University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ freshman defenseman Adam Kleber(6) is a Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round draft pick in the 2024 draft (#42 overall).
The very big 6’5″ 210 lbs. blue liner did 2 years USHL for Lincoln Stars before heading to school this year.
From Chaska, MN, the only 18-year old is well on his way.
Boston College Eagles‘ center Will Smith(6) is taking zero time to adjust to college play after 2 seasons of USNTDP.
In 6 games, he has 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating to go along with those 51 goals and 76 assists he had last year and 42 points (15-27) in 20 USHL games.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward was a San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round pick in the 2023 draft (#4 overall), so the 18-year old from Lexington, MA has lots to look forward to.
After just 1 season of lighting up the college ranks to the tune of 25 goals and 46 assists with a +25 rating through 41 games and the waiting is over, as the 19-year old signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal, starting 2024/2025.
He debuts with his new NHL team right away, playing 16 shifts for 13:41 ice, 2 shots on net and like his former Hockey East friend needs improving in the face-off dot.
Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft, goaltender Jeremy Swayman(1) signed a three-year entry deal just as COVID was shutting down the world and left three seasons at University Of Maine behind for a chance to play pro.
It almost seemed when the 22-year old signed that he would be assuming starting duties with affiliate Providence Bruins, when 2021 finally gotten moving, and there he was on opening night, in net.
The big 6’3 201 lbs. Hobey Baker Award finalist last season for his outstanding 18-5 mark won his debut 4-1 leaving with a 1.00 GAA and .963 SV% and has gone 7-1 in 8 starts with a 1.88 GAA and .932 SV%.
He only lost his first game recently.
This is easily only the beginning for the Anchorage, AK native, who has consistently put up jaw dropping stats.
A restricted free agent, heading into his 4th season with the team and his contract time is up, so elects to go to arbitration for a 1-year deal 2023/2024 for 3.475M AAV, which is a nice pay bump for the Bruins‘ net minder, who owns a 2.24 GAA and .920 SV% in 88 appearances.
After a bit of a holdout, which could cost him the season opener for 2024/2025, he signs a new 8-year, $8.25M AAV NHL deal to stay where he’s at.
8th year center Michael Mersch(28) accepts a two-year AHL contract from Rochester Americans to stay with the club he skated for last season.
The 6’2″ 215 lbs. power forward has almost oddly only played 17 NHL games with draft club Los Angeles Kings (4th round 2010, #111 overall), scoring a goal and 2 assists with a +1 rating.
As a rookie, he was a huge part of then affiliate Manchester Monarchs almost fantasy-like run that ended capturing the 2015 Calder Cup trophy and him getting the nod for most playoff points (22).
The former 4-year University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ had three 30 point campaigns in college and currently holds 4-40+ marks as a pro.
His only other big league contract was with Dallas Stars, leaving initial team as a UFA to sign the 2-year, one-way deal.
It would be easy to see the 28-year old leave North American hockey for his next venture before he decides to retire.
Even before the 2nd year of his contract has started, he gets himself extended for yet another year through 2023/2024 to not go anywhere and stay on as captain for the Amerks.
Not quite sure why he never got more than a handful of games in the highest league of hockey, but 597 games in the lower league later, at 31-years old he’s hanging up those skates and has yet to name where he lands next to offer someone a great experience.
Worcester Railers‘ rookie defenseman Christian Krygier(8) gets on the scoreboard in his opening ECHL game after scoring 4 total goals in 5 years of Michigan State University Spartans and only 2 in a pair of USHL seasons with Lincoln Stars.
He also added a 1st assist.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner is a New York Islanders‘ 7th round pick in the 2018 draft (#196 overall) and signed a minor league deal for 2023/2024.
After finishing up school, he reported to affiliate Bridgeport Islanders for 2 AHL games, no points.
From Orlando, FL, the 23-year old will likely see his number loaned up to the higher league.
He would play the entire frame with the affiliate, scoring 2 goals and 9 assists in 31 games with a +3 rating on a non-playoff team and is wanted to return for another season to hopefully play more as a mini Islanders.
6th year defenseman Andrew Peeke(52) will spend a 1st full season, 2024/2025 with the team he was traded to late last season, Boston Bruins.
