Colgate University Raiders‘ senior defenseman Nic Belpedio(9) enters the transfer portal to do a year of eligibility as a graduate at Ferris State University Bulldogs.
The 5’10” 194 lbs. blue liner isn’t the biggest scorer, but did have 5 goals and 9 assists as a sophomore.
From Skokie, IL, he did 2 USHL years with Waterloo Blackhawks before college.
The 23-year old will likely fit in nicely with his new school.
9th year right wing Rocco Grimaldi(28) was unable to chase down an NHL deal for 2022/2023, so has decided to sign a 1-year AHL deal with San Diego Gulls to keep his game going.
The small 5’6″ 160 lbs. forward surpasses the 300 games played mark in the league this season and is already on top of scoring with 6 goals and 11 assists in 15 games.
He once scored 30+ goals, once 20+ and 3 times 10+ and also struck for 10 goals in 2 seasons in the upper league and also had 21 assists in his best showing for Nashville Predators, where he spent 4 campaigns.
The 29-year old, 3-year University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks may not be done, but we’re a little surprised the Anaheim, CA native hasn’t left for some overseas action in say Sweden, instead of playing kind of close to home.
After putting up point-per-game numbers for his current out of playoff contention team, he gets a trade to Rockford Icehogs, who are in a battle for the last spot in their division.
For his 10th season 2023/2024, he signs a 1-year contract with Chicago Wolves, which should be a lot of fun for him.
Despite running up point-per-game numbers with 73 of them, he signs only a pto with Cleveland Monsters for 2024/2025.
Well, after 6 goals and 17 assists in 15 games, as the team leading scorer, they grace the 31-year old with a 1-year contract.
In 66 games, he records a career high 41 assists, but will take his game elsewhere for a 1st time in his pro career, signing a 1-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg for 2025/2026.
Undrafted, small 5’9″ 170 lbs. center Jonny Evans(67) is off to a fast start with 2 goals and 3 assists in 3 ECHL games, including 2 multi-point efforts for a slumping South Carolina Stingrays, since signing his first pro contract just barely a week ago upon graduating University Of Connecticut Huskies.
He didn’t have an explosive senior year on the scoresheet, but always brings a consistency and definitely helped his team to their deepest Hockey East run to the Finals this season.
At 24-years old, with 4 years of junior hockey for Powell River Kings, scoring pretty big especially in his last 3 BCHL sessions, he appears ready.
We think he gets a look at a higher level in someone’s training camp come next Fall.
After scoring 7 goals and 6 assists in 11 games, the Delta, BC native decides to stay and re-sign for 2022/2023.
He would grab 9 goals and 21 assists with a +1 rating in 41 games as a rookie.
They want him to return for 2023/2024, so he will don the Stingrays‘ jersey for a 3rd frame.
After a career setting 2nd frame, he scores himself an AHL tryout with parent club, Hartford Wolf Pack, we believe will stick for him 2024/2025.
He is actually passed down to Bloomington Bison, where in 30 games he scores 2 goals and 9 assists and is an easy ask to return for 2025/2026.
Providence College Friars‘ graduate center Craig Needham(13) scored a college best 7 assists and 11 points last season.
The Medford, MA native was a point-per-game player in high school and scored decently in his 2nd USHL session as captain with Youngstown Phantoms before committing to school.
His team is knocked out of Hockey East tournament play immediately and he wastes little time to sign an amateur tryout with Florida Everblades.
In 11 ECHL games, he didn’t register points and has yet to appear in the postseason.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward is going to return for a full Everblades‘ rookie season, 2024/2025.
He has a full frame, 63 games scoring 8 goals and 10 assists with a +9 rating to earn an easy contract to return to Florida for a 2nd year.
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.
