Undrafted rookie left wing Jade Miller(16) signed with South Carolina Stingrays over the summer after COVID busted any form of a 2019/2020 playoff run for his 4-year college team, University Of Minnesota-Duluth, where he won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2018 and 2019.
In 26 ECHL games, he has a first pro goal and an assist with a -3 rating, which is odd for a player that was very accountable through college.
The Minot, ND native played a pair of seasons for Austin Bruins of the NAHL and fully came out of his shell, busting for 29 goals and 22 assists in 60 games as a 2nd year skater.
Through just another game from when we 1st posted, 27, he was able to grab another goal for 2, but stayed at 1 assist.
The ‘Rays like what they see though and re-sign him to return for 2021/2022.
For 2022/2023 he decides to jump to Idaho Steelheads after posting 11 goals and 20 assists in a full slate of 72 games.
He records a new league best 16 goals and 33 points with a +28 rating, then adds 8 (3-5) points in 20 playoff match ups to cinch an invite to return to Idaho for 2023/2024.
Not quite making the same impression as a year ago, he is still wanted to return to wear a Steelheads‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
After a new best 17 goals and 17 assists in a full-slate of 72 games, he is an easy sign for a 5th year as a Steelheads in 2026/2027.
After taking a year to turn pro prior to 2 NAHL seasons with Maine Nordiques, Stockholm-born defenseman Casper Soderling(56) skated for Nacka HK of Division 2, running some decent numbers, 2 goals and 16 assists in 26 games last season.
The 6′ 172 lbs. blue liner seems to have changed his mind and accepted a commitment to American International College Yellowjackets for 2022/2023.
As a 21-year old, he will likely find some room to play his game in Atlantic Hockey and may even really take to it well.
He struggled a bit with not much use and transferred to Curry College Colonels for his junior year and played 25 games, scoring 4 goals and 10 assists with a +7 rating.
As a senior, he may have played and scored less, but left with a +13 rating to next sign a contract for his rookie season with Fayetteville Marksmen, 2026/2027.
Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Dylan Peterson(22) scored a college best 8 goals and 20 points last season and signs his 2-year NHL entry level contract with draft club St. Louis Blues (3rd round, 2020 #86 overall).
The big 6’4″ 203 lbs. forward did 2 years USNTDP juniors racking up decent point totals before heading to school.
From Roseville, CA, look for the 22-year old to be an impact player as soon as he arrives as a rookie.
Upon skating 3 games with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, he earns a 1st recall after 10+ goals in his 1st 2 years.
He skates 14 shifts for 8:57 of ice time, has 4 hits and 1 giveaway, gets into a 5-minute fighting major and leaves a 7-2 victory with a +1 rating in his Blues‘ debut.
New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2013 draft (#100 overall), 7th year left wing Miles Wood(11) signs to stay on for 2022/2023 avoiding arbitration after suffering hip surgery last season that left him almost completely off the calendar, skating only 3 NHL games.
As a 2nd year player, he posted a career best 19 goals and 32 points to earn himself a 4-year extension.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. power forward only spent one season at Boston College Eagles before turning pro.
He didn’t even play junior hockey, going straight from USHS-Prep to college.
The 27-year old may only have signed on for a year, but we fully expect him healthy and picking up his hard-hitting style game right where he left off.
After rebounding with a decent 13 goals, 14 assists in 76 games frame in the same jersey for the 1st 8 years of his career, the unrestricted free agent makes a big change and signs a 6-year deal with Colorado Avalanche through 2028/2029.
He would play 2 seasons before he was traded to Columbus Blue Jackets.
In 54 games, he gets 8 goals and 6 assists, but for 2026/2027 is involved in another trade, a big one to Toronto Maple Leafs.
11th year left wing Matt Nieto(83) signs a new 2-year NHL deal with Pittsburgh Penguins through 2024/2025 for $900,000 AAV.
He was originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#47 overall), he skated almost 4 years for them before getting traded to Colorado Avalanche, where he spent close to the next 4 and then would return to the Sharks.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward did 3 years at Boston University Terriers after 2 campaigns with the USNTDP.
From Long Beach, CA, at 30-years old, he’s still ticking and could still be worth 10+ goals, 20+ assists.
He split time, playing a few AHL games, as he did in the beginning of his pro career, but after sitting out last season decides to retire after 705 NHL games played
Saint Lawrence University Saints‘ graduate left wing Cameron Buhl(18) gets a try-out for 1st pro contract with Kalamazoo Wings in 2024/2025.
Not exactly the most proficient scorer, he did grab 9 goals and 9 assists as a senior.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was maybe a little more prolific in juniors for Minnesota Magicians, scoring 20 goals and 41 assists in his final NAHL frame.
From St. Paul South, MN, he also scored well in high school at South St. Paul MN-USHS.
We think the 25-year old has a good chance at making the opening night roster.
In all eventuality, he signs with Utah Grizzlies to start his pro game.
In 28 games, he has 3 goals and 2 assists with a terrible -15 rating and is traded to Savannah Ghost Pirates for hopefully more on ice accountability.
He plays 21 games and scores 1 goal and 2 assists, which Rapid City Rush see and sign him for 2025/2026.
In 66 ECHL games last season, he pocketed a healthy 21 goals and 12 assists, but for 2026/2027 he is picked up on a trade with the new into the league New Mexico Goatheads for 2026/2027.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate defenseman Cody Schiavon(44) agreed on a 1st deal for his pro career with Orlando Solar Bears, but was released after only 1 appearance and quickly snapped up and signed by Indy Fuel.
The 6′ 201 lbs. blue liner has no points in 5 games.
His best college scoring season came as a junior for 3 goals and 5 assists in 28 games after coming over from 2 years at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
From Kelowna, BC, he did 3 years of BCHL before college.
The 25-year had 25 assists in his last season of juniors.
After 16 games, he decides to sign for his rookie season, 2026/2027 with Jacksonville Icemen.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th year defenseman Mark Friedman(95) re-ups for another two years after scoring a goal and 4 assists in 26 NHL games with a +1 rating.
The 5’10” 192 lbs. blue liner has appeared in big league games for the last 4 seasons, but seems to have arrived in the current session.
He scored 2 goals and an assist in 5 games, when he arrived via the waiver wire from Philadelphia Flyers.
The Bowling Green State University Falcons blue liner left a year on the table after scoring college career best 8 goals, 18 assist and 26 points.
It looks like the 26-year old is in a good spot with his new team.
He picks up 20+ games in the big league 2 years in a row, but gets himself traded in sort of a minor deal to Vancouver Canucks, where he could find a spot on d with the big club.
In 5 games, he had no points, but got 1 goal and 5 assists in 20 games with a +4 rating for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.
He finds himself traded to Nashville Predators to help shore up their zone, but initially he will head to Milwaukee Admirals.
In 21 games, he comes away with 2 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating, which in turn he will take to a new opportunity in his 9th season to go skate for Rogle BK of the SHL for 2025/2026.
He scores 3 goals and 12 assists in 47 games with a +7 rating to get a new deal and stay Rogle BK for a 2nd year, 2026/2027.
Boston University Terriers‘ Chinese-born 6’5″ 223 lbs. freshman defenseman Haoxi Wang(61) didn’t put up huge numbers in 1.5 years of OHL before school, but did score ok with Niagara Ice Dogs and also in 1 season of OJHL intially from when he came over for a final season of youth hockey before juniors.
The 19-year old already has a 1st goal in 3 games to start his college hockey career.
He was selected by San Jose Sharks in the 2nd round of the 2025 draft (#33 overall), making him the highest selected player from his country in the NHL.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ sophomore net minder Fred Halyk(1) enters the transfer portal after decent use, 13 and 9 games to start for Brown University Bears, who lost their goalie this season.
The massive 6’6″ 220 lbs. backstop has a 2-0 record with less than stellar numbers will come.
He had 3 shutouts as a freshman.
From Cochrane,AB, the 22-year old should continue to mature and do well for his new ECAC team.
There’s seems to be little doubt that he looks to carry the team mostly in 2026/2027 and will definitely win the Bears many games they may not look like they should.
