Rookie

ECHL: Bloomington Bison Provide Tryout Deal to Rivermen Rookie

There is no denying that when the Bloomington Bison announced their expansion into the ECHL, many hockey fans in the area wondered if they would see any movement of players from the nearby SPHL franchise, the Peoria Rivermen, to Bloomington. Today, it was announced that Peoria Rivermen rookie standout winger Mike Gelatt has signed an […]

Florian Xhekaj Signs Three-Year Deal with Montreal Canadiens Following Standout Season

The 6-foot-4, 190 lb. left winger, Florian Xhekaj, known as “The Deputy” in homage to his brother’s nickname, “The Sheriff,” has made waves in the NHL scene. He recently signed a three-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens, following his standout season with the Brantford Bulldogs, where he notched an impressive 65 total points over 63 […]

When Can Newly-Drafted Prospects Break Through Into The NHL?

When do or can prospects make the jump to the NHL/AHL level? Most NHL prospects take 3-5 years post-draft to reach the NHL, with less than a third of first-rounders making an NHL team. Factors like skill development and individual progression dictate the timeline. Additionally, a strict NHL-CHL agreement impacts where prospects can play, depending on age. Any player under the age of 20 is ineligible to play in the AHL. NHL Entry Draft intricacies, entry-level contracts, Russian political issues and AHL stints shape a prospect’s journey.

Timothy Liljegren of the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Emergence of Timothy Liljegren and Where That Leaves the Leafs

Toronto’s 2017 1st round pick, Timothy Liljegren, entered the 2021-22 season under a lot of pressure to perform. Despite only being 22 years old, many in the media and the fanbase had already written him off as a career tweener despite clear year-over-year progression at the AHL level. He came to the AHL in his […]