New Jersey Devils Recall Isaac Poulter, Send Down Tyler Wotherspoon
Circumstances have changed quickly for goaltender Isaac Poulter over the last week, as the New Jersey Devils have recalled him after being demoted to the ECHL only five days ago. In the same transaction, the team also announces they have returned Tyler Wotherspoon to the Utica Comets of the AHL after recalling him on an emergency loan less than a week ago.
Poulter originally joined the Devils organization by way of an AHL contract after his tenure with the Swift Current Broncos came to an end after the 2021-22 WHL season. Primarily playing for the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL last year, Poulter produced a 10-8-2 record in 22 games, posting a .910 SV% and a 2.93 GAA.
Continuing to improve this season, Poulter has gotten off to a strong start with the Comets, putting up a 17-8-1 record in 28 games, while also managing a .911 SV% and a 2.55 GAA. Poulter played so well for Utica that New Jersey opted to sign him to a two-year, two-way NHL contract on February 15th of this year, taking him to the end of next season.
Unfortunately, even with Poulter’s strong record and four shutouts this season, poor play from Akira Schmid and Erik Kallgren has capped the Comets at 27 wins in 60 games, causing them to sit in last place in a strong North Division. Now, with his second callup of the season to the NHL level, Poulter will have the chance to practice with the Devils before their game today against the New York Islanders.
In Wotherspoon, it will be his second straight recall to New Jersey on an emergency basis in which he was unable to play in any games. Only suiting up for Utica this year, Wotherspoon has scored four goals and 19 points in 54 games.
Anton Wahlberg Joins Buffalo Sabres Organization
Earlier this morning, the Buffalo Sabres officially brought over one of their top forward prospects to North America, announcing that Anton Wahlberg has been assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Wahlberg recently wrapped up his season with the Malmö Redhawks of the SHL after his team failed to qualify for the 2023-24 SHL playoffs.
Drafted 39th overall by the Sabres in the 2023 NHL Draft, Wahlberg has shown decent production for an 18-year-old at the SHL level, as well as in international events. Scoring five goals and 10 points for the Redhawks this season, Wahlberg also chipped in one goal and three points for Team Sweden in the most recent IIHF World Junior Championships, en route to a silver medal finish.
At still such a young age, it is tough to ascertain exactly where Wahlberg will end up in the Sabres lineup, but has shown the makings of an above-average third-line center. Having a key ability to hold on to the puck, Wahlberg has the capabilities to extend possession for his teams, as well as work the puck into the offensive zone.
Now moving to the AHL, Wahlberg will have the opportunity to help the Americans in their playoff hunt. Currently tied with the Toronto Marlies for third in the North Division, the Americans are right on the cusp of being a top-three team in their division, which would automatically bypass them into the Division Semifinals of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Injury Notes: Pietrangelo, Oshie, Protas, Fleury
Still suffering from an illness, defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will not be in the lineup again tonight for the Vegas Golden Knights, and will now miss his third game in a row (X Link). Furthermore, the report also indicates that Pietrangelo may not join the organization on their upcoming road trip, which would land his return date around April 2nd.
If the reporting is accurate, and Pietrangelo will be out of the lineup until April 2nd, it will become a massive hurdle for the Golden Knight’s playoff chances. On the four-game road trip, Vegas squares off against two teams currently holding playoff positions in the Western Conference, as well as the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild, both of whom are currently trailing the Golden Knights in the standings by a few points.
Luckily, Vegas bolstered their depth on the blue line at the trade deadline, bringing in Noah Hanifin, who is more than comfortable holding down top-pairing minutes. Nevertheless, this road trip could define the Golden Knight’s playoff aspirations, as they look to correct their 7-10-1 record since the NHL trade deadline.
