Category: NHL Draft Pick

10Aug

Colin White (36)

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Montreal Canadiens stepped up and claimed former Ottawa Senators‘ 1st round pick in the 2015 draft (#21 overall), center Colin White(36) from Pittsburgh Penguins, who put him on waivers after spending most of the current frame in the minors with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. 7th year forward was a huge scorer in 2 campaigns of USNTDP and then 2 at Boston College Eagles.

He can score, as he did in his best season, his 2nd, where he struck for 14 goals and 27 assists in 71 NHL games.

The 27-year old can definitely still contribute, if he is placed in the right situation.

He scores nothing in the big league and signs with San Jose Barracuda for 2024/2025 and scores 5 goals and 5 assists in 20 games to gain notice and get signed by parent club, San Jose Sharks to a 1-year, 2-way deal for the remainder of 2024/2025.

With 25 points in 48 games and 3 games on recall and under a new contract, he is fully on the radar and no time is wasted to get a new 1-year deal to stay in a Sharks‘ uniform.

10Aug

Isaac Howard (22)

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Michigan State University Spartans‘ sophomore left wing Isaac Howard(22) is taking up where he left off with his USNTDP team, scoring 5 goals and 15 assists in 18 games with the #7 USCHO NCAA Division 1 team in the country.

After a junior season of exploding scoring with 26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games with a +19 rating to win the 2025 Hobey Baker Award, he leaves a year on the table at school to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with Edmonton Oilers.

Isaac Howard (3)

09Aug

Sam Jardine (21)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

7th year defenseman Sam Jardine(21) 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.

08Aug

Jaycob Megna (24)

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8th year, big, very big 6’6″ 220 lbs. defenseman Jaycob Megna(24) gets rewarded by parent club San Jose Sharks for signing a minor league deal with their affiliate San Jose Barracuda for the weirdo run that was 2020/2021 with a new 1-year NHL 2-way contract for 2021/2022.

He has played 346 AHL games and 43 in the big league all with draft club Anaheim Ducks, who selected him in the 7th round 2012 (#210 overall).

The 3-year University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks‘ d-man was picked after his rookie season, but did also have a nice lead in with Muskegon Lumberjacks, dishing 17 assists in 55 USHL games.

It looks as though the 28-year old is set to resume his duties as team captain of the farm club, but we’re thinking he may get a look or two up in the show.

Playing his 1st full set of games in the big league, he has skated a new best 48 appearances for 2022/2023, scoring a goal and new best 11 assists with a +6 rating and finds himself traded to a rival, Seattle Kracken to help round out their blue line for a playoff pump.

He plays only 6 games up and is put on waivers to be claimed by Chicago Blackhawks, who throw the big man straight into the lineup and he records an assist in his debut.

Finishing up with a tied for 2nd most games in the big league at 44, and unrestricted free agent, the Plantation, FL native next signs with hometown team, Florida Panthers, where he figures into 8 games en route to a 2025 Stanley Cup trophy.

He signs a 2-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights that looks to be on a one-way value.

05Aug

Sam Colangelo (64)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore right wing Sam Colangelo(64) picks up his 1st NCAA Division 1 goal in the 2021/2022 home opener.

He had 8 Hockey East shots at it as a freshman, but managed only 3 assists.

The 6’2″ 207 lbs. Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2020 draft (#36 overall) was selected by his school as an entering junior, then took off to for one round of junior action with Chicago Steel.

In 44 USHL games, he detonated the scoresheet with 28 goals and 30 assists with a +32 rating.

It would be zero surprise to see the 19-year old finish up all four years of college before turning pro.

The Stoneham, MA native will head to Western Michigan University Broncos for his senior year, then we feel will likely be given his NHL contract.

After playing a college career high 39 games, scoring a new double best 24 goals, 3-time 10+ assists (19) and 43 points with +19 rating, he signs a pto to affiliate San Diego Gulls to play out the remainder of the season and scores a 1st AHL goal and adds 3 assists in 4 games.

And just like that, the Ducks step in and ink him to a 2-year entry level deal, starting this season to play out the final games of 2023/2024.

He’s a point-per-game player in the minors and pops in 10 goals in the big league to earn himself a nice new 2-year deal that will be a 1-way contract for 2026/2027 to remain a Ducks.

 

04Aug

Colin Blackwell (43)

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6th year right wing, Colin Blackwell(43) was left unprotected by New York Rangers, where he scored a career high 12 goals and 10 assists in 47 NHL games with a +2 rating on a non-playoff team.

The small-ish 5’9″ but solid 190 lbs. forward was maybe a little surprisingly scooped by Seattle Kracken in the player draft, so the final year of his contract becomes absorbed by his new club.

He was originally drafted by San Jose Sharks in the 7th round of 2011 after an outstanding season at St. John’s Prep, where as the team captain he bounced in 33 goals with 33 assists in 25 USHS-Prep games.

The Lawrence, MA native never signed an entry level deal, but instead inked an AHL agreement with affiliate San Jose Barracuda to stay in the system.

Instead of staying, he branched out for another minor league deal, but instead moved east with Rochester Americans.

This season saw him connect, bagging 17 goals and 28 assists in 57 games with a +15 rating, then adding another 3 points in three playoff contests.

The five year Harvard University Crimson senior standout (6-13-19 in 28) would find his first big league suitor, Nashville Predators signed him to a 2-year contract.

He split for another pair of years with the 2nd being one-way, so finally went for the cash and found himself making the opening night roster for 2020/2021 and sticking with his always hard style play.

The 28-year old will do amazing things for his new club and become a fan favorite, no doubt.

A near end of season trade sent him to Toronto Maple Leafs for the last 19 games of 2021/2022.

His numbers were maybe a little lower than expected, but he is masterful in that role as an on ice pest.

Unsurprisingly, he signs a 2-year, $1.2M AAV deal going forward with Chicago Blackhawks, a team that could use an infusion of energy.

After 2 years with one team, an unrestricted free agent once again, he signs with Dallas Stars, scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 63 games with a +4 rating, is well-liked to earn a 2-year deal to stay for 2026/2027.

03Aug

Alex Laferriere (14)

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#83 overall), right wing Alex Laferriere(14) signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal after completing a hugely successful sophomore season with Harvard University Crimson, scoring a new best 21 goals and 21 assists with a +13 rating in 34 games.

To start his pro career he signs a ato with affiliate Ontario Reign, scoring a 1st AHL goal in 4 games before exiting.

Look for the 6′ 172 lbs. to maybe add some weight over the summer and compete for a roster spot at 1st official camp.

After two seasons up, scoring a new career best 19 goals and 23 assists with a +22 rating last season, the restricted free agent signs a new 3-year deal to stay a Kings‘ scorer for $4.1M AAV.

01Aug

Keith Petruzzelli (80)

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Goaltender Keith Petruzzelli(80) receives a 2-year AHL contract from Toronto Marlies.

The absolutely huge 6’5″ 185 lbs. backstop put up quite the impressive numbers for the last three seasons at Quinnipiac University Bobcats.

He graduated with 94 ECAC games played, posting a 51-27-8 record and a 2.17 GAA, .915 SV%, but it was really 2020/2021 stats that catch your attention at 1.98 GAA and .926 SV%, a 17-8-4 record with 4 shutouts and a bigger wonder how Detroit Red Wings, who selected him in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft (#88 overall), allowed his rights to expire.

The Wilbraham, MA native arrived at college sporting some amazing stats and even through his fullest schedule of 35 USHL games did well with Muskegon Lumberjacks, hoisting a 22-10-1 mark, 2.40 GAA and .918 SV%.

It’s likely the 22-year old will be up for the challenge to grab the starter’s role.

After a 3rd season with the same club and he was ascending, he signs with Lehigh Valley Phantoms for his 1st time away.

He splits time with affiliate Reading Royals, where he plays 34 ECHL games.

They are liking what they see and he is signed up to stay a Phantoms for 2025/2026.

31Jul

David Cotton (13)

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2016 draft (#169 overall) center David Cotton(13) is blowing up the AHL scoring in his rookie season with 6 goals and 4 assists with a +8 rating in 12 games for Chicago Wolves.

He would easily be getting a look from the NHL level if his parent club wasn’t so good, but may just stay in the minors and look to make the big league out of training camp next season.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. power forward has always been a good scorer in 4 years at Boston College, putting up his best numbers overall totals last campaign scoring 15 goals and new bests 24 assists and 39 points as team captain.

This is an overall player/skater that easily went in later rounds as he was seemingly just getting going in his one year of juniors with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL.

His progress should be easy to follow and he’s even signed alongside brother Jason in his pro contract.

He wasn’t given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent to stay, so for 2022/2023, he signs a minor league deal to join the brand new Coachella Valley Firebirds.

After appearing in only 2 games with a good team, he gets himself traded to San Diego Gulls for a necessary new start.

In 34 games with his new team, he scores 4 goals and 5 assists with a -13 rating on a non-playoff contender.

For 2023/2024, he makes a smart move, signing with Florida Everblades, where his scoring talents should finally emerge as a pro.

After 7 games with 2 assists, he receives a trade to a team that seems to really want him, Kansas City Mavericks, another good landing spot, then scores a goal in his 1st game.

He would excel with his new team, scoring 14 goals and 24 assists in 41 games with a +25 rating, then connecting solidly in the playoffs, so he will re-sign to stay in KC for 2024/2025.

As the new captain, he records a best 22 goals and 25 assists in 54 games, then added another 10 in 13 playoff matchups.

For 2025/2026, it’s a easy match for his return 2025/2026 to the Mavericks.