The USNTDP under 18 team pulls into Agganis Arena, home of Boston University Terriers with a slew of NCAA Division 1 commits on their roster and they run up a 5-2 margin before it’s closed to to a regulation tie, until the kids tipped it their direction in OT on two goals by NHL draft prospect, Gabe Perrault(4), who almost ironically has committed to rivals Boston College Eagles for 2023.
8th year defenseman Mike Matheson(8) just got rolling with new team, Montreal Canadiens after missing the early part of 2022/2023 with an abdominal muscle strain and scored a goal in his debut.
The 6’2″ 193 lbs. blue liner was traded from 2-year club, Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored a career NHL best 11 goals and 20 assists with a +12 rating in 74 games, then added another 6 points (1-5) in 7 playoff matchups.
He has played a bit of an eye popping 420 games in the big league.
Originally a 1st round pick in the 2012 draft by Florida Panthers (#23 overall), he played 3 years at Boston College Eagles and left after scoring a college career high 22 assists.
The 28-year old from Pointe-Claire, QC is likely to continue to putting up excellent points and remains signed through 2025/2026 on his 8-year deal.
13th year defenseman Matt Bartkowski(43) was released from his tryout by New York Rangers as the new season begun.
It took him a few weeks to find himself a new deal for 2022/2023, but he decides to sign with Rochester Americans.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. blue liner will add to his 436 AHL game total and even if he misses a few games could roll 500 games played in the league.
He also has 236 NHL appearances to his credit.
The former 2-year Ohio State University Buckeyes was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 7th round pick in 2008 (#190 overall), but signed his 1st entry level deal with Boston Bruins, where he stuck in the system for 5 sessions, including his 1st pair of full frames in the big league.
At 34-years old, he has earned well, so must just still love playing the game and giving back at this point to the younger set playing minor league hockey.
Coachella Valley Firebirds‘ 7th year defenseman Eddie Wittchow(20) is with a 1st new team in 3 seasons after spending his first three minor league deals with Hershey Bears.
Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in 2011 (#154 overall), he was in their system for 2 years before being left unqualified after his best AHL season, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists with a +3 rating in 55 games.
The former University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ senior captain was never the biggest scorer through college.
We do think the 29-year old from Burnsville, MN will bring some accountability to the new club’s blue line.
New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft (#46 overall), small 5’9″ 161 lbs. defenseman Seamus Casey(26) is off to a fantastic start as a freshman at University Of Michigan Wolverines, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 games with a +3 rating.
He twice for the US National Under 17 and 18 teams had 20+ assists.
Junior hockey is really where the Miami, FL native’s scoring seem to take hold.
At just 18-years old, he will definitely be a very interesting college hockey watch.
Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft (#37 overall), 2 season USNTDP defenseman Ryan Chesley(27) is an incoming freshman at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers and already has 2 assists in 4 games with a +3 rating.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. skater was a decent scorer in the junior program following up good totals he posted at Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U & 16U AAA.
So, that he comes out hot in his college career is maybe not to surprising for the only 18-year old.
Florida Panthers‘ 1st round pick in the 2019 draft (#13 overall) goaltending wizard Spencer Knight(30) signs his 3-year entry level deal after only a 2 season stay with Boston College Eagles. where he went a phenomenal 39-12-3 record with a 2.05 GAA and .931 SV%, including 8 shutouts.
The fairly sizable 6’3″ 192 lbs. net minder has a collection of awards but maybe none better than the recent 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal earning.
He will turn just 20-years old soon but more importantly, now signed, where does he go?
The openings seem slim at the AHL, where the parent club is only riding along as their affiliate shut down operations during the pandemic, so maybe he’ll simply be an add to the taxi squad with the main group and go from there.
Before his entry level contract is up, they solidify him to stay with the Litter Cats going forward on a 3-year deal worth $4.5M AAV.
Nashville Predators‘ 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#111 overall), Czechia-based center Jachym Kodelik(29) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal after completing his 4th year as senior captain at University Of Connecticut Huskies.
The massive 6’6″ 226 lbs. forward finished up last year with a college career best 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points with a +6 rating that made it to the Hockey East Final before bowing out in overtime.
He skated 2 AHL games with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals on an ato at the end of last campaign, but didn’t connect.
We think the still super-kind of young to graduate college, 22-year old will be finding ways to score points for 2022/2023.
It’s easy to find that smile after scoring his 2nd goal of the evening for Northeastern University Huskies‘ captain Aidan McDonough(25) in their 5-0 drubbing of Hockey East opponent University Of Vermont Catamounts.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 6th year 6’7″ 218 lbs. center Tage Thompson(72) gets rewarded with a handsome 7-year $7M+ deal through 2029/2030 after scoring a career high by a mile 38 goals and 30 assists in 78 NHL games.
Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2016 draft (#26 overall), he was traded in the offseason after splitting his rookie season between the big league and AHL.
He twice scored 32 points as a member of the University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he played for two seasons before turning pro.
The 24-year old from of all places Glendale, AZ could easily be a 100-point player.
