Category: College Hockey Player

12Jul

Jake Stevens (44)

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Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate defenseman Jake Stevens(44) has college career high 4 goals, tied his 13 assists as a freshman and a new best 17 points in 29 games.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. committed after his first BCHL season for Victoria Grizzlies, then in his follow-up went on to score junior best 8 goals and 45 assists in 58 games.

He transferred for 2021/2022 from 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints.

The undrafted, 25 year old is definitely a good player to see what develops.

Upon completing his 5th year, the native of Naperville, IL signs a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders and has a 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists in 6 games with a +1 rating on a team that has been losing.

He would conclude his short spell with 1 goal and 7 assists in 11 games with a +1 rating.

For 2023/2024, he signs with Orlando Solar Bears and should be able to help their blue line not give up goals and score points.

He gets released after 2 goals and 2 assists in 24 games and quickly picked up by Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who think they can add to those totals.

In 10 games, he records 1 goal and 4 assists with a +5 rating, but decides to sign with Maine Mariners to start 2024/2025.

9 game played without any points, Tahoe Knight Monsters want him to join their team.

In 3 games with his new club has 2 assists with a +4 rating, so things are looking up.

Worcester Railers see something in him they can you and sign him up for 2025/2026, where his size should fit in nicely with the team’s game style.

He would leave for 2025/2026 for Slovakia2, doing pretty well.

For 2026/2027, he heads of to Hockeyettan and signs with Bodens HF.

11Jul

Wyatt Kalynuk (3)

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ newest defenseman, rookie Wyatt Kalynuk(3) has so far steadily put up numbers with affiliate Rockford Icehogs.

In 8 AHL games, he has two goals and 8 assists with two of those points recorded in his debut and he has 4 multi-point appearances that’s turning heads with the parent club for a look.

The 6’1″ 185 blue liner, originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#198 overall), signed a two-year deal with his new team as an unrestricted free agent over the summer.

He finished his third season at University Of Wisconsin as captain and recorded a best 28 points.

The almost 24-year old Canadian export took a decidedly American route through three years of USHL and college before turning pro but has officially arrived.

He earned his recall as a rookie and appeared in 21 NHL games, scoring 4 goals and 5 assists.

As a sophomore skater, he mostly stayed in the minors, but managed 7 goals and 20 assists in 52 games, while also getting 5 games up with no points.

On the opening day of unrestricted free agency, despite not being offered a qualifying offer, was scooped quickly by Vancouver Canucks and signed to a 1-year 2-way deal that pays him pretty nicely if he skates for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.

Nearing the end of the trade deadline, he gets dealt to New York Rangers, who will need to re-sign the restricted free agent at the end of the current session.

He could easily see more big league time with his new club.

At the end of the session, he actually becomes a group 6 free agent, so is free to sign and St. Louis Blues step in early to offer a 1-year 2-way deal to work in their system.

He steps away from a career high 66 games to sign a 1-year deal with Pelicans, where he scores 10 goals and 23 assists in 59 games, which Ak Bars Kazan sees strong enough to sign him for 2025/2026 and we think he does well in the KHL.

Drifting between 3 different clubs didn’t give him much of a chance to settle and score, so he moves on for 2026/2027 to IceHL, signing with EC Salzburg Red Bulls.

11Jul

Zach Uens (7)

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Charlotte Checkers‘ rookie defenseman Zach Uens(7) has a 1st AHL goal in his 5th of 6 games played.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner appears to have started his 1st season a bit late, but has appeared in each contest since.

A Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in 2020 (#65 overall), he left 1 year at Merrimack College Warriors on the table to turn pro with a 3-year NHL entry level contract.

The Belleville, ON native twice put up 10+ assists in three seasons at college and had similar marks in 2 years of OJHL juniors.

At the still young age of 21 years old, we do believe he is just getting started.

Reassigned to affiliate Florida Everblades, he did especially well scoring in his 2nd frame and won 2 2023 & 2024 Kelly Cup Championships.

An unrestricted free agent, he signed with Savannah Ghost Pirates, where he did pretty well as assistant captain to score a deal with Coachella Valley Firebirds and leads to strong performances with Kansas City Mavericks that rode all the way into the finals.

Syracuse Crunch are watching and sign him up for 2026/2027.

11Jul

Vinni Lettieri (10)

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Undrafted 5th year right wing Vinni Lettieri(10) re-ups for a 2nd season in Anaheim Ducks‘ organization.

He only played 5 NHL games in 2020/2021, but lit up the scoresheet with affiliate San Diego Gulls, scoring 14 goals and 12 assists in 22 AHL games, adding another 3 points in 3 playoff contests.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal by New York Rangers after graduating from University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he was a point-per-game player as a senior.

He was also a solid goal scorer in high school and one year of juniors for Lincoln Stars of the USHL.

The 26-year old has played 52 games in the big league, scoring 2 goals and 6 assists with a dismal -21 rating, but we think he’s one solid scoring line away from being an impact player.

In 2021/2022, he was given his best chance yet to become a permanent member at the higher level, appearing in a career best 31 games, scoring 5 goals and 5 assists.

Boston Bruins lean in on the opening day of free agency offering a 1-year, 2-way deal at almost a 1-way rate and he’s on board and will likely compete for any open roster spots available.

