University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ sophomore right wing Jackson Blake(53) leaves 2 years on the table, as he has just detonated scoring a college best 22 goals and 38 assists with a +13 rating to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (4th round, 2021, #109 overall), Carolina Hurricanes.
The 5’11” 171 lbs. forward from Fargo, ND did it at Eden Prairie High USHS-MN, then half a season and full USHL frame for Chicago Steel, but won the Clark Cup trophy in that 1st year.
We see the 20-year old 2024 Hobey Baker Award finalist slotting into their lineup, wear #53 and potentially even be a playoff contributor.
He is the son of former NHL great Jason Blake.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore right wing Sam Colangelo(64) picks up his 1st NCAA Division 1 goal in the 2021/2022 home opener.
He had 8 Hockey East shots at it as a freshman, but managed only 3 assists.
The 6’2″ 207 lbs. Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2020 draft (#36 overall) was selected by his school as an entering junior, then took off to for one round of junior action with Chicago Steel.
In 44 USHL games, he detonated the scoresheet with 28 goals and 30 assists with a +32 rating.
It would be zero surprise to see the 19-year old finish up all four years of college before turning pro.
The Stoneham, MA native will head to Western Michigan University Broncos for his senior year, then we feel will likely be given his NHL contract.
After playing a college career high 39 games, scoring a new double best 24 goals, 3-time 10+ assists (19) and 43 points with +19 rating, he signs a pto to affiliate San Diego Gulls to play out the remainder of the season and scores a 1st AHL goal and adds 3 assists in 4 games.
And just like that, the Ducks step in and ink him to a 2-year entry level deal, starting this season to play out the final games of 2023/2024.
7th year center Matthew Peca(63) signs a new 1-year, 2-way deal with St. Louis Blues for 2021/2022 after coming off one season for Ottawa Senators, which saw him play in 5 games with one assist.
Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#201 overall), the twice 10+ goals and 2-time 20+ assist Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ player has skated 78 NHL games.
The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward is likely to start with new affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, but could easily score some more looks in the show for the 28-year old.
After putting up some decent stats for the farm club, the Petawawa, ON native scores a recall to his new team and has an additional assist (6-15) in now 81 games.
Coming off his former deal, which saw him re-sign for 2-years, but receive no further looks despite posting some continued impressive AHL numbers.
For his next step he signs a 2-year minor league deal to stay in western Massachusetts.
UMass Minutemen junior defenseman Matthew Kessel(51) decides to leave a year on the table and signs his 2-year entry level deal with St. Louis Blues.
The 6’3″ 203 lbs. blue liner was a 5th round pick in 2022 (#150 overall).
He reports to affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds and in 12 AHL games, has a pair of assists and is a +5 rating, heading into the playoffs.
The 2019 USHL Clark Cup Champion with Sioux Falls Stampede had a junior career high 17 assists that season.
He is definitely the height of on-ice accountability with an NCAA Division 1 hockey +37 rating.
The 21-year old may just play himself onto the big league squad before too long.
With some injuries to the blue line, the Scottsdale, AZ native scores a 1st NHL game for himself, in which he skates 15:17 ice time with 1 shot on net, 1 block shot and left the 4-3 shootout loss with a -1.
Still, nice start.
He signs a 2-year 1-way extension through 2025/2026 to continue in a Blues‘ jersey.
In his 35 game this season (37th overall), he scores a 1st NHL goal for himself.
Vegas Golden Knights‘ 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#99 overall), Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate defenseman Slava Demin(20) decided on skating a 5th season on his 2nd transfer, this time from UMass Minutemen.
He was initially at University Of Denver Pioneers for 3 years.
The 22-year old from Santa Clara, CA did 2 seasons with Wenatchee Wild and won a 2018 BCHL Championship.
With 3 goals and 10 assists this season, he’s close to coming up with college career highs for himself.
There’s little doubt, he’s an interesting watch.
He finishes up a fantastic season in North Andover, MA and waits it out, but signs for his rookie year 2023/2024 with Allen Americans, which should prove to be a very good fit.
After 23 ECHL games, recording 5 assists, but a woeful -15, he gets shipped to Florida Everblades, which should turn out to be a good landing spot.
He does manage to turn his game around quite nicely, getting 2 goals and 5 assists in 28 games with a +13 rating.
Fort Wayne Komets see the upside in his game and trade to pull him into their lineup.
He has a mostly inconsistent game, bouncing between 3 different teams, but Idaho Steelheads know what the upside is and trade for him in 2024/2025 that should work well for both parties.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ sophomore Russian-born goaltender Arseni Sergeev(30) is a Calgary Flames‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#205 overall).
The 6’3″ 192 lbs. net minder did 3 seasons of juniors and won the 2021 NAHL Robertson Cup, then went on to post best marks and become USHL goaltender of the year.
By all accounts, the 21-year old came over to the US to start preparing early, and has obviously done well.
In what we see as a bit of an unlikely, surprising move, he enters the transfer portal and will next tend the cage at Penn State University Nittany Lions.
UMASS Minutemen junior defenseman Scott Morrow(23) is looking to put up more career high college stats this season with 5 goals and 15 assists in just 16 games with a +7, looking to best 13 and 22, but looking good.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner played exactly 2 USHL games of junior hockey with Youngstown Phantoms, grabbing an assist after finishing up at Shattuck St. Mary’s USHS-Prep.
From Darien, CT, the 21-year old is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2021 draft (#40 overall).
He looks like an easy 2-year entry level contract, but that just means they will have to work with him through restricted free agent contracts.
After recording a college best 24 assists and a 3rd 30+ point season, he leaves a year on the table to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal.
Colgate University Raiders‘ senior net minder Carter Gylander(37) is a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round draft pick in the 2019 draft (#191 overall).
The 6’5″ 190 lbs. goalie had 2 stellar AJHL seasons with Sherwood Park Crusaders that earned him to selection.
He is currently 8-10-3 with a 2.97 GAA and .905 SV% in 21 appearances.
The 24-year old Beaumont, AB native should be an easy NHL entry level sign to see what happens.
Upon finishing up his college season, he signs a 2-year deal and will report to affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins on an ato for the remainder of the year.
Boston College Eagles‘ graduate center Jack Malone(13) is off to a nice start with 4 goals and 3 assists in 12 games after coming over from Cornell University Big Red, where he was a decent enough ECAC scorer.
Hockey East may be more appealing to the 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward, who also struck pretty well through 3 years of the USHL for Youngstown Phantoms.
A Vancouver Canucks‘ 6th round pick in the 2019 draft (#180 overall), the 23-year old from Danville, CA looks to be an easy sign for an NHL entry level deal once he’s ready.
He gets the overtime game-winner against last years champions to send his team to the Frozen Four in St. Paul for the 1st time since 2016, their 26th visit overall.
UMASS Minutemen junior defenseman Ryan Ufko(6) looks to challenge his 8 goal mark, set as a sophomore with 5 already in 16 games, but may not touch that 26 assist tally he posted in his freshman frame.
He has 9 in the current session with a +6 rating.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner did 2 seasons with Chicago Steel and won the 2021 Clark Cup Championship in his 2nd campaign.
A Nashville Predators‘ 4th round pick in the 2021 draft (#115 overall), the 20-year old will likely have a great senior year, then sign an NHL entry level deal.
As a junior captain, he scores a new college best 10 goals, ties his 16 assists and 26 points.
He is wooed to leave a year of college on the table and signs a 3-year entry level deal with the team that selected him and looks to head to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals to get things started.
