If we cast our eyes towards the NCAA folks are preparing for The Frozen Four which is set to get underway in Tampa, Florida and which will include Jets 2022 1st rounder Rutger McGroarty and his Michigan team. While that is underway other players are either signing with NHL clubs (i.e. Parker Ford‘s recent deal with Winnipeg) or are entering the transfer portal to switch schools (Jets 2018 6th rounder Jared Moe).
Sports editor of the Miami Student Jack Schmelzinger is reporting that Jets 2019 5th rounder Logan Neaton will be returning for his fifth and final year of NCAA eligibility.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Neaton is an interesting story as there were a number of parallels to current Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck. Both are from Michigan. Both were drafted by Winnipeg in the 5th round. Both committed to and played for UMass-Lowell.
However for Neaton he didn’t get a lot of games with the River Hawks so he entered the transfer portal on April 1st, 2021 after two seasons spent with UMass-Lowell. About three weeks later he transferred to Miami University (Ohio).
He’s spent the past two seasons with RedHawks playing nine games in 2021-22 and seven games in 2022-23.
Now as folks know with players in college they cannot sign a pro contract until they are done school and there is a timeline for their drafting teams for which they need to be signed by. With Neaton that date is August 15th, 2023 as per CapFriendly.
Given he is going to play another season it would appear that he will not be signed by the Jets.
