Category: NHL Draft Pick

12Jul

Max Gildon (38)

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As a great many players last season, defenseman Max Gildon leaves a year at University Of New Hampshire to sign his 3-year entry level deal.

He was selected by Florida Panthers in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft (#66 overall) and had his best college scoring season last session, tallying new best 22 assists and 29 points before all of hockey was shut down by the COVID outbreak.

The fairly large 6’3″ 191 lbs. started his pro journey with Syracuse Crunch but was quickly moved to Bakersfield Condors for possible room considerations by a team with no affiliate in 2020/2021.

He has almost quietly put up some really nice numbers scoring a pair of goals and 10 assists in 24 AHL games with a phenom +16 rating.

The Plano, TX native committed to college after 2 campaigns with USNTDP, where he average 20 helpers.

At almost 22, he’s not likely waiting too long for his chance at the big game.

41 games on loan, he scores 2 goals and 10 assists with a 0 rating and will take his game to DEL, signing a 1-year deal with Adler Mannheim for 2023/2024.

He takes what appears to be a fairly steady frame in Germany, scoring 4 goals and 5 assists in 43 games with a +6 rating, but he wants more and signs in Tipos Extraliga with HC Kosice for 2024/2025, which will give him a look at his game on the next level.

11Jul

Alex Turcotte (38)

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in the 2019 draft (#5 overall) rookie center Alex Turcotte(38) has been sort of quietly surviving his rookie season playing hockey in a pandemic with affiliate Ontario Reign, sort of quietly grabbing a couple of snipers and 10 assists in 20 AHL games on a non-playoff contending team.

Nothing like the pair of seasons in the USNTDP program that got him selected super early and saw him commit to University Of Wisconsin.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward only lasted one season in college hockey before deciding to sign his 3-year entry level deal and get started.

At still just 20 years old, the recent WJC U20 gold medal winner could benefit from more time in the minors but in a better session could perform on the scoresheet like he did and could get the recall from a team that’s also in need of some scoring punch.

After posting 3 goals and 7 assists in 18 games with a +10 rating, he scores himself an NHL recall and debut.

In his 1st game, he skates 20 shifts for 12:08 ice time with 3 shots, 1 take away, 1 shot block, 2 penalty minutes and was a -1 in a 6-3 loss.

Recalled for a 1st time after exploding scoring in the minors, he pots a 1st NHL goal in 14 tries over 3 seasons to finally get it done.

He is showing effective play at both levels and is rewarded with a 3-year deal through 2026/2027 to stay in a Kings‘ jersey.

 

09Jul

Robbie Czarnik (77)

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12th year center Robbie Czarnik(77) signs on for a 3rd tour with Ravensburg Towerstars after posting exactly 30 assists for a 2nd time and adding 15 goals with a +13 rating, then popped in another 10 points in 13 playoff games.

His 241 games in DEL2 mark the most in any league he’s played.

The 6′ 190 lbs. former Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#63 overall) has scored 120 goals and 145 assists with a +54 rating and a 2019 Championship in his 1st run with current club.

He was pretty much a similar sniper in the ECHL through 183 games.

The 32-year old from Detroit, MI, who played his college hockey for just two years at University Of Michigan Wolverines has to have a little smile on his face, seeing how smoothly things go.

He signs on for a 6th season in a Towerstars‘ jersey 2024/2025, where he recorded his 3rd straight 40+ point session.

07Jul

Artyom Levshunov (5)

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Michigan State University Spartans‘ Belarus-born freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov(5) grabs the 2nd spot in the 2024 NHL draft by Chicago Blackhawks, making him the highest chosen player from his country ever selected, beating out a mark that stood for almost 30 years.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner looks to be a complete product and one they look to pin their hopes on to rebuild their defense.

Just 18-years old, he came over for a single USHL season with Green Bay Gamblers and then got right to work last season, scoring 9 goals and 26 assists in 38 games with a +27 rating.

He does look to be the full picture they are looking for.

