San Jose Sharks‘ acquired defenseman Henry Thrun(3) from draft team Anaheim Ducks, where he was selected in the 4th round of 2019 (#101 overall) and after 3 years at Harvard University Crimson, putting up just about equal stats as a sophomore and junior with 7 goals and 25/24 assists, he has decided to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal to turn pro.
The big 6’2″ 195 lbs. blue liner skated his 1st big league game with his new pro team, getting a tough 4-3 OT win and him picking up a pair of assists in the conquest, earning a 2nd star of the game.
He has always been a good assist guy, twice with 10+, almost 20 when with the USNTDP, when he got drafted.
The 22-year old from Southborough, MA plays to form and will likely do very well for himself.
In his 16th appearance, for the new year 2024, he steps up to score a first big league goal.
He is handily playing himself into a full-time role with the big club and it’s now extended for another 2-year to continue that growth in a Sharks‘ sweater for the big man on d.
In maybe an oddball move, he gets shipped to Toronto Maple Leafs with a year remaining on his low-pay contract and he should shine pretty bright on a team that could really use him to improve.
He spends the lions share of the year with affiliate Toronto Marlies and would help them win the 2026 Calder Cup Championship.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs for 2026/2027 with Winnipeg Jets.
Columbus Blue Jackets‘ signed 3rd year Clarkson University center Josh Dunne(40) to his two-year entry level deal and was assigned to affiliate Cleveland Monsters scoring his 1st pro AHL goal in his 5 appearance.
The big 6’4″ 209 lbs. forward was an unrestricted free agent, leaving school after scoring 29 goals and 26 assists for 55 points with a +9 rating.
He spent three years with Green Bay Gamblers grabbing 74 points in 140 USHL games and close to point per game production in his final campaign before committing to school.
It may take him a little time in the minors, but if he can start more that frame around the net for scoring chances, look for him to get the nod to move up.
He’s working his game in the minors, but this last playoffs, he achieved something scoring he hadn’t yet: 7 goals and 4 assists in 14 games with a +7 rating has given Buffalo Sabres reason to offer him a 2-year, 2-way deal.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year NHL deal with Washington Capitals for 2026/2027.
10th year veteran defenseman Jamie Oleksiak(24) gets picked up by Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, as he was scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency after the 3-year deal, originally signed with Pittsburgh Penguins, but had him return to his draft club of 8 seasons, Dallas Stars (round 1, 2011, #14 overall) was set to expire.
At 6’7″ 255 lbs. he may be a couple inches short of the tallest player in the league, but at 255 lbs. is the heaviest,
As he gets an official transfer, the 28-year old immediately signs a 5-year deal worth some $23M to stick with his new team long-term.
Not exactly the biggest point scorer, he has 24 goals and 48 assists in 369 NHL games.
He has also appeared in 171 AHL contests and helped Texas Stars win the 2014 Calder Cup Championship.
The former 1-year Northeastern University Huskies‘ blue liner was set to spend some time in school before signing his entry level deal but after one and a half campaigns in the USHL, splitting time with a couple of clubs, decided to head to the OHL for a single stint before turning pro.
He would spend 5 years with the same club, but for 2026/2027 as a now 33-year old he looks for maybe a little more money and signs with Vancouver Canucks for 2-years at a cool $5M AAV.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ junior left wing Nick Rheaume(26) transferred from UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, where he had a college best 9 goals and 4 assists last season and has 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 games in the current frame.
The 6’3″ 195 lbs. forward did 2 BCHL seasons, scoring really well in his 2nd after attending Cushing Academy USHS-Prep.
From Sherbrooke, QC, the 22-year old continues to play Hockey East.
Undrafted, he decides to leave a year on the table to sign with Toronto Marlies for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.
He would spend the entire season with affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones, scoring pretty nicely, but as a free agent able to sign anywhere for 2026/2027 and Iowa Wild agree to terms with him.
Colorado Avalanche swooped in on the opening day of unrestricted free agency to grab 4th year defenseman Jack Ahcan(15), who was set to become a group 6 ufa after being under contract for 3 seasons with initial signing club, Boston Bruins after he completed 4 years at St. Cloud State University Falcons.
The small 5’8″ but wide 180 lbs. blue liner will likely head to affiliate Colorado Eagles, as last season he dished out a minor league career best 31 assists and 36 points with Providence Bruins.
We do think the 26-year old from Savage, MN gets some looks from the big club for a recall, as he does have 1 NHL goal in 9 games.
He does score the recall for 2 games with no points and a 0 rating before heading back to the minors, where he was a top scorer with 5 goals and 36 assists in 69 games with a +6 rating to earn another 1-year deal to stay an Avalanche.
After a new best 11 goals and 39 assists in 61 AHL games with a +24 rating, he is eyed by Nashville Predators, who offer him a 2-year deal to sign.
7th year center Matthew Peca(63) signs a new 1-year, 2-way deal with St. Louis Blues for 2021/2022 after coming off one season for Ottawa Senators, which saw him play in 5 games with one assist.
Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#201 overall), the twice 10+ goals and 2-time 20+ assist Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ player has skated 78 NHL games.
The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward is likely to start with new affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, but could easily score some more looks in the show for the 28-year old.
After putting up some decent stats for the farm club, the Petawawa, ON native scores a recall to his new team and has an additional assist (6-15) in now 81 games.
Coming off his former deal, which saw him re-sign for 2-years, but receive no further looks despite posting some continued impressive AHL numbers.
For his next step he signs a 2-year minor league deal to stay in western Massachusetts.
The 3-year captain of his current club gets himself a trade for a new beginning to Syracuse Crunch at the deadline.
He wouldn’t stick for long, as the unrestricted free agent signs a 2-year deal to join close by Rochester Americans through 2027/2028.
Vancouver Canucks‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#195 overall), senior left wing Aidan McDonough(25) signs his 2-year entry level deal after finishing up 4 years at Northeastern University Huskies, including his last as team captain, scoring 1 point off his junior career high with a college best 18 assists, 39 points (25 goals, 14 assists).
He could join the parent club immediately.
The 6’3″ 190 lbs. is big on his skates and plays an effective power forward style.
In the only year of USHL junior hockey he skated, he scored 21 goals and 21 assists for Cedar Rapids Roughriders.
The 23-year old from Milton, MA has a bright future ahead of him and we bet he’ll be playing for it.
He does join the big league immediately with 6 games and gets a 1st NHL goal, but is reassigned for his entire rookie frame to affiliate Abbotsford Canucks, scoring 11 goals and 8 assists with a +2 rating.
Almost oddly maybe, he isn’t given a qualifying offer and signs an AHL deal for 2024/2025 with Charlotte Checkers that should heed great results.
He is a point-per-game player with his new club, but is a free agent and signs for 1-year with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where we think he will play under the parent’s club radar.
In 65 games, he scores 23 goals and 21 assists with a +18 rating, then adds another 8 points in the playoffs.
Buffalo Sabres are paying attention and sign him to a 1-year 2-way contract for 2026/2027 that we think could score a recall.
Lindenwood University Lions‘ senior captain, left wing Drew Kuzma(20) wasn’t the biggest college hockey scorer, doing best as a sophomore with 4 goals and 6 assists in 25 games.
Upon completion of the indie tournament, the big 6’6″ 218 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro deal with Greensboro Gargoyles.
From St. Albert, AB, the 23-year old did his juniors in the SJHL before college and has scored 5 goals and 3 assists in 13 ECHL games with a +1 on a non-playoff team.
He will need a new deal for 2026/2027.
His play grabs the attention of Iowa Wild, who sign him to a 1-year AHL deal.
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.
