CollegeHockeyPlayers

Chicago Blackhawks‘ newest defenseman, rookie Wyatt Kalynuk(3) has so far steadily put up numbers with affiliate Rockford Icehogs.

In 8 AHL games, he has two goals and 8 assists with two of those points recorded in his debut and he has 4 multi-point appearances that’s turning heads with the parent club for a look.

The 6’1″ 185 blue liner, originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#198 overall), signed a two-year deal with his new team as an unrestricted free agent over the summer.

He finished his third season at University Of Wisconsin as captain and recorded a best 28 points.

The almost 24-year old Canadian export took a decidedly American route through three years of USHL and college before turning pro but has officially arrived.

He earned his recall as a rookie and appeared in 21 NHL games, scoring 4 goals and 5 assists.

As a sophomore skater, he mostly stayed in the minors, but managed 7 goals and 20 assists in 52 games, while also getting 5 games up with no points.

On the opening day of unrestricted free agency, despite not being offered a qualifying offer, was scooped quickly by Vancouver Canucks and signed to a 1-year 2-way deal that pays him pretty nicely if he skates for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.

Nearing the end of the trade deadline, he gets dealt to New York Rangers, who will need to re-sign the restricted free agent at the end of the current session.

He could easily see more big league time with his new club.

At the end of the session, he actually becomes a group 6 free agent, so is free to sign and St. Louis Blues step in early to offer a 1-year 2-way deal to work in their system.

He steps away from a career high 66 games to sign a 1-year deal with Pelicans, where he scores 10 goals and 23 assists in 59 games, which Ak Bars Kazan sees strong enough to sign him for 2025/2026 and we think he does well in the KHL.

Montreal Canadiens‘ 1st round pick in the 2017 draft (#25 overall), 3rd year center Ryan Poehling(41) re-ups for another 2 years with the 2nd year being on one-way terms.

The 6’2″ 204 lbs. power forward played a first big league game after agreeing to his 2-year entry level deal following a third year at State Cloud State University Huskies.

In that game he pulled off the rare feat of scoring an NHL hat trick in his debut.

Not bad for 11:22 of playing time.

He was very close to being a point-per-game guy last season with affiliate Laval Rocket (11-14-25) with a +5  in 28 AHL games.

The Lakeville, MN native was on a fast track through high school, then signing for his only time in junior hockey, 9 USHL games with Lincoln Stars (2 goals, 2 assists) before heading straight to school for a freshman campaign.

It seems if the 22-year old is given his shot to prove he can play, he could very well become a 20-goal scorer before too long.

He was traded during the offseason before the start of this 3rd year to Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played 53 games, registering 7 goals and 7 assists, but was left unqualified from his contract with the former club, so became an unrestricted free agent.

For 2023/2024, he signs a 1-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers for $1.4M AAV.

He has his best scoring season with 12 goals and 19 assists and is still under contract, but gets dished to Anaheim Ducks in a huge deal that should see him continue to put up career numbers with his new club, but he will need a contract.

4th year center Brett Seney(62) was an unrestricted free agent coming off a 1-year extension with draft club, New Jersey Devils (6th round, 2015, #157 overall) to sign away on a two-way deal for a first time with Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 7 AHL games, he has 4 goals with a +2 rating, which has to have the parent club at least watching.

The small 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward was a sniper in four years at Merrimack College Warriors, striking for 26 points twice to start and finished with campaigns of 31 and 32 totals before graduating.

His 3 goals and 5 assists on 12 games signed to an ato after college was probably a good indicator of what could occur.

It will be interesting to see if the 25-year old gets anymore time in the show and what he does next.

In 2021/2022, the London, ON native would put up a new career best 42 assists and 59 points in 62 games with a +16 rating and also skated a pair of games in the big league.

For 2022/2023, he jumps ship for another 1-year, 2-way deal, this time from Chicago Blackhawks, where he could very put in more time at a higher level.

After an almost point-per-game season with affiliate, as MVP Rockford IceHogs and a 1st NHL goal for the team, he gets a 1-year deal to continue, then almost repeat performances through more games, he’s given more time in a ‘Hawks‘ jersey.

He continues to motor with points and for 2025/2026, he signs a 2-year AHL deal to remain captain of the Icehogs.