Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#66 overall) small-sized center TJ Tynan(49) gets the opportunity to make his NHL debut.
The 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward skated a conservative 11 shifts for 7:39 total ice time with one shot on net and a 0 rating in 2-0 victory.
He’s basically been able to affect the score sheet at every level of hockey thus far and had a career high 40 assists in 2015/2016 with affiliate Cleveland Monsters, while en route to helping the team win a first ever Calder Cup Championship.
His efforts secured him a one-year extension as his two-year entry level deal was expiring.
Through 4 campaigns at University Of Notre Dame he was virtually a point-per-game performer with 54 goals and 107 assists in 164 games, while grabbing the 2013 NCAA/CCHA title as a junior.
He was also a big scorer through his one season of American juniors in the USHL with Des Moines Buccaneers.
The 25-year old likely deserves a further look but could grab two more years in his next contract as he looks like a good guy to keep around.
New Jersey Devils‘ undrafted first year center Kevin Rooney(58) signs a one-year entry level deal, then 3 days later was on the ice in the big league skating 14 shifts for 9:48 of total ice.
He’s currently skated 2 more NHL games of roughly equal time but unfortunately it’s been all losing causes and he’s a -2 rating.
The good-sized 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward originally agreed to an ato with Albany Devils after winning the 2016 NCAA Division 1 Championship as captain of Providence College appearing in 7 games with 3 assists.
He officially signed a one-year deal after attending the parent club’s development camp, heading into 2016/2017 and has put in 7 goals and 10 assists in a team leading 57 AHL contests.
At 23-years old, he’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign but looks good to net himself at least a small extension.
11th year veteran defenseman Matt Lashoff(7) signed a pto with San Antonio Rampage a couple of weeks into the start of 2016/2017 and rode with the team for a few months playing 19 AHL games, scoring 3 goals and 4 assists but was a bit of a terrible -14.
He was released from his deal just before Christmas and basically took January off looking for the right fit.
SCL Tigers stepped in and signed him for the remainder of the calendar and playoff push, which signifies his first return to Switzerland since 2011/2012.
He has one assist in 2 games.
The 30-year will need to step it up to continue to play at higher levels overseas but could a good spot lower down the food chain as he transitions to life beyond on ice.
9th year right wing Chris Leveille(14) is a true story of persistence and perseverance, as at 29-years old he jumped up a big notch on the hockey ladder and was signed to a one-year minor league contract with Brampton Beast for 2016/2017.
He started his pro hockey career with four seasons for Fayetteville FireAntz of the SPHL, which included 2011/2012 as captain and the league’s leading scorer with 84 points in 2009/2010, his sophomore campaign.
In his fifth year, he decided to take a step down joining Williamsport Outlaws of the FHL before the team collapsed due to financial struggles and he moved on to Dayton Demonz for the remainder of the schedule.
For the next two seasons, he decided to take some time off to raise his newborn son and skated when he could with local Allan Cup squad Brantford Blast.
He was wooed by an old friend to join nearby Port Huron Prowlers blowing up the stat sheet scoring more than a goal and an assist in each outing, then helped them captured the 2016 Federal Hockey League Championship with 2 points per game.
As a challenge to himself he set his sites on climbing to the next level, accepting a summer invite to try out for Brampton.
It worked as he was on the opening night roster and now through 54 ECHL games he’s ascended to fifth on team scoring with 12 goals and 23 assists, plays like an elite skater out there and has helped the club position itself to be a Kelly Cup contender.
What’s hard to believe is he’ll turn 30 before the start of next season and looks to be just getting started.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th round pick in the 2012 draft (#184 overall) Czech Republic-born goaltender Marek Langhamer(30) is one of a few players each season to appear in games in three different pro leagues: NHL, AHL, ECHL.
He was actually recalled to the big club in his rookie campaign after playing for both affiliates but didn’t not appear.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. net minder was a fairly late reassignment to farm club Tuscon Roadrunners and for the 2nd year in a row a month into 2016/2017 sent further down to make some starts for Rapid City Rush, then again for another four weeks in early January.
Two weeks later he was summoned to serve as back up without expecting to get any playing time but pressed into action for this debut, when Michael Smith went down with an injury.
He made 7 of 8 saves in 15 minutes through 3rd period action to help preserve a 3-2 victory.
