Ohio State hockey prospects catching on with NHL teams

In case you forgot, the Ohio State men’s hockey team went on a run and snuck into the NCAA Tournament last season. But with the success of a veteran-laden team, came graduations and NHL interest. And Ohio State has not lacked either so far in this offseason.

First the graduates. Nick Schilkey, the team’s captain and second leading scorer, has signed with the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. The Checkers’ home arena is called the Bojangles Coliseum so I am now a fan of theirs. Schilkey should score well in the league being over-age, as he turns 23 in 2017, and hopefully gain a look from the parent club.

Matt Tomkins, one of the starters in the goaltending tandem last season, has latched on with the AHL’s Rockford Icehogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that drafted Tomkins in the seventh round in 2012.

David Gust, a late bloomer who came on in his junior and senior seasons, signed with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors back in May. The Condors are the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Congrats to David on getting to live in the O.C.; I hope he doesn’t get beaten up on a beach during his first night there like in the pilot episode of The O.C.

He’s also apparently going by Dave now, since he’s gotten too cool for us already out there.

Josh Healey signed, unsurprisingly, with the truculence loving Flames and Brian Burke. Someone who was suspended for shots to the head should not be saying things like this, but at least he found the right team if this is what he’s going for:

In more surprising news than Josh Healey wanting to maim other players, Mason Jobst was in attendance at Pittsburgh Penguins development camp. The team’s leading scorer could be a candidate for the Hobey Baker trophy next season if he continues his upward scoring trend against younger players -- but hey, if you can find a way to team with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin up the middle, you do it.

Unsurprisingly, Dakota Joshua is attending Leafs development camp as he is a former fifth round pick of the team. Tanner Laczynski is going to Flyers camp this week as a former sixth rounder last year. Miguel Fidler was expected to attend Panthers development camp but is recovering from injury.

If any other OSU players turn up at NHL team camps or are signed any time soon, Land-Grant Holy Land will be there to give you the news, as well as any news of a field trip to Bojangles Coliseum to protest in favor of Raising Cane’s.