The 6’3″ 216 lbs. blue liner was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round 2016 draft pick (#34 overall) and skated some 218 NHL games with them.
He played 3 years at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he had 21 assists in the season before he signed his entry level deal.
From Parkland, FL, the 26-year old could easily put up career highs next season with his new team.
11th year defenseman Chris Wideman(6) re-ups with Montreal Canadiens for another two years after recording a career high 23 assists in 2020/2021 for a last place club.
He signed a one-year deal upon his other new high point mark, 9 goals and 32 assists for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in his sole year away in the KHL, where he was named tops in his position.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner definitely knows how to run up the totals on helpers, as he did in 2nd and 3rd years under contract to draft team Ottawa Senators (4th round 2009 #100 overall) with affiliate Binghamton Senators, hitting 42.
He also reached 20 twice as a junior and senior at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
This should be the 32-year old’s 6th full season playing in the NHL and he’s worked hard for every second.
After not playing any games last season, the now 34-year old decides to retire and has yet to announce where he will land next, but is assuredly going some place good to help out a team.
He hangs up those skates after 291 games in the big league and 280 in the AHL, 59 in Russia during the COVID swing and 143 NCAA Division 1.
No word in hockey where he may land next, but until then will help his wife with the beauty salons they opened together, which will keep him plenty busy.
13th year goaltender Alex Stalock(32) sees his career come full circle as he returns to 2005 draft team San Jose Sharks (4th round, #112 overall) in a trade to have him back.
He was tending net with infrequency for Edmonton Oilers‘ affiliate Bakersfield Condors and existed on the team’s taxi squad last season after being picked up on waivers from 3 years with Minnesota Wild.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. net minder has appeared in 151 NHL games with a 61-48-18 record and 2.61 GA, .909 SV%.
He is a former USHL junior hockey Clark Cup Champion, playoff MVP, best SV% and Goaltender Of The Year recipient.
The 34-year old, 3-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs is likely just a little happy to return to where it all started.
As an unrestricted free agent, he heads to Chicago Blackhawks for 2022/2023 on a 1-way deal to help them shore up their crease.
He would actually play 27 games, striking a 9-15-2 with not terrible stats on a non-playoff team, but he unrestricted and signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks for 2023/2024.
San Diego Gulls enjoy his presence for 15 games last season and now at age 37, it’s time for him to announce his retirement and he will immediately take that winning personality of his to the Sharks‘ broadcast booth, starting 2024/2025.
Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2017 draft (#182 overall) defenseman Benton Maass(11) goes from a four-year skate for University Of New Hampshire Wildcats to a fifth year of eligibility, playing close to home on the start of a graduate degree with Minnesota State University Mavericks.
Although maybe not the biggest point-getter on the ice, the 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner did manage 23 assists as a senior at the hometown Elk River High in 25 USHS-MN games and 13 helpers at a freshman as his new college.
He also had 16 points (a high of 7 tallies and 9 assists) in 26 NAHL games, when he arrived at Fairbanks Ice Dogs upon completing high school.
It’s all happened fairly quickly for the 22-year old but the player who’s been in three NHL development camps looks ready at every turn.
As he finishes up, his 5th college season, he signs an ato with affiliate Hershey Bears and will join them for the remainder of the AHL frame.
Almost oddly, he plays only 2 games with his contract club, getting 1 assist and a +2 rating and is reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he gets 4 goals and 7 assists in 55 ECHL games with a +13 rating.
His play is good enough to earn a continued look in Chocolatetown.
In his 2nd frame further down south, he scores a new career best 8 goals and 19 assists in 64 games with a +17 rating, so things are looking up.
Something is amiss though, as he decides to accept an assistant coach role at Lindenwood University Lions for 2024/2025, changing the role he will play in pro hockey.
Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2024 draft (#25 overall), Boston College Eagles‘ giant 6’7″ 214 lbs., center commit Dean Letourneau(97) blew up scoring at St. Andrew’s College Saints to the tune of 61 goals and 66 assists in 56 games in 2023/2024.
The 2024/2025 rookie from Braeside, ON will have a lot to answer, but should be quick with responses.