He scores a career best 26 assists and 49 points last season to earn himself a nice 2-year deal with Minnesota Wild, worth just below the average of a 1-way deal.

There’s little doubt he’ll be seeing a lot of playing time for Iowa Wild, but could score a recall as he did once last season.

He actually spends 46 games with contract club, scoring 5 goals and 4 assists and actually finds himself traded back to Boston, where he will compete for a spot once again.

An unrestricted free agent, who saw some good usefulness and an ability to connect, he is signed by Toronto Maple Leafs, who eye him for a possible spot in their lineup or he continues to score big in the minors.

After 26 points in 23 playoff games to help the affiliate to capture the 2026 Calder Cup Trophy, he is an easy invite back to work his scoring magic, which we feel will include a look up as a Maple Leafs in 2026/2027.

11Jul

Harrison Rees (27)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate defenseman Harrison Rees(27) signs a 1st pro contract with Fort Wayne Komets and nets a 1st ECHL goal in his debut and has a +1 rating.

The 6’2″ 175 lbs. blue liner from Mississauga, ON wasn’t a huge scorer in college hockey, but was a reliable +23 player.

He took 2 successful OJHL campaigns with North York Rangers to his college commit.

The undrafted 24-year old was likely looking forward to the moment he could lace up a pair of pro game skates for awhile.

In 8 games, he scores 2 goals and 2 assists with a +2 rating to gain a 1 AHL game loan up to Hartford Wolf Pack.

He will return to the Komets for his official rookie season, 2024/2025.

The entire of 2025/2026 was spent in the lower league, where he played well deep into a playoff run, but for 2026/2027, he is looking elsewhere and signs with HK Dukla Michalovce of Tipsport Extraliga.

10Jul

Devin Phillips (20)

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Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior center Devin Phillips(20) elects to do a year of eligibility at Sacred Heart University Pioneers for the start of a graduate program, 2026/2027.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward had similar numbers to his best scoring season as a junior last year, getting 6 goals and 13 assists in 23 games.

From Raleigh, NC, the 23-year old did 3 years of juniors, blowing up scoring in his final frame with 68 assists, then 17 points in the playoffs to take the 2022 AJHL Championship.

We think he stays hot Atlantic Hockey.

10Jul

Brady Keeper (25)

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Vancouver Canucks have picked up unrestricted free agent Brady Keeper(25) as his one-year extension to stay in Florida Panthers‘ system was up.

And even though the undrafted, 6’2″ 196 lbs. blue liner has only ever skated 2 NHL games, he is given a 2-year one-way deal to come play zone in the big league.

He originally came from three seasons of juniors in the MJHL for OCN Blizzard, serving as captain in his final session, before committing to University Of Maine Black Bears.

The Cross Lake, MB native played one full AHL campaign for affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, earning 6 goals and 18 assists in 61 games.

He was loaned last season to Syracuse Crunch, where he figured into 11 games, scoring a goal and 2 assists.

They must see something in the 25-year old that looks ready to step it up full-time and it just may work.

He wouldn’t actually figure into any games for 2021/2022 after breaking 2 major bones in his leg, but returned for the next frame, contributing 1 goal and 5 assists in 35 games.

For 2023/2024, he has options and signs with Montreal Canadiens, but really is on a high-priced minor league deal with affiliate  Laval Rocket.

He only figures into 22 games last season, but his accountability is good.

For 2024/2025, he signs with HK Poprad of Slovak Extraliga, which should provide the challenge the 28-year old needs.

Instead of reporting to his new, overseas team, he elected to sit last year out and returns in 2025/2026 to sign with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL.

Injuries continue to nag him, as he tries to move towards a comeback, but it turns out to be too much and he needs to hang up the skates, having 2 goals in 4 NHL games.

Something is nagging him and he signs for 2025/2026 with South Carolina Stingrays.

He actually heads to the semi-pro SaskEHL, but with 7 goals and 2 assists in 5 games, maybe thinks he should really play, gets a trade to and signs with Rapid City Rush.

In a very short stint, he does exceedingly well, but gets traded to Idaho Steelheads, where his leadership is going to be very nicely welcomed.

10Jul

Carson Musser (4)

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Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate portal transfer from 4 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons, defenseman Carson Musser(4) took a college best scoring 4 goals and 11 points in 31 NCAA games to a 1st contract with Norfolk Admirals.

In 7 ECHL games, he had an assist and left with no playoffs a +2 rating.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. blue liner has never really scored many goals, but did manage 10 assists in his 2nd USHL year with Fargo Force.

From Grand Rapids, MI, it’s seems likely the 25-year old could score a new contract for 2022/2023 in the league, if he wants.

As considered, the d-man decides to go for a full session in Virginia to see what’s possible.

He is able to connect for 4 goals and 9 assists, but needs to clean up a -19 rating and hopefully the team posts a better record, as he re-signs to stay.

Increasing his numbers as he goes is easily the way to keep attention, so he scores a new best 8 goals and 18 assists, while bringing up that horrible +/- to a +13 rating in 57 games, then in 11 playoff matchups adds another 7 points, +5.

He is easy to continue to bring back in an Admirals‘ jersey.

For a 4th straight season, he will return to Norfolk after scoring a new high 23 assists and 29 points.

He maybe lost a little production last season, which has caused him to looked elsewhere and signs for 2026/2027 with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL.