Category: Europe

25Jul

Sean Malone (17)

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 6th year center Sean Malone(17) continues with Rochester Americans under a new 1-year deal from the team he’s skated 5 seasons for.

The former Harvard University Crimson senior scorer is coming off a career year, getting a new best 20 goals and 37 points.

He only has 2 NHL games to his credit, with an assist in his 2nd appearance with 1-year contract club, Nashville Predators.

A Buffalo, NY native, the 27-year old is definitely keeping his hockey close to home.

Following 6 years and 284 AHL games, the 28 year is heading off to Switzerland to skate in the NL with SCL Tigers in 2023/2024.

He has two good Swiss seasons and takes it to a new deal with Orebro HK of SHL for 2025/2026.

At the end of the session, he would get loaned back to the SCL Tigers of NL, but for 2026/2027 elects to sign with Augsburger Panther.

24Jul

Nicholas Grabko (33)

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2nd year Bentley University Falcons‘ goaltender Nicholas Grabko(33) is definitely garnering some attention.

He has put up an impressive pair of victories vs. ranked clubs, but even in losses has performed with gymnastic-like theatrics, stopping pucks.

The almost unassuming 5’11” 181 lbs. net minder was a late add to the college after a 2nd season on good junior hockey stats for Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, even though he was basically an upcoming star in the Chicago Mission 13U – 16U AAA.

For a 2nd time in 3 weeks, the 21-year old has been named Atlantic Hockey Goalie Of The Week.

He has decided to take on a graduate season at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for 2024/2025 and we should watch him help his new college team win games.

In 20 games, he goes 5-11-4 with a 2.74 GAA and .899 SV%, which he takes to a 1st pro contract with Idaho Steelheads.

After 1 unsuccessful start, he finds himself on the move, signed by Toledo Walleye, where he notches a 1st ECHL win.

For 2025/2026, he leaves to sign with Yetis du Mont-Blanc of France2, which is likely to give himself a completely new start.

He returns to sign with Fresno Falcons of the FPHL, where we think he will loan up higher.

23Jul

Anthony Romano (29)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ graduate right wing Anthony Romano(29) leaves scoring 9 goals for a 3rd time and has now a twice best 13 assists.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. Arizona Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2019 draft (#176 overall) won the USHL Clark Cup Championship with Sioux Falls Stampede the year he was selected.

From Richmond Hill, ON, the 23-year old seems like an easy NHL entry level sign.

He actually signs with Texas Stars for his 1st pro contract, a pto, but could get reassigned as well.

Through 8 games, he scores no points, but is wanted to return for his rookie AHL year, 2024/2025 in a Stars‘ jersey.

In his 2nd season on reassignment to Florida Everblades he puts up some pretty amazing points, including 17 in the playoffs to win a 2026 Kelly Cup.

For 2026/2027, he sees a good opportunity to sign in DEL with Lowen Frankfurt.

23Jul

Reilly Walsh (8)

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Faced with the prospects of no senior year, it was a no brainer for Harvard University‘s defensive wunderkid Reilly Walsh(8) to sign his three-year entry level with New Jersey Devils, the team that drafted him 3rd round, 2017, #81 overall.

In his minor league debut with affiliate Binghamton Devils, he gets credited for the overtime 4-3 game-winner and his first pro AHL goal and currently has 2 goals and 5 assists in 12 games, which is impressing big at the struggling parent club.

The 6′ 185 lbs. 21-year old blue liner may have to spend some time honing his game at the stage lower than the show but look for him to get an opportunity.

And after scoring new career bests: 9 goals and a whopping 34 assists in 69 games with a +11 rating for affiliate Utica Comets, gets him the nod for his NHL debut.

In his 1st game, he skated 20 shifts for 14:23, got an assist, had 2 shots, 2 blocks and 1 giveaway in a 5-4 loss.

The Framingham, MA gets traded to his hometown Boston Bruins as free agency looms after 2 seasons of 30+ assists in the minors.

He strikes his 3rd straight season of 9 goals in the minors, but shows maybe a bit more focus in the playoffs with 2 assists in 4 games.

For 2024/2025, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Los Angeles Kings.

He would get 26 assists with affiliate Ontario Reign, but spots something more for 2025/2026 and signs with Barys Astana.

In 68 games, he posts 30 assists and gets an invite to another big league contract from Montreal Canadiens.

22Jul

Ryan Nicholson (24)

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RIT Tigers‘ senior defenseman Ryan Nicholson(24) signed an ato with Savannah Ghost Pirates upon finishing school and scores 1 assist in 2 ECHL games to get his pro career started.

For his official rookie season, he will head to Finland’s tier 2 Mestis league and signs with RoKi for 2024/2025.

The 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner had a college high 9 assists last season.

From Mississauga, ON, he did 3 years of juniors close to home before college.

We think the 25-year old does well in this league.

He scores 1 goal and 7 assists in 47 games and will next take it to the EIHL and signs with Fife Flyers for 2025/2026.

In 54 games, he gets 1 goal and 12 assists, but decides to continue to cycle and signs for 2026/2027 with Rapaces de Gap of Ligue Magnus.

22Jul

Jackson Jutting (9)

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Undrafted left wing Jackson Jutting(9) trades in a pair of seasons at Colorado College Tigers, scoring a college best 3 goals and 7 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games for a junior year, closer to home with Bemidji State University Beavers.

The 5’10” 196 lbs. forward was a solid scorer through 4 years at Prior Lake High, always increasing his point totals through USHS-MN seasons until hitting 42 points in 24 games as a senior captain.

