Category: Europe

Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior captain defenseman Nash Nienhuis(4) scored a college career best 9 goals and tied his 15 assists set as a junior.

The undrafted 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner will take his game overseas for his rookie frame, as he signs with EC Red Bull Salzburg of IceHL.

From Sarnia, ON, he did 1 season GOJHL before transferring to the USHL, where he skated mostly with Muskegon Lumberjacks before heading to school.

We look for the 24-year old to do well in Austria’s top league.

In his 1st frame with the team he would win the 2025 Championship and sign on for a more productive 2nd season with 17 assists and 19 points in 47 games with a +20 rating, then 3 more points in the playoffs.

No doubt, he signs for a 3rd year at Red Bull.

Undrafted 6th year center Andrew Poturalski(22) circles back to rejoin his original team, Carolina Hurricanes on a 1-year 2-way contract for 2021/2022.

He spent the last two years away under a pair of contracts to Anaheim Ducks, which saw him only play for their affiliate San Diego Gulls.

The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game guy in 2020/2021, scoring 9 goals and 34 assists in 44 AHL games.

He was an outstanding scorer for then farm club Charlotte Checkers, averaging 20+ goals and 35+ assists in 3 years.

The 2-year University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ skater put up big numbers in Hockey East, just like he did in his 2nd year of the USHL with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Although he may have only seen two NHL games as a rookie, we think he may be on a short list for a quick recall in 2021/2022.

Almost oddly, he is recalled for 2 games and grabs 2 assists, but is captain of affiliate Chicago Wolves and absolutely blows up scoring with 28 goals and 73 assists in 71 games, then goes on to win the 2022 Calder Cup Championship.

He is twice the league leading scorer.

As a free agent, he signs a 2-year deal with Seattle Kracken and helps lead their affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds to a pair of minor league finals before bowing out.

For 2024/2025, he signs another 2-year pact, but moves on to the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.

He steps away for something different, signing with Avangard Omsk for 2025/2026 and we think will do really well in the KHL.

In 67 games, he comes away with 27 goals and 39 assists with a +29 rating and most game-winning goals (7) to sign for another year with Omsk 2026/2027.

Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ junior center Carson Briere(16) leaves a year on the table to turn pro, signing a 1-year deal with HC 19 Humenne of Slovak Extraliga.

He twice had 14 assists and as a sophomore scored 13 goals for 27 points in 31 games.

The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward blew up the score sheet in his 2nd NAHL session for Johnstown Tomahawks, scoring 44 goals and 45 assists in 59 games.

From Haddonfield, NJ, the 25-year old son of NHL great Daniel Briere, should do well in this tough to play overseas league.

He’s already switching teams overseas before he gets started, which isn’t quite surprising considering and now will skate for Neuilley-sur-Marne Les Bisons of France2 in 2023/2024.

As we thought, he has a very good frame, scoring 14 goals and 19 assists in 25 games and will next head to AlpsHL, signing with KHL Sisak for 2024/2025.

In 36 games, he scores 23 goals and 26 assists with a +8 rating and scores a little in 2 playoff games as well before he is loaned to the Croatian team of similar name and goes on to put up even more points.

For 2025/2026, he decides to move on for another opportunity, signing with EC Peiting, where he should do exceedingly well in Germany3.

He explodes for 33 goals and 34 assists in 52 games with a +16 rating to gain another year to stay with EC Peiting.

Undrafted 4th year right wing Nick Jones(8) is coming off a career AHL season, scoring 12 goals and 22 assists in 60 games to add a 3rd season with Manitoba Moose to his resume.

The 5’11” 186 lbs. forward had an interesting two year run through the AJHL before committing to Ohio State University Buckeyes for 2 years, after which he decided on a pair of BCHL sessions, scoring almost equal 60+ point totals and winning the 2017 Championship with Penticton Vees and then heading to University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for a junior and senior frame.

From Edmonton, AB, the 26-year old may be off to a bit of a late start connecting with the net.

In 47 games last season, he scores 6 goals and 10 assists with a +4 rating, but wants more and eyes an opportunity in the tough to play Tipos Extraliga, signs with Vlci Zilina for 2024/2025.

He explodes scoring to the tune of 24 goals and 21 assists in 41 games with a +7, but he decides to head off to close by Czechia Extraliga and signs with HC Dynamo Pardubice, where he may do even better.

In 9 games, he scores 3 goals and 3 assists, then in 16 playoff contests, grabs 2 goals and 9 assists.

For 2025/2026, he takes this success and signs with rivals HC Energie Karlovy Vary.

After scoring 13 goals and 18 assists in 46 games with a 0 rating, he is invited to return HC Energie for 2026/2027.

