How Early Are Top NHL Draft Prospects Scouted? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTg4Mjk1MzMzMTk1ODE4MTA2/51927444129_9ab8808073_5k.jpg] 3ICE continues to sign players in preparation for their inaugural season. The new three-on-three professional hockey league, which will open play June 18 in Las Vegas announced the addition of seven players to their lineup. This week, the league inked former NHLers Leland Irving, Steven Olesky, Greg Mauldin, Chris Mueller, and Brock Trotter, and AHLers Jeremy Brodeur and Patrick Mullen. Irving is a former first round selection, 26th overall in 2006 of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. He played 13 games for the Flames but spent the majority of his professional career in the AHL and Europe. This season, Irving backstopped Lugano in the Swiss National League. Of the announced signing group, Steve Olesky had the longest NHL tenure. The 36-year-old defender played 73 NHL games between 2012 and 2017 with the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s currently playing in the ECHL. Patrick Mullen is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame member Joe Mullen, who will also serve as a coach in the league. Jeremy Brodeur is the youngest player signed to play in 3ICE at 25. The son of Hockey Hall of Fame member Martin Brodeur is currently the starting netminder for the ECHL’s Maine Mariners, and has appeared with the AHL’s Providence Bruins as well this season. Each team in the six-team league will consist of six skaters and a netminder, so the announced group represents one team worth of 3ICE players. Each of the seven players signed a one-year contract with the league, and aside from Mueller, who last played in the AHL in 2020-2021, all are currently active in North American and European professional leagues. Earlier this month, 3ICE announced their first signing class [https://thehockeynews.com/news/former-nhlers-highlight-first-3ice-signings] including five former NHL players – David Booth, Chris Bourque, Chris Conner, TJ Hensick, and Aaron Palushaj. The league has stated that close to 100 players are signed up for tryouts in April to help fill out the remaining roster positions. Once the league has populated their player pool, a draft will occur assigning each player to one of six teams slated to compete in a nine-stop tour visiting Las Vegas, Denver, Grand Rapids, London (Ontario), Pittsburgh, Quebec City, and Nashville. The playoffs will take place on August 20 back in Las Vegas, where $2-million USD will be on the line in prize money.
