USNTDP 2nd year center Max Plante(10) is an assist scoring machine and it’s definitely spotted, as he is chosen by Detroit Red Wings in the 2nd round of the 2024 NHL draft (#47 overall).
The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward had a combined 69 assists last season.
From Hermanntown, MN, the 18-year old is likely ready to get to some college hockey at his commit, University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for 2024/2025.
10th year defenseman Jacob MacDonald(26) re-signs to return to Colorado Avalanche for 2024/2025 after just 1.5 seasons away.
The 6″ 205 lbs. blue liner made a 5 year climb from minor league contracts to where he is today.
From Portland, OR, the former Cornell University Big Red 31-year old is likely glad to be heading back to his team of 3.5 frames.
Big 6’3″ 183 lbs. defenseman Cameron Crotty(95) was an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft (#82 overall), originally reassigned to start his pro career of Norway for Sparta Sarpsborg, scoring 3 assists in 7 Eliteserian games.
He returned at the beginning of the AHL season in February and has been skating games with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners scoring, well, 3 assists in 25 games with a handy +5 rating.
What he may not score, he totally makes up for in the punishing accountability for opposing players.
After a disappointing suspension of the 2020 NCAA playoffs, the almost 22-year old would have headed into his senior year at Boston University but instead signed a three-year entry level deal to turn pro.
It may not take him too long in the minors to get a look from the big club.
He would take up his game, skating 2 seasons with the affiliate and this season has a very respectable 3 goals and 9 assists in 45 games with a +5 rating.
His play earns him an NHL look and he is recalled to play his debut, going 16 shifts for 10:03 ice time with 2 block shots, 4 hits and left the game with a -1 rating in a 4-2 loss.
At the end of his entry level deal, he is not retained and quickly signed by Minnesota Wild for 2024/2025.
6th year left wing Danton Heinen(43) doesn’t find the right fit with Anaheim Ducks, who he was traded to late in 2019/2020 to by long time club Boston Bruins and signed for another year after producing 3 goals and an assist in 9 NHL games to start.
He seemed to mostly struggle on a non-winning team and wasn’t qualified to receive another deal.
Last year was easily an anomaly for the 6’1″ 188 lbs. forward, who signed a 1-year deal for $1.1 AAV a little late into free agency with Pittsburgh Penguins for 2021/2022.
The still only 26-year old, 2-year University Of Denver standout should be able to excel with the talent around him in PA.
For 2023/2024, as an unrestricted free agent looking for a new home, he accepts a training camp invite from his old haunt in Boston.
He comes into town, takes nothing for granted, works hard to gain notice and nets himself a 1-year contract worth $775 AAV.
Coming away with 36 points in 72 games with a +16 rating is all good and Vancouver Canucks swoop in, offering a 2-year deal at $2.25 AAV to move coasts.
10th year, former 2012 1st round NHL draft pick, defenseman Brady Skjei(86) switches up to only his 3rd team for 2024/2025, signing a 7-year deal worth some $7M AAV with another contender, Nashville Predators.
The 6’3″ 209 lbs. blue liner, scored a new career best 34 assists and 47 points last season.
He did 3 years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers before signing his 3-year entry level deal with the team that selected him, New York Rangers.
There’s little doubt his game really came together in the 4 years with Carolina Hurricanes.
The 30-year old is likely very far from finished, obviously.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the 2016 draft (#62 overall) goaltender Joseph Woll(60) maybe wasn’t quite as effective as he wanted to be in the crazy 2021 AHL season, going 7-7 with one shutout and a not great 3.54 GAA and .892 SV%.
The very sizable 6’3″ 205 lbs. goalie posted similar stats as a rookie on affiliate Toronto Marlies with their equally inconsistent .500 game record.
Although last campaign wasn’t pulled until the playoffs, he may have been just getting familiar with the pro side of the game in 2019/2020 after leaving a frame at Boston College Eagles on the shelf to sign his 3-year entry level deal.
