San Jose Sharks‘ acquired defenseman Henry Thrun(3) from draft team Anaheim Ducks, where he was selected in the 4th round of 2019 (#101 overall) and after 3 years at Harvard University Crimson, putting up just about equal stats as a sophomore and junior with 7 goals and 25/24 assists, he has decided to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal to turn pro.
The big 6’2″ 195 lbs. blue liner skated his 1st big league game with his new pro team, getting a tough 4-3 OT win and him picking up a pair of assists in the conquest, earning a 2nd star of the game.
He has always been a good assist guy, twice with 10+, almost 20 when with the USNTDP, when he got drafted.
The 22-year old from Southborough, MA plays to form and will likely do very well for himself.
In his 16th appearance, for the new year 2024, he steps up to score a first big league goal.
He is handily playing himself into a full-time role with the big club and it’s now extended for another 2-year to continue that growth in a Sharks‘ sweater for the big man on d.
In maybe an oddball move, he gets shipped to Toronto Maple Leafs with a year remaining on his low-pay contract and he should shine pretty bright on a team that could really use him to improve.
He spends the lions share of the year with affiliate Toronto Marlies and would help them win the 2026 Calder Cup Championship.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs for 2026/2027 with Winnipeg Jets.
Columbus Blue Jackets‘ signed 3rd year Clarkson University center Josh Dunne(40) to his two-year entry level deal and was assigned to affiliate Cleveland Monsters scoring his 1st pro AHL goal in his 5 appearance.
The big 6’4″ 209 lbs. forward was an unrestricted free agent, leaving school after scoring 29 goals and 26 assists for 55 points with a +9 rating.
He spent three years with Green Bay Gamblers grabbing 74 points in 140 USHL games and close to point per game production in his final campaign before committing to school.
It may take him a little time in the minors, but if he can start more that frame around the net for scoring chances, look for him to get the nod to move up.
He’s working his game in the minors, but this last playoffs, he achieved something scoring he hadn’t yet: 7 goals and 4 assists in 14 games with a +7 rating has given Buffalo Sabres reason to offer him a 2-year, 2-way deal.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year NHL deal with Washington Capitals for 2026/2027.
10th year veteran defenseman Jamie Oleksiak(24) gets picked up by Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, as he was scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency after the 3-year deal, originally signed with Pittsburgh Penguins, but had him return to his draft club of 8 seasons, Dallas Stars (round 1, 2011, #14 overall) was set to expire.
At 6’7″ 255 lbs. he may be a couple inches short of the tallest player in the league, but at 255 lbs. is the heaviest,
As he gets an official transfer, the 28-year old immediately signs a 5-year deal worth some $23M to stick with his new team long-term.
Not exactly the biggest point scorer, he has 24 goals and 48 assists in 369 NHL games.
He has also appeared in 171 AHL contests and helped Texas Stars win the 2014 Calder Cup Championship.
The former 1-year Northeastern University Huskies‘ blue liner was set to spend some time in school before signing his entry level deal but after one and a half campaigns in the USHL, splitting time with a couple of clubs, decided to head to the OHL for a single stint before turning pro.
He would spend 5 years with the same club, but for 2026/2027 as a now 33-year old he looks for maybe a little more money and signs with Vancouver Canucks for 2-years at a cool $5M AAV.
Colorado Avalanche swooped in on the opening day of unrestricted free agency to grab 4th year defenseman Jack Ahcan(15), who was set to become a group 6 ufa after being under contract for 3 seasons with initial signing club, Boston Bruins after he completed 4 years at St. Cloud State University Falcons.
The small 5’8″ but wide 180 lbs. blue liner will likely head to affiliate Colorado Eagles, as last season he dished out a minor league career best 31 assists and 36 points with Providence Bruins.
We do think the 26-year old from Savage, MN gets some looks from the big club for a recall, as he does have 1 NHL goal in 9 games.
He does score the recall for 2 games with no points and a 0 rating before heading back to the minors, where he was a top scorer with 5 goals and 36 assists in 69 games with a +6 rating to earn another 1-year deal to stay an Avalanche.
After a new best 11 goals and 39 assists in 61 AHL games with a +24 rating, he is eyed by Nashville Predators, who offer him a 2-year deal to sign.
7th year center Matthew Peca(63) signs a new 1-year, 2-way deal with St. Louis Blues for 2021/2022 after coming off one season for Ottawa Senators, which saw him play in 5 games with one assist.
Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#201 overall), the twice 10+ goals and 2-time 20+ assist Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ player has skated 78 NHL games.
