Brown University Bears‘ sophomore left wing Tyler Kopff(21) finishes up tournament play and maybe just a slight surprise, as he’s coming off a college best 9 goals and 19 assists collection in 32 games with a +1 rating to signing a 2-year NHL deal with Buffalo Sabres, as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent and leaves 2 years on the shelf.
The 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward from Ridgewood, NJ did all his youth hockey next to home before making the jump to the BCHL for a couple of remarkable sessions before school.
His contract begins next season, 2025/2o26, but he signed an ato with affiliate Rochester Americans and in 6 AHL games came away with 1 assist.
Charlotte Checkers‘ 8th year center Scott Wilson(10) is off to a good start with his new team, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists in 16 AHL games, while helping them win games.
Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#209 overall), he was selected after a 2nd strong session for Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward would then head to UMass-Lowell Riverhawks for three seasons.
He spent three years in the Pens’ system and played the entire 2016/2017 in the NHL en route of the 2017 Stanley Cup Championship, where he played 20 playoff matchups, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists.
The 29-year old should have some fun with his minor league deal this year and then look for a nice overseas contract for 2022/2023.
After scoring a career best 24 goals in 71 games, he decides at the last minute to head off and sign with Vityaz Podolsk, as we thought he might do, after initially thinking he was going to return.
He should be able to match up well in the KHL.
After a couple of good 20-goal scoring seasons, he was maybe off a bit in the current frame, so switches up allegiances to skate for Salavat Yulaev Ufa for the remainder of 2024/2025.
He has a pretty spectacular season with 9 goals and 14 assists in 30 games with a +13 rating, then added 16 points in 19 playoff matchups, but for 2025/2026, he will sign with a 5th league team, agreeing to terms for HC Sibir Novosibirsk for 2025/2026.
Montreal Canadiens‘ 1st round pick in the 2017 draft (#25 overall), 3rd year center Ryan Poehling(41) re-ups for another 2 years with the 2nd year being on one-way terms.
The 6’2″ 204 lbs. power forward played a first big league game after agreeing to his 2-year entry level deal following a third year at State Cloud State University Huskies.
In that game he pulled off the rare feat of scoring an NHL hat trick in his debut.
Not bad for 11:22 of playing time.
He was very close to being a point-per-game guy last season with affiliate Laval Rocket (11-14-25) with a +5 in 28 AHL games.
The Lakeville, MN native was on a fast track through high school, then signing for his only time in junior hockey, 9 USHL games with Lincoln Stars (2 goals, 2 assists) before heading straight to school for a freshman campaign.
It seems if the 22-year old is given his shot to prove he can play, he could very well become a 20-goal scorer before too long.
He was traded during the offseason before the start of this 3rd year to Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played 53 games, registering 7 goals and 7 assists, but was left unqualified from his contract with the former club, so became an unrestricted free agent.
For 2023/2024, he signs a 1-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers for $1.4M AAV.
He has his best scoring season with 12 goals and 19 assists and is still under contract, but gets dished to Anaheim Ducks in a huge deal that should see him continue to put up career numbers with his new club, but he will need a contract.
4th year center Brett Seney(62) was an unrestricted free agent coming off a 1-year extension with draft club, New Jersey Devils (6th round, 2015, #157 overall) to sign away on a two-way deal for a first time with Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 7 AHL games, he has 4 goals with a +2 rating, which has to have the parent club at least watching.
The small 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward was a sniper in four years at Merrimack College Warriors, striking for 26 points twice to start and finished with campaigns of 31 and 32 totals before graduating.
His 3 goals and 5 assists on 12 games signed to an ato after college was probably a good indicator of what could occur.
It will be interesting to see if the 25-year old gets anymore time in the show and what he does next.
In 2021/2022, the London, ON native would put up a new career best 42 assists and 59 points in 62 games with a +16 rating and also skated a pair of games in the big league.
For 2022/2023, he jumps ship for another 1-year, 2-way deal, this time from Chicago Blackhawks, where he could very put in more time at a higher level.
After an almost point-per-game season with affiliate, as MVP Rockford IceHogs and a 1st NHL goal for the team, he gets a 1-year deal to continue, then almost repeat performances through more games, he’s given more time in a ‘Hawks‘ jersey.
He continues to motor with points and for 2025/2026, he signs a 2-year AHL deal to remain captain of the Icehogs.
Union College Dutchmen junior defenseman John Prokop(37) leaves a year on the table and signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Toronto Maple Leafs, as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent.
The 6’3″ 190 lbs. blue liner scored a 2nd 8 goal season and added 19 assists, which equaled what he did as a freshman, but was down from the 26 he recorded as a sophomore and likely got him extra noticed.
From Wasau, WI, the 24-year did 4 years of mostly USHL juniors after high school.
He reported to AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies and played 3 games with no points.
Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Shane Gersich(10) grabs another one-year, two-way deal to stick around in the prospect system.
The University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ 3-year forward has consistently put up respectable numbers for affiliate Hershey Bears.
He started his pro career with 3 NHL games fresh off his junior year at school, grabbed an assist and even skated a pair of playoff appearances en route to the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship.
The 24-year old has to be fairly happy with the way things are turning out for this 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#134 overall).
For 2022/2023, he re-signs on a minor league deal to stay where he is after recording a career high 14 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating.
After a 5th season where he’s been and a brand new 2023 Calder Cup Trophy to bear, he decides to look on and signs a 1-year deal with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should do very well.
We pretty much thought what has occurred would, he takes a good frame in Sweden’s tier 2 league, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games to a higher level of hockey next, signing with Iserlohn Roosters of DEL for 2024/2025.
He does ok with 16 goals and 21 assists in 51 games, but decides to look for another opportunity and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.
12th year, Swedish-born defenseman Philip Samuelsson(34) left 3 seasons of playing in his home country’s top league, SHL for a new adventure, signing for 2022/2023 with Fischtown Pinguins.
In 22 DEL games, he has 12 assists, so is on pace for a big first season in Germany.
The former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#61 overall) has played 512 AHL games, scoring 27 goals and 124 assists with a massive +76 rating.
He’s also appeared in 13 NHL games.
Because his dad, Ulf Samuelsson(5) was playing hockey in the US, he did his high school and junior hockey here.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner even did 2 years at Boston College Eagles before turning pro on a 3-year entry level deal.
At 31-years old, he is still able to pull down good contracts, so must have at least a little smile on his face.
He finishes up his debut frame in Germany with 4 goals and 27 assists in 47 games only to be wooed by rivals Straubing Tigers to stay in the country and sign for 2023/2024.
After an exceptionally strong year, scoring 4 goals and 12 assists with a +5 rating through 49 games, then adding another 4 points in 11 playoff matchups, it’s a no brainer to keep him in a Tigers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
3 seasons in Germany is all good and is heads of to IceHL and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.
We think the 33-year old will do well and discover a few more years remaining.
Cleveland Monsters sign unrestricted free agent, University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ graduating senior, left wing Roman Ahcan(37) to a pto for the remainder of 2022 and an spc for 2022/2023.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward wasn’t the biggest scorer as an assistant captain last season but did post a pair of 20+ point campaigns as a sophomore and junior.
He committed after his final year at Burnsville High USHS-MN, then went onto one session of USHL junior hockey for Cedar Rapids RoughRiders before heading to school.
The 22-year old will hopefully help his new team win some games.
In his 3rd year with the same club, he once again signs a tryout, but after 11 games with 7 goals and 1 assist is quickly snapped up for the full 2024/2025 session with the Monsters.
He had his best season in the minors, scoring 18 goals and 11 assists 67 AHL games with a +4 rating, then added another 3 points (1-2) in 6 playoff matchups with a +2.
His awesome play earns him a 2-year contract to stay in a Monsters‘ jersey.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th year defenseman Mark Friedman(52) re-ups for another two years after scoring a goal and 4 assists in 26 NHL games with a +1 rating.
The 5’10” 192 lbs. blue liner has appeared in big league games for the last 4 seasons, but seems to have arrived in the current session.
He scored 2 goals and an assist in 5 games, when he arrived via the waiver wire from Philadelphia Flyers.
The Bowling Green State University Falcons blue liner left a year on the table after scoring college career best 8 goals, 18 assist and 26 points.
It looks like the 26-year old is in a good spot with his new team.
He picks up 20+ games in the big league 2 years in a row, but gets himself traded in sort of a minor deal to Vancouver Canucks, where he could find a spot on d with the big club.
In 5 games, he had no points, but got 1 goal and 5 assists in 20 games with a +4 rating for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.
He finds himself traded to Nashville Predators to help shore up their zone, but initially he will head to Milwaukee Admirals.
In 21 games, he comes away with 2 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating, which in turn he will take to a new opportunity in his 9th season to go skate for Rogle BK of the SHL for 2025/2026.
New York Islanders‘ 7th year center Brock Nelson(11) gets re-upped on a 6-year extension through 2025.
He’s a 4-time 20-goal scorer and actually had 19 in 2017/2018, so 5-time is merited, 3-time 20+ assists and twice 10+ on helpers.
The fairly large power forward had 4 goals in 8 Stanley Cup playoff games.
Set to turn 28-years old, the former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks at the start of the new session, his deal is worth $6M AV with a no trade clause for the first two seasons and then some modified terms.
He is traded in the final year of his contract to Colorado Avalanche, where he scores 6 goals and 7 assists in 19 games with a +6 rating, then adds 4 helpers in 7 playoff matchups with a +2.
Takes little time in the off-season to sign him up on a 3-year deal.
