10th year center Domenic Alberga(88) leaves his team of the last 5 seasons, HC Bolzano to sign with Dundee Stars of the EIHL for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward maybe didn’t have the year he was used to and wants to switch things up.
He played 4 ECHL sessions to start his pro career, 3 with Norfolk Admirals and was loaned up in his final frame that maybe had him looking for more and headed overseas.
From Maple, ON, he played 4 OHL junior campaigns before heading to Ryerson University Rams for 2.
The 31-year old keeps it going.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior left wing Chase Bradley(20) leaves a year on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level contract with Colorado Avalanche.
The 6′ 198 lbs. forward was originally drafted by Detroit Red Wings in the 7th round of the 2020 draft (#203 overall), but they elected to not sign him.
He scored a college best 11 goals and 11 assists last season.
From St. Louis, MO, the 22-year old will likely start with their affiliate Colorado Eagles, but could blossom quickly.
Elmira College Soaring Eagles‘ senior left wing Nicholas Domitrovic(8) signs for 2024/2o25 in France2 with Les Ours-de-Villard.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward scored a college best 18 goals and 20 assists in 28 games with a +25 rating last season.
From Ottawa, ON, he did 3 CCHL seasons before committing to college.
We do think the 24-year old will do well with the 2023/2024 league champs next season.
2nd year USNTDP defenseman John Whipple(4) finally selects University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers for a 2024/2025 commit.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. blue liner is 2024 draft eligible.
From Morristown, NJ, the 17-year old isn’t exactly known for putting up points, but holds his zone steady.
After another year of mostly shut down play, despite not many points and overall +25 player, he is selected in the 5th round by Detroit Red Wings, who will watch him go to school to start.
10th year right wing Garnet Hathaway(19) didn’t much of a pay boost after signing the 4-year with Washington Capitals worth some $6M total, but he gets 1 on a 2-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers worth $2.375M AAV after a spectacular 25-game effort in a Boston Bruins‘ uniform after a trade sent him there.
The fairly big 6’3″ 207 lbs. forward 1st signed an AHL contract with Adirondack Flames for his rookie season and did well enough to catch the radar of the parent club, Calgary Flames, who signed him to a 2-year entry level deal.
He was in their system for 4 years.
The 31-year old, Brown University Bears‘ graduate from Naples, FL should work harder, but find space to score with his new team.
Doing decently for his new club, he gets 2 more years in a Flyers‘ uniform to continue his game.
Maine Nordiques‘ 1st year net minder Carter Richardson(73) maybe takes a moment, but commits to Lake Superior State University Lakers for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. goalie rode some pretty impressive regular season NAHL stats, but then even notched it up a bit in the playoffs with a 1.73 GAA and .950 SV%.
From Dartmouth, NS, the only 18-year old will be impressive when called upon.
Faced with the prospects of no senior year, it was a no brainer for Harvard University‘s defensive wunderkid Reilly Walsh(8) to sign his three-year entry level with New Jersey Devils, the team that drafted him 3rd round, 2017, #81 overall.
In his minor league debut with affiliate Binghamton Devils, he gets credited for the overtime 4-3 game-winner and his first pro AHL goal and currently has 2 goals and 5 assists in 12 games, which is impressing big at the struggling parent club.
The 6′ 185 lbs. 21-year old blue liner may have to spend some time honing his game at the stage lower than the show but look for him to get an opportunity.
And after scoring new career bests: 9 goals and a whopping 34 assists in 69 games with a +11 rating for affiliate Utica Comets, gets him the nod for his NHL debut.
In his 1st game, he skated 20 shifts for 14:23, got an assist, had 2 shots, 2 blocks and 1 giveaway in a 5-4 loss.
The Framingham, MA gets traded to his hometown Boston Bruins as free agency looms after 2 seasons of 30+ assists in the minors.
He strikes his 3rd straight season of 9 goals in the minors, but shows maybe a bit more focus in the playoffs with 2 assists in 4 games.
For 2024/2025, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Los Angeles Kings.
Newfoundland Growlers‘ rookie center Grant Cruikshank(19) has really ignited his scoring when he was reassigned by AHL contract club, Toronto Marlies.
In 35 ECHL games, he has 21 goals and 22 assists with a +9 rating.
Undrafted, he cycled through 3 colleges, his 1st 3 years at Colorado College Tigers, then 1 apiece with University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers and a graduate frame for St. Cloud State University Huskies.
He twice had 10+ goals, but exploded for 23 in his final year.
From Delafield, WI, the 25-year old won a BCHL Championship in his 1st junior season and is turning out to be quite the pro.
With his team going belly up, he went back to his contract club, but didn’t figure in any playoff games.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Calder Cup Champions, Hershey Bears, where he should find himself a nice home to play some hockey.
We need to congratulate former Cornell University Big Red‘ captain Jeff Malott(39) on scoring a one-year two-way NHL deal from Winnipeg Jets for 2021/2022 after potting 14 goals and 6 assists, including 1 game-winner and 4 on the power-play in 34 AHL games with affiliate Manitoba Moose.
The big 6’3″ 204 lbs. left wing may just play his way onto the parents’ club radar as a sophomore skater and is easily headed in the right direction.
He’ll remember the date: 3/20-2022. He makes his big league debut skating a conservative 8 shifts for 4:06 ice time with 3 hits and 2 penalty minutes in a 6-4 victory.
Nice start.
After blowing out his rookie season scoring with 23 goals and 18 assists in 62 games with a +11 rating, then getting another tally in 5 playoff games, earns the 25-year old a new 2-year deal to stay.
He would score a career high 30 assists and 52 points in 70 games and signs a new 2-year deal with Los Angeles Kings, who could give him his 1st looks in the big league.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ Finnish-born freshman defenseman Tomi Leppanen(5) wins himself a 2022 USHL Clark Cup Championship in his 1st junior season with Sioux City Musketeers.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner doesn’t stick though, as he signs for 2024/2025 with IPK of the tier 2 Mestis.
He had 3 goals and 6 assists in 40 games with a +8 rating.
The 21-year old will no doubt be happier and should do well in this league back home.
