New England College Pilgrims‘ Swedish-born senior defenseman Mattias Thoren(13) accepts a deal back home in Hockeyettan with Falu IF, 2025/2026.
The 6’3″ 190 lbs. blue liner did all his youth hockey and juniors at home before coming over for school.
He has no points in 13 games for the 24-year old so far.
5th year right wing Jeremy Bracco(97) is off to a hot start with his new club overseas, Krefeld Pinguine. scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 15 DEL games.
He had 17 points (2-15) last season with KalPa in just 24 Liiga games.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward was originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd round pick in 2015 (#61 overall) and spent his 1st 3 pro years in their system, playing for affiliate Toronto Marlies. but somehow amassing 145 points in 169 AHL games isn’t good enough to score a qualifying offer.
He was signed to play with Carolina Hurricanes last season, but when he was to be sent to the minors, entertained and accepted a more lucrative offer and was released on unconditional waivers to Finland.
It seems likely that if the still young 24-year old, former 5-game Boston College Eagle (3 assists), who quickly left for a pair of very solid OHL campaigns before turning pro will get pick up by an NHL team for a one-way contract if he keeps scoring big.
He may not be making his way to the big league in North America quite yet, but does take it up another level overseas, joining Bary Nur-Sultan of the KHL after putting up a career 2nd best 40 assists in Germany’s top hockey.
We do think the Freeport, NY native and 2018 Calder Cup Champion will return.
He starts his 2nd year with the team after 14 goals and 26 assists last season, but records only 1 goal in 6 games and maybe they get nervous and deal him to HC Sochi.
We do believe he will do just fine.
In 33 games, he scores 8 goals and 7 assists that he will take with him to his new league, Slovak Extraliga, where he signs with HKM Zvolen for 2024/2025.
He almost oddball takes 7 assists in 6 games to a new deal with HC Innsbruck and will head over to IceHL for his next hockey.
Scoring pretty well in Austria, he wants to head back to the tougher Slovakia and signs with HK Poprad.
Once again, putting up points is not a problem and he notches 8 assists in 5 games, then 3 goals and 1 helper through 6 in the playoffs, so he’s an easy re-sign to return with Poprad.
After 9 games with 1 goal and 4 assists, he decides to head for DEL2 and signs with Eisbaren Regensburg, where we know he will score well.
5th year Fife Flyers‘ defenseman Justin Bean(26) has 7 assists in 7 EIHL games to start the 2025/2026 season.
He recorded an ECHL best 7 goals and 28 assists last season with Maine Mariners.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner from Pickering, ON did 4 years in juniors, then 5 at York University Lions, taking the COVID 2020/2021 off.
At 29-years old, he seemingly has found a good league to play in.
UMass Minutemen senior left wing Joey Musa(8) signs a 1st pro deal in France2 with Les Dogs de Cholet for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
The 5’9″ 160 lbs. forward has a pretty crazy 10 goals and 7 assists in 11 games with a +12 rating.
From Orange Park, FL, he did 3 years at Dartmouth University Big Green before transferring.
Hobart College Statesmen graduate defenseman Austin Mourar(18) leaves college hockey winning a 3rd NCAA D3 college hockey championship, while recording a best +33 rating.
He had his best scoring year as a sophomore with 10 goals and 13 points, but did record a very close 9-12 last season.
The 6’2″ 216 lbs. blue liner heads to France2 for his 1st pro hockey and signs with Courchevel-Meribel-Pralognan Bouquetins, as a rookie 2025/2026.
From Spring City, PA, the 26-year old has 2 goals and 3 assists in 9 games, which we think is worth a look up.
Northern Michigan University Wildcats‘ graduate defenseman Bo Hanson(3) is set to turn pro and signs a 1-year 2022/2023 ECHL deal to skate for Jacksonville Icemen.
He played 9 games on an ato for Wheeling Nailers after graduating last season, scoring 2 assists with a +3 rating.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner has hit 10+ assists three times, twice while at St. Lawrence University Saints.
He also did his senior year on the interim at University Of Denver Pioneers.
The 24-year old from Boise, ID will likely have a fantastic rookie season.
After a decent enough 1st year playing pro hockey, he’s off and gone to Metal Ligaen, signing up with Aalborg Pirates to play Danish-style in 2023/2024.
He has an outstanding season in Denmark, scoring 7 goals and 20 assists in 45 games with a +26 rating, then adds another 5 assists in 14 playoff matchups.
For 2024/2025, it looks like he wants to go with a championship, as he signs with Belfast Giants of the EIHL.
After 51 games, he scores 2 goals and 28 assists with a +35 rating and goes on to help the team win the 2025 Championship, so he is an easy ask to return to be a Giants for 2025/2026.
8th year goaltender Michael Garteig(34) signs on for a 2nd DEL season with ERC Ingolstadt after appearing in 42 games, posting a 25-15 record with a 2.22 GAA and .914 SV%.
A bit oddly, it’s the 1st time he has signed twice with a team.
The undrafted 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder originally signed a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Vancouver Canucks after an outstanding 4-year run at Quinnipiac University Bobcats.
For his 3rd season he signed an ECHL contract to tend net for Newfoundland Growlers, a team on the other end of Canada from where he was born, Prince George, BC.
With a 23-14-6 record in the regular frame, then 16-6-1 in the playoffs, he backstopped the team to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
He left a storybook career at BCHL juniors with awards in his name, so it’s almost mystical to see the 31-year old settle down for a 1st time.
After spending a 4th season with the same club, he moves on to rivals, Augsburger Panther in 2025/2026.
Bentley University Falcons‘ senior defenseman, assistant captain Tanner Main(28) signs a 1st pro contract for his rookie season in France2 with Strasbourg.
The 5’11” 175 lbs. blue liner had a college best 2 goals and 7 assists in his last frame.
From Welland, ON, the 25-year old already has 1 goal and 7 assists in 5 games with a +5 rating, making us think he gets looked at for a higher level contract.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ graduate right wing Connor Caponi(22) signs a 1st pro contract with Cardiff Devils for 2025/2026.
In 6 EIHL games, he has 1 assist.
The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward had a best scoring season in college as a junior with 5 goals and 9 assists in 44 games with a +4 rating.
From Brookefield, WI, we expect the 25-year old picks up scoring as he gets situated.
13th year center Carter Camper(11) is heading to a new league, Finland’s Liiga for 2023/2024 after 8 games in the Swiss NL and almost 3 SHL seasons with Leksands IF.
He will next skate for Tappara.
The 5’9″ 176 lbs. forward 3 times had 10+ goals and twice 30+ assists in Sweden’s top league.
He was mostly a more than point-per-game scorer through 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks before signing as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent with Boston Bruins.
The Rocky River, OH native played 3 NHL games as a rookie and score a 1st goal.
He is a veteran of 558 AHL games.
At 35-years old, it’s hard to believe it’s been that long.
He scores nicely with 17 goals and 31 assists in 60 games with a +19 rating, then adds 7 points on his way to a 2024 Liiga Championship.
For 2024/2025, he eyes another opportunity in HockeyAllsvenskan, signing for 1-year with IK Oskarshamn.
After a solid season in tier 2 Sweden hockey, at 37-years old he has decided to retire with 558 AHL games, 3 NHL appearances with 1 goal and 137 in the SHL to his credit.
