Category: NHL Draft Pick

20Jun

Bryce Misley (9)

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Minnesota Wild 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#116 overall) center Bryce Misley(9) must have jumped at the opportunity to sign his first deal, an ato with affiliate Iowa Wild to show a little of what he’s able to produce after coming off a piss poor COVID busted 2020/2021 University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ NCAA Hockey East schedule of only 14 games.

In 9 AHL games, the 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward has a goal and 2 assists with a multipoint spread.

While not scoring big numbers through 4 years of college, the Calgary, AB native did hit the score sheet hard as a point-per-game producer through 2 seasons of junior hockey with Oakville Blades of the OJHL (45-56 in 99).

The 21-year old has yet to sign his entry level deal and ends up inking a 1-year minor league deal to stay in the system.

He is reassigned down to affiliate Iowa Heartlanders, scoring 11 goals and 19 assists, but unfortunately was a bit of an abysmal -29 rating on a team that struggled.

For 2022/2023, he has decided to split the scene and sign with Asiago of IceHL and should find his scoring elevates nicely.

He posts 9 goals and 30 assists in 49 games to earn himself another 2-year deal to continue.

In his time, he does pretty well on the scoresheet, but definitely could up his on-ice accountability, but will head next to skate for the “hometown” Italian team in the league, HC Bozen-Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

19Jun

Ayrton Martino (22)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ senior left wing Ayrton Martino(22) signs a 2-year NHL entry level contract with draft team Dallas Stars (3rd round, 2021, #73 overall) after scoring a college high 25 goals and 26 assists in 39 games last season.

The 5’11” 161 lbs. forward from Toronto, ON scored big in a 2nd OJHL junior season before heading to the USHL.

In 4 AHL games with affiliate Texas Stars, he failed to connect, but you have to think they are just looking forward to year 1, 2025/2026.

16Jun

Shane Gersich (10)

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Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Shane Gersich(10) grabs another one-year, two-way deal to stick around in the prospect system.

The University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ 3-year forward has consistently put up respectable numbers for affiliate Hershey Bears.

He started his pro career with 3 NHL games fresh off his junior year at school, grabbed an assist and even skated a pair of playoff appearances en route to the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship.

The 24-year old has to be fairly happy with the way things are turning out for this 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#134 overall).

For 2022/2023, he re-signs on a minor league deal to stay where he is after recording a career high 14 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating.

After a 5th season where he’s been and a brand new 2023 Calder Cup Trophy to bear, he decides to look on and signs a 1-year deal with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should do very well.

We pretty much thought what has occurred would, he takes a good frame in Sweden’s tier 2 league, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games to a higher level of hockey next, signing with Iserlohn Roosters of DEL for 2024/2025.

He does ok with 16 goals and 21 assists in 51 games, but decides to look for another opportunity and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

15Jun

Philip Samuelsson (34)

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12th year, Swedish-born defenseman Philip Samuelsson(34) left 3 seasons of playing in his home country’s top league, SHL for a new adventure, signing for 2022/2023 with Fischtown Pinguins.

In 22 DEL games, he has 12 assists, so is on pace for a big first season in Germany.

The former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#61 overall) has played 512 AHL games, scoring 27 goals and 124 assists with a massive +76 rating.

He’s also appeared in 13 NHL games.

Because his dad, Ulf Samuelsson(5) was playing hockey in the US, he did his high school and junior hockey here.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner even did 2 years at Boston College Eagles before turning pro on a 3-year entry level deal.

At 31-years old, he is still able to pull down good contracts, so must have at least a little smile on his face.

He finishes up his debut frame in Germany with 4 goals and 27 assists in 47 games only to be wooed by rivals Straubing Tigers to stay in the country and sign for 2023/2024.

After an exceptionally strong year, scoring 4 goals and 12 assists with a +5 rating through 49 games, then adding another 4 points in 11 playoff matchups, it’s a no brainer to keep him in a Tigers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

3 seasons in Germany is all good and is heads of to IceHL and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

We think the 33-year old will do well and discover a few more years remaining.

12Jun

Mark Friedman (52)

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th year defenseman Mark Friedman(52) re-ups for another two years after scoring a goal and 4 assists in 26 NHL games with a +1 rating.

The 5’10” 192 lbs. blue liner has appeared in big league games for the last 4 seasons, but seems to have arrived in the current session.

He scored 2 goals and an assist in 5 games, when he arrived via the waiver wire from Philadelphia Flyers.

The Bowling Green State University Falcons blue liner left a year on the table after scoring college career best 8 goals, 18 assist and 26 points.

It looks like the 26-year old is in a good spot with his new team.

He picks up 20+ games in the big league 2 years in a row, but gets himself traded in sort of a minor deal to Vancouver Canucks, where he could find a spot on d with the big club.

In 5 games, he had no points, but got 1 goal and 5 assists in 20 games with a +4 rating for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.

