Category: NHL Draft Pick

30Sep

Anthony Stolarz (41)

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10th year net minder Anthony Stolarz(41) gets a 1-year NHL deal with Florida Panthers worth $1.1M AAV after spending the last 4 in Anaheim Ducks‘ system.

Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#45 overall), he spent the 1st 5 years of his pro career with them.

The huge 6’6″ 243 lbs. goalie played 8 games at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks before leaving to join London Knights for 2 seasons, winning the 2013 OHL Championship in his 1st after coming from college.

At 29-years old, he will likely see more action in the show, but also will help train the youngsters in the system.

In 27 games for his new team as primary backup, he comes away with some pretty outstanding numbers to help the team win the 2024 Stanley Cup.

An unrestricted free agent, Toronto Maple Leafs are interested and agree to terms on 2 years for $2.5M AAV.

He posts a pretty outstanding frame, despite going through some knee problems to earn himself a new 4-year deal that starts 2026/2027 for $3.75M AAV to stay in the Leafs‘ net long-term.

26Sep

Riley Nash (20)

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12th year unrestricted free agent center Riley Nash(20) picks up a 1-year deal at the minimum with Winnipeg Jets for 2021/2022.

He was coming off a good money deal, but terrible fit with Columbus Blue Jackets that was eventually rolled to Toronto Maple Leafs for no games played.

A former Edmonton Oilers‘ 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#21 overall), he’s never quick displayed the offensive finesse he did in 2 seasons with Thompson Blazer U18 AAA, then 1 season for Salmon Arms Silverbacks, scoring 38 goals and 46 assists in 55 BCHL games before heading to Cornell University Big Red.

The 6’2″ 188 lbs. forward is a veteran of 578 NHL games, 63 goals, 109 assists with his best outing coming in the 2nd year of his 2-year deal with Boston Bruins, and he somehow tipped in career highs 15 goals and 26 assists with a +16 rating to earn him that 3-year deal with the Ohio club.

At 32-years old, we got to think he’s pretty happy just getting a contract and who knows what he’s still capable of putting together.

For 2022/2023, he will return on a 2-year AHL deal to where it all started 13 years ago in 2010 with Charlotte Checkers, and will likely be one of the happiest guys in the locker room (and a true leader).

His 1st time back in forever and he lights it up big with an easy minor league career best 24 goals and 35 assists.

For 2023/2024, he makes maybe a little of a strategic decision, signing for 2-year 2-way the 2nd campaign with New York Rangers.

He plays 41 games in the minors, scoring well, then shows nice increases in the Calder Cup playoffs, but sits for all of the 2nd year of his deal and after 628 NHL and 312 in the A, at 36-years old enough is enough due to nagging concussion issues.

We see what awaits him next.

18Sep

Spencer Knight (30)

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Florida Panthers‘ 1st round pick in the 2019 draft (#13 overall) goaltending wizard Spencer Knight(30) signs his 3-year entry level deal after only a 2 season stay with Boston College Eagles. where he went a phenomenal 39-12-3 record with a 2.05 GAA and .931 SV%, including 8 shutouts.

The fairly sizable 6’3″ 192 lbs. net minder has a collection of awards but maybe none better than the recent 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal earning.

He will turn just 20-years old soon but more importantly, now signed, where does he go?

The openings seem slim at the AHL, where the parent club is only riding along as their affiliate shut down operations during the pandemic, so maybe he’ll simply be an add to the taxi squad with the main group and go from there.

Before his entry level contract is up, they solidify him to stay with the Litter Cats going forward on a 3-year deal worth $4.5M AAV.

He plays a continuous workload of games with stellar results, but looking for a little more up front, he is traded to Chicago Blackhawks to start their rebuilding process and he starts with a 5-1 win to stake that claim.

In 15 games, he runs a 5-8-2 record and he is the future of their net minding, signing to a 3-year deal for worth $5.83M AAV to be a Blackhawks for the long run.

 

14Sep

Sascha Boumedienne (78)

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Boston University Terriers‘ sophomore Finnish-born defenseman Sascha Boumedienne(78) got himself 1st round drafted by Winnipeg Jets, #30 overall in the 2025 draft.

