Rochester Jr. Americans‘ 3rd year left wing Adam Gionta(12) selects close-ish to home Niagara University Purple Eagles for his commit 2026/2027.
The 5’8″ 170 lbs. forward scored better than point-per-game numbers last season and is likely to repeat similar stats in the current frame.
From Clarence Center, NY, the 19-year is the son of NHL great Brian Gionta , who is the Director Of Player Development at his future college and he did all his youth hockey in the Buffalo Jr. Sabres‘ system.
Misericordia University Cougars graduate goaltender Anthony Shrum(35) played a college best 12 games last season that he took to a 1st pro contract with Blue Ridge Bobcats.
In 3 FPHL games, the 6’2″ 194 lbs. net minder wins 2-0 games with a 1.73 GAA and .947 SV% to start.
He did 4 years at Worcester State University Lancers with only 7 games total played.
From Holland, MI, the 26-year old could easily sign or someone higher may swoop in.
It’s a no-brainer they want him back in a Bobcats‘ uniform for his official rookie season.
Almost on equal terms of barely having to think, he is signed by Cincinnati Cyclones to a 2-way deal for 2025/2026.
7th year right wing Casey Bailey(93) re-signs with Iserlohn Roosters after putting up a 2nd 40+ point season.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs forward has twice earlier hit the 40+ mark, first as a junior at Penn State University Nittany Lions, then as a 3rd year AHL player for Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
At 30-year old, the Anchorage, AK native is definitely still hitting the ice hard.
After a 3rd season with the same club, putting up 39 points in his last frame, he signs for 2023/2024 with DEL rivals ERC Ingolstadt.
He leaves 4 years in the league for some new waters, signing with the famous Graz99ers of IceHL, which should be a good country for him to play in.
Through 46 games, he scores 15 goals and 12 assists, so does alright, but decides to come back and play a little closer to home, signing with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.
Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior defenseman Nick Durajlija(38) signs a 1st pro deal in Finland’s tier 3 Suomi sarja, agreeing to terms for his rookie campaign with JHT Kalajoki, 2025/2026.
The massive 6’6″ 236 lbs. blue liner didn’t exactly burst his scoring slump, but did register 2 assists through 17 games.
From Hamilton, ON, we look for the 26-year old to play himself up over there, if he is looking for that.
6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(11) gets a new 1-year, 2-way deal from Anaheim Ducks for 2021/2022.
The unrestricted free agent signed a 1-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights last season and put up point-per-game numbers for affiliate Henderson Silver Knights.
Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#138 overall), he’s been a prolific scorer since he arrived to ultimate graduate St. Sebastian’s School before committing to 4 years at Boston University Terriers, where he scored 154 points (66-88) in 154 Hockey East games.
His dad Tom O’Regan took a similar path through school.
The 27-year old will likely be pivotal to affiliate San Diego Gulls‘ success.
Mid-season he is moved to Grand Rapids Griffins and his scoring takes flight with 14 goals and 17 assists in 39 games.
For 2023/2024, he will take his 1 NHL goal to a new adventure, signing with MoDo Hockey and we think he finds comfort in scoring in the SHL.
He scores just 4 goals and 8 assists in 34 games with a -9 rating, but Kunlun Red Star see something and sign him to a 1-year KHL deal for 2024/2025.
Through 65 games, he scores pretty well, but lacks some on-ice accountability and next decides to head to DEL, where he signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings for 2025/2026.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior defenseman Lincoln Erne(24) left school with new modest bests 1 goal and junior year tying 5 points, playing 41 games en route to a 2023 Atlantic Hockey Championship.
The very solid 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner, magically ascended to 29 assists in his 2nd NAHL frame as assistant captain for Minot Minotauros.
From Blaine, MN, the 24-year old signs a 1st pro deal with Tulsa Oilers for 2023/2024.
He actually ends up with Newfoundland Growlers and in 23 games has 6 assists, but Idaho Steelheads want him and trade to get him to reunite with a former college player on their team.
