Jaxon Nelson, F 23 years-old, University of Minnesota
Nelson has all of the physical tools to mould himself into a net-front bottom-six contributor at the next level.
Like many players his size (6-4, 225lbs) he is not fleet of foot and likely won’t find himself on highlight reels, but he has a hard-nosed and imposing style that many teams covet in the bottom half of their lineup.
He is not the most offensively gifted player, currently setting career highs this season with 16 goals and 28 points through 36 games.
Yet, his frame and gritty style could make him a useful addition as a depth player either in the NHL or as an AHL call-up candidate.
Dylan Anhorn, D 25 years-old, St. Cloud State
At 25 years old, there is little room for Anhorn to develop a lot however, he has the potential to immediately be a strong contributor at the pro-level.
He has blown away the college ranks the last few years, racking up 75 points through 86 games played as a defenseman between Union College and St. Cloud.
He possesses great underlying numbers to go with his production and is a very capable and mobile two-way defender. He also has the physical attributes that many look for in a pro defender listed at 6-0 and 190lbs.
Even if Anhorn does not reach the hype, he should be able to translate his game to the AHL and become a solid depth option going forward. If he does hit his potential, he could be a solid #4-6 on the backend.
Either way, Anhorn will be a valuable and hot commodity on the free agent market and could provide depth to any team immediately upon signing.