Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2016 draft (#99 overall), 3rd year left wing Brett Murray(57) played his first season under the guide of the parent club on an AHL contract with affiliate Rochester Americans.
The kinda giant 6’5″ 228 lbs., former year and a half Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ forward posted 9 goals in each of his first two seasons and 10+ assists before dropping a goal and 7 assists in 6 games in the current frame to earn a 2nd recall.
In his first re-appearance, he failed to connect in a win, but had an assist the next night and topped it with a two point, first NHL goal and an assist performance in a loss that should have earned him a third star award.
The Bolton, ON native took an interesting path from a first year at juniors, directingly into a first year at college hockey, but only stayed one run before returning to Youngstown Phantoms to absolutely detonate the stat sheet with a league best 41 goals and 35 assists with a +13 rating.
That was basically all the now 23 year old needed to turn pro and now he’s looking at some extended time up.
He manages less games in the big league as he goes, but scores pretty easily in the lower league, so decides to move as unrestricted free agent status approaches, signing for 2025/2026 with Nurnberg Ice Tigers.
Recording very close to point-per-game totals, he takes his game up to the KHL and agrees to terms with Shanghai Dragons for 2026/2027.
Montreal Canadiens‘ 7th round pick in the 2018 draft (#190 overall), 2022 NCAA Division 1 University Of Denver Pioneers’ Champion center Brett Stapley(7) signs a 1-year AHL deal with affiliate Laval Rocket for 2022/2023.
The 5’10” 172 lbs. forward scored a college best 18 goals and tying 25 assists in 41 games with a +22 rating.
He was also a solid scorer in his 2nd and 3rd BCHL seasons with Vernon Vipers.
The 23-year old from Campbell River, BC may be an immediate impact player.
For his rookie season, he was shipped down to Trois-Rivieres Lions and has a tidy 9 goals and 36 assists in 49 ECHL games, playing a real energy role on the team.
He ends with 41 helpers, which gains the notice of Colorado Eagles, who sign him to bring him “home” to an AHL deal for 2023/2024.
For the entire season, he is sent to play for affiliate Utah Grizzlies and blows up scoring as a 2nd year league player with 24 goals and a monster 47 assists in 67 games.
He’s stretching and signs with HK Ducla Trencin of Slovak Extraliga to try his hand at a higher rung of hockey, just overseas.
In maybe a bit of a surprise decision, he decides to head to HockeyAllsvenskan and signs with Sodertalje SK for 2025/2026 after recording very close to point-per-game numbers last season.
After 13 games with 1 goal and 5 assists, he is wooed by Pelicans of Liiga to come skate maybe a little more aggressively.
He has a pretty outstanding frame with his new club, scoring 8 goals and 14 assists in 30 games to gain a new contract to stay a Pelicans for 2026/2027.
7th year right wing Nick Saracino(13) trades in a successful regular season, but even a better playoff run with 6 goals and 3 assists in 11 games for HKM Zvolen of Slovak Extraliga for a new 1-year deal to head to IceHL and suit up for Asiago.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward originally came over after posting an ECHL best 18 goals and 27 assists for Jacksonville Icemen.
He also had a couple of AHL deals, one signed mid-season with Binghamton Devils after lighting it up big for Wheeling Nailers.
The already 30-year old from St. Louis, MO, former 2015 NCAA Division 1 Champion as a junior with Providence College Friars likely has no problem continuing to push success in overseas hockey.
He stayed with them for 3 seasons before moving onto HC Bolzano for 2024/2025 playoff, but last season skating with HC Pusteral, continuing to score 10+ goals and assists.
For 2026/2027, he continues his move through the league and signs with HC Milano Cortina.
New England College Pilgrims only graduate hockey player, right wing Jhuwon Davis(6) is still looking to connect this season.
Through 15 games, his team has struggled to win games.
The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward had 5 goals and 15 assists as a freshman, as his college highs.
He was twice a more than point-per-game scorer for Metro Jets USPHL Premier.
The 25-year old from Southgate, MI would likely score points, if he were to decide to turn pro after this year is done.
He would only come away with 2 assists in his final frame, but signed a few pro contract, eventually landing with Dashers Hockey last season, scoring very decently, except needs to pull up the plus/minus on a not so good team.
Maybe taking a minute to access, he signs with Indiana Sentinels for 2025/2026.
