Category: NHL Draft Pick

19May

Logan Hutsko (18)

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Florida Panthers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2018 draft (#89 overall), right wing Logan Hutsko(18) spent a portion of last season on the ir, which isn’t the strangest spot for him to be, as he’s been injured through a portion of his four years at Boston College Eagles.

Finishing up school, he signs his 2-year entry level deal, which will start come 2021/2022.

The 5’10” 172 lbs. forward scored 101 points (41 goals, 60 assists) in 114 NCAA Division 1 Hockey East games with an overall +31 rating.

If the 22-year old can shake the injury bug off his back, we’re thinking he will be chipping in nicely, when he’s ready to go.

He generates good points in 2 AHL seasons with Charlotte Checkers before leaving for a season overseas, splitting time between the SHL and Liiga, but not getting the results.

Things don’t seem to be going too well, so he’s probably had enough and retires.

17May

Marshall Warren (77)

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Minnesota Wild 6th round pick in the 2019 draft (#166 overall), transfer, defenseman captain Marshall Warren(77) will head to University Of Michigan Wolverines for a graduate year after completing 4 at Boston College Eagles.

His best season scoring was as a junior, grabbing 6 goals and 15 assists, but getting 11 points and +22 rating in the COVID cut 2019/2020 season that should have been that team hoisting an NCAA D1 Championship was maybe the best of his 1st college team’s runs.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. blue liner spent 2 solid runs with USNTDP before committing to college.

From Laurel Hollow, NY, the 22-year old could definitely use an entry level contract soon.

He plays a college high 41 games in his year of eligibility, but remains unsigned by the team that selected him and get picked up on a 2-year NHL entry level deal by his hometown New York Islanders.

17May

Massimo Rizzo (13)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ freshman center Massimo Rizzo(13) is tied for 3rd in NCAA Division 1 scoring at 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists).

He is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#216 overall) and looking to prove them right with the deep pick.

The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was a solid performer through 3 years of BCHL with a couple of teams (43 goals and 80 assists in 132 games) and won a 2017 championship with Penticton Vees, the year he arrived from youth hockey.

This is definitely the style player from Burnaby, BC that can break through and find space in the NHL.

After another 40+ points frame, the now junior decides to leave a year on the table and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers, who picked up his playing rights in a trade.

17May

Charles-Alexis Legault (6)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault(6) is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 5th round draft pick in 2023 (#139 overall).

He was selected after winning the 2023 NCAA Division 1 trophy with his underrated college club.

The big looking 6’3″ 214 lbs. blue liner played 2 seasons of juniors, 1st during COVID in the USHL, but went north closer to where his lives in Laval, QC to skate in the BCHL before heading to school.

He still has a ways to go, but some more development camps with the big club probably couldn’t hurt.

putting up 9 goals and 15 assists in 39 games with a monster, league best +36 rating, gets him a serious look and is signed to a 3-year NHL entry level contract by the team that selected him.

17May

Dylan Peterson (13)

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Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Dylan Peterson(13) scored a college best 8 goals and 20 points last season and signs his 2-year NHL entry level contract with draft club St. Louis Blues (3rd round, 2020 #86 overall).

The big 6’4″ 203 lbs. forward did 2 years USNTDP juniors racking up decent point totals before heading to school.

From Roseville, CA, look for the 22-year old to be an impact player as soon as he arrives as a rookie.

14May

JJ Piccinich (14)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

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.