Category: NHL Draft Pick

UMASS Minutemen sophomore center Kenny Connors(17) is flirting with marks that will best his freshman numbers, 9 goals and 17 assists with 5 goals and 8 assists in 21 games.

He had an outstanding 2nd USHL session with Dubuque Fighting Saints.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward is a Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#103 overall).

From Glen Mills, PA, the 20-year old should continue at college unless he can further breakout as a junior.

He does, scoring 10 goals and 19 assists in 40 games with a +4 rating and will leave a year at school on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal.

Through 49 AHL games for affiliate Ontario Reign he is scoring, 9 goals and 20 assists with a +13 rating to earn his NHL debut.

He skated 15 shifts for 10:14 of ice time with 4 shots, 1 breakup, 1 giveaway and 1 hit in a 4-2 loss.

After spending the last 6 of his 7 NHL days in an Anaheim Ducks‘ uniform, 13th year right wing Derek Grant(27) will take his game overseas for a 1st time, signing a 1-year deal with ZSC Lions of NL, which should be a lot of fun for the 33-year old.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward tower has 3 times had 10+ goals and twice 10+ assists in a frame.

From Abbotsford, BC, he played 2 BCHL seasons before committing to Michigan State University Spartans, where he stayed for 2 years before turning pro.

Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in 2008 (#119 overall), he spent the 1st 4 years of his career in their system.

He takes 427 games in the big league and 320 in the AHL over to his new venture, which should keep him smiling out there.

The 35-year old is scoring very well and signs on for a 4th season to continue a Lions for 2026/2027.

Boston College Eagles‘ senior center Colby Ambrosio(77) will do a year of eligibility at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks 2024/2025 graduate season.

The Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#118 overall) didn’t score quite as much as he is used to, playing a college best 40 games, but likely accepted a different, more checking oriented role on a very strong team.

From Welland, ON, the 24-year old did 2 USHL frames with Tri-City Storm before heading to school.

He finishes up his extra year tying the 13 assists he had as a sophomore to sign a 1st pro deal with Toledo Walleye that begins even before his college life concludes.

In his ECHL, he records a multi-point game with a 1st goal and an assist and has 3 tallies and 2 helpers with a +2 in 7 games so far for a more than solid start.

Through his early time as a pro, he skates 12 games, claiming 3 goals and 5 assists, then added another 11 points in 18 playoff games to easily earn himself a deal for his rookie season to be a Walleye, 2025/2026.

After scoring 11 goals and 6 assists in 45 games, he is dished to Jacksonville Icemen, who apparently need him to score for them more.

9th year defenseman Kevin Gravel(5) has got to be feeling the same way he did when he was a rookie with Manchester Monarchs making an unlikely AHL run to capture the 2015 Calder Cup trophy.

The now 31-year old is locked in with his team, Milwaukee Admirals in a Western Conference battle to head to the Finals.

He has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games with a +4 rating.

The 6’4″ 203 lbs. blue liner is signed on a 2-year 2-way deal to Nashville Predators and skated 23 games with them this past season.

He has played 132 NHL games and 332 in the lower league.

Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in 2010 (#148 overall), he initially was on a minor league contract, when helping his team to the title, but quickly upped on a 2-year entry level deal heading into the next frame.

The St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ 4-year d-man exploded in his senior year with 10 goals, seemingly out of nowhere.

He’s got another year left on his current deal, so he should settle in nicely.

Playing super well as team captain for the affiliate, Admirals with great plus numbers, despite maybe not scoring huge points earns him 2 more seasons at nice little pay bump to stay.

He is definitely well-liked and asked to stay for another 2 years to remain an Admirals.

UMASS Minutemen Czechia-born, freshman right wing Vaclav Nestrasil(11) is almost little doubt a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 1st round pick in the 2025 draft (#25 overall) with his 11 goals, 13 assists in 28 games and a +1 rating.

The big 6’6″ 190 lbs. forward has 19 goals and 23 assists in 61 USHL games, his only complete year of junior hockey before heading to school.

He did all his youth hockey back home and the 18-year old is not likely to stay with school.

UMASS Lowell Riverhawks‘ fairly big 6’4″ 212 lbs., freshman defenseman Nate Misskey(13) was a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2024 draft (#143 0verall), his 2nd full WHL season.

