Category: NHL Draft Pick

16Jul

Aidan McDonough (25)

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#195 overall), senior left wing Aidan McDonough(25) signs his 2-year entry level deal after finishing up 4 years at Northeastern University Huskies, including his last as team captain, scoring 1 point off his junior career high with a college best 18 assists, 39 points (25 goals, 14 assists).

He could join the parent club immediately.

The 6’3″ 190 lbs. is big on his skates and plays an effective power forward style.

In the only year of USHL junior hockey he skated, he scored 21 goals and 21 assists for Cedar Rapids Roughriders.

The 23-year old from Milton, MA has a bright future ahead of him and we bet he’ll be playing for it.

He does join the big league immediately with 6 games and gets a 1st NHL goal, but is reassigned for his entire rookie frame to affiliate Abbotsford Canucks, scoring 11 goals and 8 assists with a +2 rating.

Almost oddly maybe, he isn’t given a qualifying offer and signs an AHL deal for 2024/2025 with Charlotte Checkers that should heed great results.

He is a point-per-game player with his new club, but is a free agent and signs for 1-year with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where we think he will play under the parent’s club radar.

In 65 games, he scores 23 goals and 21 assists with a +18 rating, then adds another 8 points in the playoffs.

Buffalo Sabres are paying attention and sign him to a 1-year 2-way contract for 2026/2027 that we think could score a recall.

15Jul

T.J. Tynan (9)

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8th year center T.J. Tynan(9) for the 2nd straight AHL season is the league’s MVP.

He has played 498 games, scoring 85 goals and a massive 361 assists with a +77 rating.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#66 overall), he has only skated 21 NHL games, recording 1 assist.

He was selected after an explosive freshman campaign at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and at the conclusion of his sophomore session.

The 30-year old needs a new contract to extend with Los Angeles Kings, as he is an unrestricted free agent or try his hand with another club.

He always rolls huge assists and 3 years did for Ontario Reign, but re-signs to head back to Colorado Avalanche, where he played 16 games, but will likely end up with another season in a Colorado Eagles‘ jersey.

In 52 games, he scores 8 goals and 41 assists with a +12 rating and also appears in 9 games with the big club, recording 1 assist.

For 2025/2026, he signs a 1-year, 1-way deal to stay an Avalanche.

In 67 games, he amasses 47 assists and the unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with Springfield Thunderbirds, returning to the city he got his pro career start in back 2014 for 2026/2027.

15Jul

Bryce Misley (18)

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Minnesota Wild 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#116 overall) center Bryce Misley(18) must have jumped at the opportunity to sign his first deal, an ato with affiliate Iowa Wild to show a little of what he’s able to produce after coming off a piss poor COVID busted 2020/2021 University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ NCAA Hockey East schedule of only 14 games.

In 9 AHL games, the 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward has a goal and 2 assists with a multipoint spread.

While not scoring big numbers through 4 years of college, the Calgary, AB native did hit the score sheet hard as a point-per-game producer through 2 seasons of junior hockey with Oakville Blades of the OJHL (45-56 in 99).

The 21-year old has yet to sign his entry level deal and ends up inking a 1-year minor league deal to stay in the system.

He is reassigned down to affiliate Iowa Heartlanders, scoring 11 goals and 19 assists, but unfortunately was a bit of an abysmal -29 rating on a team that struggled.

For 2022/2023, he has decided to split the scene and sign with Asiago of IceHL and should find his scoring elevates nicely.

He posts 9 goals and 30 assists in 49 games to earn himself another 2-year deal to continue.

In his time, he does pretty well on the scoresheet, but definitely could up his on-ice accountability, but will head next to skate for the “hometown” Italian team in the league, HC Bozen-Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

He gets 9 goals in 48 games and is asked to return a 2nd year with the Foxes, 2026/2027.

15Jul

Will Borgen (17)

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9th year defenseman Will Borgen(17) gets traded to a system, where he could easily see himself on the increase side of scoring, as a Boston Bruins.

