8th year center T.J. Tynan(9) for the 2nd straight AHL season is the league’s MVP.
He has played 498 games, scoring 85 goals and a massive 361 assists with a +77 rating.
Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#66 overall), he has only skated 21 NHL games, recording 1 assist.
He was selected after an explosive freshman campaign at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and at the conclusion of his sophomore session.
The 30-year old needs a new contract to extend with Los Angeles Kings, as he is an unrestricted free agent or try his hand with another club.
He always rolls huge assists and 3 years did for Ontario Reign, but re-signs to head back to Colorado Avalanche, where he played 16 games, but will likely end up with another season in a Colorado Eagles‘ jersey.
In 52 games, he scores 8 goals and 41 assists with a +12 rating and also appears in 9 games with the big club, recording 1 assist.
For 2025/2026, he signs a 1-year, 1-way deal to stay an Avalanche.
In 67 games, he amasses 47 assists and the unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with Springfield Thunderbirds, returning to the city he got his pro career start in back 2014 for 2026/2027.
Long Island University Sharks‘ junior left wing Riley Wallack(23) played only 14 games last season, but scored 6 goals and 5 assists with a +4 rating, which he takes into the transfer portal and will next skate at Ferris State University Bulldogs.
The huge 6’6″ 220 lbs. forward did 4 years BCHL juniors before college.
From South Surrey, BC, we look for the 24-year old to establish himself pro.
Sure enough, he signs for 2026/2027 with Fort Wayne Komets.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate defenseman Aiden Hansen-Bukata(29) had a 3rd straight season of outstanding assists that captured the eye of Syracuse Crunch upon finishing up tournament play.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward signs for his rookie season with Utah Grizzlies.
From Vancouver, BC, we see the former 4-year RIT Tigers‘ 24-year old as getting loaned up and may stick.
As a rookie, he posts a massive 40 assists campaign and even gets a helper on loan to Colorado Eagles.
For 2026/2027, he signs overseas with Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL.
Minnesota Wild 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#116 overall) center Bryce Misley(18) must have jumped at the opportunity to sign his first deal, an ato with affiliate Iowa Wild to show a little of what he’s able to produce after coming off a piss poor COVID busted 2020/2021 University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ NCAA Hockey East schedule of only 14 games.
In 9 AHL games, the 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward has a goal and 2 assists with a multipoint spread.
While not scoring big numbers through 4 years of college, the Calgary, AB native did hit the score sheet hard as a point-per-game producer through 2 seasons of junior hockey with Oakville Blades of the OJHL (45-56 in 99).
The 21-year old has yet to sign his entry level deal and ends up inking a 1-year minor league deal to stay in the system.
He is reassigned down to affiliate Iowa Heartlanders, scoring 11 goals and 19 assists, but unfortunately was a bit of an abysmal -29 rating on a team that struggled.
For 2022/2023, he has decided to split the scene and sign with Asiago of IceHL and should find his scoring elevates nicely.
He posts 9 goals and 30 assists in 49 games to earn himself another 2-year deal to continue.
In his time, he does pretty well on the scoresheet, but definitely could up his on-ice accountability, but will head next to skate for the “hometown” Italian team in the league, HC Bozen-Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.
He gets 9 goals in 48 games and is asked to return a 2nd year with the Foxes, 2026/2027.
Undrafted Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 8th year center Evan Rodrigues(17) had a career best 24 assists and 43 points last season, but was going to earn to much heading into the new frame to keep around, so the unrestricted agent was free to hunt for a new deal.
The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward signs with 2022 Stanley Cup Champions Colorado Avalanche for 2022/2023.
He has been a full-time NHL player for the last 4 seasons.
A bit of an inconsistent performer through 4 years at Boston University Terriers, he completely came alive as a senior assistant captain, striking for 21 goals and 40 assists in 41 NCAA Division 1 games with a +30 rating.
39 points in 69 games for his new club, then 5 points in 7 in the playoffs and this unrestricted free agent at 29-years of age is looking good for a long-term deal.
Florida Panthers waste little time, offering him $3M AAV through 2026/2027.
In the final year of his deal, New Jersey Devils come looking to add some scoring up front and trade for a 2-time Stanley Cup recipient.
9th year defenseman Will Borgen(17) gets traded to a system, where he could easily see himself on the increase side of scoring, as a Boston Bruins.
The 6’3″ 206 lbs. blue liner had 5 goals and 10 assists in 75 games last year with a +3 rating.
Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2015 draft (#92 overall), he left 3 years at St. Cloud State University Huskies to turn pro.
He next signed with Seattle Kracken, where he stayed for 4 seasons.
From Moorhead, MN, the 29-year may just be arriving.
Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Shane Gersich(29) grabs another one-year, two-way deal to stick around in the prospect system.
The University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ 3-year forward has consistently put up respectable numbers for affiliate Hershey Bears.
He started his pro career with 3 NHL games fresh off his junior year at school, grabbed an assist and even skated a pair of playoff appearances en route to the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship.
The 24-year old has to be fairly happy with the way things are turning out for this 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#134 overall).
For 2022/2023, he re-signs on a minor league deal to stay where he is after recording a career high 14 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating.
After a 5th season where he’s been and a brand new 2023 Calder Cup Trophy to bear, he decides to look on and signs a 1-year deal with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should do very well.
We pretty much thought what has occurred would, he takes a good frame in Sweden’s tier 2 league, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games to a higher level of hockey next, signing with Iserlohn Roosters of DEL for 2024/2025.
He does ok with 16 goals and 21 assists in 51 games, but decides to look for another opportunity and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.
After putting up some pretty amazing scoring numbers, he decides to sign with rivals, Vienna Capitals for 2026/2027.
Augustus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior defenseman Charlie Risk(44) will take his game to France2 and signs with Mont Blanc for 2023/2024.
He had a college hockey best 5 goals last season, but had his best totals as a junior with 19 assists and 23 points.
The 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner from Medicine Hat, AB did a couple of junior seasons up north with some decent results.
At 24-years old, he may be ready for the next pro adventure and should do ok where he is heading.
He scores 1 goal and 10 assists in 23 games and decides to return to hockey a little closer to home, signing with Huntsville Havoc for 2024/2025.
With 5 goals and 33 assists in 53 games with a +3 rating, he earns the eyes of Maine Mariners, who sign him to a 2-way ECHL deal for 2025/2026.
He is reassigned back down and scores 3 assists in 5 SPHL games with a +7 rating and he eyes a new opportunity for maybe some better hockey overseas he wants to explore and signs with SC Riessersee of Germany3.
Returning to the Havoc mid-season, in 8 games he has 3 assists and we expect that to grow almost immediately and even still possibly play for a loan up.
He would score pretty decently, but for 2026/2027, he is off again, this time the NIHL and signs with Basingstoke Bison.
Air Force Academy Falcons‘ graduate defenseman Luke Rowe(41) takes a college career best 23 assists and 29 points to a 1st pro AHL contract with Ontario Reign.
The fairly big 6’1″ 209 lbs. blue liner from Succasunna, NJ worked his way up from 2 EHL seasons with New Jersey Rockets to sticking with the team as they transitioned a move to the USPHL/NCDC that he did an final impactful frame for with Junior Bruins, as captain striking for 11 goals and 26 assists in 50 games.
He was actually an invite to New Jersey Devils‘ development camp before the start of last season.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Bridgeport Islanders for 2025/2026.
For 2026/2027, he stays inside the organization and signs a 1-year deal with the new affiliate, Hamilton Hammers.
New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#75 overall) center Blake Coleman(20) suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of all but 14 AHL games of his rookie campaign with affiliate Albany Devils (4 goals, 3 assists).
The 5’11” 200 lbs. pivot didn’t let that sidetrack him too much as he had a strong training camp, was one of the last cuts to be reassigned, then got right to work.
In 34 games he is tied for team lead with 13 goals and 10 assists with a best +15 rating.
He’s always been pretty good connecting the puck with the net, basically winning every scoring award category including USA Hockey Junior Player Of The Year in his 2nd season for Indiana Ice of the USHL.
Through four years of college at Miami University (Ohio) he was a point per game guy as a senior and missed a second 20 goal showing by one, while helping his squad win the 2015 NCAA/NCHC Championship.
The 25-year old skated a decent amount of shifts for at least 11+ minutes of ice time in his first two NHL appearances.
There’s little doubt he has the tenacity to become a full-time player in the show but will have to continue to work hard for his opportunities.
He has certainly earned his time as an upper league player, amassing some 693 games at this point, winning 2020 & 2021 Stanley Cup trophies with Tampa Bay Lightning and scored a career high 30 goals with Calgary Flames just a few years ago.
Well, in the off season he is dealt in the final year of his contract to Minnesota Wild for a new start.
