Trois Rivières Lions‘ center Cedric Lacroix(19) has finally seemingly arrived at a team he feels comfortable being with, as he’s scoring a decent 5 goals and 5 assists in 18 ECHL games on a non-playoff team.
He’s had forays in the AHL, but only when he 1st arrived and played 1 game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, getting 2 goals, but then being reassigned for the rest of the frame to Wheeling Nailers was odd.
His 4 seasons at University Of Maine Black Bears all looked relatively similar.
It’s a little tough to say why the 28-year old from Shefford, QC hasn’t found his hockey home.
In what is a no surprise move, he decides to move on and signs with Pioneers Vorarlberg of IceHL for 2023/2024.
He scores 6 goals and 8 assists in 19 games, but something isn’t right, so he switches to agreeing to the remainder of the frame with Vasterviks IK of Allsvenskan.
For 2024/2025, he heads back to Austria, signing with HC Pusteral Wolfe.
7th year center Evan Jasper(26) signs into his 7th overseas league, the IceHL for 2024/2025, joining Vienna Capitals.
His best scoring across the way has been 2 years in DEL and 1 VHL.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward from Whitby, ON lit up 3 years of OJHL for Cobourg Cougars before committing to Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
Already 32-years old, he still appears to be making his mark and playing at a great level.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ Belarus-born freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov(5) grabs the 2nd spot in the 2024 NHL draft by Chicago Blackhawks, making him the highest chosen player from his country ever selected, beating out a mark that stood for almost 30 years.
The 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner looks to be a complete product and one they look to pin their hopes on to rebuild their defense.
Just 18-years old, he came over for a single USHL season with Green Bay Gamblers and then got right to work last season, scoring 9 goals and 26 assists in 38 games with a +27 rating.
He does look to be the full picture they are looking for.
Now, will he report back to his school team?
We didn’t really hear much about him in development camp, but maybe we also didn’t need to, as he was making an impression and signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal for 2024/2025.
4th year center Mason Jobst(26) circles back to re-sign for 2022/2023 with the team he originally inked last season with, Rochester Americans before being dealt late to San Jose Barracuda.
The 5’8″ 185 lbs. forward had a career tying 5 goals and best 10 assists and 15 points in 2021/2022, but could bring his on ice accountability up a bit.
He averaged 40+ points per frame in 4 years, twice captain at Ohio State University Buckeyes, so can definitely put up stats.
Almost oddly he didn’t strike as much until his 3rd year of juniors with Muskegon Lumberjacks.
We look for the 28-year old from Speedway, IN to have a career best session and potentially move on, but we shall see.
He scores a career best 22 goals and 28 assists in 64 games with some good playoff points to add and earns a 1-year, 2-way deal from Buffalo Sabres to continue, his 1st NHL deal in 5 seasons.
We also have to think he’s on a bit of a short list for a recall from the Amerks.
2nd year defenseman Eric Gotz(6) will take a successful rookie season with Krefeld Pinguine of DEL2 to Metal Ligaen, where he signs with Aalborg Pirates for 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner played 4 years at Michigan Tech Huskies, then did a year of eligibility at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
He was a 3-time college 10+ assist provider, but didn’t really burst like he did his 2nd NAHL season with Minnesota Wilderness, where he potted 39 helpers.
From Hermantown, MN, the 25-year old should do quite well in Denmark’s top league.
7th year left wing A.J. Greer(10) hits the jackpot, signing his 1st 2-year 1-way NHL contract through 2023/2024 after posting a career high 22 goals and 30 assists in 53 AHL games with a +10 rating for Utica Comets, while signed to New Jersey Devils.
He played 9 games in the big league last season, striking for a goal and an assist.
The Joliette, QC native came down and looked to go the college route, attending USHS-Prep, but after a year and a half at Boston University Terriers, left to join Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, wracking up points en route to the 2016 QMJHL Championship.
Almost oddly, he was a Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2015 draft, chosen after his 1st year of college hockey, where he scored 3 goals and 4 assists in 37 games that they must’ve seen something there.
He played 37 games in the big league with the team, getting a goal and 5 assists.
Still super-young at 25-years old, he is maybe starting to just arrive.
He’s become like the new 4th line bandit, playing 61 games with Boston Bruins, then 59 for Calgary Flames, who claimed him off waivers, and he finally receives a 2-year deal to prove his game as he next heads to 2024 Stanley Cup Champions, Florida Panthers.
In 2024, he also became a BU graduate student.
Maryland Black Bears‘ 3rd year center Jesse Horacek(26) blew the lid off his NAHL scoring in his final frame with 19 goals, 26 assists and a +23 rating in 59 games.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward from Derwood, MD will take his game to SUNY-Oswego Lakers for his freshman year, 2024/2025.
We think the 20-year old strikes pretty big at his new school.
Boston Jr. Rangers‘ 2nd year defenseman Tommy Madden(63) takes an EHL season, where he exploded for 21 assists in 40 games, an easy junior best.
The 6′ 174 lbs. forward heads to UMASS-Dartmouth Corsairs for 2024/2025.
From Brighton, MI, we expect the 21-year will help his team win.
Maryland Black Bears‘ 1st year right wing Michael Urgo(8) grabs 3 goals and 13 assists in 51 NAHL games with a +8 rating, then 1 goal and 3 assists in 11 playoff matchups with a +2 for the mostly home team that he will take to a 2024/2o25 commit at SUNY-Oswego Lakers.
From Davidsonville, MD, the 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward played his 1st junior session in the CCHL before heading back.
We think the 21-year old finds some space to score.
Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2024 draft (#110 overall), defenseman Elliott Groenewold(7) stood out amongst the picks and invites at Development Camp, Warrior Ice Arena this past week.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner stood out as he was unafraid to engage, had very good quickness and release of his shot.
He wasn’t as much of a point scorer in his 1 USHL season with Cedar Rapids Roughriders, as he was at Bishop’s College School Prep.
From Bellows Falls, VT, the 18-year old commits to Quinnipiac University Bobcats for 2024/2025.
