USNTDP 2nd year right wing Jacob Kvasnicka(7) will take his 5 goals and 9 assists in 29 USHL games with a +5 rating, first to another year of juniors in the BCHL for Penticton Vees before he heads to a 2026/2027 commit at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The 5’11” 172 lbs. blue liner was just selected by New York Islanders in the 7th round of the 2025 NHL Draft (#202 overall).
From Burnsville, MN, the 17-year old scored well through youth hockey and in high school before embarking on the road he is on now.
Boston Bruins‘ 7th round pick in the 2023 draft (#220 overall), Swedish-born defenseman, 6’6″ 220 lbs. tower, Kristian Kostadinski(4) is a Boston College Eagles‘ commit for 2025/2026.
He did his youth hockey and juniors, as captain back home before coming over last season for a USHL run with Dubuque Fighting Saints for a monster +25 rating.
The 20-year is huge and Hockey East style will help focus his game.
Boston Bruins‘ 6th year left wing Trent Frederic(21) signs on for another 2 seasons at a healthy pay raise of $2.3M AAV through 2024/2025.
The 6’3″ 214 lbs. forward is a former 2016 1st round draft pick (#29 overall).
He stayed only 2 years at University Of Wisconsin Badgers before turning pro and did 2 years of USNTDP previous to school.
It would be little surprise to see the 25-year old from St. Louis, MO stay with 1 team for a long while.
At the end of his 7th season with the team, pitching maybe less than previous results on a terrible club, as he is coming to the end of his current 2-year deal, he finds himself traded to Edmonton Oilers to continue.
He plays just 1 regular season game, but then in 22 playoff matchups, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists with a +1 rating to earn himself a new 8-year deal worth $30.8M ($3.5 AAV), as he has arrived in his new NHL home.
USNTDP 2nd year defenseman Drew Schock IV(10) is a University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ commit for 2025/2026.
In 4 USHL games, he has yet to record a point, but the 5’10” 167 lbs. blue liner had 2 goals and 7 assists in 35 games last year.
From Green Bay, WI, the 17-year old is 2025 NHL draft eligible.
Anaheim Ducks select him in the 4th round of the 2025 draft (#101 overall).
University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ senior defenseman Ethan Edwards(73) is a New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#120 overall) and signs his 2-year NHL entry level deal as his team concludes tournament play.
He manages to pull himself in for 10 AHL games with affiliate Utica Comets, scoring 3 assists.
From Grand Rapids, AB, the 5’10” 176 lbs. blue liner did 1 year close by home juniors AJHL before heading to the USHL prior to school.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior center Jackson Kunz(89) signs a 1-year AHL deal with draft team Vancouver Canucks (4th round, 2020, #113 overall) affiliate Abbotsford Canucks for 2025/2026.
He joined the team for 1 game and recorded an assist, but play in no playoff games en route to the 2025 Calder Cup Championship.
The 6’3″ 207 lbs. forward blew up USHS-Prep scoring, then took that to 1 off the hook USHL frame before college.
Charlotte Checkers‘ 8th year center Scott Wilson(10) is off to a good start with his new team, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists in 16 AHL games, while helping them win games.
Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#209 overall), he was selected after a 2nd strong session for Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward would then head to UMass-Lowell Riverhawks for three seasons.
He spent three years in the Pens’ system and played the entire 2016/2017 in the NHL en route of the 2017 Stanley Cup Championship, where he played 20 playoff matchups, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists.
The 29-year old should have some fun with his minor league deal this year and then look for a nice overseas contract for 2022/2023.
After scoring a career best 24 goals in 71 games, he decides at the last minute to head off and sign with Vityaz Podolsk, as we thought he might do, after initially thinking he was going to return.
He should be able to match up well in the KHL.
After a couple of good 20-goal scoring seasons, he was maybe off a bit in the current frame, so switches up allegiances to skate for Salavat Yulaev Ufa for the remainder of 2024/2025.
He has a pretty spectacular season with 9 goals and 14 assists in 30 games with a +13 rating, then added 16 points in 19 playoff matchups, but for 2025/2026, he will sign with a 5th league team, agreeing to terms for HC Sibir Novosibirsk for 2025/2026.
4th year center Brett Seney(62) was an unrestricted free agent coming off a 1-year extension with draft club, New Jersey Devils (6th round, 2015, #157 overall) to sign away on a two-way deal for a first time with Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 7 AHL games, he has 4 goals with a +2 rating, which has to have the parent club at least watching.
The small 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward was a sniper in four years at Merrimack College Warriors, striking for 26 points twice to start and finished with campaigns of 31 and 32 totals before graduating.
His 3 goals and 5 assists on 12 games signed to an ato after college was probably a good indicator of what could occur.
It will be interesting to see if the 25-year old gets anymore time in the show and what he does next.
In 2021/2022, the London, ON native would put up a new career best 42 assists and 59 points in 62 games with a +16 rating and also skated a pair of games in the big league.
For 2022/2023, he jumps ship for another 1-year, 2-way deal, this time from Chicago Blackhawks, where he could very put in more time at a higher level.
After an almost point-per-game season with affiliate, as MVP Rockford IceHogs and a 1st NHL goal for the team, he gets a 1-year deal to continue, then almost repeat performances through more games, he’s given more time in a ‘Hawks‘ jersey.
He continues to motor with points and for 2025/2026, he signs a 2-year AHL deal to remain captain of the Icehogs.
13th year center Garrett Roe(9) returns home to sign with Hershey Bears for 2023/2024 after playing in 4 different leagues overseas with the last 6 in the NL for ZSC Lions and EV Zug.
The 5’9″ 180 lbs. forward was in fact a Los Angeles Kings 7th round pick in the 2008 draft (#183 overall), but did not sign.
His 1st contract was with Adirondack Phantoms, where he scored 32 assists and he stuck there a 2nd season before leaving.
The Vienna, VA native initially went to Austria’s top hockey EBEL, signing with EC Salzburg and score points.
He left for Germany’s DEL, agreeing to terms with EHC Muenchen and he scored points.
His next stop would be for a pair of sessions in the SHL with Linkoping HC and yup, he scored points.
He would continue to do it in Switzerland and it’s expected the 35-year old, former St. Cloud State University Huskies will help out his new AHL team continue to score.
In 48 games, he bags 7 goals and 14 assists with a +15 rating, then through 12 in the playoffs, he nets another 6 goals and 4 helpers, which makes the now 36-year old and easy re-sign to continue being a Bears, 2024/2025.
He scored 4 goals and 14 assists in 38 games with a nice +16 rating of accountability.
In 4 playoff games, he grabs 2 assists with a +3 and that is plenty enough for the now 37-year old.
Chalk up 14 years, 226 games in the Swiss league, 215 in the minors and time spent in three other overseas leagues is a nice tally.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ senior left wing Ayrton Martino(22) signs a 2-year NHL entry level contract with draft team Dallas Stars (3rd round, 2021, #73 overall) after scoring a college high 25 goals and 26 assists in 39 games last season.
The 5’11” 161 lbs. forward from Toronto, ON scored big in a 2nd OJHL junior season before heading to the USHL.
In 4 AHL games with affiliate Texas Stars, he failed to connect, but you have to think they are just looking forward to year 1, 2025/2026.