He had a pair of decent showings for the USNTDP squad but mostly seemed to shine when he was involved in international play of the WJC tournaments.
The still young 22-year old from Dardenne Prairie, MO only has another season left on his contract, so we’ll look for him to step it up a level as he’s set to become a restricted free agent.
For 2021/2022, he opened the season as back-up in the minors, as part of a trio of able net minders in the system.
He played 3 games with a 2-1 record but his GAA and SV% were still nothing to brag about.
Maybe a little on the unlikely side, but he found himself to be the goalie on recall in November and started his first NHL game, and got a gattling-gun scoring 5-4 win.
He continued up on backup until a bit more than a week later was called for a 2nd start, which happened to be a 20-save shutout shrinking his GAA to 2.00 and .915 SV% on a 2-0 record.
This is a nice opportunity on a fairly smoking hot 2021/2022 club.
He has found himself pressed into action and has rolled a 3-1 record with 2.76 GAA and .911 SV% to earn a 2-year extension to keep working on his game in the system.
After 25 games in net last season, posting 12-11-1 record with good numbers, then goes 2-0 in the playoffs with a .86 GAA and .964 SV%, he earns himself a very nice 3-year extension to stay in a Leafs‘ jersey.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior left wing Chase Bradley(20) leaves a year on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level contract with Colorado Avalanche.
The 6′ 198 lbs. forward was originally drafted by Detroit Red Wings in the 7th round of the 2020 draft (#203 overall), but they elected to not sign him.
He scored a college best 11 goals and 11 assists last season.
From St. Louis, MO, the 22-year old will likely start with their affiliate Colorado Eagles, but could blossom quickly.
2nd year USNTDP defenseman John Whipple(4) finally selects University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers for a 2024/2025 commit.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. blue liner is 2024 draft eligible.
From Morristown, NJ, the 17-year old isn’t exactly known for putting up points, but holds his zone steady.
After another year of mostly shut down play, despite not many points and overall +25 player, he is selected in the 5th round by Detroit Red Wings, who will watch him go to school to start.
Faced with the prospects of no senior year, it was a no brainer for Harvard University‘s defensive wunderkid Reilly Walsh(8) to sign his three-year entry level with New Jersey Devils, the team that drafted him 3rd round, 2017, #81 overall.
In his minor league debut with affiliate Binghamton Devils, he gets credited for the overtime 4-3 game-winner and his first pro AHL goal and currently has 2 goals and 5 assists in 12 games, which is impressing big at the struggling parent club.
The 6′ 185 lbs. 21-year old blue liner may have to spend some time honing his game at the stage lower than the show but look for him to get an opportunity.
And after scoring new career bests: 9 goals and a whopping 34 assists in 69 games with a +11 rating for affiliate Utica Comets, gets him the nod for his NHL debut.
In his 1st game, he skated 20 shifts for 14:23, got an assist, had 2 shots, 2 blocks and 1 giveaway in a 5-4 loss.
The Framingham, MA gets traded to his hometown Boston Bruins as free agency looms after 2 seasons of 30+ assists in the minors.
He strikes his 3rd straight season of 9 goals in the minors, but shows maybe a bit more focus in the playoffs with 2 assists in 4 games.
For 2024/2025, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Los Angeles Kings.
New Jersey Devils‘ 4th year defenseman John Marino(5) was involved in a trade that sent him to the team from 3-year club Pittsburgh Penguins, where he twice notched 20+ assists, with a career high 24 last season.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner is on the hook for another 5-years for the 6-year deal he signed a year and a half ago worth an average of $4.4M AAV through 2026/2027.
Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#154 overall), but somewhat oddly traded before he ever got started.
The North Easton, MA native spent 3 years at nearby Harvard University Crimson, amassing an amazing +/- numbers before turning pro.
6th year d-man becomes the #1 for the new Utah Hockey Club, who pick him up for some draft options and he gets a 3-year deal moving forward.
