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Most hockey players grow up following either one team or a series of teams. Eventually one of them becomes their favorite, and by a certain age, they grow aspirations of playing for that team, or at the very least on that team’s home ice at some point in their careers.
For Frank Vatrano, both would eventually become a dream, and eventually come true. Growing up in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, a quiet little town outside Springfield, Vatrano was a huge Bruins fan growing up and dreamed of someday playing for Boston. Little did he know that his dream wasn’t actually as far-fetched as he thought.
At the age of 12, Vatrano played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament and later for Cathedral High School, but transferred to Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, so that could play in the United States National Team Development Program.
By the time graduation rolled around, Vatrano opted for the NCAA hockey route. In his sophomore year, he committed to play for Boston College. He would be a 30-plus minute train ride from the TD Garden and he could only hope the Bruins would come see him play, but this was just the beginning.
The Beginning of Vatrano’s College Career Was Controversial
After initially committing to play for the Eagles, and settling in with the team, his coach called him off the ice to confront him about his standardized test scores before college. Eventually, Vatrano was forced to admit that he had cheated on his ACTs, deeming him ineligible to play at, or even attend, BC.
Following his freshman year, Vatrano had two options: he could play in junior hockey or transfer schools and go through the admissions process again and transfer to the University of Massachusetts (UMass) in Amherst, a school that was just 45 minutes from his hometown. Vatrano chose the latter.
After being forced to redshirt his freshman year, he could not play college hockey due to academic suspension. He practiced with UMass for the first two seasons he was in Amherst, but could not travel with the team or play in any games. He did, however, continue to play for the Boston Jr. Bruins, recording 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points in 19 games.
After sitting out almost his entire sophomore season, Vatrano played just one game with the Minutemen. The next year, however, after four years, he finally got a chance to play at a consistent rate. Vatrano played in 38 games for UMass, scoring 18 goals and racking up 10 assists before signing a three-year entry level contract with the team he grew up watching despite never being drafted by them or any other team.
Following signing his contract, Vatrano reported to the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins to begin his career on an amateur tryout contract. He finished the season with Providence playing in five games and scoring one goal.
Vatrano Came Out Flying in Providence the Following Season
In the following season, Vatrano hit the ground running when he scored 10 goals in as many games and earned himself Rookie of the Month honors. On Nov. 6, he got the call he’d waited his whole life for: one from the Bruins saying he would be joining the team for a tilt with the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
While Vatrano couldn’t find the back of the net in Montreal, he recorded a hat-trick in a road victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins one month and 12 days later. After a bit of a slump, he was sent back down to Providence. Vatrano finished the season playing in 39 NHL games, with eight goals and three assists. With Providence, however, he played in 36 games where he scored 36 goals and assisted on 19 more.
Betwen 2016-17 and 2017-18, he ended up playing in a combined 69 NHL games, scoring 12 goals and adding eight assists to his line.
Following the 2017-18 season, Boston decided they had seen enough and traded Vatrano to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Vatrano’s Time With the Panthers and Rangers
For the next five seasons, Vatrano played for the Panthers. Following a slow first season in Florida, Vatrano played in the second-most regular season games in his career with 81. He also scored the second-most goals of his career with 24. It appeared the change scenery had done Vatrano some good and brought his production back.
During his time in Florida, Vatrano’s numbers never dipped into single digits with the exception of the first season in Sunrise where he only played in 16 games and scored five goals and added three assists. In the following four seasons, Vatrano played in a combined 255 regular season games (along with eight postseason games) and scored 68 goals while adding 50 assists.
Towards the end of the 2021-22 season, the Panthers had seen what they needed to and decided it was to move on as well, trading Vatrano to the New York Rangers for a fourth-round pick.
His stay with the Rangers only lasted the rest of the season, however. He played the remaining 22 regular season games and 20 in the playoffs, racking up up 26 points on 13 goals and 13 assists.
Following his time with the Rangers, Vatrano signed a three-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks worth $10.95 million.
Vatrano Has Excelled Since Arriving in Anaheim
Since he arrived in southern California, Vatrano has absolutely thrived. In the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, he has played in 81 and 82 games, respectively, the latter being a career-high. Last season, he was even named to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto – his first All-Star nomination in the AHL or NHL.
In his All-Star season, on top of playing in 82 games, he scored a career-high 37 goals and collected a career-high 23 assists. Vatrano has played in 14 games, scoring two goals and collecting four assists, to this point in the 2024-25 season.
Vatrano is in his last year of his contract with the Ducks, and if he wants to continue to play in Orange County, he’ll have to pick up his play to make sure it’s reminiscent of his previous two seasons.
Vatrano Lived His Dream & Some Forget That
Vatrano got to live his dream of playing for the team he grew up watching always dreamed of playing for. While there are a few players who have gotten to achieve this, what’s unique about Vatrano’s story is that he not only had aspirations to play for Boston, but he also grew up in the same state.
Vatrano is only 30 years old and is in the final year of his contract with Anaheim. Perhaps he will wind up back with the Bruins before his career is over.
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Analyst Eyes Rangers’ Vet as Ideal Maple Leafs Trade Target
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be done reshaping their forward group, and analyst Jay Rosehill believes a bold trade for New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck could be the answer. Speaking on LeafsNation, Rosehill said Trocheck would be a perfect fit in Toronto’s middle-six. “He’s 32 years old, so he’s got the experience. I just think that you put him in this lineup, he would fit.” Rosehill added, “It’s like there’s kind of a big missing piece in this forward group, kind of in that middle-six type of deal. And to fill it with a high-end guy like Trocheck, it would just be like, the balance would just be humming.” h/t to nyrangersinsider.com With Mitch Marner gone via free agency, the Leafs have added depth pieces like Nic Roy and Mattias Maccelli. But GM Brad Treliving admitted on July 1 that the team still needs a top-six forward. Trocheck just posted a 59-point season (26 goals, 33 assists). He’s an offensively productive player, can play with an edge, and has playoff experience. He’s also under contract for four more seasons at a $5.625 million cap hit, meaning the cost to acquire him would be significant. Still, he could provide Toronto with long-term stability up front. With his high-energy style and proven postseason impact, he’s exactly the type of player Toronto needs to help push for a Stanley Cup.
