Penguins have a chance to land this top NCAA free agent

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a chance to land forward Collin Graf, a top NCAA free agent currently playing for Quinnipiac University.

Michael Russo reported that Graf is currently be pursued by 25 NHL teams, and the Penguins are one of them.



Graf is a native of Boston who decided last year not to sign with the Detroit Red Wings but to finish school and stay with Quinnipiac. He has been to training camps in Nashville and linked to the Rangers. Graf has said that he wants to stay east, putting the Rangers, Bruins and Penguins as possible destinations.


Collin Graf is a forward who went undrafted, but then came into his own in college. In his 2023-24 season with Quinnipiac he had a total of 49 points, (22G, 27A) over the course of 34 games played.

The Penguins have recent success with undrafted players, looking at how Drew O'Connor has made his way into the top line to play with Sidney Crosby. Other players who developed as undrafted free agents and excelled with starts in Pittsburgh include Conor Sheary, Zach Aston-Reese, Ben Lovejoy and Casey DeSmith.

Collin Graf is 21 years old and NHL ready now. He has been one of the top scorers in the NCAA for two seasons and is a free prospect with a lot of opportunity for upgrowth.



With this situation it is the player who holds the cards. So the Penguins are waiting just like the other 24 teams for Graf to decide what he would like to do. Since Quinnipiac was eliminated from the playoffs, he is now available to sign if he chooses to, and where he chooses.

It is possible that he makes a decision in the next day or two. The hopes are that the Penguins with players like Crosby and Malkin can draw in this young prospect with him having an easier path to the NHL as the Penguins look to get younger.

As Read On: Pensburgh

Penguins looking to add marquee undrafted free agent in Collin Graf