The 6’3″ 206 lbs. blue liner had 5 goals and 10 assists in 75 games last year with a +3 rating.

Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2015 draft (#92 overall), he left 3 years at St. Cloud State University Huskies to turn pro.

He next signed with Seattle Kracken, where he stayed for 4 seasons.

From Moorhead, MN, the 29-year may just be arriving.

 

14Jul

Shane Gersich (29)

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Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Shane Gersich(29) grabs another one-year, two-way deal to stick around in the prospect system.

The University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ 3-year forward has consistently put up respectable numbers for affiliate Hershey Bears.

He started his pro career with 3 NHL games fresh off his junior year at school, grabbed an assist and even skated a pair of playoff appearances en route to the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship.

The 24-year old has to be fairly happy with the way things are turning out for this 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#134 overall).

For 2022/2023, he re-signs on a minor league deal to stay where he is after recording a career high 14 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating.

After a 5th season where he’s been and a brand new 2023 Calder Cup Trophy to bear, he decides to look on and signs a 1-year deal with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should do very well.

We pretty much thought what has occurred would, he takes a good frame in Sweden’s tier 2 league, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games to a higher level of hockey next, signing with Iserlohn Roosters of DEL for 2024/2025.

He does ok with 16 goals and 21 assists in 51 games, but decides to look for another opportunity and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

After putting up some pretty amazing scoring numbers, he decides to sign with rivals, Vienna Capitals for 2026/2027.

14Jul

Blake Coleman (20)

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Blake-Coleman2

New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#75 overall) center Blake Coleman(20) suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of all but 14 AHL games of his rookie campaign with affiliate Albany Devils (4 goals, 3 assists).

The 5’11” 200 lbs. pivot didn’t let that sidetrack him too much as he had a strong training camp, was one of the last cuts to be reassigned, then got right to work.

In 34 games he is tied for team lead with 13 goals and 10 assists with a best +15 rating.

He’s always been pretty good connecting the puck with the net, basically winning every scoring award category including USA Hockey Junior Player Of The Year in his 2nd season for Indiana Ice of the USHL.

Through four years of college at Miami University (Ohio) he was a point per game guy as a senior and missed a second 20 goal showing by one, while helping his squad win the 2015 NCAA/NCHC Championship.

The 25-year old skated a decent amount of shifts for at least 11+ minutes of ice time in his first two NHL appearances.

There’s little doubt he has the tenacity to become a full-time player in the show but will have to continue to work hard for his opportunities.

He has certainly earned his time as an upper league player, amassing some 693 games at this point, winning 2020 & 2021 Stanley Cup trophies with Tampa Bay Lightning and scored a career high 30 goals with Calgary Flames just a few years ago.

Well, in the off season he is dealt in the final year of his contract to Minnesota Wild for a new start.

14Jul

Matt Stienburg (36)

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Cornell University Big Red junior, center Matt Stienburg(36) is a Colorado Avalanche 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft (#63 overall) and looks to be ready for another breakout session.

In 3 games, he’s got a pair of goals and looks to score many many more in 2021/2022.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. native of Halifax, NS originally accepted his college in his first season, then was NHL selected in the follow-up frame, where he was almost a point and a half player and served as team captain, while also heading to 3 USHL games with Sioux City Musketeers of a junior hockey career during break.

At 21-years old and one year away from finishing through some tough college hockey times without a 2020/2021 frame, he probably should just continue before signing an entry level deal, but he’s easily the style of power forward the parent club wants.

Smitten by the injury bug, his senior year as assistant captain was limited to 18 appearances with 2 goals and 5 assists.

He plows through though and signs an ato to join Colorado Eagles to hopefully get back to pushing his game forward.

In his 4th AHL game, he records a 1st point, a nice assist for himself.

He appears in 4 more playoff games and gets another helper point for himself.

It looks as though he has made a decent enough impression to score a contract for 2023/2024.

