Tough guy Joel Rechlicz(19) goes for another ride with Hershey Bears, signing an AHL contract for 2011/2012. Protection for the team: check.
In 28 games he had 132 penalty minutes to go along with 1 that found the back of the net. I could see him playing more games, minutes.
Boston did the right thing re-upping veteran forward and Providence Bruins‘ team captain Trent Whitfield(23) for another two seasons.
He will resume his role with the P-Bruins and may even see a couple of games with the Big B’s. Not bad for a guy with 13 years pro experience. He just turned 34 years old this summer
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After 4 seasons in the Carolina Hurricanes‘ system, veteran defenseman Bryan Rodney(33) was cut loose and signed by Anaheim Ducks to a one-year, two-way contract. He’ll likely start the season in the AHL with Syracuse but could see some NHLaction.
Washington Capitals swooped in on the small but effective scorer in triple A, undrafted wing Jacob Micflikier(28) signing him to a one year, two-way deal for 2011/2012.
It’s his 1st NHL contract as the past couple of years with Charlotte and Albany were strictly AHL deals.
He’ll likely skate most of the season with Hershey but I wouldn’t rule out a call-up if he starts producing goals for the Bears. Kind of surprised Carolina didn’t think there was potential.
Ottawa‘s 2009 5th round pick (#150 overall), center Mike Hoffman(27) barely had time to finish celebrating Binghamton Senators AHL Calder Cup win in his rookie season before he was back on the ice participating in his third Development Camp with other Ottawa young bloods learning the ropes, looking to impress.
Both the championship win and camp were in June barely three weeks apart. Click on his name to see his interview at camp.
One of the first minor league signings before the 2010 season had even ended, Connecticut Whale re-upped with veteran defenseman Jared Nightingale(27). It will be his 4th season with the team. He doesn’t put up big numbers, except maybe pim’s but he’s pretty sturdy and dependable out there at the AHL level.
Undrafted mini-mite (5’7″ 165lbs) forward Jean-Michel Daoust(62) signed his 1st NHL contract with Minnesota in the summer of 2010 after a breakout season with their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros.
Unfortunately the 2010/2011 season didn’t go as well for him. He put up only a little more than half his point scoring production from the previous year and decided to look towards Europe, Germany’s Straubing Tigers specifically for 2011/2012.
Having watched him played throughout most of his pro career starting in 2005 with Danbury Trashers of the UHL, then a Kelly Cup with Cincinnati Cyclones and onto the AHL with WBS Pens and Houston, we wish him all the best and hope he makes a speedy return to North American hockey.
Jumbo-sized 6’5″ RFA Tom Sestito(21) re-signed with the Flyers after joining the team’s AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms at the trade deadline last season.
He has 13 games of NHL experience with the Blue Jackets but could make the jump with Philadelphia on a more permanent basis as a 4th line banger with potential goal scoring ability.
His older brother Tim Sestito(14) played 36 games with New Jersey last season. He worked his way up as an undrafted player through a couple of years first in the ECHL, then 4 in the AHL.
Devils‘ forward Darcy Zajac(20) will be in the 2nd year of his AHL/ECHL contract in 2011/2012.
He played more games with Albany than he did with Trenton last season but had more than double the scoring production in the lower level league.
His older (by one year) and more famous brother, Travis Zajac(19) is entering his 6th campaign with New Jersey.
AHL ref Terry Koharski(10), younger brother of now retired NHL ref Don Koharski, blows the whistle on the 2010/2011 hockey season.
The off-season has officially begun.