Other injury notes:
- In an update on two injured members of the Washington Capitals, Tom Gulitti of the NHL reports that the Capitals are hopeful that forwards T.J. Oshie (upper body) and Aliaksei Protas (lower body) will return to the lineup tomorrow against the Winnipeg Jets. As important members of the team’s top-six, and especially after the results of today’s matchups in the Eastern Conference, Washington will be well positioned moving forward to grab the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
- Having not played since the team’s game on March 14th, it does not sound like defenseman Haydn Fleury will return to the Tampa Bay Lightning soon, as Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida is reporting that even though he is considered day-to-day, the Lightning are not rushing his return. Brought in as a depth defenseman two years ago, the former seventh overall selection has scored one goal and four points in 21 games for Tampa Bay this season, averaging just over 16 minutes of ice time per game.
Maple Leafs Notes: Barbolini, Bertuzzi, Lyubushkin
In what has become a typical transaction over the last several years, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Marlies, has brought in an undrafted collegiate free agent on a two-year deal. The team announced a short while ago they had agreed to terms with forward Matthew Barbolini, who will finish the remainder of the season on a PTO.
Barbolini recently wrapped up a four-year career with Miami University of Ohio, becoming a significant point producer along the way. Overall, Barbolini will finish his career with 125 games played, scoring 36 goals and 86 points.
Now joining the Marlies system, Barbolini will join a team that is currently in a heated battle for playoff positioning in the AHL’s North Division. Currently sitting in third place, Toronto is only five points ahead of the sixth-place Laval Rocket.
Other Maple Leafs notes:
- The Maple Leafs are set to be without winger Tyler Bertuzzi on Saturday due to illness (Twitter link). Bertuzzi has been on a hot streak lately, with five points in his last five games. His hot streak comes thanks to great chemistry alongside Auston Matthews and Max Domi, who he’s played with over the last few games. Toronto is expected to ice Matthew Knies in Bertuzzi’s top-line role on Saturday – a prime opportunity for the Leafs’ prodigal rookie.
- Joining Bertuzzi on the list of Maple Leafs’ players who will not be present for the game this evening is defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, who is still out with an illness according to TSN’s Mark Masters. Since coming over from the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline, Lyubushkin has suited up in seven games for Toronto, tallying two assists while averaging 16:07 minutes of ice time. Battling this current illness, however, Lyubushkin has been unable to enter the Maple Leafs lineup for the past three contests.
Big Hype Prospects: Bourque, Levshunov, Fowler, Koivunen
The hockey season is coming to a close across the world, bringing about the exciting time of year when top prospects are winning awards and loaded teams are winning championships. It’s the perfect time to borrow the Big Hype Prospects series from over at MLB Trade Rumors and break down some of the rising stars across the hockey world – including drafted prospects and U18 players eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft.
Four Big Hype Prospects
Mavrik Bourque, C, Dallas Stars (Texas Stars, AHL)
60 GP – 23 G – 44 A – 67 TP – 18 PIM – 0 +/-
Dallas Stars fans are currently relishing in the success of first-year-pro Logan Stankoven, who has a dazzling six goals and 10 points through the first 12 games of his NHL career. But the best is still yet to come, with Stankoven currently separated from his partner in crime – Mavrik Bourque. The two formed an unstoppable pair in the AHL, battling each other for the league’s scoring title all season long. They simply played faster than anyone else, zipping around defensemen and creating plays in the blink of an eye. And Bourque has done plenty to show his capabilities in Stankoven’s absence, with 14 points in 14 games and a confident 12-point lead on the league’s scoring title. He can still look undersized amid a scrum and will certainly need to adjust to the NHL’s physicality before he’s able to bring his full tempo. But it’s just a matter of time before Bourque receives the first in-season call-up of his career and Stars fans should be eager to see if he and Stankoven can pick up where they left off when it finally comes.
