
Boston College Eagles‘ freshman center Ryan Leonard(9) is doing basically what you expect of him on the scoresheet with 5 goals and 7 assists in 12 games, including a +8 rating.
The 6′ 190 lbs. Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the recent 2023 draft (#8 overall) put up big stats with the USNTDP, especially during his 2nd run in the program.
From Amherst, MA, the 18-year old is still looking at quite a bright future he’ll need to maintain.
His team is exited in the 2nd round of the national tournament and he immediately signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal to join his draft team in his home city for college hockey to get pro started.
In his debut he skates 20 shifts for 14:14 of ice time with 3 hits, 2 giveaways, 1 shot block and left a 1-goal win with a +1 rating.
After a 45 point season as a rookie, he signs a $10.5M AAV 8-year deal to stay a Capitals for a very long time, beginning 2027/2028.

Boston College Eagles‘ 2022/2023 commit, Swedish-born center Cutter Gauthier(61) had a 2nd USNTDP season that went completely off-the-hook scoring.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2022 1st round pick, #5 overall in the NHL draft scored 34 goals and 31 assists in 54 USDP U18 games with a +33 rating and another 19 goals and 9 assists in 22 USHL games with a +14.
At just 18-years old, he’s been in the US for a long while acclimating his game and should be a force as a rookie next season.
His playing rights for the big league have been traded to Anaheim Ducks, which is a no-brainer for him to sign, when he’s ready, as he allegedly didn’t want to skate for his draft team.
After blowing through 41 goals last season and adding another 12 points in the playoffs, he picks up a new 6-year $13.5M AAV deal to stay on as a Ducks for awhile.

Colorado Avalanche 1st round pick (#19 overall) in the 2019 draft, Boston College Eagles‘ sophomore center Alex Newhook(15) celebrating a goal is the opening image for our new site.
NCAA.com used this photo for a story they did on college hockey last season that we were really proud of but can’t seem to find anywhere, if someone can help us.
In his 1st NHL season he skates 71 games, scoring 13 goals and 20 assists with a +11 rating and adds 4 assists in 12 playoff appearances.
He is now a Stanley Cup Champion.
Set to become a restricted free agent, he is dished to Montreal Canadiens, who welcome him as a top 6 forward into the fold, given him a qualifying offer, but expect that to be worked on.
He gets a new 4-year, $5.5M AAV deal that begins next year to stay onboard a Canadiens.

14th year left wing, Justin Vaive(46) signs with Cincinnati Cyclones for a 9th ECHL season, 2024/2025.
He’s served as team captain 3 times.
The big 6’6″ 238 lbs. forward was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#92 overall), but never signed.
He did however sign an NHL contract a few years later with New York Islanders, which had him spend his entire time with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
From Buffalo, NY and son of former NHLer Rick Vaive, the 35-year old, who did 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks may not score like he once did, but he will certainly bring himself back up to a + player.
For an 8 season, 6 as team captain, he signs on to a team he has found a pretty great home with in Cincinnati for 2025/2026.
After 601 ECHL games and 280 AHL, he decides at 37-years old, 16 seasons it’s time to retire from pro hockey and should just assume a position behind the bench where he has spent significant time and served 7 as team captain.

University Of Maine Black Bears‘ junior right wing Nicholas Niemi(8) will head to his 3rd school, Niagara University Purple Eagles for a senior frame in 2025/2026.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward scored best as a freshman at Bentley University Falcons with 8 goals and 14 assists in 32 games with a +7 rating.
From Middlebury, VT, the 24-year old did 2 years of NAHL juniors before college.
We think he will score well in Atlantic Hockey once again.
He ties his junior year 3 goals and has a new best 7 assists that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies.
In 15 ECHL games he has a 1st goal and 2 assists, but needs a new team.
For 2026/2027, he picks up a 1-year deal for his official rookie season with Wichita Thunder.

New Jersey 87’s 2nd year defenseman Troy Mulholland(21) skates a 1st full season of EHL, scoring 7 goals and 32 assists in 49 games he takes to a 2026/2027 commit at University Of St. Joseph Blue Jays.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. blue liner from Little Silver, NJ came up from youth hockey 2 seasons ago to help his team with the 2025 Championship.
We look for the 20-year old to swing right into the lineup and get going.

Providence College Friars‘ Swedish-borh senior goaltender Philip Svedeback(35) was a Boston Bruins 2021 4th round draft pick, but went unsigned.
The 6’3″ 209 lbs. net minder always had a winning record and low GAA and SV%, but maybe they were all set at the position moving forward.
He signs a 1st pro deal with Wheeling Nailers for his rookie season, 2026/2027, which may be a little surprising.
Before coming over for 1 year of USHL juniors, he did play some pro hockey back home.
We will see where the 24-year old decides to go.

Anna Maria College AMCATS‘ freshman goaltender Matt Hennessey(40) snags D3 rookie of the year honors for his work in net on an independent team, posting a 10-5 record with a 2.59 GAA and .932 SV% with some impressive victories 4-1 over Plymouth State University Panthers for 1 we got to see.
The 6’2″ 181 lbs. net minder from Warman, SK did mostly 2 years of AJHL junior hockey for a couple teams before committing to school.
He should see even more time in the cage than 17 games as a sophomore.
After his 3rd season, posting a 1.87 GAA and .944 SV%, his school goes belly up and he decides to accept a deal overseas with Peterborough Phantoms of the NIHL for a rookie year, 2026/2027.

Harvard University Crimson senior center Philip Tresca(7) had a college hockey best 8 goals and 11 assists in 30 games with a +3 rating.
The 6′ 196 lbs. forward had a huge 2nd year of USHL juniors with 28 goals and 26 assists in 61 games, then added another 8 points in the playoffs.
From Boston, MA, the 24-year old signs with Charlotte Checkers for his rookie season in 2026/2027.

Simon Fraser University Red Leafs‘ sophomore goalie Jesse Makaj(1) will lose his college hockey team for 2026/2027, so decides to turn pro and accepts a 1-year SPHL deal with Quad City Storm.
The 6’4″ 220 lbs. net minder came from 2 WHL seasons that needed some improvements.
From North Vancouver, BC, the 25-year old did 17 games in Latvia for HC Panter before school.