The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Ryan Ufko (UFF-co) to a three-year, entry-level deal that will start in 2024–25, General Manager Barry Trotz announced today.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen were defeated by the University of Denver 2-1 in double overtime on Thursday, capping up a stellar three-year collegiate career for Ufko, 20 (5/7/03). The 6-foot, 174-pound blueliner, who is co-captain, finished as a finalist for the Hockey East Player of the Year award, was named to the Hockey East First-Team All-Star, and was recognized with three weekly conference distinctions. In 37 games, Ufko scored 26 points, second among team defenseman. He also recorded five multi-point efforts, including a season-high four points on Dec. 8 against Alaska Anchorage (1g-3a). Ufko set an NCAA career high with 10 goals, six of which came on the power play. In addition, he was named a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award, a semifinalist for the Walter Brown Award, which goes to the best college hockey player in New England, and the winner of the Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award, which honors a Hockey East player who continuously exemplifies excellent conduct and sportsmanship on the ice.
After being selected by Nashville in the fourth round (115th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Ufko played 106 NCAA games for UMass Amherst from 2021 to 2024 and had 81 points (23g-58a). Not only did he win the conference as a junior in 2023–24, but he also made the Hockey East All-Rookie Team as a freshman in 2021–22 and was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team as a sophomore in 2022–23. The Smithtown, New York, native competed internationally for the United States at the 2023 World Junior Championship, where he won the bronze medal and tied for the tournament lead in points among defenseman with 10 (1g-9a). In his second and final season with the Chicago Steel in 2020–21, Ufko won the Clark Cup and was selected to the USHL First All-Star Team. This was prior to his enrollment at UMass Amherst.