University Of Massachusetts Minutemen sophomore, left wing Taylor Makar(6) is starting to pop scoring with 7 goals and 2 assists in 19 games.
The fairly sizable 6’4″ 209 lbs. forward was a Colorado Avalanche 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#220 overall), which could very well put him on the same team as his Stanley Cup winning, NHL Best Defenseman brother, Cale Makar.
He has yet to prove he has the same depth, but did take his scoring up in his 3rd season with AJHL junior team, Brooks Bandits before getting selected.
The Calgary, AB native is big and looks to be starting to use his size to his advantage, which will definitely create room for him to score.
For his senior year, he decides to head off to Hockey East rival, University Of Maine Black Bears for 2024/2025 and he’s off to a huge start with 4 goals and 3 assists in 4 games.
There’s little doubt he will post some college hockey bests, but 18 goals and 12 assists in 38 games with a +24 rating and he is ready to sign and does on a 1-year NHL deal.
He reports to affiliate Colorado Eagles on an ato to get things started.
Starting the season in the AHL, he skates 10 games, scoring 1 goal and 3 assists with a +4 rating to score a 1st appearance in the big league.
He skates just 8 shifts for 6:07 ice time in a 3-2 overtime loss.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ Swiss-born, junior left wing Ray Just(23) enters the transfer portal a 2nd time to do his senior frame at Sacred Heart University Pioneers, 2025/2026.
He twice had 9 points at his 1st commit, University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.
The pretty big, 6’4″ 209 lbs. forward bounced around juniors for a couple seasons, but did pretty well and blew up scoring as a 1-year senior in high school.
In 6 games, he has 1 goal, but definitely looks like he is ready to affect the scoresheet in Atlantic Hockey play.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate center Chris Jandric(7) signs for his 2nd pro season with ERC Ingolstadt 2025/2026 after a 40 assist season as a rookie with a +23 rating.
Then the 5’11” 180 lbs. forward scored another 13 points in 21 games to capture the 2025 ECHL Kelly Cup Championship.
He had a college best scoring 29 assists last year.
From Prince George, BC, we look for the 27-year old to continue to do well.
Boston University Terriers‘ freshman Jack Murtagh(19) is off to a nice start with 2 goals and 3 assists in 9 games to start his college career.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game player in his 2nd year at USNTDP.
From East Greenbush, NY, the 21-year old was selected by Philadelphia Flyers in the 2nd round of the 2025 draft (#40 overall).
Northern Cyclones‘ 1st year right wing Carson Strapon(15) takes some decent best numbers of 12 goals and 9 assists in 49 USPHL/NCDC games, then added another 7 points (4/3) in 10 playoff matchups.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. power forward style will take his game to a 2025/2026 commits close to home at University Of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds.
From Hudson, WI, the 21-year old played himself up in the junior ranks.
He was a good scorer at USHS-WI and we expect him to find the net.
5th year center Troy Josephs(16) signs on for a 2nd season with HC Lugano, continuing his climb up Swiss Hockey leagues.
He skated for EHC Visp of the tier 2 SL, when arriving from North America.
The 6′ 194 lbs. was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2013 draft (#209 overall), but only signed an AHL deal with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He was two years in the system, but mostly reassigned down to Wheeling Nailers, where he exploded on the scoresheet as a more than point-per-game player and eventually just signed an ECHL contract.
There’s little doubt the 27-year, former 4-year Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ old found his footing immediately overseas and will continue to do so, as he climbs.
He would end up a 2nd full session with the NL club, putting up 5 goals and 15 assists that he will take to a new, bold opportunity, signing a 1-year deal with Lada Togliatti of the KHL.
Doing best in his first run at Russian hockey, he scores 20 goals, but is fairly consistent as he travels between a couple of teams and for 2025/2026 will head to a 3rd, signing with HK Sochi.
After 10 games with 2 assists, not sure what has occurred, but he becomes available to Shanghai Dragons to sign for the term.
Tampa Bay Lightning swoop in to grab University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ junior left wing Cole Koepke(45) to a 2-year entry level deal, starting immediately.
He was a 6th round pick in the 2018 draft (#183 overall).
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward put up very decent numbers through 3 years of college hockey with 16 goals as a sophomore and 15 last season, plus an overall +31 rating.
He seemed to struggle a bit in his first session for Sioux City Musketeers but found his footing in the 2nd frame as an assistant captain, grabbing a junior level high 28 goals and 11 assists for 39 points.
His college commitment would come after an explosive year at Hermantown, MN High, where he was a 2-point per game player.
It looks as though the 22-year old will report to affiliate Syracuse Crunch and should be able to prove his worth in the AHL.
He would play a 52-game slate in the minors, scoring 7 goals and 12 assists, then adding another 3 helpers in 5 playoff matchups, but would also get to appear in 17 games with the big club, recording a 1st NHL goal for himself.
For his efforts, he is rewarded with a 1-year, 2-way deal in 2023/2024.
He plays 73 games last season with 10 goals and 7 assists with a +1 rating, but is an unrestricted free agent and accepts a 1-year $1M deal with Winnipeg Jets and has 1 assist in 10 contests.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ freshman right wing Noah Eyre(38) figured into only 5 games last season, so easily headed towards the transfer portal and currently plays for Holy Cross College Crusaders, as a sophomore.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward already has a 2 goals and 5 assists in 8 games with a +3 rating.
He had 2 similar BCHL frames with Powell River Kings before committing.
From Vienna, VA, the 21-year old is looking good at his new college home.
Express Hockey Club‘s 2nd year defenseman Jed Gilpatrick(25) commits to Misericordia University Cougars for 2025/2026.
The 6′ 179 lbs. scored 1 goal and 5 assists in 38 EHL games last season.
He was a graduate from the EHLP team, where he had 35 assists.
6th year left wing Kyle Criscuolo(42) gets a new crack at the NHL with Detroit Red Wings, his first since an unsuccessful 9 game stint after signing an entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres.
The 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward started his pro career on a 1-year minor league deal with Grand Rapids Griffins, where he put up 17 goals and 24 assists with a +15 rating to get on the major radar.
He has always managed to put up good numbers with affiliates and has point-per-game stats in the current AHL frame.
The 29-year old, former Harvard University Crimson two-time captain posted outstanding points in school and is likely very happy how his pro career is stretching out to include yet another recall.
He would re-sign for a 5th season in a Griffins‘ uniform, but a mid-year minor trade sends him to San Jose Sharks for a new look and start on things at now 30-years old.
After a decent enough showing in the minors, he scores a 1-game recall to the big league and what do you know, the now 31-year old grabs a 1st NHL goal.
For 2023/2024, the Southampton Township, NJ native comes home, signing a 1-year, 2-way deal with New Jersey Devils that will very likely see him mostly with affiliate Utica Comets, but could score some looks.
He walks away from last season with a career best assists, 26 and points, 42 and he signs for 2024/2025 with Charlotte Checkers and will likely just continue to score in the minors.
After another solid scoring season with 19 goals and 16 assists with a +6 rating, he is a free agent and decides to return to Utica Comets on a 1-year deal for 2025/2026.
