Boston University Terriers‘ 2022 Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick (#62 overall), freshman defenseman Lane Hutson(48) is off to a monster start, scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 14 NCAA Division 1 games with a +6 rating.
The fairly small 5’9″ 155 lbs. blue liner ran up some hefty scoring totals in his 2nd session with USNTDP, pocketing just 10 goals, but 53 assists in 60 USHL games with an overwhelming +59 rating.
An only 18-year older from Holland, MI, he looks like he won’t be sticking around in school for too long before accepting his NHL entry level deal, now doesn’t he?
He runs up almost identical freshman/sophomore stats (49 points) and an overall +39 rating through 77 games and taking it all the way to the Frozen Four twice, but that’s enough for the now 20-year old, who signs a 3-year entry level deal with his draft club and steps right into action.
Early in his debut, he sets up the opening goal by his team for a 1st NHL assist and point for himself.
He skates 23 shifts for 21:54 ice time with 1 shot on net and left the game a -1 rating, as his team squandered the lead to a desperate for a win club.
For the 2024/2025 season, he is selected as Rookie Of The Year for an outstanding performance for 6 goals and a massive 60 assists in 73 games.
He has 1 assist in 3 games to start 2025/2026, but is rewarded quickly with a new 8-year $70.8M contract, working out to a tidy $8.85AAV to stay a Canadiens long-term.
Rhode Island HC 1st year defenseman Ryan Drust(2) scores 2 goals and 7 assists in 46 EHL games last season and commits to Roger Williams University Hawks for 2025/2026.
The 6′ 174 lbs. blue liner, 21-year old from Wallingford, CT should do ok with the college hockey schedule.
Long Island University Sharks‘ senior transfer from Merrimack College Warriors, defenseman Trevor Griebel(5) looks like a man on a mission out there.
The 5’10” 165 lbs. blue liner did 2 years BCHL, then 2 USHL before college.
From Tampa, FL, the 24-year looks to figure into all games with the team this season.
5th year right wing Anthony Angello(17) signs a 1-year NHL deal with St. Louis Blues, as an unrestricted free agent after spending the 1st 4 years of his pro career in Pittsburgh Penguins‘ organization.
The towering 6’5″ 209 lbs. forward twice scored 16 goals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has definitely shown a perchance for potential big numbers.
He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#145 overall).
The Albany, NY native did 3 years at Cornell University Big Red before leaving to sign his entry level contract.
At 26-years old, he could be just arriving.
He is acquired late season by Nashville Predators, who send him directly to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, where he helps their deep 2023 Calder Cup Playoff push.
It’s little doubt he is signed quickly to a 2-year 2-way deal though 2024/2025.
A trade sent him to Tampa Bay Lightning organization, he was reassigned to close by home Syracuse Crunch and scored well in 19 games.
With no deal going forward, he decides to leave hockey after 339 AHL games and 31 NHL games to his credit and could actually head back for his senior year somewhere is a possibility we see.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ junior center Casey McDonald(67) enters the transfer portal as his school isn’t playing in 2025/2026 due to switching down to D3, so will go as a senior with Long Island University Sharks and serves as team captain.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward scored 1 goal in his debut with his new team.
From Kindersley, SK, he did 3 years in juniors, with his last up north for a BCHL Championship before college.
The 24-year old is a natural leader on ice.
Long Island University Sharks‘ commit for 2021/2022 right wing Isaiah Fox(8) gives us the peace nod that his club Maine Nordiques clinched their berth into the upcoming playoffs.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. blue liner has posted similar numbers in his pair of NAHL seasons scoring a pretty phenomenal 16 goals and new best 23 assists and 39 points in 49 games and should be ready for a good showing as a rookie.
After 4 years, with his best scoring season as a junior, 14 goals and 20 assists in a college high 37 games, he is ready to move on and turns pro, signing a standard player contract with Adirondack Thunder.
We think he does well in the ECHL to start.
In his 1st 17 games, he scores 3 goals and 7 assists with a +1 rating to easily grab a new contract for his rookie season, 2025/2026 as a Thunder.
Well, he can’t even get his 1st campaign going and in a bit of a shocker is traded to Iowa Heartlanders, who likely really need him to fill in their blue line.
Boston University Terriers‘ sophomore center Sacha Boisvert(9) transferred from just a single frame with University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, where he continued his healthy scoring 18 goals and 14 assists in 37 games last season.
A Chicago Blackhawks‘ 1st round NHL pick in the 2024 draft (#17 overall), he had more than point-per-game numbers in his 2nd USHL year, as assistant captain with Muskegon Lumberjacks.
From Trois Rivieres, QC, the 19-year scored his 1st goal with his new team and added 2 assists in his Hockey East debut.
We see how long he stays.
Salem State University Vikings‘ English-born senior left wing Rais Francis(74) signs a 1st pro contract back home for his rookie season with Manchester Storm, 2025/2026.
In 4 EIHL games, he has yet to register a point.
The very big 6’6″ 220 lbs. forward had a college best 6 goals and tied his junior 11 points as a senior.
He initially committed to Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen after 2 years of cycling through 3 junior leagues and would stay there for 2 years before doing his junior frame at Western New England University Golden Bears.
We look for the 24-year old to settle in an catch on scoring.
Calgary Flames‘ 8th year center Kevin Rooney(21) gets re-upped for a 1-year extension, as his 2-year deal was set to expire.
He signed for the same money $1.3M.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward has skated for 3 different teams, originally signed by New Jersey Devils after 4 years and an 2015 NCAA Division 1 national title with Providence College Friars.
He almost ironically seemed to do best in 2 seasons with New York Rangers before heading to his current club.
The 30-year old from Canton, MA has to be pretty happy how things have turned out.
After adding training camp look that didn’t quite settle, Utah Mammoth step in and offer him a 1-year 2-way deal for 2025/2026.
Northern Cyclones‘ 1st year left wing Nick Blanchette(21) takes 5 goals and 5 assists in 36 USPHL Premier games to a 2025/2026 commit at Franklin Pierce University Ravens.
The 5’9″ 154 lbs. forward, 20-year old from Kingston, NH may find better footing scoring in college hockey.
