St. Louis Blues‘ new, 7th year center Brayden Schenn(10) joins his 3rd NHL team for 2017/2018 after a draft day trade sends him from the east to the midwest.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. power forward eclipsed the 40 point mark in his first pair of complete seasons with Philadelphia Flyers after splitting time with the big club and affiliate Adirondack Phantoms as a rookie and sophomore skater.
He would take that up another level in the following campaigns as he eclipsed 50 points twice scoring a career high 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points in 2015/2016.
His 19 power-play goals were tied for the lead.
The soon-to-be 26-year old, former 5th overall pick will slot in nicely with his new squad and should raise their chances at a first ever Stanley Cup.
It’s also very possible to see him start to move closer to the top of the league scoring title.
He’s under contract through 2019/2020.
Boston Bruins‘ 3rd year restricted free agent center Noel Acciari(55) gets a new 2-year one-way deal to continue his rough and tumble play that epitomizes the black n gold uniform he wore for a career high 29 games scoring his first pair of NHL goals, 3 assists for 5 points and a +3 rating.
He also skated 4 playoff games grabbing another goal.
While once again splitting time in a season with affiliate Providence Bruins, he returned to the farm team when the parent club was knocked from the postseason to play in the Calder Cup.
It was his 2nd round of playoffs in the lower league and he excelled with 4 assists in 5 AHL games with a +3 rating, as he did in 2015/2016 by getting a goal and 2 assists in 3 appearances.
The 25-year old Johnston, RI native, who played all his hockey locally with pride is a great fit wearing a spoked B but will continue to need to develop his game to stay up at the highest level.
He’ll become unrestricted at the end of this contract.
Undrafted 2nd year center Tommy Olczyk(20) signs on for his sophomore campaign with Rockford IceHogs.
He spent his rookie time with Alaska Aces scoring 6 goals and 7 assists in 44 ECHL games.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward played 5 years at Penn State University scoring only modestly after 4 full seasons in the USHL for Sioux City Musketeers.
Starting his pro career a bit later than usual, the 26-year old is the son of former NHL 1st round pick, scoring great (342-452-794), 1994 Stanley Cup Champion of over 1000 games, Eddie Olczyk.
He plays like he’s ready for a breakout surge but heading up to the AHL he’ll have to prove himself quickly or find himself sent down to the lower league affiliate.
Undrafted first year left wing Mario Puskarich(37) will take his game over to Erste Bank Eishockey Liga signing for his season debut with Medvescak Zagreb.
After four years at University Of Vermont, he signed an ato to join Manchester Monarchs for the remainder of the regular season and playoff run.
He scored a nifty 4 goals and 3 assists in 11 ECHL games before adding another helper in 6 postseason contests but has decided to choose an overseas environment to up his game.
Voted as NCAA (Hockey East) rookie of the year, he was always able to connect for roughly 30 points a campaign through college.
This followed a pair of years in the BCHL with Langley Rivermen, where he was chosen as the team’s most valuable player both seasons and had most league goals and points in his 2nd run.
He also had stints in the USHL and NAHL but decided to head north before entering school.
The recently turned 25-year old Cape Coral, FL native should do exceedingly well in Austria.
Anaheim Ducks‘ 13th year defenseman Korbinian Holzer(5) gets rewarded for a season high 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) with a brand new 2-year 1-way extension after appearing in a conservative 32 NHL but also made an appearance in his first five big league postseason contests.
Always coming in at a very cap friendly wage, the big 6’3″ 215 lbs. European blue liner is nice to have around as he can be easily inserted into a lineup ready to go and more often than not do some good.
The thinking with his new deal might be the 29-year old is ready to step into a top six role.
He’s only ever played for two teams in North America.
The other team of course being his draft club Toronto Maple Leafs, who chose him in the 4th round of 2006 (#111 overall).
He spent his first 5 years with them but he’s set to do his next 5 in California.
Always an asset.
9th year defenseman Travis Hamonic(3) finally gets his wish to move closer to home with his trade from draft team New York Islanders (2nd round in 2008, #53 overall) to Calgary Flames.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner had his best offensive output in 2014/2015 scoring 5 goals (which he’s reached on three occasions) and 28 assists for 33 points with a +15 rating.
To his credit though, when selected he wasn’t really looked upon to affect the score sheet in a measurable way, although he did get 33 assists combined with Moose Jaw Warriors and Brandon Wheat Kings in his final year of juniors in the WHL.
The almost 27-year old’s upside is a delivering a tough to play against, punishing game against opponents, which is how he earned the nickname “The Hammer.”
Washington Capitals‘ 7th round pick in the 2012 draft (#195 overall) Swedish-born defenseman Christian Djoos(5) signs a new 2-year extension after a stellar 2nd season with affiliate Hershey Bears, where he played a career high 66 AHL games scoring new bests 13 goals and a staggering, tied for league lead 45 assists for 58 points with a +9 rating.
The not exactly filled out 6′ 161 lbs. blue liner did all his junior hockey in his home country with Brynas IF, then played his first pro games as a teenager before spending three campaigns in the SHL but never really popped the points like he did in 2016/2017.
As a soon to be 23-year old it’s thought that he’ll crack the parent club line up for at least a few games and this deep selection could very play himself onto a roster spot.
5th year right wing Domenic Monardo(40) takes his strongest postseason performance overseas signing with HC Bolzano Foxes of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for 2017/2018.
After grabbing a career high 21 assists in 43 ECHL games to go along with 12 goals for South Carolina Stingrays, he took it up a notch through four playoff rounds exiting in the Kelly Cup Finals, recording 6 goals and 12 assists in 22 contests with a +7 rating.
He also appeared in another 11 AHL games on a pair of recalls to Hershey Bears grabbing 3 assists with a +1 rating.
The 28-year old, who will turn 29 at the start of next season should do well in Austria.
7th year left wing Taylor Beck(41) leaves forthcoming restricted free agency for the KHL signing for 2017/2018 with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.
Involved in a late season transaction from his club of most of 2015/2016, New York Islanders to Colorado Avalanche, he was left without a qualifying offer after only a very brief time with affiliate San Antonio Rampage.
He would sign soon after free agency began with Edmonton Oilers and put up a career high 37 assists and 50 points in just 40 AHL games for farm team Bakersfield Condors but only skated 3 more games before he was again on the move in a deal that sent his rights to New York Rangers at the trade deadline.
Spending most of his time in the minors with Hartford Wolf Pack scoring a point-per-game (6-10-16) on a squad that had its struggles.
He did receive another pair of games recall but failed to record any points before he was returned.
The 26-year old finished last season with all new scoring bests (19 goals, 47 assists, 66 points) and will likely do very well in Russia, if he can situate himself quickly to have an effect.
Undrafted 3rd year left wing Ryan Penny(9) re-signs with Reading Royals for 2017/2018 after a career campaign with the team scoring a team fifth leading 25 goals and 26 assists with a +5 rating and a huge 186 shots on net in 72 ECHL games.
He becomes the first player under contract heading into the new season.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward spent his rookie campaign under contract with Binghamton Senators but only played 24 AHL games scoring 2 goals and 3 assists spending more of his time on reassignment down to affiliate Evansville Icemen.
Through 5 seasons in the QMJHL (including an overage stint) he only had one really exceptional run, his last where he pocketed 32 goals and 38 assists in 66 games for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, so isn’t exactly a natural but obviously can put up points.
It will be interesting to see how many years of one league the almost 23-year old will play before moving onto Europe.
