2nd year Connecticut Chiefs‘ left wing Sam Zis(16) takes a monster 2nd EHL year, scoring 7 goals and 22 assists in 46 games to an Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts Trailblazers commit for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. Boulder, CO native should do very well playing the independent schedule of his new school.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ graduate defenseman Kyle Mayhew(27) signs a 1st pro deal to stay right at home joining Colorado Eagles on a 2-way deal to get going, meaning he could get shipped down the road to Utah Grizzlies.
The small-is 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner had a career tying 2 goals, best 11 assists and 13 points with a +20 rating last season.
He has been known to throw up helpers, as he did in his 2nd run with Fairbanks Ice Dogs, getting 31 assists in a campaign, where he also notched an NAHL high 8 goals.
The 25-year old will likely play hard for all the space he’s able to make.
Well, after scoring 15 goals and 42 assists, he is deciding to move on and signs with Fort Wayne Komets for 2024/2025.
2nd year defenseman Joe Gatenby(4) will somewhat oddly join his 4th ECHL team this season.
He started 2023/2024 skating 9 games for Fort Wayne Komets, but only 2 assists and a minus on-ice rating is traded Allen Americans.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner stays with them for 23 games, but again scores no goals with 6 assists and a -6 and gets moved a 2nd time.
Newfoundland Growlers see something in his game they think will work for the Kelowna, BC native and sign him.
Unfortunately something happens with the team’s league standing and it disintegrates, leaving him to find another place to play yet again.
Idaho Steelheads step in fairly quickly and move him closer to home to play his next hockey.
He wouldn’t come away with any points in 3 regular season and 2 playoff games, but was a +2.
For 2024/2025, he looks to sign with Storhamar of EliteHockey Ligaen and should fit in nicely there.
8th year defenseman Jordan Murray(8) signs on for his 4th year, 3rd DEL team, Schwenninger Wild Wings, 2024/2025.
He’s shown stronger numbers earlier in his career, but could still be worth something as a 31-year old pro.
The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner did 3 seasons with Belleville Senators, signing with the team after finishing up 4 years at University Of New Brunswick Reds.
This followed 3 QMJHL junior frames.
Undrafted from Riverview, NB, he is likely happy to be still playing.
4th year defenseman Cooper Zech(68) gets a little bit of a new lease on hockey life with a trade that sends him from a very decent season with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring a goal and 10 assists with a +3 rating and their parent club Philadelphia Flyers in an early season dish to Chicago Blackhawks, where he’s expected to report to Rockford Icehogs.
The 5’9″ 161 lbs. blue liner only spent 1 year at Ferris State University Bulldogs before turning pro on a 2-year entry level deal with Boston Bruins.
He put up a huge amount of assists in his one BCHL junior campaign for Wenatchee Wild, amassing 58 assists in 58 games.
The 23-year old from South Lyon, MI, who had a successful little swing on loan to Slovakia with HK Nitra during the pandemic, will likely always have to prove himself.
At the trade deadline, he finds himself moved as a pawn in the deal that sends Patrick Kane to New York Rangers.
He may was a bit under-utilized in suburban Chicago, but should get more efforts with Hartford Wolf Pack, if not reassigned further done for a bit.
Reassigned down to Indy Fuel, he played only 1 game with the team.
For 2023/2024, he returns for a full session, signing a 1-year deal with HC Kosice of Slovak Extraliga.
He does well here, scoring 3 goals and 15 assists in 32 games with a +13 rating in a very tough league, but has maybe been wooed to join the EIHL and signs with Nottingham Panthers for 2024/2025.
Vegas Golden Knights‘ 5th round pick in the 2018 draft (#135 overall), left wing Brandon Kruse(78) has taken up residence on a pto with their affiliate Henderson Silver Knights after graduating a 5th year at Boston College Eagles.
He has yet to sign his entry level deal, but is likely making a bit of an argument with an assist in his 2nd AHL game.