He finds himself traded to Nashville Predators to help shore up their zone, but initially he will head to Milwaukee Admirals.

In 21 games, he comes away with 2 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating, which in turn he will take to a new opportunity in his 9th season to go skate for Rogle BK of the SHL for 2025/2026.

11Jun

David Farrance (9)

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Nashville Predators sign their 2017, 3rd round pick (#92 overall) Boston University graduate, defenseman David Farrance(9) to a 2-year entry level contract as he finishes up his 4 session at school scoring another more than point per game performance (5-11 in 11 games).

He had his best season as a junior in ’19/20, when he rocked 14 goals from the “point” to go along with 29 helpers through 34 games.

After a pair of campaigns with USNTDP, in the 2nd he amassed 30 assists to likely get him fully on the NHL club’s radar as well as his future college.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner may report first to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, but you can beat he will be fighting for a roster spot with the big club as soon as he arrives.

He would play 50 AHL games as a rookie, scoring 1 goal and 13 assists, but would not be given a qualifying offer to stay.

For 2022/2023, he signs a 1-year minor league contract with last year’s champs, Chicago Wolves.

After 14 games, scoring a goal and 4 assists, the d-man finds himself on the move, as Colorado Eagles see something they can use in his game and trade for him.

2 goals and 17 assists in 31 games and he is on the move, signing a 1-year deal with Toronto Marlies for 2023/2024.

He has mostly been loaned to affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 2 assists, but searching for something better finds it, signing with ERC Ingolstadt of DEL for the remainder of the session.

Coming away with 2 assists in 7 playoff games, he moves on to sign with KooKoo of Liiga for 2024/2025.

After exceeding his 29 assist junior year with a new high 35 in 53 games and a +26 rating, he will move his game up to the KHL, signing with HC Sibir Novosibirsk.

09Jun

Brock Nelson (11)

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Brock-Nelson

New York Islanders‘ 7th year center Brock Nelson(11) gets re-upped on a 6-year extension through 2025.

He’s a 4-time 20-goal scorer and actually had 19 in 2017/2018, so 5-time is merited, 3-time 20+ assists and twice 10+ on helpers.

The fairly large power forward had 4 goals in 8 Stanley Cup playoff games.

Set to turn 28-years old, the former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks at the start of the new session, his deal is worth $6M AV with a no trade clause for the first two seasons and then some modified terms.

He is traded in the final year of his contract to Colorado Avalanche, where he scores 6 goals and 7 assists in 19 games with a +6 rating, then adds 4 helpers in 7 playoff matchups with a +2.

Takes little time in the off-season to sign him up on a 3-year deal.

07Jun

Riley Barber (11)

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8th year right wing Riley Barber(11) signs a 1-year deal with Dallas Stars for 2022/2023, as an unrestricted free agent, coming out of 2 years of contracts with Detroit Red Wings.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward is off to another quick start this season, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 AHL games for affiliate Texas Stars.

He once had north of 30 goals and 4 times passed the 20+ tally mark and on 3 occasions had 20+ assists.

Originally a Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#167 overall), he stayed in their system for 4 years after burning a hole through the college score sheet with Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.

The 28-year old has somehow skated in 16 NHL games but not registered a point.

You have to think he’ll get another opportunity where he is this season.

He manages a very good, career high 32 goals and 32 assists in 69 games for the Cedar Park team and will next take his scoring abilities to the KHL, signing a 1-year deal with Barys Astana for 2023/2024.

While scoring 10 goals and 13 assists in 28 games, he still finds himself on the move and will head to AK Bars Kazan for the rest of the season.

He does ok, but signs with his 3rd team, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, where he scores well with 16 goals and 14 assists, but lacks a little with a -13 on ice accountability.

For 2025/2026, he decides to move to Germany and ERC Ingolstadt step right in to ink him to a DEL deal.

05Jun

Sean Malone (37)

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 6th year center Sean Malone(37) continues with Rochester Americans under a new 1-year deal from the team he’s skated 5 seasons for.

The former Harvard University Crimson senior scorer is coming off a career year, getting a new best 20 goals and 37 points.

He only has 2 NHL games to his credit, with an assist in his 2nd appearance with 1-year contract club, Nashville Predators.

A Buffalo, NY native, the 27-year old is definitely keeping his hockey close to home.

Following 6 years and 284 AHL games, the 28 year is heading off to Switzerland to skate in the NL with SCL Tigers in 2023/2024.

He has two good Swiss seasons and takes it to a new deal with Orebro HK of SHL for 2025/2026.

02Jun

Aku Koskenvuo (76)

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Harvard University Crimson junior Finnish-born goaltender Aku Koskenvuo(76) leaves a year on the table to sign his 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (5th round, 2021, #137 overall), Vancouver Canucks.

The big 6’4″ 200 lbs. net minder played a college best 20 games with a 2.81 GAA and .902 SV%.

He played all of his youth hockey and juniors back home.

The 22-year old looks to be headed to the AHL to start with affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.