CollegeHockeyPlayers

Chicago Blackhawks‘ newest defenseman, rookie Wyatt Kalynuk(3) has so far steadily put up numbers with affiliate Rockford Icehogs.

In 8 AHL games, he has two goals and 8 assists with two of those points recorded in his debut and he has 4 multi-point appearances that’s turning heads with the parent club for a look.

The 6’1″ 185 blue liner, originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#198 overall), signed a two-year deal with his new team as an unrestricted free agent over the summer.

He finished his third season at University Of Wisconsin as captain and recorded a best 28 points.

The almost 24-year old Canadian export took a decidedly American route through three years of USHL and college before turning pro but has officially arrived.

He earned his recall as a rookie and appeared in 21 NHL games, scoring 4 goals and 5 assists.

As a sophomore skater, he mostly stayed in the minors, but managed 7 goals and 20 assists in 52 games, while also getting 5 games up with no points.

On the opening day of unrestricted free agency, despite not being offered a qualifying offer, was scooped quickly by Vancouver Canucks and signed to a 1-year 2-way deal that pays him pretty nicely if he skates for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.

Nearing the end of the trade deadline, he gets dealt to New York Rangers, who will need to re-sign the restricted free agent at the end of the current session.

He could easily see more big league time with his new club.

At the end of the session, he actually becomes a group 6 free agent, so is free to sign and St. Louis Blues step in early to offer a 1-year 2-way deal to work in their system.

He steps away from a career high 66 games to sign a 1-year deal with Pelicans, where he scores 10 goals and 23 assists in 59 games, which Ak Bars Kazan sees strong enough to sign him for 2025/2026 and we think he does well in the KHL.

Drifting between 3 different clubs didn’t give him much of a chance to settle and score, so he moves on for 2026/2027 to IceHL, signing with EC Salzburg Red Bulls.

Boston Bruins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#89 overall), Boston College Eagles‘ junior center Trevor Kuntar(16) will leave a year of college on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal.

The 6′ 196 lbs. forward recorded a college career best 13 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +5 rating as a junior.

He was a more than a point-per-game player in his 2nd season with Youngstown Phantoms, getting 53 points in 44 USHL games.

The 21-year old may report to and help affiliate Providence Bruins go for a Calder Cup, but will most definitely compete in camp 2023 for a roster spot.

He goes into restricted free agency unqualified, so able to look for a contract as an unrestricted free agent and signs a 1-year AHL deal with Rochester Americans for 2025/2026.

In 24 games this season, he has a team high 9 goals and 13 points, so gets offered a 1-year contract with parent club, Buffalo Sabres worth $775K AAV.

We expect an NHL recall soon.

He does score the 1 game upside, but plays 70 games, scoring a new best 21 goals and 16 assists to earn a 2-year extension to stay an Amerks.

8th year left wing Max McCormick(17) scores a new 1-year NHL deal with Seattle Kracken maybe a little late into unrestricted free agency, yet it did arrive to get him on a good club going forward.

He spent the last pair of seasons with Carolina Hurricanes, playing 12 games with 2 goals, 1 assist and a +3 rating in  2020/2021, while mostly doing time on their taxi squad.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. played the first year of his deal entirely with affiliate Charlotte Checkers, where he tied his best 19 assists  and 35 points was one shy of his high with a +6, and amassed him a 3rd 30+ point season.

He had a pair of 30 point seasons in his 3 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes.

The 29-year old De Pere, WI native may spend some time in the AHL, but also could play himself into more minutes in the show.

He skates 46 games in the minors, but gets recalled for 10 games with no points and leaves a +1.

His 29 points at +17 has certainly helped that team to a top playoff spot.

Those efforts earn him a new 2-year contract to continue leading the group one league away from the show and contribute whenever called upon.

The twice captain for affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds, who on 2 straight occasions made it all the way to the Finals before bowing out was quite the leader and is rewarded with a 2-year, 1-way contract to continue.

After being on long-term injury, ruling out any games in 2025/2026, he has decided maybe it’s enough and retires, as three time Firebirds‘ captain, leaving as the team’s all-time leader in goals (67).

University Of Denver Pioneers‘ freshman center Massimo Rizzo(13) is tied for 3rd in NCAA Division 1 scoring at 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists).

He is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#216 overall) and looking to prove them right with the deep pick.

The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was a solid performer through 3 years of BCHL with a couple of teams (43 goals and 80 assists in 132 games) and won a 2017 championship with Penticton Vees, the year he arrived from youth hockey.

This is definitely the style player from Burnaby, BC that can break through and find space in the NHL.

After another 40+ points frame, the now junior decides to leave a year on the table and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers, who picked up his playing rights in a trade.

He would finish his 2nd season with 13 AHL games for Milwaukee Admirals, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists, but then New York Rangers come sniffing in the off season and pick him up for 2026/2027.