The list of NCAA players leaving school early to sign NHL contracts keeps growing.
Scott Perunovich (Minnesota-Duluth) passed up his senior season to sign with the St. Louis Blues, who tabbed him 45th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The junior defenseman, who helped UMD to two straight NCAA Division I championships before this year's national tournament was canceled by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), recorded a career-high 34 assists and 40 points this season in 34 games, and was also named the 2019-20 NCHC Player of the Year. Perunovich, 21, from Hibbing, Minn., finished his career with 20 goals and 95 assists for 105 points in 115 career outings with the Bulldogs.
Max Gildon (New Hampshire) has joined the Florida Panthers, who took him 66th overall in 2017, after three seasons at UNH. A defenseman from Plano, Texas, Gildon, 20, notched seven goals and 29 points in 34 games this season, and was selected as a Hockey East Third-Team All-Star. He completed his Wildcat career with 21-52—73 points in 101 contests.
Jack Badini (Harvard) also left college after three years when he inked a deal with the Anaheim Ducks, who selected him 91st overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Badini, 22, a forward from Old Greenwich, Conn., notched 6-8—14 points in 31 outings this season for the Crimson, and in three campaigns altogether registered 24-27—51 points in 97 contests.
Trevor Zegras (Boston University) became the latest NCAA one-and-done when the freshman forward signed with the Anaheim Ducks, who chose him ninth overall last summer. In his only season with the Terriers, Zegras, 19, from Bedford, N.Y. posted 11-25—36 points in 33 appearances, and was also named a Hockey East Third-Team All-Star.
