Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft (#51 overall), center Jack Hughes(27) is just starting his 2nd season at Northeastern University Huskies, where in 4 games this season already has 2 assists.
He scored decently as a freshman.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward played two solid frames with the USNTDP after playing high school at St. Sebastian’s Prep, scoring well enough at both levels.
It’s maybe a bit of a wonder as to why he went so high, but he does play like he always shows tremendous upside and is dad is the General Manager of Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes.
For his junior year, he has decided to switch up Hockey East affiliations and will head to Boston University Terriers, starting 2023/2024.
After a third 7 goal outing, to go along with 18 assists and a +9 rating, he signs a 1-year AHL deal with affiliate Ontario Reign for 2025/2026.
11 year defenseman Chad Ruhwedel(5) finds himself in a new uniform for the 1st time in 8 seasons.
He has been with Pittsburgh Penguins, but was just moved for a 4th round draft pick to New York Rangers, who saw use for him as they look to make a deep run in the playoffs.
The 5’11” 182 lbs. blue liner originally made his debut under NHL contract with Buffalo Sabres, getting his feet wet with a few games.
He did 3 seasons at UMass Lowell Riverhawks after 2 USHL stints for Sioux Falls Stampede.
From all places, San Diego, CA, the 33-year old’s best season was post-COVID, when he notched 4 goals and 9 assists and he also won the 2017, when he 1st moved to his 2nd team.
He plays 5 games in a Blueshirts‘ jersey and they want him to return for a full frame in 2024/2025.
For a 2nd straight season, he plays 5 games with the big club and records an assist.
He is really strong with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 3 goals and 15 assists in 50 games with a +12 rating.
Well, let’s see: 369 NHL games, 261 in the AHL and 12 pro seasons with 1 Stanley Cup is a good run and the 35 year old is ready to find something new to do with his ice time.
Idaho Steelheads‘ center Jack Becker(27) re-signs with the team after posting 12 goals and 21 assists in 49 ECHL games with a +14 rating as a rookie.
The 6’3″ 192 lbs. forward played 4 seasons at University Of Michigan Wolverines, reaching 10+ points in 3 of his years.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 7th round pick in the 2015 draft (#195 overall), he performed maybe a little better in 2 frames of USHL junior hockey for Sioux Falls Stampede.
From Dellwood, MN, the 26-year has found his gear and now is settling in.
In 33 games on loan to parent club, Texas Stars, he scores 5 goals and 2 assists and no points in 5 playoff games after virtual point-per-game numbers in the lower league.
He definitely will be back for 2024/2025 to earn more AHL time.
Appearing in 70 games last season, he scores 11 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating, then adds 4 points (2-2) in 14 playoff matchups.
He is an easy return for 2025/2026 as a Stars.
Colgate University Raiders‘ senior left wing Alex DiPaolo(41) signs a 1st pro deal with Maine Mariners, as tournament play is up.
The 6’1″ 192 lbs. forward puts up 10 ECHL games, gaining 4 assists with a +4 rating.
He was coming off a college best 15 assists and 26 points.
It was his 3rd straight season of 10+ goals and assists.
From Oakville, ON, the 24-year old did 3 BCHL seasons with 3 different teams before college.
He looks like a good skater to stick around for his rookie frame, 2025/2026 and stays a Mariners.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ junior center Keaton Mastrodonato(8) is well on a pace to blow out his best numbers with a tying 10 goals and new high 12 assists and 22 points in only 19 NCAA Division 1 games with a +8 rating.
The 6′ 205 lbs. forward twice scored 20 goals, 22 and 32 helpers in juniors for Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL before committing to school.
He should be in contention for the Hobey Baker after this campaign, as he was from scoring last year.
The 21-year old, undrafted prospect from Powell River, BC is going to be an interesting watch going forward.
As the natural captain in his senior year, helping push the team to the 2023 Atlantic Hockey Championship, he managed a college career best 16 goals and 20 assists.
Upon finishing up, he decides to go pro, signing an ato with Texas Stars, where the sizable pivot could find room to score.
He played 2 games to finish up the frame and impresses the Cedar Park club enough to sign him up for an official rookie run in 2023/2024.
In 48 games with affiliate Idaho Steelheads, he scores 18 goals and 24 assists and gets 4 goals in the AHL through 19 appearances, but for 2024/2025, he heads to Colorado Eagles, where we think he will strike for better.
Ontario Reign spot what he did for Utah Grizzlies with 19 goals and 30 assists in 53 ECHL games and he gets signed to a 1-year deal for 2025/2026.
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.
He is reassigned and plays a crazy 47 games with a league best 1.92 GAA and .921 SV% and a 37-6-4 record to win MVP.
For 2025/2026, he re-signs with the Thunderbirds and we shall see.
Boston University Terriers‘ freshman defenseman Jack Page(19) is still working his way into the lineup, only appearing in 4 wins thus far with the team this season, recording no points yet, but stands at a +1 rating.
The big 6’4″ 194 lbs. blue liner joined the team for 1 appearance coming off 15 NCDC/USPHL games in his 2nd run for New Jersey Rockets, where he had 19 assists just 1 season earlier.
From West Chester, PA, the 21 year old looks like he is going to make moves to become a roster regular for his sophomore run.
He plays a college best 23 games as a senior and records 2 assists, which he takes to a 1st pro contract with Reading Royals for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks‘ 2nd year defenseman Pierre LaRocque(28) recorded a junior best 2 goals and 16 assists with a +2 rating in 59 NAHL games last season.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner from Chester Springs, PA plays in Philadelphia Flyers‘ youth hockey season all before juniors kicked in.
He commits to Bowdoin College Polar Bears for 2025/2026.
The 20-year old should do real well for the NESCAC team.
PAL Jr. Islanders‘ 2nd year center Arthur Mirante(11) takes some pretty big USPHL/NCDC numbers from last season, 19 goals and 27 assists in 42 games to a Connecticut College Camels commit for 2025/2026.
The big 6’4″ 194 lbs. 21-year old forward from Garden City, NJ will definitely help his new NESCAC team win some games.
Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ senior defenseman Ty Murchison(4) may not score all that much with twice having 7 point seasons as his college high, but left school a very accountable +17 rating to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (5th round, 2021, #158 overall) Philadelphia Flyers.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner signed an ato to join affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the end of school, scoring a 1 AHL goal and 1 assist in 4 games with a +2 rating.
From Corona, CA, the 22-year old followed a good path through LA Kings‘ youth program to a 2 years of USNTDP before college.