Artyom Levshunov, RHD, 2024 NHL Draft (Michigan State University, NCAA Big Ten)
35 GP – 9 G – 23 A – 32 TP – 42 PIM – +25
Artyom Levshunov is living large right now – clinching a spot in the Big Ten Championship, the Big Ten Rookie of the Year Award, and the Big Ten Defenseman of the Year Award all in one week. And while the season isn’t over just yet, he’s already done more than enough to prove his draft value. Levshunov joined the Spartans late in the summer, announcing his departure from the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers just five weeks before the league’s pre-season. It was a well-choreographed surprise that paired Levshunov with second-year head coach Adam Nightingale. And it was a big adjustment – especially considering this is just the second season that Levshunov has played in North America. There were certainly growing pains, with the Belarusian defenseman showing an overeagerness to leave his position in favor of chasing the puck or joining the offensive rush. But Nightingale was able to reel in his protege quickly, helping Levshunov better wield his aggression and building his confidence in leading the offense. The mentorship gelled well with Levshunov’s eagerness to take on more and more responsibility, ultimately averaging 22:33 in ice time and scoring at a near-point-per-game rate. It’s been an impressive season that came from a surprise commitment – and Levshunov’s ability to make flashy plays in all three zones certainly has the attention of NHL execs. He’s expected to be one of the first names called in the looming 2024 NHL Draft, and he could continue to build acclaim with hot performances in the Big Ten Championship or the Frozen Four!
Jacob Fowler, G, Montreal Canadiens (Boston College, NCAA Hockey East)
34 GP – 28 Wins – .924 Save Percentage – 2.19 Goals-Against-Average
Jacob Fowler is running out of room in his trophy closet quickly, a finalist for Hockey East’s Goaltender of the Year award and competing for the Hockey East championship after winning the same award, and a league championship, in the USHL last season. He has made himself a focal piece of every team he’s played for, setting the record for save percentage as both a 17-year-old and 18-year-old across his two seasons in the USHL and now saving the highest percentage of shots for Boston College since Spencer Knight in 2020. It’s clear to see why Fowler is so effective when watching him play. He’s a powerful skater, keeping a wide frame and moving across the crease quickly. And he carries plenty of bravado, showing clear confidence in facing down opponents and staying locked in through the entirety of plays. As any fan of Jon Gillies will attest, a high save percentage and a stocked trophy cabinet aren’t always indicative of future stardom. But Fowler’s continued dominance certainly elicits plenty of excitement.
Ville Koivunen, LW/C, Pittsburgh Penguins (Kärpät, Liiga)
59 GP – 22 G – 34 A – 56 TP – 26 PIM – +7
The Pittsburgh Penguins moved on from a franchise staple at the Trade Deadline, sending Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a huge change, breaking up a Penguins top-line that’s been together for the better part of seven seasons. And while there’s no good way to rebound from a move that grand, Ville Koivunen represents a great consolation prize. The 20-year-old winger has been fantastic in Finland’s top league, the Liiga, this season – showing a great ability to read the ice and work with his teammates. He’s a smooth-moving forward that’s very tough to knock off the puck, thanks to beautifully-smooth puckhandling. And while he needs space to use it, Koivunen’s shot can be fantastic. He’s emerged as one of Kärpät’s key players this season, averaging nearly 18 minutes of ice time each game and ranked second on the team in scoring. Moving to North American pros poses a unique challenge, something Koivunen learned when he managed just one goal in 12 games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves last season. But he’s found a new groove in his return to Finland. Koivunen has the wind behind his sails, a new NHL organization to embrace, and an open role to eye after Guentzel’s departure – making his return to the United States highly anticipated.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Wild Sign Riley Heidt To Entry-Level Contract
The Minnesota Wild have signed 2023 second-round draft pick Riley Heidt to a three-year, entry-level contract (Twitter link). Heidt is coming off a dazzling season with the WHL’s Price George Cougars – scoring the second-most points in Cougars history (114 points), behind linemate Zac Funk who broke the record (121 points) this year. Heidt also earned Prince George’s all-time leading scorer title this season, with 277 points across four years and 220 games with the team.
