Category: NHL Draft Pick

28May

Aapeli Rasanen (22)

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Kalpa‘s rookie defenseman Aapeli Rasanen(22) left his final year at Boston College behind possibly not knowing how the upcoming season would turn out during a raging pandemic, as he signed soon after 2019/2020 was aborted.

The 6′ 207 lbs. forward came to life scoring in his final year at college with 11 goals and 13 assists in 34 NCAA games with a +14 rating.

He continued on that path his first year in Liiga grabbing 13 tallies and 9 helpers.

It’s not certain what his future will be with Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him in the 6th round of 2016 (#153 overall) and still retains his contract rights.

The 22-year old is back home in Finland and maybe not looking back, which is too bad because he was always a good player to watch in Hockey East.

He spends his 1st 4 pro years with the same team, scoring decently, but maybe it’s time for a rival switch, so he signs with Tappara for 2024/2025.

26May

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (11)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior center Gunnarwolfe Fontaine(11) caps a successful final season in a college jersey by scoring the overtime game-winner to lift his team to a 2nd straight Beanpot Championship.

The small 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward is a Nashville Predators‘ 7th round pick in the 2020 draft (#202 overall).

He may not equal college scoring highs he set as a junior, but still has solid totals and a +5 rating.

The East Greenwich, RI native played 2 USHL seasons, scoring big for Chicago Steel.

It seems like a pretty easy consideration to give him a 2-year entry level contract to see what he can do in the system.

Once again, spectacular for his college club with crucial game-winning goals, he will extend college for a year of eligibility at Ohio State University Buckeyes, which should just see him continue on his path.

21May

Riley Hughes (19)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior right wing, assistant captain Riley Hughes(19) will take his game into the transfer portal for one more year at Ohio State University Buckeyes before hopefully signing an NHL entry level contract with draft team (7th round, 2018, #216 overall), New York Rangers.

The 6’1″ 172 lbs. forward’s numbers at Hockey East don’t match up with what he was able to do in high school, then one BCHL season with Victoria Grizzlies, notching more than point-per-game numbers in the regular campaign, then playoffs.

While we don’t expect the 22-year old Westwood, MA native to be a scoring machine once he arrives at Big Ten hockey, we do think he’ll connect with better frequency, and continue to play as he always does with a spark plug of energy out there.

He knew as he was entering the new season that he would not be signed, but still goes on after graduating to get a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders, where we feel once he reaches the ECHL will find the scoresheet with more frequency and came away with 3 goals and 1 assist in 12 games.

Charlotte Checkers are watching and sign him up for a 2-way AHL contract in 2024/2025.

21May

Luke Tuch (17)

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Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Luke Tuch(17) put up a college best 10 goals and 20 assists in 39 games this past season and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with draft team Montreal Canadiens (2nd round, 2020, #47 overall) and played a couple AHL games with affiliate Laval Rocket to get his feet wet.

The 6’2″ 203 lbs. forward scored a college high 10 goals, 20 assists for 30 points with a +17 rating through 39 games.

From Syracuse, NY, the 22-year old did 2 years at USNTDP, impressing in his 2nd session to get selected before college.

19May

Logan Hutsko (18)

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Florida Panthers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2018 draft (#89 overall), right wing Logan Hutsko(18) spent a portion of last season on the ir, which isn’t the strangest spot for him to be, as he’s been injured through a portion of his four years at Boston College Eagles.

Finishing up school, he signs his 2-year entry level deal, which will start come 2021/2022.

The 5’10” 172 lbs. forward scored 101 points (41 goals, 60 assists) in 114 NCAA Division 1 Hockey East games with an overall +31 rating.

If the 22-year old can shake the injury bug off his back, we’re thinking he will be chipping in nicely, when he’s ready to go.

He generates good points in 2 AHL seasons with Charlotte Checkers before leaving for a season overseas, splitting time between the SHL and Liiga, but not getting the results.

