Swedish-born 6th year defenseman Viktor Loov(5) was recently involved in a trade that sent his rights from draft team Toronto Maple Leafs (7th round in 2012, #209 overall) to New Jersey Devils.
He appeared in 4 NHL games as a sophomore skater recording a pair of assists with a +4 rating on a struggling squad but even as a late training camp cut to affiliate Toronto Marlies seemed to fall on the depth chart and was left to play in the minors in the current campaign.
Possibly disillusioned his production seemed to wane with the farm club scoring only 2 goals and 4 assists in 41 AHL games.
Not that the fairly big 6’3″ 208 lbs. blue liner was ever that big on the score sheet but he did manage 6 goals and 15 assists as a rookie.
The 24-year is set to become a first time restricted free agent as he’s at the end of his 3-year entry level deal but it seems like he’d be a good guy to keep around to see what could develop.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#69 overall) 2nd year right wing Nick Baptiste(13) was one of the last training camp cuts reassigned to affiliate Rochester Americans but was recalled almost immediately and inserted into the lineup for 2016/2017 third game of the season.
The 6’1″ 207 lbs. forward did pick up his first NHL goal in the next outing and currently has 3 for the current calendar with an assist in 14 contests with a +1 rating.
He’s shuttled between the two upper state cities already 10 times in the first half of the campaign.
The speedy, hard-skating player has already eclipsed his rookie goal total in the AHL with 19 and points at 31, but looks to easily pass all scoring marks he accomplished in his first year.
He was a more than a point-per-game producer through his last pair of runs in the OHL and a 20+ goals and assists guy before being selected.
The 21-year old looks to have a tremendous upside moving forward with the parent club and should be a key component of the team’s future.
7th year defenseman Matt Bartkowski(44) found himself in a position of few suitors for a big league deal heading into 2016/2017 after spending the previous season in uniform with Vancouver Canucks under a one-year term.
The nicely mobile blue liner played a career high 80 games scoring his 1st NHL goal (along with 5 others) and 12 assists with a -19 rating on a non-playoff team.
He 212 games in the show to his credit.
Possibly not wanting to give up on the dream, he opted not to ink overseas, deciding to rejoin some familiar ground signing a minor league contract with Providence Bruins.
In 34 AHL games he has 2 goals and 8 assists with a 0 +/-.
His play was good enough to catch the attention of Calgary Flames, who signed him to a 2-year contract for the remainder of the calendar and 2017/2018.
In his 1st game with a new squad he skated 18 shifts for a 10:55 total ice.
7th year defenseman Yann Sauve(4) played most of his games in 2014/2015 season in the AHL (17 with Springfield Falcons, 5 St. John’s IceCaps and 4 for Providence Bruins) and spent only 13 games with contract squad Orlando Solar Bears.
He followed that up run agreeing to another ECHL deal this time with Manchester Monarchs and a pair of short stints lacing up for Portland Pirates and Stockton Heat.
The decently sized blue liner didn’t seem to mind his time in New Hampshire as he exploded offensively with a career high 7 goals and 22 assists.
That display definitely helped him grab a deal with Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL for 2016/2017.
He played 25 games scoring a goal and 2 assists and when that calendar was waning without a playoff berth, re-signed and returned to the Monarchs.
After only a pair of games with a 2 assists, the 27-year old heads back overseas signing with EHC Munchen of the DEL for some postseason hockey.
He could re-appear again.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#29 overall) Swedish-born left wing Adrian Kempe(39) earns his first recall and NHL game.
He skated 20 shifts for 15:18 total ice time with two shots on net, two hits and a -1 rating in a 5-3 loss.
The 6’2″ 202 lbs. forward skated two years in the SHL with MODO before joining then affiliate Manchester Monarchs for their 2015 Calder Cup Championship run, where he scored 8 goals and 1 assist in 17 postseason contests with a +3 rating.
In his 2nd season with new farm club Ontario Reign, he’s already equaled in goal output of 11 from his rookie campaign in 43 AHL games.
The recently turned 20-year old is actually in the 1st year of his three-year entry level contract and was allowed to use 2015/2016 as a slide.