He is one of the 1st Canadian junior players welcomed into the program.

From Melfort, SK, the 21-year old has 4 goals and 4 assists in 32 games and is former assistant captain, looking like a natural leader out there.

Boston College Eagles‘ junior right wing Ryan Conmy(36) is leaning into new scoring bests with 8 goals and 14 assists, another outstanding point-getting affair for him in school.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward transferred Hockey East from 2 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.

He did have 15 goals and 18 assists last year as a sophomore.

From Alexandria, VA, he did all his youth hockey in Buffalo Jr. Sabres‘ system.

He is a Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th round pick in the 2023 draft (#182 overall).

Washington Capitals‘ 4th round pick in 2018 (#124 overall), goaltender Mitchell Gibson(35) finished up his 4 years at Harvard University Crimson with a stellar performance as a senior with a best record 18-7-2 with 3 shutouts.

He signs a very conservative at 23-years old 1-year NHL entry level contract.

The 6’1″ 187 lbs. net minder has certainly proven he can shoulder the load for a top-ranked team at college.

From Phoenixville, PA, he probably just a little excited to get started with pro hockey close to home for affiliate Hershey Bears.

He would work 1 more year under contract with the big club, but still was not getting the appearance despite some good play in the minors.

For 2025/2026, he signs an AHL contract to be a Bears.

After putting up some solid numbers in both lower leagues, the parent club is still paying attention and signs him to a 2-year extension through 2029 to rejoin the Capitals.

Schwenninger Wild Wings‘ 3rd year defenseman Will Weber(78) will hang around for a 4th frame, as he signs a 1-year extension through 2024/2025.

The big 6’4″ 227 lbs. blue liner doesn’t necessarily put up a lot of points, but is a fairly accountable, very large presence out there.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall), he only twice had 10+ assists.

The first time was his sophomore season at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks and the 2nd was his 1st session of DEL for Fischtown Pinguins.

At 35-years old, he has to be glad he’s still pulling down good contracts to play pro hockey.

Add another season, as he will skate for a 6th frame in a Wild Wings‘ jersey that he is looking mighty comfortable in lately.

And yup, he may not be playing as many games as a 37-year old, 23, but will return for more Wild Wings in 2026/2027.

New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2016 draft (#19 overall), left wing Kieffer Bellows(81) signs a 1-year deal as a restricted free agent to stay.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward play the entire 2020/2021 session up with the big club, but only skated 14 games, scoring 3 goals, so was either a healthy scratch or reassigned to the taxi squad.

As a 2nd year player, he would score an AHL best 22 goals and 9 assists for 31 points for affiliate Bridgeport Islanders (Sound Tigers).

The former Edina High School, MN native was selected to head to Boston University Terriers and went onto 2 very successful USHL seasons before heading to college, but only lasted there for one year before deciding to split for Portland Winterhawks.

In 56 WHL games, he scored 41 goals and 33 assists with a +40 rating.

The 23-year old is son of former NHL player of 1188 games, Brian Bellows.

He would end up playing his 1st full frame in the big league, skating a healthy 45 games, scoring a not so bad 6 goals and 13 assists that would lead to his new 1-year, 1-way deal worth a tidy $1.2M AAV.

For 2022/2023, he would start on the roster, but it was decided to waive with the intention of reporting to the minors, but Philadelphia Flyers didn’t let him sit long and pulled him in.

He’s played 3 games with his new team, and although all loses, he’s kept it simple in his 10+ minutes of play and is only a -1.

We think the now 24-year old finds his footing, sticks and starts to make an impression.

He actually doesn’t really find his footing with 3 goals through 27 games.

For 2023/2024, he signed a pto with Toronto Marlies, is scoring big, not looking back and gets a deal for the current season.

Nashville Predators see something for their weighted 2024/2025 lineup that may start with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, but could get a call up for the 1st time in a couple of frames.

He takes some solid regular season play and point-per-game playoff looks to something new on his pro hockey playing career, a deal overseas with Brynas IF of the SHL, which should heed good results for him.

In 43 games, he has 7 goals and 7 assists with a +3 rating to earn himself an invite to be with Brynas again for 2027/2028.