UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate, twice captain, defenseman Ben Meehan(12) initially signed with Iowa Wild after tournament play, but agrees to Lehigh Valley Phantoms on a 2-way deal for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
The 6′ 187 lbs. blue liner had a college best 14 assists last season and tied his 17 points from his junior year.
From Boston, MA, the 24-year old did only 1 year of USHL before school.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior, assistant captain center Cameron Berg(12) signs to a 1-year AHL contract under the guide of draft club (4th round, 2021, #125 overall), New York Islanders.
The 6′ 192 lbs. transferred from 2 years at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, where he was a good scorer.
He did 3 years of USHL juniors before college.
From West Fargo, ND, the 23-year old will probably score decently in the AHL with contract club, Bridgeport Islanders.
Detroit Red Wings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2018 draft (#81 overall) defenseman Seth Barton(49) was signed to a 2-year entry level deal after completing his third season at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks in a very COVID cut short 2020/2021.
The very decently sized 6’3″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Kelowna, BC played a year in Canadian juniors for Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL putting up 27 assists in 49 games before reporting to college.
It looks as though the 21-year old reports first to affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, but his play could gain him a look early from a team that has struggled in 2020/2021.
He skates most of his 2nd season in the system up, but gets reassigned late to Toledo Walleye, finishes the season strong with 8 points in 10 ECHL games, then adding another 13 points (1 goal, 12 assists) in 13 games in the playoffs.
With no qualifying offer to stay, he becomes an unrestricted free agent, signing a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack for 2023/2024.
He starts the new season with Cincinnati Cyclones, but after just 1 game spies a new deal he is going after, a 1-year deal to sign with KooKoo and play his hockey in Liiga for the near future.
In 10 games, the big back liner scores his 1st Finnish goal and adds 5 assists with a +8 rating to earn a +1 next to his contract for 2024/2025.
After 1st full season, in 55 games scoring 6 goals and 13 assists with a +6 rating and next he will head to the SHL and signs with Malmo Redhawks for 2025/2026.
Detroit Red Wings‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#135 overall), Michigan State University Spartans‘ transfer, center Red Savage(19) from 2 decent seasons at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks will likely add to his game under more scrutiny, better competition in the Big10 Division.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward isn’t quite the scorer he was in 2 years of USNTDP, when he ran point-per-game stats.
From the unlikely hub of Scottsdale, AZ, the 19-year old will likely see his game totals improve as a junior.
After his 2nd season as senior captain, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists in a low 20 games with a +6 rating, he signs a 2-year AHL contract with Rochester Americans that we feel is under radar of the parent club as well.
3rd year defenseman Tristan Thompson(72) is looking good in his beginnings with new club Adirondack Thunder.
He posted an ECHL career best 8 goals and 34 assists last season.
The 5’9″ 180 lbs. blue liner needs to clean up his -27 rating, but we believe is on the right team to improve that number by a lot.
A native of Cranmore, AB, he did his college hockey at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, contributed points over 35 games.
We think the 26-year old is looking at a nice new start.
He does rather nicely through 38 games with 5 goals and 14 assists and a +9 rating, but maybe gets a little antsy for some better, different kind of hockey, so signs up with HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas of Slovak Extraliga and will be an interesting watch in this league.
Going on to sign in Ligue Magnus for 2024/2025, he does pretty well, but decides to return a little closer to home, signing with Maine Mariners.
He scores 1 goal and 24 assists in 39 games and will return on a 1-year deal to stay a Mariners for 2025/2026.
Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate Mickey Burns(10) takes a college best 11 assists and 21 points, 10 goals only off his 11 total as a junior, to a 1st pro contract with Atlanta Gladiators.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward did 1 season at University Of Vermont Catamounts, figuring into only 5 games with no points to transfer.
He was a huge point-getter in 2 seasons of USPHL/NCDC juniors with NJ Titans, grabbing 45 goals in 50 games in his 2nd frame.
From Wayne, NJ, the 25-year old had 1 goal and 2 assists in 13 ECHL games, but needs a contract for 2025/2026.
He quickly agrees to return for his rookie season, 2025/2026 as a Gladiators.
University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ graduate, assistant captain right wing Luke Loheit(16) takes a college best 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) to a 1st pro deal with Kansas City Mavericks for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward stuck close to his Minnetoka, MN home for college.
After connecting as a senior in USHS-MN, he went to one BCHL season, where he continued to do pretty well.
The 24-year old is likely very ready for that next step, signing a first ECHL pro contract.
15 goals and 19 assists in 64 games with a +6 rating and he is an easy return to be a Mavericks for 2025/2026.
Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate left wing Kyler Head(23) has a shoulder injury end his season of eligibility after just 6 games.
The 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward recovers in time to sign a 1st pro deal with Fayettesville Marksmen, where he goes on a bit of a scoring spree with 4 goals and 6 assists in 11 SPHL games with a +1 rating.
He did 2 NAHL junior seasons with New Jersey Titans, blowing up scoring in his 2nd frame.
From Malone, NY, the 25-year old did his freshman year at Robert Morris University Colonels, but left as they went belly up.
He gets an assist in 1 playoff game and will return for his rookie season, 2025/2026 to continue a Marksmen.
University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ 2022/2023 commit, center Frank Nazar(91) hasn’t put up the USHL numbers he did in his 1st USNTDP season, but has skated only half the games and is still a point-per-game player.
His numbers are very similar in U.S. National U18 Team season.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward from Mt. Clemens, MI emerged out of a couple Honeybaked campaigns, exploding the scoresheet as a 15U AAA with 49 goals and 78 assists in 55 games.
That came after he agreed to his college after 14U AAA.
The 18-year old was selected in the 1st round of the 2022 draft, #13 overall by Chicago Blackhawks.
He blows up scoring in his 2nd year to the tune of point-per-game numbers with 41 (17-24) in 41 games to get to the NCAA Division 1 Frozen Four matchups.
His team is eliminated and on the next day, he has a contract from draft club in hand to leave 2 years at school on the table and turn pro.
In his debut, he scores the opening strike of the night, a 1st NHL goal and is welcomed to the show, but his team suffers another loss in the process with only a couple games left to skate.
After point-per-game numbers with the affiliate Rockford Icehogs and 12 goals and 14 assists in 53 games with the parent club gets him a huge increase to stay on with a 7-year, $46.13M contract, worth $6.59M AAV to stay a Blackhawks.
Norfolk Admirals‘ 3rd year defenseman Lordanthony Grissom(3) won the 2022 SPHL Championship with Peoria Rivermen after completing 4 years, twice as captain at Aurora University Spartans.
He actually scored points in that league, raising his profile to score ECHL contracts moving forward.
The very large 6’4″ 229 lbs. blue liner had a league career best 3 goals and 7 assists last season for Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
From Detroit, MI, the 28-year old has 1 assist in 3 games in the current frame and could find his way to scoring more points when out there.
In 16 games, he only posts 1 assists, but is a +2 rating.
He is released and claimed off waivers by Jacksonville Icemen, who hope to do something with his great size.
Not really with a lot of luck last season, split between a couple of teams, Iowa Heartlanders see something they think they can turn into more of a scoring factor and bring him in for 2025/2026.
