NCAA free agents often get to that point because they developed at a slower rate than their peers. Maybe they hit a sudden growth spurt? Maybe they learned how best to use their assets with time?

St. Cloud State defender Jack Ahcan reached this point in spite of not suffering any of these pitfalls, and the Boston Bruins just added him to their organization for naught but the cost of the contract.

As an 18-year-old in 2016, Ahcan scored the most goals among USHL defencemen, earning Defenceman of the Year honours. Next season, as a freshman, he produced the highest point total from the back-end for the St. Cloud Huskies, which vaulted him to a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team. And that same winter, he won the Gold Medal with the United States at the World Junior Under-20 tournament. 

Ahcan’s