Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#121 overall) defenseman Alex Green(57) was signed as his school, Cornell University was likely wondering with unlikely odds on whether or not to go for a 2020/2021 season.
They opted out of the ECAC campaign, as did a great many other teams in the division.
So foregoing his senior year, the decently sized 6’2″ 175 lbs. blue liner signed a two-year entry level deal to start his pro hockey experience immediately.
He was assigned to affiliate Syracuse Crunch and thus far has appeared in 11 of 16 AHL games for the club scoring a goal and 4 assists with a +6 rating.
Never exactly the biggest scorer, it’s possible his new status has awoken something and also a little wonder, he was maybe a little surprisingly selected after his freshman year post two runs of the USHL, where in his 2nd session notched 15 assists for Lincoln Stars.
The 22-year old Chicago, IL native started his career with a short stint for Orlando Solar Bears, likely as the ECHL had started before his league was set to resume.
After scoring 5 goals and 21 assists with a +6 in 73 games, it is decided to not qualify him, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
He didn’t sit on the shelf long before deciding to sign a 1-year minor league deal with Laval Rocket for 2022/2023.
Not sure, what occurred but after 5 games recording 1 assist, he switches up teams and heads to Chicago Wolves.
After 35 games, recording 1 goal and 4 assists with a +3 rating, he is re-upped to stay on with him hometown team another year.
Chicago Blackhawks picked up the playing rights of Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2018 draft (#177 overall), Princeton University Tigers‘ senior center Liam Gorman(14) is having a college career year with 11 goals and 6 assists.
The 6’2″ 187 lbs. forward was selected as a senior captain for his high school, St. Sebastian’s School team, putting up 16 goals and 22 assists in 24 USHS-Prep games.
He didn’t really play any junior games before heading to college.
The 22-year from Boston, MA is a young graduate, but will be an easy look for an NHL entry level.
He ultimately ended up with a college career best 12 goals and 12 assists and still has a season of eligibility, so will head to UMass Minutemen for 2023/2024 before hopefully netting an entry level deal.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#83 overall), right wing Alex Laferriere(28) signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal after completing a hugely successful sophomore season with Harvard University Crimson, scoring a new best 21 goals and 21 assists with a +13 rating in 34 games.
To start his pro career he signs a ato with affiliate Ontario Reign, scoring a 1st AHL goal in 4 games before exiting.
Look for the 6′ 172 lbs. to maybe add some weight over the summer and compete for a roster spot at 1st official camp.
11th year defenseman John Ramage(2) keeps his pattern of switching up DEL hockey teams every couple of years and just completed a 2nd decently successful campaign for Schwenninger Wild Wings, but will skate for rivals Grizzlys Wolfsburg in 2023/2024.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner won a league championship in his 2nd season playing for Eisbären Berlin.
Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 4th round pick in 2010 (#103 overall), the twice University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ captain has alway had NHL contracts before heading overseas.
The 32-year old from Mississauga, ON credited for being on Alaska Aces‘ Kelly Cup Champion ECHL team and Lake Erie Monsters for the AHL Calder Cup.
13th year defenseman Justin Braun(61) decides 842 NHL games is plenty enough and announces his retirement after 4 seasons mostly with Philadelphia Flyers.
Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 7th round pick in 2007 (#201 overall), he was with them for 9 years.
At 36-years old, the former UMass Minutemen senior captain, who was always good for 10+ assists, then 20+ in his final year, has climbed the mountain and found everything he needs.
10th year defenseman Dennis Robertson(20) re-signs to stay EC Red Bull Salzburg after helping them win the 2023 ICEHL Championship.
He did very well with numbers as well, scoring 2 goals and 19 assists with a +25 rating, then adding another 8 points in 11 games in the playoffs.
The 6’1″ 208 lbs. was originally drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs in the 6th round of 2011 (#173 overall), although he was 1st signed by Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-year NHL entry level deal, but played almost his 5 years with Charlotte Checkers, while under contract to Carolina Hurricanes.
He has 276 AHL games to his credit with a +42 rating before he left.
From Fort St. John, BC, the former Brown University Bears‘ 2-time captain spent most of his overseas playing time in Austria.
The 31-year old is likely still doing ok for himself and having fun.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2020 draft (#46 overall) goalie Drew Commesso(29) finished up his junior session at Boston University Terriers with a 24-8 record with a 2.46 GAA and .913 SV%, 2 shutouts in 34 appearances, including a trip to the Frozen Four.
The 6’2″ 181 lbs. net minder decides to forego his senior year to sign a 3-year NHL entry level contract.
He spent 2 seasons with the USNTDP team, starting just a crapload of games.
The 20-year old from Norwell, MA signed an ato with affiliate Rockford Icehogs, but is mostly just practice with them, as they are fairly set in the crease for their playoff run.
Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Ethan Phillips(28) will head closer to draft team, Detroit Red Wings (4th round, 2019, #97 overall) to start a graduate program at Western Michigan University Broncos for 2023/2024.
His best season was as a junior, scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 28 games.
The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward played only one junior session with Sioux Falls Stampede, where they pushed their luck to win the 2019 USHL Clark Cup Championship and he had a tidy 43 points in 50 games through the regular frame, then added 5 point in 6 in the playoffs.
From Dartmouth South, NS, we think the 21-year old needs an NHL entry level deal soon.
Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#95 overall), defenseman Mike Benning(44) gets himself a 3-year NHL entry level deal, leaving 1 season at University Of Denver Pioneers on the table.
The 5’9″ 177 lbs. blue liner is small, but leaves with a very accountable +55 rating and scored 10+ goals and 20+ assists as a sophomore and junior.
He is also only 1 season off winning the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship.
The 21-year from Edmonton, AB is with the big club for playoffs, but potentially should head to Charlotte Checkers to help them win a Calder Cup.
After two seasons suiting up for CSKA Moskva, 7th year defenseman John Gilmour(3) signs with rivals Dinamo Minsk for 2022/2023.
Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 7th round pick in the 2013 (#198 overall), he was never signed and picked up as a free agent and signed to an NHL entry level deal by New York Rangers upon graduating Providence College Friars.
He was an important part of the team, when they won the 2015 NCAA Division 1 Championship.
The 6′ 192 lbs. blue liner spent 3 years in the system, skating 33 big league games, pocketing 2 goals and 3 assists.
He would next sign with Buffalo Sabres on a one-way contract before leaving for the KHL.
At 29-years old, he likely still has a long way to go.
He scores basically the same exact totals for his new team as he did for his old and has decided to move on for something new, signing for 2023/2024 with Adler Mannheim.
We expect him to do very well in Germany’s top league, DEL.
