Category: NHL Draft Pick

6th year center Brian Pinho(28) gets signed relatively quickly in unrestricted free agency by New York Islanders for 2023/2024.

He had a best 17 assists, but his 20 goals in his 2nd season with Hershey Bears, under contract to draft club Washington Capitals, 6th round 2013 (#174 overall) are tops in that category, which suggests he can score at this level.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward had 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 6 playoff games with Utica Comets last season.

He did 4 years at Providence College Friars, serving as senior captain, twice getting 12 goals and 20+ assists.

The 28-year old from Beverly, MA is in a good spot moving forward.

After a season best point totals, he joins Charlotte Checkers on a 2-year AHL pact.

Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th year center Travis Boyd(72) is putting behind him a by a mile NHL career best campaign, scoring 16 goals and 18 assists to earn a nice two-year extension.

The former Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#177 overall) once had 15 helpers.

He was also a 2-time 20+ assist player as a junior and senior at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was also a twice 30+ assist and once had 47 in an AHL season for Hershey Bears.

He continues a nice scoring rolling the start of his new contract, but gets hurt trashing last year after 16 games.

An unrestricted free agent, he moves away from his 3-year team and signs a 1-year deal with Minnesota Wild for 2024/2025.

As an assistant captain for affiliate Iowa Wild, he scores a career 22 goals and 31 assists in 63 games to sign a new 1-year 2-way deal with Toronto Maple Leafs.

Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2019 draft (#43 overall), defenseman Jayden Struble(47) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal as his college team of the last 4 seasons, Northeastern University Huskies wrap up Hockey East play.

The 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner is set to AHL debut with affiliate Laval Rocket.

A Cumberland, RI native, the 21-year old didn’t play any real junior hockey before heading to college.

He plays 2 straight seasons of 56 appearances and records a new assist high with 11 and points, 13 with a +2 rating to earn a new 2-year deal, as a restricted free agent to stick around in a Canadiens‘ sweater.

Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#95 overall) rookie defenseman Jack Rathbone(51) makes his NHL debut after being recalled from affiliate Utica Comets to the taxi squad a half month ago.

He’d scored two goals and 7 assists in 8 AHL games before getting recalled.

In the 5’10” 177 lbs. d-man’s debut he skated 14 shifts for 12:04 total ice time with a shot on net and a 0 rating in a 4-1 loss.

The former Harvard University Crimson blue liner spent two years there, leaving with a tied career high 7 goals and new best 24 assists and 31 points in a COVID cut season of 28 NCAA Division 1 Hockey East games with no playoffs, then no season to play in 2021/2022 for the school, which had to make his decision to turn pro unfortunately easy.

The almost 22-year old has plenty to look forward to.

He works his way into an average of 10 games per frame, but gets himself moved in his 4th season with the team that sends him to Pittsburgh Penguins for 2023/2024, although he already has 1 goal in the minors and that’s likely where he headed first.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Buffalo Sabres that could see him mostly reassigned to affiliate Rochester Americans, but also could see him as being given an opportunity with his new team.

In 63 games, he scores 6 goals and 17 assists with a +9 rating, then adds another 3 points in the playoffs, which earns a 2-year contract to continue under the look of Buffalo.

Merrimack College Warriors‘ sophomore center Matt Copponi(28) gets a maybe little surprising nod on NHL draft day, as he is selected in the 7th round of 2023 (#216 overall) by Edmonton Oilers.

He was actually ranked fairly decent by NHL Scouting.

As a 2nd year college player, he put up a best 13 goals and 14 assists in 37 games last frame with a +8 rating.

The 6″ 179 lbs. forward from Mansfield, MA skipped junior hockey, arriving at college straight from Dexter Southfield School USHS-Prep.

He’s just 20-years old.

For his senior year, he enters the transfer portal to skate for Boston University Terriers.

He posts decent numbers (6-18) in a college high 40 games played with a new best +15 rating.

Upon graduation, he signs an ato with the affiliate Bakersfield Condors and records an assist in his 2nd AHL game, where he was possibly signed to a deal by the parent club, but that seems to only be a rumor so far.

He records 2 assists in 3 games with a +2 rating to earn a new 2-year deal to stay a Condors.

After 11 years with the team that initially signed him in a trade following the completion of 3 years at Boston College Eagles, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin(8) steps away for a 1st time, agreeing to 2 years with Seattle Kracken at a nice $3.15M AAV.

He was initially drafted by Carolina Hurricanes in the 2nd round of 2009 (#51 overall).

The 6’4″ 207 lbs. rock of a blue liner has a combined +98 rating, 2 Stanley Cups and 2 NCAA Division 1 titles.

He played a career high 82 game slate last season, scoring a new best 24 assists and 25 points.

The 31-year old, originally from Biddeford, ME is only smiling, playing hockey.

He scores a career high 6 goals in his 1st season away from home, but isn’t retained and traded to Anaheim Ducks for 2024/2025.

The continued upward movement is on in New Jersey Devils, who trade to pick him up the soon to be unrestricted agent and insure their upward movement.

He continues to be a strong performer and is picked up by Los Angeles Kings on a 3-year deal worth $4M AAV.

USNTDP 2nd year center Conrad Fondrk(16) didn’t seem to skate quite as full a clip as he did his 1st season, but was still quite adept at scoring.

The 6′ 203 lbs. forward is a 2025/2026 commit to Boston University Terriers.

He also happened to be about a month ago New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2025 draft (#50 overall).

From St. Paul, MN, the still young 18-year old has a lot to look forward to.

New York Rangers‘ 7th year defenseman, Ryan Lindgren(55) gets a late season trade to a playoff team, Colorado Avalanche.

For 6 years, the 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner has recorded 10+ assists.

He had 3 assists with a +5 rating in 7 playoff games before bowing out.

Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2016 draft (#49 overall), he was traded before ever suiting up for them officially.

He did 2 years of USNTDP before heading to University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he left after his sophomore frame.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs quickly for 4 years at $4.5M AAV with Seattle Kracken.

Providence College Friars‘ senior center Chase Yoder(17) scored what turned out to be the game-winner for the 2023 Mayor’s Cup, Battle of Providence vs. Brown University Bears, 3-0.

The 5’10” 176 lbs. forward is easily threatening college bests with 6 goals and 6 assists in 17 games.

A Pittsburg Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#170 overall), the Fairview, TX native did 2 years in the USNTDP system before school.

We think this is the season to see an uptick in the 21 year old’s game, getting him ready to sign an NHL entry level deal.

He goes unsigned by his draft club, but somehow picks up the radar of Winnipeg Jets, who get him signed to an AHL contract with affiliate Manitoba Moose for 2025/2026.