Category: College Hockey Player

01Oct

Sam Jardine (10)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

7th year defenseman Sam Jardine(10) leaves for overseas hockey a 2nd time, this time signing with Bratislava Capitals of IceHL for 2021/2022.

Originally a 6th round pick by Chicago Blackhawks in 2011 (#169 overall), he initially signed a one-year minor league deal with affiliate Rockford IceHogs to stay in the system but was sent further down for most of his rookie campaign.

The almost deceptively built 6’2″ 209 lbs. d-man has played 228 ECHL games and won a pair of Kelly Cups: 2017 and most notably 2019 in a great run with Newfoundland Growlers.

He’s also had 4 AHL contracts and played 71 games.

The Lacombe, AB native spent 2019/2020 overseas with Cardiff Devils of the EIHL, not scoring a load of points (15) but was a nice +24 rating for on-ice accountability.

He decided to spend 2020/2021 a little closer to home after confirming a return to England, and, inked with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he exploded for a personal best 41 assists and 44 points in 67 games.

The 29-year old, former 3-year, 10+ assist man at Ohio State University Buckeyes will likely do well in Austria’s 6 nation league.

As said, he excelled pretty well with a pair of goals and 4 assists in 14 games with a +2 rating to gain a look from HIFK of Liiga, so will head to Finland.

For 2022/2023, he went to skate in England’s top league for another spell with Cardiff Devils and although he may have not scored a ton of points, was an accountable +7.

He decides to return to the states for 2023/2024 and will come back to the Swamp Rabbits, where he recorded his greatest assist total.

Spending a bit more time on loan to Calgary Wranglers, he finishes up the year and has decided to return to Austria to sign with Fehervar AV19 for 2024/2025.

He actually has a change of attitude and signs in the Senior AAA Alberta league with Lacombe Generals, probably to just play some hockey somewhere to keep in shape.

For 2025/2026, he’s making a big return and signs with Idaho Steelheads.

It’s a solid fit and through 68 games, he gets 1 goal and 20 assists with a +23 rating to easily be asked to stay a Steelheads for 2026/2027.

01Oct

Robert Cronin (13)

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University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ senior right wing Robert Cronin(13) had by far a best college scoring with 17 goals and 11 assists that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Maine Mariners.

In 13 ECHL games, the 5’10” 187 lbs. forward had 5 goals and 3 assists.

From Plymouth, MA, he did 2 USHL seasons with Dubuque Fighting Saints, scoring big in his 2nd frame.

The 24-year old will need a new contract moving forward.

For 2025/2026, he will return for his rookie season in an Mariners‘ jersey.

In that sweater, he comes away with 19 goals and 37 assists in a full slate of 72 games with a +13 rating.

For 2026/2027, he gets a 1-year AHL contract with the parent club, Providence Bruins.

01Oct

Luke Glendening (41)

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12th year defenseman Luke Glendening(41) signs a new 2-year NHL deal with Tampa Bay Lightning on the opening day of unrestricted free agency, so they had their eye on him to add to their organization.

The undrafted 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner spent his 1st season under a minor league contract with his home town team Grand Rapids Griffins, where he would go on to win the 2013 Calder Cup trophy and ring up an impressive 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) in 24 playoff games to gain notice of the parent club Detroit Red Wings, who would give him a simple 1-year entry level deal.

He even skated 27 ECHL for Toledo Walleye in his rookie season.

By his 2nd session though, the twice captain as junior and senior at University Of Michigan Wolverines was appearing in 56 games and even 5 through the playoffs, scoring a goal to earn his next 3-year 1-way deal.

The 34-year old has done well and is still having a blast doing it.

He scores a 4th season of 10+ goals in his 1st frame with the new team and twice plays almost an entire schedule of games.

For 2025/2026, he looks to activate with a new team and signs a pto during training camp that turns into a 1-year deal with New Jersey Devils.

In 38 games, he has 3 assists as a 36-year old out there.

After 52 games, he is maybe not gelling with his new team as was thought, so gets waived and picked up immediately at least for the short term by Philadelphia Flyers.

For 2026/2027, he signs a pto with Tampa Bay to potentially return and we think the 37-year old still has plenty in the tank to agree to terms.

01Oct

Luke James (22)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Juniors, Transfers | Leave a comment

Port Huron Prowlers‘ right wing Luke James(22) signs on for a 3rd season after scoring a new best 7 goals and keeping points along that 15 mark to likely add to in 2026/2027.

The 5’7″ 179 lbs. forward graduated Albertus Magnus College Falcons after going to Becker College Hawks for 2 years before they closed doors.

From Moon Township, PA, the 28-year old will only add to his FPHL game at this point.

30Sep

Oliver Wahlstrom (24)

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2018 draft (#11 overall), 5th year right wing Oliver Wahlstrom(24) signs a conservative 1-year 1-way deal to stick for 2023/2024, as a restricted free agent.

The fairly stocky 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward has twice scored 10+ goals.

