Michigan State Hockey has plenty of high-level players playing around the globe, but today we are going to check in on how some of the best to don the green and white are doing in the NHL and the AHL.
Let's start this check in with the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner: none other than Isaac Howard.
The rookie forward has bounced between the NHL's Edmonton Oilers and their AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors throughout the season. He's played 16 games for the Condors and scored 10 goals along with 13 assists for 23 points on the season. He's currently up on the Oilers, where he's played in 27 games and scored two goals, and three assists for five points in his rookie season.
Artyom Levshunov, the former Big Ten Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year, is living up to his No. 2 overall selection two drafts ago. In his first full run with the Chicago Blackhawks, Arty has become a defensive force. He's scored two goals and pitched in 19 assists for 21 points on the season in 49 games. Putting him on pace for his first career 30-plus point season.
Mackenzie MacEachern is a part of the Vancouver Canucks organization but has seen more time down at their AHL team the Abbotsford Canucks. In 21 games this season he's score six goals, with two helpers for eight points on the season. In his eight NHL games this season, MacEachern did score a goal and three assists.
Mason Appleton has turned into a great piece for the Detroit Redwings. After signing as a free agent in the offseason, Appleton has been very productive on the Wings — he has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 42 games played this season.
Jeff Petry joined the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the offseason. He hasn't scored a goal yet this season but has already matched his production from 2024-25 with eight points. The former Spartan captain continues to carry on in his 17th season in the NHL, mking him one of the longest tenured players in the league currently.
Torey Krug, another former star defenseman for Michigan State, is still marked as a member for the St. Louis Blues but hasn't played a game since the 2023-24 season. A significant ankle injury has kept him out, and he likely won't see the ice again in the NHL. Regardless, this Spartan legend is still under contract.
There are plenty of others former Spartans having strong showings in the American Hockey League (AHL) currently those players include: Joey Larson, Jagger Joshua, Karsen Dorwart, David Gucciardi, Tommy Miller, Josh Jacobs, Erik Middendorf, and Kaden Nelson.