Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in the 2019 draft (#5 overall) rookie center Alex Turcotte(38) has been sort of quietly surviving his rookie season playing hockey in a pandemic with affiliate Ontario Reign, sort of quietly grabbing a couple of snipers and 10 assists in 20 AHL games on a non-playoff contending team.
Nothing like the pair of seasons in the USNTDP program that got him selected super early and saw him commit to University Of Wisconsin.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward only lasted one season in college hockey before deciding to sign his 3-year entry level deal and get started.
At still just 20 years old, the recent WJC U20 gold medal winner could benefit from more time in the minors but in a better session could perform on the scoresheet like he did and could get the recall from a team that’s also in need of some scoring punch.
After posting 3 goals and 7 assists in 18 games with a +10 rating, he scores himself an NHL recall and debut.
In his 1st game, he skates 20 shifts for 12:08 ice time with 3 shots, 1 take away, 1 shot block, 2 penalty minutes and was a -1 in a 6-3 loss.
Recalled for a 1st time after exploding scoring in the minors, he pots a 1st NHL goal in 14 tries over 3 seasons to finally get it done.
He is showing effective play at both levels and is rewarded with a 3-year deal through 2026/2027 to stay in a Kings‘ jersey.
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.
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.
9th year defenseman Josh Jacobs(41) helps Chicago Wolves win the 2022 AHL Calder Cup, while under contract to Carolina Hurricanes and moves along to sign a new deal for 2022/2023 with 2022 Stanley Cup Champions, Colorado Avalanche, but will likely skate for affiliate Colorado Eagles.
The fairly sizable 6’2″ 220 lbs. blue liner had an interesting climb from 2 USHL seasons for Indiana Ice, including a 2014 Clark Cup Championship, followed by a year at home state Michigan State University Spartans, but traded that to skate a campaign further up north in the OHL with Sarnia Sting.
An unrestricted free agent, he signed a 3-year NHL entry level deal with New Jersey Devils to start his pro career and stayed in that system for 5 years.
He is very successful with his new club, hitting for 4 goals and 6 assists in 43 AHL games with a +10 ratings, then put up another 4 points in 7 matchups through the playoffs.
For 2023/2024, he scores himself a 1-year 2-way contract with St. Louis Blues that could heed some playing time, but mostly will skate the line for affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.
He wasn’t able to add to his 341 games in the league due to an injury that sidelined him for the entire frame.
For 2024/2025, Laval Rocket takes a chance and signs him to a 1-year deal.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ Belarus-born freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov(5) grabs the 2nd spot in the 2024 NHL draft by Chicago Blackhawks, making him the highest chosen player from his country ever selected, beating out a mark that stood for almost 30 years.
The 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner looks to be a complete product and one they look to pin their hopes on to rebuild their defense.
Just 18-years old, he came over for a single USHL season with Green Bay Gamblers and then got right to work last season, scoring 9 goals and 26 assists in 38 games with a +27 rating.
He does look to be the full picture they are looking for.
Now, will he report back to his school team?
We didn’t really hear much about him in development camp, but maybe we also didn’t need to, as he was making an impression and signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal for 2024/2025.
St. Louis Blues‘ 2nd round pick in the 2018 draft (#45 overall), rookie defenseman Scott Perunovich(48) gets a first NHL recall after putting up a dandy 2 goals and 18 assists in 12 AHL games for affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.
In his debut he skated an almost unreal 24 shifts for 18:26 ice time with 1 shot on net in a 3-2 loss.
They must figure the unlikely 5’10” 175 lbs. blue liner is accountable and may come to life head-manning the puck.
In his first and second years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs managed to capture a pair of back-to-back NCAA Division 1 Championships. and left winning Player Of The Year award and the Hobey Baker Award as a junior.
He played three campaigns recording 85 assists with an overall +49 rating.
The 23-year old, Hibbing, MN native is just getting started.
He would stay up in the big league for 19 games and record 6 assists with a +2 rating, then added another 4 assists in 7 playoff contests.
For his efforts, he gets rewarded with a 1-year, 1-way contract at the league minimum to show them some more.
He was just about a point-per-game player in the minors, playing limited games due to a season ending injury, but returned to appear only in the big guns lineup and scores 17 assists in 54 games with a +1 rating.
His efforts are rewarded to return in a Blues‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
7th year left wing A.J. Greer(10) hits the jackpot, signing his 1st 2-year 1-way NHL contract through 2023/2024 after posting a career high 22 goals and 30 assists in 53 AHL games with a +10 rating for Utica Comets, while signed to New Jersey Devils.
He played 9 games in the big league last season, striking for a goal and an assist.
The Joliette, QC native came down and looked to go the college route, attending USHS-Prep, but after a year and a half at Boston University Terriers, left to join Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, wracking up points en route to the 2016 QMJHL Championship.
Almost oddly, he was a Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2015 draft, chosen after his 1st year of college hockey, where he scored 3 goals and 4 assists in 37 games that they must’ve seen something there.
He played 37 games in the big league with the team, getting a goal and 5 assists.
Still super-young at 25-years old, he is maybe starting to just arrive.
He’s become like the new 4th line bandit, playing 61 games with Boston Bruins, then 59 for Calgary Flames, who claimed him off waivers, and he finally receives a 2-year deal to prove his game as he next heads to 2024 Stanley Cup Champions, Florida Panthers.
In 2024, he also became a BU graduate student.
8th year center T.J. Tynan(17) for the 2nd straight AHL season is the league’s MVP.
He has played 498 games, scoring 85 goals and a massive 361 assists with a +77 rating.
Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#66 overall), he has only skated 21 NHL games, recording 1 assist.
He was selected after an explosive freshman campaign at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and at the conclusion of his sophomore session.
The 30-year old needs a new contract to extend with Los Angeles Kings, as he is an unrestricted free agent or try his hand with another club.
He always rolls huge assists and 3 years did for Ontario Reign, but re-signs to head back to Colorado Avalanche, where he played 16 games, but will likely end up with another season in a Colorado Eagles‘ jersey.
Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2024 draft (#110 overall), defenseman Elliott Groenewold(7) stood out amongst the picks and invites at Development Camp, Warrior Ice Arena this past week.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner stood out as he was unafraid to engage, had very good quickness and release of his shot.
He wasn’t as much of a point scorer in his 1 USHL season with Cedar Rapids Roughriders, as he was at Bishop’s College School Prep.
From Bellows Falls, VT, the 18-year old commits to Quinnipiac University Bobcats for 2024/2025.
USNTDP 2nd year defenseman Cole Hutson(23) takes some pretty good scoring to a 2024/2025 commit at Boston University Terriers and gets himself selected by Washington Capitals, #43 in the 2nd round NHL 2024.
From North Barrington, IL, the 18-year old follows 1 brother to the same school, as the other 1 left to turn pro.
