Category: NHL Draft Pick

14May

JJ Piccinich (14)

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5th year right wing JJ Piccinich(14) decides it’s time to look outside the box, signing a 1-year deal with Belfast Giants for 2021/2022.

The Paramus, NJ native had an interesting path to turning pro.

Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#105 overall), he only ever signed with their affiliate Toronto Marlies.

He would next sign to San Antonio Rampage, but was reassigned mostly to affiliate Tulsa Oilers, where he popped in a massive 42 assists.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward also had a pair of amazing sessions for London Knights, including his 2nd as team captain, scoring 138 points (56-82) in 132 games.

This followed up just a single season at Boston University Terriers.

The 25-year old will bring some good winning to his new club: 2016 Memorial Cup, 2016 OHL Championship and 2019 ECHL Kelly Cup with Newfoundland Growlers.

It’s almost as if he can’t stop winning titles, as his Ireland lands the 2022 EIHL Championship and he ends a career scoring season with a league most goals, assists, points, plus/minus and forward of the year award.

He’s decided to up and leave and try something different though, signing in Norway with Stjernen Hockey.

As he posted a 25 goal and 40 assist frame in 45 games with his new club and has gone on to include an assist in one playoff match, the almost point-per-game Youngstown Phantoms re-signs to stay.

In roughly 90 games, he amasses 110 points and decides to head back to England with the Giants to explode more scoring and look for a title.

06May

Shai Buium (8)

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University Of Denver Pioneers twice NCAA Division 1 champion, junior defenseman Shai Buium(8) leaves a season on the table to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with Detroit Red Wings that will see him on an ato with affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins to get started.

He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft (#36 overall).

The big 6’4″ 210 lbs. blue liner had all college bests last season with 7 goals and 29 assists for 36 points with a +33 rating in 43 games.

He was chosen after his only USHL session for Sioux City Musketeers.

From San Diego, CA, the 21-year old is still pretty young, but likely just wants to get started with the next step.

05May

Sam Lipkin (38)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore left wing Sam Lipkin(38) forgoes 2 years of school to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (round 7, 2021, #223 overall) Arizona Coyotes after he scored a college high 15 goals in 39 games last season.

The 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward had an assist in his AHL debut.

He scored huge in his 2nd USHL season as captain with Chicago Steel, but won the Clark Cup Championship in his 1st with the team.

From Philadelphia, PA, the 21-year old is likely ready for some playoff hockey with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners.

01May

Nick Shore (23)

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12th year center Nick Shore(23) swaps close to 2 years, scoring good numbers with HV71 for 1 at Linkoping HC 2024/2025.

The 3rd round Los Angeles Kings‘ draft pick in the 2011 draft (#82 overall)

He initially left North American hockey after his 3rd straight year in the NHL and left for 1 year in the KHL.

Wooed back for another spin in the biggest league, taking his total up to 299 games, he didn’t really put up the numbers and next found the net on multiple occasions in Slovakia Extraliga, but swapped that quickly for hockey in Switzerland, signing with EV Zug.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward would help his team win the 2021 NL Championship.

He returned to Russia, but the former 3-year University Of Denver Pioneers went back before switching to Sweden, where he stays.

The 31-year old from Denver, CO has made a neat little journey out of playing pro hockey for himself.

22Apr

Daimon Gardner (16)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ freshman center Daimon Gardner(16) was easily off his scoring game with only 1 goal and 5 assists in 29 games last season and will head to St. Cloud State University Huskies for 2024/2025.

The 6’5″ 205 lbs. forward from Eagle Lake, ON is a Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#112 overall).

Selected after a huge 45 goal, 38 assists in 30 USHS-MN games for Warroad High with a +67 rating, he next went onto play juniors in the USHL, mostly for Tri-City Storm, running up a 30 assist frame before college.

We fully expect the 20-year old’s ECAC game to start clicking.

21Apr

Cade Webber (8)

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Boston University Terriers‘ graduate 6’7″ 216 lbs. assistant captain, defenseman Cade Webber(8) has 3 assists in 14 games, dangerously close to the 5 he had through 40 games last season, so does look poised for college career best stats.

A Carolina Hurricanes‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#99 overall), he was just coming out of his senior year at The Rivers School USHS-Prep.

He did 1 BCHL junior season with Penticton Vees before heading to college.

The 23-year old will likely get a deal, but will almost for certain start with their affiliate.

His signing rights were recently traded to Toronto Maple Leafs and they move right in upon finishing up Frozen Four play to him to a 2-year NHL entry level contract.

He could get slotted right in for the playoffs with his enormous size, but we watch.

20Apr

Brad Malone (17)

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Edmonton Oilers‘ 12th year center Brad Malone(17) gets re-upped on a new 2-year deal worth some tidy sums regardless of where he plays.

He has served as captain of affiliate Bakersfield Condors for the past couple seasons and looks to return for that role in 2022/2023.

The 6’2″ 217 lbs. forward was actually playing under an AHL deal last season, when he was signed initially to come aboard.

He almost quietly has 207 NHL games to his credit, even appearing in 8 games last season with a goal and an assist, and 462 in the minors.

At 33-years old, the former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate, Miramichi, NB native must have a huge smile on his face.

After a 4th season of being team captain, he decides his ice time is up and announces his retirement, but you can bet he won’t be traveling too far away from the game.

20Apr

Jake Richard (11)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ freshman right wing Jake Richard(11) is a Buffalo Sabres‘ 6th round pick in the 2022 draft (#170 overall).

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. Jacksonville, FL native scored huge in high school, then 31 goals and assists in his 2nd USHL frame before college.

He scored 7 goals and 11 assists in 36 games with a +1 rating.

We only expect the 19-year old that plays a power forward style to score more.

19Apr

Ryan Dzingel (80)

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10th year center Ryan Dzingel(80) waits until almost the end of the 2023/2024 season to sign, but does with Henderson Silver Knights and has 4 goals and 1 assist in 12 AHL games.

He played 22 games last season for Chicago Wolves.

The former Ottawa Senators‘ draft pick 3 times scored 20+ goals, twice 20+ assists.

He did 3 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes, serving as captain as a sophomore and junior year assistant.

From Wheaton, IL, the 32-year old spent the majority of 7 years in the NHL, so has done well and is playing out his string mostly it seems.

He should be a good player to have around for playoffs.

18Apr

Ruslan Iskhakov (37)

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New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2018 draft (#39 overall), small and speedy Russian-born center Ruslan Iskhakov(37) couldn’t wait around to see if college hockey would play in 2020/2021, so decided it was time for him to turn pro.

The 5’8″ 150 lbs. forward signed a one-year deal with TPS and has gotten right to it with 9 goals, 25 assists in 46 Liiga games and a +5 rating.

He played two seasons at University Of Connecticut putting up 21 points for successive years and the thought was he would return for his junior campaign, but has voiced his desire to play pro as quickly as possible and this looks to be the best possible route to achieve it.

2-50 point AHL seasons scores him a 1st NHL recall and skated 20 shifts for 14:11 ice time with 2 shots, 1 assist and a 5-4 victory.