Boston University Terriers‘ graduate captain, defenseman Case McCarthy(8) maybe wasn’t quite ready to step into the pro pool and extended a year on his college program, where he may not exceed earlier college career bests (5 goals, 12 assists), but will definitely be steady in his zone with a +15 rating.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. blue liner is a New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#119 overall), selected after his 2nd solid 24 assist run through the USNTDP program.
He may never exceed these points, but that’s hardly what we think the still quite young 22-year old from Troy, NY will be relied upon once he gets up there.
Maybe a little oddly, he doesn’t sign with the team that selected him and instead inks to join Hartford Wolf Pack in their AHL playoff run first, then through 2025/2026.
University Of Massachusetts’ Minutemen senior goaltender Cole Brady(34) stepped in to put the fire out, stopping 7-7 shots faced for his team to mount a comeback with him in net for a 6-5 win.
The 6’5″ listed at 181 lbs. tower has appeared in 5 games this season with a 3-1 record.
He transferred from 2 years at Arizona State University Sun Devils.
The Pickering, ON native bounced around 3 junior leagues with mostly good success before committing.
A New Jersey Devils‘ 5th round pick in 2019 (#127 overall), at 22-years old he seems to be a simple sign for a 2-year NHL entry level deal.
Harvard University Crimson freshman center Ben MacDonald(19) is off to a nice start with 1 goal and 3 assists in 5 games.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward is a Seattle Kracken 3rd round pick in the 2022 draft (#91 overall) after a top scoring senior year at Noble & Greenough.
He did 1 year of BCHL junior hockey with West Kelowna Warriors, running up 50 points (23-27) in 52 games before college.
From Weston, MA, the 19-year old seems to be settling.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ Slovakian-born, freshman defenseman Maxim Strbak(8) is off to a nice start with 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner was selected by Buffalo Sabres in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft (#46 overall) after just 1 USHL season with Sioux Falls Stampede.
He did all his previous junior and youth hockey back home.
The 18-year old plays a big d-man style game, but doesn’t seem afraid to jump up in the play.
Harvard University Crimson junior defenseman Jack Bar(24) may not eclipse modest highs set in earlier college seasons, but is relied upon to play a very in-your-face, move the skater from the front of the net style he is very good at.
A Dallas Stars‘ 5th round pick in the 2021 draft (#138 overall), the 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner was selected after his 1 junior frame with Chicago Steel, where he walked with the 2021 USHL Clark Cup Championship.
From Newmarket, ON, the 21-year old is looking good to sign an entry level deal after next session.
Harvard University Crimson freshman right wing Michael Callow(18) doesn’t have any points through 2 NCAA Division 1 games, but our bet is once he starts it will continue.
The big and rangy 6’4″ 181 lbs. forward is around the net a lot.
In 1 frame of USHL, he was a very decent scorer with Muskegon Lumberjacks and also hit the scoresheet quite decently through high school.
An Anaheim Ducks‘ 5th round pick in 2022 (#154 overall), from Boston, MA we think the 19-year old’s talents are going to spring to life.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ freshman right wing Jayden Perron(18) was a very smart grab for Carolina Hurricanes in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft (#94 overall), as what he may lack in size, way makes up for it in play making and scoring ability.
The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward had an easy at USHL junior best in his 2nd run for Chicago Steel, potting 24 goals and 48 assists in 61 games.
At just 18-years old and 3 goals in his 1st 7 NCAA Division 1 games, it’s a wonder how long the Winnipeg, MB native stays in school.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ freshman goaltender Trey Augustine(1) is a Detroit Red Wings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2023 draft (#41 overall).
The 6’1″ 179 lbs. net minder had a stellar 29-1-2 in 33 games mark last season with the USNTDP 18U team.
His early college numbers show him to be struggling some, but this is a solid backstop, who easily could lead a national champion is how we see it.
From South Lyon, MI, he’s basically just staying home all around for his hockey, we see a pretty bright future for the 18-year old.
New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2016 draft (#174 overall) goaltender Tyler Wall(33) played his rookie campaign with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
The very large 6’3″ 214 lbs. net minder had a tough first season on a club that struggled to cobble together wins and ended the session 3-4-1 in 10 AHL games with a disappointing 3.58 GAA and .865 SV%.
It easily wasn’t always as tough on the 23-year old.
In 31 GOJHL appearances, he had a 1.49 GAA and .940 SV%, posting a 27-2-1 mark in his only full frame for Leamington Flyers.
This was enough to get him noticed by UMass-Lowell Riverhawks to commit and graduated as assistant captain after 2019/2020 was cut short before playoffs.
His numbers as a senior, 18-8-6 with a 2.10 and .931 were similar to the ones he put up as a rookie to be selected.
It would be hard to imagine the Ontario native lost his pacing, and should rebound nicely, if the team out front of him is better and there’s fans in the stands to play for.
After a pretty impressive 35-game appearance with a 22-10-1 record, 2.58 GAA and .912 SV%, he skates of to the EIHL and signs for 2023/2024 with Cardiff Devils.
11th year defenseman Adam Clendening(44) signs a 1st minor league contract to continue as a potential prospect in a system, signing a 1-year AHL deal with the first team he ever skated pro hockey games for, Rockford Icehogs.
The 6′ 194 lbs. Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 (#36 overall) has definitely played a good batch of NHL games with maybe little fanfare, earning 4 goals and 20 assists with a healthy +11 rating in 90 games.
He has a goal and 7 assists in 13 games this season.
The former Boston University Terriers‘ could definitely put up the points in college, as he was good for 29 assists as a sophomore before he turned pro.
It would be little surprise to see the 30-year old branch out and head overseas next season.
Before he goes anywhere, he finds himself involved in a minor league deal that sends him to Hartford Wolf Pack for the remainder of 2023.
He has 3 times hit 30 assists in the minors and we feel he will make a fourth this frame.
Rounding out last season with 29 assists, as we thought, he makes a bit of a late decision to join Ilves for 2023/2204, signing a 1-year deal to skate in Liiga.
