Vegas Just Signed an Undrafted College Forward, and He Wasn't the Only One

Marc Gatcomb never heard his name called at an NHL Draft table. Four years after his last shift at UConn, he's pulling on Golden Knights gold on a two-year deal, part of a deep 2026 wave of college free agents turning pro without ever going through the draft.

A UConn Forward Nobody Drafted Now Wears Vegas Gold

Marc Gatcomb spent four seasons at the University of Connecticut without a single NHL team ever calling his name at the draft. He grew his offensive game steadily across his Huskies career, from a single point as a freshman in 2018-19 up to 21 points in 13 goals and assists combined during his senior year in 2021-22, then turned pro on his own the same spring, signing with the Abbotsford Canucks organization rather than waiting to be picked.

That patient, unglamorous path led to a two-way deal with the New York Islanders in 2024, an NHL debut that January, and now a fresh Golden Knights contract, two years and $1.75 million, that took effect the moment free agency opened on July 1. General manager Kelly McCrimmon has pointed to Gatcomb as part of the plan to replace the forward depth Vegas lost when Keegan Kolesar was dealt to Detroit this summer, giving the 26 year old a real shot at regular shifts in the desert this fall.

He's Far From the Only Undrafted College Player Cashing In

Gatcomb's signing is one piece of a much bigger summer for college hockey free agents. St. Cloud State center Tyson Gross, who racked up 45 points across his first two collegiate seasons, agreed to an entry-level deal with the Calgary Flames. Michigan's Josh Eernisse, a 6-foot-3 power forward, drew serious NHL interest after his college run, while Northeastern winger Dylan Hryckowian, who put up 34 to 36 points over his last three seasons, and Dartmouth center Hank Cleaves, who scored 35 points in just 30 games, both landed on NHL radars this offseason as well.

Blue line and crease got attention too. North Dakota's Jake Livanavage piled up 82 points across three collegiate seasons before turning pro, and goaltenders Max Lundgren out of Merrimack and Lawton Zacher out of Northeastern, who posted five shutouts in fourteen wins, both drew looks from NHL clubs this summer as college free agency wrapped up.

Why Skipping the Draft Isn't the Same as Getting Skipped

It's easy to assume an undrafted college player is a lesser prospect, but NHL front offices increasingly treat the college free agent market as its own scouting pipeline, separate from and sometimes just as valuable as the draft itself. Players spend three or four extra years developing against older, bigger competition in NCAA rinks, and teams get a much longer look at how a guy's game matures before committing a contract.

Vegas has leaned into that market before, and this summer's mix of returning depth pieces alongside a new college free agent in Gatcomb reflects a front office that's comfortable building around both drafted and undrafted paths. As McCrimmon said of another returning forward brought back this summer, "He proved he belongs." That's really the whole pitch behind college free agency in one line.

What It Means for Hockey Fans in the Desert

For fans who first fell for hockey because of the Golden Knights and have since gotten hooked on the college game through events like the Ice Vegas Invitational, Gatcomb's arrival is a nice bridge between the two. He's a reminder that plenty of future NHL regulars are grinding through college hockey seasons right now, not just the first round names getting drafted every June.

Vegas has become a genuine college hockey city in its own right, and stories like this one only add to the case. If you want to see the next wave of college talent up close before the NHL ever gets its hands on them, grab tickets and catch a game when the Ice Vegas Invitational hits the Strip again this season.

7 Undrafted College Players Who Turned Pro This Summer

None of these players heard their name at an NHL Draft. All of them turned NCAA production into pro contracts during the 2026 offseason.

1. Marc Gatcomb, UConn: Landed a fresh Golden Knights contract worth $1.75 million over two years once free agency opened, capping four seasons as a Husky.
2. Tyson Gross, St. Cloud State: Agreed to an entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames after 45 points across his first two college seasons.
3. Josh Eernisse, Michigan: The 6-foot-3 power forward drew strong NHL interest following his time with the Wolverines.
4. Dylan Hryckowian, Northeastern: Put up 34 to 36 points over his last three seasons and landed on NHL radars this offseason.
5. Hank Cleaves, Dartmouth: Scored 35 points in just 30 games as a 6-foot-4 center scouts view as bottom-six pro material.
6. Jake Livanavage, North Dakota: An undersized defenseman who piled up 82 points across three college seasons before turning pro.
7. Lawton Zacher, Northeastern: The goaltender posted five shutouts in fourteen wins during his final college season and drew NHL looks this summer.

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