4th year defenseman Ryker Killins(77) will switch up overseas leagues and heads to DEL3, joining SC Riessersee after spending 2021/2022 with Esbjerg Energy.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. small blue liner made an impact upon turning pro from 4 years at Ferris State University Bulldogs, signing an ato with South Carolina Stingrays and putting up 3 goals and 6 assists in 14 ECHL games with a +7 rating.
He would parlay that into a 1-year AHL deal with Tuscon Roadrunners, but was mostly dispatched to affiliate Rapid City Rush to spend his rookie season.
It’s definitely possible the 25-year old finds a good fit in Germany’s tier 3 hockey.
As thought, he found it to be a decent enough place to play and got 3 goals and 13 assists in 25 games with a +15 rating to earn a contract up to DEL2 with Bietigheim Steelers for 2023/2024.
He does ok up, but maybe doesn’t really love it and signs back down in German pro hockey with some former rivals, EC Hannover Indians for 2024/2025.
2nd year right wing Quinn Preston(43) returns from a very good EIHL season for Belfast Giants, scoring 12 goals and 10 assists with a +6 rating, to re-signing with Wichita Thunder, where in his 1st game back scores 1 goal and 1 assist.
The 5’11” 188 lbs. forward, former twice assistant captain at Ohio State University Buckeyes also racked up big numbers at juniors with Dubuque Fighting Saints and at high school.
From Trenton, MI, the 26-year old could use a loan up to the AHL to see what gives.
After 17 games, scoring a fairly tidy 3 goals and 9 assists, he finds himself traded to another team that wants him, Kalamazoo Wings.
He gets 3 goals and 7 assists in 16 games with a +2 rating with his new club and is invited to return for a full season in a Wings‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
8th year left wing Matt Wilkins(91) will try yet another league to add to the notches on his belt overseas, joining Slovak Extraliga, signing a 1-year deal with HC Banska Bystrica, which will definitely take it up a big notch for the former Union College 2014 NCAA Division 1 Champion, as a sophomore.
Last season, the 5’11” 190 lbs. forward won the Swiss tier 2 2023 SL Championship with HC La Chaux-da-Fonds, had most points in one session and most assists the previous the 2-year he played AlpsHL for Gherdeina and even raised the 2012 AJHL Championship as a junior with twice holding down most assists.
The 32-year old from Kimberley, BC, who started with 2 ECHL years for Reading Royals, putting up big numbers, has to be happy with the results of his game, despite maybe not reaching for the highest levels.
In 49 games, he blows up scoring with 19 goals and 33 assists, but decides to leave for Ligue Magnus, signing with Les Ducs D’Angers.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior right wing Jeremy Davidson(11) had a college best 12 goals and tied his sophomore point mark of 22 last season.
The 5’10” 177 lbs. forward signs with South Carolina Stingrays for his ECHL rookie season in 2024/2025.
He came up through the Honeybaked youth hockey system, then a pair of USHL seasons, scoring pretty well.
UMASS Minutemen was the 1st school he committed to, as a freshman, but maybe Hockey East didn’t work out the way he wanted and shifted college hockey closer to home in Kalamazoo, MI.
The 24-year old should do well.
Providence College‘s undrafted, sophomore net minder Jaxson Stauber(30) picked up his 10th win of the season in a recent game vs. Northeastern University Huskies, 4-2.
The 6’3″ 175 lbs. goalie has posted a 11-7-5 record for 2020/2021 with 4 shutouts.
He spent two years with Sioux Falls Stampede and won the 2019 Clark Cup MVP honors with a 1.46 GAA and .941 SV@ and 11-1-0 record, then committed to Minnesota State University-Mankato started one game, won it, wasn’t getting enough ice time and went back to junior hockey.
After a 3rd stellar year in the USHL, the Wayzata, MN-native committed to attend college east and away from home.
As a still young 21-year old he’s definitely getting the looks and it will be interesting where his choice of school leads him.
He was even more stingy in his junior season than he was the year prior and has decided to sign a 2-year entry level deal with Chicago Blackhawks, foregoing his senior frame.
This does make sense for the now 22-year old.
He goes 5-1 in 6 NHL starts, but plays the lion share with affiliate Rockford Icehogs, then doesn’t receive a qualifying offer to continue.
Utah Hockey Club steps in to offer him a 1-year, 2-way deal for 2024/2025.
