17th year left wing Stephane Veilleux(19) signs on for his third season with Oji Eagles of the Asia League, where he seems to be happy and doing quite well.
In 48 games through 2016/2017, he had a career high 42 points (12-30).
The veteran of 506 NHL games played 12 seasons under contract with Minnesota Wild, his 2001 draft club.
He’s also appeared in 396 AHL contests, last serving as Iowa Wild captain in the 2014/2015 campaign before leaving for some overseas hockey.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward has only three times been signed to one-year deals away from the North Star state, which shows an unheard of consistency.
In fact, while with New Jersey Devils, he received a one-game recall and less than a week upon being returned to Albany was traded back to the Wild.
The 35-year old has had a heck of a career and obviously shows little signs of slowing down.
Utah Grizzlies‘ 9th year center Michael Pelech(27) returns for his fourth season with the club after an early trade sent him there from Reading Royals, where he’d been for a short time over two campaigns.
The 28-year old as 2017/2018 begins has played a monstrous 513 ECHL spending significant time with 6 different squads.
His best scoring season was 2011/2012 in 10 games to start with Toledo Walleye but finished playing 60 contests for Cincinnati Cyclones, where he scored a best 65 points (16-49).
He would get close to those numbers and post a goals scoring high of 25 in his first year in Salt Lake, but really popped in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, when he got 5 goals and 8 assists through 11 games.
It would be a bit crazy for him to continue hockey here.
We think he’d absolutely tear up a European league like DEL.
Always a fun guy to watch.
4th year left wing Olivier Archambault(10) takes a very impressive Kelly Cup Playoff run with South Carolina Stingrays to a one-year deal with Allen Americans for 2017/2018.
Limited to only 35 ECHL games due to injury, he was still able to put up 16 goals and 8 assists in the regular season before adding another 7 goals and 10 assists in 22 postseason contests.
Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#108 overall) he never signed, instead inked with Iowa Wild as a rookie.
The small-ish looking 5’11” 190 lbs. forward would play 24 AHL games (4 goals, 5 assists) but spent more time with Alaska Aces.
He would re-sign with the team and once again be invited to parent club Minnesota Wild‘s training camp but only skated 6 games before being sent to Quad City Mallards, who acquire his rights to continue.
A twice 20-goal scorer in the lower league, he was also a former point-per-game guy in his final two campaigns of the QMJHL, will probably do very well with his new team.
The still young 24-year old may take a healthy, fantastic season overseas next but could also get a more extended look at a higher level.
Calgary Flames‘ 4th year right wing Garnet Hathaway(50) skated a new career high 26 NHL games scoring a best one goal and 4 assists for 5 points.
He also played 31 AHL games with affiliate Stockton Heat grabbing 8 goals and 12 assists with a monster +22 rating, then added another 4 points (2-2) in 5 playoff match-ups.
10 days into restricted free agency and the parent club steps in and gives him a new 1-year 2-way extension but the 25 year old is fully expected to pull full time status up with the big club.
We shall see. He could possibly see some more time on the farm but it likely won’t be much as he should be able to play nicely into his role.
Undrafted 2nd year right wing Michael Joly(88) signs and AHL contract with San Antonio Rampage for 2017/2018.
He was on a similar deal last season with Hartford Wolf Pack and played 28 games scoring 6 goals and 6 assists with a pair of multi-point efforts.
The 5’11” 172 lbs. forward was also reassigned for different periods to affiliate Greenville Swamp Rabbits and absolutely lit it up in the lower league tapping in 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points with a +16 rating in 29 ECHL games.
He was fairly prolific in junior hockey with Rimouski Oceanic and won a 2015 QMJHL Championship as a third year skater, which made us wonder why he was never selected.
The 22-year old should be able to convince he deserves to play up with a farm club but a few appearances with Colorado Eagles wouldn’t be the worst demotion ever.
Still, we expect this player, who has scored some big goals to be able to stick at a higher level and start connecting with the scoresheet regularly.
5th year right wing Brandon Alderson(29) leaves North American hockey signing a one-year deal with Heilbronner Falken of DEL2 for 2017/2018 after putting up a career high, team leading 26 goals and 29 assists and a +8 rating with Greenville Swamp Rabbits in 44 ECHL games, while also getting in 13 AHL games on loan to three different clubs.
The big forward played only his rookie season with original contract team Philadelphia Flyers‘ direct affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, then split time between farm squads Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Reading Royals as a sophomore and third year skater.
The 25-year old should be able to detonate Germany’s tier two scoring and move up to DEL within a year.
6th year right wing Jake Hansen(22) takes his game to Metal Ligaen joining Rungsted Seier Capital for 2017/2018 after scoring exactly 4 goals in each of his last three seasons with Asset of Liiga and Schwenninger Wild Wings of DEL.
Left unqualified after two years in Columbus Blue Jackets‘ system, where he played exclusively for affiliate Springfield Falcons, the very decently sized power forward split for overseas.
The soon-to-be 28-year old should set new scoring highs in Denmark’s top league.
12th year right wing Olivier Labelle(13) heads back to Ligue Magnus joining Boxers de Bordeaux for 2017/2018 after having success in the country a couple years ago.
He helped Rouen Dragons win both the 2016 French League title and Continental Cup before deciding to return for a 5th campaign with Reading Royals, where he scored a team leading 27 goals and 55 points before adding another 2 tallies and 2 assists in 6 postseason match-ups.
The decently-sized 6′ 199 lbs. forward has appeared in 407 ECHL games throughout his career scoring close to point-per-game numbers (170-169).
He also appeared in 6 AHL games on loan to Syracuse Crunch with no points
It was his first visit with them in 10 years.
His rookie season (2006/2007) was spent with the club.
The 32-year old will once again excel in France but could decide to return, especially if he decides to explore some coaching possibilities.
9th year left wing Dwight King(21) will soon start the next adventure of his pro career skating for Atvomobilist Yekaterinburg of the KHL after splitting time last season for the first time in his pro career with Montreal Canadiens and 8+ year, draft club Los Angeles Kings, where he’s best known for playing.
Heck, he helped them win the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup Championships and was fairly consistent taking his game up a level once it hit postseason.
The 28-year old should be outstanding in Russia and may get some looks to return.
He has played 345 NHL games with decent enough stats (53-56 with a +3), especially for a fourth line grinder guy.
8th year defenseman Kane Lafranchise(14) signs his first NHL contract with New York Islanders and will likely return to Bridgeport Sound Tigers for a third tour.
He put up AHL career high marks in 2016/2017 playing 67 games scoring 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points with a +20 rating.
His previous offensive upticks were for Alaska Aces, who he spent most of his time during his first four pro seasons with, and also won the 2014 Kelly Cup Championship.
He had a goal and a team d-leading 10 assists in 15 playoff games and a +10 rating en route to that title.
The 6’1″ 195 blue liner joined them after three years at University Of Alaska-Anchorage.
His next step would take his game to the higher league agreeing with Utica Comets but ended up splitting time with their ECHL club Kalamazoo Wings.
The 29-year seems to be hitting his stride and will likely post more new bests in the upcoming campaign.
