Merrimack forward Stephane Da Costa, right, tries to carry the puck past Notre Dame defenceman Joe Lavin during the first period of a Northeast regional semifinal game in the NCAA college hockey tournament in Manchester, N.H., Saturday, March 26, 2011.Josh Gibney/The Associated Press
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke has famously likened signing a college free agent to finding a wallet, and the Ottawa Senators found a billfold of cash Thursday by landing Merrimack forward Stephane Da Costa, who was reportedly scouted by 20 NHL teams.
That takes one coveted collegian off the market, but you can bet there will be many NHL eyes fixated on next week's Frozen Four at the XCel Energy Center, where several interesting free agents get one more showcase.
Players to watch include North Dakota defenceman Chay Genoway, Minnesota-Duluth centre Jack Connolly, and Notre Dame winger Calle Ridderwall. A trio of Miami (Ohio) players -- forwards Andy Miele and Carter Camper, defenceman Cameron Schilling -- are also drawing NHL interest, and are free to sign with NHL teams because the Redhawks were upset earlier in the NCAA tournament.