Who is Will Dineen?

The Laval Rocket announced that the club signed Yale University captain Will Dineen to a professional contract, after his team failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Dineen, 24, is the age of your typical NCAA free agent, and adds some centre depth to Laval's roster ahead of the playoffs. The more, the merrier; as depth will shine through on the championship team when all is said and done. He projects as a depth centre, who is great at controlled zone exits, which blends well with his defensive zone faceoff prowess.

Dineen is also a proficient transitional centre, working hard to create efficient and consistent zone entries. Gaps in the American Hockey League are going to be tighter for Dineen, but the way he adapts will be a true indicator of his potential.

There is a definite growth curve, and there is little question whether he can handle the physical aspect of playing hockey professionally. But the speed, and quickness required to thrive in the NHL can leave some players feeling shellshocked. I am curious to see how Dineen fares with the Rocket, because centre depth is never a bad thing.

Over his four seasons at Yale University, Dineen played 20 or more games three times, but judging by his short seasons, he has very little playoff experience. Dineen recorded his best statistical season in his final one, all while donning the captaincy. Through 30 games, Dineen scored 6-12-18, college product that will generally translate to a depth NHL forward at best.

Yale is also a very poor team, and hasn't boasted NHL-affiliated prospects since Jack St. Ivany, Phil Kemp and Billy Sweezey in 2019-20.

So, take Dineen's statistics with a grain of salt, because he didn't play on any successful Yale teams during his four-year college career.

Laval, however, has been quite successful this season, and Dineen has a great opportunity to carve out a role with the Rocket down the stretch. If he can be a nice support piece for the Rocket, that would be tremendous for their playoff fortunes. Dineen is six-foot-two, 194-pounds, and a left shot centre, with 99 games of NCAA experience under his belt.

Dineen's father, Kevin, played close to 1200 games in the NHL, split between the Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets. Will grew up around a guy who knows how to get there, so I'm sure Dineen will be a smart player in Laval's bottom six.

In Dineen, Laval adds an inexpensive, low-risk option, and if he works out, then the Rocket might be smiling at the end of the road, if his addition impacts the team's chances for a Calder Cup championship.

Mathew Schaefer resumes skating

2025 consensus first overall selection Matthew Schaefer suffered a broken collarbone in December during the World Junior championships.

He returned to the ice, skating on Erie's home rink on Thursday afternoon.

Fans who hadn't seen Schaefer play in Erie, with the Otters, where Connor McDavid got his start. Schaefer isn't that calibre of player, but he projects as a number-one, minute munching defenseman. He can, and will play on the penalty kill and power play, because he is a fluid skater, and a student of the game.

Schaefer's intelligence is elite level, and because of it, the projections for his potential are sky high. The 17-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario has been compared stylistically to Hockey Hall of Famer, and four-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman Scott Niedermayer. Niedermayer won three with the New Jersey Devils ('95,2000 and '03) and one with the Anaheim Ducks in '07, along with a Conn Smythe that same playoffs.

I love Kaiden Guhle, but I would trade him for a second-line centre in a second, if the Canadiens were awarded the opportunity to draft Schaefer. Guhle is fantastic, and I love the guy, but his injury history has me worried. I feel like he is heading toward 'proceed with caution territory, Schaefer is coming in healthy, and scouts are collectively foaming from the mouth about Schaefer's tools, and projection.

Schaefer is a do it all defender, and will play on whichever team drafts him's top defence pair for a long career. He has the IQ, the puck skills, the vision and the creativity to execute in all three zones. Schaefer has NHL size (6'2", and 183-pounds) and he doesn't turn 18 until September.

With a great shot, and a nose for the net, Schaefer is going to be a difference maker offensively, and a punisher defensively - blending physicality, cunning defensive play and smooth skating to close off hard on attackers, or break up plays with a smart defensive stick.

Simply put, if you're looking at this draft - Schaefer is in a tier by himself, and then Michael Misa and the rest. Despite being limited to just 17 games, No. 48 for the Otters scored 7-15-22. Proving that he doesn't need much time to make an impact.

Also, he is a defenseman, and I think having to remind yourself that a player is a defenseman because of their fantastic production is a huge compliment. Lane Hutson evokes those same conversations. Imagine Schaefer and Hutson one and two on the Habs left side, throw David Reinbacher, and Logan Mailloux into the mix, and that is an impressive top four.