6th year left wing Danton Heinen(43) doesn’t find the right fit with Anaheim Ducks, who he was traded to late in 2019/2020 to by long time club Boston Bruins and signed for another year after producing 3 goals and an assist in 9 NHL games to start.
He seemed to mostly struggle on a non-winning team and wasn’t qualified to receive another deal.
Last year was easily an anomaly for the 6’1″ 188 lbs. forward, who signed a 1-year deal for $1.1 AAV a little late into free agency with Pittsburgh Penguins for 2021/2022.
The still only 26-year old, 2-year University Of Denver standout should be able to excel with the talent around him in PA.
For 2023/2024, as an unrestricted free agent looking for a new home, he accepts a training camp invite from his old haunt in Boston.
He comes into town, takes nothing for granted, works hard to gain notice and nets himself a 1-year contract worth $775 AAV.
Coming away with 36 points in 72 games with a +16 rating is all good and Vancouver Canucks swoop in, offering a 2-year deal at $2.25 AAV to move coasts.
After 51 games, he is traded back to Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the new season, he is reassigned to affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for some games in the current frame, but is recalled to trade to Columbus Blue Jackets.
8th year center Kyle Rau(42) signed his 1st minor league deal to play for Abbotsford Canucks in 2022/2023.
He was coming off his 4th season in Minnesota Wild system, where he played NHL games in each frame, equally 28 appearances with 4 assists to his credit.
The 5’8″ 173 lbs. forward has 369 AHL games to his credit and rolls a fairly decent 119 goals and 142 assists with a bit of a woeful -24, but has 3 times struck for 20+ goals and 4 times 20+ assists in the league.
From Eden Prairie, MN, the Florida Panthers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#91 overall) attended nearby University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, always good for point-per-game or better numbers.
In 7 games this season he has 2 goals and 2 assists with a +2 rating, so is right on track at 30-years old.
For what we thought was a fairly solid frame for the Eden Prairie High captain, takes a little time as he enters into his 9th season to sign with San Jose Barracuda, who can likely use hims
After a pretty good season, scoring 23 assists, he somewhat late signs with Kunlun RedStar for 2024/2025.
He actually has a pretty good session with 6 goals and 5 assists in 20 games, but decides to head off to Switzerland’s NL and signs HC-Fribourg-Gotteron for 2025/2026.
Harvard University Crimson senior captain, defenseman Jack Bar(24) signed a 1st pro contract with San Jose Barracuda for 2025/2026, his rookie season, but has been reassigned to affiliate Wichita Thunder to get started.
In 26 ECHL games, he has 2 goals and 8 assists with a +7 rating.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. blue liner was a Dallas Stars‘ 5th round pick in 2021 (#138 overall), but was left unsigned.
From Newmarket, ON, we believe the 23-year old gets an AHL look before too long and was a pto in San Jose Sharks‘ training camp.
University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ senior center Dominic James(17) was a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 2022 draft (#173 overall), but did not sign.
Instead he became an unrestricted free agent and agreed to a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward has skated 23 games with 3 goals, 5 assists and a +1 rating.
He has been reassigned to affiliate Syracuse Crunch and popped with 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 AHL games with a +3 rating.
From Plymouth, MI, the 23-year old is doing nicely for himself.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ senior captain, defenseman Alex Gagne(45) is in his rookie year with Colorado Eagles for 2025/2026.
In 27 AHL games, he has 1 goal and 7 assists with a +6 rating.
The 6’5″ 227 lbs. had a college best 4 goals, 13 assists and 17 points in his final year.
From Bedford, NH, the 23-year old is a Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2021 draft (#192 overall), but didn’t elect to sign and Colorado Avalanche, stepped in and signed the now unrestricted free agent to a 2-year NHL entry level contract.
Boston University Terriers‘ sophomore right wing Brandon Svoboda(8) had the game-winner in the 4-3 final game at Northeastern University Huskies‘ 115-year home rink, Matthews Arena over December 13 weekend.
The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward has tied his 9 point mark from his freshman frame with a new best 5 assists in 18 games with a +9 rating.
From Level Green, PA, the 20-year old won back-to-back USHL Clark Cup Championships in both his years of junior hockey after youth hockey in the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ system.
He is a San Jose Sharks‘ 3rd round NHL draft pick in 2023 (#71 overall).
1st year pro Mats Lindgren(23) was scheduled to report to Bakersfield Condors on a 1-year AHL deal, but skated no games and has informed the team of his intentions to head to Colorado College Tigers for the remainder of 2025/2026.
The 6′ 186 lbs. good puck-moving defenseman twice had 30+ assists, 40+ points in the WHL with 2-year Red Deer Rebels.
He last season was under contract to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but mostly reassigned to ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers.
In 56 ECHL games, he had 7 goals and 14 assists with a +4 rating.
From North Vancouver, BC, the 21-year old, former Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#106 overall) will have something new to work towards.
Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#140 overall), senior defenseman, captain Max Crozier(24) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal as he completes 4 years at Providence College Friars, where they advanced to the 2nd round of the Hockey East tournament before getting ousted.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. blue liner scored a college career high 21 assists and 24 points in 37 games with a +10 rating.
A North Vancouver, BC native, he has always managed to put up a lot in the assist department.
At only 22-years old, having fully completed college, he is we think ready.
25 games into his rookie season with affiliate Syracuse Crunch, doing pretty well for himself with a +6 rating, earns him a 1st NHL recall in a 5-1, skating 17 shifts for 13 minutes of ice time.
He has played himself into the lineup 2025/2026 and scores himself a 1st NHL goal for himself 15 games in to go along with 4 assists and a +3 rating.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ sophomore defenseman Zeev Buium(24) stays only 2 years before the Minnesota Wild 1st round pick in the 2024 NHL draft (#12 overall) signs a 3-year entry level deal.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner had point-per-game numbers through 2 seasons with 10+ goals and 30+ assists each frame.
In 18 games this season, he has 3 goals and 5 assist with a -10 rating he needs to work on.
From Laguna Niguel, CA, the 19-year old did 2 years of USNTDP, but really popped scoring, when he arrived at school.
In maybe the explosive 2025/2026 trade, he moves to help build the future of Vancouver Canucks.
Boston College Eagles‘ sophomore goaltender Jacob Fowler(1) left school after a hot 2nd frame with a 25-7-2 record, 1.63 GAA and .940 SV% to sign a 3-year entry level deal with draft club Montreal Canadiens.
He initially stepped on the ice with affiliate Laval Rocket after tournament play was up and ran a 2-1 record before appearing in 8 Calder Cup matchups.
The 6’2″ 214 lbs. net minder 20-year old from Melbourne, FL will likely play himself up to the top level as a starter.
He is an easy spot to get a 1st start and wins 4-2 NHL for a victory, stopping 26 shots for a .947 SV%.
