Undrafted 3rd year left wing Scott Allen(29) played his first full AHL season with Bakersfield Condors in 2016/2017, skating 57 games scoring 8 goals and 11 assists with a -8 rating.
His efforts were good enough to grab the attention of Pacific Division rival Tuscon Roadrunners, who signed him up for 2017/2018.
The fairly large 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward only had one good scoring campaign as a junior at University Of Alaska-Anchorage.
He spent all of his rookie year in the ECHL, playing most of his games with Norfolk Admirals but almost like he was waiting to turn pro, starting to pop the scoring bubble getting 15 goals and 19 assists.
Stats better than any year at college.
Seems natural that an opponent would scout the 27-year old out and sign him.
He should add to those defensive totals, especially if he’s on an ok team.
Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th year center Brendan Gaunce(50) played a career high 57 NHL scoring a new high 5 assists in a mostly fourth line, checking role.
He was only reassigned once for a total of 4 AHL games with affiliate Utica Comets, where he popped in a pair of goals and an assist.
The first time restricted free agent as his entry level deal expired received some reassurance with a new 2-year one-way deal through 2019.
At 23-years old, he’s looking at spending a first full season up in the show but will definitely have to start delivering more on the scoresheet, as should be expected from a high draft selection.
17th year left wing Alexandre Giroux(22) seems to be taking a bit of an easier route signing with Brûleurs de loups of Ligue Magnus for what will likely be one of the last years for the top scoring forward.
He has scored an eye-popping 704 (368-336) points in 771 AHL games, 226 points as a junior in the QMJHL through 202 games, 119 points in 144 NLA games, where he’s spent three years with HC Ambri-Piotti sandwiched between a pair of KHL seasons: 44 points in 105 games.
Scoring has always been in the deep draft pick’s blood and he should basically win the scoring title hands down in France next season.
We still remember his days with Hartford Wolf Pack like it was yesterday.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Alexx Privitera(18) takes a strong rookie year with Manchester Monarchs overseas signing a one-year deal with Medvescak Zagreb of EBEL for 2017/2018.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner plays a tough as nails style despite not being huge and has definitely shown abilities to affect the score sheet.
He grabbed 5 goals and 17 assists in 33 ECHL games with a +2 rating, then added another tally, 3 helpers and +3 in 19 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.
Also loaned for 19 AHL match-ups to affiliate Ontario Reign, he pocket 6 assists and a nice +5.
This mirrored numbers he was able to produce through 4 years at school, first at Boston College and later University Of Vermont to finish up.
He split that time in between with a third USHL campaign skating for Dubuque Fighting Saints.
He started with the USNTDP and Muskegon Lumberjacks before his initial run at college hockey.
At 24-years old he should be able to do very well in Austria’s top league and even possibly move himself over to the KHL for 2018/2019.
Undrafted 5th year defenseman Connor Hardowa decides it’s time to head back overseas as he did in his rookie season joining Rodovre Mighty Bulls of Metal Ligaen for 2017/2018.
After playing his first year in Finland’s tier 2 Mestis for KooKoo, he signed with Utah Grizzlies and was able to post what is still career high marks: 5 goals and 16 assists in 55 ECHL games and signed for a 2nd shot with the team.
He was also loaned for 5 AHL contests to Texas Stars but failed to register a point.
It was his 2nd visit to the higher league, as he played a pair of games on an auto for Abbotsford Heat after completing four years at University Of New Hampshire.
The solid 6’1″ 208 lbs. blue liner didn’t really put up numbers in college as he did in two years previously with Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL.
The already 28-year old had a very successful outing last season with Manchester Monarchs scoring 3 goals and a tied for best 16 assists with a +3 rating and then added three more helpers in 18 Kelly Cup Playoff match-ups and a +2.
He should absolutely tear up Denmark pro hockey and may even put up points like he did in pre-college Canadian juniors.
2nd year defenseman Miles Liberati(28) re-signs to stay with Allen Americans for his sophomore campaign.
