Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#95 overall), defenseman Mike Benning(20) gets himself a 3-year NHL entry level deal, leaving 1 season at University Of Denver Pioneers on the table.
The 5’9″ 177 lbs. blue liner is small, but leaves with a very accountable +55 rating and scored 10+ goals and 20+ assists as a sophomore and junior.
He is also only 1 season off winning the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship.
The 21-year from Edmonton, AB is with the big club for playoffs, but potentially should head to Charlotte Checkers to help them win a Calder Cup.
He actually scores 9 points in 18 playoff games with a +6 rating, which may have factored in the decision to keep him around another 1-year deal with the Panthers after also gaining a career high 23 assists.
In 56 games, he scores almost exact points from a year earlier and scores a 1st recall, as the parent club is absolutely struggling with injuries down the stretch.
He has 4 assists in 13 NHL games, getting his footing on a team his dad, Brian Benning(2) played on the inaugural 1993-1994 team.
University Of Massachusetts Minutemen graduate center Liam Gorman(20) may only have 2 assists in 10 games, but you feel the 6’2″ 187 lbs. power forward will strike for some Hockey East points sooner than later.
He had a college career best 12 goals and 10 assists as a senior with Princeton University Tigers.
The 23-year old from Boston, MA is a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2018 draft (#177 overall), but was traded to Chicago Blackhawks and will need an NHL entry level deal after this frame.
Through 28 games, he only scores 1 goal and 3 assists with a +2 rating, but is not signed, so the free agent agrees to terms with Allen Americans for his ECHL rookie season, 2024/2025.
After 6 goals and 11 assists in 62 games last season, he is traded to Maine Mariners, who look to add him.
He gets 4 goals and 2 assists in 34 games with a 0 rating and is released to Kansas City Mavericks, where his scoring is almost assured to increase.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ freshman goaltender Trey Augustine(1) is a Detroit Red Wings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2023 draft (#41 overall).
The 6’1″ 179 lbs. net minder had a stellar 29-1-2 in 33 games mark last season with the USNTDP 18U team.
His early college numbers show him to be struggling some, but this is a solid backstop, who easily could lead a national champion is how we see it.
From South Lyon, MI, he’s basically just staying home all around for his hockey, we see a pretty bright future for the 18-year old.
He plays 34 games in his junior frame, posting a 24-9-1 record and his draft club wants him and offers him a 3-year NHL entry level deal that he will report to affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins on an ato.
Boston University Terriers‘ junior captain defenseman Gavin McCarthy(2) signs his 3-year NHL entry level contract with draft club, Buffalo Sabres (2023 3rd round, #86).
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner heads to affiliate Rochester Americans on an ato to start.
He had a college best 4 goals and 17 assists in 36 games with a +12 rating last season.
From Clarence Center, NY, he spent his youth hockey in the Jr. Sabres‘ system before heading to USHL seasons with Muskegon Lumberjacks.
We look for the 20-year old to do spectacularly well.
Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Owen McLaughlin(27) maybe didn’t have as easy of a time scoring against Hockey East opponents, as he did previously at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
The 6′ 178 lbs. forward exploded USHL scoring in 1 full session of juniors.
From Phoenixville, PA, the 23-year old was very successful USHS-Prep.
A Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#206 overall), he gets signed to an AHL contract and loaned to affiliate Reading Royals to start.
In 7 ECHL games, he has 1 goal and 3 assists with a +1 rating.
Boston College Eagles‘ sophomore center James Hagens(44) has blown out 1st year goals with a new best 16 this season and his 16 assists is 10 off the mark from the previous year, but points may improve with his overall game and leadership qualities out there.
A Boston Bruins‘ 1st round draft pick in 2025 (#7 overall), he was uncertain to return, but gladly did for more.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward did 2 explosive USHL seasons with USNTDP before school.
From Hauppauge, NY, the 19-year old is just getting started really.
He finishes up with 23 goals and 24 assists in 34 games with a +10 rating and signs an ato to join Providence Bruins, which is just the 1st tick to his full-on NHL entry level deal that will need to follow soon we think.
New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#126 overall) defenseman Charlie Leddy(6) commits to Boston College Eagles for 2022/2023 after picking up 17 assists in 55 USHL games with USNTDP and a handy +33 rating.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Fairfield, CT looks to be a good shut-down blue liner that can also pick up points.
He arrives at his new school as just an 18-year old.
Somehow, we missed a portal transfer to Quinnipiac University Bobcats, despite even seeing him play games with the team and him becoming assistant captain as a senior.
He graduates with an impressive +/- stat and signs an ato to start with Utica Comets under the direction of the team who selected him.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ assistant captain, junior right wing Declan McDonnell(26) had 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 games last season.
He came over from 2 USports‘ seasons at Saint Mary’s University Huskies, where he also scored well.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward has had a wild little run already, doing 4 years OHL, but going pro in the AHL the COVID campaign 2020/2021 with Syracuse Crunch.
Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the NHL draft (#217 overall) made sense for him to play with the affiliate.
From Buffalo, NY, the 24-year old played his youth hockey in the Jr. Sabres‘ system.
He foregoes a senior year and signs a pro deal with Worcester Railers.
In 9 games, he has a 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior transfer from somewhat underuse in 2 years University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ goaltender Tyler Muszelik(30) already has a 3-1 record with a 2.28 GAA and .901 SV% for the Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in the 2022 draft (#189 overall).
The 6’3″ 193 lbs. net minder from Long Valley, NJ did 2 years USNTDP before heading to his 1st school.
He’s just 20-years old, so is well on his way towards development.
As a senior, he starts a new high 35 games with a 19-11-5 record, 2.21 GAA and .926 SV% that extends to the Hockey East Finals and an appearance in the NCAA D1 Tournament.
Upon completion, he signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal to join the draft club’s affiliate Charlotte Checkers to start.
Cornell University Big Red freshman center Jonathan Castagna(38) is an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2023 draft (#70 overall).
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward at still only 18-years old is a solid, power forward style player.
Through 18 games this season, he has 5 goals and 7 assists with a +11 rating on the #13 team in the country.
From Etobicoke, ON, he did 2 years at St. Andrew’s College and he looks like he’s getting ready.
His rights were transferred to the new Utah Mammoth, who included it in their trade to Calgary Flames, whose property he becomes and they seem excited by the prospect.
He scored a college high 14 goals and 18 assists through 29 games, heading into tournament play.
No surprise, he signs a 3-year NHL entry level contract and will report to affiliate Calgary Wranglers.
