Ottawa Senators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft (#40 overall) 4th year Swedish-born defenseman Andreas Englund(6) played most of his first season in North America with affiliate Binghamton Senators.
Through 66 AHL games he scored 3 goals and 7 assists with a -13 rating on a team that mostly struggle for wins.
The very decently-sized 6’3″ 189 lbs. blue liner also skated 5 NHL games and was one of the last cuts at training camp to be reassigned to the farm club.
He did all of his junior hockey time in his home country starting his pro career as a 17-year old with Djurgardens IF of tier two Allsvenskan before being moved up to their SHL squad for 2014/2016.
Not exactly known as a d-man that will help put up points, he’s considered mostly for his stay-at-home style and punishing offenders.
The 21-year old will likely compete for a full-time roster spot in 2017/2018 but is on a three-year entry level deal so more time in the minors might help continue to elevate his game.
Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2016 draft (#40 overall) defenseman Charlie McAvoy(73) signs a three-year entry level deal after his second campaign at Boston University.
He originally inked an ato with affiliate Providence Bruins and played his first 4 games in the AHL recording a pair of assists.
Decimated by a pair of key injuries to the back line heading into their first playoffs in a few seasons, the 19-year old foregoes his final two years of college to turn pro.
He twice eclipsed the 20 assist mark in two runs with the Terriers and also had 33 helpers in his 2nd season for the USNTDP of the USHL.
In a pair of practices with the big club, he was seen listening to lots of advice from coaches and players, was on the blue line with the first power play unit and even managed a few smiles.
It’s going to be a situation of thrown into the fire for his NHL debut and we’re expecting the results to be decent with a lot of quick learning.
3rd year Swiss-born center Flavio Cola(91) has taken quite an interesting route in his pro career.
It started when he was maybe as young as 17 in 2013 coming out of juniors, skating 24 games with EHC Arosa of Division 1.
He would get 2 goals and 3 assists as a teenager.
The 5’10” 165 lbs. forward would stay on for another season but his totals crumbled to just a goal and an assist in 20 games, which points to some kind of unclaimed injury.
Almost oddly for his 3rd campaign overall he decided to come to America and play for tier 3 junior hockey club, East Coast Wizards.
It may have been oddly helpful though as he was able to ignite some scoring.
He got 9 goals and 15 assists in 37 EHL contests and by 2015/2016 he was right back home signing with EHC Basel.
In just 27 games he grabbed 6 goals and 11 assists.
It looks as though the team has played itself up a level to NLB (SRL) for 2017/2018 and the 22-year old will be back.
This is one of the most unlikely, cool hockey climbs.
Philiadelphia Flyers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#41 overall) 5th year, Swedish-born defenseman Robert Hagg(4) received an NHL recall and played his first game on the last day of regular season.
The highly touted prospect skated 27 shifts for 21:19 of total ice with 5 shots on net, 4 hits and 3 break-ups in a 4-3 shootout loss.
At 6’2″ 204 lbs. started his pro career with two campaigns in his home country’s top league SHL for MODO before the 19-year old came across the pond.
His first full season with minor league affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms was in 2014/2015 on an entry level slide.
He’s already amassed 200 AHL games scoring 16 goals and 34 assists, which isn’t much but he’s considered mostly a big, hard-hitting blue liner, strong in his own zone but his 17 helpers in his rookie year point towards someone that has the ability to head man the puck effectively.
The 22-year old should compete for a big league roster spot and get a more extended look coming out of 2017/2018 training camp.
He’ll be in the third year of his entry level deal.
6th year Washington Capitals‘ right wing and current 2-time captain of affiliate Hershey Bears, Garrett Mitchell(76) finally earns his first NHL recall and makes his debut on the last game of regular season.
The feisty, hard-checking forward skated 13 shifts for 8:48 total ice time delivering two hits with a 0 rating in 2-0 loss.
He’s not likely to stay with the parent club as the farm club is fighting for their playoff life with only a few match-ups remaining.
In 352 AHL games he has 46 goals and 56 assists with a -4 and 560 penalty minutes, although he averages only 6 or so fights each year.
The 25-year is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current calendar.
He’s seems like a good guy to keep around but he may look elsewhere for increased playing time in the big league.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd year right wing Kaperi Kapanen(28) scores his 1st NHL goal at probably the most important moment for the team going forward.
He potted the game-tying tally late in the third period to help them gain a playoff position for the first time in 4 years and was his first point in 16 appearances.
Now listed at 6’1″ 185 lbs. he played 9 games in 2015/2016 and 7 so far this year.
2016/2017 is actually being counted as his rookie campaign, as he played last season entirely in both leagues on an entry level slide.
The Finnish flash scored 9 goals and 16 assists in 44 AHL games and another 3-5 for 8 points in 14 postseason contests for affiliate Toronto Marlies.
In the current calendar he’s doubled his goal production up to 18 and raised his assist mark to 25, while doubling shots on net for a career year in the minors, possibly his last.
The 20-year old will turn 21 this summer but likely has some playoff hockey to pursue in both top leagues.
He’s signed through 2019, so there is plenty of time for this prospect to develop.
Anaheim Ducks‘ 7th round pick in the 2012 draft (#210 overall) 3rd year defenseman Jaycob Megna(75) received his first NHL recall as his 3-year entry level deal is set to expire.
In his debut he skated 18 shifts for 15:20 total ice time, was credited for little more but left the 4-0 win with a +1 rating.
The huge 6’6″ 225 lbs. blue liner has taken his offensive game to a whole new level in his second season with affiliate San Diego Gulls through 60 AHL games.
His 5 goals, 22 assists and 29 points are far and away better numbers than he’s ever put up and his monster +33 is easily a team best.
He never quite had great stats through 3 years of college hockey with University Of Nebraska-Omaha but did get 17 assists in his one year with Muskegon Lumberjacks in 50 USHL games.
It would seem like an easy decision to extend this mountain of defense for at least one more look.
Hey Pasta? How’s that black eye?
Boston Bruins‘ David Pastrnak(88) took a high stick up to the face recently and is sporting the shiner.
We think he’ll add to his new career high 34 goals, 36 assists and 70 points in the playoffs despite the injury.
The soon-to-be 21-year old has his entry level deal come up this year and becomes a restricted free agent who’s likely to assume a nice pay bump.
New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#96 overall) 3rd year left wing Ben Thomson(43) gets into his first pair of NHL as he’s set to become a restricted free agent.
The 6’3″ 204 lbs. power forward plays a full-on aggressive style and never shies away from mixing it up.
Although his fighting majors are down slightly in 2016/2017, he had 13 battles in each of his first two campaigns with affiliate Albany Devils.
Never quite known for being too prolific on the score sheet, he did have a fairly successful last run in the OHL with North Bay Battalion after spending most of his junior career with Kitchener Rangers.
Through 209 AHL games he has 19 goals and 24 assists but is mostly looked at for player protection.
In his 2 games he played 9:31 and 10:50 total ice, skated 15 and 18 shifts with 4 shots on net, 5 hits, 4 penalty minutes and was a -3 in a win and a loss.
The 24-year old seems like a no risk to extend for another season to see what can develop.
