Category: NHL Draft Pick

7th year center Matthew Peca(63) signs a new 1-year, 2-way deal with St. Louis Blues for 2021/2022 after coming off one season for Ottawa Senators, which saw him play in 5 games with one assist.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#201 overall), the twice 10+ goals and 2-time 20+ assist Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ player has skated 78 NHL games.

The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward is likely to start with new affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, but could easily score some more looks in the show for the 28-year old.

After putting up some decent stats for the farm club, the Petawawa, ON native scores a recall to his new team and has an additional assist (6-15) in now 81 games.

Coming off his former deal, which saw him re-sign for 2-years, but receive no further looks despite posting some continued impressive AHL numbers.

For his next step he signs a 2-year minor league deal to stay in western Massachusetts.

The 3-year captain of his current club gets himself a trade for a new beginning to Syracuse Crunch at the deadline.

Montreal Canadiens‘ 1st round pick in the 2017 draft (#25 overall), 3rd year center Ryan Poehling(25) re-ups for another 2 years with the 2nd year being on one-way terms.

The 6’2″ 204 lbs. power forward played a first big league game after agreeing to his 2-year entry level deal following a third year at State Cloud State University Huskies.

In that game he pulled off the rare feat of scoring an NHL hat trick in his debut.

Not bad for 11:22 of playing time.

He was very close to being a point-per-game guy last season with affiliate Laval Rocket (11-14-25) with a +5  in 28 AHL games.

The Lakeville, MN native was on a fast track through high school, then signing for his only time in junior hockey, 9 USHL games with Lincoln Stars (2 goals, 2 assists) before heading straight to school for a freshman campaign.

It seems if the 22-year old is given his shot to prove he can play, he could very well become a 20-goal scorer before too long.

He was traded during the offseason before the start of this 3rd year to Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played 53 games, registering 7 goals and 7 assists, but was left unqualified from his contract with the former club, so became an unrestricted free agent.

For 2023/2024, he signs a 1-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers for $1.4M AAV.

He has his best scoring season with 12 goals and 19 assists and is still under contract, but gets dished to Anaheim Ducks in a huge deal that should see him continue to put up career numbers with his new club, but he will need a contract.

In 56 games, he scores 7 goals and 18 assists with a +7 rating and they are liking what they see to sign him up to a 4-year extension through 2029/2030 to stay a Ducks.

8th year left wing Warren Foegele(37) takes a career year scoring 20 goals and 21 assists in a full slate of 82 games with a +3 rating for 3rd year team, Edmonton Oilers to a brand new 3-year contract, worth $3.5AAV with Los Angeles Kings.

For 6 NHL seasons, he always had 10+ goals and 5 times the same marker for assists.

From Markham, ON, he did 2 years at St. Andrew’s College Saints before heading off to University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.

He would split after a full season and 5 games to play OHL, where Carolina Hurricanes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2014 draft (#67 overall) would light up the scoresheet.

The 28-year old has arrived for himself at the right time.

He seems to be under-performing in his 2nd frame with the team, scoring 7 goals and 2 assists in 47 games is way off the mark, so he gets dealt with his contract to Ottawa Senators, who hope to revive what couldn’t be found in CA.

University Of Denver Pioneers‘ junior right wing Bobby Brink(10) already has a new best 15 assists and his 6 goals and 21 points are both en route to high marks set as a freshman and sophomore.

The small-ish, but quick and sturdy 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward is a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2019 draft (#34 overall) and could be playing himself into an entry level deal.

It will be interesting to see what the parent club wants to do with the 20-year old, Minnetonka, MN native.

Not surprising, the 2022 NCAA Division 1 hockey champ and leading scorer agrees to a 3-year NHL entry level deal to start this season, which will keep him a restricted free agent for plenty enough time.

After 55 games for a new best goal scoring of 13, he is moved to Minnesota Wild in exchange for a defenseman.

Providence College Friars‘ Czechia-born, sophomore defenseman Tomas Machu(2) is a New York Islanders‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 NHL draft (#221 overall).

The big 6’4″ 194 lbs. blue liner plays a very big, tough checking game.

He basically did 3 years of USHL with Youngstown Phantoms after playing all his youth hockey back home.

