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.
8th year left wing Max McCormick(17) scores a new 1-year NHL deal with Seattle Kracken maybe a little late into unrestricted free agency, yet it did arrive to get him on a good club going forward.
He spent the last pair of seasons with Carolina Hurricanes, playing 12 games with 2 goals, 1 assist and a +3 rating in 2020/2021, while mostly doing time on their taxi squad.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. played the first year of his deal entirely with affiliate Charlotte Checkers, where he tied his best 19 assists and 35 points was one shy of his high with a +6, and amassed him a 3rd 30+ point season.
He had a pair of 30 point seasons in his 3 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes.
The 29-year old De Pere, WI native may spend some time in the AHL, but also could play himself into more minutes in the show.
He skates 46 games in the minors, but gets recalled for 10 games with no points and leaves a +1.
His 29 points at +17 has certainly helped that team to a top playoff spot.
Those efforts earn him a new 2-year contract to continue leading the group one league away from the show and contribute whenever called upon.
The twice captain for affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds, who on 2 straight occasions made it all the way to the Finals before bowing out was quite the leader and is rewarded with a 2-year, 1-way contract to continue.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ graduate defenseman Dustyn McFaul(27) tied his 2 goal high for scoring this season, but those 9 assists as a senior captain look like they are going to stand.
The fairly big 6’2″ 191 lbs. blue liner is a Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2018 draft (#181 overall) and looks fairly ready to step into some AHL action, when his final college frame comes to a close.
From Waterdown, ON, the 23-year old has hockey ready all over him.
He adds 1 goal for 3 on the season, his new best, finishes up ECAC action and signs a 1st pro contract with Florida Everglades.
Not sure why he wasn’t moved on by the team that selected him.
He’s moving on and signs for 2024/2025 with Fort Wayne Komets, where he should be able to learn a lot.
Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#119 overall), center Curtis Hall(10) signs his 3-year entry level deal that will officially begin at the onset of 2021/2022.
He left after two seasons at Yale University Bulldogs, where he had a career high 17 goals and 10 assists with a +14 rating in his sophomore campaign, only signing very deep into the season, as his college team elected out of ECAC play due to COVID restrictions.
The big 6’4″ 212 lbs. forward signed a kind of weird one-year spc to play for affiliate Providence Bruins and finished up 13 AHL games scoring his first pro goal.
At 21-years old, the Chagrin Falls, Ohio native is easily just getting his feet moving.
He was mostly in the system for 3-years, but also sent to the lower affiliate, Maine Mariners before being loaned to Grand Rapids Griffins.
Likely no qualifying offer to continue, he signs a minor league deal with Cleveland Monsters for 2024/2025.
USNTDP‘s 2nd year right wing Lucas Van Vliet(19) is pretty big at 6’2″ 181 lbs. and has definitely displayed signs of scoring sharpness for him to be chosen by Las Vegas Golden Knights in the 7th round of the 2024 NHL draft (#197 overall).
From Livonia, MI, the 18-year old won’t travel far for his 2024/2025 college commitment, Michigan State University Spartans.
Vegas Golden Knights‘ 5th round pick in the 2018 draft (#135 overall), left wing Brandon Kruse(78) has taken up residence on a pto with their affiliate Henderson Silver Knights after graduating a 5th year at Boston College Eagles.
He has yet to sign his entry level deal, but is likely making a bit of an argument with an assist in his 2nd AHL game.
The small 5’9″ 158 lbs. forward originally did 4 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons and was always good for 20+ assists, 31 as a sophomore.
He only did a single NAHL season in juniors before heading to school.
The 23-year old from Saline, MI definitely has the skills to gain notice.
For 2022/2023, he scores a new contract with Toronto Marlies.
He plays all of his games with affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 7 goals and 37 assists with a +8 rating through 69 games.
For 2023/2024, he signs with Toledo Walleye and should find himself a ton of success in the ECHL.
As predicted, he finds all kinds of success with his new team, scoring 18 goals, 36 assists and a +23 rating through 70 games, then another 11 points in 14 playoff matchups.
Well, he’s a fish now and will be in a Walleye uniform 2024/2025.
8th year left wing Warren Foegele(37) takes a career year scoring 20 goals and 21 assists in a full slate of 82 games with a +3 rating for 3rd year team, Edmonton Oilers to a brand new 3-year contract, worth $3.5AAV with Los Angeles Kings.
For 6 NHL seasons, he always had 10+ goals and 5 times the same marker for assists.
From Markham, ON, he did 2 years at St. Andrew’s College Saints before heading off to University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.
He would split after a full season and 5 games to play OHL, where Carolina Hurricanes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2014 draft (#67 overall) would light up the scoresheet.
The 28-year old has arrived for himself at the right time.
7th year, Latvian center Teddy Blueger(53) gets a trade from 2nd round draft club Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played his 1st 250 NHL games and 179 in the AHL.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward was showing disintegrating numbers in the current frame, probably leading to his relocation to Vegas Golden Knights, but may have found a bit of a gem to get dealt to.
He’s twice a 20+ goal scorer in the minors and worth 10+ assists 3 going on 4 times in the big league.
The Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks‘ 4-year played was good for 10+ goals twice and 20+ assists twice.
At 28-years old, it’s probably nice for him to get a new start.
He starts to ignite his scoring some, submitting for 2 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, then adding another 2 points in 6 playoff matchups, en route to a 2023 Stanley Cup Championship.
He gets his name etched on the trophy and is an unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with the rebuilding forever Vancouver Canucks worth some $1.9M AAV.
Scoring a new best 22 assists and career tying 28 points, he is rewarded to stay in a Canucks‘ jersey for 2 more seasons at $1.8M AAV.
