Los Angeles Kings‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#188 overall), Swedish-born, left wing Andre Lee(47) signed a 2-year NHL entry level deal after finishing up 3 years at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks with new college bests 16 goals and 28 points, then signs an ato with affiliate Ontario Reign to start his pro career.
The 6’4″ 204 lbs. forward played most of his youth hockey and the beginning of juniors back home with Farjestad BK, but did come over for a USHL season with Sioux Falls Stampede, scoring 20 goals and 15 assists, then winning the 2019 Clark Cup Championship.
In 10 AHL games, he has a pair of assists.
The 21-year old should impress in 2022 training camp.
Playing a solid game in the minors, he erupts for 4 goals in 8 playoff games last season to earn a spot on the opening night NHL roster, 2024 and plays 9 shifts for a conservative 5:54 of ice time with 2 shots on net in a 3-1 win.
Boston College Eagles‘ center Will Smith(6) is taking zero time to adjust to college play after 2 seasons of USNTDP.
In 6 games, he has 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating to go along with those 51 goals and 76 assists he had last year and 42 points (15-27) in 20 USHL games.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward was a San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round pick in the 2023 draft (#4 overall), so the 18-year old from Lexington, MA has lots to look forward to.
After just 1 season of lighting up the college ranks to the tune of 25 goals and 46 assists with a +25 rating through 41 games and the waiting is over, as the 19-year old signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal, starting 2024/2025.
He debuts with his new NHL team right away, playing 16 shifts for 13:41 ice, 2 shots on net and like his former Hockey East friend needs improving in the face-off dot.
Boston University Terriers‘ freshman left wing Macklin Celebrini(71) is considered to be a potential #1 NHL draft pick for the 2024.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward is from Vancouver, BC.
He completely blew up scoring for Chicago Steel last season with 46 goals and 40 assists in 50 USHL games with a +27 rating.
At just turning 17-years old over the summer, he has entered his freshman year of college early and already has 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 games with a +2 rating.
San Jose Sharks draw the 1st choice and he is adopted.
He scored 32 goals and 32 assists in 38 games last season with a +25 rating, so we have to wonder how long he will stick around.
Coming fresh off his 1st development camp, he signs a 3-year entry level deal to become a full-time Sharks in 2024/2025.
In his debut, he nets a 1st NHL goal in his 1st 7 minutes of ice time and also lands an assist in 22 shifts for 17:35, 2 giveaways, 1 takeaway and needs to be better on the face-off dot in a 5-4 overtime loss.
2nd year USNTDP center captain Rutger McGroarty(2) is readying himself with some solid stats to commit to University Of Michigan Wolverines for 2022/2023.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. power forward has put-up point-per-game numbers this season.
It’s an easy call to say this 17-year old is going to be selected high in the draft with no reservations.
He was selected at #14 in 2022 by Winnipeg Jets, but as he started gaining ground at college, last season posting 36 assists in 36 games, he was indicting he would never sign with his draft club.
His wish is granted as Pittsburgh Penguins step in to offer the yet unsigned protege a new avenue and sign him to a 3-year entry level deal, leaving 2 years of school on the table.
He debuts on opening night, skating 16 shifts for 10:12 of ice with 1 shot and 2 hits and his NHL feet are wet in a 6-3 victory.
14th year left wing, Justin Vaive(46) signs with Cincinnati Cyclones for a 9th ECHL season, 2024/2025.
He’s served as team captain 3 times.
The big 6’6″ 238 lbs. forward was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#92 overall), but never signed.
He did however sign an NHL contract a few years later with New York Islanders, which had him spend his entire time with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
From Buffalo, NY and son of former NHLer Rick Vaive, the 35-year old, who did 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks may not score like he once did, but he will certainly bring himself back up to a + player.
Edmonton Oilers‘ 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#100 overall), University Of Denver Pioneers‘ sophomore left wing Carter Savoie(48) is this close to knocking off first year totals in fewer games.
He already has a college best 12 assists and 22 points, with goal-scoring just one off his total from 2020/2021.
The small 5’9″ but stocky 190 lbs. forward has always been a heck of a point-producer through youth hockey, then blew up juniors with Sherwood Park Crusaders, notching a crazy 172 points (84 goals, 88 assists) in 112 AJHL games.
At just 19-years old, we’ll see what the parent club says about having him turn pro before his four years are up.
