University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ freshman defenseman Adam Kleber(6) is a Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round draft pick in the 2024 draft (#42 overall).
The very big 6’5″ 210 lbs. blue liner did 2 years USHL for Lincoln Stars before heading to school this year.
From Chaska, MN, the only 18-year old is well on his way.
7th year center Darik Angeli(18) re-signs with Kansas City Mavericks after putting up ECHL career highs 33 assists and 51 points.
He has played an almost eye-popping 357 games in the league.
The solid 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward has skated for 9 teams in the E, three times with Norfolk Admirals.
He has only agreed to terms in one season with an AHL team, Tuscon Roadrunners 2018/2019, but only stayed with them four games with an assist before being reassigned.
It would be little surprise to see the 30-year old, former Ohio State University Buckeyes to split for overseas for his next contract.
After a huge career year that saw him getting traded late to Florida Everblades and help them win the 2022 Kelly Cup Championship, where he scored 29 goals and 41 assists and another 3 goals and 3 assists with a +3 rating in the playoffs, he will take these fortunes overseas to another title winner, Belfast Giants in 2022/2023.
Almost oddly, following 24 games played, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists with a +9 rating with little word on why, he leaves to sign with Vienna Capitals for the balance of 2023 and should continue to score like a champ in IceHL.
He gets 3 goals and 2 assists in 11 games with a horrendous -9, but gets to the playoffs and adds 5 helpers in another 11 matchups.
For the remainder of 2024, the now 33-year old re-ups with Orlando Solar Bears, where he played some 5 or so years ago with good results.
He scores 31 points in 35 games, then 11 in 11 in the playoffs and is definitely wanted to return in a Solar Bears’ jersey, where he has to be a fan favorite.
UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate goaltender Henry Welsch(33) posted a 4-1 win (almost shutout) against University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in the 2nd game on the new NCAA Division 1 2024/2025 season.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. net minder from Lakeville, MN was a standout in NAHL junior hockey before arriving at school.
He started a college season high 22 games last year and despite a not winning record was still an impressive 2.45 GAA and .908 SV%.
Maybe not a lot of offensive in his opening game, but the 23-year old looks set for his additional frame.
Boston College Eagles‘ center Will Smith(6) is taking zero time to adjust to college play after 2 seasons of USNTDP.
In 6 games, he has 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating to go along with those 51 goals and 76 assists he had last year and 42 points (15-27) in 20 USHL games.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward was a San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round pick in the 2023 draft (#4 overall), so the 18-year old from Lexington, MA has lots to look forward to.
After just 1 season of lighting up the college ranks to the tune of 25 goals and 46 assists with a +25 rating through 41 games and the waiting is over, as the 19-year old signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal, starting 2024/2025.
He debuts with his new NHL team right away, playing 16 shifts for 13:41 ice, 2 shots on net and like his former Hockey East friend needs improving in the face-off dot.
Undrafted 4th year right wing Josh Kestner(62) takes a fantastic first season overseas at TPS, scoring 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 Liiga games with a +6 rating to a new contract with Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL for 2021/2022.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward had a very similar session for Newfoundland Growlers, grabbing another 49 points (22-27) in 61 ECHL games with a +8, then potted another 9 goals and 7 assists in 21 playoff contests en route to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
He would next sign an AHL deal with Grand Rapids Griffins but was exclusively dished to Toledo Walleye, where he received accolades for Most Goals (33), Most Points (73) and League MVP.
The 27-year old Huntsville, AL native and graduate of University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers seems to be just getting started.
He would take a decent frame in Russia back to a less successful year in Switzerland and then branch out for Czechia Extraliga and will next arrive at the tough to play Slovakia Extraliga, signing with HK Spisska Nova Ves for 2024/2025.
Undrafted third year defenseman Charlie Curti(3) somewhat returns home to Adirondack Thunder, where he had a breakthrough rookie campaign, scoring a career high 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points in 56 ECHL games.
He had to go away as a sophomore skater, signing for 2020/2021 with Rapid City Rush, as his upper state NY club was forced to sit due to COVID restrictions.
The 6′ 191 lbs., 26-year old, former 4-year Yale University Bulldogs‘ blue liner returns to his first year club and could very well set more bests point totals.