Through 54 games last season, he scores 5 goals and 8 assists with a +2 rating and in the opening 2 games of the 2024/2025 season, he grabs 1 goal and 1 assist with a +2 to earn a 1st NHL recall.

In his debut he skates 9 shifts for 4:36 of ice time, including 3 hits and 1 fight with a -1 rating in a 5-3 loss, then follows it up with 8 shifts for 5:16 ice and 2 shots on net in an overtime win.

He has been absolutely hampered by the injury bug for the past 2 seasons, playing barely 10 games, but Vancouver Canucks have him back to better health and sign him for 2026/2027.

13Jul

Angus Crookshank (9)

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Ottawa Senators step in to sign 5th round pick in the 2018 draft (#126 overall) left wing Angus Crookshank(9) to a three-year entry deal, leaving one year of school at University Of New Hampshire on the table, after scoring 9 goals and 9 assists in 20 games in a completely broken NCAA season.

The 21-year old from North Vancouver, BC has always been a fairly consistent scorer netting more than a point per game in his 2nd year with Langley Rivermen of the BCHL before committing to college and getting on the radar fully to be selected.

He has finally arrived to make his debut with affiliate Belleville Senators and notched an assist in his debut, a resounding 7-2 win.

With the season continuing and the parent club being out of the playoff hunt, he could garner a look.

He is running totals with their affiliate Belleville Senators and has 10 goals and 11 assists in 24 games this season to earn a 1st NHL recall.

In his debut, he skates 16 shifts for 10:11 ice time with 3 hits in a 6-3 loss to one of the best teams in the league.

He is basically a point-per-game player for the affiliate and gets 2 goals and 1 assist in 13 games in the big league to earn himself a 1-year extension.

Amassing 8 games in the big league, he notches an assist, but in the minors he pops for another 20+ goal campaign.

An unrestricted free agent for a 1st time, he signs a 2-year deal with New Jersey Devils, that may have him see some playing time with Utica Comets, but definitely offers him a window to earn his way up.

He scores 24 goals and 12 assists in 60 AHL games and gets 8 up in the big league, where he gets a 1st NHL goal.

For 2026/2027, he gets traded to Florida Panthers.

13Jul

Jack Drury (72)

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ rookie center Jack Drury(72) scores a first recall for his debut and pots a first NHL goal in the process to help the win.

Who had those odds?

The 5’11” 174 lbs. forward skated 23 shifts for 16:05 of ice time with 4 shots, 2 hits, 2 blocks and 2 penalty minutes, leaving the contest with +1 rating.

He’ll easily always where his former school, Harvard University Crimson on his sleeve.

As a rookie, playing in the AHL for affiliate Chicago Wolves, he wins himself a 2022 Calder Cup Championship with very good numbers.

He would split duties for just 1 more frame before becoming full-time in the show, where 8 goals and 19 assists in 74 games with a +4 rating, then adding another 5 points in 11 playoff matchups with a +7.

The restricted free agent picks himself up a nice 2-year deal to stay in a Hurricanes‘ sweater, moving forward through at least 2025/2026.

In an epic deal, he is traded to Colorado Avalanche, where in his debut, he scores a 1st goal with the team.

He comes away with a decent amount of points for his new club, but once again, he’s on the trade block headed to Nashville Predators and gets a 5-year $22.5M deal.

13Jul

Brandon Svoboda (8)

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Boston University Terriers‘ sophomore right wing Brandon Svoboda(8) had the game-winner in the 4-3 final game at Northeastern University Huskies‘ 115-year home rink, Matthews Arena over December 13 weekend.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward has tied his 9 point mark from his freshman frame with a new best 5 assists in 18 games with a +9 rating.

From Level Green, PA, the 20-year old won back-to-back USHL Clark Cup Championships in both his years of junior hockey after youth hockey in the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ system.

He is a San Jose Sharks‘ 3rd round NHL draft pick in 2023 (#71 overall).

We don’t think anything will happen with his current player status, but he was involved in a fairly big trade that sends his signing rights to Ottawa Senators.