Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#31 overall) Swedish-born goaltender Oscar Dansk(31) managed to put up some impressive numbers as soon as he starting playing and picked up all kinds of bests and awards along the way to signing his three year entry level deal only two years into his junior hockey in the OHL.
The fairly big 6’3″ 195 lbs. net minder put up a league low 2.39 GAA in 42 games in what would be his final year with Erie Otters.
He fared much less well in three playoff games though.
Beginning his North American pro career with affiliate Springfield Falcons he was reassigned for much of his time further down to Kalamazoo Wings, where he ended up playing 11 ECHL games on 2 stints.
Recalled to the parent club for a short spell he served only as back-up.
He spent more time with the direct farm team appearing in 21 AHL games posting a 7-7-5 record with 3.57 GAA and .880 SV%, which obviously aren’t very impressive stats.
For the 2015/2016 he will go back home to skate with Rogle in hopes of regaining his confidence.
The 21-year old will still be under his NHL contract on loan for the 2nd of a 3-year entry level deal but is signed by the SHL club and will be paid by them.
It would be easy to see him put up good numbers in his sophomore season in his home country and he could be back for another look.
Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#31 overall) Swedish-born goaltender Oscar Dansk(31) managed to put up some impressive numbers as soon as he starting playing and picked up all kinds of bests and awards along the way to signing his three year entry level deal only two years into his junior hockey in the OHL.
The fairly big 6’3″ 195 lbs. net minder put up a league low 2.39 GAA in 42 games in what would be his final year with Erie Otters.
He fared much less well in three playoff games though.
Beginning his North American pro career with affiliate Springfield Falcons he was reassigned for much of his time further down to Kalamazoo Wings, where he ended up playing 11 ECHL games on 2 stints.
Recalled to the parent club for a short spell he served only as back-up.
He spent more time with the direct farm team appearing in 21 AHL games posting a 7-7-5 record with 3.57 GAA and .880 SV%, which obviously aren’t very impressive stats.
For the 2015/2016 he will go back home to skate with Rogle in hopes of regaining his confidence.
The 21-year old will still be under his NHL contract on loan for the 2nd of a 3-year entry level deal but is signed by the SHL club and will be paid by them.
It would be easy to see him put up good numbers in his sophomore season in his home country and he could be back for another look.
Manchester Monarchs prevailed in the AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals game 2 that saw the home team score the first pair, then give up three straight and the lead before scoring their own three in a row to go up by another pair heading into the final frame, and eventually seal an 11-goal outburst 7-4 for the 2-0 series advantage over Hartford Wolf Pack.
Michael Mersch(27) got a hat trick in the win and leads playoff scoring with 18 points, a +13 rating, 3 first goals and all rookies, very impressive stats for a first year skater.
Heading into his 15-year, former Washington Capitals 2nd round pick in the 1999 draft (#37 overall) defenseman Nolan Yonkman(38) signs his first one-year deal to play pro hockey overseas with JYP of the Finnish elite league SM-liiga.
The absolute huge 6’6″ 250 lbs. blue liner was on a one-year minor league contract last season with Adirondack Flames, serving as captain, the sixth time in his career he’d led a team.
He’s amassed a ridiculous 733 AHL games played with 6 different farm clubs and last skated an NHL game in 2013, while under contract with Anaheim Ducks.
He recorded an assist in his second of two appearances.
The 34-year managed to still play almost a full slate of contests in 2014/2015 and although he may have reduced the number of scraps he gets into, he will always be the first to stick up for a teammate and drop the gloves if necessary.
See related: 10/6-13
Heading into his 6th season, undrafted defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer(32) re-signed for a second stint with Hershey Bears.
The 6’1″ 209 lbs. mostly stay-at-home, hard-hitting blue liner spent all but three early season games in the AHL skating 58 games, scoring a goal and 6 assists with a +8 rating and got another helper in 10 Calder Cup Playoff contests.
He started his pro career playing four years in the ECHL with Bakersfield Condors elevating his game with each campaign.
In 2013/2014 he scored a high 11 goals and 22 points and appeared in 16 Kelly Cup Playoff match-ups, adding another tally and 5 assists.
At 26-years old he played 4 seasons at RPI and could be a bit of a late bloomer but he’s easily always been a tough force to play against and will likely take his game to the next level as he plants his feet in Chocolatetown.
He was also a Washington Capitals‘ training camp invite and should easily get another look by the parent club.
It’s also worth noting he played under Bears‘ coach Troy Mann in his one season revitalizing the Condors.
Heading into his 6th season, undrafted defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer(32) re-signed for a second stint with Hershey Bears.
