University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ graduate defenseman Luke Reid(16) signs a 1st pro deal with Adirondack Thunder and in 6 ECHL games had 1 goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating to get him loaned up to affiliate Utica Comets for 5 AHL games, where he got himself 2 assists and a +1 rating.
The 6’1″ 200 lbs. blue liner from Warman, SK did 1 BCHL year before recording identical points in 2 USHL seasons for Chicago Steel before college.
He is 23-years old and was a Nashville Predators‘ 6th round pick in 2020 (#166 overall), but not sign and will need a new rookie deal for 2025/2026, we think will be at the upper level, 2-way.
After his 2 game loan up, he gets to claim a 1-year deal to return to the Comets for 2025/2026, his rookie frame.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ junior right wing Nicholas Niemi(24) will head to his 3rd school, Niagara University Purple Eagles for his senior frame in 2025/2026.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward scored best as a freshman at Bentley University Falcons with 8 goals and 14 assists in 32 games with a +7 rating.
From Middlebury, VT, the 24-year old did 2 years of NAHL juniors before college.
We think he will score well in Atlantic Hockey once again.
New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2018 draft (#11 overall), 5th year right wing Oliver Wahlstrom(26) signs a conservative 1-year 1-way deal to stick for 2023/2024, as a restricted free agent.
The fairly stocky 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward has twice scored 10+ goals.
He only spent 1 year at Boston College Eagles after exploding his 2nd frame with USNTDP.
The 23-year old from Portland, ME definitely needs to step up his game.
He re-signs to spend a 6th year in the Isles‘ system, 2024/2025.
In 27 games, he has 2 goals and 2 assists and is put on waivers, knowing he will get picked up and skate for another team for the 1st time in his pro career.
A somewhat struggling Boston Bruins reaches out to welcome him back to where he attend on year of post-school.
He’s not a big scorer with 1 goal and 1 assist in 16 games and is basically a point-per-game guy in the AHL, which gains him a new minor league deal for 2025/2026 with San Jose Barracuda.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ senior defenseman Christian Felton(2) is looking like he is ready to set up a collegiate career best season, already 1 goal and 1 assist in 11 games.
He had 2 goals and 4 assists as highs last season.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner from Medina, OH is maybe leaning in a little looking for scoring opportunities.
Transferring after 1 year at Bentley University Falcons, the 23-year old seems to have found his style in Hockey East play.
In his senior year, he would score new college bests 3 goals, 4 assists for 7 points, which he takes to a 1st pro contract, a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Vancouver Canucks.
He appears in only 13 games with affiliate Abbotsford Canucks and 7 in the ECHL before the injury bug takes him off his game.
For 2025/2026, he signs with Utah Grizzlies and should do really well.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior left wing Shane Ott(27) ran up a college high 25 goals and 34 points.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward did 3 years of junior hockey with his last in the NAHL.
From Centennial, CO, the 25-year old signed with Bloomington Bison and scored 12 assists in 14 ECHL games, but needs a new contract to return.
It’s an absolute no-brainer for him to return for his rookie slate in a Bison jersey.
New Hampshire Mountain Kings‘ 1st year left wing Frank D’Ancona(15) scored 6 goals and 2 assists in 31 NAHL games with a +2 rating after a trade sent him over.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward did 4 years of junior hockey, cycling through a few leagues.
From St. James, NY, the 21-year old commits to Norwich University Cadets for 2025/2026.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate center, assistant captain Chris Dodero(26) 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.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Ryan Leibold(16) signs a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays.
He transferred from 4 solid seasons at Holy Cross College Crusaders, where he had a college career high as a senior, 10 goals and 16 assists in 35 games with a +3 rating in Atlantic Hockey play.
The looks smaller 5’10” 194 lbs. forward is a spark plug on the ice and despite maybe not always getting points is right in the play at all times.
From Ashburn, VA, the 24-year old with 5 years of extra school under his belt should be able to assimilate himself nicely into the pro ranks.
He even got himself a pair of assists in a crushing 11-0 win against another top ranked ECHL team.
In 9 games, he scores a 1st league goal and adds 3 assists to earn himself a full look for his rookie season 2023/2024.
After a successful 1st pro frame, scoring 14 goals and 16 assists in 65 games with a +1 rating, he re-signs to stay with the Stingrays for 2024/2025.
He plays 5 games into his 2nd season scoring 2 assists and gets traded to Reading Royals, where he has 1 helper in 2 games.
Through 62 games, he had 12 goals and 8 assists, but Jacksonville Icemen see more of a use for him, so trade to get him.
UMASS Minutemen senior, assistant captain right wing Ryan Lautenback(43) takes a college best 15 assists to a 1st pro contract with San Diego Gulls for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
The 5’11” 190 lbs forward did 3 years of junior hockey, 2 with Omaha Lancers of the USHL.
He put up a high 39 assists in his final year before school.
From Dearborn, MI, the 24-year old signed after tourney play and is liked enough to retain.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ junior right wing Noah Serdachny(91) scored a college best 4 goals and 12 assists last season, but the team he transferred to from 2 years at Colorado College Tigers is heading to a new division in 2025/2026, so heads to yet another new school, Long Island University Sharks.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward did 2 years BCHL juniors, running up points, even in a shortened frame.
From Edmonton, AB, we think the 21-year old ignites at his 3rd school.
