The Vancouver Canucks didn’t have many contract slots left and even fewer roster spots to offer — they had to make their trips into NCAA free agency count. They did about as well as one might hope, too, signing Minnesota State (Mankato) centre Marc Michaelis.

If the name sounds familiar, that’s with good reason. Michaelis played the full four years with the Minnesota State Mavericks, featured twice on Germany’s World Championships roster and wore his country's colours another two times at the World Juniors. He’s about as well-travelled as an NCAA free agent gets.

[Read more: Minnesota State Captain Michaelis on the world stage with Team Germany]

He was also one of the ten subjects Adam Wodon covered in his contribution to our ‘Watch List’ series in November, a look at the NCAA skaters like