Category: College Hockey Player

26Jul

Matt Copponi (28) with video feature: 1-question interview

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Merrimack College Warriors‘ sophomore center Matt Copponi(28) gets a maybe little surprising nod on NHL draft day, as he is selected in the 7th round of 2023 (#216 overall) by Edmonton Oilers.

He was actually ranked fairly decent by NHL Scouting.

As a 2nd year college player, he put up a best 13 goals and 14 assists in 37 games last frame with a +8 rating.

The 6″ 179 lbs. forward from Mansfield, MA skipped junior hockey, arriving at college straight from Dexter Southfield School USHS-Prep.

He’s just 20-years old.

For his senior year, he enters the transfer portal to skate for Boston University Terriers.

He posts decent numbers (6-18) in a college high 40 games played with a new best +15 rating.

Upon graduation, he signs an ato with the affiliate Bakersfield Condors and records an assist in his 2nd AHL game, where he was possibly signed to a deal by the parent club, but that seems to only be a rumor so far.

He records 2 assists in 3 games with a +2 rating to earn a new deal to stay a Condors.

After splitting time, he signs for 2026/2027 with 2026 Calder Cup Champ Toronto Marlies.

26Jul

Sam Lafferty (18)

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4th year center Sam Lafferty(18) gets a new start, as he is traded to Chicago Blackhawks from draft club, Pittsburgh Penguins (4th round, 2014, #113 overall) after appearing in only 10 NHL games with two assists and a 0 rating.

The former Brown University Bears‘ forward will likely find more room to continue to develop his game.

He has 94 games to his credit, scoring 6 goals and 15 assists.

The 26-year old is fairly prolific in the minors with 17 goals and 38 assists through 85 AHL games.

If he can catch on with his new team, there’s little doubt he’ll earn a new contract, but if that doesn’t happen, we expect him to pick up and leave for overseas.

After a solid 2021/2022 season, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists in 46 games, he picks himself up a healthy 2-year extension to continue.

He actually takes a trade travel path from scoring a best 10 goals and 11 assists in 53 games to being dealt to Toronto Maple Leafs near the end of that campaign, where he did ok in just 19 games, then 9 in the playoffs.

In the offseason, the unrestricted free agent signs with Vancouver Canucks and this turns out to be pretty successful with a new best 13 goals and 24 points in 79 games with a +4 rating.

He will need a new contract, but he returns to the Blackhawks in yet another transaction for the Hollidaysburg, PA native.

Buffalo Sabres step in and offer him 2 years for $2M AAV and he accepts.

He was maybe a bit off step with only 4 goals and 3 assists on a pretty horrible team and Chicago Blackhawks trade for him to hopefully spark a reignite in their fortunes.

Despite playing in only 29 games last season, Florida Panthers think they can put him to better use and sign him for 2026/2027.

26Jul

Ryan Lomberg (94)

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2nd year in Florida Panthers‘ system (6th overall), left wing Ryan Lomberg(94) gets a new contract extension for a couple more seasons after opening 2021/2022 with 2 goals and 3 assists in 14 NHL games with a +5 rating.

The scrappy 5’9″ 187 lbs. forward started his pro career on a minor league deal and even was sent to the ECHL for most of his rookie session to Adirondack Thunder, putting up close to point-per-game production, then helping the playoff push with more strikes.

He spent the entirety of his sophomore campaign up in the AHL, scoring 13 goals and 16 assists with a +15 in 68 games to gain final notice of the parent club, Calgary Flames, who signed him to a 2-year entry deal with a one year follow-up.

He received some big league time and had an assist, but couldn’t hang on with the parent club.

The 2-year University Of Maine Black Bears’ averaged close to 10 goals while he was there, but in an almost oddball move, left and returned to become captain of Youngstown Phantoms for another run through the USHL before turning pro.

While not exactly a fighter, he has gotten into some scraps with guys much bigger than him, which shows disregard but a level of balls for sure.

As an unrestricted free agent, he waited right up until the start of the new season before agreeing to terms, but almost oddly played entirely up in the show.

The 26-year old has to laugh a little at the ride he’s taken to make it stick.

Through 2027/2028, he signs a 2-year deal with Columbus Blue Jackets, we feel will work out really well.

25Jul

Matthew Kessel (51)

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UMass Minutemen junior defenseman Matthew Kessel(51) decides to leave a year on the table and signs his 2-year entry level deal with St. Louis Blues.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. blue liner was a 5th round pick in 2022 (#150 overall).

He reports to affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds and in 12 AHL games, has a pair of assists and is a +5 rating, heading into the playoffs.

The 2019 USHL Clark Cup Champion with Sioux Falls Stampede had a junior career high 17 assists that season.

He is definitely the height of on-ice accountability with an NCAA Division 1 hockey +37 rating.

The 21-year old may just play himself onto the big league squad before too long.

With some injuries to the blue line, the Scottsdale, AZ native scores a 1st NHL game for himself, in which he skates 15:17 ice time with 1 shot on net, 1 block shot and left the 4-3 shootout loss with a -1.

Still, nice start.

He signs a 2-year 1-way extension through 2025/2026 to continue in a Blues‘ jersey.

In his 35 game season (37th overall), he scores a 1st NHL goal for himself.

For 2026/2027, he signs a 1-year deal with New York Islanders.

