5th year right wing Anthony Angello(17) signs a 1-year NHL deal with St. Louis Blues, as an unrestricted free agent after spending the 1st 4 years of his pro career in Pittsburgh Penguins‘ organization.
The towering 6’5″ 209 lbs. forward twice scored 16 goals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has definitely shown a perchance for potential big numbers.
He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#145 overall).
The Albany, NY native did 3 years at Cornell University Big Red before leaving to sign his entry level contract.
At 26-years old, he could be just arriving.
He is acquired late season by Nashville Predators, who send him directly to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, where he helps their deep 2023 Calder Cup Playoff push.
It’s little doubt he is signed quickly to a 2-year 2-way deal though 2024/2025.
A trade sent him to Tampa Bay Lightning organization, he was reassigned to close by home Syracuse Crunch and scored well in 19 games.
With no deal going forward, he decides to leave hockey after 339 AHL games and 31 NHL games to his credit and could actually head back for his senior year somewhere is a possibility we see.
Long Island University Sharks‘ commit for 2021/2022 right wing Isaiah Fox(8) gives us the peace nod that his club Maine Nordiques clinched their berth into the upcoming playoffs.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. blue liner has posted similar numbers in his pair of NAHL seasons scoring a pretty phenomenal 16 goals and new best 23 assists and 39 points in 49 games and should be ready for a good showing as a rookie.
After 4 years, with his best scoring season as a junior, 14 goals and 20 assists in a college high 37 games, he is ready to move on and turns pro, signing a standard player contract with Adirondack Thunder.
We think he does well in the ECHL to start.
In his 1st 17 games, he scores 3 goals and 7 assists with a +1 rating to easily grab a new contract for his rookie season, 2025/2026 as a Thunder.
Well, he can’t even get his 1st campaign going and in a bit of a shocker is traded to Iowa Heartlanders, who likely really need him to fill in their blue line.
Salem State University Vikings‘ English-born senior left wing Rais Francis(74) signs a 1st pro contract back home for his rookie season with Manchester Storm, 2025/2026.
In 4 EIHL games, he has yet to register a point.
The very big 6’6″ 220 lbs. forward had a college best 6 goals and tied his junior 11 points as a senior.
He initially committed to Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen after 2 years of cycling through 3 junior leagues and would stay there for 2 years before doing his junior frame at Western New England University Golden Bears.
We look for the 24-year old to settle in an catch on scoring.
Northern Cyclones‘ 1st year left wing Nick Blanchette(21) takes 5 goals and 5 assists in 36 USPHL Premier games to a 2025/2026 commit at Franklin Pierce University Ravens.
The 5’9″ 154 lbs. forward, 20-year old from Kingston, NH may find better footing scoring in college hockey.
Rochester Jr. Americans‘ 3rd year left wing Adam Gionta(12) selects close-ish to home Niagara University Purple Eagles for his commit 2026/2027.
The 5’8″ 170 lbs. forward scored better than point-per-game numbers last season and is likely to repeat similar stats in the current frame.
From Clarence Center, NY, the 19-year is the son of NHL great Brian Gionta , who is the Director Of Player Development at his future college and he did all his youth hockey in the Buffalo Jr. Sabres‘ system.
11th year, Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#157 overall) right wing Cam Atkinson(89) gets traded from the nest of the only team he’s ever known for his 10 year pro career that maybe wasn’t considered likely seeing his stealthy 5’8″ 176 lbs. frame.
He heads to Philadelphia Flyers to ride out the final 4 years of his big money 7-year deal he signed in 2018/2019.
The Riverside, CT native has skated an almost eye-popping 627 NHL games, scoring 213 goals and 189 assists with an overall +17 rating.
He signed his entry level deal after twice scoring big for Boston College Eagles and would report to affiliate Springfield Falcons at the end of his third year, only to pop in a 1st 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 AHL games.
At 32-years old, it’s definitely a bit of a scary signing, but he has averaged 20+ goals and once hit 29, 35 and 41 in a session.
He doesn’t quite hit his previous marks with 10+ numbers in 2 seasons for his new club, including 1 completely scrapped due to injury and is bought out of his final year of his deal.
For 2024/2025, he hooks up with only his 3rd team ever in 14 seasons of play, Tampa Bay Lightning think they can lift the now 35-year old’s scoring level.
After 809 NHL games, scoring very well, he decides at 36-years old and will likely land somewhere nicely on staff, as he is set to sign a 1-day contract with 10-year team Columbus Blue Jackets to retire officially.
Misericordia University Cougars graduate goaltender Anthony Shrum(35) played a college best 12 games last season that he took to a 1st pro contract with Blue Ridge Bobcats.
In 3 FPHL games, the 6’2″ 194 lbs. net minder wins 2-0 games with a 1.73 GAA and .947 SV% to start.
He did 4 years at Worcester State University Lancers with only 7 games total played.
From Holland, MI, the 26-year old could easily sign or someone higher may swoop in.
It’s a no-brainer they want him back in a Bobcats‘ uniform for his official rookie season.
Almost on equal terms of barely having to think, he is signed by Cincinnati Cyclones to a 2-way deal for 2025/2026.
7th year right wing Casey Bailey(93) re-signs with Iserlohn Roosters after putting up a 2nd 40+ point season.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs forward has twice earlier hit the 40+ mark, first as a junior at Penn State University Nittany Lions, then as a 3rd year AHL player for Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
At 30-year old, the Anchorage, AK native is definitely still hitting the ice hard.
After a 3rd season with the same club, putting up 39 points in his last frame, he signs for 2023/2024 with DEL rivals ERC Ingolstadt.
He leaves 4 years in the league for some new waters, signing with the famous Graz99ers of IceHL, which should be a good country for him to play in.
Through 46 games, he scores 15 goals and 12 assists, so does alright, but decides to come back and play a little closer to home, signing with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.
Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior defenseman Nick Durajlija(38) signs a 1st pro deal in Finland’s tier 3 Suomi sarja, agreeing to terms for his rookie campaign with JHT Kalajoki, 2025/2026.
The massive 6’6″ 236 lbs. blue liner didn’t exactly burst his scoring slump, but did register 2 assists through 17 games.
From Hamilton, ON, we look for the 26-year old to play himself up over there, if he is looking for that.
6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(11) gets a new 1-year, 2-way deal from Anaheim Ducks for 2021/2022.
The unrestricted free agent signed a 1-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights last season and put up point-per-game numbers for affiliate Henderson Silver Knights.
Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#138 overall), he’s been a prolific scorer since he arrived to ultimate graduate St. Sebastian’s School before committing to 4 years at Boston University Terriers, where he scored 154 points (66-88) in 154 Hockey East games.
His dad Tom O’Regan took a similar path through school.
The 27-year old will likely be pivotal to affiliate San Diego Gulls‘ success.
Mid-season he is moved to Grand Rapids Griffins and his scoring takes flight with 14 goals and 17 assists in 39 games.
For 2023/2024, he will take his 1 NHL goal to a new adventure, signing with MoDo Hockey and we think he finds comfort in scoring in the SHL.
He scores just 4 goals and 8 assists in 34 games with a -9 rating, but Kunlun Red Star see something and sign him to a 1-year KHL deal for 2024/2025.
Through 65 games, he scores pretty well, but lacks some on-ice accountability and next decides to head to DEL, where he signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings for 2025/2026.
