5th year center Mike Vecchione has one goal and 7 assists in 7 AHL games for his new club, Hershey Bears.
The 5’10” 194 lbs. has somehow only received through 5 major contracts one call to skate a pair of NHL games after graduating Union College Dutchmen, where he finished as a senior with an NCAA Division 1 most points (63), ECAC Player Of The Year and was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist.
He was also a rookie, when they almost fantastically captured the 2014 NCAA Division 1 Championship.
The Saugus, MA native was a big scorer at Malden Catholic High and in his 2nd session of junior hockey for Tri-City Storm of the USHL.
As a pro, he was a 40 point rookie player, then pitched for 38 and 36 in his first three seasons.
The 28-year old has to be on a short list for a recall with his new contract team, Washington Capitals.
He’s did score his summons, but in his one appearance skated a very conservative 10 shifts for 5:06 ice time with 3 shots on net.
His play for affiliate Hershey Bears is definitely still getting him notice, as he is that team’s top scorer and earns a new 2022/2023 two-way contract to continue.
Undrafted, UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior captain left wing Lucas Condotta(24) signs a 1-year NHL entry level contract with Montreal Canadiens after putting up a college best 10 goals and 13 assists in 33 NCAA Division 1 games with a +4 rating.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward from Georgetown, ON played 5 seasons of junior hockey in the OJHL, serving as captain of Markham Royals in his last two frames.
It looks like the 24-year old will ink an AHL ato with affiliate Laval Rocket and report there to get his feet wet.
Providence College Friars‘ graduate center Kohen Oleschefski(51) signs a 1st pro deal with Rochester Americans for the remainder of 2021/2022.
He’s coming off a solid session, where his totals were just a goal and an assist off his college career highs and was a +7 skater.
The 6’1″ 187 lbs. forward came to his new school on a year of eligibility through the transfer portal upon completing 4 seasons at University Of Denver Pioneers.
A native of Abbotsford, BC, he played a couple of BCHL frames, with his 2nd going off the hook for 52 assists in 58 games for Chilliwack Chiefs.
No points in his first 2 AHL games, but the 24-year old can’t be too far off.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior left wing, Russian-born Vladislav Firstov(8) will leave a year of school on the table, as the Minnesota Wild 2nd round pick in the 2019 draft (#42 overall) is going to sign a 3-year entry level deal and get things started with affiliate Iowa Wild.
He put up almost identical numbers this past season as he did in his freshman year and was a point-per-game guy in a limited schedule as a sophomore.
The 6’1 181 lbs. forward had a similar run in one year of USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks.
His college team was able to make a deep run in Hockey East playoffs for a 1st time ever, and at only 20-years old he will likely be banging on the door for his shot at the NHL.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate student, defenseman Joey Matthews(4) came over from 4 years at Dartmouth College Big Green and leaves with a new best 2 goals and college career tying 9 points from 2021/2022.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. blue liner has signed his 1st pro contract with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
He played a pair of seasons in USHL juniors before committing to school.
The 24-year old from Columbia, IL should be able to impress quickly in the ECHL.
3rd year defenseman John Furgele(21) has figured into 4 ECHL games with new team, Worcester Railers and already has a goal to his credit.
He, like a good many other players took 2020/2021 off due to COVID restrictions.
The year previous though, he bounced around amongst 4 different teams.
He was more settled as a rookie, spending 51 games with Maine Mariners, reaching career high 8 goals and 13 assists.
In 2 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats before entering the transfer portal and finishing up as assistant captain for Quinnipiac University Bobcats, he averaged 10 helpers.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. d-man had an interesting juniors’ route through a pair of NAHL campaigns with Bismarck Bobcats before ending up back closer to home in the EHL, where he won the 2013 Championship and then stayed as they switched to the USPHL before heading to school.
It would be little suprise to see the 28-year old breakout with some numbers this season.
And indeed that sort of happened as he has equaled his high 13 assists, set as a rookie, and has a new best +12 rating.
Almost oddly he gets dealt from one team fighting to retain playoff berth to another in roughly the same position, Tulsa Oilers.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2019 draft, Boston University Terriers‘ junior defenseman Alex Vlasic(43) signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal and foregoes his final year at college.
The very big 6’6″ 211 lbs. blue liner could potentially join them immediately.
He had a college career best 7 assists and tying 8 points in 2021/2022.
The sort of close to home Wilmette, IL native spent two years in the USNTDP program and twice had 20+ helpers.
At just 20-years old, he still could be ready to start shining in the show.
Tampa Bay Lightning were rumored to have interest in Merrimack College Warriors‘ junior defenseman Declan Carlile(3) and they confirm the news, signing him to a 2-year NHL entry level deal that will see him report to affiliate Syracuse Crunch to start.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner had a college career year with a best 7 goals, 24 points and +14 rating in 35 NCAA Division 1 games.
For juniors, he first headed north and won a 2018 OJHL Championship with Wellington Dukes, passing ahead an impressive 33 helpers, then added 5 goals and 8 assists in 25 playoff games before committing to school and likely agreeing to a year in the USHL before school.
He split time between a couple of different clubs, but was able to access 15 assists.
The Flint, MI native got to school and as a freshman ran up 18 assists as a freshman, so that had to get the now still young 21-year old on the radar screen.
Pittsburgh Penguins jump quickly to sign Princeton University Tigers‘ graduating senior right wing Corey Andonovski(27) to a 2-year NHL entry level contract.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. had solid scoring as a senior and sophomore, but didn’t play as a junior due to COVID.
An Uxbridge, ON native, he played one BCHL season for Chilliwack Chiefs with 16 goals and 22 assists.
He was very strong at school attending St. Andrew’s College.
The 22-year old will report to affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to start his pro career.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Billy Sweezey(6) takes a decent first year playing through a pandemic mess for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring no goals but 4 assists in 22 AHL games with a +2 rating to a new league deal with rival Cleveland Monsters.
The sturdy 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner has never been much of a point-getter, except as a junior and senior at Noble & Greenough School USHS-Prep, when he walked away with 20 & 18 assists.
He had an almost opposite one year in USHL juniors with Chicago Steel, scoring 3 goals but only getting one assist.
The Hanson, MA native only scored 3 goals through 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs and on a couple of occasions flirted with 10 assists (9 as a sophomore and 8 senior).
A more stay-at-home style d-man, the 25-year old could become a valuable + player on his new club.
His 4 goals and 6 assists with a +6 rating in 45 games has earned the sturdy d-man a 2-year NHL entry level deal with parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets through 2024.
