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.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd year center Zach Hyman(11) played a full calendar of hockey (82 games) with the parent club last season scoring new high 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points with a +2 rating, then adding another tally and 3 helpers in 6 playoff games.
He skated in 16 games with the big club as a rookie on his first recall and grabbed his first 4 goals and 2 assists before being returned to affiliate Toronto Marlies to help their playoff push.
In 16 Calder Cup postseason match-ups he got 3 goals and 3 assists with a +3.
He appeared in 59 AHL games in 2015/2016 grabbing 15 goals and 22 assists.
The recently turned 25 year old has been given a 4-year extension worth $2.25M AAV to continue with the club that selected him deep in the 2010 draft after a four-year run at University Of Michigan.
There’s little doubt he’ll increase these early numbers.
5th year center Zach O’Brien(36) takes a season split in Germany with Ravensburg Towerstars, where he scored 6 goals, 6 assists and a +4 rating to signing with Wichita Thunder putting in 9 goals and 18 assists in 32 ECHL games but had a horrible -21 on a team that was far from the playoff picture and signs with Bakersfield Condors for 2017/2018.
He played only 1 AHL game last season on loan to Binghamton Senators but did get a goal and left with a +1 rating.
The 25-year old has been a pretty consistent scorer but still hasn’t popped on the score sheet like he did in junior hockey.
Maybe that breakout season is this one.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th round pick in the 2013 draft (#178 overall) 3rd year restricted free agent defenseman Zach Leslie(8) gets a one-year extension.
The 6’1″ somewhat light 181 lbs. blue liner had a career campaign with affiliate Ontario Reign playing in a new best 65 AHL games scoring 5 goals and 18 assists with a bit of a dreadful -13 rating on a playoff squad.
He spent four years with Guelph Storm and won the 2013 OHL Championship and was a point-guy for the team averaging 30+ assists and recording 40+ points in his final three seasons with a +62.
At 23-years old he’ll still have to prove himself as a pro but another decent showing in the minors should help keep him under contract and away from reassignment further down to Manchester Monarchs, where he played 5 ECHL games as a rookie.
Undrafted 9th year left wing Kyle Hagel(18) has decided to move on to the next hockey phase of his life accepting the assistant coaches job for Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.
Not a bad business move from the former University Of Princeton graduate.
The Hamilton, Ontario native did play some early junior stick close to home with Hamilton Red Wings before committing to college.
The 6′ 205 lbs. forward has spent his whole career playing the role of protector.
In 6 of his seasons he had 20+ fighting majors.
He had 245 penalty minutes and fought a personal best 31 times in 2010/2011 with Rockford IceHogs, which also happened to be the year he produced the most points (5-8-13) through 77 AHL games.
He’ll call it a career after three straight years skating for Charlotte Checkers, which seemed like it became home for the northern born player.
No doubt, he’ll make a good coach.
