4th year defenseman Cooper Zech(68) gets a little bit of a new lease on hockey life with a trade that sends him from a very decent season with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring a goal and 10 assists with a +3 rating and their parent club Philadelphia Flyers in an early season dish to Chicago Blackhawks, where he’s expected to report to Rockford Icehogs.
The 5’9″ 161 lbs. blue liner only spent 1 year at Ferris State University Bulldogs before turning pro on a 2-year entry level deal with Boston Bruins.
He put up a huge amount of assists in his one BCHL junior campaign for Wenatchee Wild, amassing 58 assists in 58 games.
The 23-year old from South Lyon, MI, who had a successful little swing on loan to Slovakia with HK Nitra during the pandemic, will likely always have to prove himself.
At the trade deadline, he finds himself moved as a pawn in the deal that sends Patrick Kane to New York Rangers.
He may was a bit under-utilized in suburban Chicago, but should get more efforts with Hartford Wolf Pack, if not reassigned further done for a bit.
Reassigned down to Indy Fuel, he played only 1 game with the team.
For 2023/2024, he returns for a full session, signing a 1-year deal with HC Kosice of Slovak Extraliga.
He does well here, scoring 3 goals and 15 assists in 32 games with a +13 rating in a very tough league, but has maybe been wooed to join the EIHL and signs with Nottingham Panthers for 2024/2025.
Vegas Golden Knights‘ 5th round pick in the 2018 draft (#135 overall), left wing Brandon Kruse(78) has taken up residence on a pto with their affiliate Henderson Silver Knights after graduating a 5th year at Boston College Eagles.
He has yet to sign his entry level deal, but is likely making a bit of an argument with an assist in his 2nd AHL game.
The small 5’9″ 158 lbs. forward originally did 4 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons and was always good for 20+ assists, 31 as a sophomore.
He only did a single NAHL season in juniors before heading to school.
The 23-year old from Saline, MI definitely has the skills to gain notice.
For 2022/2023, he scores a new contract with Toronto Marlies.
He plays all of his games with affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 7 goals and 37 assists with a +8 rating through 69 games.
For 2023/2024, he signs with Toledo Walleye and should find himself a ton of success in the ECHL.
As predicted, he finds all kinds of success with his new team, scoring 18 goals, 36 assists and a +23 rating through 70 games, then another 11 points in 14 playoff matchups.
Well, he’s a fish now and will be in a Walleye uniform 2024/2025.
8th year left wing Warren Foegele(37) takes a career year scoring 20 goals and 21 assists in a full slate of 82 games with a +3 rating for 3rd year team, Edmonton Oilers to a brand new 3-year contract, worth $3.5AAV with Los Angeles Kings.
For 6 NHL seasons, he always had 10+ goals and 5 times the same marker for assists.
From Markham, ON, he did 2 years at St. Andrew’s College Saints before heading off to University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.
He would split after a full season and 5 games to play OHL, where Carolina Hurricanes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2014 draft (#67 overall) would light up the scoresheet.
The 28-year old has arrived for himself at the right time.
Maine Mariners bring back last season’s leading scorer, 3rd year right wing Mathew Santos(16) after scoring a handy 26 goals and 33 assists with a +3 rating.
After 4 years in the OHL, the 6′ 183 lbs. forward played a single season for Toledo Walleye as a rookie, but then took a season off before departing for Ryerson University Rams, where he spent the next three years though only played his 1st two there and maybe got COVID knocked for his 3rd.
It will be zero surprise to see the 27-year old Etobicoke, ON native add to his ECHL totals.
For a 2nd straight season he blows the lid off scoring with 16 goals and 28 assists in 38 games, while getting loaned up to Milwaukee Admirals for 17 AHL games.
He will try to take his game up a notch, signing for 2023/2024 in Slovak Extraliga with HC Dukla Michalovce.
An amazing season, scoring 22 goals and 14 assists through 46 games, then adds another 8 points in 6 playoff matchups with a +7, but he oddly signs in DEL2 for 2024/2025 with Ravensburg Towerstars.
Union College Dutchmen senior right wing Tyler Watkins(13) is heading to Erste Liga for his rookie season, signing with Dunaujvarosi Acelbikak.
The 5’9″ 176 lbs. forward played his NAHL junior hockey close to home, Hermantown, MN with Minnesota Wilderness.
He was a big USHS-MN scorer.
The 24-year old is bound to do well in this Hungarian/Romanian pro league.
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ graduate right wing Mike Gelatt(27) wastes little time signing a pto with Peoria Rivermen to get some pro playing time experience in.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward was good last season, but maybe not quite what he was able to put together as a senior for Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, when he got 11 goals and 12 assists in 25 games before getting eliminated in the NEHC Tournament Final.
He has a 1st SPHL goal in his 6th sighting and 2 assists in 7 total matchups thus far.
The 25-year old from Middletown, NJ could easily play himself up a level.
He comes away with 11 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +14 rating, then adds 6 points in 7 playoff matchups.
For 2024/2025, he receives a 2-way ECHL contract with the new Bloomington Bison.
Maine Mariners‘ 3rd year defenseman Nate Kallen(26) re-ups to return for a 2nd ECHL season after scoring a career best 6 goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 46 games.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner also received a 3 game AHL loan to Springfield Thunderbirds, where he scored a goal.
After joining his host team for 3 games upon graduating as senior captain for Ferris State University Bulldogs, he had a bit of a trying rookie start first that eventually saw him sign with Macon Mayhem and do very well in 25 SPHL games, scoring 4 goals and 15 assists with a +14 rating that was easily a good part of his pro learning curve.
The 24-year old from San Diego, CA will very likely just continue to take up his game.
He decides to return from a season in the EIHL with Glascow Clan after repairing a late injury and signs a 1-year deal with the new team, Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.
3rd year net minder Dryden McKay(45) had his ECHL team of last season implode, cease to exist in Newfoundland Growlers, but signs with Ontario Reign for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 181 lbs. goalie was completely outstanding through 4 years at Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks and won basically any award he could, including the 2022 Hobey Baker.
We think he still needs clearance to come back into his game, but feel it is right there waiting.
Undrafted defenseman Greg Moro(3) takes a pair of seasons under AHL contract with Stockton Heat, but spending the majority of his time, 44 ECHL games with affiliate Kansas City Mavericks to a new adventure overseas, signing with SaiPa of Liiga for 2022/2023.
The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner did get a goal in each of his years up with the contract club and even connected with 6 assists in 13 games last frame to likely get him the look in Finland’s top league.
He spent a very productive and highly accountable four seasons at Clarkson University Golden Knights, leaving a +28 rating.
The 26-year old from Edmonton, AB will definitely need to continue to elevate his game in this tough hockey, but could easily blend in nicely as well.
He actually spends the better part of two seasons in Finland’s highest hockey before switching to Czech Extraliga late last season with HC Kometa Brno.
For 2024/2025, he spots probably the best decision for him moving forward and signs with Steinbach Black Wings Linz of IceHL.
Northern Cyclones‘ 2nd year left wing Sam Mitchell(81) commits Franklin Pierce University Ravens for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward had 9 assists last season and helped the team with the 2023 USPHL Premier Championship.
From Mt. Lebanon, PA, the 20-year old probably wants nothing more than to help his new college team win.
