Brown University Bears‘ junior, captain defenseman Alex Pineau(3) may have not scored last season like he did as a sophomore with 7 goals and 9 assists, but lead his club as a leader and will take that into the transfer portal to next go try his game with Northeastern University Huskies in 2026/2027, as a senior.
The 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner did just 1 USHL frame before committing.
From Thunder Bay, ON, we look for the 23-year old to compete well in Hockey East.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior captain, defenseman Ethan Lund(20) skated in a college high 36 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 4 assists.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner played 4 AJHL seasons for Brooks Bandits, getting 19 assists in his final junior frame.
From Calgary, AB, the 25-year old signed with Evansville Thunderbolts as tournament play finished up.
In 4 games, he came away with 1 assist, then 12 playoff games, en route to a 2026 SPHL Championship, he had 1 goal and 2 assists.
He takes his good start to a 1st pro contract in France3 with Montpellier Vipers as a rookie in 2026/2027.
Tuscon Roadrunners‘ pto defenseman Brandon Estes(6) comes in after completing a 5th year at Union College Dutchmen, putting up college career bests 7 goals, 22 assists and 29 points in 37 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 6′ 175 lbs. blue liner played two virtually equal seasons of junior hockey, first in the NAHL, then USHL before heading to school.
He has a pair of assists in 5 AHL games with a +3 rating, so is off to kind of a booming start.
The 25 year old from Richardson, TX is setting himself for a good contract somewhere next season.
He signs a 1-year deal with division rivals Henderson Silver Knights for 2022/2023.
Mostly reassigned down to affiliate Savannah Ghost Pirates, he strikes for 9 goals and 15 assists in 62 games, while playing only 4 up with no points.
For 2023/2024, he re-signs to stay in GA with one of their newest ECHL teams.
He scores a new career best 25 assists and 32 points and will take these stats overseas, signing with Odense Bulldogs to play his hockey in Metal Ligaen 2024/2025, where he should do really well.
He takes a tremendous frame in Denmark, helping win the 2025 Metal Ligaen Championship to a new deal with Cardiff Devils that will take him to the EIHL for 2025/2026, another league he will likely do well in.
After a 6 goals and 36 assist frame, he is an easy invite back to be a Devils again for 2026/2027.
Reading Royals‘ left wing Connor McMenemin(39) played only 29 games last season, but scored effectively 7 goals and 10 assists.
The former 5’11” 185 lbs. University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ graduate and Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ senior did 3 years of USHL juniors before college.
From nearby Collegeville, PA, the 25-year old gets another year to continue with the ECHL home team.
In 63 games, he scores a new best 14 goals and 15 assists to become a no-brainer for a 3rd invite to be a Royals in 2026/2027.
Worcester Railers‘ rookie center Matt Kopperud(18) has been scoring at a decent clip with 7 goals and 14 assists in 28 games, but has to clean up a -7 rating.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward was a twice 20+ goal scoring and similar 10+ assists in 4 years at Arizona State University Sun Devils.
From Denver, CO, he did 2 BCHL seasons and 1 USHL before heading to school.
The 25-year old could very well set himself up to do well.
He does well in the lower league, but decides to take his game elsewhere and signs in Metal Ligaen.
In 46 games, he scores 30+ points, but signs with rivals, Rodovre Mighty Bulls for 2026/2027.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ sophomore left wing Joel Lehtinen(16) enters the transfer portal to play at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for his junior season, 2026/2027.
The 6’4″ 209 lbs. forward played a college high 34 games, scoring new best 6 goals and 9 assists last year.
He did his youth hockey in Finland and came over for 1 NAHL campaign that blew up scoring some.
From Dallas, TX, the 22-year old continues to play the independent schedule, but should have even more luck with this club.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduating senior, captain center Wyatt Bongiovanni(5) had a college career year scoring next bests 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 assists with a +27 rating in 42 NCAA Division 1 games and takes that to his next adventure: a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Winnipeg Jets.
He twice had 10+ goals (14, 15), as a freshman and sophomore and 9 and 10 assists.
The 6′ 184 lbs. forward was twice a 30+ point scorer in USHL juniors.
At a still young 22-years old, he may spend some time in the minors working on his game, but should surely get the recall.
He is traded mid-season to Ottawa Senators, who see some usefulness in his game for their future.
After career high numbers, goal 22 and assists 11 with a +3 rating, Bonjo is an easy invite for another 1-year deal with the Senators for 2025/2026.
He comes away with a career best 13 assists, but gets a late trade that sends him to Hershey Bears.
For 2026/2027, he signs with Providence Bruins, should be a great landing spot.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ freshman defenseman Nick De Angelis(95) played 27 games, scoring 3 assists and will take that into the transfer portal to play at RIT Tigers, as a sophomore in 2026/2027.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner did 4 years OHL juniors before committing and had 52 assists 1 frame.
From King City, ON, the 22-year old should play well in the ECAC.
Carolina Hurricanes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft (#90 overall), Boston University Terriers 4-year senior captain defenseman Domenick Fensore(2) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal as his team is bumped from Final Four play.
It’s likely the 5’9″ 170 lbs. blue liner will report to affiliate Charlotte Checkers for some Calder Cup playoff action, but could also get signaled up, one never knows.
He skated 2 seasons USNTDP, pushing his numbers up slightly as he went.
The 21-year old from Bronxville, NY left with a college career high 9 goals and tied his 31 point mark from his junior year.
He’s ready.
Through 66 AHL games, he scores 9 goals and 23 assists with a +6 rating to earn a 1st, late season recall.
In his debut, he skated 19 shifts for 17:13 of ice time with 5 shots, 1 block, 2 hits, 1 giveaway and a 0 rating in a 4-2 loss
After 2 games in the big league and 9 goals and 23 assists in 67 games in the minors with a +7 rating, the restricted free agent is invited to return a ‘Canes for 2025/2026 on a 1-year deal.
He has a 3rd strong season for Chicago Wolves, taking to the Calder Cup Finals with strong numbers and was a restricted free agent, but signed with Colorado Avalanche for 1-year 2026/2027.
Boston University Terriers‘ defacto leader, Swedish-born center Wilmer Skoog(32) signs a 2-year AHL with Charlotte Checkers that fully has parent club, Florida Panthers playing puppet master.
The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward scored a college best 16 goals and 31 points last season with a +13 rating that saw him ride the wave to the Final Four.
He did his 1st year of college hockey coming out of a scoring spree in his 2nd NAHL frame for Maryland Black Bears, potting 16 goals and 18 assists in 24 games, committing and getting 5 goals and 2 assists in 17 games for his new college team with a +1 rating.
The Stockholm-born pivot played 10 games in tier 3 Hockeyettan for VIK Vasteras HK with no points.
At 23-years old, he has to be pretty happy with his arrangement moving forward.
In his rookie season with affiliate he scores 22 goals and 9 assists in 49 games with a +3 rating, heading into the playoffs to net himself a 1-year 2-way NHL deal for 2024/2025.
He continues decent play in his 2nd frame, but comes alive even more in the playoffs for 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 18 games with a +5 rating.
His good play keeps him in the fold for another season in a Panthers‘ jersey 2025/2026.
He plays a new high 61 games, scoring bests 18 goals and 19 assists to earn himself a 1st recall and in 3 games, all wins has 2 NHL assists and is a +3 rating.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Detroit Red Wings for 2026/2027.
