Prospects have started to sign their NHL entry-level contracts as seasons begin to end around the hockey world. Tony Ferrari analyzes 10 of them.
With the trade deadline out of the way, NCAA seasons coming to an end and many players looking to solidify their plans after their college or junior hockey careers, we have seen an influx of entry-level deals signed over the last month.
While these are not the top 10 entry-level contracts signed in March, these are some of the deals that are worth a closer look.
Devon Levi, G, Buffalo Sabres (Northeastern, NCAA)
Levi was the best goalie prospect in the Quebec U-18 AAA league. He was the top goaltender in Jr. A. He came out of nowhere to help Canada to gold at the World Junior Championship in 2021 as the top goaltender. And for the last two seasons, Levi has dominated NCAA competition, winning the Mike Richter Award last year as the NCAA's top goaltender and looking likely to win it again this season.
Posting a .952 and .933 save percentage in the last two seasons, Levi has also been a finalist for the Hobey Baker as the NCAA's top player in the nation in both seasons at Northeastern. He's Hockey East's player and goaltender of the year already.
Levi isn’t the biggest goalie at just six-foot, but he plays an incredibly smart positional game and reads the ice at an elite level. He is economical with his movements in the crease, rarely wasting time or energy.
He could find his way into a game or two with the Sabres this season, but that’s still up in the air. The Sabres need a spark as they fight for the playoffs, and if Levi can provide that, it will be more than worth burning a year of his entry-level deal. A visa issue held him out of practice and the lineup, but that’s been sorted out.
Chase Wheatcroft, LW, Dallas Stars (Prince George, WHL)
Sitting third in goal scoring and second in total points at the WHL level this year, Chase Wheatcroft was one of the hottest CHL free agents this year. The Prince George Cougars winger has been one of the most entertaining players in the WHL this year despite a certain 17-year-old stealing the show.
Wheatcroft was undrafted and had his development a bit stunted by COVID-19, making things difficult during his draft year, but he’s found a way to garner NHL interest thanks to a good shot and some slick hands. He flashes high-end skill and has embarrassed opponents a number of times this year. His mobility is going to need some work and he likely has AHL time in his future, but the Stars are gambling on the offensive explosion this year.
Josh Doan, RW, Arizona Coyotes (Arizona State, NCAA)
A legacy signing in a number of ways, the Coyotes are adding Doan into the fold. Playing with the Tucson Roadrunners to finish this season, the son of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan is going to have every opportunity to fight for an NHL spot in training camp in the fall. He was playing in the same rink as the Coyotes, as he captained the Arizona State squad this season, putting up nearly a point per game in the last two seasons.
While not the most efficient skater, Doan is a high-energy guy who forechecks and backchecks hard and moves the puck in the right direction. His offensive upside is limited, which makes him a middle-six option or bottom-six asset. Seeing the name Doan on the back of a Yotes jersey would have fans ecstatic, if nothing else.
Ryan Tverberg, C/RW, Toronto Maple Leafs (Connecticut, NCAA)
The fifth-last pick of the 2020 NHL draft – a pick that Toronto traded back into the draft for – has gone from a nearly forgotten draft prospect to nearly making Team Canada’s world junior team and now signing his entry-level deal with the Leafs.
Tverberg has built his game on an incredible work rate, a penchant for pestering puck carriers, and intelligent offensive tendencies. He will get the chance to showcase his game with the Toronto Marlies to end the season.
The skill and offensive tools may not be enough to warrant Tverberg finding a role in the top six in the NHL. Still, he understands how to generate chances, find ways to prevent the opposition from creating their own opportunities and use his speed in all three zones. Tverberg projects as a bottom-six player that plays a style of game that won’t hurt you but may not produce much in the way of raw offensive output.
