Harvard University Crimson junior Finnish-born goaltender Aku Koskenvuo(76) leaves a year on the table to sign his 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (5th round, 2021, #137 overall), Vancouver Canucks.
The big 6’4″ 200 lbs. net minder played a college best 20 games with a 2.81 GAA and .902 SV%.
He played all of his youth hockey and juniors back home.
The 22-year old looks to be headed to the AHL to start with affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.
12th year NHL defenseman Steven Kampfer(51) will try something new for 2021/2022, signing a 1-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.
The former University Of Michigan Wolverines blue liner was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round 2007 draft pick (#93 overall) but traded to Boston Bruins and agreed to terms upon completing his fourth year at college.
He left the Black & Gold within his entry level deal, traded to Minnesota Wild, where he stayed for two seasons before being dealt to New York Rangers but was again quickly on the move to Florida Panthers, where he stayed for another pair of campaigns.
The 5’11” 198 lbs. d-man started his next frame in the zone for the ‘Cats but after a single game was changing addresses heading back to the Blueshirts.
It seems like this is a player who favors 2 year terms with teams, as he did another here before rejoining his original club in Boston for another two year contract and a solid role as a fill-in guy.
The 32-year old may find continued life in Russia’s top hockey but we would be surprised to see him jump around a bit before deciding to pull the curtain on it.
After putting up a career high 11 goals, 19 assists and 30 points and being named assistant captain of Team USA Olympic squad, the now 33-year old will return home on a 1-year 2-way deal with close to home, Jackson, MI, Detroit Red Wings worth at least $325K in the minors and the league minimum $750 if he stays up.
He would be traded for future considerations to Arizona Coyotes, where he would actually do alright on a non-playoff team with 3 goals and 19 assists that actually gave him a career high 6 goals and 23 assists.
Reassigned to minor league affiliate, he is named team captain for 2023/2024 of Tuscon Roadrunners.
With no quit in site, he will return to Russia for 2024/2025 and signs with Traktor Chelyabinsk.
After an incredibly solid year, scoring 10 goals and a new best 22 assists and 32 points, then doing very well in the playoffs, he decides 16 pro careers will do it and retires.
Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft (#37 overall), 2 season USNTDP defenseman Ryan Chesley(13) is an incoming freshman at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers and already has 2 assists in 4 games with a +3 rating.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. skater was a decent scorer in the junior program following up good totals he posted at Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U & 16U AAA.
So, that he comes out hot in his college career is maybe not to surprising for the only 18-year old.
After his 3rd year at school, he decides to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal and is sent to affiliate Hershey Bears on an ato to start his pro career.
In 4 games, he grabs a 1st AHL goal and 2 assists, but figures in no playoff matchups.
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.
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 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.
