We need to congratulate former Cornell University Big Red‘ captain Jeff Malott(39) on scoring a one-year two-way NHL deal from Winnipeg Jets for 2021/2022 after potting 14 goals and 6 assists, including 1 game-winner and 4 on the power-play in 34 AHL games with affiliate Manitoba Moose.
The big 6’3″ 204 lbs. left wing may just play his way onto the parents’ club radar as a sophomore skater and is easily headed in the right direction.
He’ll remember the date: 3/20-2022. He makes his big league debut skating a conservative 8 shifts for 4:06 ice time with 3 hits and 2 penalty minutes in a 6-4 victory.
Nice start.
After blowing out his rookie season scoring with 23 goals and 18 assists in 62 games with a +11 rating, then getting another tally in 5 playoff games, earns the 25-year old a new 2-year deal to stay.
He would score a career high 30 assists and 52 points in 70 games and signs a new 2-year deal with Los Angeles Kings, who could give him his 1st looks in the big league.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ Finnish-born freshman defenseman Tomi Leppanen(5) wins himself a 2022 USHL Clark Cup Championship in his 1st junior season with Sioux City Musketeers.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner doesn’t stick though, as he signs for 2024/2025 with IPK of the tier 2 Mestis.
He had 3 goals and 6 assists in 40 games with a +8 rating.
The 21-year old will no doubt be happier and should do well in this league back home.
7th year center Austin Czarnik(27) gets a new lease on pro hockey life as he’s claimed off waivers by Seattle Kracken, when he was to be reassigned back to Bridgeport Islanders from New York Islanders after 11 NHL games, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists with a +5 rating.
The small 5’9″ 175 lbs. veteran of 209 AHL had 15 points in 20 games with the affiliate this season.
He averaged 40 point campaigns at four years of Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks and was twice captain as a junior and senior.
The 29-year old Washington Township, MI native will likely get another chance to shine with his new club and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current session.
Barely a month in, after 6 games with his new club and a pair of assists, he was once again to be sent to the minors, but the Islanders have stepped back in and said, hope you didn’t sell you’re Long Island home yet, because…you’re back.
He would finish up the year a point-per-game guy, appeared in 11 more games with the big club, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists with a +5 rating.
An unrestricted free agent, Detroit Red Wings sees something in his game that could help out their club and inks him for 2-years on a very healthy 2-way deal.
For a 1st time in his career, he will take his game to a new place overseas, NL and signs with SC Bern for 2024/2025, where we are sure he will yield some great results for himself.
Undrafted towering 6’4″ 198 lbs. defenseman Cody Haiskanen(3) takes 5 years at Cornell University Big Red to a rookie contract with Idaho Steelheads for 2022/2023.
The Fargo, ND native did only 1 USHL frame with hometown, Fargo Force before heading to school.
At 25-years old, we’re thinking he has a good ECHL rookie season.
In 61 games the big d-man scores 5 goals and 24 assists with an absolutely monster +53, then keeps things steady through to the Kelly Cup Finals.
There’s little doubt, he will be back donning a Steelheads‘ jersey for 2023/2024.
He’s actually loaned up 3 times during last frame, but eyes a new opportunity, signing for 1-year with Nurnberg Ice Tigers of DEL.
New Jersey Devils‘ 4th year defenseman John Marino(5) was involved in a trade that sent him to the team from 3-year club Pittsburgh Penguins, where he twice notched 20+ assists, with a career high 24 last season.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner is on the hook for another 5-years for the 6-year deal he signed a year and a half ago worth an average of $4.4M AAV through 2026/2027.
Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#154 overall), but somewhat oddly traded before he ever got started.
The North Easton, MA native spent 3 years at nearby Harvard University Crimson, amassing an amazing +/- numbers before turning pro.
6th year d-man becomes the #1 for the new Utah Hockey Club, who pick him up for some draft options and he gets a 3-year deal moving forward.
Philadelphia Little Flyers‘ 2nd year right wing Nicholas Hussa(10) takes a junior EHL best 13 assists and 19 points to a 2024/2025 commit at Anna Maria College AMCATS.
From North Wales, PA, the fairly big 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward should definitely help the independent D3 score more.
We think the 20-year old has found a good, next hockey home.
2nd year NAHL defenseman Liam Varmecky(16) gets moved to Rochester Jr. Americans near the end of last season and his game magically comes to life, scoring 1 goal and 11 assists in 22 games with a +17 rating.
The pretty big 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner commits to Hamilton College Continentals for 2024/2025.
From Gibsonia, PA, the incoming 21-year old should help his new team win games.
8th year left wing Max McCormick(17) scores a new 1-year NHL deal with Seattle Kracken maybe a little late into unrestricted free agency, yet it did arrive to get him on a good club going forward.
He spent the last pair of seasons with Carolina Hurricanes, playing 12 games with 2 goals, 1 assist and a +3 rating in 2020/2021, while mostly doing time on their taxi squad.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. played the first year of his deal entirely with affiliate Charlotte Checkers, where he tied his best 19 assists and 35 points was one shy of his high with a +6, and amassed him a 3rd 30+ point season.
He had a pair of 30 point seasons in his 3 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes.
The 29-year old De Pere, WI native may spend some time in the AHL, but also could play himself into more minutes in the show.
He skates 46 games in the minors, but gets recalled for 10 games with no points and leaves a +1.
His 29 points at +17 has certainly helped that team to a top playoff spot.
Those efforts earn him a new 2-year contract to continue leading the group one league away from the show and contribute whenever called upon.
The twice captain for affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds, who on 2 straight occasions made it all the way to the Finals before bowing out was quite the leader and is rewarded with a 2-year, 1-way contract to continue.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ graduate defenseman Dustyn McFaul(27) tied his 2 goal high for scoring this season, but those 9 assists as a senior captain look like they are going to stand.
The fairly big 6’2″ 191 lbs. blue liner is a Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2018 draft (#181 overall) and looks fairly ready to step into some AHL action, when his final college frame comes to a close.
From Waterdown, ON, the 23-year old has hockey ready all over him.
He adds 1 goal for 3 on the season, his new best, finishes up ECAC action and signs a 1st pro contract with Florida Everglades.
Not sure why he wasn’t moved on by the team that selected him.
He’s moving on and signs for 2024/2025 with Fort Wayne Komets, where he should be able to learn a lot.
USNTDP 2nd year center Christian Humphreys(24) selects University Of Michigan Wolverines for a 2025/2026 commit.
He was the last of he team to make his selection official.
It was rumored the Pittsburgh, PA native was to attend Michigan State University Spartans.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward looks to blow the lid off last year’s scoring, which was 69 points in 97 games.
At 17-years old, he’s draft eligible for 2024 and looks to be in some of the more upper rankings.
After point-per-game efforts at both levels last season, the 18-year old is selected by Colorado Avalanche in the 7th round with pick #215.
He is young, but another year of juniors seems unnecessary.