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod‘s 2nd year center Kenny Agostino(11) is already off to a good start for 2022/2023 with 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 KHL games with a +3 rating.
Last season he scored 20 goals and 20 assists in 46 games with a +8, his 1st season overseas.
The former 4-year 10+ goal scorer and 2 time 20+ assist guy at Yale University Bulldogs was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#140 overall).
He was traded to Calgary Flames and signed an entry level deal before his skates ever hit the ice.
The Morristown, NJ native bounced around on 1-year deals mostly before getting signed to a 2-year, 1-way contract late with Toronto Maple Leafs, yet he only appeared in 1 NHL game with them.
At 30-years old, he’s done ok enough, but is still likely earning his way in Russia and playing some elite puck.
For 2023/2024, he is trading in a couple of seasons where he is for new surroundings in the SHL and will join Skelleftea AIK.
He actually switches things up and heads to Germany instead, signing with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL and scores himself point-per-game numbers in 48 (14-34), but will ink with rivals, ERC Ingolstadt for 2024/2025 and likely do just as well.
Undrafted 4th year center Derian Plouffe(11) circles back after two years away with Indy Fuel to re-sign to Newfoundland Growlers for 2021/2022.
He was part of the championship team that claimed the 2019 Kelly Cup.
The former 4-year Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ junior captain originally signed an ato after graduation with Toronto Marlies, grabbing his first three AHL points, assists.
He would sign with them for his rookie season, but was reassigned down to the ECHL club for all but one game.
It’s almost a bit surprising that the 26-year old from Nepean, ON has explored hockey life overseas, but we’re betting he does.
He will return for a 3rd season in upper eastern Canada and we think could show the best totals of his 5 year career.
For 2023/2024, he decides to venture off to try something new, signing with Lillehammer of Norway.
He takes almost point-per-game numbers to a new deal with Herning Blue Fox of Metal Ligaen, where the 29-year old should continue to do exceedingly well.
10th season Netherlands/German-born center Nardo Nagtzaam(10) has played almost 9 years in Germany3, switching teams for a 5th time in 2024/2025 and will next skate for Fuchse Duisburg.
The 6’1″ 192 lbs. forward came over from youth hockey in Germany and spent 3 NAHL seasons, wrapping up with Alexandria Blizzard before committing to Mercyhurst University Lakers.
He scored best as a freshman, 11 goals and 19 assists, but was always an effective player. The 34-year old is probably still pretty happy
2nd year left wing Ben Berard(39) didn’t score much for Texas Stars, 1 goal and 3 assists in 30 AHL games, but did have an accountable +2 rating.
The 6′ 192 lbs. forward gets picked up by Abbotsford Canucks for 2024/2025, who see his size coming into play to put him more effectively on the scoresheet.
He scored 14 goals as a junior at Cornell University Big Red, then had 17 assists and 28 points in his senior frame.
From Duncan, BC, he played his junior hockey BCHL for Powell River Kings, scoring nicely.
We think the 25-year old does show more inclination towards scoring with his new team, but it may not be exactly breakout style, yet.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Will Calverley(36) comes over from 4 years at RIT Tigers, where he managed to score 10+ goals and assists in each of his last three seasons.
The small 5’9″ 174 lbs. firecracker on ice will have to work hard, but could eclipse earlier marks in tougher to play Hockey East competition, but has scored 1 goal and 7 assists in 15 games to get himself going in the right direction.
He played two seasons for Chilliwack Chiefs, running up some big totals in 111 BCHL games.
From Scarborough, ON, this will be an excellent player to watch turn pro.
He finishes up with a very decent 5 goals and 15 assists with a +4 rating in 38 games and a good push to the finals of the Hockey East tournament.
Wasting no time, he signs a 1st deal with Florida Everblades and gets an assist in his ECHL debut, then plants a 1st goal 3 games later.
He would finish the regular frame with the 2 points, then add 5 (3 goals, 2 assists) in 12 games en route to a 2nd straight 2023 Kelly Cup for the team from FLA.
Well, nothing like winning a title to want to return for your sophomore frame in 2023/2024.
He’s probably in a little bit of shock, but he will take place amongst the blue liners with his just traded to team, Iowa Heartlanders.
After a good rookie season with a non-playoff team, scoring 8 goals and 13 assists in 39 games with a -1 rating, he gets a new 1-year deal to return to be a Heartlanders for 2024/2025.
