Men’s Hockey Notebook: Vlasic, Kaufman ink pro deals

By Patrick Donnelly

With the end of another Men’s Hockey season on Comm. Ave. comes the anticipation of who among the Terriers’ NHL prospects and graduating class will land professional contracts to move onto the next stages of their careers.

Vlasic and Kaufman sign

Junior assistant captain Alex Vlasic was the first domino to fall on Monday afternoon, signing his entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, and graduate assistant captain Max Kaufman earned a one-year, two-way deal with the Laval Rocket, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadians.

Vlasic was selected  in the second round (43rd overall) by Chicago in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The defenseman is expected to join the team on Thursday, according to the Blackhawks.

He had one goal and a career-high seven assists in 32 games this season, tying his career high of eight points that he set in 16 games last year (three goals, five assists). The Wilmette, Ill., native led BU with 51 blocked shots this season. Vlasic finishes his three-year run as a Terrier with four goals and 16 assists for 20 points and 97 blocked shots in 82 contests.

Kaufman, who is undrafted, will report to the Trois-Rivieres Lions, Montreal and Laval’s East Coast Hockey League affiliate. The forward had six goals and five assists for 11 points in 34 games this season. The Pittsford, N.Y., native had eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 15 games last season after transferring from the University of Vermont the previous summer. He was named an assistant captain by his teammates midway through the 2020-21 season.

In three seasons at Vermont, Kaufman had 15-20–35 in 94 games, serving as an assistant captain his junior year. He had a career season as a sophomore, notching eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points, all career highs, in 29 games.

Now the focus shifts

Senior captain Logan Cockerill, senior assistant captain Ty Amontte and senior defenseman Joseph Campolieto fall into the group of graduates looking to continue their careers. Campolieto is undrafted, and so is Amonte, who was invited to the New York Rangers’ development camp in 2019. Amonte has not played since Feb. 7 due to injury, and played just twice between the start of this season and the conclusion of his sophomore year due to injury.

Cockerill was a seventh round pick (201st overall) by the New York Islanders in the 2017 draft.

The Terriers also have other NHL prospects, including junior forwards Robert Mastrosimone, who went 54th overall (second round) to Detroit in the 2019 draft, and Jay O’Brien, who went 19th overall (first round) to Philadelphia in 2018. However, at this time WTBU Sports believes Vlasic to be the only early departure from BU this season.

Featured Images by Patrick Donnelly