Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod‘s 2nd year center Kenny Agostino(11) is already off to a good start for 2022/2023 with 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 KHL games with a +3 rating.
Last season he scored 20 goals and 20 assists in 46 games with a +8, his 1st season overseas.
The former 4-year 10+ goal scorer and 2 time 20+ assist guy at Yale University Bulldogs was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#140 overall).
He was traded to Calgary Flames and signed an entry level deal before his skates ever hit the ice.
The Morristown, NJ native bounced around on 1-year deals mostly before getting signed to a 2-year, 1-way contract late with Toronto Maple Leafs, yet he only appeared in 1 NHL game with them.
At 30-years old, he’s done ok enough, but is still likely earning his way in Russia and playing some elite puck.
For 2023/2024, he is trading in a couple of seasons where he is for new surroundings in the SHL and will join Skelleftea AIK.
He actually switches things up and heads to Germany instead, signing with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL and scores himself point-per-game numbers in 48 (14-34), but will ink with rivals, ERC Ingolstadt for 2024/2025 and likely do just as well.
Curry College Colonels‘ graduate transfer Daniel Eruzione(11) signs a 1st pro deal with Brixen/Bressanone Falcons of Italy2 for his rookie season 2022/2023.
The small-ish 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward is coming off a college career low goal and 9 assists in 22 NCAA Division3 games, but 3 times was a 20+ point scorer for his 1st school, Salve Regina University Seahawks.
He started his junior hockey with tier 3 Walpole Express after graduating Cushing Academy and lit up with 41 points in 40 EHL games, then was selected in the NAHL draft and played the next frame for New Jersey Junior Titans.
The 26-year old, Winthrop, MA native should light up where he is headed and may even get a promotion to a higher level club.
He has a very successful first run in Italy’s tier 2 league (12 goals, 19 assists in 20 games) and will return, but signs with rivals Feltre for 2023/2024.
25 assists ties a mark twice set in college play and 17 goals goes back to his 2nd junior season for that total, so he is scoring and will take that to a 3rd Italy2 team for 2024/2025, HC Eppan Pirates, maybe in hopes of winning a championship.
Way to be on the lookout, Detroit Red Wings sign now 2nd year defenseman Wyatt Newpower(40) to a two-year NHL entry level deal.
The fairly sizable 6’3″ 194 lbs. d-man was initially signed by Cleveland Monsters to a minor league deal and as a rookie scored 3 goals and 7 assists in 24 AHL games with a fairly phenomenal +10 rating.
He finished 2019/2020 COVID playoff cut season, finishing up 4 as captain for UConn Huskies, scoring a college career tying 3 goals and best 19 assists for 22 points with a +23 rating.
The 23-year old Hugo, MN native has to be smiling nicely how he played his way into this signing.
As his deal expires, he isn’t qualified to stay, so signs a minor league deal with Bridgeport Islanders for 2024/2025.
Providence Bruins welcome in 2nd year right wing Jimmy Lambert(23) after scoring 11 goals and 13 assists in 27 games with a +6 rating on reassignment with Worcester Railers from contract club, Bridgeport Islanders.
He scored 1 goal and 6 assists in 33 games up with a +1.
The 6′ 176 lbs. former University Of Michigan Wolverines wasn’t a huge scorer at school.
Originally from Newcastle, GBR, the 26-year old could see time playing for rival Maine Mariners.
In 21 ECHL games this season, he’s tied his 13 assists, but will still need to add on tallies to his 4 to get him past those pretty amazing marks of 11 as a rookie.
He does well last season, tying his goals at 11 and 23 assists is a new career league best.
Though he appears in only 10 AHL games, he is wanted to return to continue and work on his game.
Giant 6’5″ 220 lbs. Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate defenseman Brenden Datema(57) finishes up his studies and turns pro, signing for the remainder of the season with Atlanta Gladiators.
The senior year transfer from Michigan Tech Huskies, but played little there.
He’s not exactly the biggest point getter and through 3 ECHL has no points yet.
We think he can come away as a big presence on the blue line and someone that can generate offense.