Heidt is a poised and commanding playmaking-centerman who shows a strong understanding of how to play in the three lanes of the ice. His effectiveness comes from his ability to blend with his wingers – forming a great duo with Koehn Ziemmer across the last two seasons and Funk and Terik Parascak this year. While not the flashiest player in his own right, Heidt’s poise and constant scanning bring out the best in his linemates.
The Minnesota Wild will hope he can maintain the newfound tempo he added this season – something that could blend well with the slick-moving Adam Beckman or heavy-shooting top prospect Liam Ohgren – with Heidt potentially joining both players in the AHL next season. But even with the excitement of his first pro deal still fresh, Heidt will first have to focus on Prince George’s looming playoff run after the team’s first 100-point season ever.
PHR Mailbag: Red Wings, Blackhawks, Interim Coaches, College Free Agency, Capitals
Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include the quiet deadline for the Red Wings, a look at the offseason head coaching market, and much more. If your question doesn’t appear here, watch for it in next weekend’s mailbag.
gowings2008: Why has Yzerman stood pat in terms of trades and call-ups? Follow up, do you think Yzerman sees the team’s window as Seider and Raymond’s primes and is using Larkin’s prime to give the younger prospects time to mature?
I was surprised to see Detroit largely stand pat at the trade deadline. I didn’t have them making a big splash but with the cap space they have, I thought they’d get in on the cheaper buys. The fact there were some low-cost additions for teams that were simply willing to take on the full freight of the contract only made me more surprised as that was the type of move for them to make.
It came out after the deadline that Yzerman was hesitant to move their top picks and prospects. I completely agree with that decision. But flipping a late-round pick for an upgrade up front was something they could have done. From a recall perspective, teams are capped at four non-emergency recalls from here to the end of the season. They’ve already used three (Jonatan Berggren after being papered down while Austin Czarnik and Simon Edvinsson were converted to regular recalls once emergency conditions on their promotions ended). They can’t do much more on that front.
I think Yzerman sees this team as being a couple of years away from contention which lines up with your follow-up question. I suspect he’s hoping Dylan Larkin is still in his prime at that time but the hope is that their prospects should be starting to become key contributors at that time. Those players will be on their entry-level deals, giving them ample cap space to take a big swing on the open market to upgrade as well.
rule78.1: What do the Red Wings do with the following UFA/RFA forwards this coming offseason now that weaknesses with them have been exposed?
Kane
Raymond
Perron
Veleno
I fully expect them to take a run at re-signing Patrick Kane. 39 points in 39 games is quite impressive and frankly, better than I was expecting. There is going to be some risk here, however, with the track record of players coming back from his surgery not being the strongest. He was willing to take a one-year deal this time but that shouldn’t be the case in the summer. Anything over two years might make Yzerman hesitant. I think Perron is in a similar situation. At the right price point and term (again, probably a maximum of two years), I think they’d be interested in re-signing him. But right now, I think he’s likelier to move on with the team turning to the open market to replace him.
As for the RFAs, it’s a bit easier to forecast. Raymond is getting signed, it’s only a matter of bridge or long-term. I think Moritz Seider gets the long-term deal while Raymond gets a two-year bridge around Perron’s current price point of $4.75MM. Joe Veleno didn’t have much leverage last summer which is why he settled for just $825K. He hasn’t shown enough for a long-term contract just yet but another one-year agreement feels likely for him. With arbitration rights, he could more than double that AAV. He has been a bit underwhelming for a first-round pick but there’s still room for him in Detroit’s long-term core.
Unclemike1526: I hate to keep harping on the Hawks’ goaltending but they have to do something next year, right? Now that Mrazek is here for two more years and that’s cool, can we count on him to have another injury-free year? I think we’ve all seen that Soderblom isn’t any kind of answer. Is Commesso going to be ready next year? Gajan is the future but at least two years away. Basse might not even sign here. They need to get some kind of bridge guy to the young guys and the future. I mean if Mrazek goes down next year without that guy they might as well phone in the games. A decent vet on a one-year deal who can hold down the fort just in case. Right? Thanks as always.
