Category: NHL Draft Pick

11Dec

Trevor Kuntar (15)

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Boston Bruins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#89 overall), Boston College Eagles‘ junior center Trevor Kuntar(15) will leave a year of college on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal.

The 6′ 196 lbs. forward recorded a college career best 13 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +5 rating as a junior.

He was a more than a point-per-game player in his 2nd season with Youngstown Phantoms, getting 53 points in 44 USHL games.

The 21-year old may report to and help affiliate Providence Bruins go for a Calder Cup, but will most definitely compete in camp 2023 for a roster spot.

He goes into restricted free agency unqualified, so able to look for a contract as an unrestricted free agent and signs a 1-year AHL deal with Rochester Americans for 2025/2026.

In 24 games this season, he has a team high 9 goals and 13 points, so gets offered a 1-year contract with parent club, Buffalo Sabres worth $775K AAV.

We expect an NHL recall soon.

10Dec

Robbie Stucker (4)

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#210 overall), University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ graduate defenseman Robbie Stucker(4) transferred in from 3 years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers and has adjusted to Hockey East play nicely.

He had a college career best 4 goals and 10 assists last season in 34 games and this season is on his way again, getting 3 goals and 7 assists in 24 contests.

The 6’3″ 179 lbs. blue liner played only 1 season of juniors, but ended up claiming the 2018 USHL Championship with Fargo Force, scoring 2 goals and 8 assists in 14 playoff games to help the team get there.

From St. Paul, MN, the 24-year old will be an interesting watch to get his NHL entry level deal, but thinks he plays hard and should get a look.

Upon getting knocked from Hockey East tournament play, he signs a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays to get things started.

After 10 games, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists with a +9 rating, he is going to branch out and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with somewhat rivals Iowa Heartlanders for 2023/2024.

Utah Grizzlies make a trade to grab the big d-man in hopes he helps their blue line for a playoff push.

He goes from split time last session to signing for 2024/2025 with Orlando Solar Bears, which should be a really good stop for him.

Before he’s barely even started with his new team, Reading Royals are looking to bolster their blue line and offer up future considerations to score him.

With 1 goal and a new high 16 assists, he signs to stay a Royals for 2025/2026.

After 1 goal and 4 assists in 17 game with a +2 rating, he heads back to Utah Grizzlies.

10Dec

Chris Brown (11)

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11th year center Chris Brown(11) takes 4 seasons with Nurnberg Tigers and trades it in to return to Iserlohn Roosters, the team he started with overseas, for 2022/2023.

The 6’3″ 214 lbs. forward was originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#36 overall) and was in their system for only about a year and a half before being traded to Washington Capitals. , where he arguably had his best success, but still only played 23 NHL games with 2 goals, 1 assist and a +1 rating.

He’s a 3-time 10+ goal scorer and 20+ assist guy in DEL.

The 31-year old former 3-year University Of Michigan Wolverines from Flower Mound, TX keeps on ticking very nicely.

For 2023/2024, he will start a new adventure at now 32-years old and head to Slovak Extraliga to suit up for HC Slovan Bratislava.

He scores kind of big in Austria with 14 goals in 24 games and decides to head back to Germany and signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings.

After 7 seasons in the same league, he looks to switch things up a bit and signs with Fehervar AV19 of IceHL and comes away with 21 goals and 12 assists in 48 games.

For 2025/2026, he late was going to retire, but decides to come play hockey a little closer to home and agrees to terms with Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL.

08Dec

Zane McIntyre (30)

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9th year net minder Zane McIntyre(30) signs for a 3rd straight season 2023/2024 in Minnesota Wild system after 34 AHL games with a 16-12-5 record, 2.87 GAA and .899 SV% last season.

He was in the cage for 37 the year before that with even better numbers.

Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#165 overall), he left a year at University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks on the table before turning pro.

Although he hasn’t played an NHL game since his 2nd season, he’s always been under a contract to a big league club.

At 30-years old from Grand Forks, ND, he has to be smiling how things have worked out.

Dispatched almost exclusively to affiliate Iowa Wild, he struggles on a not so good team.

He is going to head back overseas, but looks for far more success, signing a 1-year deal with Straubing Tigers of DEL for 2024/2025.

In 28 games, he posts a good record, but decides at 33-years old to head closer to home for his next hockey and signs a 1st ECHL contract with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.

He gets into 5 starts, but ultimately decides and maybe gets wooed back overseas to join Stavanger Oilers of the Eliteserien league.

02Dec

Mike Matheson (8)

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8th year defenseman Mike Matheson(8) just got rolling with new team, Montreal Canadiens after missing the early part of 2022/2023 with an abdominal muscle strain and scored a goal in his debut.

The 6’2″ 193 lbs. blue liner was traded from 2-year club, Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored a career NHL best 11 goals and 20 assists with a +12 rating in 74 games, then added another 6 points (1-5) in 7 playoff matchups.

He has played a bit of an eye popping 420 games in the big league.

Originally a 1st round pick in the 2012 draft by Florida Panthers (#23 overall), he played 3 years at Boston College Eagles and left after scoring a college career high 22 assists.

The 28-year old from Pointe-Claire, QC is likely to continue to putting up excellent points and remains signed through 2025/2026 on his 8-year deal.

With his contract up at the end of the current frame and him connecting for 4 goals and 11 assists in 24 games with a +12 rating, he is re-upped for another 5-year term for $6.M AAV to stay a Canadiens.

28Nov

Luke Ashton (27)

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Minnesota State University Mavericks‘ freshman defenseman Luke Ashton(27) had a solid 1st season of 5 goals and 8 assists in 38 games with a +10 rating.

The mammoth 6’6″ 240 lbs. blue liner was a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick of the 2024 NHL draft (#165 overall) after a 2nd, huge BCHL frame.

