Western Michigan University Broncos‘ graduate left wing Joe Cassetti(22) signs with Belfast Giants for 2024/2025, his rookie season.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward will definitely command some space in front of EIHL nets.
From Pleasanton, CA, he came over after 3 gradually escalating years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
He started as a freshman at Merrimack College Warriors, but left for more time with his USHL team, Waterloo Blackhawks.
We think he parks it, he should be just fine.
He actually gets injured and skates 0 games with his new team, other than some Challenger Cup games.
For 2025/2026, he looks to move on and signs with ESV Kaufbeuren of DEL2 and we think, if healthy will do really well.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman Cooper Moore(3) left his 2 years at the school with a +36 rating.
He transferred as a junior from University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner from Greenwich, CT did only 1 very strong BCHL session before college.
He was very successful at USHS-Prep.
The 24-year old signed a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack for his rookie season 2025/2026.
He was originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 5th round pick in 2019 (#128 overall).
Detroit Red Wings‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#170 overall) defenseman Patrick Holway(6) signed an AHL ato with affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins as he was finishing up his last year of college hockey at Merrimack College.
I guess we’ll see if the parent club follows through to sign the very big 6’5″ 220 lbs. blue liner, but if that doesn’t materialize we feel that the Cohassett, MA native will become an irresistible unrestricted free agent signee.
After appearing in 6 games without registering a point and having his rights expire with the club that selected him, the 24 year old signs with South Carolina Stingrays to play his first full year of pro hockey and should do well in the ECHL.
The giant-sized forward was loaned up to San Jose Barracuda after a goal and 12 assists with his original contract team.
He finished the frame there, playing 43 AHL games, scoring 4 goals and 8 assists to grab a new contract with the team for 2022/2023.
Playing in only 27 games, scoring 2 assists with a -9 rating without being reassigned definitely has him searching where next and lands at Florida Everblades for 2023/2024.
He is playing well and scores a new best 7 goals and 9 assists in 31 games with a +2 rating, but maybe feels like he needs more and decides to leave, signing with HC Slovan Bratislava of Slovak Extraliga.
In 13 games, he records 7 assists, then scores a goal and 2 assists in 4 playoff matchups to make this journey a success.
For 2024/2025, he heads off to IceHL, signing with Villacher SV, which should continue to yield good results.
In 41 games, he yields 3 goals and 15 assists with a +7 rating, but decides to sign with Dragons de Rouen of Ligue Magnus for 2025/2026.
Charlotte Checkers‘ 8th year center Scott Wilson(10) is off to a good start with his new team, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists in 16 AHL games, while helping them win games.
Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#209 overall), he was selected after a 2nd strong session for Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward would then head to UMass-Lowell Riverhawks for three seasons.
He spent three years in the Pens’ system and played the entire 2016/2017 in the NHL en route of the 2017 Stanley Cup Championship, where he played 20 playoff matchups, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists.
The 29-year old should have some fun with his minor league deal this year and then look for a nice overseas contract for 2022/2023.
After scoring a career best 24 goals in 71 games, he decides at the last minute to head off and sign with Vityaz Podolsk, as we thought he might do, after initially thinking he was going to return.
He should be able to match up well in the KHL.
After a couple of good 20-goal scoring seasons, he was maybe off a bit in the current frame, so switches up allegiances to skate for Salavat Yulaev Ufa for the remainder of 2024/2025.
He has a pretty spectacular season with 9 goals and 14 assists in 30 games with a +13 rating, then added 16 points in 19 playoff matchups, but for 2025/2026, he will sign with a 5th league team, agreeing to terms for HC Sibir Novosibirsk for 2025/2026.
Lindenwood University Lions‘ junior defenseman Joe Prouty(15) played a college high 32 games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists that he will take to a senior year closer to his Apple Valley, MN home at Michigan Tech University Huskies.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner did 3 strong NAHL seasons with New Mexico Ice Wolves.
He was very successful in high school hockey as well.
The 23-year old will likely see his game increase in the CCHA.
Montreal Canadiens‘ 1st round pick in the 2017 draft (#25 overall), 3rd year center Ryan Poehling(41) re-ups for another 2 years with the 2nd year being on one-way terms.
The 6’2″ 204 lbs. power forward played a first big league game after agreeing to his 2-year entry level deal following a third year at State Cloud State University Huskies.
In that game he pulled off the rare feat of scoring an NHL hat trick in his debut.
Not bad for 11:22 of playing time.