He only spent 1 year at Boston College Eagles after exploding his 2nd frame with USNTDP.

The 23-year old from Portland, ME definitely needs to step up his game.

He re-signs to spend a 6th year in the Isles‘ system, 2024/2025.

In 27 games, he has 2 goals and 2 assists and is put on waivers, knowing he will get picked up and skate for another team for the 1st time in his pro career.

A somewhat struggling Boston Bruins reaches out to welcome him back to where he attend on year of post-school.

He’s not a big scorer with 1 goal and 1 assist in 16 games and is basically a point-per-game guy in the AHL, which gains him a new minor league deal for 2025/2026 with San Jose Barracuda.

He take scoring to a new level with new bests 24 goals and 18 assists and almost surprisingly for a 1st time looks elsewhere to play in 2026/2027 and signs with Djurgardens IF of SHL and should do well.

30Sep

Ryan Leonard (9)

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Boston College Eagles‘ freshman center Ryan Leonard(9) is doing basically what you expect of him on the scoresheet with 5 goals and 7 assists in 12 games, including a +8 rating.

The 6′ 190 lbs. Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the recent 2023 draft (#8 overall) put up big stats with the USNTDP, especially during his 2nd run in the program.

From Amherst, MA, the 18-year old is still looking at quite a bright future he’ll need to maintain.

His team is exited in the 2nd round of the national tournament and he immediately signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal to join his draft team in his home city for college hockey to get pro started.

In his debut he skates 20 shifts for 14:14 of ice time with 3 hits, 2 giveaways, 1 shot block and left a 1-goal win with a +1 rating.

After a 45 point season as a rookie, he signs a $10.5M AAV 8-year deal to stay a Capitals for a very long time, beginning 2027/2028.

30Sep

Cutter Gauthier (61)

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Boston College Eagles‘ 2022/2023 commit, Swedish-born center Cutter Gauthier(61) had a 2nd USNTDP season that went completely off-the-hook scoring.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2022 1st round pick, #5 overall in the NHL draft scored 34 goals and 31 assists in 54 USDP U18 games with a +33 rating and another 19 goals and 9 assists in 22 USHL games with a +14.

At just 18-years old, he’s been in the US for a long while acclimating his game and should be a force as a rookie next season.

His playing rights for the big league have been traded to Anaheim Ducks, which is a no-brainer for him to sign, when he’s ready, as he allegedly didn’t want to skate for his draft team.

After blowing through 41 goals last season and adding another 12 points in the playoffs, he picks up a new 6-year $13.5M AAV deal to stay on as a Ducks for awhile.

30Sep

Alex Newhook (15)

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Colorado Avalanche 1st round pick (#19 overall) in the 2019 draft, Boston College Eagles‘ sophomore center Alex Newhook(15) celebrating a goal is the opening image for our new site.

NCAA.com used this photo for a story they did on college hockey last season that we were really proud of but can’t seem to find anywhere, if someone can help us.

In his 1st NHL season he skates 71 games, scoring 13 goals and 20 assists with a +11 rating and adds 4 assists in 12 playoff appearances.

He is now a Stanley Cup Champion.

Set to become a restricted free agent, he is dished to Montreal Canadiens, who welcome him as a top 6 forward into the fold, given him a qualifying offer, but expect that to be worked on.

He gets a new 4-year, $5.5M AAV deal that begins next year to stay onboard a Canadiens.

29Sep

Justin Vaive (46)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

14th year left wing, Justin Vaive(46) signs with Cincinnati Cyclones for a 9th ECHL season, 2024/2025.

He’s served as team captain 3 times.

The big 6’6″ 238 lbs. forward was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#92 overall), but never signed.

He did however sign an NHL contract a few years later with New York Islanders, which had him spend his entire time with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

From Buffalo, NY and son of former NHLer Rick Vaive, the 35-year old, who did 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks may not score like he once did, but he will certainly bring himself back up to a + player.

For an 8 season, 6 as team captain, he signs on to a team he has found a pretty great home with in Cincinnati for 2025/2026.

After 601 ECHL games and 280 AHL, he decides at 37-years old, 16 seasons it’s time to retire from pro hockey and should just assume a position behind the bench where he has spent significant time and served 7 as team captain.

29Sep

Nicholas Niemo (8)

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University Of Maine Black Bears‘ junior right wing Nicholas Niemi(8) will head to his 3rd school, Niagara University Purple Eagles for a senior frame in 2025/2026.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward scored best as a freshman at Bentley University Falcons with 8 goals and 14 assists in 32 games with a +7 rating.

From Middlebury, VT, the 24-year old did 2 years of NAHL juniors before college.

We think he will score well in Atlantic Hockey once again.

He ties his junior year 3 goals and has a new best 7 assists that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies.

In 15 ECHL games he has a 1st goal and 2 assists, but needs a new team.

For 2026/2027, he picks up a 1-year deal for his official rookie season with Wichita Thunder.