3rd year right wing Jordan Kaplan(47) recently signed with Newfoundland Growlers after a somewhat inactive year in 2021/2022.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward already has a helper in a couple of appearances with his new club.

After graduating from University Of Vermont Catamounts, which followed up 3 years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers, he signed as a rookie with Adirondack Thunder, scoring 11 goals and 21 assists in 65 ECHL games, but also had a somewhat disastrous -32 rating.

From Bridgewater, NJ, we think the 25-year old will fit in nicely with his new club.

After 6 games with his new team, he gets released and claimed by Worcester Railers, but only lasts a couple of appearances before he’s on the move again, this time heading overseas to join Saale Bulls Halle for the remainder of 2023.

Germany3 hockey should come pretty easy for him to score big for his new club.

He does almost exactly as we saw would happen, scoring 4 goals and 6 assists in 11 games during the regular frame, then adding another 7 goals and 11 assists in 13 playoff matchups.

For 2023/2024, he will start his 3rd season in the league he’s mostly known with a 6th club, Indy Fuel and we think will find ways to put in points.

He actually played no games with who he initially signed and ended up bouncing around for a few games here and there, but lacking anything close to what he had as a rookie.

Playing maybe a bit of the waiting game, he decides to sign with Savannah Ghost Pirates to help make an impact with the new team and scores 1 in his 2nd game.

A couple months prior to 2024/2025, he finds himself traded after 14 goals and 14 assists in 51 games on a non-playoff team.

He returns to Worcester Railers, where he played 2 games and feel he will easily fit back into team mentality.

After 18 goals and 31 assists in an almost full run of 68 games, he re-signs to stay a Railers to see if he can help push this team further in 2025/2026, as they know they should be going.

As the new season approaches, he finds himself as part of a three team trade sending him to Wheeling Nailers, where we are sure he will be a big part of this team.

In 16 games with his new team, he has 1 goal and 5 assists with a +2 rating, but finds himself traded to a Cincinnati Cyclones, who maybe need him to score for them a bit more.

In 29 games, he gets 2 goals and 5 assists, but is a -9 rating, so gets waived then re-adopted for a 3rd time by Worcester Railers.

He did score league best here.

5th year center Scott Pooley(12) trades in a 1st good season overseas for Lukko, scoring 18 goals and 16 assists in 55 Liiga games for a new experience with HockeyAllsvenskan, signing for 2022/2023 to IF Bjorkloven.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward has signed 3 times with Toronto Marlies and played 63 AHL games, while being reassigned down to the ECHL Newfoundland Growlers, where he was a point-per-game player and helped them win the 2019 Kellly Cup.

He had 34 points in 36 NCAA Division 1 games as a senior at Holy Cross College Crusaders and 20+ points each previous frame.

The 28-year old from Granger, IN was never much of a point getter in 2 years of junior, one north in the AJHL, but definitely figured out how to connect at the higher levels.

He would spend 2 years scoring for his tier 2 Swedish hockey team and decides to trade it in for a contract with rivals AIK for 2024/2025.

After another very successful season with the most league points, 59, he signs on for another 2 seasons to stay AIK through 2027/2028 and we’d say is pretty happy.

Long Island University Sharks‘ junior center Noah Kane(92) decides he wants a switch it up after 2 years at Mercyhurst University Lakers and commits to the new school for 2022/2023.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward played a season high 26 games, scoring new college bests 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points.

He spent 3 years in juniors, but really came alive when he joined Maine Nordiques before agreeing to school.

As the first team captain ever, he would produce 20 goals and 44 assists in 54 NAHL games.

The 22-year old will likely continue to take his scoring up.

And he did, collecting a 2nd round of 8 goals per frame, but his assists popped to a by-a-mile best 22.

He graduates and signs a 1st pro contract with Cincinnati Cyclones.

In 16 ECHL games, the Buffalo, NY native comes away with 2 goals and 4 assists on a non-playoff team.

For 2024/2025, he steps out to sign with JoKP of Mestis.

He is doing ok overseas with 7 goals and 11 assists in 28 games, but maybe misses home and will return to Cincinnati.

In 12 games, he records only 1 assist and is traded to a team that wants him, Allen Americans, who give up a player to obtain him.

He plays 19 game with his new team, scoring 2 goals and 8 assists, but signs with Bloomington Bison, who trade him to Kalamazoo Wings after just 1 skate.

Not skating much, he sees an opportunity with Lindau Islanders of Germany3 and explodes scoring for 11 goals and 21 assists in 30 games with a +7 rating, then adds another 5 points in the playoffs.

His play earns him a new contract for 2026/2027.

Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Ivan Chukarov(13) takes the COVID season off, but decides to get back on the ice and switches allegiance from Worcester Railers, the only team he’s played for since graduating UMass Minutemen to Wheeling Nailers for the 2021/2022 ECHL.

The 6’2″ 203 lbs. forward was a big scorer in his 2nd year of junior with Minnesota Wilderness, scoring 12 goals and 31 assists in 55 NAHL games to get his college commitment.

Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 7th round pick in the 2015 draft (#182 overall), it seems like the 26-year old still can be a big contributor, despite what league he eventually lands.

He would actually land at Adirondack Thunder for last season’s play and had 2 goals and 5 assists in 38 games, but a terrible -22 rating.

For 2022/2023, the Des Plaines, IL native will return to continue work on his game, trying to contribute.

He puts up a career best 11 assists with 12 points and was a +12 rating through 58 games last season.

For 2023/2024, he gets traded and signs a 1-year deal with Jacksonville Icemen, his 3rd team in the league.

After 67 games, scoring a new best 7 goals and 26 assists with a +16 rating, he will take his game for a 1st time overseas, joining Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for 2025/2026.

In 23 games, he is scoring ok, but has a bad +/-, so decides to come back and signs with Bloomington Bison for the 2nd half of 2025/2026.

With only 1 assist in 8 games and a not so hot +/-, Savannah Ghost Pirates see something they can use in his game and acquire him for future considerations.

Undrafted 3rd year right wing Patrick Newell(14) will next take his game to Stjernen Hockey of Fjordkraftligaen for 2021/2022, and we think will find some excellent results, as his 2-year entry level deal with New York Rangers doesn’t net a qualifying offer.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward was signed upon completing 4 years at St. Cloud State University Huskies, pocketing 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 39 NCHC games with a highly impressive +35 rating and a Hobey Baker Finalist nod.

From Thousand Oaks, CA he quickly moved to play a split frame of juniors, both successful, with Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL and USHL‘s Indiana Ice, where he stayed to play a follow-up frame.

He would help them win the 2014 Clark Cup Championship, scoring 13 goals and 30 assists in regular season, then another 4 and 3 in 12 playoff contests to the title.

Next he would move up to a year with Penticton Vees before committing to college and yup, his 16 goals and 31 assists in the natural frame, then 3 tallies and 11 helpers in 22 playoff games led to a 2015 BCHL Championship.

The 25-year old small spark should light up Norway hockey.

Exactly what we thought would happen, happened, as he struck for 21 goals and 30 assists with a +15 rating in 42 games, then added another 8 points in 12 playoff contests.

This performance got him looking and he signs for 2022/2023 with Fehervar AV19 of IceHL, and no doubt he will be more challenged in this top Austrian league.

He actually leaves after 17 games with decent scoring for HockeyAllsvenskan, signing for the rest of the frame with Sodertalje SK and does ok with 15 points in 30 games.

Something has changed his mind though and he is returning for 2023/2024 on a 1-year ECHL deal with Orlando Solar Bears.

Through 18 games, he has 4 goals and 10 assists, which is maybe a little easy pickins’, so decides to head to Slovakia Extraliga joining HK Nitra and has 1 goal in 2 games.

He does quite well here, scoring 3 goals and 7 assists in 16 games with a +9 rating, then adds another 9 points in 21 playoff games with a +6 to win the 2024 Slovakian Extraliga Championship. , but has decided he’ll return to playing pro hockey closer to home, signing with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.

Through a career high 67 games, he scored a new best by a mile 10 goals and 28 assists with a +7 rating, then added more in the playoffs.

For 2025/2026, he heads off to sign with another new team to the league, Greensboro Gargoyles.

He would become assistant captain and in 46 games scored a tidy 8 goals and 21 assists, but Kalamazoo Wings look to add him to their roster.

Norfolk Admirals‘ 2nd year Russian-born left wing Denis Smirnov(8) is looking to up his totals from his 1st year with the team, when he scored 9 goals and 12 assists in 39 ECHL games.

The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward already has 7 goals and 9 assists, so things are looking quite positive.

He came over pretty quickly to play youth hockey, displaying amazing numbers to get drafted into juniors and wins the USHL Clark Cup Championship in his 1st of 3 years in the league.

Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ 4-year scorer took a couple of years after college hockey through COVID to establish his game as a pro.

He is an exciting player to watch.

In 51 games, he scores 14 goals and 32 asssists with a +3 rating to earn an easy invite back in an Admirals‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

He’s a high scoring free agent heading into 2025/2026 and a powerhouse team, Toledo Walleye step in to offer him a 1-year deal.

In a league high 54 games, he scores 15 goals and 20 assists, but gets a trade to Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he will very likely just continue.