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.
Undrafted, graduate student, left wing Colin Theisen(63) entered the transfer portal from 4-years at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish to Arizona State University Sun Devils and looks to be the best possible move he could have made to improve his game.
In 9 games he has 2 goals and 8 assists en route to his best college season by a long shot.
The 6′ 187 lbs. forward was a decent scorer through 2 USHL seasons for Dubuque Fighting Saints, amassing point-per-game totals in his final year (35-27-62 in 57 games) with a +18 rating.
It seems like almost a shoe-in for the 24-year old from Monroe, MI try his hand at pro hockey for 2022/2023.
And in fact, coming off a college career year scoring 19 goals and 23 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games, he signs his 1st pro deal with Tuscon Roadrunners to finish out 2021/2022.
He comes away from his debut 16 AHL games scoring a tidy 5 goals and 6 assists, earning him a full look for 2022/2023.
Last year, he scored a new best 7 goals and 12 assists in 34 assists with a +4 rating and he slides over to sign for 2024/2025 with Springfield Thunderbirds.
Quinnipiac University‘s 3rd year, assistant captain defenseman Peter DiLiberatore(3) decides to forego his senior campaign in favor of signing a 3-year entry level deal with draft team, Vegas Golden Knights.
The 6′ 180 lbs. blue liner was a 6th round pick in 2018 (#160 overall).
His numbers at college have been pretty consistent.
He tied his 6 goal best in 2020/2021 and averaged 15 helpers through his three years.
There’s little doubt he’ll report immediately, likely hooking up with affiliate Henderson Silver Knights, a stellar AHL club, so breaking that lineup could be a thinker.
After almost 2 full seasons and his entry level contract about to expire, he gets dealt to Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline, who look like they were eyeing him to be obtained and should retain him for at least another year.
Invited to Arizona Coyotes‘ training camp on a pto, he is released and looked to sign with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners for 2023/2024, but has slipped off the radar and will lace them up with South Carolina Stingrays.
He plays 8 ECHL games with his new club, recording 3 assists to get himself loaned up to his former team.
While there he gets 1 goal and 2 assists for a new league best of 3 points and gets himself a deal for the season to stay up.
In 29 games, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists with a +2 rating to earn an invite to return for 2024/2025 in a Roadrunners‘ jersey.
Rookie right wing Jack Jacome(23) took his game overseas to IceHL, signing a 1-year deal with Pioneers Vorarlberg for 2022/2023.
The 5’8″ 172 lbs. forward played 5 years at Clarkson University Golden Knights, putting up a career best 23 assists and 25 points as a graduate student.
From Caledon, ON he played his junior hockey for Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL, blowing up the score sheet.
The 23-year old will likely do very well in Austria’s top league.
He takes a decent frame, scoring 9 goals and 20 assists in 48 games to a new challenge, accepting a deal for 2023/2024 with Rungsted Seier Capital of Metal Ligaen.
After an ok season scoring another 9 goals and 13 assists in Denmark, he was going to return and sign, but has decided to bridge to the EIHL and agrees to terms with Guildford Flames for 2024/2025.
Undrafted goaltender Aaron Dell(30) has put up some kind of career in his so far 9 years of net tending time.
After 3 strong seasons at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, he signed a first contract with Allen Americans, where he won the 2013 Central Hockey League Championship and was voted Most Outstanding Goalie.
Next up, he moved leagues agreeing to terms with Utah Grizzlies and again, put up some solid numbers 19-7-3 with a 2.14 GAA and .920 SV% in 29 ECHL games, including a pair of shutouts, then got some impressive playoff numbers.
This pair of years earned him a one-way contract with San Jose Sharks for 2014/2015.
He would split time in his first campaign between leagues, but was impressive in 26 starts for a 15-8-2 record with a 2.06 GAA and .927 SV%, 4 blankings.
The Airdrie, AB native quickly re-upped for another year and followed the team to their new home San Jose Barracuda.
He started a career high 40 AHL games and received some recalls, but no time in net.
That would happen in 2016/2017 and he hasn’t looked back, having played a career 114 games, posting a winning record.
We’re thinking the 32-year old finds some more rock star to help a struggling Buffalo Sabres on his one-year, two-way deal.
For 2024/2025, his 13th season in net, he circles back to sign a 1-year deal with the Barracuda.
New Hampshire Avalanche 2nd year defenseman Ryan Dann(2) makes an early commit to Wilkes University Colonels for 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner will be a nice addition to their zone.
He had 4 goals and 4 assists in 37 EHL games last season.
From Windham, NH, the 20-year old has done all his youth in the system and it will be his 1st time leaving home.
In 3 games in the current frame, 2024/2025 he already has 1 goal and 2 assists.
6th year defenseman Andrew Peeke(52) will spend a 1st full season, 2024/2025 with the team he was traded to late last season, Boston Bruins.
The 6’3″ 216 lbs. blue liner was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round 2016 draft pick (#34 overall) and skated some 218 NHL games with them.
He played 3 years at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he had 21 assists in the season before he signed his entry level deal.
From Parkland, FL, the 26-year old could easily put up career highs next season with his new team.
11th year defenseman Chris Wideman(6) re-ups with Montreal Canadiens for another two years after recording a career high 23 assists in 2020/2021 for a last place club.
He signed a one-year deal upon his other new high point mark, 9 goals and 32 assists for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in his sole year away in the KHL, where he was named tops in his position.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner definitely knows how to run up the totals on helpers, as he did in 2nd and 3rd years under contract to draft team Ottawa Senators (4th round 2009 #100 overall) with affiliate Binghamton Senators, hitting 42.
He also reached 20 twice as a junior and senior at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
This should be the 32-year old’s 6th full season playing in the NHL and he’s worked hard for every second.
After not playing any games last season, the now 34-year old decides to retire and has yet to announce where he will land next, but is assuredly going some place good to help out a team.
He hangs up those skates after 291 games in the big league and 280 in the AHL, 59 in Russia during the COVID swing and 143 NCAA Division 1.
No word in hockey where he may land next, but until then will help his wife with the beauty salons they opened together, which will keep him plenty busy.
Colorado College Tigers‘ graduate defenseman Connor Mayer(6) completes his studies and turns pro, signing a standard player contract with Utah Grizzlies.
The 5’11” 195 lbs. blue liner was never much of a scorer, getting his best 4 goals and 8 assists as a freshman, but maybe more importantly was a +10 rating player.
From Champlin, MN, he did 3 USHL junior sessions before committing.
The 24-year old finds room to score with his 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists on unfortunately a non-playoff team.
He scores 1 goal and 2 assists in 5 games and the parent club and the team from his college town signs him, Colorado Eagles for 2024/2025.
Robert Morris University Colonials‘ graduate goaltender Chad Veltri(31) signs a 1st pro contract with Kalamazoo Wings for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. net minder leaves college hockey with a 2.86 GAA and .910 SV%.
From Fox Chapel, PA he did 2 years of juniors, NAHL to USHL before committing to Niagara University Purple Eagles, where he stayed 4 years.
The 26-year old is likely excited to get started.
