Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate center Austin Magera(5) leaves his long-standing program with a college career best 20 assists and 28 points before signing a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward is off to a nice start, in 7 ECHL games he has 2 goals and 3 assists with one multi-point outing.
He appeared in only 1 USHL session previous to heading to college, coming off a successful high school run at Lawrence Academy for the Suwanee, GA native.
The 24-year old appears to impress at the next level.
He is voted “rookie of the year” for his efforts scoring 29 goals and 45 assist for 74 in 70 games with a +21 rating.
After being top scorer (74 points in 70 games), the parent club says hey, come up here and Hershey Bears sign him for a 1st AHL contract in 2024/2025.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ graduate center Casey Dornbach(77) signs an ato with Iowa Wild for the remaining current frame, but more importantly has agreed to terms for an AHL deal heading into 2023/2024.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward is likely chopping at the bit to get started after scoring a college career best 13 goals and a 3rd 20+ assist season.
Almost shockingly, undrafted, he did 4 years at Harvard University Crimson, serving as team captain in his senior run.
The Edina, MN native did 2 USHL sessions with Lincoln Stars, coming close to point-per-game stats in his 2nd stint.
We believe the 25-year old plays himself into a position where he gains looks for the parent club.
As a rookie, he is mostly dispatched to ECHL affiliate Iowa Heartlanders, where he scored 13 goals and 29 assists in 55 games, which he will take to a new contract with Toledo Walleye, which we feel is only going to meet good things in 2024/2025.
Maine Nordiques‘ 1st year net minder Carter Richardson(73) maybe takes a moment, but commits to Lake Superior State University Lakers for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. goalie rode some pretty impressive regular season NAHL stats, but then even notched it up a bit in the playoffs with a 1.73 GAA and .950 SV%.
From Dartmouth, NS, the only 18-year old will be impressive when called upon.
Faced with the prospects of no senior year, it was a no brainer for Harvard University‘s defensive wunderkid Reilly Walsh(8) to sign his three-year entry level with New Jersey Devils, the team that drafted him 3rd round, 2017, #81 overall.
In his minor league debut with affiliate Binghamton Devils, he gets credited for the overtime 4-3 game-winner and his first pro AHL goal and currently has 2 goals and 5 assists in 12 games, which is impressing big at the struggling parent club.
The 6′ 185 lbs. 21-year old blue liner may have to spend some time honing his game at the stage lower than the show but look for him to get an opportunity.
And after scoring new career bests: 9 goals and a whopping 34 assists in 69 games with a +11 rating for affiliate Utica Comets, gets him the nod for his NHL debut.
In his 1st game, he skated 20 shifts for 14:23, got an assist, had 2 shots, 2 blocks and 1 giveaway in a 5-4 loss.
The Framingham, MA gets traded to his hometown Boston Bruins as free agency looms after 2 seasons of 30+ assists in the minors.
He strikes his 3rd straight season of 9 goals in the minors, but shows maybe a bit more focus in the playoffs with 2 assists in 4 games.
For 2024/2025, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Los Angeles Kings.
Newfoundland Growlers‘ rookie center Grant Cruikshank(19) has really ignited his scoring when he was reassigned by AHL contract club, Toronto Marlies.
In 35 ECHL games, he has 21 goals and 22 assists with a +9 rating.
Undrafted, he cycled through 3 colleges, his 1st 3 years at Colorado College Tigers, then 1 apiece with University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers and a graduate frame for St. Cloud State University Huskies.
He twice had 10+ goals, but exploded for 23 in his final year.
From Delafield, WI, the 25-year old won a BCHL Championship in his 1st junior season and is turning out to be quite the pro.
With his team going belly up, he went back to his contract club, but didn’t figure in any playoff games.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Calder Cup Champions, Hershey Bears, where he should find himself a nice home to play some hockey.
Savannah Ghost Pirates‘ 2nd year left wing Logan Drevitch(22) will take a rookie 13 goals and 24 assists in 69 ECHL games and look to increase those numbers in a return engagement for 2023/2024.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward started juniors with 2 USHL sessions, but wasn’t fully connecting.
He returned for a final season with Boston Jr. Bandits, the team he committed to Merrimack College Warriors, as a youth skater and detonated USPHL/NCDC scoring with 21 goals and 34 assists in 42 games before heading to school.
From Middleboro, MA, the 25-year old has to be liking the way things are developing and his brother joins him on this team this season.
He does manage to increase those numbers to 19 goals and 33 points for another return visit to the Ghost Pirates for 2024/2025.
We need to congratulate former Cornell University Big Red‘ captain Jeff Malott(39) on scoring a one-year two-way NHL deal from Winnipeg Jets for 2021/2022 after potting 14 goals and 6 assists, including 1 game-winner and 4 on the power-play in 34 AHL games with affiliate Manitoba Moose.
The big 6’3″ 204 lbs. left wing may just play his way onto the parents’ club radar as a sophomore skater and is easily headed in the right direction.
He’ll remember the date: 3/20-2022. He makes his big league debut skating a conservative 8 shifts for 4:06 ice time with 3 hits and 2 penalty minutes in a 6-4 victory.
Nice start.
After blowing out his rookie season scoring with 23 goals and 18 assists in 62 games with a +11 rating, then getting another tally in 5 playoff games, earns the 25-year old a new 2-year deal to stay.
He would score a career high 30 assists and 52 points in 70 games and signs a new 2-year deal with Los Angeles Kings, who could give him his 1st looks in the big league.
Carolina Hurricanes‘ rookie center Jack Drury(72) scores a first recall for his debut and pots a first NHL goal in the process to help the win.
Who had those odds?
The 5’11” 174 lbs. forward skated 23 shifts for 16:05 of ice time with 4 shots, 2 hits, 2 blocks and 2 penalty minutes, leaving the contest with +1 rating.
He’ll easily always where his former school, Harvard University Crimson on his sleeve.
As a rookie, playing in the AHL for affiliate Chicago Wolves, he wins himself a 2022 Calder Cup Championship with very good numbers.
He would split duties for just 1 more frame before becoming full-time in the show, where 8 goals and 19 assists in 74 games with a +4 rating, then adding another 5 points in 11 playoff matchups with a +7.
The restricted free agent picks himself up a nice 2-year deal to stay in a Hurricanes‘ sweater, moving forward through at least 2025/2026.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ Finnish-born freshman defenseman Tomi Leppanen(5) wins himself a 2022 USHL Clark Cup Championship in his 1st junior season with Sioux City Musketeers.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner doesn’t stick though, as he signs for 2024/2025 with IPK of the tier 2 Mestis.
He had 3 goals and 6 assists in 40 games with a +8 rating.
The 21-year old will no doubt be happier and should do well in this league back home.
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.