Instead of heading back to upper state New York for a 2nd season, the 25-year old has rethought that decision and accepts a contract with Aalborg Pirates of Metal Ligaen.
This may just be the start of his hockey life overseas as he could do very well in Denmark’s top league.
He would return after scoring nicely overseas and sign a 1-year ECHL deal with Toledo Walleye, where he ran up 25 points in 39 games with a +20 rating before adding 8 assists in 12 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024, he is heading to play with 2-time EIHL Champs Belfast Giants, where he just may help them raise a 3rd straight trophy.
He maybe didn’t capture a title, but did nicely with 2 goals and 17 assists in 39 games with a +11 rating to sign with rivals, Guilford Flames for 2024/2025.
Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate defenseman Owen Norton(26) signs with Maine Mariners as soon as his team is knocked out of Atlantic Hockey tournament play.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner has skated 4 ECHL games with no points, but is always fully involved in the action.
While not exactly the biggest point-getter, he did do well in his 2nd GOJHL frame and only BCHL campaign.
From Ancaster, ON, the 24-year looks to establish himself well once he gets some more game under his belt.
They seen something in there to develop and sign him to stay in a Mariners‘ uniform for 2023/2024.
He is actually released from his deal and signs fairly quickly with Norfolk Admirals, which should be a pretty good landing spot for him.
Finds little traction with this club, only scoring 2 assists in 14 games, so is waived and picked up by Newfoundland Growlers to give a kick at the wares.
He’d only record 1 assist in 12 games before the team disintegrated.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Wheeling Nailers, which should continue to help his game.
Union College Dutchmen senior defenseman Nathan Kelly(26) signs an amateur tryout contract with Norfolk Admirals upon completion of ECAC hockey.
In a college high 35 games, he scored his only goal and 7 assists for 8 points with a +1 rating.
The 6′ 185 lbs. South Delta, BC native skated 3 BCHL seasons of junior hockey.
In 2 ECHL games he doesn’t have any points, but is a nice +2 rating.
For his rookie season, he will don the Admirals‘ jersey to skate his rookie season, 2024/2025 with the team.
Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft, goaltender Jeremy Swayman(1) signed a three-year entry deal just as COVID was shutting down the world and left three seasons at University Of Maine behind for a chance to play pro.
It almost seemed when the 22-year old signed that he would be assuming starting duties with affiliate Providence Bruins, when 2021 finally gotten moving, and there he was on opening night, in net.
The big 6’3 201 lbs. Hobey Baker Award finalist last season for his outstanding 18-5 mark won his debut 4-1 leaving with a 1.00 GAA and .963 SV% and has gone 7-1 in 8 starts with a 1.88 GAA and .932 SV%.
He only lost his first game recently.
This is easily only the beginning for the Anchorage, AK native, who has consistently put up jaw dropping stats.
A restricted free agent, heading into his 4th season with the team and his contract time is up, so elects to go to arbitration for a 1-year deal 2023/2024 for 3.475M AAV, which is a nice pay bump for the Bruins‘ net minder, who owns a 2.24 GAA and .920 SV% in 88 appearances.
After a bit of a holdout, which could cost him the season opener for 2024/2025, he signs a new 8-year, $8.25M AAV NHL deal to stay where he’s at.
8th year center Michael Mersch(28) accepts a two-year AHL contract from Rochester Americans to stay with the club he skated for last season.
The 6’2″ 215 lbs. power forward has almost oddly only played 17 NHL games with draft club Los Angeles Kings (4th round 2010, #111 overall), scoring a goal and 2 assists with a +1 rating.
As a rookie, he was a huge part of then affiliate Manchester Monarchs almost fantasy-like run that ended capturing the 2015 Calder Cup trophy and him getting the nod for most playoff points (22).
The former 4-year University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ had three 30 point campaigns in college and currently holds 4-40+ marks as a pro.
His only other big league contract was with Dallas Stars, leaving initial team as a UFA to sign the 2-year, one-way deal.
It would be easy to see the 28-year old leave North American hockey for his next venture before he decides to retire.
Even before the 2nd year of his contract has started, he gets himself extended for yet another year through 2023/2024 to not go anywhere and stay on as captain for the Amerks.
Not quite sure why he never got more than a handful of games in the highest league of hockey, but 597 games in the lower league later, at 31-years old he’s hanging up those skates and has yet to name where he lands next to offer someone a great experience.
