh-round pick of Calgary's in 2021. The 19-year-old is 3-1 with a 2.24 GAA and .929 save percentage.

ADAM FANTILLI WATCH

Fantilli continues to dominate at Michigan. One of our "players to watch" at the top of this draft when the season began, he’s a highly touted prospect and is making a statement early on.

The freshman forward has scored eight goals and 10 assists in only eight games played. His average points per game rate of 2.25 is elite. He’s a threat off the rush, averages over five shots on goal per 60 minutes, and has two game-winning goals already.

It’s going to be difficult to keep up his current scoring pace, but the way he competes and wants to be a difference maker leads me to believe he’s capable of getting over 70 points this season.

• Note: The most productive freshman in NCAA history was Paul Kariya, who scored an even 100 points for Maine in 1992-93.)

• Note No. 2: Tony Hrkac still holds the single season scoring record for NCAA Men’s Hockey. Hrkac put up 116 points for North Dakota in 1986-87.

Connor Bedard doesn’t look like he is going to relinquish his hold on the No. 1 overall ranking, but Fantilli’s name is sure to come up if he continues on this torrid pace.