Things don’t seem to be going too well, so he’s probably had enough and retires.

17May

Marshall Warren (77)

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Minnesota Wild 6th round pick in the 2019 draft (#166 overall), transfer, defenseman captain Marshall Warren(77) will head to University Of Michigan Wolverines for a graduate year after completing 4 at Boston College Eagles.

His best season scoring was as a junior, grabbing 6 goals and 15 assists, but getting 11 points and +22 rating in the COVID cut 2019/2020 season that should have been that team hoisting an NCAA D1 Championship was maybe the best of his 1st college team’s runs.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. blue liner spent 2 solid runs with USNTDP before committing to college.

From Laurel Hollow, NY, the 22-year old could definitely use an entry level contract soon.

He plays a college high 41 games in his year of eligibility, but remains unsigned by the team that selected him and get picked up on a 2-year NHL entry level deal by his hometown New York Islanders.

17May

Massimo Rizzo (13)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ freshman center Massimo Rizzo(13) is tied for 3rd in NCAA Division 1 scoring at 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists).

He is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#216 overall) and looking to prove them right with the deep pick.

The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was a solid performer through 3 years of BCHL with a couple of teams (43 goals and 80 assists in 132 games) and won a 2017 championship with Penticton Vees, the year he arrived from youth hockey.

This is definitely the style player from Burnaby, BC that can break through and find space in the NHL.

After another 40+ points frame, the now junior decides to leave a year on the table and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers, who picked up his playing rights in a trade.

17May

Charles-Alexis Legault (6)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault(6) is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 5th round draft pick in 2023 (#139 overall).

He was selected after winning the 2023 NCAA Division 1 trophy with his underrated college club.

The big looking 6’3″ 214 lbs. blue liner played 2 seasons of juniors, 1st during COVID in the USHL, but went north closer to where his lives in Laval, QC to skate in the BCHL before heading to school.

He still has a ways to go, but some more development camps with the big club probably couldn’t hurt.

putting up 9 goals and 15 assists in 39 games with a monster, league best +36 rating, gets him a serious look and is signed to a 3-year NHL entry level contract by the team that selected him.

17May

Dylan Peterson (13)

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Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Dylan Peterson(13) scored a college best 8 goals and 20 points last season and signs his 2-year NHL entry level contract with draft club St. Louis Blues (3rd round, 2020 #86 overall).

The big 6’4″ 203 lbs. forward did 2 years USNTDP juniors racking up decent point totals before heading to school.

From Roseville, CA, look for the 22-year old to be an impact player as soon as he arrives as a rookie.

14May

JJ Piccinich (14)

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5th year right wing JJ Piccinich(14) decides it’s time to look outside the box, signing a 1-year deal with Belfast Giants for 2021/2022.

The Paramus, NJ native had an interesting path to turning pro.

Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#105 overall), he only ever signed with their affiliate Toronto Marlies.

He would next sign to San Antonio Rampage, but was reassigned mostly to affiliate Tulsa Oilers, where he popped in a massive 42 assists.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward also had a pair of amazing sessions for London Knights, including his 2nd as team captain, scoring 138 points (56-82) in 132 games.

This followed up just a single season at Boston University Terriers.

The 25-year old will bring some good winning to his new club: 2016 Memorial Cup, 2016 OHL Championship and 2019 ECHL Kelly Cup with Newfoundland Growlers.

It’s almost as if he can’t stop winning titles, as his Ireland lands the 2022 EIHL Championship and he ends a career scoring season with a league most goals, assists, points, plus/minus and forward of the year award.

He’s decided to up and leave and try something different though, signing in Norway with Stjernen Hockey.

As he posted a 25 goal and 40 assist frame in 45 games with his new club and has gone on to include an assist in one playoff match, the almost point-per-game Youngstown Phantoms re-signs to stay.

In roughly 90 games, he amasses 110 points and decides to head back to England with the Giants to explode more scoring and look for a title.