The 22-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current calendar but looks good to score himself a one or two-year extension to stay put.
New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#28 overall) rookie center Josh Ho-Sang(66) makes his NHL debut skating a healthy 23 shifts for 17:01 total ice with 2 shots on net and a 0 rating in a come from behind 5-4 victory.
He may not stick as he’s only filling in for the time being but with continued good playing there’s nothing like making a good first impression.
The 6′ somewhat light-ish, which may add to the quickness around the net he possesses, 173 lbs. forward already has 10 goals and 26 assists in 48 AHL games with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers as a first year skater.
This basically mirrors what he accomplished in 4 years of juniors with Windsor Spitfires and Niagara IceDogs, where he was more than a point-per-game performer (82-210-292) in 256 OHL games.
The just turned 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2018/2019, so has some time to develop, which he’s already promised he will.
New Jersey Devils claimed Anaheim Ducks‘ 2011 high draft pick Stefan Noesen(23) off waivers as he was to be reassigned back to affiliate San Diego Gulls.
The decently sized, hard-nosed player scored his first pair of NHL goals in 2016/2017 through 12 games with the Ducks after appearing in only one game each of the previous 2 campaigns.
He’s added to those totals since joining his new club with 2 more tallies and 2 assists in 13 games with a +1 rating.
The 24-year old is set to become a restricted free agent for the 2nd time in his career but should get re-upped for another season with his new team.
2nd year net minder Adam Wilcox(32) picks up a new zip code in a goalie swap at the 2017 trade deadline.
The 6′ 189 lbs. back stop goes from draft team Tampa Bay Lightning (2011, 6th round, #178 overall) to state rival Florida Panthers.
The deal addresses needs for both clubs guarding their cage: one received youth, the other experience.
He is having a career year with Syracuse Crunch posting an 18-9-4-1 record with 1 shutout, 2.87 GAA and a .895 SV% in 34 AHL games.
The former 2015 NCAA (B1G) Champion with University Of Minnesota will likely report straight to affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds and split goal duties.
He was also on a 2012 Clark Cup winner with Tri-City Storm of the USHL.
The 24-year old is at the end of his 2-year entry level deal and set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current calendar but you have to think he’s an easy extension for his new club.
7th year right wing Jeremy Mornin(26) bounces to his fifth team in just over a year, as he is traded from Tampa Bay Lightning organization, who picked him up on the opening day of unrestricted free agency to Arizona Coyotes.
He played short stints back with initial contract team Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks, where he was shipped exclusively to the minors for the full run of 2015/2016.
Originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#45 overall), he was sent to the ‘Hawks before he ever laced up for a regular season game in their system.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward took an interesting path to pro hockey starting with a year in tier 3 juniors, then two seasons for the USNDTP team before heading up north for a season with Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.
He also won some gold, silver and bronze hardware at the World Junior Championships along the way.
He’s appeared in NHL games through the first five years of his pro career, including a best 43 contests in 2014/2015.
After the transaction the 24-year old headed back to the minors joining Tuscon Roadrunners.
He is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current calendar but the smart move would be to get him signed to see if he can break the young lineup for 2017/2018 to see if he can contribute.
Vancouver Canucks‘ undrafted 2nd year defenseman Evan McEneny(61) scores a recall for his first NHL appearance as a rash of players from the big league club is pulled down with a rash of illnesses (mumps).
He played a very confident 23 shifts for 15:08 of ice time with one shot on net and left the 4-1 team loss with a -1 rating.
The sturdy 6’2″ 203 lbs. blue liner was just one season ago playing the majority of his games as a rookie for affiliate Kalamazoo Wings but did admirably with a goal and 24 assists in 36 ECHL games with a +17 rating.
He only skated in 2 AHL contests registering no points.
Not exactly a late training camp cut heading into 2016/2017, he stuck with direct farm club Utica Comets and has some decently impressive marks scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 43 outings, while heavily thumping any opponents that dare to go near his net minder.
He was known as somewhat of an assist man through his last three campaigns of junior hockey in the OHL averaging 30 helpers per season.
Originally signed to a three year entry level deal in 2012, he was allowed to slide two seasons but will become a restricted free agent at the end of the current calendar.
It seems obvious to extend him for another year.
