Boston College Eagles‘ 2nd year defenseman (transferred from St. Lawrence) Ben Finkelstein(28) is off to a hot start as a rookie with his new club, Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
In 18 ECHL games, he’s grabbed 4 goals from the point and 13 assists with a solid +4 rating on a team that has been somewhat of a discovery mode for this odd season.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. blue liner could easily gain a look on loan to an AHL team.
Through 35 games as a rookie, he scored 11 goals and 21 assists with a +11 rating, and got signed up by Toronto Marlies, but played the entire 2021/2022 frame with Newfoundland Growlers, where he equaled his 11 goals, but exploded his assists to a league best 51.
His good play has given him a new AHL deal with Iowa Wild for 2022/2023, but we doubt he’ll be assigned lower for his sophomore effort.
After managing his way into only 6 games with his new team, recording 1 assist, he has decided to push off and join Vienna Capitals for the remainder of the season, and we think the d-man’s game will be well-suited for Austria’s top league, the IceHL.
He scores 10 goals and 14 assists in 23 games to earn a new deal with Eisbären Berlin and is heading to Germany to play in DEL.
After 15 assists in 37 games, the 26-year old decides to retire, based on personal reasons that we are sure will surface eventually, but it’s a sad day for the former Eagles.
Cornell University Big Red freshman defenseman Hoyt Stanley(5) is an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2023 draft (#108 overall).
He is a big, pounding presence at 6’3″ 201 lbs.
The 18-year old played most of 2 BCHL seasons with Victoria Grizzlies.
He’s definitely one to watch.
3rd year center Nolan Vesey(11) is off to his best start with a pair of goals and an assist in 5 ECHL games with new contract club, Worcester Railers.
The North Reading, MA native sort came home to a degree, signing with the close to home team for 2021/2022.
A one-time Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#158 overall), he was chosen after an exceptional one year of junior hockey for South Shore Kings USPHL Premiere team, and then went on to attend University Of Maine Black Bears for 4 seasons, but never signed.
He was three times a 10+ goals and 10+ assists player in Hockey East.
The 6′ 185 lbs., 26-year old forward seems to be a bit of an underachiever, considering his brother Jimmy is a full-time NHL skater.
After throwing in a career high by a long shot 12 goals and 28 assists with a +13 rating in 62 games as assistant captain last season and a 3-game loan up to Springfield Thunderbirds, he decides to stick around in central MA for a 2nd run.
He posts a career best 13 goals last season in the lower league, but his eyes are open for opportunities leading in his next stage and he maybe a tiny bit oddly late signs with DVTK Jegesmedvek of Erste Liga for the remainder of the frame.
10th year left wing Justin Florek(9) scored a career high 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points in 2021/2022 for South Carolina Stingrays.
He was also a 3-time 30+ point guy in the AHL.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward played 3 seasons overseas and always notched 20+ points.
He also topped the 30+ mark as a sophomore and senior at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.
A former Boston Bruins‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#135 overall), the 31-year old from Marquette, MI is still at the top of his game.
He will return for a 3rd straight season in South Carolina.
A 3rd 40+ points ECHL season has him maybe put a small pause on the start of his 12th frame and he agrees to head back to Germany, signing with Dresdner Eislowen of DEL2, which should be a buzz for him.
Boston College Eagles‘ 2022/2023 commit, Swedish-born center Cutter Gauthier(19) had a 2nd USNTDP season that went completely off-the-hook scoring.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2022 1st round pick, #5 overall in the NHL draft scored 34 goals and 31 assists in 54 USDP U18 games with a +33 rating and another 19 goals and 9 assists in 22 USHL games with a +14.
At just 18-years old, he’s been in the US for a long while acclimating his game and should be a force as a rookie next season.
His playing rights for the big league have been traded to Anaheim Ducks, which is a no-brainer for him to sign, when he’s ready, as he allegedly didn’t want to skate for his draft team.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore center Sam Lipkin(28) has 9 goals and 11 assists in 17 games with a +11 rating, which has him closing in on the 14 tallies he had last season, but ascending to that 29 helpers’ mark will be a feat.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward is an Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#223 overall).
He had 2 successful runs through the USHL and was named captain of Chicago Steel in his 2nd frame, scoring 36 goals and 35 assists in 59 games with a +21 rating.
From Philadelphia, PA, the 20-year old is still setting himself up nicely.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ sophomore center Ben Strinden(21) is definitely challenging last year’s total for goals tying last year’s mark of 3 after 13 games with just 1 assist, so still has a little ways to go in that scoring category.
A Nashville Predators‘ 7th round pick in the 2022 draft (#210 overall), the 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward was selected after a 2nd, best run with Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 25 goals and 31 assists in 61 USHL games.
From Fargo, ND, the 21-year old is likely looking for a little consistency to his game.
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.
