Category: NHL Draft Pick

01Jun

Will Reilly (8)

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#217 overall), defenseman Will Reilly(8) finished up his fourth year as captain at RPI and was signed to a 2-year entry level deal.

In his final season he had a college career high of 8 goals, 14 assists for 22 points with a +14 rating.

The fairly big 6’2″ 197 lbs. blue liner was selected after his freshman campaign.

A Toronto, ON native he cycled through a couple junior leagues north of our border before committing for 2016/2017.

Through 19 AHL games with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he has 2 goals and 3 assists but his size has to be getting him on the radar of the big club.

Left unqualified, he signed a minor league deal with Tuscon Roadrunners for 2022/2023, scoring 1 goal and 4 assists in 30 games.

Charlotte Checkers like the looks of what they saw and swoop in to offer him a contract for 2023/2024.

Mostly reassigned to affiliate Florida Everblades, he’s able to connect for points bigger than ever with 10 goals, 28 assists and a +7 rating in 55 ECHL games and has run 9 points in 18 playoff matchups with a +9 rating.

He will take his efforts to the much tougher to play Tipsport Extraliga Czechia for 2024/2025 and signs with Motor Ceske’ Budejovice.

30May

Sean Behrens (2)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ 3rd year defenseman Sean Behrens(2) is wooed to leave 1 session of college on the table to sign a 3-year NHL entry level contract for the 2nd round pick in the 2021 draft (#61 overall) by Colorado Avalanche after he wins 2 NCAA Division 1 Championships.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward had 2 successful USNTDP sessions before school.

Signed to an ato to join affiliate Colorado Eagles, he scores a first assist in his 1 AHL game, then is a +2 in another playoff matchup.

The 21-year old is likely just ready to get started.

28May

Aapeli Rasanen (22)

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Kalpa‘s rookie defenseman Aapeli Rasanen(22) left his final year at Boston College behind possibly not knowing how the upcoming season would turn out during a raging pandemic, as he signed soon after 2019/2020 was aborted.

The 6′ 207 lbs. forward came to life scoring in his final year at college with 11 goals and 13 assists in 34 NCAA games with a +14 rating.

He continued on that path his first year in Liiga grabbing 13 tallies and 9 helpers.

It’s not certain what his future will be with Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him in the 6th round of 2016 (#153 overall) and still retains his contract rights.

The 22-year old is back home in Finland and maybe not looking back, which is too bad because he was always a good player to watch in Hockey East.

He spends his 1st 4 pro years with the same team, scoring decently, but maybe it’s time for a rival switch, so he signs with Tappara for 2024/2025.

21May

Luke Tuch (17)

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Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Luke Tuch(17) put up a college best 10 goals and 20 assists in 39 games this past season and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with draft team Montreal Canadiens (2nd round, 2020, #47 overall) and played a couple AHL games with affiliate Laval Rocket to get his feet wet.

The 6’2″ 203 lbs. forward scored a college high 10 goals, 20 assists for 30 points with a +17 rating through 39 games.

From Syracuse, NY, the 22-year old did 2 years at USNTDP, impressing in his 2nd session to get selected before college.

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

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)

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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.