Texas Stars‘ rookie defenseman Michael Karow(26) re-signs for 2022/2023 following playing 13 AHL games (1 goal, 3 assists with a +3 rating) with the team upon finishing up a year of eligibility, graduate at Michigan Tech Huskies.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner has good on ice accountability, leaving 4 years with Boston College Eagles as a +15 player.
His point production came somewhat to life last season with a college best 2 goals and 8 assists.
The 23-year old from Green Bay, WI should have a pretty great 1st season.
He finishes his 1st frame with 1 goal and 8 assists in 36 games with a +8 rating to earn himself another 2-years to stay in Cedar Park.
Playing well, he scores 1 goal and 10 assists through 71 games with a +5 rating, then adds 5 points in 14 playoff matchups and he is set to return a Stars in 2025/2026 for a 4th season, post college.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ junior left wing Nick Rheaume(25) transferred from UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, where he had a college best 9 goals and 4 assists last season and has 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 games in the current frame.
The 6’3″ 195 lbs. forward did 2 BCHL seasons, scoring really well in his 2nd after attending Cushing Academy USHS-Prep.
From Sherbrooke, QC, the 22-year old continues to play Hockey East.
Undrafted, he decides to leave a year on the table to sign with Toronto Marlies for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.
After taking 2020/2021 off, post graduating from Niagara University Purple Eagles, rookie center Ben Sokay(24) becomes one of the initial signings for new club, Iowa Heartlanders.
He finished up school on a high note, scoring 11 goals and 11 assists in 33 Atlantic Hockey games.
The 6′ 170 lbs. forward committed to college after a decent first frame with Wellington Dukes, which he followed up posting blow away junior numbers 30 goals and 34 assists in 52 OJHL games.
At just 24 years old, he should be able to step it up in the ECHL.
In his 1st season he potted 12 goals and 12 assists in 58 games, but was also a bit of a downside -12 rating.
He will take his game overseas next, joining Dundee Stars for 2022/2023.
Doing very well scoring, despite a bad +/-, he took his game to the Polish Hockey League, signing with GKS Katowice, where he stayed for 2 10+ goals and assists years.
For 2025/2026, he will take leave to Ligue Magnus and comes to terms with Les Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise.
Walpole Express 2nd year defenseman Quinton McElligott(7) was always a good contributor with 1 goals and 12 assists in 42 games last season.
The 5’9″ 167 lbs. blue liner commits to Western Connecticut State University Wolves for 2025/2026.
From Los Angeles, CA, the 21-year old should do well in the mix with his new college club.
6th year net minder Eamon McAdam(37) finds a good deal to split for Metal Ligaen, joining Esbjerg Energy in 2021/2022.
Originally a New York Islanders‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#70 overall), he signed a three-year entry level deal after completing his 3rd year at Penn State University Nittany Lions and mostly languished through equal time between affiliates Bridgeport Sound Tigers and their ECHL partner putting together ok numbers.
He was traded to Toronto Maple Leafs in the final campaign of his contract and once again did equal time in the pair of minor leagues.
The sturdy 6’3″ 198 lbs. goalie was left unqualified and signed an AHL deal with Binghamton Devils, but was sent for the duration of the session to Adirondack Thunder, starting a career high 40 games.
He almost seemed to come to life more last season with Jacksonville Icemen, going 4-2-2 with a best 2.53 GAA and .915 SV%.
The 27-year old should find more new life in Denmark’s top hockey.
He takes some conservatively good numbers to his next opportunity, signing for 2022/2023 with Guilford Flames of the EIHL.
After 3 seasons with one team in the league, he branches out to join rivals Sheffield Steelers for 2025/2026.
University Of Guelph Gryphons‘ senior defenseman, captain Tristan De Jong(5) scored a college tying 3 goals and by far best 14 assists for 17 points last season and signs a 1st pro contract with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
In 7 ECHL games, he has 1 assist.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner did 3 years QMJHL and 2 GOJHL before heading to school.
