5th year pro Brad Mills(19) re-ups for his 5th straight year in the New Jersey Devils‘ system.
Undrafted, he’s worked his way up from starting in the ECHL in his rookie season to playing in his first NHL games last season, where he scored his first goal in 4 games played.
I don’t doubt that with injuries, he would get another look in the show this season.
Undrafted center Michael Swift(16) comes off a disappointing 3rd pro season, being traded from Albany to Worcester in a minor league deal, as an unrestricted free agent. His signing options seemed somewhat limited with another team, which is surprising because just one year ago with Lowell Devils he looked to be breaking out and have good potential as a small-sized (5’9″) but skilled goal scorer.
What a difference a year makes. He skips the country and joins High 1 (along with Oren Eizenman) in the Asian League Ice Hockey for 2011/2012.
He’s still fairly young at age 24 and I would expect to see Swifty back in North America with another AHL team after a year or so away.
Israel-born, 5th year pro forward Oren Eizenman(19) trades in North America and signs for 2011/2012 with High 1 of the 7-team Asia League Ice Hockey featuring teams from South Korea, Japan and China.
He’s another player that has bounced around a lot from team-to-team never quite finding a home with any one. In 2008/2009, he played games with no less than five teams in the ECHL and AHL (Fresno Falcons, Stockton Thunder, Manitoba Moose, San Antonio Rampage, Milwaukee Admirals).
Central Hockey League‘s newest team, Evansville Icemen recently signed 6’5″ 235lbs of grit in Mike Sgroi(17) for the upcoming season.
A 12-year veteran, he usually finds himself playing for multiple minor league teams each season, either with call-ups or trades for his services. In 2008-2009, he played games for no less than 6 teams in the AHL and ECHL (Syracuse Crunch, Binghamton Senators, Norfolk Admirals, Johnstown Chiefs, Utah Grizzlies, Elmira Jackals).
Last season, seeming out of nowhere, he signed a pto with Bridgeport Sound Tigers and appeared in a couple of games at the end of the season registering no points and more surprisingly no penalty minutes.
6th year vet, undrafted winger Trevor Frischmon(19) has never experienced pro hockey outside of Columbus Blue Jackets system. He’s played the last five seasons almost exclusively with their AHL affiliates, first in Syracuse and last season in Springfield.
Right after free agency began, the Islanders stepped in to sign the unrestricted free agent to a one-year, two-way contract for 2011/2012.
His point total has continued to rise each season and in ’09/’10 he got in the first NHL games of his career (3 games, 0 points). He’s almost assuredly was signed to help Bridgeport Sound Tigers attempts to reclaim a playoff spot.
Undrafted rookie, college standout at University Of Denver, Kyle Ostrow(19) signed a deal with Columbus that will start him in the ECHL with Chicago Express. But first he’ll see some preseason action with their AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons.
It’s just over a month away from the annual P-Bruins‘ preseason tilt, 9/30 at the New England Sports Center and the Falcons just happen to be their opponent this year.
He played 5 games with Portland Pirates at the end of regular season and didn’t look out of place but registered no points. He played no games with them in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Born in Rochester, NY, undrafted 4th year winger Derek Whitmore(21) comes home to the Amerks for 2011/2012.
He started his career with the team fresh out of college in 2008.
Buffalo re-signed him to his fourth one-year, two-way deal that almost assuredly will put most of his playing time at the Blue Cross Arena.
He did put some points up at a decent clip last season, his third in the AHL with Portland.
If he keeps that up, there’s a very outside chance the Sabres could call him up.
Undrafted 3rd year pro Chris D’Alvise(9) inked his 1st AHL contract with Springfield Falcons for 2011/2012 after two years being signed in the ECHL by Stockton Thunder.
Despite playing in 43 games last season with the Falcons, he was never officially signed going the pto route.
He’s a good fit for the Springfield team, especially for the upcoming season and earned his spot.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 2005 3rd round draft pick (#84 overall) defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani(17) brought the stuff when it was necessary.
In 9 games last season he had 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists).
Those are also his totals through 15 NHL games played over three seasons.
He was summoned into action for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and this is where he came alive amassing 7 points in 7 games before the team bowed out in the 2nd round.
It’s a bit surprising he qualified with the team for a one-year, two way deal and could see his first playing time with the Amerks since his rookie campaign in 2008.
Last season he recorded the most points in a season (60) for a Portland Pirates‘ defenseman ever, a 2nd year in a row.
New Jersey didn’t qualify 4th year defenseman Tyler Eckford(7), who they drafted in 2004, round7 #217 overall. Free to go, Phoenix signed him to a 1-year, 2-way contract soon after free agency started.
He could play some more games in the NHL (he has 7 to his credit, 1 assist), but Portland Pirates are already using him as their lead image on their website, so he’ll likely be seeing more time in the AHL Eastern Conference for a third straight season. He’s appeared in 170 games with Albany and Lowell Devils, who played just an hour and a half down the highway from the Pirates.
