While the NHL playoffs are a rite of spring, in the weeks leading up to the postseason, there are often some transactions that will go unnoticed yet they could potentially add impact players to a team's roster.
NHL teams frequently sign their own prospects, as well as undrafted free agents, as their college seasons end. For most teams, that happens sometime in March and that means some players earned late-season auditions in the NHL, while many more at least got a chance to play pro in the American Hockey League.
Numbers Game looks at some of the notable collegiate players signed to NHL contracts this season:
Kyle Turris, C, Phoenix - Most highly-touted of all college prospects, Turris was the third overall selection in the 2007 draft and his value was only enhanced by a strong freshman season at the University of Wisconsin, where he tallied 35 points in 36 games. He picked up one assist in three late games with the Coyotes, setting the stage for a prominent scoring role on next year's team.
Kyle Okposo, RW, N.Y. Islanders - Taken seventh overall in 2006, Okposo was plucked out of the University of Minnesota midway through his sophomore season. After scoring 40 points in 40 games as a freshman, Okposo only had 11 points in 18 games this year before turning pro. His transition to the pro game was smooth, as he scored 25 points in 31 games with Bridgeport of the AHL before notching five points in nine games with the Islanders late in the season. A natural scorer, Okposo will be at the forefront of the Islanders' future plans.
Andreas Nodl, RW, Philadelphia - A second-round pick in 2006, the Austrian winger has enjoyed two productive seasons with St. Cloud State, totalling 90 points in 80 games. Nodl will add skill to the organization, though he could find it challenging to win a job in a scoring role right away.
Brock Trotter, C, Montreal - Small centre was plucked out of the University of Denver midway through his junior season after scoring 31 points in 24 games. 20-year-old Trotter had eight points in 17 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs, a sold late-season audition that will keep him prominent in Montreal's future plans.
Ryan Jones, LW, Minnesota - Drafted in the fourth round in 2004, before heading to Miami-Ohio, Jones was a top-tier collegiate goal scorer in his junior and senior seasons, tallying 60 goals in 84 games. He's getting his feet wet with Houston in the American Hockey League, but the 23-year-old could challenge for a spot with the Wild next season.
Justin Abdelkader, LW, Detroit - Signed after his junior season at Michigan State, the power forward was a second-round pick of the Wings in 2005 and put up 40 points and 107 penalty minutes in 42 games with the Spartans before seeing action in a couple of games with the Red Wings late in the season.
Michael Ratchuk, D, Philadelphia - Plucked out of Michigan State following his sophomore season, the undersized defenceman was a second-round pick of the Flyers in 2006. After scoring 25 points in 42 games with the Spartans this year, the 20-year-old could develop into the puck-moving defenceman the Flyers covet.
Tyler Eckford, D, New Jersey - A seventh-round pick in 2004, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound blueliner had developed nicely in three seasons at Alaska-Fairbanks, scoring 31 points in 35 games as a junior before signing with the Devils.
Jack Hillen, D, N.Y. Islanders - An undrafted free agent, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound defenceman was a solid player for three seasons at Colorado College before breaking out with a superb senior season, scoring 37 points in 41 games, earning a two-game audition with the Isles at the end of the season.
J.T. Wyman, RW, Montreal - Montreal's fourth-round pick in 2004, Wyman showed steady progress at Dartmouth College, culminating with 30 points in 29 games during his senior season. Wyman was promoted to Hamilton in the AHL late in the year and has played four games.
Raymond Sawada, RW, Dallas - Though he was a second-round pick of the Stars in 2004, Sawada put up modest scoring totals at Cornell, capped by a senior season in which he scored 26 points in 36 games. He fared better in his early pro games, scoring five points in six games with Iowa of the AHL.
Bryan Lerg, LW, Edmonton - Completed a productive four-year stint with Michigan State, scoring 113 points in 128 games over the last three seasons, earning a pro contract as an undrafted free agent. Lerg isn't big, listed at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, but he's highly-regarded as a character player who doesn't shy away from contact.
