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.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ sophomore transfer, center Brady Hunter(9) from a freshman year with 11 games (2 assists) skated for Merrimack College Warriors, he gets a 1st college goal and adds an assist in the opening NCAA Division 1 game of the 2024/2025 season against his former team.
Not a terrible new year start for the small-ish 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward.
From Enfield, NS, he only broke out junior scoring, when he arrived at the BCHL for 3 frames with Trail Smoke Eaters.
The 22-year old could be just getting started.
4th year defenseman Mackenzie Dwyer(10) has arrived at a good place, under a 1-year ECHL deal with Maine Mariners after arriving at Jacksonville Icemen late last season to put up some solid numbers with 1 goal and 6 assists in 32 games with a +5 rating and then getting traded.
In 11 games, the big 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner has 1 goal and 2 assists.
He signed as a rookie and last campaign in the SPHL with Birmingham Bulls, but found his team on the 2nd loan up to help solidify his spot.
The Winnipeg, MB native played a mix of MJHL for Portage Terriers and WHL for junior hockey before heading to 1 year of school at University Of Manitoba Bisons.
No doubt, the 26-year old knows what it is to work for his contract.
Almost maybe a little out of nowhere, he finds himself involved in a 4-player deal that sends his playing rights to Fort Wayne Komets.
After just 6 games and an assist with a -1 rating, he heads back to Jacksonville Icemen, where he is liked and had success.
4 games with no points, but a +2 rating and he is asked to return to be an Icemen again for 2024/2025.
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.
12th year net minder Keith Kincaid(30) signed a 2-year unrestricted free agent deal with Boston Bruins smack in the middle of 2022/2023 offseason.
He was with New York Rangers/Hartford Wolf Pack for the 2 prior campaigns.
Undrafted, he arrived as a pro after an outstanding 2nd session at Union College Bobcats, where he posted a 1.99 GAA and .920 SV% with a 25-10-3 record, then signed an entry level deal with New Jersey Devils and stayed in the system for 8 years before moving on.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs. goalie has appeared in 167 NHL games with a winning record and very decent stats.
At 33-years old, he easily is showing no signs of stopping.
For 2023/2024, he circles back to the team, where it all started New Jersey Devils, but mostly will be on loan to Utica Comets, but could compete for a spot that looks to be opening.
He actually ends up on loan, starting 24 games to Chicago Wolves and for 2024/2025 signs with Charlotte Checkers that should be a good landing spot for the 35-year old.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate, new captain transfer from 4 years at Ferris State University Bulldogs posted a college best 12 goals and 14 assists last season before coming over.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward looks very much like he is ready to put this club on his back and ride.
From Whitmore Lake, MI, he came up through the Compuware system before doing 1 year NAHL, 1 USHL prior to school.
The 24-year old really looks very ready to shoulder the load.
UMass Minutemen senior left wing Cal Kiefiuk(8) will do a graduate season at Hockey East rival Providence College Friars in 2023/2024.
He had a college career best 7 goals and 14 assists for 21 points last season.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward did 2 decently productive USHL seasons with Central Illinois Flying Aces.
From Macomb, MI, he comes out of the Honeybaked hockey system.
We think the 23-year old will have fun competing for the enemy.
He maybe scored a little better for his former club, but still did decently enough to score a 1st contract with Wheeling Nailers.
With no points in a few games, since joining the team from school, he is traded and signs for 2024/2025 with the new Tahoe Knight Monsters as a rookie.
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.