From Breslau, ON, the 24-year old is looking .
He plays 18 games with 2 assists and is liked by what they see to sign him up for his rookie frame, 2025/2026 as a Swamp Rabbits.
3rd year center J.D. Dudek(18) returned to these shores after spending 2020/2021 overseas with Bodens HF doing quite well with 7 goals and 4 assists in 16 HockeyEttan games with a +7 rating and re-signed to Worcester Railers, who he spent 27 ECHL games with as a rookie (2-10-12).
Originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#152 overall), he signed an ato with affiliate Binghamton Devils upon graduating 4 years at Boston College Eagles, but that’s about how far it went.
The Auburn, NH native was quickly dished to Allen Americans after 1 game back in central MA.
Soon to be turning 26, he has to have his eye on what might be more possible for his playing career overseas.
He would get 6 goals and 10 assists with a +4 rating in 62 games last season and decides maybe return as thought, signing for 2022/2023 with Tranas AIF, where once again he should put up strong numbers in Sweden’s tier 3 league.
After 14 games, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating, he decides to head elsewhere, joining Coventry Blaze for the remainder of 2022/2023.
He walks away from last season with 9 goals and 8 assists in 29 games with a +5, which is favorable enough to score 2023/2024 to once again play in the EIHL.
After almost 2 seasons with the English team, he decides to head back home and signs with the Railers once again for a hopeful improved outcome.
He does decently in his time back close to home, but maybe misses the overseas action more and is a better payday for him to join Manchester Storm for 2025/2026.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ senior transfer from 3 years at Boston University Terriers‘ goaltender Vinny Duplessis(37) may have made the right decision, as he’s already started more games at 11 than he’s played in a single frame previous and has maybe equaled his other stats with 2.15 GAA and .910 SV%.
The 6’1″ 170 lbs. net minder from Quebec, QC had his best junior year in the AJHL for Whitecourt Wolverines, right before committing to college.
We think the 24-year old will have some eyes on him as an unrestricted free agent, if he decides to turn pro next.
After a huge overtime playoff loss for his new team in which he was spectacular, he maybe a bit oddly signs with Utah Grizzlies, who are fighting for a playoff spot and have only 2 ECHL games remaining.
He plays the pair of games, with a 0-1-1 count and 3.07 GAA and .905 SV% to secure him a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025, guarding in a Grizzlies‘ jersey.
After an uneven season with a struggling team, he finds an amazing path, as Trois Rivieres Lions look to add him after winning the 2025 Kelly Cup, so he joins a strong club.
San Jose Sharks‘ acquired defenseman Henry Thrun(3) from draft team Anaheim Ducks, where he was selected in the 4th round of 2019 (#101 overall) and after 3 years at Harvard University Crimson, putting up just about equal stats as a sophomore and junior with 7 goals and 25/24 assists, he has decided to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal to turn pro.
The big 6’2″ 195 lbs. blue liner skated his 1st big league game with his new pro team, getting a tough 4-3 OT win and him picking up a pair of assists in the conquest, earning a 2nd star of the game.
He has always been a good assist guy, twice with 10+, almost 20 when with the USNTDP, when he got drafted.
The 22-year old from Southborough, MA plays to form and will likely do very well for himself.
In his 16th appearance, for the new year 2024, he steps up to score a first big league goal.
He is handily playing himself into a full-time role with the big club and it’s now extended for another 2-year to continue that growth in a Sharks‘ sweater for the big man on d.
In maybe an oddball move, he gets shipped to Toronto Maple Leafs with a year remaining on his low-pay contract and he should shine pretty bright on a team that could really use him to improve.
Seahawks Hockey‘ 2nd year right wing Billy Hawkins(20) scored 4 goals and 4 assists in 45 EHL games last season that he takes to a Post University Eagles‘ commit for 2025/2026.
The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward from Smithfield, RI came off a successful senior frame.
At 20-years old, he is likely ready to see where college hockey takes him.