3 goals and 8 assists through 27 games is ok, but he once again finds himself on the trading block and is dealt to another team that allegedly want him, Jacksonville Icemen.
No points in 3 games and for 2024/2025 he will go to Iowa Heartlanders.
He has 1 goal and 1 assist in 14 games with a -1 rating and gets traded to Savannah Ghost Pirates to see if he can ignite scoring better.
In just 3 games, he has no points and is a -4 rating, so gets again moved, this time to Utah Grizzlies give him a home.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.
UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior left wing Blake Wells(54) heads into the transfer portal for a graduate season roughly 90 minutes west at American International College Yellowjackets.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward should find more room in Atlantic Hockey to score.
His best season was as a junior, getting 3 goals and 5 assists in 29 games.
The 23-year old Blackie, AB native played 2 seasons in the nearby AJHL for Okotoks Oilers before committing to school.
He comes away with a college best 4 goals and 6 assists in his extra frame and signs a pro deal with Utah Grizzlies, where we suspect he will find more room in the ECHL to score using his power forward size.
After 3 games with no points, they would like to see what he does in a full frame, so sign him to continue wearing a Grizzlies‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
He was season-ending injured on opening night in his rookie frame, but is set to go for a rookie run in 2025/2026 and signs with Tahoe Knight Monsters.
RPI Engineers‘ Latvian-born senior defenseman Arvils Bergmanis(38) played a college most 35 games, scoring a new high 4 goals and 4 assists.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner scored best as a sophomore at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks with 17 assists and 19 points.
He did youth hockey at home, but played 3 years of junior hockey in Russia and got into 3 KHL games.
For his rookie season, the former National league played signs a 1st ECHL pro deal with Rapid City Rush, 2025/2026.
13th year center Brian O’Neill(91) will skate the SHL for his 1st season, signing with Lulea HF for 2024/2025 after 2 NL frames for EV Zug.
Upon leaving North American pro hockey, the 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward spent 6 years in the KHL for Jokerit.
Undrafted, he played his 1st 3 seasons in Los Angeles Kings‘ system, winning the 2015 Calder Cup with affiliate Manchester Monarchs, getting voted MVP amongst other awards.
He would next be traded to New Jersey Devils, scoring 22 NHL games, getting 2 assists.
The 2-time Yale University Bulldogs‘ 20-goal scorer and 3-time 20+ assists for the former captain did 1 USHL year Chicago Steel before school.
We think the 35-year old still has some hockey to prove.
Off to a hot start in 2025/2026, he is rewarded with a 3-year deal to stay with Lulea HF.
Undrafted, 3rd year 6’6″ 195 lbs. defenseman David Drake(25) decided to take 2020/2021 off, as did his team of the past couple seasons, Reading Royals, despite them both being ready to re-up.
For 2021/2022 though, he is set to rejoin them and becomes one of the initial signings.
The former two year University Of Connecticut Huskies assistant captain actually signed for his rookie and sophomore sessions to their parent club, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but only played 9 AHL games, with 7 being after college graduation, gaining 2 assists.
Never the biggest scorer in college or a couple of years of junior hockey with Des Moines Buccaneers, he actually had 13 assists in ’19/20.
The 26-year old has found himself a nice home for hockey in PA.
He would last only 18 games in 2021/2022 before being sent to Wheeling Nailers, where he spent most of the season, but was also loaned up on a pair of occasions.
In his 4 games for Rochester Americans, he had an assist and was a +3.
For 2022/2023, he heads back to West Virginia, which might lead to his best success.
4 goals and 15 assists (both clearly career bests) and he has to return to continue wearing that Nailers‘ jersey.
He runs a best 18 assists and 20 points with a +18 rating in 65 ECHL games to be welcome back for 2024/2025.
In another 65 games, he records 14 assists, but looks elsewhere for a new contract and signs for 2025/2026 with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