25Jul

Sean Malone (17)

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 6th year center Sean Malone(17) continues with Rochester Americans under a new 1-year deal from the team he’s skated 5 seasons for.

The former Harvard University Crimson senior scorer is coming off a career year, getting a new best 20 goals and 37 points.

He only has 2 NHL games to his credit, with an assist in his 2nd appearance with 1-year contract club, Nashville Predators.

A Buffalo, NY native, the 27-year old is definitely keeping his hockey close to home.

Following 6 years and 284 AHL games, the 28 year is heading off to Switzerland to skate in the NL with SCL Tigers in 2023/2024.

He has two good Swiss seasons and takes it to a new deal with Orebro HK of SHL for 2025/2026.

At the end of the session, he would get loaned back to the SCL Tigers of NL, but for 2026/2027 elects to sign with Augsburger Panther.

25Jul

Gabriel Carriere (35)

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University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ senior goaltender Gabriel Carriere(35) takes a college career high 34 games to with a 2.77 GAA and .908 SV% to an ato with San Jose Barracuda.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. backstop did 3 seasons of junior hockey, eventually making it to Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL.

From Ottawa, ON, the 23-year old will hopefully impress to score an AHL deal for 2024/2025 and he does.

He actually signs for 2025/2026 with San Jose Sharks and spends the lion share of time with the affiliate.

For 2026/2027, he signs a 1-year deal with Hartford Wolf Pack.

25Jul

Riley Duran (11)

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Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#182 overall), Providence College Friars‘ junior center Riley Duran(11) may just have the hardest shot in all of NCAA Ice Hockey.

He is once again a standout at 2023 Development Camp.

The 6’2″ 181 lbs. Woburn, MA native takes a junior season at college to a 2-year NHL entry level deal with the team that selected him, like everyone knew was going to happen.

He will report to their affiliate Providence Bruins and get to play as a pro in front of friends.

After scoring a new high 12 goals with the affiliate, he scores his 1st NHL recall and skates 20 shifts for 13:36 of ice time with  2 shots on net, 4 hits and went 100% on the face-off dot with a -1 rating in a 5-2 loss.

He skates 72 games for the affiliate last season, putting up new best 14 assists and 19 points with a +19 rating to earn another 1-year with the big club, Bruins for 2026/2027.

25Jul

Johnny Beecher (19)

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University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ junior center Johnny Beecher(19) decides to forego his senior year and signs an ato with Providence Bruins to play out the remainder of 2021/2022 with the AHL team.

This is done under the guidance of 1st round 2019 draft club (#30 overall) Boston Bruins, who will eventually sign him to a 2 or 3-year entry level deal.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward didn’t make an impact in college hockey as he did in a pair of 40+ point seasons for the USNTDP.

At just 21-years old, the parent club coaching staff believes the Elmira, NY native is ready to bring some game.

Recently re-slotted from the affiliate back up to the show, where he’s skated 52 games with 7 goals and 3 assists in his sophomore season, he plays a 1st playoff game and just like that he gets his 1st NHL goal, the opening tally of a game 1 4-1 win.

In 2024/2025, he plays a full slate of games in the big league at 78, scoring a new best 3 goals and 8 assists with a -9 rating, he will look to bring up with a better squad, but still enough confidence is there to extend him for 1-year, back in a Bruins‘ jersey.

With 1 goal in 6 games in 2025/2026, maybe the team was expecting more in his 4th year with the team and he was waived to be claimed by Calgary Flames, who look to use him immediately to center their 4th line.

In 29 games, he scores 2 goals and 4 assists.

For 2026/2027, he is an unrestricted free agent and signs a 1-year 2-way deal with Florida Panthers.

25Jul

Devon Levi (27)

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Despite his 3-3 record, Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore goalie Devon Levi(27) gives his team a chance to win each game with 2.01 GAA and .934 SV%.

Brought on board to his school as he was posting a monster junior season with Carleton Place Canadiens, earning a 1.47 GAA and .941 SV% on a 34-2-1 record in 37 CCHL games and basically earning every awarded allotted him.

The 6′ 189 lbs. net minder was spotted by Florida Panthers, who selected him in the 7th round of 2020 (#212 overall), but shipped him to Buffalo Sabres in a recent trade.

At this point, it’s just up to the 19-year old to keep stopping pucks until it feels right to sign an entry level deal, which looks to loom in his future.

After 2 seasons of effectively stopping pucks at college hockey (with 1 COVID season scratched), he decides it’s time to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal and start doing what he does in the pros now.

With back-to-back excellent frames with the affiliate Rochester Americans and plenty of work as a rookie in the show, he is ready to return on a 2-year deal worth $812.5K AAV to stay a Sabres and continue growth.

2 years of good AHL numbers and Edmonton Oilers have him on radar to trade for in 2026/2027.

25Jul

Tyler Shea (35)

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Brown University Bears‘ senior goaltender Tyler Shea(35) has played a college best 15 games in the current frame and despite maybe not the best record, he holds a 2.97 GAA and .919 SV% to keep it close.

He transferred as a sophomore from zero starts at University Of Michigan Wolverines.

The 6′ 180 lbs. net minder from Stevenson Ranch, CA was very strong in Anaheim Jr. Ducks‘ youth hockey.

At 24-years old, he is looking good.

He may have not posted the best record, but he worked harder than no other net minder in college hockey last season.

For 2026/2027, he decides on a graduate frame and once again enters the transfer portal to next go tend net for University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks.