11th year defenseman Ben Blood(89) is enjoying a 7th season playing at the highest level possible in Finland, once again with the 1st team he laced them up for after coming over, Pelicans of Liiga.
In 5 games this season he has an assist, but is a +3 rating.
The very big 6’4″ 227 lbs. blue liner isn’t really known for putting up the points, only three times doing decent, once for half a session in Norway, one where he is and last year, he had a fairly good showing in IceHL for Graz99ers.
From Plymouth, MN, the University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate was originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#120 overall).
The 33-year old is still playing a decent game of hockey, so if he doesn’t have anything nagging will likely continue for awhile.
After 7 years of playing Finnish hockey, he decides to jump for a season in DEL with Lowen Frankfurt, which should prove to be a very good fit.
Looks like he misses Finland and re-signs with the 1st team he suited up for overseas and 1 he skated for just last seasons, Pelicans.
Cornell University Big Red freshman defenseman Hoyt Stanley(5) is an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2023 draft (#108 overall).
He is a big, pounding presence at 6’3″ 201 lbs.
The 18-year old played most of 2 BCHL seasons with Victoria Grizzlies.
He’s definitely one to watch.
Cornell University Big Red freshman center Jonathan Castagna(38) is an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2023 draft (#70 overall).
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward at still only 18-years old is a solid, power forward style player.
Through 18 games this season, he has 5 goals and 7 assists with a +11 rating on the #13 team in the country.
From Etobicoke, ON, he did 2 years at St. Andrew’s College and he looks like he’s getting ready.
9th year defenseman Kevin Gravel(5) has got to be feeling the same way he did when he was a rookie with Manchester Monarchs making an unlikely AHL run to capture the 2015 Calder Cup trophy.
The now 31-year old is locked in with his team, Milwaukee Admirals in a Western Conference battle to head to the Finals.
He has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games with a +4 rating.
The 6’4″ 203 lbs. blue liner is signed on a 2-year 2-way deal to Nashville Predators and skated 23 games with them this past season.
He has played 132 NHL games and 332 in the lower league.
Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in 2010 (#148 overall), he initially was on a minor league contract, when helping his team to the title, but quickly upped on a 2-year entry level deal heading into the next frame.
The St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ 4-year d-man exploded in his senior year with 10 goals, seemingly out of nowhere.
He’s got another year left on his current deal, so he should settle in nicely.
Playing super well as team captain for the affiliate, Admirals with great plus numbers, despite maybe not scoring huge points earns him 2 more seasons at nice little pay bump to stay.
3rd year center Nolan Vesey(11) is off to his best start with a pair of goals and an assist in 5 ECHL games with new contract club, Worcester Railers.
The North Reading, MA native sort came home to a degree, signing with the close to home team for 2021/2022.
A one-time Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#158 overall), he was chosen after an exceptional one year of junior hockey for South Shore Kings USPHL Premiere team, and then went on to attend University Of Maine Black Bears for 4 seasons, but never signed.
He was three times a 10+ goals and 10+ assists player in Hockey East.
The 6′ 185 lbs., 26-year old forward seems to be a bit of an underachiever, considering his brother Jimmy is a full-time NHL skater.
After throwing in a career high by a long shot 12 goals and 28 assists with a +13 rating in 62 games as assistant captain last season and a 3-game loan up to Springfield Thunderbirds, he decides to stick around in central MA for a 2nd run.
He posts a career best 13 goals last season in the lower league, but his eyes are open for opportunities leading in his next stage and he maybe a tiny bit oddly late signs with DVTK Jegesmedvek of Erste Liga for the remainder of the frame.
Providence College Friars‘ freshman center Hudson Malinoski(9) was a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2023 draft (#153 overall).
The 6’1″ 189 lbs. forward was selected after putting up 53 assists in 44 AJHL games for Brooks Bandits.
He has 5 goals and 4 assists in 19 games with a +3 rating.
The 19-year old from Saskatoon, SK seems to be right on track.
UMASS Minutemen sophomore center Kenny Connors(17) is flirting with marks that will best his freshman numbers, 9 goals and 17 assists with 5 goals and 8 assists in 21 games.
He had an outstanding 2nd USHL session with Dubuque Fighting Saints.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward is a Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#103 overall).
From Glen Mills, PA, the 20-year old should continue at college unless he can further breakout as a junior.
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.
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.
10th year left wing Justin Florek(9) scored a career high 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points in 2021/2022 for South Carolina Stingrays.
He was also a 3-time 30+ point guy in the AHL.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward played 3 seasons overseas and always notched 20+ points.
He also topped the 30+ mark as a sophomore and senior at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.
A former Boston Bruins‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#135 overall), the 31-year old from Marquette, MI is still at the top of his game.
He will return for a 3rd straight season in South Carolina.
A 3rd 40+ points ECHL season has him maybe put a small pause on the start of his 12th frame and he agrees to head back to Germany, signing with Dresdner Eislowen of DEL2, which should be a buzz for him.
