Anna Maria College AMCATS‘ sophomore left wing Dylan McElhinny(23) had a college hockey best 10 assists and 15 points last year that he is forced to find a new school for 2026/2027, his junior year and signs up at Stevenson University Mustangs.
The 6’3″ 190 lbs. forward had junior success mostly in 2 NOJHL seasons.
From Pittsburgh, PA, the 23-year old will likely score even better at his new school.
Worcester Jr. Railers‘ 2nd year defenseman Ezra Zizmor(2) scores a USPHL/NCDC best 3 goals and 14 points last season, he takes to his 2026/2027 commits at Manhattanville College Valiants.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. blue liner did 1 other junior season up north.
From New York, NY, the 21-year old will definitely help his new college team’s zone play.
Rookie defenseman Jack St. Ivany(3) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Pittsburgh Penguins.
The 6’3″ 195 lbs. blue liner had two solid seasons at Boston College Eagles on transfer from Yale University Bulldogs and put up a college career high 20 assists and 24 points as a senior.
Not exactly known for recording points, he did post 30 assists in his 2nd USHL season for Sioux Falls Stampede.
Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#112 overall), the 23-year old from Manhattan Beach, CA went unsigned.
He should fit right in at the AHL level with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and compete for a spot with the big club.
Through 63 games, he looks to be gaining comfort with 8 assists to his credit and earns a look from the top, skates 20 shifts for 12:28 ice time with 1 block shot and 1 hit dished in a 4-2 Penguins‘ loss.
He stays up for 14 games, recording 1 assist with a 0 rating, and then goes on to record 4 goals and 11 assists in 54 games with a +17 rating.
They are liking what they see and offer him a 3-year deal to stick around Pittsburgh with the 3rd year being on a 1-way deal at $750K.
In the off season, he gets traded to Winnipeg Jets for 2026/2027, the final year of his contract.
After 4 games with no points and a -1 rating, he is waived and adopted by Washington Capitals for 2026/2027.
Undrafted, center Justin Young(21) finished up a 2nd, graduate year with American International College Yellowjackets, scoring a college career high 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points with a +18 rating in 36 NCAA Division 1 games and took it to a 1st pro contract with Allen Americans.
In 7 ECHL games, the 6′ 183 lbs. forward has an assist with a +2 rating.
He has yet to appear in a Kelly Cup Playoff game.
The Leduc, AB native played 3 seasons in the local AJHL, scoring very decent numbers.
At 24-years old, we’re sure the one-time University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks pivot can turn his start into a full year’s contract, if he wants one.
He would actually skate in 5 playoff games, grabbing an assist and was a +1 rating.
For his efforts on an ato, he is given a 1-year contract to stay in Texas.
In 2023/2024, he decides to change sweaters and signs a 1-year deal with Norfolk Admirals, which he’ll have to work harder for, almost certainly.
He would take off for Germany3, signing with Herner EV 2007 and do fairly well in 14 games scoring, but for 2024/2025 wants to come back, so re-signs with the Admirals.
After scoring 12 goals and 16 assists in 54 games with a +11 rating, he is invited back for a 2nd season as an Admirals in 2025/2026.
King’s College Monarchs‘ junior center Logan Gallagher(9) takes some new college hockey bests scoring 9 assists and 15 points into the transfer portal to skate his senior year at maybe the little more high profile Stevenson University Mustangs for 2026/2027.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward scored 7 goals as a sophomore at Northland College Lumberjacks.
From Courtice, ON, the 24-year old did some junior seasons up north, but rose his game when he came to the USPHL Premier league.
We look for him to continue to raise his game at his new school.
12th year defenseman Luke Glendening(41) signs a new 2-year NHL deal with Tampa Bay Lightning on the opening day of unrestricted free agency, so they had their eye on him to add to their organization.
The undrafted 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner spent his 1st season under a minor league contract with his home town team Grand Rapids Griffins, where he would go on to win the 2013 Calder Cup trophy and ring up an impressive 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) in 24 playoff games to gain notice of the parent club Detroit Red Wings, who would give him a simple 1-year entry level deal.
He even skated 27 ECHL for Toledo Walleye in his rookie season.
By his 2nd session though, the twice captain as junior and senior at University Of Michigan Wolverines was appearing in 56 games and even 5 through the playoffs, scoring a goal to earn his next 3-year 1-way deal.
