UMass hockey: Minutemen lose O'Hara, Suniev, Connors early to NHL deals

The departures keep on coming for the UMass hockey team as juniors Cole O’Hara and Kenny Connors and sophomore Aydar Suniev decided to turn pro and sign NHL contracts this week.

O’Hara — who led the Minutemen with 51 points this past season — signed with the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. His two-year, entry-level deal won’t begin until the 2025-26 season. O’Hara will play the remainder of this season with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL.

Moments later, it was announced that the Calgary Flames had inked Suniev to a three-year, entry-level contract with an average-annual value of $923,333. Suniev scored 20 goals with UMass as a sophomore this past season.

Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported Suniev will join to the NHL club, causing the first year of his contract to go into effect immediately.

Then on Thursday afternoon, Connors put pen to paper on a two-year, entry-level contract with the the Los Angeles Kings. The Glen Mills, Pennsylvania native served as the Minutemen’s third-line center this past season, where  he netted 10 goals and 29 points. 

On Tuesday, the Minutemen lost Dans Locmelis to the Boston Bruins. Four of UMass’ top-six forwards from 2024-25 are now gone in O’Hara, Suniev, Locmelis and outgoing senior Lucas Mercuri — who signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning this past weekend.