The 6’1″ 209 lbs. mostly stay-at-home, hard-hitting blue liner spent all but three early season games in the AHL skating 58 games, scoring a goal and 6 assists with a +8 rating and got another helper in 10 Calder Cup Playoff contests.
He started his pro career playing four years in the ECHL with Bakersfield Condors elevating his game with each campaign.
In 2013/2014 he scored a high 11 goals and 22 points and appeared in 16 Kelly Cup Playoff match-ups, adding another tally and 5 assists.
At 26-years old he played 4 seasons at RPI and could be a bit of a late bloomer but he’s easily always been a tough force to play against and will likely take his game to the next level as he plants his feet in Chocolatetown.
He was also a Washington Capitals‘ training camp invite and should easily get another look by the parent club.
It’s also worth noting he played under Bears‘ coach Troy Mann in his one season revitalizing the Condors.
Heading into his 5th season, undrafted left wing Wade MacLeod(19) will try his game overseas signing a one-year deal with second tier German league DEL2 Starbulls Rosenheim.
In 2014/2015 as a member of Idaho Steelheads, he put up some fantastic numbers scoring 38 goals and 42 assists in a full schedule of 72 ECHL games with a +23 rating.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward started his pro career with Springfield Falcons after four solid years at Northeastern University and did decently enough in his rookie campaign to secure another season with the team.
He was slightly under-performing in his return and was reassigned on a few occasions to affiliate Evansville IceMen, where in 5 games he racked up 5 goals and an assist.
On February 13, the Coquitlam, BC native suffered a season-ending seizure after being hit from behind into the boards, but miraculously managed to return to his skates just over 6 months later and landed a contract with Toronto Marlies for 2013/2014.
He also played with their affiliate Orlando Solar Bears and regular and postseason.
The 28-year old will likely excel overseas on the bigger ice surface and probably climb to a higher level in Germany or move on.
See related: 7/28-12
New York Rangers‘ undrafted 7th year right wing Chris Mueller(19) is clutch in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
He scored the game-winning goal shorthanded in overtime to give minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack the 3-2 series lead and has an incredible 3 game-tying tallies to send postseason contests into an extra session.
The not exactly huge 5’11” 210 lbs. veteran forward also had an OT victory score when he won the 2014 Championship with Texas Stars and so far has a team leading 5 goals and 4 assists in 11 AHL playoff games.
He’s very close to eclipsing his point mark of 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 19 games from last season’s title run.
The 29-year old always puts up good numbers in the regular season and plays a smart game. He also won the 2007 NCAA Championship when he was with Michigan State University, so is a two-time champ.
He started 2014/2015 with the farm team but was recalled by the parent club and had a goal and an assist in 7 games before being reassigned.
He’s skated in 53 NHL games but has failed to stick, although seems like he could do well if given the opportunity as a 3rd or 4th line energy guy with the experience in his game that’s come through age.
New York Rangers‘ undrafted 7th year right wing Chris Mueller(19) is clutch in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
He scored the game-winning goal shorthanded in overtime to give minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack the 3-2 series lead and has an incredible 3 game-tying tallies to send postseason contests into an extra session.
The not exactly huge 5’11” 210 lbs. veteran forward also had an OT victory score when he won the 2014 Championship with Texas Stars and so far has a team leading 5 goals and 4 assists in 11 AHL playoff games.
He’s very close to eclipsing his point mark of 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 19 games from last season’s title run.
The 29-year old always puts up good numbers in the regular season and plays a smart game. He also won the 2007 NCAA Championship when he was with Michigan State University, so is a two-time champ.
He started 2014/2015 with the farm team but was recalled by the parent club and had a goal and an assist in 7 games before being reassigned.
He’s skated in 53 NHL games but has failed to stick, although seems like he could do well if given the opportunity as a 3rd or 4th line energy guy with the experience in his game that’s come through age.
8th year veteran goaltender Matt Climie(33) leaves North American pro hockey to pursue his career in the German elite league DEL with Straubing Tigers.
He tended net under contract with Chicago Wolves for the last pair of years and was also with the team from 2011-2013, while signed with Vancouver Canucks.
Previously he had a deal with Arizona Coyotes, where he played a club record 56 AHL games with affiliate San Antonio Rampage. He did have one appearance with the parent club in relief but that was all.
The 6’3″ 207 lbs. backstop originally signed an entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Dallas Stars after four great years at Bemidji State University. He set a slew of records for the college team.
In his rookie campaign he was reassigned to Idaho Steelheads playing 42 games.
He was recalled on an emergency basis to the show and got in his NHL debut and three games total without ever standing between the pipes for farm team Houston Aeros.
He did play 5 games in the Calder Cup Playoffs though, making him one of the few players each year to skate in three different leagues.
At 32-years old he just may win his first championship overseas.