He was traded to the team for a future consideration after the first couple months of his rookie season from Reading Royals, where he had 3 assists and a +3 rating in 12 ECHL games.
The 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner would go on to record three goals and 10 assists with a +18 for his new squad.
He showed decent ability to affect the score sheet in his third and fourth years in the juniors grabbing 20+ assists, and was also part of the 2013 OHL Champion London Knights.
Originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 7th round pick in the 2013 draft (#205 overall), he was never signed.
The 22-year old is definitely a competitor and should do well in his second pro season but we don’t expect him to stick around long, likely looking for better hockey and money overseas.
4th year defenseman Joe Faust(6) agrees to stay on with Idaho Steelheads after putting up career high numbers last season scoring 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points with a +5 rating and a huge 151 shots on net in 69 ECHL games, then added another 4 helpers in 5 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.
Originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#114 overall), he never officially signed with them but played two seasons in their system before moving on.
The 5’11” 205 lbs. blue liner appeared exclusively in the AHL as a rookie with affiliate Albany Devils but only appeared in 26 games.
He split time as a sophomore skater but had more success in 38 games for Adirondack Thunder getting a pair of goals and 8 assists, then adding another 2 assists in the postseason.
The former University Of Wisconsin 2013 NCAA/WCHA Champion was never a big scorer through college hockey but was able to put up big numbers in Minnesota high school.
At 25-years old he may only be starting to catch his stride and with another great season under his belt will likely look to bigger challenges overseas.
Undrafted 4th year defenseman Jesse Graham(2) became an unrestricted free agent when initial entry level contract team New York Islanders left him unqualified heading into 2017/2018.
Colorado Avalanche has stepped in to pick up his option signing him to a one-year two-way deal.
In all likelihood he’ll be reassigned to skate with affiliate San Antonio Rampage.
He had somewhat surprisingly yet to appear in a full AHL campaign but this may be his best chance.
The former Niagara IceDogs/Saginaw Spirit blue liner had a combined 43 assists in his fourth and final year of the OHL and had 37 and 35 in his third and second seasons of junior hockey.
His numbers for Bridgeport Sound Tigers were all pretty good and somewhat of a thinker as to why he was sent down further to Kansas City Mavericks on two occasions and Florida Everglades as a rookie.
The 6′ 185 lbs. d-man played a low 19 games with the farm club last season scoring two goals, 7 assists and a +11 rating but somehow was unable to stick.
In his last ECHL stint, he was a point-per-game guy pocketing 6 goals and 15 assists in 24 games.
The 23-year old will still have to prove himself but chances are good with the young squad he will.
Minnesota Wild 7th year right wing Nino Neiderreiter(22) gets a new 5-year $5.25 AAV deal after playing his 2nd full 82 game calendar scoring a new career high 25 goals, 32 assists and 57 points with a +17 rating.
In his rookie year, he skated 55 games with draft squad New York Islanders but only connected for one goal.
He was reassigned to play his entire sophomore campaign with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
After a full season in the minors he was shipped north before the start of 2012/2013.
It would be his last non-NHL appearance.
In his new surroundings he picked up the pace as was always expected of the high draft selection.
Through 4 seasons with his new team he’s been a 20+ goals and assists guy on three occasions, taking it up a notch on helpers in 2016/2017.
The 24-year old power forward will turn 25 before the next year begins and should keep turning up the stats.
Undrafted 3rd year right wing Louick Marcotte(8) was tied for Wichita Thunder‘s point leader last season with 38 including a team high 18 goals in 62 ECHL games.
For his efforts he was given a brand new 1-year deal to stay and continue scoring.
The 6’1″ 212 lbs. forward was a former 2013 QMJHL Champion with Val-d’Or Foreurs and had a 100 point contribution on the stat sheet, so knows how to win and get the puck in the net.
As a rookie skating for Adirondack Thunder, while under a 2-way AHL contract to Stockton Heat he potted 16 goals and 13 assists in 52 games.
The still super-young 23-year old is likely to elevate his game to another level in the upcoming campaign and could definitely have a look overseas to continue to grow as a player more quickly.