After only 14 games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists he signs with rivals Motor City Rockers for 2026/2027.
Rookie right wing Jack Jacome(16) took his game overseas to IceHL, signing a 1-year deal with Pioneers Vorarlberg for 2022/2023.
The 5’8″ 172 lbs. forward played 5 years at Clarkson University Golden Knights, putting up a career best 23 assists and 25 points as a graduate student.
From Caledon, ON he played his junior hockey for Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL, blowing up the score sheet.
The 23-year old will likely do very well in Austria’s top league.
He takes a decent frame, scoring 9 goals and 20 assists in 48 games to a new challenge, accepting a deal for 2023/2024 with Rungsted Seier Capital of Metal Ligaen.
After an ok season scoring another 9 goals and 13 assists in Denmark, he was going to return and sign, but has decided to bridge to the EIHL and agrees to terms with Guildford Flames for 2024/2025.
A 2nd solid frame, producing a new best 20 goals and he is easily back in the fold for 2026/2027 as a member of the Flames.
RIT Tigers‘ senior defenseman Xavier Lapointe(28) signs a 1st pro contract with Orlando Solar Bears.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner only got into 17 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 6 assists.
His best year was as a junior, when he got 5 goals and 10 assists.
From Quebec, QC, the 24-year old scored 2 goals in 8 ECHL games with a +1 rating, but will need a new contract for 2026/2027.
Norfolk Admirals‘ 2nd year right wing Keaton Jameson(16) had a pretty decent rookie season for Utah Grizzlies, scoring 15 goals and 22 assists in the regular, then adding another 4 points through 6 games with a +4 rating in the playoffs.
He has 2 goals and 12 assists through 34 games this year.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward did 3 years of MJHL junior hockey for Swan Valley Stampeders before heading to 4 at University Of Manitoba Bisons, where he was good for 10+ assists for the 3 sessions they skated.
From Brandon, MB, the 26-year old may have found a decent minor league landing spot.
He is scoring through 2 complete ECHL seasons and decides to leave for the EIHL and a different kind of opportunity.
In his 2nd year with Fife Flyers, his scoring comes to life with 14 goals and 16 assists in 51 games, but he continues to move along in the league and signs with Dundee Stars for 2026/2027.
2nd year center Greg Smith(44) started his 2nd season with Adirondack Thunder, but 3 ECHL games in was released and immediately grabbed by Greensboro Gargoyles.
In 22 games, he has 5 goals and 5 assists.
From Ajax, ON, he did 5 years of juniors before heading to Lakehead University Thunderwolves for 4.
The 27-year old started as a pro in the SPHL, but played himself up and looks to stay.
His rights had somehow gone to a 3rd league team, but ultimately he is off-season traded to Toledo Walleye for the 2026/2027 campaign.
University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves‘ assistant captain, senior left wing Jarred White(86) scores a moderate college best 3 goals and 5 assists in high 32 games played that he takes to a 1st pro contract in France2 with Les Diables Rogues de Valenciennes for 2025/2026.
The 5’10” 201 lbs. forward came over after 2 seasons at Western Michigan University Broncos.
He arrived there after 4 AJHL seasons getting his footing.
From Edmonton, AB, the 26-year old will likely do well in this league.
In 28 games, he scores 13 goals and 29 assists that he maybe almost oddly takes to a new run in the NIHL with Milton Keynes Lightning for 2026/2027.
UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate captain, defenseman Jon McDonald(47) signed an ato with Toledo Walleye after finishing up Hockey East tournament play last season.
The tough as nails, the undrafted 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner scored 3 assists in 10 ECHL games.
He played 2 years of USHL junior hockey with Fargo Force and helped them with the 2018 Clark Cup Championship.
The Livonia, MI native signs for his rookie season, 2023/2024 with South Carolina Stingrays.
We think the 25-year old will have great luck with this club.
In 64 games, he scores 4 goals and 13 assists with a +2 rating to score himself a contract with the parent club, Hershey Bears heading into his 2nd campaign.
He would appear in 31 games, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists with a -5 rating, then appeared in 7 playoff matchups with o points, but was a +2.
For 2025/2026, he re-signs to stay a Bears and will likely be mostly on a 1-way deal.
In his 2nd season with the team, he scores 3 goals and 9 assists in 60 AHL games to gain a new contract to remain in Hershey for 2026/2027.
