Category: NHL Draft Pick

15Apr

Hunter McDonald (41)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore defenseman Hunter McDonald(41) agrees to a pto to join 6th round, 2022 draft club Philadelphia Flyers (#165 overall) AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has 3 pro games experience under his belt already with no points, but is a +4 rating, which says something about his zone.

Never exactly the biggest point-getter, although he did amass 13 assists as a freshman, he’s been very accountable on ice with an overall +24 through his short time in college hockey and was a +29 in 2 USHL junior seasons for Omaha Lancers.

In 9 games with the affiliate he has 2 assists and is a +5 rating, with the parent club out of the playoff push, he is signed to a 2-year NHL entry level deal and will skate 1 game before maybe getting returned for minor league playoffs.

12Apr

Jackson Blake (53)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ sophomore right wing Jackson Blake(53) leaves 2 years on the table, as he has just detonated scoring a college best 22 goals and 38 assists with a +13 rating to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (4th round, 2021, #109 overall), Carolina Hurricanes.

The 5’11” 171 lbs. forward from Fargo, ND did it at Eden Prairie High USHS-MN, then half a season and full USHL frame for Chicago Steel, but won the Clark Cup trophy in that 1st year.

We see the 20-year old 2024 Hobey Baker Award finalist slotting into their lineup, wear #53 and potentially even be a playoff contributor.

He is the son of former NHL great Jason Blake.

08Apr

Matthew Kessel (51)

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UMass Minutemen junior defenseman Matthew Kessel(51) decides to leave a year on the table and signs his 2-year entry level deal with St. Louis Blues.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. blue liner was a 5th round pick in 2022 (#150 overall).

He reports to affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds and in 12 AHL games, has a pair of assists and is a +5 rating, heading into the playoffs.

The 2019 USHL Clark Cup Champion with Sioux Falls Stampede had a junior career high 17 assists that season.

He is definitely the height of on-ice accountability with an NCAA Division 1 hockey +37 rating.

The 21-year old may just play himself onto the big league squad before too long.

With some injuries to the blue line, the Scottsdale, AZ native scores a 1st NHL game for himself, in which he skates 15:17 ice time with 1 shot on net, 1 block shot and left the 4-3 shootout loss with a -1.

Still, nice start.

He signs a 2-year 1-way extension through 2025/2026 to continue in a Blues‘ jersey.

In his 35 game this season (37th overall), he scores a 1st NHL goal for himself.

07Apr

Arseni Sergeev (30)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ sophomore Russian-born goaltender Arseni Sergeev(30) is a Calgary Flames‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#205 overall).

The 6’3″ 192 lbs. net minder did 3 seasons of juniors and won the 2021 NAHL Robertson Cup, then went on to post best marks and become USHL goaltender of the year.

By all accounts, the 21-year old came over to the US to start preparing early, and has obviously done well.

In what we see as a bit of an unlikely, surprising move, he enters the transfer portal and will next tend the cage at Penn State University Nittany Lions.

04Apr

Carter Gylander (37)

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Colgate University Raiders‘ senior net minder Carter Gylander(37) is a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round draft pick in the 2019 draft (#191 overall).

The 6’5″ 190 lbs. goalie had 2 stellar AJHL seasons with Sherwood Park Crusaders that earned him to selection.

He is currently 8-10-3 with a 2.97 GAA and .905 SV% in 21 appearances.

The 24-year old Beaumont, AB native should be an easy NHL entry level sign to see what happens.

Upon finishing up his college season, he signs a 2-year deal and will report to affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins on an ato for the remainder of the year.

01Apr

Jack Malone (13)

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Boston College Eagles‘ graduate center Jack Malone(13) is off to a nice start with 4 goals and 3 assists in 12 games after coming over from Cornell University Big Red, where he was a decent enough ECAC scorer.

Hockey East may be more appealing to the 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward, who also struck pretty well through 3 years of the USHL for Youngstown Phantoms.