He was selected by his 1st school early in his sophomore session.

The 21-year old will likely find the CCHA a little tougher going, but should be able to find space to add to scoring.

By the time he hit a graduate frame at his new school, he had 14 goals and a 2nd season of 22 points to his credit.

He signs a 1st pro contract with Kansas City Mavericks, where he runs up scoring to 30 goals and 29 assists in 66 ECHL, then adds another 18 points in 17 playoff games to the Kelly Cup Finals. and also gets loaned up for 4 AHL games to Grand Rapids Griffins.

For 2026/2027, he decides to look for something different and signs to MODO Hockey of HockeyAllsvenskan.

21Jul

Ian McCoshen (3)

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7th year defenseman Ian McCoshen(3) is off trying something new this season, playing on a 1-year deal in Finland’s top league, Liiga for Assat.

In 23 games, the 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner has 3 goals and 11 assists with a +4 rating.

He was always decent with scoring in the AHL, where he played some 242 games, but was a more accountable +15 rating.

The oddball Anaheim, CA native also has 60 games NHL experience, all with draft club Florida Panthers, round 2, 2013 (#31 overall).

A former 3-year Boston College Eagles, he left a year on the table, to sign his entry level deal.

At just 27-years old, he’s likely just getting started over there.

He takes a very decent frame in Finnish hockey to another stop overseas and skate Czechia Tipsport Extraliga with Bili Tygri Liberec doing well enough to be wanted back for another season and he’s still not yet 30.

Just like that he gets a better deal from a KHL club to play with Kunlun Redstar for 2024/2025 instead.

He takes some ok scoring, but a terrible +/- to a new contract for 2025/2026 with rivals, Barys Astana.

After 66 games with 3 goals and 5 assists, he fairly quickly signs a 1-year extension to stay Barys Astana for 2026/2027.

21Jul

Tim Lovell (43)

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Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ German-born, sophomore transfer Tim Lovell(43) has already completely burnt through any scoring he had in one year at Boston University Terriers (2 assists in 18 games with a +3 rating).

In 10 NCAA Division 1 games, he has 3 goals and 8 assists, but does have a -6, so needs to work on that.

The small 5’8″ 156 lbs. blue liner did most of his youth hockey in the Boston Advantage 15U to 18U AAA, a team his father Tim Lovell is currently General Manager of, and he played 7 NAHL games with Northeast Generals, while his dad was assistant coach.

He was drafted by Chicago Steel, but didn’t last long before he took up shop with Des Moines Buccaneers for 27 USHL games (5 goals, 11 assists) and then headed to school.

The 19-year old is definitely setting himself up for some looks.

He had a particularly productive senior year with college bests 5 goals and 32 assists with a +10 rating before transferring once more to University Of Michigan Wolverines for an extra frame.

Well, the graduate defenseman takes his 10 games in 2024/2025 with new college club to a 1st professional deal midseason with Mikkelin Jukurit of Liiga.

In 3 games, he has yet to record a point, but hockey in Finland will be a good look.

He figures into 6 games with 1 goal and 1 assist to his credit, but decides to US shores, signing for 2025/2026 with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where in 3 ECHL games has 1 assist.

After a pretty good showing, he heads for a nice opportunity with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 2026/2027.

20Jul

Brandon Estes (6)

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Tuscon Roadrunners‘ pto defenseman Brandon Estes(6) comes in after completing a 5th year at Union College Dutchmen, putting up college career bests 7 goals, 22 assists and 29 points in 37 NCAA Division 1 games.

The 6′ 175 lbs. blue liner played two virtually equal seasons of junior hockey, first in the NAHL, then USHL before heading to school.

He has a pair of assists in 5 AHL games with a +3 rating, so is off to kind of a booming start.

The 25 year old from Richardson, TX is setting himself for a good contract somewhere next season.

He signs a 1-year deal with division rivals Henderson Silver Knights for 2022/2023.

Mostly reassigned down to affiliate Savannah Ghost Pirates, he strikes for 9 goals and 15 assists in 62 games, while playing only 4 up with no points.

For 2023/2024, he re-signs to stay in GA with one of their newest ECHL teams.

He scores a new career best 25 assists and 32 points and will take these stats overseas, signing with Odense Bulldogs to play his hockey in Metal Ligaen 2024/2025, where he should do really well.

He takes a tremendous frame in Denmark, helping win the 2025 Metal Ligaen Championship to a new deal with Cardiff Devils that will take him to the EIHL for 2025/2026, another league he will likely do well in.

After a 6 goals and 36 assist frame, he is an easy invite back to be a Devils again for 2026/2027.

18Jul

Logan Britt (29)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate defenseman Logan Britt(29) had a college career best 7 goals last season.

He came over to likely prove his game even further from a pair of years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers that followed 2 with Quinnipiac University Bobcats.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward played a full docket of games in each frame and had 18 assists as a junior, playing Atlantic Hockey.

From Crystal Lake, IL, he signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits and got 1 assist in 5 games and equaled his mark in the playoffs, as they push.

Sort of a no-brainer to bring him back for his rookie season, 2024/2025 in a Rabbits‘ jersey.

Just before the new season starts, he finds himself involved in a trade that sends him to Reading Royals, where he should continue to do ECHL well.

Signed with Orlando Solar Bears for 2025/2026 and scored a new best 18 assists, 20 points.

For 2026/2027, he decides to leave and signs in the IceHL with Pioneers Vorarlberg.