After a bit of a disappointing year with Lehigh Valley Phantoms (11-17-28 in 57 AHL games and a -18 rating), 8th year right wing Aaron Palushaj(21) signed a one-year minor league deal with 2016 Calder Cup Champions Cleveland Monsters one week before the current campaign was set to begin.
In 28 games he has 3 goals and 9 assists with a +3 on what is a contending squad but has decided to return to the KHL agreeing on a contract for the remainder of the season with Dinamo Minsk.
It will be interesting to see if the 27-year old can find his footing to close out the 2016/2017 calendar with a bang.
Aaron Palushaj(28) Philadelphia Flyers
At least a few players in Montreal Canadiens‘ system are racking up those Air Canada frequent flyer miles, but probably none more than 3rd year right wing Aaron Palushaj(28).
Originally chosen in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft (#44 overall) by St. Louis Blues, he was traded late in his rookie season and has pretty much skated with Hamilton Bulldogs ever since, excluding a 3-game call up to the NHL last season, where he didn’t register a point but at least went a +1 plus/minus.
He’s a point-per-game producer in the AHL this season (13 goals and 18 assists in 31 games) with a +1.
His current recall makes it 5 so far in 2011/2012.
In 19 games he has one assist.
He’s bound to get his first NHL goal before the end of this season.
Original story: 2/19-12
For 2011/2012, he would end up splitting time equally with 38 games for the big club, where he did get his first goal and 35 games with the farm team producing another point-per-game effort.
The 5’11” 192 lbs. forward was given a one year extension but suffered a shoulder injury in the minors a couple of months into the season.
When he was set to return, he was set to be reassigned but claimed off waivers by Colorado Avalanche.
He skated in 25 games scoring a pair of goals and 7 assists, which wasn’t deemed good enough to get him a qualifying offer to stay.
For 2012/2013 he would sign for a year with Carolina Hurricanes but only played two games with them and was mostly once again a big point producer scoring a career tying 22 goals and high 36 assists, 58 points for affiliate Charlotte Checkers.
He would look overseas for his next deal signing with Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL but traded shortly into his term to Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.
Now, the still only 25-years old, starting his 7th campaign decided to return to North American hockey accepting a two-way contract with Philadelphia Flyers that could see him playing a veteran role mostly with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.