Category: NHL Draft Pick

05Oct

Samu Salminen (13)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ Finnish-born, sophomore center Samu Salminen(13) is a New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2021 draft (#68 overall) enters the transfer portal to go play some different college hockey with the current NCAA Division 1 champs, University Of Denver Pioneers.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward played all of his junior and youth hockey back home.

He had 17 points in each of his 1st two frames and we look for that total to expand.

After almost identical seasons scoring, serving as assistant captain as a senior of the 2026 NCAA Champions, he signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Florida Panthers.

04Oct

Jake Wise (48)

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2018 draft (#69 overall) senior, center Jake Wise(48) 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.

In his 2nd season with the team, he scored less, 2 goals and 9 assists in 47 games with a +2 rating to gain another invite to remain in Colorado a 3rd frame for 2026/2027.

02Oct

Jack Dougherty (5)

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6th year defenseman Jack Dougherty(5) heads back to Belleville Senators after only 1 AHL game with Providence Bruins.

He has signed with that team twice previous with decent enough results to stick.

The 6’1″ 211 lbs. blue liner was originally a Nashville Predators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft (#51 overall) selected after a solid USNTDP showing, then only one year at University Of Wisconsin Badgers before bolting to put up 41 assists with Portland Winterhawks.

He spent two years in the system before getting dished to Buffalo Sabres to play out his entry level deal.

It wouldn’t be entirely out of the possibility that soon the 25-year old from St. Paul, MN looks overseas for something a little more lucrative.

He has a pair of tough seasons through the COVID shuffle, but decides to stick around and signs his 1st ECHL deal with Orlando Solar Bears for 2022/2023.

This will likely be a very good decision for the now 26-year old.

He actually leaves for DEL near the end of this session, then signs with Nurnberg Ice Tigers for 2023/2024.

Doing just ok wasn’t good enough, so he takes his game to IceHL for 2024/2025, signing with Vienna Capitals, which should equal a lot of fun for him.

He does well with 11 assists in 43 games, but decides to move on and signs with Sheffield Steelers.

In the EIHL, he comes away with his best scoring 13 assists and 15 points in 49 games with a +23 rating.

For 2026/2027, he looks to return home and re-signs with the Solar Bears for 2026/2027 and will look to improve his numbers.

01Oct

Sam Jardine (10)

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7th year defenseman Sam Jardine(10) leaves for overseas hockey a 2nd time, this time signing with Bratislava Capitals of IceHL for 2021/2022.

Originally a 6th round pick by Chicago Blackhawks in 2011 (#169 overall), he initially signed a one-year minor league deal with affiliate Rockford IceHogs to stay in the system but was sent further down for most of his rookie campaign.

The almost deceptively built 6’2″ 209 lbs. d-man has played 228 ECHL games and won a pair of Kelly Cups: 2017 and most notably 2019 in a great run with Newfoundland Growlers.

He’s also had 4 AHL contracts and played 71 games.

The Lacombe, AB native spent 2019/2020 overseas with Cardiff Devils of the EIHL, not scoring a load of points (15) but was a nice +24 rating for on-ice accountability.

He decided to spend 2020/2021 a little closer to home after confirming a return to England, and, inked with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he exploded for a personal best 41 assists and 44 points in 67 games.

The 29-year old, former 3-year, 10+ assist man at Ohio State University Buckeyes will likely do well in Austria’s 6 nation league.

As said, he excelled pretty well with a pair of goals and 4 assists in 14 games with a +2 rating to gain a look from HIFK of Liiga, so will head to Finland.

For 2022/2023, he went to skate in England’s top league for another spell with Cardiff Devils and although he may have not scored a ton of points, was an accountable +7.

He decides to return to the states for 2023/2024 and will come back to the Swamp Rabbits, where he recorded his greatest assist total.

Spending a bit more time on loan to Calgary Wranglers, he finishes up the year and has decided to return to Austria to sign with Fehervar AV19 for 2024/2025.

He actually has a change of attitude and signs in the Senior AAA Alberta league with Lacombe Generals, probably to just play some hockey somewhere to keep in shape.

For 2025/2026, he’s making a big return and signs with Idaho Steelheads.

It’s a solid fit and through 68 games, he gets 1 goal and 20 assists with a +23 rating to easily be asked to stay a Steelheads for 2026/2027.

30Sep

Oliver Wahlstrom (24)

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2018 draft (#11 overall), 5th year right wing Oliver Wahlstrom(24) signs a conservative 1-year 1-way deal to stick for 2023/2024, as a restricted free agent.

The fairly stocky 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward has twice scored 10+ goals.

He only spent 1 year at Boston College Eagles after exploding his 2nd frame with USNTDP.

