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.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd year right wing Josh Archibald(45) is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
He has already eclipsed his AHL career high goals (11), assists (11) and points (22) in 48 games with a monster +24 rating, which helped earn him just his 2nd recall.
The small-ish looking forward, who had no points in his only other big league appearance made it worth ever shift this time.
In 18 shifts worth 10:03 of total ice time he potted a pair of NHL goals including one shorthanded on his only two shots on net and was a +2 in a 4-3 overtime loss.
The 24-year old may not stick with the parent club for the full run of the calendar but for a late training camp cut, he’s making a nice statement for a new deal and more time in the show.
6th year center Andrew Yogan(12) started 2016/2017 with his first visit to overseas pro hockey signing with HC Bolzano of EBEL.
That challenge lasted only 10 games but something occurred that has been starting to seep into his game: assists.
The fairly big power forward has consistently been a goal scorer, especially at the ECHL level but has been adding a good number of helpers to the stat sheet.
He would return to Cincinnati Cyclones for a third go round and seemed fairly happy assuming the offense production he’s used to (15-17-32 in 30 games) but leaves the team as points leader and heads back to Austria.
The 25-year old may have seen his last North American ice for awhile.
He had a goal and 5 assists before he left and should be able to add to that nicely.
2nd year left wing Brendan O’Donnell(21) is enjoying a breakout season with Florida Everblades, his second in a uniform with a gator on front.
The 6′ 193 lbs. forward leads the team with 29 goals (league 2nd) and 26 assists with a +27 rating (1st) in 42 ECHL games.
He came off an impressive rookie campaign, where he got 17 goals and 20 assists in 53 contests but was also injured for an extended run.
Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#156 overall), he was maybe oddly left unsigned despite having a decent training camp showing as a prospect.
The Canadian-born player skated four years at University Of North Dakota with some ok results as a junior and senior but nothing like he’s getting since turning pro.
His good play in all zones has earned him a first AHL call-up with Texas Stars.
It will be little surprise to see him get off to a good start and play his way into a spot in the upper league.
7th year defenseman Mark Cundari(4) gets a one-year contract extension from Augsburger Panther after tying a career high 7 goals and 20 assists for the DEL squad.
It’s the blue liner’s first excursion overseas 322 AHL games and 8 in the big league.
He did manage to score his one and only NHL goal and added a pair of assists in 4 contests after his late 2013 trade to Calgary Flames.
For two years, he stayed put but only played in another 4 games with the parent club and spent all of 2014/2015 with affiliate Adirondack Flames posting a new best 22 assists.
He would leave the nest so to speak for 2015/2016 signing a 1-year 1-way deal with San Jose Sharks but spent the entirety his playing time with farm club San Jose Barracuda before being loaned to Cleveland Monsters but was injured late before he could take part in their Calder Cup win.
The 26-year old could have a nice, long run in Germany if he wants it.
8th year defenseman Mark Barberio(45) was recently claimed off waivers from Montreal Canadiens by Colorado Avalanche and with a new start looks to play himself into a full-time role with the young squad that’s fully out of a playoff hunt.
In two games he already has a pair of assists (recorded in one 4-0 win) giving him 6 for the season.
As one of the last training camp cuts to be sent to affiliate St. John’s IceCaps, he was recalled and reassigned on at least half a dozen occasions.
Through 20 AHL games he has 3 goals and 15 assists, which puts him close to a point-per-game skater, where he mostly falls in the minors.
He hasn’t quite achieved what he did in his sophomore campaign with Norfolk Admirals (13-48-61, +28) but also spent two 2013-2015 up with his draft club Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 26-year old, 2010 QMJHL Champion with Monton Wildcats, comes having 161 big league games’ experience, while maintaining a +6 rating.
Signed for two years he may have found a nice landing spot through 2017/2018 (and beyond).
