Category: NHL Draft Pick

03Aug

Alex Laferriere (14)

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#83 overall), right wing Alex Laferriere(14) signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal after completing a hugely successful sophomore season with Harvard University Crimson, scoring a new best 21 goals and 21 assists with a +13 rating in 34 games.

To start his pro career he signs a ato with affiliate Ontario Reign, scoring a 1st AHL goal in 4 games before exiting.

Look for the 6′ 172 lbs. to maybe add some weight over the summer and compete for a roster spot at 1st official camp.

After two seasons up, scoring a new career best 19 goals and 23 assists with a +22 rating last season, the restricted free agent signs a new 3-year deal to stay a Kings‘ scorer for $4.1M AAV.

01Aug

Keith Petruzzelli (80)

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Goaltender Keith Petruzzelli(80) receives a 2-year AHL contract from Toronto Marlies.

The absolutely huge 6’5″ 185 lbs. backstop put up quite the impressive numbers for the last three seasons at Quinnipiac University Bobcats.

He graduated with 94 ECAC games played, posting a 51-27-8 record and a 2.17 GAA, .915 SV%, but it was really 2020/2021 stats that catch your attention at 1.98 GAA and .926 SV%, a 17-8-4 record with 4 shutouts and a bigger wonder how Detroit Red Wings, who selected him in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft (#88 overall), allowed his rights to expire.

The Wilbraham, MA native arrived at college sporting some amazing stats and even through his fullest schedule of 35 USHL games did well with Muskegon Lumberjacks, hoisting a 22-10-1 mark, 2.40 GAA and .918 SV%.

It’s likely the 22-year old will be up for the challenge to grab the starter’s role.

After a 3rd season with the same club and he was ascending, he signs with Lehigh Valley Phantoms for his 1st time away.

He splits time with affiliate Reading Royals, where he plays 34 ECHL games.

They are liking what they see and he is signed up to stay a Phantoms for 2025/2026.

31Jul

David Cotton (13)

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2016 draft (#169 overall) center David Cotton(13) is blowing up the AHL scoring in his rookie season with 6 goals and 4 assists with a +8 rating in 12 games for Chicago Wolves.

He would easily be getting a look from the NHL level if his parent club wasn’t so good, but may just stay in the minors and look to make the big league out of training camp next season.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. power forward has always been a good scorer in 4 years at Boston College, putting up his best numbers overall totals last campaign scoring 15 goals and new bests 24 assists and 39 points as team captain.

This is an overall player/skater that easily went in later rounds as he was seemingly just getting going in his one year of juniors with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL.

His progress should be easy to follow and he’s even signed alongside brother Jason in his pro contract.

He wasn’t given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent to stay, so for 2022/2023, he signs a minor league deal to join the brand new Coachella Valley Firebirds.

After appearing in only 2 games with a good team, he gets himself traded to San Diego Gulls for a necessary new start.

In 34 games with his new team, he scores 4 goals and 5 assists with a -13 rating on a non-playoff contender.

For 2023/2024, he makes a smart move, signing with Florida Everblades, where his scoring talents should finally emerge as a pro.

After 7 games with 2 assists, he receives a trade to a team that seems to really want him, Kansas City Mavericks, another good landing spot, then scores a goal in his 1st game.

He would excel with his new team, scoring 14 goals and 24 assists in 41 games with a +25 rating, then connecting solidly in the playoffs, so he will re-sign to stay in KC for 2024/2025.

As the new captain, he records a best 22 goals and 25 assists in 54 games, then added another 10 in 13 playoff matchups.

For 2025/2026, it’s a easy match for his return 2025/2026 to the Mavericks.

29Jul

Brian Pinho (28)

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6th year center Brian Pinho(28) gets signed relatively quickly in unrestricted free agency by New York Islanders for 2023/2024.

He had a best 17 assists, but his 20 goals in his 2nd season with Hershey Bears, under contract to draft club Washington Capitals, 6th round 2013 (#174 overall) are tops in that category, which suggests he can score at this level.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward had 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 6 playoff games with Utica Comets last season.

He did 4 years at Providence College Friars, serving as senior captain, twice getting 12 goals and 20+ assists.

The 28-year old from Beverly, MA is in a good spot moving forward.

After a season best point totals, he joins Charlotte Checkers on a 2-year AHL pact.

29Jul

Travis Boyd (72)

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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.

As an assistant captain for affiliate Iowa Wild, he scores a career 22 goals and 31 assists in 63 games to sign a new 1-year 2-way deal with Toronto Maple Leafs.

28Jul

Jayden Struble (47)

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Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2019 draft (#43 overall), defenseman Jayden Struble(47) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal as his college team of the last 4 seasons, Northeastern University Huskies wrap up Hockey East play.

The 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner is set to AHL debut with affiliate Laval Rocket.

A Cumberland, RI native, the 21-year old didn’t play any real junior hockey before heading to college.

He plays 2 straight seasons of 56 appearances and records a new assist high with 11 and points, 13 with a +2 rating to earn a new 2-year deal, as a restricted free agent to stick around in a Canadiens‘ sweater.

28Jul

Jack Rathbone (51)

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#95 overall) rookie defenseman Jack Rathbone(51) makes his NHL debut after being recalled from affiliate Utica Comets to the taxi squad a half month ago.

He’d scored two goals and 7 assists in 8 AHL games before getting recalled.

In the 5’10” 177 lbs. d-man’s debut he skated 14 shifts for 12:04 total ice time with a shot on net and a 0 rating in a 4-1 loss.

The former Harvard University Crimson blue liner spent two years there, leaving with a tied career high 7 goals and new best 24 assists and 31 points in a COVID cut season of 28 NCAA Division 1 Hockey East games with no playoffs, then no season to play in 2021/2022 for the school, which had to make his decision to turn pro unfortunately easy.

The almost 22-year old has plenty to look forward to.

He works his way into an average of 10 games per frame, but gets himself moved in his 4th season with the team that sends him to Pittsburgh Penguins for 2023/2024, although he already has 1 goal in the minors and that’s likely where he headed first.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Buffalo Sabres that could see him mostly reassigned to affiliate Rochester Americans, but also could see him as being given an opportunity with his new team.

In 63 games, he scores 6 goals and 17 assists with a +9 rating, then adds another 3 points in the playoffs, which earns a 2-year contract to continue under the look of Buffalo.

28Jul

Matt Copponi (28) with video feature: 1-question interview

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Merrimack College Warriors‘ sophomore center Matt Copponi(28) gets a maybe little surprising nod on NHL draft day, as he is selected in the 7th round of 2023 (#216 overall) by Edmonton Oilers.

He was actually ranked fairly decent by NHL Scouting.

As a 2nd year college player, he put up a best 13 goals and 14 assists in 37 games last frame with a +8 rating.

The 6″ 179 lbs. forward from Mansfield, MA skipped junior hockey, arriving at college straight from Dexter Southfield School USHS-Prep.

He’s just 20-years old.

For his senior year, he enters the transfer portal to skate for Boston University Terriers.

He posts decent numbers (6-18) in a college high 40 games played with a new best +15 rating.

Upon graduation, he signs an ato with the affiliate Bakersfield Condors and records an assist in his 2nd AHL game, where he was possibly signed to a deal by the parent club, but that seems to only be a rumor so far.

He records 2 assists in 3 games with a +2 rating to earn a new 2-year deal to stay a Condors.