The name of the game is volume when NHL general managers pluck prospects from the NCAA ranks. Even with the headliners.

With the addition of North Dakota Fighting Hawks graduate Colton Poolman — announced the same day as the Connor Mackey deal –, the Calgary Flames have now grabbed enough NCAA headliners to put together a festival all their own.

[Read more: Connor Mackey’s Undrafted Free Agent Profile]

Is Poolman going to rock the stage like Bruce Springsteen or sink like so many other artists best left for live mic nights at your town’s favourite dive?

Well, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Poolman brings a lot to the table, even outside the context of his NCAA free agent peers. He’s a legitimate prospect for the NHL, with a pro-ready defensive game and leadership qualities