7th year defenseman Nolan Zajac(44) leaves a pair of seasons in the SHL for a new European adventure in 2022/2023, joining DEL‘s Grizzlys Wolfsburg.
He spent only a pair of seasons mostly in the ECHL scoring pretty big after graduating University Of Denver twice ascending to 20+ assists before deciding to head overseas.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner maybe started a little low in Sweden’s tier 2 Allsvenskan, where he detonated the scoresheet for most assists and most points by a d-man for IK Oskarshamn.
With his new German team, he manages 8 goals and 25 assists in 48 games with a +14 rating, then adds another 7 assists in a playoff run to earn himself another year to stay put.
After 2 good frames with the same team, he looks elsewhere to rivals Augsburger Panthers f0r 2024/2025.
Undrafted defenseman Davis Bunz(7) takes 4+ years at Providence College Friars to a 1st pro contract with Wheeling Nailers for the 2022/2023 season.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner has never been much of a scorer, but did leave a USHL frame for Central Illinois Flying Aces to head to school mid-campaign.
A Middleton, WI native, his senior year was way off the hook with 23 goals in 24 games.
The 23-year old should have a really good rookie run.
3 goals and 20 assists in a 1st ECHL frame was impressive enough to want to keep him in West Virginia another season.
He’ll have to work on his +/- some.
Accomplishing exactly what he needed to, he walks away from 2023/2024 with a league high 10 goals and 21 assists with a new accountable +20 rating in 2nd 58 games, then adds another 5 points in the playoffs.
For his new move, he skates overseas, accepting a 1-year EIHL deal with Nottingham Panthers for 2024/2025.
Boston College Eagles‘ senior center Liam Izyk(26) enters the transfer portal and will lace up the skates in 2023/2024 for a graduate frame at Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
The Blackie, AB native played 3 years in the AJHL for Fort McMurray Oil Barons, scoring quite nicely in each frame before committing to his 1st school, University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers.
At 6’1″ 187 lbs., the 24-year old scored best as a freshman, but we’re thinking Atlantic Hockey has more room for him to find the net.
He scores a new by short best 4 goals and 4 assists and will take that to a 1st pro deal with RoKi of Mestis.
Trois Rivières Lions‘ center Cedric Lacroix(19) has finally seemingly arrived at a team he feels comfortable being with, as he’s scoring a decent 5 goals and 5 assists in 18 ECHL games on a non-playoff team.
He’s had forays in the AHL, but only when he 1st arrived and played 1 game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, getting 2 goals, but then being reassigned for the rest of the frame to Wheeling Nailers was odd.
His 4 seasons at University Of Maine Black Bears all looked relatively similar.
It’s a little tough to say why the 28-year old from Shefford, QC hasn’t found his hockey home.
In what is a no surprise move, he decides to move on and signs with Pioneers Vorarlberg of IceHL for 2023/2024.
He scores 6 goals and 8 assists in 19 games, but something isn’t right, so he switches to agreeing to the remainder of the frame with Vasterviks IK of Allsvenskan.
For 2024/2025, he heads back to Austria, signing with HC Pusteral Wolfe.
7th year center Evan Jasper(26) signs into his 7th overseas league, the IceHL for 2024/2025, joining Vienna Capitals.
His best scoring across the way has been 2 years in DEL and 1 VHL.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward from Whitby, ON lit up 3 years of OJHL for Cobourg Cougars before committing to Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
Already 32-years old, he still appears to be making his mark and playing at a great level.
2nd year defenseman Eric Gotz(6) will take a successful rookie season with Krefeld Pinguine of DEL2 to Metal Ligaen, where he signs with Aalborg Pirates for 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner played 4 years at Michigan Tech Huskies, then did a year of eligibility at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
He was a 3-time college 10+ assist provider, but didn’t really burst like he did his 2nd NAHL season with Minnesota Wilderness, where he potted 39 helpers.
From Hermantown, MN, the 25-year old should do quite well in Denmark’s top league.
Worcester Railers‘ 3rd year right wing Quinn Ryan(19) returns for 2023/2024 after a successful 2nd year run, grabbing 15 goals and 25 assists in 49 ECHL games with a +4 rating.
He spent most of his rookie season with Utah Grizzlies, scoring 12 goals and 12 assists.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. spent 5 years at Liberty University Flames putting up 30+ assists twice, 43 as a senior and twice 20+ goals.
From Branchville, NJ, the 27-year old has to thinking about moving up overseas, if he continues to burst this league scoring .
Things are not quite zooming on the scoresheet the way they were in his first campaign with 2 goals and 3 assists in 14 games, so he decides to move on, signing with Rungsted Seier Capital for the remainder of the frame in Metal Ligaen.
His totals in Denmark are really good at 5 goals and 3 assists in 6 games with a +10 rating and he will maybe a bit oddly take those totals to Germany3, signing with Tilburg Trappers for 2024/2025.
Princeton University Tigers‘ senior defenseman Mike Kennedy(3) played a college high 30 games last season.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played just 1 BCHL frame with Nanaimo Clippers before heading to school.
He did score pretty big at Northfield Mount Hermon School USHS-Prep.
From Holyoke, MA, the 23-year old signs a 1st pro contract with Coventry Blaze for 2024/2025.
2nd year right wing Matt Allen(20) is heading to France2 next, signing a 1-year deal with Drakkers de Caen for 2024/2025.
Upon finishing up a 2nd year at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves, he signed an ECHL deal with home state team, Tulsa Oilers and would get 1 assist in 3 games.
He initially did 2 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, but wasn’t the biggest scorer in Hockey East.
The 5’10” 168 lbs. forward from Minco, OK scored very well in his 2nd season of juniors in the NAHL as captain with Amarillo Bulls.
24-years old, we think he’s likely excited for the new hockey experience.
Swedish-born center Gabriel Seger(11) decides to switch up 3 years at Union College Bobcats, heading to Cornell University Big Red for 2022/2023.
There was no hockey for his college team a couple of seasons ago, but he basically matched his freshman scoring totals with what he reached as a junior (7-14-21).
The towering 6’4″ 216 lbs. forward could easily put up more points with his new club, as he did in his only year of NAHL junior hockey, when he ran up 52 assists for Amarillo Bulls.
It’s quite possible if he can put up some good numbers as a senior, he will become a highly sought unrestricted free agent.
He would erupt on his new team in a graduate frame for 14 goals and 30 assists in 35 games with a +30 rating to sign a 1st pro deal with Grand Rapids Griffins for 2024/2025.
We think he is big enough, he could score right away in the AHL.
