Montreal Canadiens‘ 1st round pick in the 2019 draft (#15 overall), the small and speedy Cole Caufield(44) finally got in a first AHL game with affiliate Laval Rocket, a couple of weeks after signing his 3-year entry level contract post two huge scoring seasons at University Of Wisconsin.
As he was readying for his pro debut, he was given the news that indeed he won the 2021 Hobey Baker Award, as the best player in college hockey, something few people doubted he would receive.
The 5’7″ 165 lbs. forward got right to business in his initial appearance striking for his team’s first tally, later would come up with the game-winner and also grabbed an assist, leaving the game with a +1 rating in a 5-3 win.
It’s tough to say if the quick pivot with excellent hands will get the nod to skate with the big league club in this frame or simply continue to help guide the minor league squad for a potential championship.
There is little doubt though, the 20-year old Wisconsin native, who played 99 games scoring 159 points in his 2nd session with the USNTDP and U18, is just getting started.
UMass Minutemen undrafted junior left wing Garrett Wait(12) potted the overtime game-winner in the 3-2 win to propel them to a 2nd straight NCAA Division 1 National Championship.
They ousted the team that beat them in the final game of 2019, two-time title collector, University Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward came to the school after two years at University Of Minnesota Gophers and was able to over double his scoring totals in the first year of his new school to 9 goals and 8 assists in 28 games with a phenomenal +18 rating.
For the former Waterloo Blackhawks‘ striker, beating another team from his former school’s state must have been a little extra nice.
Kenai River Brown Bear undrafted forward Theo Thrun(16) may have had a better rookie campaign with the team than he has in a pandemic infest 2020/2021 go at a season.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. pivot scored 17 goals and 21 assists in 40 NAHL games last year but has only struck for 6 so far this run with 15 helpers.
Probably nice he picked to commit to Western Michigan University early in 2020, and we wouldn’t think anything of what transpires with the remainder of this session.
The 20-year is likely just looking forward.
Former Merrimack College captain, Finnish-born Sami Tavernier(79) played one AHL game for Syracuse Crunch on an ato after graduating last season but decided to move on for his official rookie campaign to his other homeland, France’s Ligue Magnus joining Chamonix, where he struck for a quick 4 goals and 7 assists in 11 games.
He was scooped by Kalpa to come home there and join the fight for the 2020/2021 season.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward pocketed 2 goals and 3 assists in 22 Liiga games with a +4 rating.
He came from scoring decently in college but has yet to really connect with the scoresheet, although that could come, especially if he re-signs, where he’s at.
Nashville Predators‘ sophomore defenseman Jeremy Davies(38) gets a first NHL point, an assist in his 9th appearance in the big league with a +3 rating.
Originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 7th round pick in the 2016 draft (#192 overall), the 5’11” 180 lbs. blue liner received the call-up after posting 9 assists in 9 AHL games with current affiliate Chicago Wolves.
He was involved in a summer 2019 trade that changed his address to the midwest.
His college commitment to Northeastern University Huskies was made after a 2nd successful year with Central Illinois Flying Aces of the USHL, where he amassed 36 helpers, so he looks to be good at this.
In his 2nd and 3rd years at college before leaving he had 29 and 28 assists, and even as a rookie with Milwaukee Admirals had 24.
No word on how long he’ll stick at this recall, but at the very least he’s making an argument to stay and for a new deal as he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Russian-born, giant 6’4″ 215 lbs. defenseman Yan Kuznetsov(2) decides to leave a crazy 2nd year of only 16 NCAA games played with University Of Connecticut Huskies to sign his 3-year entry level contract with Calgary Flames.
He was chosen (2nd round in 2020, #50 overall) after a strong freshman campaign, where he tallied modest career highs of 2 goals and 9 assists in 34 appearances with a +5 rating.
The only just turned 19-year old did most of his youth hockey in the homeland but came over for a 2019 Clark Cup Champion season with Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL before committing to college.
He will report immediately to affiliate Stockton Heat to get started.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ commit for 2021/2022, Mark D’Agostino(12) had a strike in last night’s drubbing of his NAHL junior club Danbury Hat Tricks got the second goal, his 9th of the season, in the 8-3 loss.
The Connecticut native was due to report to Langley Rivermen of the BCHL but with a raging pandemic going on looks to have decided to stay closer to home to pursue the next step after skating all of his at Yale Jr. prep and a fantastic high school career with The Gunnery, both close by to home.
So, essentially with his next move, the 6′ 175 lbs. forward will join his fourth CT home for hockey, and if gets signed can only go to Carolina Hurricanes, former Hartford Whalers, or grab a minor league deal with a few teams, so all his friends can still come to see him play.
We shall watch progress.
Bentley University Falcons‘ undrafted sophomore center Matt Gosiewski(12) had a 3 point game with a pair of goals in the opening round playoff matchup vs. Air Force University Falcons in a 6-3 win to advance.
The big 6’4″ 210 lbs. forward took an interesting route from his Connecticut home to committing to a college team.
He started in the USHL, then moved onto a campaign in the BCHL, only to return and finally sign with Wanatchee Wild up north juniors for his best production ever (28-23 in 50 games) in his fourth season and has continued pace in two years of college.
His 2020/2021 numbers were on pace to eclipse what he posted as a rookie.
No doubt the junior is going to be looked to as a leader next season and may even be given the ‘C’.
Minnesota Wild‘s 1st round pick in the 2019 draft (#12 overall) Boston College‘s 2nd year left wing Matt Boldy(12) signs his 3-year entry level deal after finishing up another solid campaign for his school team.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward scored a new best 11 goals and 20 assists in a third less games than he played as a rookie.
Before committing he would come off a pair of runs for the USNTDP club, where on different levels he played in a season total of 100 games twice.
The just 4 days shy of his 2oth birthday is a full-on impact player that will certainly be up with the big club sooner than later.
Boston College‘s Alex Newhook(18) leaves school after 1.5 seasons, including a heartbreaking ouster in the 2021 NCAA Division 1 Tournament after a COVID inflicted session, which included only 12 games but a solid 7 goals and 9 assists performance to easily cement Colorado Avalanche‘s desire to pull him in now on a 3-year entry level deal.
The former high-scoring BCHL Victoria Grizzlies‘ forward will report to affiliate Colorado Eagles to get the wheels in motion, though could be summoned for some time with the big club this season ,but if not, will put up a fight to make the team out of camp for 2021/2022.
