UMASS Minutemen freshman center Nicholas Van Tassell(22) is an Ottawa Senators‘ 7th round pick in the 2023 draft (#215 overall).
The big 6’5″ 215 lbs. forward scored pretty well in his 2nd USHL season for Green Bay Gamblers.
He only got 1 goal and 1 assist in 23 games, but definitely appears on the verge of opening that up with more experience.
From Basking Ridge, NJ, the 19-year old did all his youth hockey close to home.
In his junior year, he twice puts up 2 goals and adds 10 assists, but maybe wants to seek out something else for his senior frame and signs up with Hockey East foe, University Of New Hampshire Wildcats as a senior in 2026/2027.
UMASS Minutemen junior Czechia-born net minder Michael Hrabal(35) leaves a year on the table after a solid 19-9-1 record with a 1.95 GAA and .937 SV% to sign his 3-year NHL entry level deal with “draft” club Utah Mammoth (2nd round, 2023 #38 overall).
The absolute mammoth 6’7″ 216 lbs. goalie started juniors back home, where he did his youth hockey, but came over for 1 USHL frame before college.
He takes a consistent winning record to his 1st deal, a pto with affiliate Tucson Roadrunners. , where he goes 3-1-1 on a non-playoff team.
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.
With another 19 goals to his credit last season, he is easily wanted to return for a 3rd frame at Ingolstadt 2026/2027.
Boston College Eagles 2024/2025 commit, 2nd year USNTDP defenseman Will Skahan(7) doesn’t exactly put up the point totals, so much as the 6″4″ 211 pounder is accountable in his zone.
The Orange, CA 17-year is 2024 draft eligible.
He’s not exactly doing terribly with scoring, but that +51 rating must have gotten him the look he needed to be selected in the 2nd round by the new Utah Hockey Club in the 2024 NHL draft (#65 overall).
It’s possible he is not getting the looks in 2 years he thinks he wants in Hockey East play, so decides to switch things up and head to Minnesota State University Mavericks for his junior frame.
11th year center Corey Trivino(86) switches up 3.5 years with EC Kassel Huskies to rivals Eisbaren Regensburg for 2022/2023 in DEL2.
He has been very successful dishing helpers in 2 of the last 3 seasons, amassing 30+ assists in each frame.
Originally a New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#36 overall), he never signed, spending most of his 1st 3 seasons in the ECHL, but then turned a 39 AHL game loan into an overseas deal.
He switched up his early time overseas between the KHL and EBEL mostly before leaving for Germany’s tier 2 league.
The 32-year old, former Boston University Terriers‘, 2009 NCAA Division 1 Champion doesn’t seem to see an end line anywhere.
In the new session with his new club he has already run up a league best for himself 18 goals and is projected to possibly do better than his assist best of 39, so he agrees to stay on for a 2nd campaign 2024/2025, because he’s having a grand old time.
He continues at a clip of almost point-per-game numbers and is asked to return for a 4th season with Eisbaren.
Providence College Friars‘ freshman center Hudson Malinoski(9) was a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2023 draft (#153 overall).
The 6’1″ 189 lbs. forward was selected after putting up 53 assists in 44 AJHL games for Brooks Bandits.
He has 5 goals and 4 assists in 19 games with a +3 rating.
The 19-year old from Saskatoon, SK seems to be right on track.
He takes 2 seasons of 11 goals and new college high games at 35 for the junior assistant captain, but he is looking for a next come his senior year and choses University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for his senior frame, 2026/2027.
We look for him to take his game up another level with this club.
Western Michigan University Broncos‘ sophomore goaltender Hampton Slukynsky(30) is a Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 2023 draft (#118 overall).
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder from Warroad, MN has been spectacular in the cage since USHS-MN.
In his only USHL year of junior with Fargo Force he backstopped them to a 2024 Clark Cup Championship.
He committed to his 1st year of college from that frame and helped them win the 2025 NCAA Division 1 Championship with a 19-5-1 record, 1.90 GAA and .922 SV%, 1 shutout.
No championship in his 2nd season, but he did have 4 shutouts.
The draft team wants him and signs him to a 3-year NHL entry level deal that starts 2026/2027.
He reports to their affiliate Ontario Reign on a pto and is 2-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .957 SV%.
Definitely just looking forward here.
12th year center Robbie Czarnik(77) signs on for a 3rd tour with Ravensburg Towerstars after posting exactly 30 assists for a 2nd time and adding 15 goals with a +13 rating, then popped in another 10 points in 13 playoff games.
His 241 games in DEL2 mark the most in any league he’s played.
The 6′ 190 lbs. former Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#63 overall) has scored 120 goals and 145 assists with a +54 rating and a 2019 Championship in his 1st run with current club.
He was pretty much a similar sniper in the ECHL through 183 games.
The 32-year old from Detroit, MI, who played his college hockey for just two years at University Of Michigan Wolverines has to have a little smile on his face, seeing how smoothly things go.
He signs on for a 6th season in a Towerstars‘ jersey 2024/2025, where he recorded his 3rd straight 40+ point session.
Another 29 goals and 29 assists in 50 games and it’s another no-brainer to have him return as a 36-year old in a Towerstars‘ uniform.
Boston College Eagles‘ junior defenseman Aram Minnetian(15) takes his +46 rating over three years and signs his 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team, Dallas Stars (4th round, 2023, #125 overall).
The 6′ 209 lbs. blue liner reports to affiliate Texas Stars on an ato and has 2 assists in 6 AHL games.
After USHS-Prep, he did 2 years USNTDP before school.
From Woodcliff Lake, NJ, the 21-year old will likely settle well.
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.
