Boston University Terriers‘ Swedish-born, sophomore defenseman Tom Willander(5) decides to sign his 3-year NHL entry level deal as offered by his draft team, Vancouver Canucks (1st round, 2023, #11 overall) for 2025/2026.
The 6’1″ 191 lbs. blue liner had a college best 39 games played and 22 assists with a +19 rating.
He did all his youth hockey and junior hockey back home, even getting into 2 SHL games for Rogle BK before coming to school.
The 20-year old is likely ready to turn pro.
University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ junior left wing Jackson Hallum(21) scores maybe a little conservative, but college best 8 goals and ties his 17 points from his freshman frame to being wooed by draft team (3rd round, 2020, #91 overall) Vegas Golden Knights to sign his 2-year NHL entry level deal.
The 6′ 194 lbs. forward from Eagan, MN scored well through 2 USHL junior sessions before school.
At 22-years old, he could be reassigned to start, but should play hard to impress a look.
Harvard University Crimson senior, 2nd year captain, center Zakary Karpa(59) is a New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2022 draft (#191 overall).
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward has yet to really score, despite how he plays mostly using his fairly large frame.
He did 1 year USNTDP before playing for a pair of USHL teams before heading to school.
From Greenwich, CT, the 22-year old might not be automatic to score an entry level contract, but we think produces as a pro.
In his last season, he scores just 1 goal and 6 assists in 31 games, but stays on the team who selected him’s radar and he signs for 2025/2026 with their affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack to an AHL deal.
12th year center Sean Collins(61) has been league jumping for the past couple seasons, going through the KHL, DEL, Liiga and the SL to finally arrived at Steinbach Black Wings Linz of IceHL for 2023/2024 .
Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in 2008 (#168 overall), he was able to get in a few games with the big club, recording a few assists, but no goals.
The solid 6’3″ 190 lbs. forward has played 278 AHL games, scoring 71 goals and 91 assists with a +23 rating.
From Saskatoon, AB, the 33-year old 4-year Cornell University Big Red senior, assistant captain scorer has to be happy with the way things are going, having come off a season, scoring a best 27 goals and 30 assists.
He is playing good hockey, scoring points, helping his team win, where he is at, so is staying put for a 3rd season in a Wings‘ jersey.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ senior defenseman Colton Huard(12) signs a 2-year AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers, that will officially start 2025/2026, but joins the team for a playoff push on an ato.
He did 2 USHL seasons, scoring well in his last before college with 18 assists and a +34 rating, en route to a 2021 Clark Cup Championship.
The big 6’4″ 225 lbs. from Foothill Ranch, CA 24-year old should do very well.
University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ 2023/2024 commit, 2nd year USNTDP center Oliver Moore(11) is 2023 draft eligible.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game scorer through his 2 years in juniors.
A Mounds View, MN native, the 18-year old is likely sitting on his hands, but not for long as he is selected in the 1st round, #19 overall by Chicago Blackhawks.
After 2 seasons of college hockey, running up 21 goals and 45 assists with an overall +29 rating, he decides to sign with the team that selected him.
In 9 NHL games, he recorded no points.
Boston College Eagles‘ senior captain defenseman Eamon Powell(11) maybe a little quietly this season amassed a college best 26 assists to go with his 5 goals that match those junior totals in 34 games with a +19 rating.
The 6′ 177 lbs. blue liner had a team high 2 assists in the Hockey East quarterfinals’ win over the weekend to advance to the next round.
A Marcellus, NY native, the young 21-year old is a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#116 overall) and will be a watch to sign an NHL entry level deal.
The rights to ink are left to expire, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
He signs a 1-year AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers to start 2025/2026, but will jump in for the playoffs on an ato, and already has a 1st goal and assist in 5 games.
Boston University Terriers‘ freshman right wing Devin Kaplan(12) got a pair in a weeknight 6-2 home win over UMass Minutemen to earn 1st star honors.
The big 6’3″ 206 lbs. forward has 6 goals and 9 assists in 20 games with a +9 rating.
He was selected by Philadelphia Flyers in the 3rd round of 2022 (#69 overall) after he lit up his 2nd season at USNTDP with 8 goals and 10 assists in 22 USHL with a +18 and even better numbers for USDP.
It will be interesting to see how long the 19-year old from Bridgewater, NJ sticks with his college career.
After a junior year, serving as assistant captain, scoring fairly decently, he will leave a year on the table to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal.
He makes his debut on the last night of regular season, skates 16 shifts for 12:12 ice time with 1 hit and left a 5-4 loss with a -1 rating.
Still nice to get on the big ice.
UMASS Minutemen Russian-born, freshman left wing Aydar Suniev(89) is off and running in his 1st crack at college hockey with 11 goals and 10 assists in 27 games, including a +4 rating.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward came over pretty quickly to play his youth hockey, some high school, then with Penticton Vees, lighting up the scoring with 45 goals and 45 assists, followed by 23 points en route to a 2023 BCHL Championship.
A Calgary Flames‘ 3rd round pick in the 2023 draft (#40 overall), the 19-year old. has a lot of upside to watch.
After a sophomore season of new college bests 20 goals and 18 assists with a +12 rating to a 3-year NHL entry level deal with the team that selected him.
On the final night of the regular season, he receives a debut, skating 18 shifts for 14:48 of ice with 1 shot, 1 giveaway and was a +2 in a 6-1 win.
Boston University Terriers‘ 2023/2024 commit, left wing Shane Lachance(18) was going to head to 1 season with Youngstown Phantoms before reporting to school, but plans changed.
In 14 USHL games he has a goal and an assist.
The very big 6’4″ 190 lbs. Andover, MA native forward was coming off a solid season with local Junior Bruins, scoring 6 goals and 9 assists in 25 USPHL/NCDC games.
He’s an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2021 draft (#186 overall) and the 18-year old son of Scott Lachance, who played 819 NHL games.
In maybe a little bit of a last minute decision, he stayed on for a 2nd season of junior hockey and throws up 33 goals and 21 assists in 62 games with a +13 rating and is ready for Hockey East matchups.
Through 8 games, the xl up-front guy has 2 goals and 3 assists and is looking like he belongs out there.
In his 2nd season, as captain he has another 10+ goals and new best 15 assists and maybe a little off the radar, his playing rights are traded to New Jersey Devils, where he will join a team, looking to remake a giant.
He is named team captain as a sophomore and scores a college best 18 assists and 30 points last season in a run that went all the way to the final game.
No one is surprised he signs, maybe a little conservative 2-year NHL entry level deal and will get started.