Do they have to do something? Probably not. Mrazek is there and if they’re not ready to pull the plug on Arvid Soderblom, they could very well run with those two next season. They could then look to a veteran third-stringer to pair with Drew Commesso in the minors but that squeezes out Jaxson Stauber. If they don’t want to have Soderblom (or Stauber) in the backup role next year, then Soderblom pairs with Commesso and yes, then a veteran on a one-year deal makes a whole lot of sense. Frankly, a two-year deal would be more than defensible given Mrazek’s injury history; expecting Mrazek to be healthy would be risky.
Speaking of Commesso, I think you need to adjust your expectations for NHL readiness. Over the years, I’ve read plenty of interviews with team executives who say they’d like a young goalie to have between 100 and 150 AHL games before moving up; there’s a reason they typically are promoted a lot slower than skaters do. Commesso is currently at 30 games where he has been decent but not elite. I don’t think he’ll be ready next season and unless he’s flat-out dominating the league for an extended stretch next year, I don’t think he’ll be ready for 2025-26 either. That isn’t to say they couldn’t give him a few starts here and there when injuries strike on the NHL tandem but in terms of being a regular, he has a long way to go.
I’ll quickly comment on Adam Gajan as well who you have as at least two years away. I’d add several years to that timeline. He’s not having a great final season in the USHL which doesn’t help but most goalies play at least three years in college (like Commesso did). Goalies basically never make the jump from the NCAA to the NHL as, again, teams want lots of AHL action before promoting them full-time. Accordingly, I’d peg Gajan as five years away from being an NHL regular, possibly closer to six. There’s reason for optimism for the future in goal but patience will be required.
Gmm8811: There are currently four interim coaches behind the benches. In my opinion, none of them will be hired next season as the full-time bench boss. Odds of Quenneville being reinstated? Thoughts on new hires? Recycle former coaches or new blood coming aboard?
First, let’s list the four interim coaches – Jim Hiller (Los Angeles), Travis Green (New Jersey), Jacques Martin (Ottawa), and Drew Bannister (St. Louis). We know for sure that Martin won’t be back and I’d be surprised if Hiller was. I think there’s a chance that Green sticks around if the Devils do well down the stretch and sneak into that final playoff spot. As for Bannister, I think he will stay on in the full-time role. The Blues aren’t going to be contenders over the next few years so a developmental coach like Bannister might be the right fit. They’ve played well enough since he took over that I could see him getting a three-year deal.
I expect someone will take a real run at Joel Quenneville this offseason. By then, he’ll have been out of the game for nearly three years now. Will that be long enough for him to be reinstated? I wouldn’t call it a lock but if I had to handicap it, maybe 80/20 that he is.
As for the vacancies, it’ll be the usual mixture of some first-time hires and others getting a second (or third) opportunity. For first-time hires, Jon Gruden and Jay Leach I think will be strong candidates. Gruden has been speculatively linked to Ottawa’s opening for a while now and Leach had some interest last year. For the recycled options as you termed it, I wouldn’t be shocked if Craig Berube lands another opportunity. Dean Evason likely will get some inquiries as well and I wonder about Jay Woodcroft. I know the fact Edmonton took off after they let him go doesn’t help but he helped turn things around when he took over and is still a young coach. The chance to get a newer blood type of coach with some NHL experience could be appealing to some teams so I think he’ll have some interviews as well.
Schwa: Any predictions on where the top college free agents end up and who has the best chance of contributing early on? Is there a different format or process in this free agency than that of the summer FA? Thanks!
In terms of predicting where they end up, it’s a giant dart throw. This isn’t a situation where some teams have more cap space than others which would be a difference-maker in discussions. All teams are capped at offering entry-level deals so there will be little to no difference between them. For some players, it’ll be about playing close to home. For others, they’ll be targeting a team willing to burn a year of the contract now. Others will look at depth charts and try to find a team with thin depth to give them a better chance of being recalled. Meanwhile, some others will look for teams with better track records of prospect development. With each player having a different priority, it’s really hard to forecast who the top contenders will be.