For his sophomore year, he decided to head into the transfer portal to play at Cornell University Big Red.

In 8 games, he has 3 assists with a +5 rating.

From North Vancouver, BC, maybe the 20-year old eyed something different for his actual studies.

26Nov

Brendan Smith (2)

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12th year veteran, unrestricted free agent defenseman Brendan Smith(2) signs a new deal with Carolina Hurricanes for 2021/2022.

He’ll definitely help solidify the blue line for his new club.

The 6’2′ 200 lbs. d-man has a hefty 526 NHL games experience, scoring 29 goals and 81 assists.

Originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#27 overall), he played the first 7 years of his pro career in their system.

He’s almost oddly, quietly skated for New York Rangers the last four years and sort of no surprise he didn’t continue.

The 32-year old, former University Of Wisconsin Badgers, who put up a huge 15 goals and 37 assists in 42 Big10 games, has to be happy just playing and could split for some overseas looks before retiring.

Heading into 2022/2023, he records 4 goals and 4 assists in 65 games with a +6 rating, then adds 4 more points in 14 playoff contests.

His accountability gets him a new 2-year deal with New Jersey Devils worth $1.1M AAV and at the very least will help stabilize their blue line.

After 2 seasons with the same team, he moves to sign with Dallas Stars for 2024/2025.

He appears in only 32 games for 1 goal and 2 assists, which isn’t likely enough even for the now 36-year old, who signs a pto to hopefully join Columbus Blue Jackets for 2025/2026.

He plays 11 AHL games with affiliate Cleveland Monsters and is rewarded for his work with a 1-year contract.

24Nov

Jeremy Bracco (97)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

5th year right wing Jeremy Bracco(97) is off to a hot start with his new club overseas, Krefeld Pinguine. scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 15 DEL games.

He had 17 points (2-15) last season with KalPa in just 24 Liiga games.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward was originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd round pick in 2015 (#61 overall) and spent his 1st 3 pro years in their system, playing for affiliate Toronto Marlies. but somehow amassing 145 points in 169 AHL games isn’t good enough to score a qualifying offer.

He was signed to play with Carolina Hurricanes last season, but when he was to be sent to the minors, entertained and accepted a more lucrative offer and was released on unconditional waivers to Finland.

It seems likely that if the still young 24-year old, former 5-game Boston College Eagle (3 assists), who quickly left for a pair of very solid OHL campaigns before turning pro will get pick up by an NHL team for a one-way contract if he keeps scoring big.

He may not be making his way to the big league in North America quite yet, but does take it up another level overseas, joining Bary Nur-Sultan of the KHL after putting up a career 2nd best 40 assists in Germany’s top hockey.

We do think the Freeport, NY native and 2018 Calder Cup Champion will return.

He starts his 2nd year with the team after 14 goals and 26 assists last season, but records only 1 goal in 6 games and maybe they get nervous and deal him to HC Sochi.

We do believe he will do just fine.

In 33 games, he scores 8 goals and 7 assists that he will take with him to his new league, Slovak Extraliga, where he signs with HKM Zvolen for 2024/2025.

He almost oddball takes 7 assists in 6 games to a new deal with HC Innsbruck and will head over to IceHL for his next hockey.

Scoring pretty well in Austria, he wants to head back to the tougher Slovakia and signs with HK Poprad.

Once again, putting up points is not a problem and he notches 8 assists in 5 games, then 3 goals and 1 helper through 6 in the playoffs, so he’s an easy re-sign to return with Poprad.

After 9 games with 1 goal and 4 assists, he decides to head for DEL2 and signs with Eisbaren Regensburg, where we know he will score well.

22Nov

Derek Forbort (24)

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Unrestricted 9th year free agent Derek Forbort(24) signs a three-year NHL deal with Boston Bruins through 2023/2024 for $3M AAV.

The big 6’4″ 219 lbs. blue liner skated for Winnipeg Jets, who signed him to a simple deal for a season.

A veteran of 331 games, the 29-year old has 8 goals and 57 assists with a +8 rating and blocks a tremendous amount of shots.

The former three year University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ d-man and Los Angeles Kings‘  1st round, 2010, #15 overall pick is going to be a perfect fit with his new club.

He would have finished up 3 good years with the team from the East, but last year suffered some injuries that sidelined him for time, limiting his play to 35 games.

A free agent, he accepts a new 1-year deal with Vancouver Canucks for 2024/2025.

He appears in 54 games and scores 2 goals and 9 assists to re-sign to stay a Canucks for 2025/2026.

20Nov

Johnny Beecher (19)

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University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ junior center Johnny Beecher(19) decides to forego his senior year and signs an ato with Providence Bruins to play out the remainder of 2021/2022 with the AHL team.

This is done under the guidance of 1st round 2019 draft club (#30 overall) Boston Bruins, who will eventually sign him to a 2 or 3-year entry level deal.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward didn’t make an impact in college hockey as he did in a pair of 40+ point seasons for the USNTDP.

At just 21-years old, the parent club coaching staff believes the Elmira, NY native is ready to bring some game.

Recently re-slotted from the affiliate back up to the show, where he’s skated 52 games with 7 goals and 3 assists in his sophomore season, he plays a 1st playoff game and just like that he gets his 1st NHL goal, the opening tally of a game 1 4-1 win.

In 2024/2025, he plays a full slate of games in the big league at 78, scoring a new best 3 goals and 8 assists with a -9 rating, he will look to bring up with a better squad, but still enough confidence is there to extend him for 1-year, back in a Bruins‘ jersey.

With 1 goal in 6 games in 2025/2026, maybe the team was expecting more in his 4th year with the team and he was waived to be claimed by Calgary Flames, who look to use him immediately to center their 4th line.