He was a late training camp reassignment and with his feisty style of play and good play-making hands, he should be able to make the big club full-time for the remainder of the current calendar, especially if they start falling from the playoff picture.
8th year net minder Jeremy Smith(40) was signed to a one-year two-way deal with Colorado Avalanche on the opening day of free agency heading into 2016/2017.
The veteran goalie has played a staggering 265 AHL games with 5 different teams, most recently for 2nd to last place in the Western Conference affiliate San Antonio Rampage putting up an admirable 5-8-1 record with a 2.57 GAA and .911 SV%.
He was initially recalled for another visit to the NHL but rode the pine once again before finally got the nod for his first start when he was summoned once again.
Although he wasn’t able to get the win for the bottom dwelling parent club, he did effectively keep them in the game with 37 stops on 40 shots in a 3-2 loss.
The 27-year old will likely receive more opportunities to prove he can play in the big league as his numbers in the minors and this one outing prove he can rise to the occasion.
It doesn’t hurt the chances for the former 2007 OHL Champion with Plymouth Whalers that the starting backstop for the Avalanche is out for the remainder of the season, but he’s earned the spot.
Calgary Flames‘ 7th round pick in the 2016 draft (#186 overall) extra large-sized Belarus-born rookie defenseman Stepan Falkovsky(7) was encouraged as a young player with limited junior hockey experience (2 years in Russia’s MHL and one OHL) to sign a minor league contract with affiliate Stockton Heat to start his pro career.
The 6’7″ 225 lbs. blue liner was reassigned to Adirondack Thunder and got right to work.
In 39 ECHL games he has 15 goals and 9 assists with a -2 rating.
Through 59 contests with Ottawa 67’s he managed 9 goals and 23 assists with an accountable +17.
It’s a bit of a wonder why the AHL club has yet see if he can duplicate the strong showing he’s made in the lower league.
The 20-year old should get a look from the parent club and in all likelihood will score himself a contract and time in the show with the big club sooner than later.
Calgary Flames‘ 7th round pick in the 2016 draft (#186 overall) extra large-sized Belarus-born rookie defenseman Stepan Falkovsky(7) was encouraged as a young player with limited junior hockey experience (2 years in Russia’s MHL and one OHL) to sign a minor league contract with affiliate Stockton Heat to start his pro career.
The 6’7″ 225 lbs. blue liner was reassigned to Adirondack Thunder and got right to work.
In 39 ECHL games he has 15 goals and 9 assists with a -2 rating.
Through 59 contests with Ottawa 67’s he managed 9 goals and 23 assists with an accountable +17.
It’s a bit of a wonder why the AHL club has yet see if he can duplicate the strong showing he’s made in the lower league.
The 20-year old should get a look from the parent club and in all likelihood will score himself a contract and time in the show with the big club sooner than later.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th year Swedish-born goalie Linus Ullmark(30) played in 20 NHL games through 2015/2016 posting a 8-10-2 record for a mostly struggling squad with a quite nice 2.60 GAA and .913 SV%.
He was a late training camp reassigned to affiliate Rochester Americans and has been recalled on a few occasions already, but has yet to appear in a game this season with the big club.
The big 6’4″ 223 lbs. net minder has already played 38 AHL games with the farm club, who is in last place.
His 18-18-2 record with a 2.86 GAA and .911 SV% is good enough to give his team a chance to win each outing.
He started his pro career with two years for MODO of the SHL also appeared in a few contests as a junior including 3 match-ups with Mora IK of tier 2 Allsvenskan.
The 24-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign and looks good to pick up an extension for a couple more years in upper state New York.
Boston Bruins‘ rookie left wing Peter Cehlarik(83) gets his first NHL recall after leading affiliate Providence Bruins in goals with 18 in 40 AHL games along with 15 assists and a +9 rating.
The pretty sizable Slovakia-born forward had a good first outing without showing up on the score sheet but in his second appearance had two picture perfect assists in a match-up the home team bested long-time rival Montreal Canadiens 4-0.
He skated 20 shifts for 15:43 ice time and with his two helpers also dished one hit and had a giveaway but easily looked like he belonged out there.
At just 21-years old and in the first year of his contract, this one has a future.