The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward is likely to start with new affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, but could easily score some more looks in the show for the 28-year old.
After putting up some decent stats for the farm club, the Petawawa, ON native scores a recall to his new team and has an additional assist (6-15) in now 81 games.
Coming off his former deal, which saw him re-sign for 2-years, but receive no further looks despite posting some continued impressive AHL numbers.
For his next step he signs a 2-year minor league deal to stay in western Massachusetts.
The 3-year captain of his current club gets himself a trade for a new beginning to Syracuse Crunch at the deadline.
He wouldn’t stick for long, as the unrestricted free agent signs a 2-year deal to join close by Rochester Americans through 2027/2028.
8th year center T.J. Tynan(9) for the 2nd straight AHL season is the league’s MVP.
He has played 498 games, scoring 85 goals and a massive 361 assists with a +77 rating.
Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#66 overall), he has only skated 21 NHL games, recording 1 assist.
He was selected after an explosive freshman campaign at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and at the conclusion of his sophomore session.
The 30-year old needs a new contract to extend with Los Angeles Kings, as he is an unrestricted free agent or try his hand with another club.
He always rolls huge assists and 3 years did for Ontario Reign, but re-signs to head back to Colorado Avalanche, where he played 16 games, but will likely end up with another season in a Colorado Eagles‘ jersey.
In 52 games, he scores 8 goals and 41 assists with a +12 rating and also appears in 9 games with the big club, recording 1 assist.
For 2025/2026, he signs a 1-year, 1-way deal to stay an Avalanche.
In 67 games, he amasses 47 assists and the unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with Springfield Thunderbirds, returning to the city he got his pro career start in back 2014 for 2026/2027.
Undrafted Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 8th year center Evan Rodrigues(17) had a career best 24 assists and 43 points last season, but was going to earn to much heading into the new frame to keep around, so the unrestricted agent was free to hunt for a new deal.
The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward signs with 2022 Stanley Cup Champions Colorado Avalanche for 2022/2023.
He has been a full-time NHL player for the last 4 seasons.
A bit of an inconsistent performer through 4 years at Boston University Terriers, he completely came alive as a senior assistant captain, striking for 21 goals and 40 assists in 41 NCAA Division 1 games with a +30 rating.
39 points in 69 games for his new club, then 5 points in 7 in the playoffs and this unrestricted free agent at 29-years of age is looking good for a long-term deal.
Florida Panthers waste little time, offering him $3M AAV through 2026/2027.
In the final year of his deal, New Jersey Devils come looking to add some scoring up front and trade for a 2-time Stanley Cup recipient.
9th year defenseman Will Borgen(17) gets traded to a system, where he could easily see himself on the increase side of scoring, as a Boston Bruins.
The 6’3″ 206 lbs. blue liner had 5 goals and 10 assists in 75 games last year with a +3 rating.
Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2015 draft (#92 overall), he left 3 years at St. Cloud State University Huskies to turn pro.
He next signed with Seattle Kracken, where he stayed for 4 seasons.
From Moorhead, MN, the 29-year may just be arriving.
Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Shane Gersich(29) 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.
After putting up some pretty amazing scoring numbers, he decides to sign with rivals, Vienna Capitals for 2026/2027.
New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#75 overall) center Blake Coleman(20) suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of all but 14 AHL games of his rookie campaign with affiliate Albany Devils (4 goals, 3 assists).
The 5’11” 200 lbs. pivot didn’t let that sidetrack him too much as he had a strong training camp, was one of the last cuts to be reassigned, then got right to work.
In 34 games he is tied for team lead with 13 goals and 10 assists with a best +15 rating.
He’s always been pretty good connecting the puck with the net, basically winning every scoring award category including USA Hockey Junior Player Of The Year in his 2nd season for Indiana Ice of the USHL.
Through four years of college at Miami University (Ohio) he was a point per game guy as a senior and missed a second 20 goal showing by one, while helping his squad win the 2015 NCAA/NCHC Championship.
The 25-year old skated a decent amount of shifts for at least 11+ minutes of ice time in his first two NHL appearances.
There’s little doubt he has the tenacity to become a full-time player in the show but will have to continue to work hard for his opportunities.
He has certainly earned his time as an upper league player, amassing some 693 games at this point, winning 2020 & 2021 Stanley Cup trophies with Tampa Bay Lightning and scored a career high 30 goals with Calgary Flames just a few years ago.
Well, in the off season he is dealt in the final year of his contract to Minnesota Wild for a new start.
