2nd year defenseman Eric Gotz(6) will take a successful rookie season with Krefeld Pinguine of DEL2 to Metal Ligaen, where he signs with Aalborg Pirates for 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner played 4 years at Michigan Tech Huskies, then did a year of eligibility at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
He was a 3-time college 10+ assist provider, but didn’t really burst like he did his 2nd NAHL season with Minnesota Wilderness, where he potted 39 helpers.
From Hermantown, MN, the 25-year old should do quite well in Denmark’s top league.
7th year left wing A.J. Greer(10) hits the jackpot, signing his 1st 2-year 1-way NHL contract through 2023/2024 after posting a career high 22 goals and 30 assists in 53 AHL games with a +10 rating for Utica Comets, while signed to New Jersey Devils.
He played 9 games in the big league last season, striking for a goal and an assist.
The Joliette, QC native came down and looked to go the college route, attending USHS-Prep, but after a year and a half at Boston University Terriers, left to join Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, wracking up points en route to the 2016 QMJHL Championship.
Almost oddly, he was a Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2015 draft, chosen after his 1st year of college hockey, where he scored 3 goals and 4 assists in 37 games that they must’ve seen something there.
He played 37 games in the big league with the team, getting a goal and 5 assists.
Still super-young at 25-years old, he is maybe starting to just arrive.
He’s become like the new 4th line bandit, playing 61 games with Boston Bruins, then 59 for Calgary Flames, who claimed him off waivers, and he finally receives a 2-year deal to prove his game as he next heads to 2024 Stanley Cup Champions, Florida Panthers.
In 2024, he also became a BU graduate student.
Maryland Black Bears‘ 3rd year center Jesse Horacek(26) blew the lid off his NAHL scoring in his final frame with 19 goals, 26 assists and a +23 rating in 59 games.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward from Derwood, MD will take his game to SUNY-Oswego Lakers for his freshman year, 2024/2025.
We think the 20-year old strikes pretty big at his new school.
Boston Jr. Rangers‘ 2nd year defenseman Tommy Madden(63) takes an EHL season, where he exploded for 21 assists in 40 games, an easy junior best.
The 6′ 174 lbs. forward heads to UMASS-Dartmouth Corsairs for 2024/2025.
From Brighton, MI, we expect the 21-year will help his team win.
Maryland Black Bears‘ 1st year right wing Michael Urgo(8) grabs 3 goals and 13 assists in 51 NAHL games with a +8 rating, then 1 goal and 3 assists in 11 playoff matchups with a +2 for the mostly home team that he will take to a 2024/2o25 commit at SUNY-Oswego Lakers.
From Davidsonville, MD, the 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward played his 1st junior session in the CCHL before heading back.
We think the 21-year old finds some space to score.
Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2024 draft (#110 overall), defenseman Elliott Groenewold(7) stood out amongst the picks and invites at Development Camp, Warrior Ice Arena this past week.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner stood out as he was unafraid to engage, had very good quickness and release of his shot.
He wasn’t as much of a point scorer in his 1 USHL season with Cedar Rapids Roughriders, as he was at Bishop’s College School Prep.
From Bellows Falls, VT, the 18-year old commits to Quinnipiac University Bobcats for 2024/2025.
Maine Nordiques‘ 2nd NAHL season defenseman Alexander Park(18) commits to school a lot closer to home, Ontario Tech University Ridgebacks for 2024/2025.
The big 6’4″ 194 lbs. blue liner came in for a season and a half with Shreveport Mudbugs, where he had 18 assists in his 1st frame.
From Chatham, ON, the 20-year old played 18 games for his new team, then 10 in the playoffs, very much holding his own.
2nd year defenseman Owen Headrick(7) gets traded from Chicago Wolves to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He had 1 assist in 5 games before being dealt.
The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner really made a name for himself last season on reassignment to Idaho Steelheads, scoring 15 goals and 39 assists in 61 ECHL games with a +35 rating, then added another 19 points in 20 playoff matchups to be named Defenseman Of The Year.
He’s taken probably the oddest path to get to where he is and it’s almost odd his still only 26-years old.
The Garden River, ON native did 2 years and an NOJHL Championship before going to Lake Superior State University Lakers for almost a full 2 before deciding to sign with Erie Otters.
He did that striking fairly big in his 2nd frame for 33 assists and turned pro for 4 games with Wheeling Nailers.
His next decision is a bit of a thinker, but he had 4 really successful years at University Of Prince Edward Island Panthers before once again turning pro, but had elevated his game to the AHL.
We thinking he settles and gains footing in the league with his new club.
He almost fails to find any footing with 3 different clubs, so is looking elsewhere to sign with Nurnberg Ice Tigers and will play 2024/2025 in DEL.
Harvard University Crimson graduate left wing Wyllum Deveaux(4) always looks like he should be putting up points, when he’s on the ice, but somehow through 26 games, this season has recorded but 1 assist.
Last year, as a senior was a breakout season for the fairly big 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward, as he got 1 goal and 1 assist, his college best.
What’s the likely irony is the 22-year old, Sackville, NS native will turn pro and start scoring.
You watch.
For 2023/2024, he picks up his 1st deal and signs for 1-year ECHL with Maine Mariners, who must have seen him play at school.
You watch, goals and assists will come.
Just as predicted, his rookie totals were 13 goals and 11 assists in 46 games with a +6 rating, earning him another season in a Mariners‘ uniform.
The captain will return for a 3rd season in a Maine uniform, 2025/2026 after playing a new high 66 games, scoring bests 19 goals and 12 assists.
Sudbury, MA native, left wing Teddy Stiga(8) picks Boston College Eagles for 2024/2025 commit after his 2nd year in the USNTDP system.
The 5’10” 177 lbs. forward has 11 goals and 6 assists in 12 USHL games with a +8 rating and even higher totals with more game for the U18 team.
He is 2024 NHL draft eligible.
Taking up 2nd year scoring to more than point-per-game levels gets him noticed for the #55 pick in 2024 by Nashville Predators.