The 23-year old from Portland, ME definitely needs to step up his game.

He re-signs to spend a 6th year in the Isles‘ system, 2024/2025.

In 27 games, he has 2 goals and 2 assists and is put on waivers, knowing he will get picked up and skate for another team for the 1st time in his pro career.

A somewhat struggling Boston Bruins reaches out to welcome him back to where he attend on year of post-school.

He’s not a big scorer with 1 goal and 1 assist in 16 games and is basically a point-per-game guy in the AHL, which gains him a new minor league deal for 2025/2026 with San Jose Barracuda.

He take scoring to a new level with new bests 24 goals and 18 assists and almost surprisingly for a 1st time looks elsewhere to play in 2026/2027 and signs with Djurgardens IF of SHL and should do well.

30Sep

Ryan Leonard (9)

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Boston College Eagles‘ freshman center Ryan Leonard(9) is doing basically what you expect of him on the scoresheet with 5 goals and 7 assists in 12 games, including a +8 rating.

The 6′ 190 lbs. Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the recent 2023 draft (#8 overall) put up big stats with the USNTDP, especially during his 2nd run in the program.

From Amherst, MA, the 18-year old is still looking at quite a bright future he’ll need to maintain.

His team is exited in the 2nd round of the national tournament and he immediately signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal to join his draft team in his home city for college hockey to get pro started.

In his debut he skates 20 shifts for 14:14 of ice time with 3 hits, 2 giveaways, 1 shot block and left a 1-goal win with a +1 rating.

After a 45 point season as a rookie, he signs a $10.5M AAV 8-year deal to stay a Capitals for a very long time, beginning 2027/2028.

30Sep

Cutter Gauthier (61)

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Boston College Eagles‘ 2022/2023 commit, Swedish-born center Cutter Gauthier(61) had a 2nd USNTDP season that went completely off-the-hook scoring.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2022 1st round pick, #5 overall in the NHL draft scored 34 goals and 31 assists in 54 USDP U18 games with a +33 rating and another 19 goals and 9 assists in 22 USHL games with a +14.

At just 18-years old, he’s been in the US for a long while acclimating his game and should be a force as a rookie next season.

His playing rights for the big league have been traded to Anaheim Ducks, which is a no-brainer for him to sign, when he’s ready, as he allegedly didn’t want to skate for his draft team.

After blowing through 41 goals last season and adding another 12 points in the playoffs, he picks up a new 6-year $13.5M AAV deal to stay on as a Ducks for awhile.

30Sep

Alex Newhook (15)

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Colorado Avalanche 1st round pick (#19 overall) in the 2019 draft, Boston College Eagles‘ sophomore center Alex Newhook(15) celebrating a goal is the opening image for our new site.

NCAA.com used this photo for a story they did on college hockey last season that we were really proud of but can’t seem to find anywhere, if someone can help us.

In his 1st NHL season he skates 71 games, scoring 13 goals and 20 assists with a +11 rating and adds 4 assists in 12 playoff appearances.

He is now a Stanley Cup Champion.

Set to become a restricted free agent, he is dished to Montreal Canadiens, who welcome him as a top 6 forward into the fold, given him a qualifying offer, but expect that to be worked on.

He gets a new 4-year, $5.5M AAV deal that begins next year to stay onboard a Canadiens.

29Sep

Justin Vaive (46)

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14th year left wing, Justin Vaive(46) signs with Cincinnati Cyclones for a 9th ECHL season, 2024/2025.

He’s served as team captain 3 times.

The big 6’6″ 238 lbs. forward was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#92 overall), but never signed.

He did however sign an NHL contract a few years later with New York Islanders, which had him spend his entire time with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

From Buffalo, NY and son of former NHLer Rick Vaive, the 35-year old, who did 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks may not score like he once did, but he will certainly bring himself back up to a + player.

For an 8 season, 6 as team captain, he signs on to a team he has found a pretty great home with in Cincinnati for 2025/2026.

After 601 ECHL games and 280 AHL, he decides at 37-years old, 16 seasons it’s time to retire from pro hockey and should just assume a position behind the bench where he has spent significant time and served 7 as team captain.

29Sep

Philip Svedeback (35)

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Providence College Friars‘ Swedish-borh senior goaltender Philip Svedeback(35) was a Boston Bruins 2021 4th round draft pick, but went unsigned.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. net minder always had a winning record and low GAA and SV%, but maybe they were all set at the position moving forward.

He signs a 1st pro deal with Wheeling Nailers for his rookie season, 2026/2027, which may be a little surprising.

Before coming over for 1 year of USHL juniors, he did play some pro hockey back home.

We will see where the 24-year old decides to go.