8th year defenseman Mike Matheson(8) just got rolling with new team, Montreal Canadiens after missing the early part of 2022/2023 with an abdominal muscle strain and scored a goal in his debut.
The 6’2″ 193 lbs. blue liner was traded from 2-year club, Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored a career NHL best 11 goals and 20 assists with a +12 rating in 74 games, then added another 6 points (1-5) in 7 playoff matchups.
He has played a bit of an eye popping 420 games in the big league.
Originally a 1st round pick in the 2012 draft by Florida Panthers (#23 overall), he played 3 years at Boston College Eagles and left after scoring a college career high 22 assists.
The 28-year old from Pointe-Claire, QC is likely to continue to putting up excellent points and remains signed through 2025/2026 on his 8-year deal.
With his contract up at the end of the current frame and him connecting for 4 goals and 11 assists in 24 games with a +12 rating, he is re-upped for another 5-year term for $6.M AAV to stay a Canadiens.
Colby College Mules‘ sophomore defenseman Riley Rosenthal(6) played only 3 games last season with Stonehill College Skyhawks, so entered the transfer portal.
In 6 games, he has 3 assists.
The 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner from Parkland, FL did 4 years of juniors before committing.
We think the 22-year old continues to grow into his game.
Brown University Bears‘ sophomore right wing Michael Salandra(13) has a 1st 2 college hockey goals this season in 8 appearances, so far.
The 5’10” 187 lbs. forward entered the transfer portal from no use in his freshman frame at Quinnipiac University Bobcats.
He came in from 3 successful junior seasons, including 2 straight for West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL.
From Pleasantville, NY, the 22-year should continue to grow his game.
Colgate University Raiders‘ senior defenseman Nick Anderson(8) enters the transfer portal and will do a graduate year at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. blue liner has been an assist master with 10+ in two frames and 26 as a junior.
He also loaded up in his 2nd NAHL season with Amarillo Bulls, running up 36 assists and a +22 rating.
From Portsmouth, NH, the 25-year old will do well with Hockey East.
He finishes up play with 2 goals and 12 assists in 35 games to sign a 1st deal with Orlando Solar Bears, although he only plays 1 ECHL game.
It takes a tiny bit, but he re-signs to be a Solar Bears for his rookie run, 2025/2026.
After 6 games with 1 assist, he is traded back to close by where he played his college hockey to Maine Mariners.
Utica Jr. Comets‘ 2nd year right wing Daniel Urban(20) takes more than point-per-USPHL/NCDC game numbers to a 2025/2026 commit Skidmore College Thoroughbreds.
The 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward did his youth hockey with Buffalo Jr. Sabres‘ system.
From Orchard Park, NY, the 21-year old has no points in 2 games, but we look for him to get started soon.
Express Hockey Club‘s 2nd year defenseman Colin Gabriel(4) picks a school across the country to attend for 2025/2026 in University Of Oregon Ducks.
The big 6’3″ 185 lbs. blue liner played himself up from a half season in the EHLP.
From Bridgewater, MA, the 21-year old already has 2 goals and 4 assists in 9 games, which we sort of expect to see.
Anna Maria College AMCATS‘ freshman defenseman Kenneth Kalman(27) has a 1st college hockey goal and 3 assists in 7 games with a -3 rating he has to clean up some.
The 5’10” 165 lbs. 20-year old blue liner from Bogata, NJ came up through the Jersey Hitmen youth system before making their USPHL/NCDC, as his only juniors stop before school.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ junior right wing Matthew Romer(71) came to his 3rd school after 23 games with 5 goals and 3 assists for Northern Michigan University Wildcats last season.
The 5’11” 179 lbs. forward plays a full-on power forward style and already has a best 6 goals and 2 assists to tie his high 8 points, so he is having a one-of-a-kind year.
From Carpentersville, IL, the 23-year old did 3 years of juniors before heading to Arizona State University Sun Devils.
Minnesota State University Mavericks‘ freshman defenseman Luke Ashton(27) had a solid 1st season of 5 goals and 8 assists in 38 games with a +10 rating.
The mammoth 6’6″ 240 lbs. blue liner was a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick of the 2024 NHL draft (#165 overall) after a 2nd, huge BCHL frame.
For his sophomore year, he decided to head into the transfer portal to play at Cornell University Big Red.
In 8 games, he has 3 assists with a +5 rating.
From North Vancouver, BC, maybe the 20-year old eyed something different for his actual studies.
Salem State University Vikings‘ Great Britain-born, junior defenseman Aren Francis(7) is very much set of recording college hockey scoring highs with a best 2 goals and close 4 assists in just 8 games with a +1 rating.
The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner played 22 games last season, recording 5 assists.
He did a lot of his youth hockey close by to school here before 1 brief EHL session before school.
The 22-year old did his freshman year of little use at Western New England University Golden Bears.
