Quinnipiac Professional Athletes

Quillan Heads West in Räty Deal

The biggest news for Quinnipiac alumni this week didn't come from a box score — it came from the transaction wire. Jacob Quillan, the young Bobcat-bred center, was dealt from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Vancouver Canucks as part of a multi-piece trade centered on Finnish forward Aatu Räty.

Toronto sent Quillan and fellow forward Brandon Buhr to Vancouver in exchange for Räty, a 23-year-old who had recently cleared waivers. For Quillan, the move lands him with a Canucks organization that sees him as one of two "intriguing bets" on rising young forwards — a vote of confidence from a new front office. Vancouver GM Ryan Johnson made the deal official, framing the acquisitions as investments in forward depth. It's a fresh start and a new opportunity for the Quinnipiac product to carve out a roster spot on the West Coast.

Toews Thriving in Colorado

While Quillan's situation is still taking shape, Devon Toews continues to cement himself as one of the more complete defensemen in the game. The Quinnipiac alum had another productive week for the Colorado Avalanche, posting an assist and a plus-2 in a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, and adding another helper in a 3-2 win over Dallas on Wednesday.

Toews' week fits a larger narrative: Colorado's defensive corps — Toews alongside Cale Makar — is doing damage in all three zones, generating offense as much as preventing it. Sports Illustrated highlighted the duo as a reason opponents fear the Avalanche beyond just their forwards, a testament to how far Toews has come since his days in Hamden.

Graf and Metsa Grind Through Early Season

Collin Graf (San Jose Sharks) and Zach Metsa (Buffalo Sabres) both logged heavy minutes across a busy stretch, though neither had a standout statistical week. Graf appeared in three games for the Sharks, going minus-2 in a tough run that included losses to Detroit and Nashville. Metsa, meanwhile, picked up an assist in Buffalo's 5-4 win over Toronto on Thursday — a bright spot in an otherwise up-and-down week for the Sabres that included a pair of losses to Montreal and a win over Florida.

Neither player is putting up flashy numbers yet, but both are contributing to NHL rosters early in the season — no small feat for alumni of a program that didn't produce NHL regulars at this rate just a decade ago.

Quinnipiac's footprint across the league keeps growing: Toews is a legitimate star, Quillan is getting a fresh shot in Vancouver, and a handful of other Bobcats are holding down roster spots from Buffalo to San Jose. The program's pipeline is producing — and this week's trade only adds to the story.

Quinnipiac's NHL alumni had a night worth remembering on Thursday, October 9 — and they delivered it from opposite sides of the country.

Devon Toews Goes Off in Colorado's Blowout

Devon Toews was one of four Avalanche skaters to score multiple points as Colorado dismantled the winless Calgary Flames 7-3. The Quinnipiac product scored twice on the night, joining Cale Makar (two goals, one assist) and Nathan MacKinnon (one goal, two assists) in what amounted to a statement performance for a Colorado squad bouncing back from a loss to Winnipeg the night before. Toews has long been one of the more underrated defensive contributors in the league, but evenings like this serve as a reminder he carries genuine offensive upside from the blue line.

Graf Delivers the Equalizer in San Jose's OT Win

Meanwhile, across the league, Collin Graf authored his own highlight. The Sharks trailed the St. Louis Blues heading into the final minutes of regulation before Graf fired home the equalizer late in the third period to force overtime. Darnell Nurse then sealed it for San Jose, scoring his first goal as a Shark in the extra frame for a 3-2 final. Tyler Toffoli chipped in with a goal and an assist, but it was Graf's clutch tally that kept San Jose's night alive. For a young winger still carving out his place in the NHL, that's a resume-building moment.

The Rest of the Week

The good vibes didn't carry all the way through the week for Quinnipiac's contingent. On Saturday, October 10, Toews picked up an assist but the Avalanche dropped a 6-3 decision to the Maple Leafs. Zach Metsa (Sabres) and Collin Graf (Sharks) each finished the night at minus-one in their respective losses, while Connor Clifton's Bruins had a strong showing in a 5-1 win over the Flyers, though Clifton didn't register a point in the box score.

The week still belongs to Thursday night — two Bobcats, two pivotal contributions, two wins. Not a bad way to represent Hamden.

Quinnipiac Alumni Report | NHL | Sept. 20–26, 2026

Two Bobcats made noise in the NHL this week — one fighting for a roster spot, one fighting Brady Tkachuk.

Peca's PTO: A Name the Sabres Know Well

Matthew Peca is betting on himself in Buffalo. The former Quinnipiac center signed a professional tryout contract with the Sabres, keeping his NHL aspirations alive as training camp gets underway. The PTO puts Peca in direct competition for a roster spot with no guarantees — just an opportunity to outperform expectations in one of the sport's most scrutinized tryout periods.

There's an odd footnote to the story: this isn't the first time a Peca has skated for Buffalo. Michael Peca — a 27-goal scorer and gold medalist who once wore the Sabres sweater — shares the surname but not the family tree. The two are unrelated, a coincidence that's earned Matthew a few double-takes in the organization's hallways. For Matthew, though, the only comparison that matters is the one coaches make after watching him practice.

Quinnipiac has developed a steady pipeline to the NHL, and Peca's PTO is a reminder that the path isn't always a straight line. Whether he sticks in Buffalo or moves on, the audition itself signals that NHL front offices still see something worth evaluating.

Legault Drops the Gloves with Tkachuk

Across the league, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault found himself on the wrong end of a milestone moment — at least from a Panthers perspective. Florida's Brady Tkachuk completed a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Hurricanes, with the fighting portion of that trifecta coming courtesy of a bout with Legault. The Gordie Howe hat trick — a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game — is one of hockey's rarer individual achievements, and Legault's willingness to answer the call reflects the physicality he's brought to Carolina's blue line.

It was a tough night for the Hurricanes, but Legault's role in the game underscores his value as a defender willing to protect his teammates when the temperature rises.

The Broader Bobcat Footprint

Beyond Peca and Legault, Quinnipiac's NHL presence remains one of the more impressive among mid-major programs. Devon Toews anchors Colorado's blue line, Connor Clifton logs minutes in Boston, and Yaniv Perets pushes for playing time in Philadelphia. The Bobcats' footprint across the league — 11 alumni on NHL rosters — reflects a program that has quietly become a legitimate pro hockey feeder.

This week, though, the spotlight belongs to Peca. A PTO is a last audition, not a consolation prize — and in Buffalo, he's got a chance to make the name mean something new.