Category: NHL Draft Pick

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.

06May

Shai Buium (8)

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University Of Denver Pioneers twice NCAA Division 1 champion, junior defenseman Shai Buium(8) leaves a season on the table to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with Detroit Red Wings that will see him on an ato with affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins to get started.

He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft (#36 overall).

The big 6’4″ 210 lbs. blue liner had all college bests last season with 7 goals and 29 assists for 36 points with a +33 rating in 43 games.

He was chosen after his only USHL session for Sioux City Musketeers.

From San Diego, CA, the 21-year old is still pretty young, but likely just wants to get started with the next step.

05May

Sam Lipkin (38)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore left wing Sam Lipkin(38) forgoes 2 years of school to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (round 7, 2021, #223 overall) Arizona Coyotes after he scored a college high 15 goals in 39 games last season.

The 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward had an assist in his AHL debut.

He scored huge in his 2nd USHL season as captain with Chicago Steel, but won the Clark Cup Championship in his 1st with the team.

From Philadelphia, PA, the 21-year old is likely ready for some playoff hockey with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners.

03May

Evan Cowley (31)

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Evan-Cowley

2nd year net minder Evan Cowley(31) signed at the beginning of 2018/2019 with Wheeling Nailers but after one uneven start on a bit of a struggling squad was released.

Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2013 draft (#92 overall), he never agreed to terms with the team but did eventually get a contract with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, where he split time with Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL as a rookie.

The former University Of Denver backstop put up stellar numbers in college and went on to win the 2017 NCAA Championship.

At 23-years old, it didn’t take him long to secure a new deal after he was let go, grabbing a contract with MH Automatyka Gdansk of Polska Hokej Liga, where he will likely excel and move up the European hockey ladder as he goes.

He spent the last 3 seasons in Ligue Magnus with Ducs D’Angers and put up league best GAA (2.02) and SV% (.935), but is ready to explore again and signs to Asiago and will play in the IceHL for 2024/2025.

01May

Nick Shore (23)

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12th year center Nick Shore(23) swaps close to 2 years, scoring good numbers with HV71 for 1 at Linkoping HC 2024/2025.

The 3rd round Los Angeles Kings‘ draft pick in the 2011 draft (#82 overall)

He initially left North American hockey after his 3rd straight year in the NHL and left for 1 year in the KHL.

Wooed back for another spin in the biggest league, taking his total up to 299 games, he didn’t really put up the numbers and next found the net on multiple occasions in Slovakia Extraliga, but swapped that quickly for hockey in Switzerland, signing with EV Zug.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward would help his team win the 2021 NL Championship.

He returned to Russia, but the former 3-year University Of Denver Pioneers went back before switching to Sweden, where he stays.

The 31-year old from Denver, CO has made a neat little journey out of playing pro hockey for himself.

30Apr

Jon Matsumoto (11)

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Almost unreal, 18th year center Jon Matsumoto(11) will do a 2nd DEL2 season with Krefeld Pinguine after scoring 10 goals and 13 assists in 30 games last season.

He had previously played 9 years in the upper German league, DEL and twice won the Championship back-to-back with EHC Munchen.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2006 NHL draft (#79 overall) and spent his 1st 3 years with the team after leaving Bowling Green University Falcons with a year on the table.

From Ottawa, ON, the 37-year old may hit 20 years as a pro barely blinking.

25Apr

Chris Wagner (14)

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12th year center Chris Wagner(14) signs a 1-year deal to return to Colorado Avalanche, which almost certainly has the 32-year old seeing most of his playing time with their affiliate Colorado Eagles.

In his last couple of seasons under contract with Boston Bruins, he spent most of his playing time in the AHL with their affiliate Providence Bruins.

He was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#122 overall) and mostly stayed with them for 6 years.

The 6’ 195 lbs. forward from Walpole, MA left after 2 years at Colgate University Raiders to turn pro and likely made a pretty good decision.

He of 363 appearances in the minors and 360 NHL games would be an amazing coach going forward.

17 games in the minors with 4 goals and 4 assists and a +3 rating and 10 up in the show for another 1 goal and 1 assist with another +3 rating and he is happily invited to wear an Avalanche jersey for another season.

22Apr

Daimon Gardner (16)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ freshman center Daimon Gardner(16) was easily off his scoring game with only 1 goal and 5 assists in 29 games last season and will head to St. Cloud State University Huskies for 2024/2025.

The 6’5″ 205 lbs. forward from Eagle Lake, ON is a Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#112 overall).

Selected after a huge 45 goal, 38 assists in 30 USHS-MN games for Warroad High with a +67 rating, he next went onto play juniors in the USHL, mostly for Tri-City Storm, running up a 30 assist frame before college.

We fully expect the 20-year old’s ECAC game to start clicking.

21Apr

Cade Webber (8)

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Boston University Terriers‘ graduate 6’7″ 216 lbs. assistant captain, defenseman Cade Webber(8) has 3 assists in 14 games, dangerously close to the 5 he had through 40 games last season, so does look poised for college career best stats.

A Carolina Hurricanes‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#99 overall), he was just coming out of his senior year at The Rivers School USHS-Prep.

He did 1 BCHL junior season with Penticton Vees before heading to college.

The 23-year old will likely get a deal, but will almost for certain start with their affiliate.

His signing rights were recently traded to Toronto Maple Leafs and they move right in upon finishing up Frozen Four play to him to a 2-year NHL entry level contract.

He could get slotted right in for the playoffs with his enormous size, but we watch.

21Apr

Johnny Beecher (19)

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University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ junior center Johnny Beecher(19) decides to forego his senior year and signs an ato with Providence Bruins to play out the remainder of 2021/2022 with the AHL team.

This is done under the guidance of 1st round 2019 draft club (#30 overall) Boston Bruins, who will eventually sign him to a 2 or 3-year entry level deal.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward didn’t make an impact in college hockey as he did in a pair of 40+ point seasons for the USNTDP.

At just 21-years old, the parent club coaching staff believes the Elmira, NY native is ready to bring some game.

Recently re-slotted from the affiliate back up to the show, where he’s skated 52 games with 7 goals and 3 assists in his sophomore season, he plays a 1st playoff game and just like that he gets his 1st NHL goal, the opening tally of a game 1 4-1 win.