He was very close to being a point-per-game guy last season with affiliate Laval Rocket (11-14-25) with a +5 in 28 AHL games.
The Lakeville, MN native was on a fast track through high school, then signing for his only time in junior hockey, 9 USHL games with Lincoln Stars (2 goals, 2 assists) before heading straight to school for a freshman campaign.
It seems if the 22-year old is given his shot to prove he can play, he could very well become a 20-goal scorer before too long.
He was traded during the offseason before the start of this 3rd year to Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played 53 games, registering 7 goals and 7 assists, but was left unqualified from his contract with the former club, so became an unrestricted free agent.
For 2023/2024, he signs a 1-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers for $1.4M AAV.
He has his best scoring season with 12 goals and 19 assists and is still under contract, but gets dished to Anaheim Ducks in a huge deal that should see him continue to put up career numbers with his new club, but he will need a contract.
Undrafted right wing Chase Gresock(13) will play his year of eligibility at Bowling Green University Falcons for a graduate season after 1-year at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks and 3, 2 as captain for Merrimack College Warriors.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward is almost a deceptively good scorer.
A Powell, OH native he spent his youth hockey with the Ohio Blue Jackets 14U – 18U AAA before joining close by Youngstown Phantoms for 2 successful USHL frames.
The 24-year old should have a good campaign, but find play in the CCHA tough.
He would finish up an extra year with tying his twice best 11 goals and adding a new high 20 assists and 31 points before signing an ato with San Jose Barracuda to finish out the session.
For his official rookie season, he agrees to terms with “home team” Toledo Walleye, which should be a pretty great 1st stopping spot.
In his 1st year, he strikes for 16 goals and 19 assists with a +7 rating in 69 ECHL games, but he looks around a signs for 2024/2025 with Coventry Blaze, so switches up a letter and will be playing his pro hockey int he EIHL.
Ok, so this is a bit of a surprise maybe, he scores 32 goals and 30 assists in 54 games with a +7 rating, but decides to head over to Ligue Magnus for 2025/2026 and signs with Dragons de Rouen.
4th year center Brett Seney(62) was an unrestricted free agent coming off a 1-year extension with draft club, New Jersey Devils (6th round, 2015, #157 overall) to sign away on a two-way deal for a first time with Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 7 AHL games, he has 4 goals with a +2 rating, which has to have the parent club at least watching.
The small 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward was a sniper in four years at Merrimack College Warriors, striking for 26 points twice to start and finished with campaigns of 31 and 32 totals before graduating.
His 3 goals and 5 assists on 12 games signed to an ato after college was probably a good indicator of what could occur.
It will be interesting to see if the 25-year old gets anymore time in the show and what he does next.
In 2021/2022, the London, ON native would put up a new career best 42 assists and 59 points in 62 games with a +16 rating and also skated a pair of games in the big league.
For 2022/2023, he jumps ship for another 1-year, 2-way deal, this time from Chicago Blackhawks, where he could very put in more time at a higher level.
After an almost point-per-game season with affiliate, as MVP Rockford IceHogs and a 1st NHL goal for the team, he gets a 1-year deal to continue, then almost repeat performances through more games, he’s given more time in a ‘Hawks‘ jersey.
He continues to motor with points and for 2025/2026, he signs a 2-year AHL deal to remain captain of the Icehogs.
Colorado College Tigers‘ senior defenseman Nicklas Andrews(8) will add a year of eligibility and head close to home at Michigan State University Spartans for 2024/2025, a graduate season.
The 5’10” 192 lbs. blue liner has 3 times produced 10+ assists.
In his 2nd USHL campaign, he was captain of Des Moines Buccaneers, scoring 14 helpers.
The 22-year old from Canton, MI should do well for last year’s highly ranked team.
He comes away with a college best 16 assists and 18 points to sign a 1st pro deal with Toledo Walleye, where he plays 2 ECHL regular season games with 1 assist and 20 playoffs matchups, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists.
For 2025/2026, he is noticed by the parent club and signed to a 1-year AHL deal with Grand Rapids Griffins.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior defenseman Noah Carlin(62) played a college high 37 games, scoring a new best 4 goals, despite having better assists 9 as a junior and 12 points twice in previous frames.
The 6′ 174 lbs. blue liner did the Honeybaked youth hockey system before 3 seasons of juniors previous to college.
From Marine City, MI, the 24-year signed a 1st pro deal with Kalamazoo Wings that saw him appear in his 1st 3 ECHL games.
