Cornell University Big Red senior defenseman Hank Kempf(4) is a New York Rangers‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#208 overall) and could use a contract once the season concludes.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner plays with explosive power, consistently breaking up plays down low.
From Wilmette, IL, the 22-year old has come up nicely through the Chicago Mission youth hockey system.
New York Rangers‘ 5th round pick in the 2020 draft (#134 overall), Providence College sophomore center Brett Berard(65) is striking the scoresheet like he may not want to spend 4 years at school before signing an entry level contract.
He agreed to head to the college of his choice from youth hockey, then was sent to the USNTDP program for the next couple seasons, impressing on the scoresheet despite his only 5’9″ 165 lbs. frame.
The 19-year old from East Greenwich, CT will be a good watch.
He may have not had the junior year he was looking for after putting in 18 goals and 20 assists as a sophomore, but still maintained a solid 10 goals and 14 assists in 36 games including moving past the 1st round of Hockey East tournament.
A 3-year entry level deal has been put on the table and he signs his NHL contract to see some ice time on an ato with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack and maybe even a look from the parent club as the playoffs lurch.
He is scoring pretty big with 7 goals and 6 assists in 16 AHL games to earn himself a 1st recall.
In his debut he picks up a 1st assist in the big league and skates 19 shifts for 11:13 ice time with 2 shots, 1 hit, 1 takeaway and left a 5-2 loss with a -1, but was 100% in the face-off dot.
Providence College Friars‘ freshman left wing Trevor Connelly(16) is off to a quick scoring, college start with 2 goals and 7 assists in 8 games.
The 6’1″ 165 lbs. forward had 2 heavy scoring USHL seasons for Tri-City Storm.
From Tustin, CA, the 18-year is a Vegas Golden Knights‘ 1st round pick in the 2024 draft (#19 overall), so he has definitely impressed.
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.
9th year, veteran defenseman Seth Helgeson(2) recently appeared in his 500th AHL game with 5th year club, Bridgeport Islanders.
The 6’4″ 216 lbs. blue liner was originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#114 overall) and played in their system for his first 4 seasons.
He skated his only games in the big league with the team and even got a 1st NHL goal in his 44th appearance, where he also had 3 assists and almost oddly a +1 rating.
The former 4-year University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ d-man has never been a big point scorer, but does have 2 goals in the current frame.
If he adds another one, he will have a career high 3.
He’s 3 times had 10+ assists in the league and twice close.
The 31-year old has done well for himself and it’s a bit of wonder if he doesn’t go exploring for his next contract, just for some different kind of fun in the game.
For 2022/2023, he re-signs to stay in Connecticut another season.
He will return to captain the little Islanders for a 7th straight run.
It took him a minute, but he will return on a pro for a 8th season in a little Islanders‘ jersey, but you got to figure, unless he decides not to, he will sign.
Defenseman Matt Irwin(52) will skate his 14th season for Vancouver Canucks.
He is signed to a 2-way deal, so potentially could be sent to play for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks, which could be ok at this point in his career.
In the last 7 years, he has skated 4 AHL games with the rest in the NHL.
The 35-year old has skated a handy 461 games in the big league, so this season could reach a milestone.
At the very least, for the 1st time, the former 2-year UMass Minutemen d-man, is skating closer to his Victoria, BC home this upcoming frame.
After a full season in the minors, doing very well with the farm club, he has yet to announce a new move in addition to his retirement from playing.
He had quite the successful run and was in the dressing room, when I got married at center ice of a Worcester Sharks‘ 2011 game.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2018 draft (#69 overall) senior, center Jake Wise(28) maybe somewhat surprisingly decides to branch out from 3 years at Boston University Terriers, and finish school at Ohio State University Buckeyes.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. often injured forward was selected after a strong second showing for US National U18 Team USDP, but quickly succumbed to the sidelines 12 games into his freshman year.
He was able to play all 33 Hockey East games as a sophomore, scoring 2 goals and 11 assists, although unfortunately mostly out of the lineup in the COVID stop and go 2020/2021.
He did get a goal and an assist in just 5 games.
The 21-year old, Reading, MA native has definitely shown he can score big goals, and will hope to stay healthy for a full schedule at his new school.
He finishes up his 2nd season in the midwest with a college career best 12 goals and 27 assists and signs with the playoff bound Charlotte Checkers on a pto.
In 1 AHL game, he grabs 2 assists, then in a playoff match off, scores a 1st goal.
For 2023/2024, he gets signed to a minor league deal and returns to North Carolina, but we expect him to get some looks.
After 38 games, he gets traded to Chicago Wolves in a minor league move at the trade deadline.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Colorado Eagles, on a pto and picks up a 1-year deal after potting 2 goals and 3 assists in 6 games.
Harvard University Crimson senior, 2nd year captain, center Zakary Karpa(59) is a New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2022 draft (#191 overall).
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward has yet to really score, despite how he plays mostly using his fairly large frame.
He did 1 year USNTDP before playing for a pair of USHL teams before heading to school.
From Greenwich, CT, the 22-year old might not be automatic to score an entry level contract, but we think produces as a pro.
Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#210 overall), University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ graduate defenseman Robbie Stucker(7) transferred in from 3 years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers and has adjusted to Hockey East play nicely.
He had a college career best 4 goals and 10 assists last season in 34 games and this season is on his way again, getting 3 goals and 7 assists in 24 contests.
The 6’3″ 179 lbs. blue liner played only 1 season of juniors, but ended up claiming the 2018 USHL Championship with Fargo Force, scoring 2 goals and 8 assists in 14 playoff games to help the team get there.
From St. Paul, MN, the 24-year old will be an interesting watch to get his NHL entry level deal, but thinks he plays hard and should get a look.
Upon getting knocked from Hockey East tournament play, he signs a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays to get things started.
After 10 games, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists with a +9 rating, he is going to branch out and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with somewhat rivals Iowa Heartlanders for 2023/2024.
Utah Grizzlies make a trade to grab the big d-man in hopes he helps their blue line for a playoff push.
He goes from split time last session to signing for 2024/2025 with Orlando Solar Bears, which should be a really good stop for him.
Before he’s barely even started with his new team, Reading Royals are looking to bolster their blue line and offer up future considerations to score him.
9th year right wing Danny Kristo(79) has not really lasted long with many teams after his 76 NL games spent with SC Rapperswill-Jona Lakers, scoring 46 points.
He’s definitely managed to score pretty well, whether he was in the KHL, DEL or SHL, but maybe has found a niche with Rytiri Kladno, where he has 3 goals and 7 assists in 34 Tipsport Extraliga games.
The 6′ 194 lbs. Montreal Canadiens‘ 2008 2nd round draft pick (#56 overall) forward is a three time 20+ goal scorer in the AHL.
You have to think the former two-time 26 assist, senior assistant captain at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 32-year is happy to still be playing for decent enough money.
He will head to his 7th country for pro hockey in 2022/2023, signing a 1-year deal with HK Dukla Michelovce, which should be some very decent games to jump into after finishing up in Sweden’s tier 2 last frame.
After starting the frame with 6 games in Slovakia, he decides to move on, signing with Sheffield Steelers for the remainder of the season.
He will strike well in the EIHL.
And he did, through 47 games, he posted 12 goals and 18 assists with a +7 rating, then came alive more in 4 playoff matchups, striking for 2 goals and 3 assists.
For 2023/2024, he pulls the traitor move and takes his numbers to a rival, Coventry Blaze.
He would have a similar scoring season and considers 11 years to be a good term, so decides it’s time to leave the ice to a yet named next step, but could easily transition into coaching in a second.
271 AHL games and 157 at NCAA Divison 1 were mosts.