The small 5’9″ 158 lbs. forward originally did 4 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons and was always good for 20+ assists, 31 as a sophomore.
He only did a single NAHL season in juniors before heading to school.
The 23-year old from Saline, MI definitely has the skills to gain notice.
For 2022/2023, he scores a new contract with Toronto Marlies.
He plays all of his games with affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 7 goals and 37 assists with a +8 rating through 69 games.
For 2023/2024, he signs with Toledo Walleye and should find himself a ton of success in the ECHL.
As predicted, he finds all kinds of success with his new team, scoring 18 goals, 36 assists and a +23 rating through 70 games, then another 11 points in 14 playoff matchups.
Well, he’s a fish now and will be in a Walleye uniform 2024/2025.
JYP left wing C.J. Smith(49) quickly signs up for a 1-year extension after 1 goal and 4 assists through 5 games looks like a lock for him to score goals in Liiga after starting the season late with the team.
After 3 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, the 5’11” 183 lbs. forward signed an NHL entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Buffalo Sabres and stayed in their system for 4 years.
The 29-year old from Des Moines, IA is said to be coming back from surgery due to an injury, so this is a nice landing spot for him to re-stake his game.
He comes away with 8 goals and 12 assists in 33 games, which gains interest from Barys Astana of the KHL for 2024/2025.
8th year left wing Warren Foegele(37) takes a career year scoring 20 goals and 21 assists in a full slate of 82 games with a +3 rating for 3rd year team, Edmonton Oilers to a brand new 3-year contract, worth $3.5AAV with Los Angeles Kings.
For 6 NHL seasons, he always had 10+ goals and 5 times the same marker for assists.
From Markham, ON, he did 2 years at St. Andrew’s College Saints before heading off to University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.
He would split after a full season and 5 games to play OHL, where Carolina Hurricanes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2014 draft (#67 overall) would light up the scoresheet.
The 28-year old has arrived for himself at the right time.
Maine Mariners bring back last season’s leading scorer, 3rd year right wing Mathew Santos(16) after scoring a handy 26 goals and 33 assists with a +3 rating.
After 4 years in the OHL, the 6′ 183 lbs. forward played a single season for Toledo Walleye as a rookie, but then took a season off before departing for Ryerson University Rams, where he spent the next three years though only played his 1st two there and maybe got COVID knocked for his 3rd.
It will be zero surprise to see the 27-year old Etobicoke, ON native add to his ECHL totals.
For a 2nd straight season he blows the lid off scoring with 16 goals and 28 assists in 38 games, while getting loaned up to Milwaukee Admirals for 17 AHL games.
He will try to take his game up a notch, signing for 2023/2024 in Slovak Extraliga with HC Dukla Michalovce.
An amazing season, scoring 22 goals and 14 assists through 46 games, then adds another 8 points in 6 playoff matchups with a +7, but he oddly signs in DEL2 for 2024/2025 with Ravensburg Towerstars.
Undrafted center, captain David Jankowski(10) takes a college career best 12 assists and 16 points to a new school hockey endeavor at Michigan Tech University Huskies from 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints.
The 6’1″ 175 lbs. forward from Dundas, ON played two seasons of juniors in the CCHL, but he really came alive in his 2nd frame, connecting for most goals (38), most points (90) and league MVP.
We think the 25-year old will find more open room to score in the CCHA and may even get to join his NHL brother Mark Jankowski on a minor league deal.
He somehow would continue to score 4 goals as he did from his sophomore frame on after getting 8 as a freshman, then signed an ato with Wheeling Nailers, striking for 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 games with a +2 rating.
His efforts don’t go unnoticed, as he agrees to stay on for 2023/2024.
Through 69 ECHL games, he puts in a strong performance with 11 goals, 26 assists and a +9 rating.
Little doubt, he’s seeing the light, following his best season and will return for a 2nd.
