Category: Juniors

Undrafted 5th year right wing Vinni Lettieri(10) re-ups for a 2nd season in Anaheim Ducks‘ organization.

He only played 5 NHL games in 2020/2021, but lit up the scoresheet with affiliate San Diego Gulls, scoring 14 goals and 12 assists in 22 AHL games, adding another 3 points in 3 playoff contests.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal by New York Rangers after graduating from University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he was a point-per-game player as a senior.

He was also a solid goal scorer in high school and one year of juniors for Lincoln Stars of the USHL.

The 26-year old has played 52 games in the big league, scoring 2 goals and 6 assists with a dismal -21 rating, but we think he’s one solid scoring line away from being an impact player.

In 2021/2022, he was given his best chance yet to become a permanent member at the higher level, appearing in a career best 31 games, scoring 5 goals and 5 assists.

Boston Bruins lean in on the opening day of free agency offering a 1-year, 2-way deal at almost a 1-way rate and he’s on board and will likely compete for any open roster spots available.

He scores a career best 26 assists and 49 points last season to earn himself a nice 2-year deal with Minnesota Wild, worth just below the average of a 1-way deal.

There’s little doubt he’ll be seeing a lot of playing time for Iowa Wild, but could score a recall as he did once last season.

He actually spends 46 games with contract club, scoring 5 goals and 4 assists and actually finds himself traded back to Boston, where he will compete for a spot once again.

An unrestricted free agent, who saw some good usefulness and an ability to connect, he is signed by Toronto Maple Leafs, who eye him for a possible spot in their lineup or he continues to score big in the minors.

After 26 points in 23 playoff games to help the affiliate to capture the 2026 Calder Cup Trophy, he is an easy invite back to work his scoring magic, which we feel will include a look up as a Maple Leafs in 2026/2027.

University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate defenseman Harrison Rees(27) signs a 1st pro contract with Fort Wayne Komets and nets a 1st ECHL goal in his debut and has a +1 rating.

The 6’2″ 175 lbs. blue liner from Mississauga, ON wasn’t a huge scorer in college hockey, but was a reliable +23 player.

He took 2 successful OJHL campaigns with North York Rangers to his college commit.

The undrafted 24-year old was likely looking forward to the moment he could lace up a pair of pro game skates for awhile.

In 8 games, he scores 2 goals and 2 assists with a +2 rating to gain a 1 AHL game loan up to Hartford Wolf Pack.

He will return to the Komets for his official rookie season, 2024/2025.

The entire of 2025/2026 was spent in the lower league, where he played well deep into a playoff run, but for 2026/2027, he is looking elsewhere and signs with HK Dukla Michalovce of Tipsport Extraliga.

Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior center Devin Phillips(20) elects to do a year of eligibility at Sacred Heart University Pioneers for the start of a graduate program, 2026/2027.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward had similar numbers to his best scoring season as a junior last year, getting 6 goals and 13 assists in 23 games.

From Raleigh, NC, the 23-year old did 3 years of juniors, blowing up scoring in his final frame with 68 assists, then 17 points in the playoffs to take the 2022 AJHL Championship.

We think he stays hot Atlantic Hockey.

Vancouver Canucks have picked up unrestricted free agent Brady Keeper(25) as his one-year extension to stay in Florida Panthers‘ system was up.

And even though the undrafted, 6’2″ 196 lbs. blue liner has only ever skated 2 NHL games, he is given a 2-year one-way deal to come play zone in the big league.

He originally came from three seasons of juniors in the MJHL for OCN Blizzard, serving as captain in his final session, before committing to University Of Maine Black Bears.

The Cross Lake, MB native played one full AHL campaign for affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, earning 6 goals and 18 assists in 61 games.

He was loaned last season to Syracuse Crunch, where he figured into 11 games, scoring a goal and 2 assists.

They must see something in the 25-year old that looks ready to step it up full-time and it just may work.

He wouldn’t actually figure into any games for 2021/2022 after breaking 2 major bones in his leg, but returned for the next frame, contributing 1 goal and 5 assists in 35 games.

For 2023/2024, he has options and signs with Montreal Canadiens, but really is on a high-priced minor league deal with affiliate  Laval Rocket.

He only figures into 22 games last season, but his accountability is good.

For 2024/2025, he signs with HK Poprad of Slovak Extraliga, which should provide the challenge the 28-year old needs.

Instead of reporting to his new, overseas team, he elected to sit last year out and returns in 2025/2026 to sign with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL.

Injuries continue to nag him, as he tries to move towards a comeback, but it turns out to be too much and he needs to hang up the skates, having 2 goals in 4 NHL games.

Something is nagging him and he signs for 2025/2026 with South Carolina Stingrays.

He actually heads to the semi-pro SaskEHL, but with 7 goals and 2 assists in 5 games, maybe thinks he should really play, gets a trade to and signs with Rapid City Rush.

In a very short stint, he does exceedingly well, but gets traded to Idaho Steelheads, where his leadership is going to be very nicely welcomed.

Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate portal transfer from 4 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons, defenseman Carson Musser(4) took a college best scoring 4 goals and 11 points in 31 NCAA games to a 1st contract with Norfolk Admirals.

In 7 ECHL games, he had an assist and left with no playoffs a +2 rating.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. blue liner has never really scored many goals, but did manage 10 assists in his 2nd USHL year with Fargo Force.

From Grand Rapids, MI, it’s seems likely the 25-year old could score a new contract for 2022/2023 in the league, if he wants.

As considered, the d-man decides to go for a full session in Virginia to see what’s possible.

He is able to connect for 4 goals and 9 assists, but needs to clean up a -19 rating and hopefully the team posts a better record, as he re-signs to stay.

Increasing his numbers as he goes is easily the way to keep attention, so he scores a new best 8 goals and 18 assists, while bringing up that horrible +/- to a +13 rating in 57 games, then in 11 playoff matchups adds another 7 points, +5.

He is easy to continue to bring back in an Admirals‘ jersey.

For a 4th straight season, he will return to Norfolk after scoring a new high 23 assists and 29 points.

He maybe lost a little production last season, which has caused him to looked elsewhere and signs for 2026/2027 with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL.

Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior center Gunnarwolfe Fontaine(11) caps a successful final season in a college jersey by scoring the overtime game-winner to lift his team to a 2nd straight Beanpot Championship.

The small 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward is a Nashville Predators‘ 7th round pick in the 2020 draft (#202 overall).

He may not equal college scoring highs he set as a junior, but still has solid totals and a +5 rating.

The East Greenwich, RI native played 2 USHL seasons, scoring big for Chicago Steel.

It seems like a pretty easy consideration to give him a 2-year entry level contract to see what he can do in the system.

Once again, spectacular for his college club with crucial game-winning goals, he will extend college for a year of eligibility at Ohio State University Buckeyes, which should just see him continue on his path.

After a new college best 17 goals and 23 assists, he signs with Iowa Wild, but in 5 games gets no points with a +1 rating.

For his rookie season, he agrees with Toronto Marlies 2025/2026.

He is mostly reassigned to Cincinnati Cyclones, where he scores even better than he did in college with 21 goals and 24 assists in 71 ECHL games, but he looks elsewhere and signs for 2026/2027 in IceHL with HC Pustertal .

Former Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ undrafted 2 year team captain Tyler Busch(13) quite possibly was waiting to see where North American pro hockey was going to settle before agreeing to leave the country for his next pursuit and decided to sign on with Sweden’s tier 3 league HockeyEttan joining Tranas AIF.

He did sign with Cincinnati Cyclones during the summer but then decided to forego the 2020/2021 due to COVID restrictions.

The 6’3″ 195 lb. power forward scored a healthy diet of four goals and 5 assists in 17 games before adding an assist in the playoffs.

He put up 21 points in two straight seasons before graduating with a career high 18 assists and +15 rating as a senior.

The Lloydminster, AB native played 3 years in the AJHL for Spruce Grove Saints and arrived at college after his best session as a more than point-per-game performer serving as captain.

What the 25-year old does next is up in the air but he could easily continue where he’s at and likely receive a look from the NL.

For 2021/2022, he was initially signed with the Cyclones return, but switched it up closer to the start of the frame and went with Fort Wayne Komets in 2021/2022, ending up getting 8 goals and 11 assists in 59 games, including a 4 game AHL loan to Henderson Silver Knights.

He re-signs to stay where he played as a rookie and we only see things improving for this young player.

Traded to Iowa Heartlanders early in the season, he managed to connect for 14 goals and 14 assists in 56 games.

He’ll take that ECHL experience to the EIHL next, signing for 2023/2024 with Cardiff Devils.

After 2 seasons, scoring decently, he will switch things up to sign with rivals, Guilford Flames for 2025/2026 and hopes to increase his play.

He would put up a new league best scoring 21 assists and 32 points to easily get another 1-year deal to stay a Flames for 2026/2027.

Boston Bruins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#89 overall), Boston College Eagles‘ junior center Trevor Kuntar(16) will leave a year of college on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal.

The 6′ 196 lbs. forward recorded a college career best 13 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +5 rating as a junior.

He was a more than a point-per-game player in his 2nd season with Youngstown Phantoms, getting 53 points in 44 USHL games.

The 21-year old may report to and help affiliate Providence Bruins go for a Calder Cup, but will most definitely compete in camp 2023 for a roster spot.

He goes into restricted free agency unqualified, so able to look for a contract as an unrestricted free agent and signs a 1-year AHL deal with Rochester Americans for 2025/2026.

In 24 games this season, he has a team high 9 goals and 13 points, so gets offered a 1-year contract with parent club, Buffalo Sabres worth $775K AAV.

We expect an NHL recall soon.

He does score the 1 game upside, but plays 70 games, scoring a new best 21 goals and 16 assists to earn a 2-year extension to stay an Amerks.