They are dropping like flies from the college ranks to sign pro deals, and center Dylan Holloway(36), Edmonton Oilers‘ 1st round pick in 2020 (#14 overall) inks his 3-year contract to join the team immediately.
He could show up in the main camp on the taxi squad, especially considering the University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ sophomore year he’s coming off, scoring all new bests 11 goals, 24 assists and 35 points in 23 NCAA games.
He may be better off reassigned to affiliate Bakersfield Condors, where at the very least he’ll be involved.
At 6’1″ 203 lbs. he’s a bit of a towering presence, who’s always managed to affect the scoresheet through a pair of campaigns with Okotoks Oilers of the AJHL for the Calgary native.
It’s going to be exciting watching this still super young 19-year old get started.
He gets a 1st NHL appearance in a deciding playoff game and despite on being on ice for 7 shifts, 3:27, he did dish out a hit and left the loss with a +1 rating.
No doubt, he’s a player that will get more looks.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ junior goaltender Matthew Thiessen(35) decides to enter the transfer portal and pursue his senior year at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.
The fairly big 6’2″ 214 lbs. net minder struggled on a not so great Hockey East team for the past three years, so for the Vancouver Canucks‘ 7th round pick in the 2018 draft (#172 overall).
He was selected after a stellar season with Steinbach Pistons, where he won the 2018 MJHL Championship and had a best GAA (2.06) with a 28-3-2 record.
The Steinbach, MB native should be able to vastly improve his numbers on a much better club.
After 17 seasons with the last three played in the top German league, DEL, Chris Bourque(17) announces that it’s time to hang up the skates.
He’s a veteran of 794 AHL games, scoring a quite impressive 251 goals and 495 assists with a +63 rating, 51 NHL games, 3 Hershey Bears’ Calder Cup Championships, 6 All-Star game appearances, twice most points, once most assists, one regular season MVP and once Playoff MVP.
The 5’8″ 176 lbs. forward worked for everything he ever got.
At 36-years old, we’re sure the former 1-year Boston University Terriers‘ d-man will find something good to do.
New York Rangers‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#9 overall), center Chris Kreider(20) scores 50 goals for the 1st time in his 10 year pro career.
He has scored 20+ goals 6 times.
The former Boston College Eagles‘ forward put up 23 goals and 22 assists in 44 games before deciding to leave a year of school on the table.
He signed a 7-year deal last season keeping him in NYC through 2026/2027.
Not bad deal for the team or 30-year old from Boxford, MA.
9th year defenseman Mark Alt(3) gets traded in a minor league deal, going from San Jose Barracuda to Rochester Americans.
The big 6’4″ 201 lbs. blue liner has played 456 AHL games.
Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#53 overall) traded to Philadelphia Flyers, as he was a junior at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
He quickly signed a 3-year entry level deal.
The Kansas City, MO native has played under NHL contract for 5 different team, but only appeared in 20 games.
He’s definitely more of a stay-at-home d-man, but has struck for 20 assists once and 10+ 3 times.
It would definitely almost be a no-brainer for the 30-year old to look overseas for some different kind of fun and a next good contract to play under.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior left wing, Russian-born Vladislav Firstov(8) will leave a year of school on the table, as the Minnesota Wild 2nd round pick in the 2019 draft (#42 overall) is going to sign a 3-year entry level deal and get things started with affiliate Iowa Wild.
He put up almost identical numbers this past season as he did in his freshman year and was a point-per-game guy in a limited schedule as a sophomore.
The 6’1 181 lbs. forward had a similar run in one year of USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks.
His college team was able to make a deep run in Hockey East playoffs for a 1st time ever, and at only 20-years old he will likely be banging on the door for his shot at the NHL.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2019 draft, Boston University Terriers‘ junior defenseman Alex Vlasic(43) signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal and foregoes his final year at college.
The very big 6’6″ 211 lbs. blue liner could potentially join them immediately.
He had a college career best 7 assists and tying 8 points in 2021/2022.
The sort of close to home Wilmette, IL native spent two years in the USNTDP program and twice had 20+ helpers.
At just 20-years old, he still could be ready to start shining in the show.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#99 overall) defenseman Jacob Bryson(18) is making himself at home in his career high 48th NHL game, scoring an exact from his rookie campaign, one goal and 8 assists.
The small 5’9″ 179 lbs. blue liner is set to become a restricted free agent and should likely settle on a multi-year deal to stay.
He put up solid numbers as a rookie with affiliate Rochester Americans, scoring 4 goals and 23 assists in 61 AHL games with a +8 rating.
The former 3-year Providence College Friars was twice a 20+ assist guy.
From London, ON, he is listed as having done one year in the USHS-Prep before heading to a season of USHL.
There’s little doubt the 24-year old has a lot to smile about.
12th year defenseman Cody Goloubef(29) decides for the 1st time in his pro career life to reach out across the seas for some new kind of hockey, signing for the remainder of 2021/2022 with SC Bern.
He only ever played one full season, 2015-2016, the 6th and final season with draft club (round 2, 2008, #37 overall) Columbus Blue Jackets, when he skated 43 NHL games, scoring a goal and best 7 assists and 8 points.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner has spent 3 full campaigns in the AHL, including most recently signed to Belleville Senators.
He is credited for appearing in 353 games with 39 goals and 90 assists with a +7 rating and a very decent 160 in the big league, scoring 3 goals and 22 assists with a -7.
The 32-year old, former 3-year University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ d-man has basically worked pretty hard at his craft to earn what he’s earned, should do well and have fun playing in the NL, Switzerland’s top hockey.
10th year left wing Mike Hoeffel(11) decided to sit out last season, but returns for his 5th year in DEL, signing with his 3rd club, Krefeld Pinguine for the remainder of 2021/2022.
He originally came over and signed a deal with DEL2 club, Eispiraten Crimmitschau after a successful stint in Fjordkraftligaen for Stavenger Oilers, where the won the 2016 Norway Championship.
An undrafted free agent after completing four years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, scoring quite well, he signed a 2-year entry level deal with New Jersey Devils, but skated only with their AHL affiliate Albany Devils.
The 32-year old probably is just happy folks want to pay him to lace up the skates.