As for who has the best chance of contributing early, I think defenseman Dylan Anhorn could be a candidate to burn a year right away and see a handful of games down the stretch. Winger Collin Graf will be highly sought after and should start his entry-level pact right away. Note that these players – or any undrafted college free agent signing – will only be eligible to play until the playoffs.
There isn’t necessarily a different process to college free agency (teams can speak to agents/family advisors to work out a contract) but how it plays out is a bit different. Unlike July 1st, not all players will be looking to sign right away as once they sign, they can’t play anymore in college. Accordingly, players will wait until their campaign comes to an end. For some, that has already happened while for others, that might not occur until closer to mid-April. As a result, the flow of players is more gradual instead of the typical free-for-all we see on July 1st.
Injury Updates: Zegras, Lindgren, Trouba, Hoffman, Desharnais
Ducks center Trevor Zegras is listed as a game-time decision for their game tomorrow against Tampa Bay, reports Derek Lee of The Sporting Tribune (Twitter link). The 23-year-old has missed more than two months with an ankle injury, his second extended absence after missing 20 games earlier in the year with a lower-body issue. In between, Zegras has struggled offensively, notching just four goals and seven assists in the 20 games he has been able to suit up for which fueled trade speculation leading into the trade deadline. With Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson locked in down the middle, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Anaheim deploy Zegras on the wing when he’s cleared to return.
Other injury news from around the NHL:
- Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren has begun skating as he works his way back from a lower-body injury, relays Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today (Twitter link). He has been out for a week but is still a few weeks away from returning. Meanwhile, Mercogliano adds that blueliner Jacob Trouba (lower body) is likely closer to getting back into the lineup. That said, head coach Peter Laviolette suggested that the captain is likely another week or more away from being able to suit up. New York is in a tight battle with Carolina for the top spot in the Metropolitan but they’ll be waiting a little while longer to get one of their blueliners back.
- Sharks winger Mike Hoffman is nearing a return from his upper-body injury but won’t play tonight against Chicago, head coach David Quinn told reporters including Max Miller of The Hockey News. The 34-year-old has missed the last two weeks with the injury which he revealed is a concussion. It has been a tough year for Hoffman who has been limited to just 10 goals and 12 assists through 61 games so far, hardly the type of platform year he was hoping to have as he gets set to hit the open market in July.
- Oilers defenseman Vincent Desharnais will return to the lineup tonight against Toronto, notes Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (Twitter link). The 27-year-old suffered a hand injury last weekend against Colorado. Desharnais is in his first season of full-time NHL duty and has nine points along with 96 blocks and 104 hits in 63 games so far this season.
Flames Notes: Offseason, Zary, Goaltending
Flames GM Craig Conroy has been quite busy this year, moving away several notable veteran pending free agents to kick-start a rebuild or a retool of some sort. However, they will have ample cap space to work with as a result of losing a lot of those players. Speaking with Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, Conroy indicated that he wouldn’t mind adding a veteran player or two but reiterated that the priority remains to have their younger players play. He added that the ideal term of a contract for those veterans would be two or three years. That will almost certainly have Calgary out of the mix for the top names on the open market but there should be plenty of players who could fit the bill for them in the early days of free agency in July.
More from Calgary:
- Speaking of one of their younger players, winger Connor Zary has been activated off injured reserve, relays FlamesNation’s Ryan Pike (Twitter link). The 22-year-old started off the season with ten points in six games in the minors and has been up with Calgary since then. Zary has done well in his first taste of NHL action, notching 12 goals and 17 helpers through 50 games so far while averaging 15:20 per game. That playing time could go up down the stretch once the Flames – who are ten points out of the last Wild Card spot – are officially eliminated from postseason contention.