A Vancouver Canucks‘ 6th round pick in the 2019 draft (#180 overall), the 23-year old from Danville, CA looks to be an easy sign for an NHL entry level deal once he’s ready.

He gets the overtime game-winner against last years champions to send his team to the Frozen Four in St. Paul for the 1st time since 2016, their 26th visit overall.

27Mar

Zach Hyman (18)

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7th year right wing Zach Hyman(18) leaves his home for the last 6 years with Toronto Maple Leafs to sign a new 5-year deal as an unrestricted free agent with Edmonton Oilers, worth an estimated $5.5 AAV.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. power forward has twice scored 21 goals (2018-2020) and two times 15 in 345 NHL games with a mammoth +72 rating.

Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#123 overall), he was traded before ever officially wearing a jersey.

The former 4-year University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ forward was a Hobey Baker Award finalist as a senior, when he scored a cool 22 goals and 32 assists in 37 Big Ten games with a +24 rating.

He’s already 29-years old, although it seems like it was yesterday, when he donned a Toronto Marlies‘ jersey.

His goal scoring ascends to a career high 51 this season and in the process he pots his 200th overall tally.

Next season will be his 10th in the league and now 31-years old shows zero signs of stopping.

The Oilers‘ jersey fits well.

25Mar

Hugo Ollas (1)

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Merrimack College Warriors‘ freshman 6’8″ larger than a house goaltender, Swedish-born Hugo Ollas(1) is off to a good 5-3 start with a 2.47 GAA and .908 SV%.

He played all his youth and junior hockey close to home with Linkoping HC U16-J20.

The 19-year old even played a 2 SHL games going 0-1, but with a 1.99 GAA and .903 SV%.

It is going to be interesting to pay attention to see if the New York Rangers‘ 7th round pick in the 2020 draft (#197 overall) plays out 4 years or signs an entry level earlier.

Leaving his senior year on the table, he agrees to a 2-year NHL entry level deal with the Rangers and will report to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack to play out the rest of the frame.

This was a bit of an easy-see.

23Mar

Jaroslav Chmelar (28)

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Providence College Friars‘ Czech-born right wing Jaroslav Chmelar(28) leaves 2 years of school on the table to sign a nice 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (5th round, 2021, #144 overall) New York Rangers.

The big, listed at 6’5″ 220 lbs. forward scored decently over his 2 years at college.

Looks like he did most of his youth hockey at home and in Finland.

The 20-year old is likely ready for his next opportunity, which should start with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.

17Mar

Kevin Roy (12)

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6th year center Kevin Roy(12) signs for 2021/2022 with Laval Rocket.

It’s his 2nd contract in the league, as he skated for Tuscon Roadrunners, getting 11 goals and 19 assists in 35 AHL games last season.

Originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#97 overall), he played for 3 years on 2 contracts in their system and appeared in 28 NHL games over a pair of years, scoring 6 goals and an assist.

The 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward has 56 goals and 97 assists through 218 games in the farm league.

In his one campaign of junior hockey for Lincoln Stars, he got voted USHL Player Of The Year, Most Points, Most Goals, Most Assists, Best Plus/Minus and Forward Of The Year with his 54 goals and 50 assists in 59 games.

He was easily set to go to Northeastern University Huskies, where he twice struck for 19 goals and averaged 26 assists as a sophomore then junior before being named team captain as a senior.

The 28-year old should put up good numbers for his Montreal Canadiens‘ affiliate club and may even spark some notice.

After a very solid frame in Quebec, scoring 13 goals and 20 assists, he decides to split for Sweden, joining Brynas IF of the SHL late, but after 6 games with little pop, leaves for Liiga, and signs with HIFK.

Only getting 1 goal and 5 assists in 19 games, has him looking for a good next stop and he has found it, signing with HC Innsbruck of IceHL f0r 2023/2024.

He posts an almost silly 25 goals and 33 assists with a +20 rating in 47 games, and next will skate for rivals Graz99ers in 2024/2025.