And just like that, as he finishes up a 2022 NCAA Division 1 Champion, he signs an at0 with affiliate Bakersfield Condors, which just may be the dawn of him officially signing an NHL entry level deal, turning pro.
After 2 years in the AHL, he gets a nice deal to leave and joins TPS of Liiga.
In 5 games in Finland’s top league, he records only 1 assist and decides to leave and return on a 1-year deal with Ontario Reign for 2024/2025.
Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft, goaltender Jeremy Swayman(1) signed a three-year entry deal just as COVID was shutting down the world and left three seasons at University Of Maine behind for a chance to play pro.
It almost seemed when the 22-year old signed that he would be assuming starting duties with affiliate Providence Bruins, when 2021 finally gotten moving, and there he was on opening night, in net.
The big 6’3 201 lbs. Hobey Baker Award finalist last season for his outstanding 18-5 mark won his debut 4-1 leaving with a 1.00 GAA and .963 SV% and has gone 7-1 in 8 starts with a 1.88 GAA and .932 SV%.
He only lost his first game recently.
This is easily only the beginning for the Anchorage, AK native, who has consistently put up jaw dropping stats.
A restricted free agent, heading into his 4th season with the team and his contract time is up, so elects to go to arbitration for a 1-year deal 2023/2024 for 3.475M AAV, which is a nice pay bump for the Bruins‘ net minder, who owns a 2.24 GAA and .920 SV% in 88 appearances.
After a bit of a holdout, which could cost him the season opener for 2024/2025, he signs a new 8-year, $8.25M AAV NHL deal to stay where he’s at.
Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2019 draft (#188 overall), Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ senior center Skyler Brind’Amour(22) has a new college career best 12 goals and 24 points, but still needs 5 more helpers to equal the 17 assists he got as a junior.
The 6’2″ 174 lbs. forward played 2 seasons with Chilliwack Chiefs after dipping his toe in with the USNTDP program, running up 44 points (13 goals, 31 assists) in 52 BCHL games in his 2nd frame with the team.
A 23-year old, born in Raleigh, NC, when his dad Rod Brind’Amour(17) was playing for Carolina Hurricanes should produce well once he turns pro, as he’s pretty big and uses that to gain space out there.
He has a season they like in the AHL, a good preseason invite to training camp and looks as though he joins his dad under a 2-way NHL contract from the club he coaches for 2024/2025.
8th year center Michael Mersch(28) accepts a two-year AHL contract from Rochester Americans to stay with the club he skated for last season.
The 6’2″ 215 lbs. power forward has almost oddly only played 17 NHL games with draft club Los Angeles Kings (4th round 2010, #111 overall), scoring a goal and 2 assists with a +1 rating.
As a rookie, he was a huge part of then affiliate Manchester Monarchs almost fantasy-like run that ended capturing the 2015 Calder Cup trophy and him getting the nod for most playoff points (22).
The former 4-year University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ had three 30 point campaigns in college and currently holds 4-40+ marks as a pro.
His only other big league contract was with Dallas Stars, leaving initial team as a UFA to sign the 2-year, one-way deal.
It would be easy to see the 28-year old leave North American hockey for his next venture before he decides to retire.
Even before the 2nd year of his contract has started, he gets himself extended for yet another year through 2023/2024 to not go anywhere and stay on as captain for the Amerks.
Not quite sure why he never got more than a handful of games in the highest league of hockey, but 597 games in the lower league later, at 31-years old he’s hanging up those skates and has yet to name where he lands next to offer someone a great experience.
Worcester Railers‘ rookie defenseman Christian Krygier(8) gets on the scoreboard in his opening ECHL game after scoring 4 total goals in 5 years of Michigan State University Spartans and only 2 in a pair of USHL seasons with Lincoln Stars.
He also added a 1st assist.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner is a New York Islanders‘ 7th round pick in the 2018 draft (#196 overall) and signed a minor league deal for 2023/2024.
After finishing up school, he reported to affiliate Bridgeport Islanders for 2 AHL games, no points.
From Orlando, FL, the 23-year old will likely see his number loaned up to the higher league.
He would play the entire frame with the affiliate, scoring 2 goals and 9 assists in 31 games with a +3 rating on a non-playoff team and is wanted to return for another season to hopefully play more as a mini Islanders.
