11th year center Matt Anderson(29) switches up SHL clubs in 2017/2018 signing for a season with Skelleftea AIK after two 18 goal campaigns for Djurgardens IF.
After a pair of big league games recording an assist with his only NHL contract team New Jersey Devils, he left North America pro hockey for the KHL.
He did decently for Spartak Moskva in his first run overseas scoring 11 goals and 9 assists, then took it up a notch splitting 2014/2015 with Medvescak Zagreb and Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk striking for 15 goals and 20 assists in 63 games.
At 34 years old he shows little signs of slowing down.
Buffalo Sabres‘ undrafted defenseman Casey Nelson(34) will enter training camp looking to secure a full-time spot on the big league roster as he enters his 2nd season.
He played a new career high 11 NHL games in 2016/2017 registering no points with a -3 rating on a non-playoff squad.
The very decently-sized 6’2″ 190 lbs., tough to play against blue liner signed a 1-year entry level deal after his third campaign at Minnesota State University-Mankato, where he put up 26 assists as a sophomore and another 16 as a junior.
He directly joined the parent club for 7 games through the end of the season recording 4 assists and a +1.
In his first year with club affiliate Rochester Americans had 7 goals and 14 assists with a -10 in 58 AHL games and an offensively active 111 shots on net.
The 24-year old signed a two-year extension before his new restricted free agency status kicked in with the forthcoming year set as a one-way deal.
No doubt, this is a quick developing player that will be interesting to watch.
10th year veteran forward Carl Klingberg(48) will stay to spend a 2nd (and probably 3rd under contract) season with EV Zug after have a respectable outing in his debut.
He scored 13 goals and 14 assists in 47 NLA games.
The very decently sized winger has consistently put up 10+ goals in 4 years in the minors with 20+ assists in three of those campaigns and a 20-22-42 run in 2013/2014.
He left with 269 AHL games to his credit to go along with 12 games in the big league with his first and only NHL goal.
The still young 26-year old still has a lot of time left to play elite level hockey.
It will be very interesting to see if he settles in Switzerland or move around some.
Also, crazy to think how many years he’s been seen wearing that #48.
6th year center Sean Collins(81) switches teams in the KHL after a successful season with 1st year China-based team Kunlun Red Star.
In only 60 games he had a career high 26 assists.
He average 20+ assists and 30+ points through 4 AHL campaigns appearing 278 contests, while also scoring 15+ goals in each of his three final runs.
The decently sized power forward also played 21 NHL games, three seasons with draft team Columbus Blue Jackets, then one for Washington Capitals recording three assists and looked to fit in nicely but was unable to seize a consistent roster spot.
He left for greener pastures in 2016/2017 and will become part of HK Sochi for the upcoming session, where the 28-year old could see even greater impact on the score sheet.
Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ goalie Casey DeSmith(1) has already been on quite the journey as he exits his 2nd pro season.
In 2016/2017, he won the Harry “Haps” Holmes Award for least goals allowed per game along with teammate Tristan Jarry.
The 6′ 180 lbs. net minder played a career high 29 AHL games posting an outstanding 21-5 record with a 2.05 GAA and .926 SV% with 1 shut out.
He signed a one-year deal with the club after being loaned from affiliate Wheeling Nailers towards the end of his rookie campaign, stepping in and backstopping the team through the second round of the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs.
In 13 ECHL games through his first year he had decent numbers but nothing like he was able to do in the higher league.
He was better during three seasons at University Of New Hampshire but didn’t even play in his senior year due to some litigation that he was eventually cleared of.
The 25-year old may just be playing himself into at least a one-year entry level deal from an NHL club, whether that will be the parent club, Pittsburgh Penguins remains to be seen.
7th year right wing Max Friberg(6) has decided to return home to his native Sweden.
He signed a three-year deal with Frolunda HC of the SHL, the league he started his pro career in 2011/2012 with two seasons for Timra IK.
Scheduled to become a restricted free agent, he’s possibly seeing the writing on the wall with current contract team Montreal Canadiens.
Traded early in 2014/2015 after signing a two-year agreement with draft squad Anaheim Ducks, he was reassigned to affiliate St. John’s IceCaps but never recalled.
He spent 2016/2017 as captain of the AHL club and for the fourth straight season came away with 10+ goals and 20+ assists.
The 24-year old has appeared in 6 NHL games scoring no points.
He’ll likely produce well back where it all started and be much happier.
7th year center Andy Miele(21) decides it’s time to leave North America pro hockey signing a one-year deal with an option for a second with Malmo Redhawks of the SHL.
He leaves after leading playing 420 AHL games (119-249-368), where he was his team’s leading scorer from 2011’s rookie campaign through 2016.
The small, high scoring forward only missed out being first last season while playing for Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
He has however had the most assists on his minor league squad every year and for three straight runs settled at 44 helpers (and 45 his final run with Portland Pirates in 2013/2014).
As a member of Detroit Red Wings for two seasons and Philadelphia Flyers he was unable to crack the big league roster and almost oddly only has 15 NHL games to his credit, recording 2 assists.
Seems smart for the recently turned 29-year old to move on, as he’ll likely see more success overseas as he approaches 30.
We will miss him, but wish him the best as he’s always been one of this site’s favorite players.
After being reassigned for all of 2016/2017 down to affiliate Reading Royals, 5th year Swedish-born defenseman Jesper Pettersson(37) isn’t waiting around to see about a qualifying offer as his three-year entry level deal is set to expire.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2014 draft (#198 overall) will return home signing with Djurgardens IF of the SHL.
The small, swift moving blue liner played all of his later junior hockey with Linkoping HC and even had a short stint with their pro team in 2012/2013, then spent all of the next season before coming to North America.
He skated his entire rookie campaign with farm club Lehigh Valley Phantoms appearing in 51 AHL games but also sitting on the sidelines some as a healthy scratch.
In his sophomore run, he would split time between the two lower leagues and seemed to jump to life a bit in the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs scoring 1 goal and 6 assists in 14 ECHL match-ups.
He also got 4 goals and 16 assist during the regular season and tied his tally mark and had a new career high 20 assists last season.
The 22-year old, who will turn 23 over the summer, will likely be much happier with his decision to go back to where it all started.