Jeff Penner, D, Boston - An undersized defenceman, Penner left Alaska-Fairbanks after his freshman season. The 21-year-old is an excellent skater and, with some seasoning, could be an important piece on the Bruins' blueline.
Andrew Sweetland, LW, Florida - The cousin of Canadiens winger Michael Ryder, Sweetland left the University of Maine after his freshman season with hopes of competing for a spot with the Panthers next season. Sweetland, who is 6-foot-2 and 204-pounds, had 17 points and two penalty minutes in 28 games with the Black Bears.
Matt Jones, LW, San Jose - Lanky 6-foot-4 winger was plucked out of Merrimack College following his sophomore season after scoring 15 goals and 22 points in 34 games. The 22-year-old has three points in six games with Worcester of the American Hockey League.
Derek Whitmore, LW, Buffalo - 23-year-old free agent turned into quite a finisher in his senior campaign, scoring 27 goals in 38 games for Bowling Green and attracting the Sabres' interest. Whitmore has played five games with Rochester late in the season, scoring once.
Cody Wild, D, Edmonton - Edmonton's fifth-round pick in 2005, Wild enjoyed three solid seasons at Providence College before signing with the Oilers. The 20-year-old has played 10 late-season games with Springfield of the AHL, putting up two assists and a minus-5 rating.
Jason Garrison, D, Florida - A big and strong defenceman, Garrison is also a capable puck-mover who had 14 points in 26 games as a junior at Minnesota-Duluth. Already 23, he could be ready to push for a spot on the Panthers blueline soon.
Mike Kostka, D, Buffalo - Sturdy blueliner was signed as a free agent out of UMass-Amherst after scoring nine goals and 21 points in 36 games as a senior.
Jeff LoVecchio, LW, Boston - A solid two-way winger who left Western Michigan after his junior season to join the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence. LoVecchio had 34 points in 37 games as a sophomore, dropping to 21 points in 36 games as a junior before putting up five points in 11 games with Providence in the AHL.
Michael-Lee Teslak, G, Philadelphia - Left Michigan Tech. after his junior year, during which he posted a 2.20 goals against average and .918 save percentage. The 22-year-old has joined the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL.
Jon Kalinski, LW, Philadelphia - Philadelphia's sixth-round pick last summer, Kalinski managed just 18 points in 39 games as a junior, but he's a hard-working blue-collar forward who will get a shot with the Phantoms to start.
Davis Drewiske, D, Los Angeles - Had a strong senior season at Wisconsin, surpassing his first three seasons combined with 21 points in 40 games before going plus-3 in a three-game look-see with Manchester.
Joe Fallon, G, Chicago - A sixth-round pick of the Blackhawks in 2005, Fallon started for four seasons at the University of Vermont. He had a 2.38 goals against average and a .915 save percentage in his senior season.
Grant Clitsome, D, Columbus - Taken in the ninth-round by the Blue Jackets before embarking on his four-year career at Clarkson and scored 22 points in 39 games as a senior.
Kyle Rogers, RW, Toronto - 6-foot-3, 210-pound, 23-year-old winger left Niagara University after his junior year and had 23 points in 34 games before getting a one-game viewing with the Marlies.
Rob Bellamy, RW, Philadelphia - A third-round pick of the Flyers in 2004, Bellamy scored a career-high 18 points in 33 games a senior at Maine, but he did rack up 252 penalty minutes in 137 games during his career, so he may have an aggravating style that suits the Flyers organization.
Matt Clackson, RW, Philadelphia - The son of former tough guy Kim Clackson (1302 penalty minutes in 377 WHA and NHL games), the younger Clackson had 16 points in 105 games over three seasons at Western Michigan, but he did have 219 penalty minutes, which should make him a fit in Philly.
Scott Cullen can be reached at scullen@tsn.ca