Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#52 overall) Lativian-born center Teodors “Teddy” Blueger(23) grabs a new 1-year extension on the second week into his first restricted free agency.
Kind of a no brainer to keep on as he posted a career high and team 2nd 21 goals and tying 24 assists for 45 points with a monster +16 rating for affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 70 AHL games.
The 6′ 195 lbs. forward earned a +24 last season, a record plus/minus by a first year skater.
He did 4 years at Minnesota State University (Mankato), basically averaging 20 assists throughout that time and had 10+ goals in his last pair of campaigns, plus helped them win back-to-back 2015 & 2016 NCAA/WCHA Championships.
The 23-year old can find the net and we’re betting it gets noticed with an NHL recall this season.
And absolutely no one knows how to spell his last name.
He would mostly move on to Vancouver Canucks for 3 seasons, showing his best scoring in the 1st year of the contract with them.
For 2026/2027, Toronto Maple Leafs still spy something in the tank.
Coming soon collegehockeyplayers.com profiles, insights, game views, videos, movement up to the pro level and all that is NCAA Division 1 college hockey.
Thank you for reading and following Circling The Wagon. It’s been a fun 10 years covering mostly minor league hockey players and where they play.
6th year center Adam Tambellini(15) achieves the stated goal of detonating Allsvenskan with 63 points (28-35) in 37 games for MODO Hockey last season and receives an invite up to sign with Rogle BK of the SHL for 2020/2021.
The 25-year old Edmonton-born native may just be blossoming overseas.
Colorado Avalanche 7th year center T.J. Tynan(36) gets a one-year extension after skating a career high 16 NHL games grabbing his first point, an assist and leading affiliate Colorado Eagles with 42 assists and 47 points in 42 AHL contests.
The 28-year old has three times ascended to 40+ assists in a season and once had a career best 59.
Two years of 30+ assists at University Of Notre Dame said it all and he should be able to continue at the highest level but it would be no surprise to see him leave for say Sweden when he’s ready to wrap things up.
11th year center Zack Torquato(51) had such a solid 1st season as captain for EHC Winterthur of the NLB scoring 10 goals and for a 5th time eclipsing 30+ assists in 44 games.
He was coming off a strong showing with Herning Blue Fox of Metal Ligaen in the prior campaign and previous to that played two years in AlpsHL with Cortina.
The 30-year old signs on to stay another season and you could easily see him getting comfortable in Switzerland’s tier 2 league.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 9th year center Derek Grant(38) had a career high 14 goals before he was dispatched by his club of two separate stints Anaheim Ducks at trade deadline for a playoff push.
He was likely dished to free up a little cap space, gain a draft pick along with a minor league veteran prospect and they were likely not looking to pay him big as he was to enter unrestricted free agency.
The big forward currently added a goal and 4 assists with his new team bringing his totals to all new bests 15 goals and 25 points with 10 assists winking at the 12 he put up a few years back.
At almost 30-years old, he may be just arriving nicely late and it could pay off nicely.
Vegas Golden Knights‘ 3rd year right wing Keegan Kolesar(20) gets into his first NHL game skating 15 shifts for 12:06 total ice time with 1 shot, 2 hits and he was 100% on the face off dot but was returned to affiliate Chicago Wolves soon afterwards.
His goal production from an AHL career high 20 last season is down in much less games (33) but he’s quickly approaching a new assist best mark with 15 currently in far fewer outings.
He’s recently been but needs to wait until play resumes but could be returned before then.
The 22-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current session but looks like a good bet to re-up for at least one more look.
Laval Rocket‘s 7th year left wing Yannick Veilleux(38) signs on for the remainder of 2019/2020 after being loaned up from Kalamazoo Wings, where he scored 6 goals and 13 assists in 22 ECHL games.
It’s little doubt he should get a contract considering his career high 12 goals and 18 points in only 25 games, his fourth deal in the league.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward is a veteran of 329 AHL games and 389 penalty minutes but until now was only able to take up his point totals as a junior.
But in his final pair of seasons of the QMJHL, which he also won the 2012 Memorial Cup with Shawinigan Cataractes, he was a point-per-game player.
The 27-year may be finally leaving the lower league behind but could look elsewhere overseas for his next playing opportunity.
After 18 seasons, 49 NHL games, 602 AHL, 141 ECHL, 196 DEL including three straight championships and a 2000 WHL title, veteran center Jason Jaffray(15) decides it’s time to find something else to do at age 38.
He leaves the game with a healthy 9 goals and 10 assists in 31 games with a +7 rating in his fifth season playing for EHC Red Bull Munchen.
4th year right wing Gabriel Gagne(32) started the new season with 36 ECHL games for Allen Americans scoring a very solid 24 goals and 14 assists for 38 points with a +12 rating before being loaned up a few months in to Rockford IceHogs.
The rangy 6’5″ 219 lbs. forward potted 6 goals and 6 assists in 21 AHL games with his new club and earns an extension to stay on for the remainder of 2019/2020.
He also had 3 games for Ontario Reign, where he got an assist before being returned.
The former Ottawa Senators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft (#36 overall) skated three seasons in their system and even had 20 goals as a sophomore skater for affiliate Belleville Senators but wasn’t qualified when his deal was up.
At still just 23-years old, he’s earning his way back up with solid play.