The 34-year old has done well and is still having a blast doing it.
He scores a 4th season of 10+ goals in his 1st frame with the new team and twice plays almost an entire schedule of games.
For 2025/2026, he looks to activate with a new team and signs a pto during training camp that turns into a 1-year deal with New Jersey Devils.
In 38 games, he has 3 assists as a 36-year old out there.
After 52 games, he is maybe not gelling with his new team as was thought, so gets waived and picked up immediately at least for the short term by Philadelphia Flyers.
For 2026/2027, he signs a pto with Tampa Bay to potentially return and we think the 37-year old still has plenty in the tank to agree to terms.
He gets released and New York Rangers offer him a similar look.
Didn’t take long, he gets a 1-year deal $850K AAV to be a Rangers for 2026/2027.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ 2022/2023 commit, defenseman Luke Antonacci(51) looks set to contend for a roster spot once he hits the school next Fall.
After a very good session with Maine Nordiques, scoring 5 goals and 19 assists in 54 NAHL games through a very difficult season, the 5’9″ 168 lbs. blue liner committed to his college and was selected high in the USHL draft and has joined Sioux City Musketeers.
In 21 games he has 3 goals and 3 assists with a solid accountable +8 rating.
The just turned 19-year old will be a welcome addition to Hockey East play.
After 3 years at the same school, he decides to switch things up and the Princeton, NJ native will head to Lake Superior State University Falcons as a senior, 2025/2026.
He seems to wait a little bit to sign a 1st contract with Utah Grizzlies after tournament play wraps up.
In 15 ECHL games, he scores 2 goals and 2 assists with a +3 rating, but has no team for 2026/2027 and signs with New Mexico Goatheads.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate center, assistant captain Chris Dodero(55) heads off for his 1st pro contract in IceHL with HK Olympija Ljubljana for 2022/2023.
The 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward scored his college best last season, getting 13 goals and 16 assists in 36 NCAA Division 1 games.
He spent 5 campaigns in junior hockey, initially in the USHL, but switching to the BCHL for a year, then NAHL for the session before heading to school.
The 26-year old, West Chicago, IL native will definitely do well in Austria’s top league.
After a decent frame, scoring 10 goals and 20 assist in 39 games, he signs for 2023/2024 with a rival, Grazz99ers.
He maybe couldn’t get it started with 2 assists in 8 games and a woeful -8 rating, so pulls up the stakes and signs for the remainder of 2023/2024 with Starbulls Rosenheim of DEL2 for a new German start.
After some good seasons to start pro hockey away, he decides to return “home” and signs with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.
He gains 3 goals and 3 assists in 15 games, but gets dished to the struggling Cincinnati Cyclones, who need some scoring.
With an ECHL high 6 goals and 12 assists through 39 games with a +1 rating, he is once again dealt, this time heading to Idaho Steelheads for 2025/2026.
He’s effective with his new team, recording a new high 21 assists and 27 points with a +11 rating and gets signed by Wheeling Nailers for 2026/2027, but after just 1 game has a change of heart and will head back overseas, signing with Glasgow Clan.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ junior right wing Ryan Taylor(44) is maybe not scoring as well as he would like, so enters the transfer portal and will join Atlantic Hockey rivals, Robert Morris University Colonials, as a senior in 2025/2026.
The 6’3″ 207 lbs. forward had 10 goals as a sophomore and 10 assists in his freshman year.
A St. Louis, MO native, he did 4 years of juniors before college.
The 22-year old will likely connect better with his new team.
In 25 games, he scores a good 6 goals and 9 assists with a +5 rating that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies.
He has 2 assists in 6 ECHL games on a team that won’t exist next season.
For 2026/2027, his rookie season he signs with Bloomington Bison.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ junior defenseman Trey Taylor(2) finishes up last season with a college best 9 goals and 20 assists in 39 games with a +2 rating that catches the attention of Dallas Stars, who sign the unrestricted free agent to a 2-year NHL entry level deal.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner did 1 outstanding USHL session before school.
From Richmond, BC, the 24-year old scored 33 assists in his 1 USHL year before school.
Playing well for affiliate Texas Stars earns him a 1st recall to skate with the Stars in the big league.
He skates 14 shifts for 10:44 total ice time with 1 hit in a 5-2 loss.
