AP/GettyJeremy Welsh started the weekend as a junior forward for the Union Dutchmen, competing in the school's first-ever Frozen Four appearance. But dreams of a national title were shattered Thursday night in a 3-1 loss to eventual runners-up, Ferris State.

This season, Welsh led his team in scoring with 27 goals and 44 points in 40 games, and was a monster for his team in the NCAA tournament. He almost single-handedly helped Union edge Michigan State with a goal and an assist, scored again against UMass Lowell, then set up his team's only strike against Ferris.

And for all that, he was very justifiably rewarded with a fat free agent contract from the Carolina Hurricanes, signed just hours after his team was eliminated. The deal will pay him $832,500 at the NHL level and a hefty a signing bonus of $92,500, the team reported.

Welsh is a player who projects very, very well as an NHLer. He's 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, for one thing, and he's more than just a boatload of goals and points — he ended his career at Union with a tidy 53-47-100 in 119 games — as he's also dominant at the dot and a big reason Union had one of the best PKs in the nation this year.

Just how well does Welsh project? Well, so eager to sign the big forward were these Hurricanes that they not only had the deal ready to go the second he was off the ice, they also got him down to Fort Lauderdale to hook up with the team so that he could get into the final game of the regular season.

And how much does the organization like him? He got 16:32 in his NHL debut, playing between Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu. Which isn't a bad way to get your start in the league.

Welsh said he was approached not only by guys you might expect, like director of hockey ops Ron Francis and assistant GM Jason Karmanos, but also coaches Kirk Muller and Rod Brind'Amour, who made it clear that he'd get a very legitimate shot in the organization.

"(Francis) is one of the best centermen to ever play the game," Welsh said. "When a guy like that tells you he wants you, I can go learn from those guys and soak up their knowledge. I get to drive four hours in a car today with Brind'Amour and Francis. For a young centerman trying to figure it out at the next level, there's no better opportunity than that."

In all, six teams were in the hunt for Welsh's services, including the Bruins and Blackhawks, but because those organizations have a habit of drafting well and are generally pretty stocked with young talent, Welsh was probably better served going somewhere like Carolina where he can have a legitimate shot at cracking the NHL lineup again next season.

Welsh will not, however, be playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL this season. After last night's game, he planned to go back to Union to finish his school year, then take classes over the summer to complete his degree.

Still, don't be surprised to see him back in the big time next season.