The 23-year looks to be fitting in perfectly and we will see, when he signs an entry level deal.

UMASS Minutemen sophomore center Kenny Connors(17) is flirting with marks that will best his freshman numbers, 9 goals and 17 assists with 5 goals and 8 assists in 21 games.

He had an outstanding 2nd USHL session with Dubuque Fighting Saints.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward is a Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#103 overall).

From Glen Mills, PA, the 20-year old should continue at college unless he can further breakout as a junior.

He does, scoring 10 goals and 19 assists in 40 games with a +4 rating and will leave a year at school on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal.

Through 49 AHL games for affiliate Ontario Reign he is scoring, 9 goals and 20 assists with a +13 rating to earn his NHL debut.

He skated 15 shifts for 10:14 of ice time with 4 shots, 1 breakup, 1 giveaway and 1 hit in a 4-2 loss.

After spending the last 6 of his 7 NHL days in an Anaheim Ducks‘ uniform, 13th year right wing Derek Grant(27) will take his game overseas for a 1st time, signing a 1-year deal with ZSC Lions of NL, which should be a lot of fun for the 33-year old.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward tower has 3 times had 10+ goals and twice 10+ assists in a frame.

From Abbotsford, BC, he played 2 BCHL seasons before committing to Michigan State University Spartans, where he stayed for 2 years before turning pro.

Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in 2008 (#119 overall), he spent the 1st 4 years of his career in their system.

He takes 427 games in the big league and 320 in the AHL over to his new venture, which should keep him smiling out there.

The 35-year old is scoring very well and signs on for a 4th season to continue a Lions for 2026/2027.

Boston College Eagles‘ senior center Colby Ambrosio(77) will do a year of eligibility at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks 2024/2025 graduate season.

The Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#118 overall) didn’t score quite as much as he is used to, playing a college best 40 games, but likely accepted a different, more checking oriented role on a very strong team.

From Welland, ON, the 24-year old did 2 USHL frames with Tri-City Storm before heading to school.

He finishes up his extra year tying the 13 assists he had as a sophomore to sign a 1st pro deal with Toledo Walleye that begins even before his college life concludes.

In his ECHL, he records a multi-point game with a 1st goal and an assist and has 3 tallies and 2 helpers with a +2 in 7 games so far for a more than solid start.

Through his early time as a pro, he skates 12 games, claiming 3 goals and 5 assists, then added another 11 points in 18 playoff games to easily earn himself a deal for his rookie season to be a Walleye, 2025/2026.

After scoring 11 goals and 6 assists in 45 games, he is dished to Jacksonville Icemen, who apparently need him to score for them more.

9th year defenseman Kevin Gravel(5) has got to be feeling the same way he did when he was a rookie with Manchester Monarchs making an unlikely AHL run to capture the 2015 Calder Cup trophy.

The now 31-year old is locked in with his team, Milwaukee Admirals in a Western Conference battle to head to the Finals.

He has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games with a +4 rating.

The 6’4″ 203 lbs. blue liner is signed on a 2-year 2-way deal to Nashville Predators and skated 23 games with them this past season.

He has played 132 NHL games and 332 in the lower league.

Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in 2010 (#148 overall), he initially was on a minor league contract, when helping his team to the title, but quickly upped on a 2-year entry level deal heading into the next frame.

The St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ 4-year d-man exploded in his senior year with 10 goals, seemingly out of nowhere.

He’s got another year left on his current deal, so he should settle in nicely.

Playing super well as team captain for the affiliate, Admirals with great plus numbers, despite maybe not scoring huge points earns him 2 more seasons at nice little pay bump to stay.

He is definitely well-liked and asked to stay for another 2 years to remain an Admirals.

UMASS Minutemen Czechia-born, freshman right wing Vaclav Nestrasil(11) is almost little doubt a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 1st round pick in the 2025 draft (#25 overall) with his 11 goals, 13 assists in 28 games and a +1 rating.

The big 6’6″ 190 lbs. forward has 19 goals and 23 assists in 61 USHL games, his only complete year of junior hockey before heading to school.

He did all his youth hockey back home and the 18-year old is not likely to stay with school.