2nd year USNTDP center captain Rutger McGroarty(2) is readying himself with some solid stats to commit to University Of Michigan Wolverines for 2022/2023.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. power forward has put-up point-per-game numbers this season.
It’s an easy call to say this 17-year old is going to be selected high in the draft with no reservations.
He was selected at #14 in 2022 by Winnipeg Jets, but as he started gaining ground at college, last season posting 36 assists in 36 games, he was indicting he would never sign with his draft club.
His wish is granted as Pittsburgh Penguins step in to offer the yet unsigned protege a new avenue and sign him to a 3-year entry level deal, leaving 2 years of school on the table.
He debuts on opening night, skating 16 shifts for 10:12 of ice with 1 shot and 2 hits and his feet are wet in a 6-3 victory.
In his 5th game, he pops in a 1st NHL goal and an assist for a multi-point effort, plus he skated almost a team best 18:28.
Boston College Eagles‘ freshman right wing Gabe Perreault(94) is lighting up assists like he did last season with the USNTDP.
He has 3 goals and 17 assists in 14 games with a +9 rating to start his 1st year.
New York Rangers know.
They selected the 18-year old in the 1st round of the 2023 draft (#23 overall).
After a 2nd season of big college hockey scoring, maybe a little less than his first season, but good enough to get the draft team to say, let’s go and sign him to a 3-year NHL entry level deal.
He skates his debut upon inking, playing 20 shifts for 13:38 of ice time with 3 shots, 2 giveaways and was a -1 in a 5-4 overtime win.
University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ junior right wing, Jimmy Snuggerud(21) takes 3 amazing seasons and turns it into a 3-year entry level deal with 1st round draft pick team St. Louis Blues (#23 overall).
The 6’1″ 186 lbs. forward makes his NHL debut, skating 15 shifts for 10:43 ice time with 2 shots, 1 giveaway and was a -1 rating in a 2-1 overtime win.
From Chaska, MN, he was prolific in high school, then in 2 years of USHL juniors with the USNTDP.
UMASS Minutemen Latvian-born, freshman center Dans Locmelis(10) may only have 2 goals and 1 assist in 10 games, but he is always fully involved in the action, when he’s on the ice.
The 6′ 172 lbs. Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#119 overall) played all his youth and junior hockey back home.
We feel we will see the former Lulea HF , Boston Bruins‘ selection will play out the full term of his college career and get himself an education.
The 19-year old is definitely a good watch.
In his sophomore frame, he records a new college best 8 goals and adds a hefty 25 assists with a +16 rating in 40 games to look ready for his NHL entry level contract, which starts immediately with affiliate Providence Bruins.
Providence College 2nd semester Freshman defenseman Taige Harding(27) arrives to the team from Fort McMurray Oil Barons, where he had 14 goals and 23 assists in 37 AJHL games.
The 6’7″ 234 lbs. blue liner is a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 3nd round pick in the 2021 draft (#93 overall) will benefit big from tough Hockey East style play.
He already spent 3 years in junior hockey and is 20-years old, so we’ll see how much college time he will spend.
Finishing up his senior year, scoring 2 goals and 12 assists in 37 games with a +9 rating, he signs with the team he was selected by and will report to affiliate Rockford Icehogs to get started.
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.
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.
After just 1 season in Providence, scoring 4 goals and 9 assists in 23 games and looking like a lead player out there in his 1st college season, including a 5-point game, he signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal to join his draft club right away.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#188 overall), Swedish-born, left wing Andre Lee(47) signed a 2-year NHL entry level deal after finishing up 3 years at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks with new college bests 16 goals and 28 points, then signs an ato with affiliate Ontario Reign to start his pro career.
The 6’4″ 204 lbs. forward played most of his youth hockey and the beginning of juniors back home with Farjestad BK, but did come over for a USHL season with Sioux Falls Stampede, scoring 20 goals and 15 assists, then winning the 2019 Clark Cup Championship.
In 10 AHL games, he has a pair of assists.
The 21-year old should impress in 2022 training camp.
Playing a solid game in the minors, he erupts for 4 goals in 8 playoff games last season to earn a spot on the opening night NHL roster, 2024 and plays 9 shifts for a conservative 5:54 of ice time with 2 shots on net in a 3-1 win.
In 19 games in the current frame, he picks up a 1st big league goal and 2 assists and they are liking what they see, so re-sign him for 2 additional seasons in a Kings‘ sweater.
Colorado College Tigers‘ junior, assistant captain center Noah Laba(26) leaves a year of school on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level contract with draft club, New York Rangers.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward reported to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack to get his pro career started and what do you know, pops in a 1st AHL goal in his debut.
He left college with 10 goals and 16 assists in 29 games, a little less than the spectacular run he had as a sophomore, running 20 goals and 17 helpers.
From Northville, MI, the 21-year old is moving on nicely.
13rd year left wing Jason Zucker(16) signed a 1-year deal with Buffalo Sabres for 2024/2025 after a similar contract last season with Arizona Coyotes that yielded some ok results on a far from playoff team.
The always looked smaller than 5’11” 192 lbs. forward has 3 times scored 20+ goals and once 30+ and had an exact same ratio in assists.
From Newport Beach, CA, he did only 2 sessions at University Of Denver Pioneers, as he ran up 45 and 46 points to quickly move on.
He made all the right moves, playing his way through the USNTDP on up.
On a decent scoring team, his point production escalates to 18 goals and 26 assists to net him a new 2-year deal to stick in a Sabres‘ jersey and help out with the younger guys for a nice $4.75AAV.
