NHL scouts are at college arenas every weekend from October through March and are putting together a book on undrafted NCAA players.

Although finding a front-line forward, top-four defenseman or No. 1 goaltender on the NCAA free agent market is a difficult task, it is not impossible.

An example of this is Torey Krug, an elite defenseman who has played 778 NHL games (and counting).

After three years at Michigan State University, he signed with the Boston Bruins undrafted in 2013, spent one season in the American Hockey League with Providence and played for Boston and St. Louis. He became an effective NHL player with the St. Louis Blues. He will miss the 2024-25 season due to injury.

But while players with star potential are few and far between on the free agent market, there are players every year who can contribute at the NHL level or increase a team’s depth in the AHL.

In alphabetical order, here are 10 undrafted forwards who caught the attention of NHL scouts. Defenders will be the focus in two weeks.

Dalton Bancroft, Cornell University

The 23-year-old plays wing on Cornell’s top line.

He scored 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 34 games last season. He was at the Boston Bruins development camp this summer.

His father, Steve, was selected in the first round (21st overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1989 NHL Draft. He played a total of six NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks and spent most of his career in the AHL and International Hockey League.

Karsen Dorwart, Michigan State University

The center, who is an alternate captain on the top line, scored 34 points (15 goals, 19 assists) in 38 games as a sophomore last season. He was named to the 2024-25 Preseason All-Big Ten Team.

The 22-year-old player went to development camp with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023.

Josh Eernisse, University of Michigan

Michigan coach Brandon Naurato compared the physical junior wing (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) to a “linebacker on a skateboard.”

He will play with St. Louis in 2022-23 before transferring to Michigan. He won the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Year award at the University of St. Thomas.

The 22-year-old player scored 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in 29 games last season, and 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 8 games this season.

During the offseason, he attended development camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Christian Fitzgerald, University of Wisconsin

The 22-year-old player scored 24 points (7 goals, 17 assists) in 37 games last season. He played his freshman season at Minnesota State in 2022-23 before last season when coach Mike Hastings left for Madison.

He made two assists in eight matches this season.

He attended development camp with the Vancouver Canucks in 2023.

TJ Hughes, University of Michigan

Another Hughes in Michigan? Yes, but he’s no relation to Michigan products Quinn, Luke and Jack.

Still, the 22-year-old center has a well-earned track record as a point producer.

He had 48 points (19 goals, 29 assists) and a plus-11 rating in 41 games as a sophomore last season. As a freshman, he recorded 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 39 games.

Hughes went to development camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning in July.

Joey Larson, Michigan State University

The 23-year-old plays on the wing in the Spartans’ top line at Dorwart.

He had 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists), including 8 power play goals, in 38 games as a sophomore last season.

Larson, who played one year at Northern Michigan University before transferring to Michigan State, attended development camps with the Vegas Golden Knights (2022), Nashville Predators (2023) and Anaheim Ducks (2024).

Josh Nadeau, University of Maine

The talented 21-year-old wing had an outstanding freshman season in 2023-24.

Nadeau was Maine’s leading scorer last season with 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) and a +20 rating in 37 games. Last season, he played on the same line as his younger brother Bradly, who was selected 30th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Josh went to development camp with the Montreal Canadiens during the offseason.

Harrison Scott, University of Maine

The 24-year-old player made a fast start with 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists) and +10 points in seven games, after recording 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 37 games in youth last season. .

He earned Hockey East Co-Player of the Week honors after tallying three goals and four assists in double wins against Merrimack College on November 1 and 2.

Scott played two seasons at Bentley College before transferring to Maine. He attended the Vegas Golden Knights development camp last July.

Gleb Veremyev, Colorado College

The young left winger has height (6-4, 215) and grunt and is attracting the attention of several teams.

The 22-year-old, who plays on the varsity at Colorado College, has six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-nine rating in six games.

Veremyev was one of the top players in the Boston Bruins’ development camp last July.

Jack Williams, Northeastern University

The 22-year-old is a two-way center who can play in all situations, is good in matches and is the team captain this season.

After recording 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) in 34 games in the 2023-24 season, he achieved six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in five games this season.

The young player went to development camp with the Philadelphia Flyers last summer.