Now, will he report back to his school team?

We didn’t really hear much about him in development camp, but maybe we also didn’t need to, as he was making an impression and signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal for 2024/2025.

06Jul

A.J. Greer (10)

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7th year left wing A.J. Greer(10) hits the jackpot, signing his 1st 2-year 1-way NHL contract through 2023/2024 after posting a career high 22 goals and 30 assists in 53 AHL games with a +10 rating for Utica Comets, while signed to New Jersey Devils.

He played 9 games in the big league last season, striking for a goal and an assist.

The Joliette, QC native came down and looked to go the college route, attending USHS-Prep, but after a year and a half at Boston University Terriers, left to join Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, wracking up points en route to the 2016 QMJHL Championship.

Almost oddly, he was a Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2015 draft, chosen after his 1st year of college hockey, where he scored 3 goals and 4 assists in 37 games that they must’ve seen something there.

He played 37 games in the big league with the team, getting a goal and 5 assists.

Still super-young at 25-years old, he is maybe starting to just arrive.

He’s become like the new 4th line bandit, playing 61 games with Boston Bruins, then 59 for Calgary Flames, who claimed him off waivers, and he finally receives a 2-year deal to prove his game as he next heads to 2024 Stanley Cup Champions, Florida Panthers.

In 2024, he also became a BU graduate student.

05Jul

Elliott Groenewold (7)

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Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2024 draft (#110 overall), defenseman Elliott Groenewold(7) stood out amongst the picks and invites at Development Camp, Warrior Ice Arena this past week.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner stood out as he was unafraid to engage, had very good quickness and release of his shot.

He wasn’t as much of a point scorer in his 1 USHL season with Cedar Rapids Roughriders, as he was at Bishop’s College School Prep.

From Bellows Falls, VT, the 18-year old commits to Quinnipiac University Bobcats for 2024/2025.

02Jul

Quinn Olson (51)

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University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ graduate center Quinn Olson(51) signs with Ontario Reign upon graduation and plays 1 AHL with no real results to move down and agree with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where in 6 playoff games, he scored 2 goals and 2 assists.

The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward was a Boston Bruins‘ 3rd round pick in 2019 (#92 overall), but went unsigned.

A Calgary, AB native, he scored 17 assists twice before leaving school and 19 once as a sophomore.

He scored big points in 2 AJHL seasons with Okotoks Oilers before college.

The 22-year old will need a new contract and gets a 1-year deal with the team he signed with out of college to start as a rookie.

01Jul

Sam Lafferty (18)

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4th year center Sam Lafferty(18) gets a new start, as he is traded to Chicago Blackhawks from draft club, Pittsburgh Penguins (4th round, 2014, #113 overall) after appearing in only 10 NHL games with two assists and a 0 rating.

The former Brown University Bears‘ forward will likely find more room to continue to develop his game.

He has 94 games to his credit, scoring 6 goals and 15 assists.

The 26-year old is fairly prolific in the minors with 17 goals and 38 assists through 85 AHL games.

If he can catch on with his new team, there’s little doubt he’ll earn a new contract, but if that doesn’t happen, we expect him to pick up and leave for overseas.

After a solid 2021/2022 season, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists in 46 games, he picks himself up a healthy 2-year extension to continue.

He actually takes a trade travel path from scoring a best 10 goals and 11 assists in 53 games to being dealt to Toronto Maple Leafs near the end of that campaign, where he did ok in just 19 games, then 9 in the playoffs.

In the offseason, the unrestricted free agent signs with Vancouver Canucks and this turns out to be pretty successful with a new best 13 goals and 24 points in 79 games with a +4 rating.

He will need a new contract, but he returns to the Blackhawks in yet another transaction for the Hollidaysburg, PA native.

Buffalo Sabres step in and offer him 2 years for $2M AAV and he accepts.

He was maybe a bit off step with only 4 goals and 3 assists on a pretty horrible team and Chicago Blackhawks trade for him to hopefully spark a reignite in their fortunes.