David Backes, Minnesota State, Mankato (St. Louis Blues)

He’s a proven scorer (77 points in 77 career games with the Mavericks) and, at 6-3, 210 pounds, he’s got the size to bang with just about anyone. Backes has been on the right wing almost exclusively at Mankato, but he can also play center, a position at which the Blues desperately lack depth. With a number of aging, high-priced forwards on the payroll, expect St. Louis to make a serious run at getting Backes signed for a year of grooming with their AHL affiliate in Peoria.

INCH Prediction: The Blues need forwards who can score, especially at the AHL level. Backes, who has shown he’s one of the WCHA’s most talented forwards, fits that mold. They’ll get him signed.

Matt Carle, Denver (San Jose Sharks)

Adding a defenseman wouldn’t seem to be high on the Sharks’ to-do list, what with Scott Hannan, Kyle McLaren and top prospect Christian Ehrhoff under contract and re-signing stalwart Brad Stuart a likely priority. But Carle, who showcased his talents at April’s Frozen Four – including an unforgettable dance through a posse of North Dakota skaters to set up a Paul Stastny goal – has offensive gifts Sharks fans haven’t seen since Sandis Ozolinsh wore a teal sweater nearly a decade ago. At the new rookie maximum of $850,000 per year for four years, Carle would be a steal.

INCH Prediction: It’s certainly not a lock that Carle would jump, especially with a shot at a third straight NCAA title on the line, but defensemen with a gift for offense are coveted commodities. Look for the Sharks to make a push to sign Carle, who would have an outside shot at starting the year in San Jose.

Robbie Earl, Wisconsin (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Conventional wisdom states that Earl could use at least another year in college, and that the Maple Leafs would favor CHL products to fill their AHL roster. But it’s clear that Earl – who called himself “a steal” when Toronto drafted him last summer – has confidence in his abilities, so it’s possible that he could seek out the next level, especially if he’s chafing under coach Mike Eaves’ conservative style of play.

INCH Prediction: The Maple Leafs’ record of developing college prospects is about as impressive as General Motors’ record of financial management. The odds of Badger fans having to mothball sweaters with Earl’s name on the back are remote.

Patrick Eaves, Boston College (Ottawa Senators)

Matt Greene, North Dakota (Edmonton Oilers)

Greene has the size (6-3, 224) and the bruising style of play that's perfectly suited for the NHL. From the Oilers' perspective, he'd develop more under their watch than on trips to and from the penalty box, which they thought happened too often as a result of last year's obstruction crackdown. Plus, they've got room on the blueline – especially at the AHL level – and have never been averse to young, affordable former collegians.

INCH Prediction: The crackdown obstruction isn’t going anywhere. Greene, however, could be. Given the Oilers’ desires, the chances of him leaving Grand Forks are a shade better than 50-50.

UPDATE: The Oilers announced Greene's signing on Aug. 15.

Hugh Jessiman, Dartmouth (New York Rangers)

Jessiman may have seen his potential signing bonus flash before his eyes when he suffered a severe ankle injury last November. His recovery went well, but he may want to cash in before he risks another injury at the amateur level. Expect the Rangers, who have approached their former first-round pick before, to make another pitch for his services. He’ll probably get his start in Hartford, although debuting with the parent club isn’t out of the question.

INCH Prediction: Another franchise that sacrificed the long-term process of regenerating from within in favor of the mercenary approach, it’s critical the Rangers get prospects signed and in the system. The club considers Jessiman one of its future stars, so you can expect the Blueshirts to bring him into the fold.

UPDATE: The Rangers announced Jessiman's signing on July 29.

David McKee, Cornell (Free Agent)

A free agent, McKee could jump to the best situation that presents itself. And even though NHL teams are loathe to rush young goaltenders (see Miller, Ryan, and LeNeveu, David), if someone really likes him they may push to sign him now to secure his future rights.

INCH Prediction: McKee might be the toughest read on this list due mainly to his free agent status. The two-month period prior to the start of the regular season could border on chaos as teams sign free agents to round out their rosters. Because of that, chances of McKee leaving Cornell appear slim.