- With Dustin Wolf now up for the rest of the season due to Dan Vladar’s season-ending hip surgery, Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson suggests that the youngster should see some regular action down the stretch backing up Jacob Markstrom who was recently activated off IR. Wolf has put up a .897 SV% in ten games so far this season after another dominant showing in the minors where he sits fourth in the minors in save percentage at .923 in 35 appearances. With plenty of speculation about Markstrom’s future, it stands to reason that Calgary would like to get Wolf some regular action over the final month to evaluate if he’s ready to take over as the starter or if they’d want to get a netminder back if they do move Markstrom in the offseason.
2024 College Free Agency Preview: Defensemen
With the college regular seasons ending and the Frozen Four tournament on the horizon, there will be some activity on the college free agent front in the coming weeks; we’ve already seen a handful of players sign. At this time of year, college free agents are rarely coming in as impact prospects with high NHL ceilings but it’s an opportunity for teams to add some depth pieces that are further along in their development compared to players coming out of major junior.
Here is an overview of some of the defensemen that could be drawing NHL interest in the near future. Note that not all of these players will sign entry-level contracts as some will ultimately elect to return to college for another season (or more) while quite a few others not on this list will sign NHL or AHL deals in the coming weeks. Our look at the goaltenders can be found here.
Dylan Anhorn, St. Cloud State
The decision to return for his senior year was a good one for Anhorn as the 25-year-old had his best season offensively, notching 31 points in 35 games. His overall upside isn’t perceived to be the highest but if a team is looking for a playable depth option that doesn’t need a lot of time in the minors to get ready, this could be it as his aggressive defensive game should work in the pros. Accordingly, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get his feet wet right away down the stretch.
Jacob Bengtsson, Boston College
After a good junior season at Lake Superior State, Bengtsson entered the transfer portal and transferred to Boston College where he’s on a much stronger team and still managed to play fairly big minutes. He has been on the NHL radar for a couple of years now and this might be the right time for him to make the jump over playing the bonus year next season. That said, his profile is more of a depth defender than one that projects to play in an NHL top six.
Zach Bookman, Merrimack
The 21-year-old might have the highest ceiling of any blueliner in this group. Bookman averaged nearly a point per game this season for the Warriors and is only two years removed from averaging nearly two points per game in the AJHL. However, he’s on the smaller side at 5’10 and, while improving, is still a bit raw in his own end. There could be enough interest to warrant a contract now but if Bookman goes back for another season, he could be among the top free agents (at any position) in next year’s college free agent class.
Aiden Hansen-Bukata, RIT
After a couple of quiet seasons to start his college career, Hansen-Bukata broke out offensively last season with 32 points in 37 games. This year, he didn’t beat those numbers but produced at a similar rate which should help generate some interest. More of an offensive threat than a defensive one, the 24-year-old might have to settle for an AHL deal for his first professional contract.
Colton Huard, New Hampshire
A lot of blueliners on this list are of the smaller variety but Huard is one of the exceptions, standing 6’3. While he doesn’t score much, he has an above-average shot from the back end which will be appealing to NHL teams. His defensive game is still raw, however, so while he’ll be on the NHL radar again as he was a year ago, a return for his senior year is a realistic possibility.
Tim Lovell, Arizona State
His decision to transfer from Boston College following the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season to the Sun Devils was a wise one for the 22-year-old. Since then, he has gone from a role player to one of the top scorers among all NCAA defensemen. Another player who is more known for his offensive play than his defensive skill set, Lovell could benefit from the bonus year to continue to improve in his own end. But there’s no denying that his offensive skills will be intriguing to teams now.
Others To Watch For
Boston Buckberger, Denver
Gianfranco Cassaro, RIT
Brandon Chabrier, Maine
Evan Murr, Minnesota State
John Prokop, Union
These players have all shown offensive upside but in most cases, they’re likely to return for another college season. Cassaro as a five-year player is the exception but despite leading all NCAA defenders in goals this season, he may be a stronger candidate for an AHL deal than an NHL one.