Category: NHL Draft Pick

16Nov

Luke Witkowski (4)

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10th year defenseman Luke Witkowski(4) returns to Springfield Thunderbirds, where he played 16 regular season games, then 17 in the playoffs after a trade from Detroit Red Wings sent him to St. Louis Blues‘ system.

The sizable 6’2″ 209 lbs. blue liner doesn’t exactly score a lot of points in his 324 AHL games, but does have a nice +38 rating for accountability.

In 132 NHL games, the former Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#160 overall) has 2 goals and 11 assists.

He was a senior captain at Western Michigan University Broncos and 3-time lead guy for Syracuse Crunch.

The 32-year old from Holland, MI is likely smiling with each big contracts he still gets.

For 2023/2024, he has made the decision to try something completely new and heads to Finland to join Tappara and will play his games in Liiga.

Switzerland was good enough fun for the now 34-year old, but will elevate his game a little by signing in the SHL with Skelleftea AIK for 2024/2025.

He waits a minute after skating 25 regular season, then 11 in the playoffs to sign with rivals, Brynas IF for 2025/2026.

11Nov

Joel Maata (21)

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University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ senior, Finnish-born captain, center Joel Maata(21) took a college best 9 goals and 18 assists in 37 games with a +5 rating to a 1st pro contract back home in Liiga with TPS.

He has become their assistant captain.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward did 2 years of USHL before college.

In 19 games with his new team, he has 5 goals and 4 assists.

He was an Edmonton Oilers‘ 7th round pick in the 2022 draft (#222 overall), but was left unsigned.

10Nov

Charlie Tretheway (91)

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USNTDP‘s 2nd year defenseman Charlie Tretheway(91) commits to Boston University Terriers for 2025/2026.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner had just 2 goals and 7 assists in 24 USHL games with a +16 rating.

From Ellicott City, MD, the 18-year old found himself to be a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2025 draft (#73 overall).

In 11 games, he has 1 assist with a -1 rating, but all that will improve.

07Nov

Cole McKinney (11)

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University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ freshman center Cole McKinney(11) already has 3 goals and 4 assists in 10 games this season.

The 6′ 201 lbs. forward was more than a point-per-game scorer through his 2nd USNTDP season and did the same coming up with the Chicago Mission program.

From Chicago, IL, the 18-year old found himself to be a San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2025 NHL draft (#53 overall).

06Nov

Josh Lopina (18)

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2021 draft (#98 overall), center Josh Lopina(18) picked up his 3-year NHL entry level deal upon deciding to leave UMass Minutemen after a college career sophomore season, scoring 12 goals and 15 assists in 27 games with a +21 rating.

He had equally stellar numbers as a freshmen, when they went on to win the 2021 NCAA Division 1 National Championship.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward twice put up 12 goals with Lincoln Stars in a pair of USHL sessions.

He managed to grab an assist in his AHL debut with affiliate San Diego Gulls and be credited with 2 shots on net and a +1 rating.

The 21-year old looks ready to step into his new lifestyle.

After 3 years in the same place, he moves on to sign with Savannah Ghost Pirates for 2025/2026.

He has 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 ECHL games, where we think he notches points really well.

31Oct

Troy Josephs (16)

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5th year center Troy Josephs(16) signs on for a 2nd season with HC Lugano, continuing his climb up Swiss Hockey leagues.

He skated for EHC Visp of the tier 2 SL, when arriving from North America.

The 6′ 194 lbs. was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2013 draft (#209 overall), but only signed an AHL deal with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

He was two years in the system, but mostly reassigned down to Wheeling Nailers, where he exploded on the scoresheet as a more than point-per-game player and eventually just signed an ECHL contract.

There’s little doubt the 27-year, former 4-year Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ old found his footing immediately overseas and will continue to do so, as he climbs.

He would end up a 2nd full session with the NL club, putting up 5 goals and 15 assists that he will take to a new, bold opportunity, signing a 1-year deal with Lada Togliatti of the KHL.

Doing best in his first run at Russian hockey, he scores 20 goals, but is fairly consistent as he travels between a couple of teams and for 2025/2026 will head to a 3rd, signing with HK Sochi.

After 10 games with 2 assists, not sure what has occurred, but he becomes available to Shanghai Dragons to sign for the term.

30Oct

Francesco Dell’Elce (23)

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UMASS Minutemen sophomore defenseman Francesco Dell’Elce(23) was picked up by Colorado Avalanche in the 3rd round of the 2025 draft (#77 overall) after putting up 7 goals and 17 assists in 40 games as a freshman with a +18 rating.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner only did 1 BCHL year before college.

From Toronto, ON, the 20-year old seemed to play onto the team who selected him’s radar.

28Oct

William Horcoff (44)

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University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ sophomore center William Horcoff(44) left his 2nd USNTDP season to join his college commit team and scored 4 goals and 6 assists in 18 games.

In his 2nd year, the 6’5″ 203 lbs. forward has 6 goals and 4 assists in 7 games.

He also became a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st round pick in the 2025 draft (#24 overall).

From Birmingham, MI, the 18-year old will see how long he school stays.

25Oct

Joseph LaBate (16)

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7th year left wing Joseph LaBate(16) signed a 1-year AHL deal with Milwaukee Admirals for 2021/2022 and is off to a nice 2 goal in 4 game start.

The very big 6’5″ 217 lbs. forward played 4 years at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, averaging 20 points per season before signing his 2-year entry deal with draft club, Vancouver Canucks (round 4, 2011, #101 overall).

He stayed with them for three campaigns and did play 13 NHL games (no points) before becoming a group 6 free agent and signing the first of three minor league contracts with Belleville Senators.

It was his 2nd run with the club, when he put up his best numbers, just a couple seasons ago, a tying 10 goals and best 16 assists and 26 points with a +19 rating.

The 28-year old, Eagan, MN native has to be looking overseas for his next play and could likely do incredibly well with that big frame.

He comes away with 5 goals and 7 assists in 56 games last season and decides to stick around, signing for 2022/2023 with Chicago Wolves.

In 53 games, he walks with a new best 11 goals and 11 assists with a +3 rating and will take that fortune to a new KHL cal with Barys Astana for 2023/2024, as he enters his 9th pro season.

For his 10th year playing pro hockey, he returns from 8 goals and 10 assists in 49 games to sign pto with Cleveland Monsters to make the team for 2024/2025.

He scores 1 goal and 3 assists in 5 games and he gets himself signed to a 1-year, 2-way contract by the parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets.

In 6 NHL games, he records an assist and is good for 8 goals and 13 assists in 51 games in the minors last season.

An unrestricted free agent, he heads back to his draft team and signs a 1-year deal with Vancouver Canucks for 2025/2026 and will likely join Calder Cup Champs Abbotsford Canucks for a little bit.

He is off to a hot start and maybe had a good training camp that sets him for a 1st NHL game with the team since 2017.