As a freshman, he scored 3 goals and 10 assists in 40 games with a +8 rating.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner came over quickly doing youth hockey in the Blue Jackets‘ system before 1 year of USHL previous to school.

We look for the still very young 18-year old to slowly grow his game.

13Sep

Asher Barnett (4)

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USNTDP 2nd year defenseman Asher Barnett(4) doesn’t put up a lot of points (3 goals and 3 assists in 21 games), but did show nice accountability last season with +8’s.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. blue liner was an Edmonton Oilers‘ 5th round pick in the 2025 draft (#131 overall).

He commits to University Of Michigan Wolverines for 2025/2026.

From Wilmette, IL, the 18-year will likely continue to grow into his game.

07Sep

Brandon Yip (18)

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12th year right wing Brandon Yip(18) re-ups with Kunlun Red Star after taking a single COVID volatile season away, skating for Jukurit of Liiga.

It will be his 4th season with the team he served as team captain for the last couple years.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward has played 174 NHL games, 103 in the AHL, 163 so far in the KHL, and a 2015 DEL Championship with Adler Mannheim, when he first arrived overseas.

He’s always been a decent scorer in these leagues but as a junior in the BCHL, he twice equaled more than point-per-game  totals in the 2 years with Coquitlam Express.

The Maple Ridge, BC native would take his game to Boston University Terriers next and strike for 22 assists as a rookie and put up 43 points (20-23) in 47 Hockey East games as a senior and help the team win the 2009 NCAA Championship.

You have to wonder if the 36-year old has it anywhere in his mind to retire soon.

He just can’t stop and returns for a 5th overall season with the China-based, Russia-league club.

Staying on as 2nd year captain, he only appears in 8 games for 2 assists.

After 347 KHL games and 7 years in the league for the newly named Shanghai Dragons, he at age 40 says it’s time to find something else for his ice time.

05Sep

Cole Spicer (25)

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Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#117 overall), University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ 2022/2023 commit, center Cole Spicer(25) was a standout in recent development camp.

The 5’10” 176 lbs. forward was a solid 2nd year scorer for the USNTDP with 10 goals and 6 assists in 26 USHL games.

At just 18-years old, he’ll definitely have to work to make an impact in the tough NCHC.

After 2 college seasons, he is maybe not producing the way he wants to and leaves for another season of juniors with Dubuque Fighting Saints for some nice point-per-game totals that he will take to a new commit 2025/2026 at Western Michigan University Broncos.

04Sep

Jack Devine (41)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ senior right wing Jack Devine(41) impressed on a pto, signed with affiliate Charlotte Checkers after agreeing to a 3-year NHL entry level contract with draft club, Florida Panthers (7th round, 2022, #221).

The 6′ 185 lbs. played 2 years of USNTDP before college and was in the Chicago Mission program previous to that.

From Glencoe, IL, the still young to graduate school, 21-year old will be a spot to which league he starts in as a rookie.

28Aug

Louie Caporusso (23)

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11th year center Louie Caporusso(23) signed for a 2nd season with Cincinnati Cyclones after lighting it up for 22 goals and 44 assists in 67 ECHL games last season.

The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward has 7 times had 10+ goals, 3 times 20+ assists and once had 30 assists in his 3rd DEL campaign.

He also had three 20+ goals and twice 20+ assists at University Of Michigan Wolverines.

Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd round pick in 2007 (#90 overall), he was in their system for a couple of sessions, but left unqualified and signed the next year with Reading Royals.

He would last only 24 games before leaving for his 1st of 6 frames in Germany’s top hockey.

At 33-years old, the Toronto, ON native is likely just still having fun.

After 3 seasons of point-per-game scoring with Cincinnati Cyclones, he decides looking back on some 265 ECHL games and 216 in DEL Germany is quite enough and will at now 36-years old ease into a special team coaching role with his former, still current team.

27Aug

Cameron Whitehead (1)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore goaltender Cameron Whitehead(1) always put in stellar appearances despite maybe not winning as many games as he should have.

Vegas Golden Knights‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#128 overall) leaves 2 years on the table to sign an NHL entry level deal worth 2-years.

He looks to get the start with affiliate Henderson Silver Knights, where he appeared in 3 games at the tail end of last for less than spectecular results.

The 6’3″ 183 lbs. did 2 years USHL with Lincoln Stars before school.