Former two-time Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ center captain Derek Barach(19) signs himself a nice tw0-year deal to head to Finland’s top hockey Liiga, joining Assat starting 2021/2022.
He skated 31 AHL games last season for Texas Stars, scoring 3 goals and 4 assists.
The small 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward has always been a good scorer and hard player on ice but probably no period was better than when he scored 38 points in 37 Atlantic Hockey games as a junior, then in his senior frame grabbed 37 points in 38 contests.
That’s just math.
The 26-year old native of Glenmont, NY will likely find enough open space to become a big scorer in the league.
In 2 seasons playing the highest hockey in the Finnish culture, he pots 33 goals and 27 assists in 114 games, then adding another 6 in 8 during the playoffs last frame.
He is rewarded for his efforts with a contract to play his game in the KHL with Vityaz Moscow Region for 2023/2024.
Through 68 games he scores 10 goals and 25 assists, yet is a horrible -21 rating, but is wanted back.
After a 2nd solid session of increased scoring even, he decides to switch ranks, joining up with rivals, Metallurg Magnitorgorsk for 2025/2026 and will likely just continue.
Colgate University Raiders‘ senior defenseman Tommy Bergsland(25) signs a 1st pro deal, an ato to join Texas Stars for their AHL playoff run.
In 6 regular season games, he had no points, but recorded an assist in 5 playoff matchups and had a 0 rating throughout.
The 6’3″ 204 lbs. left college hockey with 2-20+ assist seasons.
From Wyzata, MN, he had a couple really good high school hockey years before heading to the USHL, where he had less luck.
He next went to the NAHL, where he was able to elevate his game nicely before college.
The 24-year will need a contract for his rookie run, 2025/2026.
Skidmore College Thoroughbreds‘ junior center Kaedon Patrick(14) has a team best 9 goals, 8 assists and 17 points at this early mark in 2023/2024.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward has twice got 10+ goals and very close in the assist marks as well.
We’re thinking he sets up college career highs this season.
The undrafted 23-year old from Vancouver, BC plays a power forward style all the way.
He had 1 BCHL season before committing.
He doesn’t have quite as productive scoring as a senior, but takes it to a 1st pro contract in France2 with Chambry, which should go well for him.
New Jersey 87’s late coming right wing J.D. Shoniker(46) made an impact, when he arrived at the tail end of 2024/2025 season to help the team with the 2025 EHL Championship.
The 5’9″ 180 lbs. forward transferred from Boston Dogs after they elevated play to USPHL/NCDC, but he maybe wasn’t scoring the way he wanted.
In 5 regular season games, he had 2 goals and 5 assists, then in the playoffs through 10 games, put up 3 goals and 5 assists.
From Kitchener, ON, the 21-year old did 1 season of juniors up north and commits to 1st year D3 program at Beloit College Buccaneers.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate defenseman Andrew Lucas(6) turns pro and signs an ato with San Diego Gulls.
He scored a new college best 5 goals, but didn’t equal those 22 assists and 24 points he set as a senior.
The very solid 6′ 179 lbs. blue line played only 1 season of junior hockey, bouncing from the BCHL quite successfully to Brooks Bandits, where he won the 2019 AJHL Championship before committing.
He started with 3 seasons at University Of Vermont Catamounts and became team captain for 2 years as a sophomore.
The 25-year old from Alexandria, VA already looks like a pro has 3 assists in 6 AHL games, so just needs a permanent jersey.
It’s an absolute no brainer to have him return for his rookie season for the Gulls, 2024/2025.
He was mostly reassigned down to Tulsa Oilers, where he blew up scoring a bit with 6 goals and 23 assists in 39 ECHL games.
For 2025/2026, he will challenge himself further by signing in the Slovak Extraliga with HC Banska Bystrica.
New Jersey Bears‘ 1st year left wing Christopher Benkovitz(22) commits to Acadia University Knights for 2025/2026.
The 6’1″ 182 lbs. forward scored a best 16 goals and 25 assists in 44 EHL games.
From Jersey City, NJ, the 21-year old stayed close to come for all of his youth hockey and juniors and now leaves to a school decently close by.
New York Islanders‘ 7th year center Brock Nelson(11) gets re-upped on a 6-year extension through 2025.
He’s a 4-time 20-goal scorer and actually had 19 in 2017/2018, so 5-time is merited, 3-time 20+ assists and twice 10+ on helpers.
The fairly large power forward had 4 goals in 8 Stanley Cup playoff games.
Set to turn 28-years old, the former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks at the start of the new session, his deal is worth $6M AV with a no trade clause for the first two seasons and then some modified terms.
He is traded in the final year of his contract to Colorado Avalanche, where he scores 6 goals and 7 assists in 19 games with a +6 rating, then adds 4 helpers in 7 playoff matchups with a +2.
Takes little time in the off-season to sign him up on a 3-year deal.
Boston University Terriers‘ Swedish-born freshman center Alex Zetterberg(61) enters the transfer portal after 26 games with 5 goals and 3 assists and will next skate at Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks, as a sophomore.
The 5’8″ 164 lbs. forward played all his youth hockey and juniors back home before coming over for college.
At 19-years old, he steps into another tough team to play for.
Valley Jr. Warriors‘ 3rd year defenseman Christian Worrell(16) commits to Roger Williams University Hawks for 2025/2026.
The 6′ 180 lbs. blue liner actually was at Loyola Marymount University Cougars at the beginning of last season, doing quite well, but returned to the EHL.
From Boise, ID, the 21-year old is staying east.
West Chester Wolves‘ 1st year right wing Joshua Swan(21) climbed into a new, upper league last season and was able to continue scoring.
In 49 USPHL/NCDC games, he scored 11 goals and 18 assists, then had 2 more helpers in the playoffs.
For 2025/2026, he commits to Stevenson University Mustangs, where he should definitely help them win games.
The 5’8″ 150 lbs. forward from Chateauguay, QC has found room in juniors to put up points.
