It's hard to believe it, but the college hockey season is already over for three teams, which means it's the start of the part of the season where players are leaving school early to sign pro contracts. The first to do so is Michigan State sophomore forward Derek Grant, who has signed with the Ottawa Senators.

Grant's signing makes sense on a couple of different levels. He had a very good year, on a team with not much else in the way of talent, so I'm sure the Senators were anxious to get him out of East Lansing and on to the professional ranks. He'll finish the season in the AHL, where he should get some good experience. Grant has good size, and very good hands for a player of his size, but has had to improve his ability to go into the dirty areas of the ice to pick up points.