Penn State Hockey Lands Transfer Caeden Herrington in Portal Window Splash

Penn State's hockey roster rebuild just got a significant boost. With the transfer portal window now open, the Nittany Lions moved quickly to secure their first commitment of the cycle: Caeden Herrington, a former Vermont defenceman drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Herrington arrives from the University of Vermont where he played 34 games in the 2025-26 season, registering one goal and seven assists. The Manchester, Vermont native brings two-way ability and a right-handed shot that Penn State's coaching staff clearly value, given the defensive gaps that have opened up heading into the off-season.

The timing matters. Penn State's blue line is facing notable turnover. Jarod Crespo and Carter Schade are graduating, and Cade Christenson entered the transfer portal on the same day the window opened. That is three defencemen gone from a group that was already searching for consistency. Herrington does not fill all of that alone, but he offers a proven skill set and a draft pedigree that suggests there is more to come from his game.

Before his time at Vermont, Herrington suited up for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL during the 2024-25 season. That year he was something of a scoring threat from the back end — second in the entire league in goals during the regular season with 16. For a defenceman, that is an unusual and valuable profile. It points to a player who can contribute offensively while handling the defensive responsibilities that college hockey demands at the highest level.

Where he fits alongside returning players will be one of the more interesting roster questions heading into pre-season. The coaching staff will likely look at pairings with Jackson Smith or Mac Gadowsky, both of whom return with experience and established roles. A right-handed shot who can log minutes and contribute to the power play is a useful piece in that mix.

The bigger picture is clear: Penn State is not sitting still in a transfer market that has become increasingly consequential in college hockey. Adding someone with NHL Draft legitimacy on the first day of the portal window signals intent. Herrington is not a developmental project — he is a player who can play now and grow into a larger role as the programme targets another run deep into the national tournament.

For Herrington, the move represents a chance to play a more prominent role on a programme with ambitions of its own. The Nittany Lions have established themselves as consistent winners, and the jump from a rebuilding Vermont programme to a stable contender in Happy Valley carries its own appeal.

Both sides will be watching closely when October arrives.