Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th year goalie Cayden Primeau(30) gets re-upped for a nice 3-year NHL contract worth $890,000 AAV as a restricted free agent, possibly after a solid Calder Cup playoff run by affiliate Laval Rocket, where he posted a 9-5 record with a 2.17 GAA and .936 SV%.
The 6’3″ 203 lbs. net minder started a career high 12 games, but didn’t get the results he was looking for, by a mile.
A former 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#199 overall), he did 2 stellar seasons at Northeastern University Huskies before turning pro.
Almost oddball, he did 1 season at tier 3 junior hockey EHL for Philadelphia Revolution before getting selected in the next frame.
The 23-year old, son of former bruiser Keith Primeau of 909 games played, 1541 penalty minutes, is likely looking to get the nod as starter, if he can earn it.
After 6 years in one system, the unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with Carolina Hurricanes for 2025/2026.
Then he gets waived from training camp and scooped up by Toronto Maple Leafs, which is a bit of a thinker.
After 1 unsuccessful start, he is put on waivers again and Carolina Hurricanes step back in to claim him.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate, captain defenseman Will Riedell(24) played a couple of AHL games with Lehigh Valley Phantoms after graduating, but signs for his rookie season 2022/2023 with the brand new Savannah Ghost Pirates.
He didn’t put up many points last season, but was always good for at least getting on the scoring sheet every other game or so, as a junior and senior with Lake Superior State University Lakers.
At 6’2″ 194 lbs., the blue liner plays a shut down style and left college as a +22 player.
The 26-year old from Greensboro, NC should find plenty of room to play his game and contribute points in the ECHL.
After 15 games, recording 4 assists with a +4 rating, the fairly sizable d-man gets loaned up to San Jose Barracuda and in 20 games only grabs 1 tally, but the team likes what they see and recently sign up for the remainder of the frame.
He moved onto Calgary Wranglers in the next frame and split time with Rapid City Rush.
In his 3rd season, he would re-sign with the Ghost Pirates, but leave late, signing with EHC Munchen.
Despite recording no points, he is wanted for the upcoming season, 2025/2026 with Fischtown Pinguins.
He actually decides to play his hockey closer to home and signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates.
3rd year left wing Jared Christy(5) accepts a deal with Monroe Mocassions for 2025/2026.
The University Of New England Nor’easters‘ 5’10” 190 lbs. graduate cycled through a couple pro leagues and 2 in France, only settling for 21 SPHL games last season with Birmingham Bulls.
We think the Cypress, CA native strikes well for points in the FPHL.
Bridgewater Bandits‘ 2nd year center Liam Fecteau(18) scored a junior best 17 goals and 15 assists in 45 EHL games that he takes to a 2025/2026 commit close to his Seekonk, MA home at UMASS-Dartmouth Corsairs.
The 6’1″ 174 lbs. forward has no points in 2 games, but is on the bubble to start scoring.
He had some monster scoring USHS-MA.
The 20-year old will likely start to click.
SPHL rookie defenseman Dalton Skelly(72) had himself a bit of a career season in his 1st outing scoring a new overall best 3 goals and tying his Holy Cross Crusaders‘ senior year high 13 points.
The 5’10” 175 lbs. d-man skated for a couple of different clubs, starting the split time for Knoxville Ice Bears before eventually finishing up with Huntsville Havoc with 10 assists overall and a tidy overall +9 rating.
He played for three different teams through two campaigns in the NAHL pushing a little offense with good assist numbers, but arriving at Lone Star Brahmas must have been the right fit as he elevated for 7 goals, 20 assists and 27 points with a +11 and 3 more helpers in 4 playoff games.
It’s basically an open shot where the 25-year old goes next.
He would start his 2nd season with Huntsville Havoc and put up 5 assists in 6 games to score a loan to Wichita Thunder that turned into him staying for his ECHL rookie season of 51 games with 3 goals and 8 assists.
Allen Americans see something they want to use on their blue line for 2022/2023 and sign him up to a 1-year deal.
The Keller, TX native scores 11 assists in 54 games last season, then adds another 4 helpers in 6 playoff matchups.
His performance merits a sophomore season in an Americans‘ sweater.
He would do ok, but returned on contract for 2024/2025 with Knoxville that got him a loan up to Rapid City Rush.
For 2025/2026, he signs with the new squad, Greensboro Gargoyles and has 1 assist in 6 games.
Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ graduate defenseman Tanner Palocsik(6) takes a 4th season (no hockey 2020/2021 COVID) of 10+ assists to a real good, 1st pro contract as a rookie with Toledo Walleye in 2024/2025.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner was very successful in 2 USPHL/NCDC seasons with Jersey Hitmen.
He transferred from 4 years at Dartmouth University Big Green.
From Aliquippa, PA, the 25-year old will likely do well for himself in the ECHL.
In 50 games, he scores just 1 goal and 2 assists and decides he will move on and joins Les Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise of Ligue Magnus for 2025/2026.
Turns out after just 4 games away, he would like to return and re-signs with the Walleye.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate center Jack Ricketts(28) takes some college highs scoring 20 goals to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
In his 1st 9 ECHL games, he has 4 goals and 1 assist with a 0 rating.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward came over from top scoring at Holy Cross College Crusaders, where he had 35 points in 39 games with a +18 rating.
From Oakville, ON, the 26-year old is off to a great start and looks good for a loan up.
University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ freshman center Cole McKinney(11) already has 3 goals and 4 assists in 10 games this season.
The 6′ 201 lbs. forward was more than a point-per-game scorer through his 2nd USNTDP season and did the same coming up with the Chicago Mission program.
From Chicago, IL, the 18-year old found himself to be a San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2025 NHL draft (#53 overall).
Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2021 draft (#98 overall), center Josh Lopina(18) picked up his 3-year NHL entry level deal upon deciding to leave UMass Minutemen after a college career sophomore season, scoring 12 goals and 15 assists in 27 games with a +21 rating.
He had equally stellar numbers as a freshmen, when they went on to win the 2021 NCAA Division 1 National Championship.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward twice put up 12 goals with Lincoln Stars in a pair of USHL sessions.
He managed to grab an assist in his AHL debut with affiliate San Diego Gulls and be credited with 2 shots on net and a +1 rating.
The 21-year old looks ready to step into his new lifestyle.
After 3 years in the same place, he moves on to sign with Savannah Ghost Pirates for 2025/2026.
He has 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 ECHL games, where we think he notches points really well.
South Carolina Stingrays‘ 2nd year center Jack Adams(24) arrived at the ECHL and did something he didn’t do with the clarity he was doing at college, scoring big.
The 6’6″ 209 lbs. forward scored 27 goals and 35 assists in 71 games.
His best scoring at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish came as a senior with 7 goals and 10 assists in his junior year.
The Boxford, MA native also did 3 years at Union College Dutchmen and 1 with Providence College Friars, but played little games at both.
There is little doubt the 27-year old is emerging.
For 2024/2025, he decides to head to the new team in the league and signs with Bloomington Bison and should explode the stat sheet again.
Not even a few days with his new team (we’re not sure he reported) and he gets scooped up by Orlando Solar Bears, who want his stick in their lineup.
He works well in their lineup to the tune of 15 goals and 29 assists through 61 games, then added another 6 points (1-5) in 11 playoff matchups with a +4 rating.
For 2025/2026, the Solar Bears want him back in the lineup.
