Could Penguins use any NCAA free agents?

PITTSBURGH — On Saturday, 21 graduating college senior prospects -- including the Penguins' Nikita Pavlychev and Ryan Jones -- went unsigned by the 5 p.m. deadline and are now unrestricted free agents, free to sign with any team.

The players either did not receive an offer from the team that owned their rights, or they could be holding out to test the free agent market and see if a better opportunity arises elsewhere. In the case of Pavlychev, the Penguins offered him an AHL-level contract and not an NHL one, so Pavlychev will test the market to see if he can get an NHL contract in another organization.

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Are there any notable prospects among the 19 who hit free agency on Saturday? Let's take a look.

CAM MORRISON

Position: Left wing

Team: University of Notre Dame

Drafted: 2016, second round (Colorado)

Age (birthday): 21 (Aug. 27)

Size: 6-2, 201

Shoots: Left

Morrison, a power forward, finished No. 2 in scoring for Notre Dame in his senior season with 13 goals (a career high) and 14 assists in 37 games. His plus-10 rating was the highest on the team. He played on both the power play and penalty kill for Notre Dame, and scored a shorthanded goal for the first time in his senior season in a win over Penn State.

MATT FILIPE

Position: Center/left wing

Team: Northeastern University

Drafted: 2016, third round (Carolina)

Age (birthday): 22 (Dec. 31)

Size: 6-2, 205

Shoots: Left

Filipe tied his career high in goals (9) and set a new career high in assists (13) as a senior despite playing only 30 games in the shortened season. He played on the Huskies’ power play and penalty kill.

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