Al Montoya, Michigan (New York Rangers)

With no goalies with NHL contracts (Kevin Weekes and Dan Blackburn are free agents), the Rangers’ top priority should be signing prospect Henrik Lundqvist, the Swedish Elite League goaltender of the year in each of the past three seasons, and installing him as the team’s starter. Jason LaBarbera, the primary starter for the Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford, will probably back him up. Montoya resisted the team’s advances last summer, but G.M. Glen Sather will dangle the starting job in Hartford this time around, giving him an opportunity to start 55-60 regular-season games.

INCH Prediction: He could’ve signed last summer, but a logjam of goaltenders in the Rangers’ system would’ve made playing time hard to come by. Now that the glut has thinned somewhat, there’s a spot in the AHL for Montoya to get the work he needs to develop further.

UPDATE: The Rangers announced Montoya's signing on July 27.

Sasha Pokulok, Cornell (Washington Capitals)

Ryan Potulny, Minnesota (Philadelphia Flyers)

Marty Sertich, Colorado College (Free Agent)

The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner is undrafted, so he could sign with whatever team offered him the best opportunity to play. But most scouts have a familiar reason for skepticism – size – which would leave the 5-foot-9, 163-pounder to trying to become the first two-time Hobey winner.

INCH Prediction: Call it a hunch, but squeezing an entire off-season into roughly eight weeks would seem to create a bear market for undrafted free agents. A sparkling senior campaign at Colorado College, however, would rekindle the buzz and, in turn, generate multiple suitors for his services.

Drew Stafford, North Dakota (Buffalo Sabres)

Between the forwards that are currently under contract (Chris Drury and Derek Roy), the restricted free agents under the old CBA they’ll likely re-sign (Daniel Briere, J-P Dumont, Jochen Hecht, Maxim Afinogenov, Ales Kotalik and Taylor Pyatt) and the quartet of promising prospects – all younger than 25 – who spent last season in the AHL with Rochester, the Sabres boast a glut of talent up front. Stafford would be best served playing big minutes on the Fighting Sioux’s top line and best power play unit.

INCH Prediction: Unless they feel an urgent need to get him into their system, the Sabres will let Stafford continue his development at North Dakota. He made significant strides between his freshman and sophomore campaigns.

Brett Sterling, Colorado College (Atlanta Thrashers)

Atlanta is unlikely to rush the high-scoring winger, who is also an excellent student. Expect the Thrashers to have him return to school for his senior season, as they did with Michigan State forward Jim Slater last year. With a slew of high-end prospects already contributing at the NHL level – or, in the cases of goalie Kari Lehtonen and defenseman Braydon Coburn, ready to contribute – grooming young talent at the AHL level isn't a high priority.

INCH Prediction: Odds that Sterling would bolt are relatively slim. Count on him terrorizing WCHA opponents on a line with Sertich for one final season.

Jeff Tambellini, Michigan (Los Angeles Kings)

The Kings will be one of the league’s more interesting teams this season thanks to an influx of young talent to accompany veterans like Trent Klatt, Craig Conroy, Aaron Miller and Mattias Norstrom. For example, former Michigan standout Mike Cammalleri will make the jump to L.A. Could Tambellini be far behind? He’s more polished than Cammalleri was when he left Ann Arbor. After the dominant second half he had for the Wolverines, Tambellini appears ripe for a new challenge.

INCH Prediction: Outside of Stuart, Tambellini might be the best candidate to jump right from college into the NHL. Even if he doesn’t make the leap, he’s probably better served by spending a season in the AHL adjusting to the pro game. He’s a solid bet to sign.

UPDATE: The Kings announced Tambellini's signing on Aug. 15.

Stephen Werner, Massachusetts (Washington Capitals)

To be part of a youth movement in Amherst, where there are as many as 11 incoming freshmen, or in Washington/Hershey, where there are only two legitimate NHLers under contract? That’s the question for Werner.

INCH Prediction: Even with all the openings in D.C., Werner (a Maryland native) would be unlikely to make the hometown team this season. Expect him to stay in Amherst and try to lead the Minutemen back to their heights of 2003-04.

Travis Zajac, North Dakota (New Jersey Devils)

Zajac and Zach Parise – who, along with David Hale, we nicknamed New Jersey's Sioux-pranos – are seen as the future of the Devils. Zajac proved to be a complete player for North Dakota as a freshman, especially down the stretch. But a second season in college didn't slow Parise's development, which could be a good argument for Zajac to stay put.