University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ graduate captain, center Jaxon Nelson(82) went undrafted, but Boston Bruins signed him to a 1-year NHL entry level deal upon graduation after scoring new college bests 19 goals and 12 assists with a +14 last season.
The 6’4″ 220 lbs. plays the power forward style.
He did 3 USHL campaigns of juniors after potting 70 goals in his senior year at Luverne High USHS-MN.
Signing an ato with Providence Bruins last season, he appeared in 7 games and scored a 1st AHL goal.
The 24-year old is in rookies training camp and looks ready to get started.
After 35 games with 2 goals and 7 assists with a 0 rating, he is not qualified to stay, so signs with Iowa Heartlanders for 2025/2026.
UMass Minutemen undrafted freshman defenseman Aaron Bohlinger(25) has 15 assists in the 2020/2021 frame but no goals.
Well, not until the NCAA Championship Final vs. St. Cloud University Huskies, where he nets the opening tally and that might be enough to close the door on the title and also be a game-winner.
The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner early in his tenure with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL but was probably put on the radar after playing a year north in the BCHL for Alberni Valley Bulldogs, where he made a 7 goal and 27 assists in 55 games impression.
The 20-year old may be small but motors and can head man the puck with ease, so might garner some looks as he continues at school.
He becomes captain as a senior, but decides to add a year of eligibility and enters the transfer portal to skate for Quinnipiac University Bobcats, as a graduate.
ECAC was a nice switch up, as he scores a new best 3 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating in 32 games.
He is set to turn pro and signs a 1st ECHL contract with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2025/2026.
Johnstown Tomahawks‘ 1st year forward John Gelatt(24) commits to College Of Holy Cross for 2021/2022 and should continue the scoring tear he is currently on.
Currently ranked in the top 10 of NAHL scoring, he is only one of four players to pot 20+ goals in the current frame and has 43 points in 38 games.
The New Jersey 5’11” 194 lbs. native played a pair of seasons at the all boys school Trinity-Pawling School in decently nearby NY before heading off to juniors and will be a nice addition to NCAA Division 1 Atlantic Hockey for his next move.
Through 4 years, he records his college best as a senior, scoring 7 goals and 10 assists in 37 games with a +10 rating.
He signs a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie season, 2025/2026 and we think he has size to affect ECHL scoring better than at college.
New Hampshire Avalanche 1st year goaltender Wills Seagrave(30) put up some outstanding numbers in support last season with a 17-1-1 record, 1.54 GAA and .941 SV%.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. commits to Wentworth Institute Of Technology Leopards for 2025/2026.
He also went 2-0 in the playoffs.
From Huntsville, AL, he does have pro hockey in his backyard, but the 21-year looks to challenge for that starter spot from the get-go.
8th year, big, very big 6’6″ 220 lbs. defenseman Jaycob Megna(24) gets rewarded by parent club San Jose Sharks for signing a minor league deal with their affiliate San Jose Barracuda for the weirdo run that was 2020/2021 with a new 1-year NHL 2-way contract for 2021/2022.
He has played 346 AHL games and 43 in the big league all with draft club Anaheim Ducks, who selected him in the 7th round 2012 (#210 overall).
The 3-year University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks‘ d-man was picked after his rookie season, but did also have a nice lead in with Muskegon Lumberjacks, dishing 17 assists in 55 USHL games.
It looks as though the 28-year old is set to resume his duties as team captain of the farm club, but we’re thinking he may get a look or two up in the show.
Playing his 1st full set of games in the big league, he has skated a new best 48 appearances for 2022/2023, scoring a goal and new best 11 assists with a +6 rating and finds himself traded to a rival, Seattle Kracken to help round out their blue line for a playoff pump.
He plays only 6 games up and is put on waivers to be claimed by Chicago Blackhawks, who throw the big man straight into the lineup and he records an assist in his debut.
Finishing up with a tied for 2nd most games in the big league at 44, and unrestricted free agent, the Plantation, FL native next signs with hometown team, Florida Panthers, where he figures into 8 games en route to a 2025 Stanley Cup trophy.
He signs a 2-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights that looks to be on a one-way value.
Reading Royals 2nd year captain, defenseman Garrett McFadden has decided to take his game to SlovakExtraliga for 2023/2024, signing a 1-year deal with HK Poprad.
He had 6 goals and 35 assists in 71 ECHL games with a +13 rating last season.
The 5’11’ 181 lbs. blue liner skated 5 years in the OHL, 2 as captain of Guelph Storm and even signed an ato with Laval Rocket, grabbing an AHL assist.
He would next head off to a degree program at Acadia University Axemen, where he stayed for the next 4 years.
With 1 goal and 18 assists, he decides to leave for Czech Extraliga, joining HC Energie Karlovy Vary.
He would go to IceHL last season, but he maybe would do quite as well as he wanted and will head to a team, where he will likely be very useful, Belfast Giants for 2025/2026.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ graduate center Harrison Blaisdell(24) accepts a 1st contract with Fort Wayne Komets for his rookie season, 2024/2025, but as the frame approaches gets shipped to Allen Americans.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward had a college high 11 goals last season.
He was a Winnipeg Jets’ 5th round pick in the 2019 draft (#134 overall), but not signed.
From Sheffield, GB, their isn’t a lot of English players selected, but his 2nd BCHL frame for Chilliwack Chiefs with 33 goals and 25 assists put him on radar.
We expect the 25-year old, who initially started school at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for 2 years to do well in the ECHL.
Through 50 games, he scores 4 goals and 6 assists and is asked to return a 2nd year to be an Americans again.
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.
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.
10th year defenseman Joel Hanley(44) re-ups with Dallas Stars for another 2-years potentially putting him on track to 7 years of his pro career with one team.
They are the 1st team to give the 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner a full-time role in the big league after a couple solid campaigns with affiliate Texas Stars to earn his stripes.
He started his pro career on a minor league deal with Portland Pirates, but after a solid rookie season caught the attention of Montreal Canadiens.
The former UMass Minutemen graduate, who always was good for 10+ assists through his college career next went on to sign with Arizona Coyotes, but was little used.
Even though the 32-year old from Keswick, ON earns just over the league, he still has to have a smile on his face from where he came from.
After 6 years with the same team, he moves on to sign with Calgary Flames after a trade set him up to record a career best 9 points in 53 games with a +12 rating last season to score a new 2-year extension to stay on.
