As the college hockey season ends, players tend to take the next step in their playing careers and sign professional contracts with NHL teams. 

For Denver, five players, four of whom were drafted, signed with their respective NHL teams. The fifth is captain senior forward Carter King, who signed an AHL contract with his hometown team in the Calgary Wranglers, the farm team of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. In King’s first two games with the Wranglers, he has two points, including a goal. 

The biggest signing for Denver and around the hockey world was sophomore defenseman Zeev Buium, a 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft signed with the team that drafted him, the Minnesota Wild. 

On Monday night, Buium played in his first NHL game, which was in the playoffs. He became the first Minnesota Wild player to make his NHL debut in a playoff game. Buium also became the first Israeli citizen to play in an NHL game. 

Senior forward Jack Devine signed his pro contract with the Florida Panthers, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2022. Devine is currently playing with their AHL team, the Charlotte Checkers. 

The fourth signing was junior forward Aidan Thompson. Thompson was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round in 2022 and is playing with the Rockford Ice Hogs of the AHL. He joins another Denver alum in Cole Guttman. 

The final signing came somewhat as a surprise as junior forward Jared Wright signed his pro contract with the Los Angeles Kings, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2022. He’s playing for their AHL team in the Ontario Reign.