Cowboys make questionable move amid Micah Parsons stalemate
The Dallas Cowboys extended one of their stars Sunday, just not the one fans wanted them to pay. At Cowboys training camp Saturday, Dallas fans serenaded owner Jerry Jones with "Pay Micah [Parsons]" chants. The EDGE, of course, is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season. Jones must not have been listening. He gave tight end Jake Ferguson a new contract instead. Dallas and the 26-year-old pass-catcher agreed to a four-year, $52M contract extension, via NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This move seems head-scratching. Parsons has won the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods since the Cowboys took him with pick No. 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old EDGE also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Ferguson, meanwhile, is solid but not elite. In three seasons with the Cowboys, the 2022 fourth-round pick has made one Pro Bowl and has never finished with more than 761 receiving yards in a season. An extension for Parsons will devour future cap space. The Cowboys may be worried about that after giving quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240M) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136M) long-term deals in 2024. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt signed a lucrative three-year, $123M extension on July 17, making him the league's highest-paid non-QB. Parsons could command a similar contract. If cap space is Dallas' primary concern, however, why would it extend Ferguson? He's now set to be the NFL's seventh-highest-paid TE. The Cowboys waited to extend Lamb and Prescott just before the start of the 2024 season. They may be doing the same with Parsons. The star defender has said, "Ownership is always gonna make [contract negotiations] drag out." Regardless, the Cowboys should've paid Parsons before Ferguson. That's a much bigger priority for the team.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Yankees’ Trade Deadline Predictions: 2 moves to restock barren pitching staff
The Yankees hold the top Wild Card spot in the American League, and while they’re fading fast in the American League East standings, they just need one good week to gain some momentum. Part of that momentum has to come with deadline additions to the pitching staff, as Brian Cashman has loaded New York’s offense with a solid pair of infielders in Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario. Neither player will get MVP votes, but they’re dramatic upgrades over what the team had in Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas, who combined for a -0.8 fWAR this season. McMahon’s presence has already been felt with the glove, and in this article, we’re going to predict a pair of trades the Yankees could make at this year’s trade deadline to reinforce their pitching staff with impact pitchers. To clarify; these are PREDICTIONS, not sourced information declaring the Yankees as frontrunners to acquire any of these two players. Yankees’ Revisit Trade Partner for Lockdown Versatile Bullpen Weapon COL Receives: 2B Roc Riggio and RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reported last night that the Yankees are interested in Rockies’ reliever Jake Bird, and he fits the mold of pitcher that Brian Cashman likes to target at the trade deadline. He’s not the flashy headline-grabbing name that Jhoan Duran is, but he provides a good amount of whiffs and tons of groundballs, with the 4.05 ERA being a mirage. Not only is that mark still 16% better than average when adjusting for park environments, but he sports a 3.09 FIP and 3.34 xERA as well. Bird has a .352 BABIP allowed which is inflated by the Rockies’ league-worst defense according to Defensive Runs Saved (-61), and also inflated by his home ballpark. People might be worried about his performance away from Coors Field this season, but it’s likely that the changing pitch shapes as he goes back and forth from high altitude is affecting that, and if he pitched for the Yankees I wouldn’t be worried. He’s also coming from a bottom-of-the-barrel development organization for pitching to one of the best; his already dynamic repertoire could get even better in the Bronx. Jake Bird’s 116 Stuff+ is the highest single-season mark for any Rockies’ pitcher since the metric was first tracked in 2020, meaning his pitch mix is ridiculously nasty. Yankees Land Groundball Machine From Cardinals In Three-Player Swap STL Receives: C Rafael Flores and RHP Ben Hess With a year and a half of control left, the St. Louis Cardinals probably wouldn’t shut the door on trade talks for LHP JoJo Romero, who has quietly been one of the best southpaws in baseball. His 2.12 ERA and 52.9% GB% would provide a nice addition to the bullpen, making Tim Hill the second-best lefty in their reliever group which is a brilliant reflection of their newfound depth. Romero is in the 93rd Percentile in xERA (2.75) due to a dominant sinker-slider combination that can pick up whiffs or induce soft contact on the ground. His changeup is nasty against right-handed batters, and he can mix in a four-seamer at the top of the zone as well to keep righties honest. The Yankees would suddenly boast an elite bullpen, as when they get Fernando Cruz back, they would have six late-inning options who can reliably get outs and deliver clean outings. Luke Weaver needs to get things rolling, but his stuff and command are starting to get back to normal, while Tim Hill and Devin Williams have been dominant since June 1st. Fernando Cruz had been the team’s best strikeout arm, and the combination of Jake Bird and JoJo Romero provide groundballs and whiffs to the backend of the bullpen. If the rotation can import Luis Gil and Ryan Yarbrough from the injured list, they could push someone such as Will Warren into a bullpen role, and Jack Curry of YES Network hinted at Cam Schlittler being able to do so as well. Ryan Yarbrough sliding back to the bullpen could happen as well, a role where he can provide long relief or get some tough outs with that nasty changeup. These two moves wouldn’t qualify as “making headlines”, but in combination with what they did for their infield and bench, it directly addresses the Yankees’ needs and puts them in prime position to go on a deep playoff run.
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