University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ freshman defenseman Adam Kleber(6) is a Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round draft pick in the 2024 draft (#42 overall).
The very big 6’5″ 210 lbs. blue liner did 2 years USHL for Lincoln Stars before heading to school this year.
From Chaska, MN, the only 18-year old is well on his way.
7th year center Darik Angeli(18) re-signs with Kansas City Mavericks after putting up ECHL career highs 33 assists and 51 points.
He has played an almost eye-popping 357 games in the league.
The solid 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward has skated for 9 teams in the E, three times with Norfolk Admirals.
He has only agreed to terms in one season with an AHL team, Tuscon Roadrunners 2018/2019, but only stayed with them four games with an assist before being reassigned.
It would be little surprise to see the 30-year old, former Ohio State University Buckeyes to split for overseas for his next contract.
After a huge career year that saw him getting traded late to Florida Everblades and help them win the 2022 Kelly Cup Championship, where he scored 29 goals and 41 assists and another 3 goals and 3 assists with a +3 rating in the playoffs, he will take these fortunes overseas to another title winner, Belfast Giants in 2022/2023.
Almost oddly, following 24 games played, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists with a +9 rating with little word on why, he leaves to sign with Vienna Capitals for the balance of 2023 and should continue to score like a champ in IceHL.
He gets 3 goals and 2 assists in 11 games with a horrendous -9, but gets to the playoffs and adds 5 helpers in another 11 matchups.
For the remainder of 2024, the now 33-year old re-ups with Orlando Solar Bears, where he played some 5 or so years ago with good results.
He scores 31 points in 35 games, then 11 in 11 in the playoffs and is definitely wanted to return in a Solar Bears’ jersey, where he has to be a fan favorite.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ junior defenseman Evan Orr(26) transferred back to where he had success in his 2nd year of junior hockey with Northeast Generals from 2 years at Michigan Tech University Broncos.
That season, the 5’11” 185 scored 5 goals and 22 assists in 25 games with a +11 rating.
From Shelby Township, MI, the 23-year old we think is in his happy place and should do well playing the independent schedule.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior Hockey East transfer from somewhat underuse in 2 years University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ goaltender Tyler Muszelik(30) already has a 3-1 record with a 2.28 GAA and .901 SV% for the Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in the 2022 draft (#189 overall).
The 6’3″ 193 lbs. net minder from Long Valley, NJ did 2 years USNTDP before heading to his 1st school.
He’s just 20-years old, so is well on his way towards development.
UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate goaltender Henry Welsch(33) posted a 4-1 win (almost shutout) against University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in the 2nd game on the new NCAA Division 1 2024/2025 season.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. net minder from Lakeville, MN was a standout in NAHL junior hockey before arriving at school.
He started a college season high 22 games last year and despite a not winning record was still an impressive 2.45 GAA and .908 SV%.
Maybe not a lot of offensive in his opening game, but the 23-year old looks set for his additional frame.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ Swedish-born, sophomore defenseman Viking Gustafsson Nyberg(6) transferred from his freshman year at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.
In 33 games last season, he had 2 goals and 1 assists and in 3 Hockey East games, he already has 2 assists with a +2 rating.
The 6’6″ 205 lbs. tower on the blue line played his youth and junior hockey back home before arriving for school.
Boston College Eagles‘ center Will Smith(6) is taking zero time to adjust to college play after 2 seasons of USNTDP.
In 6 games, he has 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating to go along with those 51 goals and 76 assists he had last year and 42 points (15-27) in 20 USHL games.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward was a San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round pick in the 2023 draft (#4 overall), so the 18-year old from Lexington, MA has lots to look forward to.
After just 1 season of lighting up the college ranks to the tune of 25 goals and 46 assists with a +25 rating through 41 games and the waiting is over, as the 19-year old signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal, starting 2024/2025.
He debuts with his new NHL team right away, playing 16 shifts for 13:41 ice, 2 shots on net and like his former Hockey East friend needs improving in the face-off dot.
Boston University Terriers‘ freshman left wing Macklin Celebrini(71) is considered to be a potential #1 NHL draft pick for the 2024.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward is from Vancouver, BC.
He completely blew up scoring for Chicago Steel last season with 46 goals and 40 assists in 50 USHL games with a +27 rating.
At just turning 17-years old over the summer, he has entered his freshman year of college early and already has 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 games with a +2 rating.
San Jose Sharks draw the 1st choice and he is adopted.
He scored 32 goals and 32 assists in 38 games last season with a +25 rating, so we have to wonder how long he will stick around.
Coming fresh off his 1st development camp, he signs a 3-year entry level deal to become a full-time Sharks in 2024/2025.
In his debut, he nets a 1st NHL goal in his 1st 7 minutes of ice time and also lands an assist in 22 shifts for 17:35, 2 giveaways, 1 takeaway and needs to be better on the face-off dot in a 5-4 overtime loss.
Undrafted 4th year right wing Josh Kestner(62) takes a fantastic first season overseas at TPS, scoring 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 Liiga games with a +6 rating to a new contract with Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL for 2021/2022.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward had a very similar session for Newfoundland Growlers, grabbing another 49 points (22-27) in 61 ECHL games with a +8, then potted another 9 goals and 7 assists in 21 playoff contests en route to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
He would next sign an AHL deal with Grand Rapids Griffins but was exclusively dished to Toledo Walleye, where he received accolades for Most Goals (33), Most Points (73) and League MVP.
The 27-year old Huntsville, AL native and graduate of University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers seems to be just getting started.
He would take a decent frame in Russia back to a less successful year in Switzerland and then branch out for Czechia Extraliga and will next arrive at the tough to play Slovakia Extraliga, signing with HK Spisska Nova Ves for 2024/2025.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ graduate goaltender Connor Androlewicz(29) came over from little use at his 1st school, University Of Maine Black Bears, where he spent 4 years.
In the opening game of the NCAA Division 1 hockey season, he posts a 3-2 overtime win to collect just his 2nd victory in college hockey.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. net minder played only 1 season bouncing around between a few teams, but it was his run at Holderness School USHS-Prep that got him spotted.
From St. Louis, MO, we look for the 23-year old looks focused to continue to do well this season.