Nikita Nesterenko, RW/LW, Anaheim Ducks (Boston College, NCAA)
Originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild and traded to the Ducks when it was evident that he wasn’t signing in Minnesota, Nesterenko has already made his NHL debut, playing in the Ducks' 5-1 loss to the Flames. Nesterenko steadily progressed in his three years at Boston College, improving his point totals every year but, more importantly, improving his effort level and overall game.
The Ducks have room to give Nesterenko a run in the NHL this year to give him a glimpse of what he needs to work on for next season. He flashes skill and speed at times, but he needs to continue rounding out his 200-foot game and becoming a more consistent offensive threat. This will be a big off-season for the 21-year-old.
Jayden Struble, D, Montreal Canadiens (Northeastern, NCAA)
A raw, physical specimen of a prospect, Struble has been an intriguing player since the day NHL scouts set their eyes on him. He played at Northeastern for four years in the NCAA and never really found the jump offensively that some expected, but his explosiveness as a skater and power as a physical presence have always been notable.
At just 21 years old, many believe the offensive game is still maturing, and he could pop with some pro seasoning and development. Struble plays fast, physically and rarely lacks effort. His tools are all upper-tier, but it’s going to be about putting it all together at the pro level, starting with the Laval Rocket of the AHL.
Kyle Masters, D, Minnesota Wild (Kamloops, WHL)
Masters has always been a manipulative, mobile creator from the back end. The problem was that he was never really able to figure out how to find the scoresheet regularly. He’s an excellent passer who looks to put teammates in a position to succeed. His ability to evade a forecheck and transition up ice through pressure is impressive.
This season was a breakout of sorts for Masters. The 2021 fourth-round pick of the Wild finally put up some points, jumping from 14 to 65 as a 19-year-old and making the most of his move from Red Deer to Kamloops. The mobile defender is actively involved in play every time he is on the ice, which is exactly how Minnesota wants their defenders to play.
Corson Ceulemans, D, Columbus Blue Jackets (Wisconsin, NCAA)
After two seasons at a somewhat dysfunctional University of Wisconsin, Ceulemans has turned pro, playing in a couple of games for the Cleveland Monsters after signing with the AHL club for the rest of the season. The Blue Jackets could look to insert Ceulemans into the NHL lineup next season, but a year of AHL conditioning may be what’s best for the former AJHL standout.
Ceulemans plays an up-tempo, puck-moving game looking to drive the puck up ice and join the rush. His defensive game is developing but remains a work in progress. He is a very good skater and has the tools to be a productive top-four defender, but he will likely need some time to play within a pro system and gain confidence in his game against men.
David Spacek, D, Minnesota Wild (Sherbrooke, QMJHL)
A coming-out party at the World Junior Championship this year led to Spacek signing his entry-level deal for next season as he finishes his QMJHL career. He’s been close to a point-per-game defender the last two years and has improved his defensive game this season, making him more than a big shot and a good passer in the offensive zone.
Spacek was a beast at the WJC, helping lead the Czech squad to a silver medal with his smart two-way play and timely scoring from the back end, leading all defenders in scoring for Czechia. The 20-year-old will likely play in the AHL next season, getting used to the pro game while fighting to earn NHL time in a strong defensive prospect pool.
Xavier Simoneau, LW, Montreal Canadiens (Laval, AHL)
Signed to an AHL-only deal last summer, the Canadiens wanted to give Simoneau a slow and steady development path. They opted not to use an NHL contract slot despite drafting Simoneau in 2021 as an overage prospect with an insane skill level and impressive production at the QMJHL level.
After a year of solid play at the AHL level, with 26 assists and 31 points in 53 games so far, the Canadiens decided it was time to reward Simoneau. The 21-year-old Quebec native is a premier playmaker with the shiftiness and vision to be a productive pro. The biggest issue is that Simoneau is incredibly undersized, listed at 5-foot-6, which will be a massive hurdle to overcome.
He plays with a feistiness, getting into scrums with players bigger than him regularly and throwing hits like he’s eight inches taller. If anyone can overcome that much of a size disadvantage, Simoneau might be the guy.