He grabs 2 assists in 12 games and they like what they are seeing to invite him to return for his rookie season, 2024/2025 in a Gladiators‘ sweater.
USNTDP‘s 2nd year goaltender Nicholas Kempf(31) commits to University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 191 lbs. net minder didn’t exactly do too well through juniors.
We think mostly he was scouted during his youth time with Chicago Mission 13-15U and think come college he returns to that form.
Washington Capitals see something, as they select him in the 4th round of 2024 NHL draft (#114 overall).
9th year defenseman Dakota Mermis(5) re-signs to stay within Minnesota Wild organization for a 4th straight year after posting a career high 3-time tying 21 assists in a frame for affiliate Iowa Wild.
The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner took a somewhat odd path up through junior hockey starting a year with the USNTDP before moving on to 1 season for Lincoln Stars, where he won the 2012 USHL Clark Cup, then committing to University Of Denver Pioneers.
That was 19 games short-lived, as he went on to join London Knights and win the 2013 OHL Championship, then 2 years later would pull the same feat, plus the 2015 Memorial Cup for Oshawa Generals.
He has 426 AHL games to his credit and 27 in the NHL with a 1st goal coming from his time with New Jersey Devils.
Undrafted, the 29-year old from Alton, IL continues to pull big contracts and that has to make him feel pretty good.
He actually plays more time with the main club, 47 games, scoring 3 goals and 5 assists, which is good enough to net him a new 1-year deal with Toronto Maple Leafs, but could find himself more with their affiliate Toronto Marlies.
4th year goaltender Cam Johnson(33) split his playing time between the AHL with Cleveland Monsters and ECHL for Florida Everblades, while under NHL contract for a 2nd season to parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets.
He started most of the season in the lower league, but played most of the latter part with the direct affiliate.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. net minder was loaned down when the upper team’s year was up, he joined them to backstop their playoff run.
He would finish with a 15-2-1 mark and 1.90 GAA and .933 SV% on the way to being declared MVP of the 2022 Kelly Cup Champions.
The 27-year old from Troy, MI, who also won the 2016 NCAA Division 1 Championship with University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, needs a new contract for 2022/2023, but this seems like almost a 2-year lockup.
An unrestricted free agent, he wasn’t retained, but fairly quickly into free agency signs a 1-year deal with Charlotte Checkers, which seems like it will be a perfect fit.
After guiding the Everblades to a 2nd straight Kelly Cup and grabbing MVP honors, he is rewarded with a 1-year deal with parent club Charlotte Checkers for 2023/2024.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Springfield Thunderbirds and hopes to become their #1 net minder, returning him specifically to the league for the 1st time in a few seasons.
Dallas Stars re-signed 7th year center Tanner Kero(64) to a two-year two-way NHL contract through 2022/2023.
The former Michigan Tech captain put up some good numbers through his 4-year college career, but nothing like he did, when he was a senior captain and popped in 20 goals and 26 assists in 41 NCAA WCHA games.
He’s already a veteran of 111 total appearances with initial signing club Chicago Blackhawks and 39 games in 2020/2021 with current team, scoring 3 goals and 7 assists to earn his new deal.
The 28-year old has played 248 AHL games, and must be smiling but has worked hard to achieve all he has.
He spends the entire frame with affiliate, Texas Stars, but scores well through the playoffs.
Not re-signed to continue, he inks a minor league deal with Colorado Eagles.
For 2024/2025, he has likely made the best decision and agrees to terms with HV71 of the SHL, where we think he will find new life.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior right wing Ryan Miotto(22) has chosen to add another season to his studies and will join University Of Vermont Catamounts for the start of a graduate program.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward punched through on scoring last season with 17 goals and 18 assists in 42 games, more than doubling his previous highs.
He was a very decent scorer in his 2nd BCHL junior session for Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
The 23-year old from Thorold, ON should do well in Hockey East.
He takes a decent season, playing a little different style of hockey to a 1st pro contract with Wheeling Nailers and he just got his 1st ECHL goal in his 5th appearance with a +3 rating.
For his official rookie season, he signs with Iowa Heartlanders for 2024/2025.
