Pittsburgh Penguins signed undrafted, two year Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ defenseman Josh Maniscalco(24) to a 3-year entry level deal after his most impressive frame, scoring 11 goals and 21 assists in 36 NCAA WCHA appearances, then the playoffs got scrapped and his upcoming season was potentially going to be put on pause.
The fairly large 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner was assigned to affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but has found it difficult to grab space to play.
He has been mostly out of the lineup in 31 AHL games, appearing only in 8 with no points but is a +1 rating for his efforts.
The PA native skated a pair of campaigns for the USNTDP team before moving along to a nicely impressive run as Dubuque Fighting Saints team captain, which got him 9 goals and 23 assists in 59 USHL games.
Once the 22-year old finds his opening, it’s likely he’ll start connecting.
He was selected in the 5th round of 2015 (#126 overall).
The massive 6’5″ 207 lbs. forward has yet to record a point in 12 games.
He left 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs with a college career high 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points in a playoff cut short 2019/2020, and was definitely a decent scorer at prep school, especially in his final year, where he popped the sheet with 24 goals and 31 assists in only 28 games.
That’s great math.
It seems a little odd that the huge frame pivot and son of Kevin Stevens (874 NHL games, 329 goals, 397 assists) wouldn’t just sit in front of the net to pop in tallies, but it’s possible the 24-year old is still working on that in his game.
Utica Comets‘ rookie right wing Shawn Cameron(15) spent the first part of his pro career on reassignment to kind of cool ECHL affiliate Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he pockets 3 goals and 4 assists in 13 games with a +7 rating to be on his way to a recall.
The solid 5’11” 195 lbs. forward came up early last month and has been basically in the lineup going forward, scoring a goal and 2 assists and even has a multi-point streak.
He spent four seasons with the team, leaving with a college career best 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points with a +5 rating in a COVID busted the playoffs’ season.
The 25-year old will likely find another year where he is or another AHL contract elsewhere for his potential.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. forward showed up a 2nd time for his best junior outing with Fargo Force, getting new bests 14 goals, 31 assists for 45 points and a +15 rating.
He would take these totals to a 2018 USHL Clark Cup Championship, grabbing another 9 points (2-7) in 14 playoff games on the way to the title.
It would be early during this time in America that he would commit to college.
The 23-year old will likely continue to press and hopefully score with more frequency to earn space up in the highest league, SHL.
He is currently with Indy Fuel and has an assist in 3 games, coming over from Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where in 20 appearances he had only a goal and 2 assists.
Initially signing with Norfolk Admirals and Cincinnati Cyclones for the current session, both unfortunately opted out due to restrictions caused by the pandemic.
The decently sized 6’1″ 200 lbs. blue liner had a more effective campaign as a rookie with Utah Grizzlies, getting himself 7 tallies and 16 helpers, which completely outdid any numbers he produced through four years at college.
A Newmarket, ON native, he had a pair of spectacular showings in junior hockey up north in the OJHL with Aurora Tigers, twice capturing the title of most goals by a defenseman in the league.
Tough to say where the 25-year old will look next to play coming off a disappointing, tough to navigate year.
The bonus video section with the Northeastern University Huskies 2021/2022 commit featuring many more questions about his time with the USPHL/NCDCJr. Bruins and the future outlook, now that’s he’s heading to play at an amazing Division 1 Hockey East school.
Jack Drury(13) basically had the best hockey experience he probably never even imagined, as his college team of two seasons, Harvard University Crimson had their playoff picture scrapped at the end of 2019/2020, then was going to shudder for 2020/2021 due to COVID complications.
The 6′ 175 lbs. forward took a few months to consider options and what came up was seemingly the best one to pursue, sign with Vaxjo Lakers to start his pro hockey career.
He played 41 games in 2020/2021 scoring 10 goals and 20 assists with a +10 rating, then struck for another 5 goals and 6 assists in 14 playoff appearances with a +5 en route to the 2021 SHL Championship.
The ball is now in Carolina Hurricanes‘ court, who picked him in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft (#42 overall), to sign him to an entry level deal to keep the 21-year old around.
After 4 seasons with St. Lawrence University Saints, serving as team captain for the last two, defenseman Dylan Woolf(2) turns pro signing with Florida Everblades for what’s left of 2021, but there is a playoff run with this squad, he will definitely hope to be part of.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner has never been known for his point totals, instead is more of a stay at home style, handing out punishment to offenders.
It’s likely a really good time for the former, 3 season Lincoln Stars‘ d-man to sign, as his college team had a very good run in the COVID broken 2020/2021.
The 25-year old MN native may find a good home down south but considering how this outing has gone, nothing is for certain.
He had an outstanding third and final year of juniors with Jamestown Rebels scoring 16 goals and 26 assists in 52 NAHL games, which got him noticed by his college.
We have little doubt the 21-year old, who originally committed to a DIII school, will be picking up the pace as he heads into his sophomore season at the DI.
