from Bob McKenzie of TSN,

If it’s time for the U.S. college hockey playoffs, then it's time for the NHL's college signing season.

The Chicago Blackhawks have been busy already – signing graduating senior forward John Hayden out of Yale on Sunday (he's on the NHL roster and will soon play games) and Miami University graduating forward Anthony Louis Monday (he's off to Rockford of their AHL) – and could get even busier.

The Hawks will also be talking to Northeastern junior defenceman Dylan Sikura and Omaha-Nebraska sophomore forward Fredrik Olofsson now that their respective college seasons are over. Chicago will gauge their interest in turning pro and then decide what tack to take with them....

The most pressing order of business right now, though, is NHL teams competing to sign the U.S. college unrestricted free agents whose seasons are over.

The top prize in that regard is Northeastern graduating senior Zachary Aston-Reese, a 6-foot, 204-pound forward who had 31 goals and 63 points for the Huskies in 38 games this season. Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, Los Angeles and Detroit are among a very large group of NHL teams pursuing him, with a decision expected in the next day or so.

read on