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).
4th year right wing Josh Nicholls(10) decides to pursue some new, overseas ice as he leaves another decidedly good ECHL season, where he once again looks to equal or eclipse his three 20+ goals, 20+ assists and 40+ point marks.
Signed to Colorado Eagles, his first contract after his three-year entry level deal with New York Rangers expired at the end of 2015/2016.
The 6’2″ 189 lbs. forward spent most of his time skating for Greenville Swamp Rabbits but did always have some games up with Hartford Wolf Pack, including 11 AHL games with a first goal and 2 assists last year.
He was a big goal scorer in his last three seasons of juniors with Saskatoon Blades, including one overage campaign.
Originally a Toronto Maples Leafs‘ 7th round pick in the 2010 draft (#182 overall), he was never signed before being picked up by the Blueshirts as an unrestricted free agent.
The 24-year old has chosen Straubing Tigers of DEL and will join lots of familiar faces from North America.
He should do well on the score sheet here and could stick for a bit.
8th year defenseman Patrick Mullen(7) started his first campaign overseas signing for 2016/2017 with Dinamo Riga of the KHL.
He skated 39 games with the team scoring 4 goals and 8 assists but was a bit of a dismal -12 and a few months in decided to head back to North American hockey.
The crafty 5’11” 186 lbs. d-man agreed to return to Binghamton Senators, a team he’d spent parts of three seasons with while under contract to Ottawa Senators but was claimed off reentry waivers by Rochester Americans.
He’s had 4 runs of 20+ assists in the AHL and is off to a quick start with 3 assists in 2 games.
The 30-year old looks pretty happy out there at this point but it would be surprising to see him continue to grab a minor league deal going forward, unless he’s plotting life after leaving the ice but chances are better he looks to somewhere like Sweden, Finland or Germany for more playing time (and better money).
5th year center Kevin Sundher(25) decides to opt out of his AHL contract mid-season to explore a new opportunity in Czech Extraliga joining HC Olomouc for the remainder of 2016/2017.
Although under contract with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, he has played exclusively with affiliate Reading Royals scoring 5 goals and 12 assists in 35 ECHL games with a -6 rating.
He started 2015/2016 the lower league and was a point-per-game guy before an early recall had him keeping pace with 2 goals and 3 assists in 10 games but a leg injury cut this progress short.
The 6′ 180 lbs. forward was originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2010 draft (#75 overall) and spent three years mostly with farm club Rochester Americans.
He was never really able to affect the score sheet like he mostly did through 4 years of juniors in the WHL.
It’s quite possible the 25-year old didn’t see himself moving up the hockey ladder at home, so has decided to see if there’s some better ice for him overseas.
6th year defenseman Matt MacKenzie(44) seems to be growing into his game with each passing season.
He started 2016/2017 under contract with Florida Everblades but was loaned up to Springfield Thunderbirds a month in and recently signed an AHL contract to stay with the team for the remainder of the current calendar.
The former Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2010 draft (#83 overall) started 2015/2016 much the same way as this year, under an ECHL deal with Manchester Monarchs but was loaned up to Portland Pirates late and stuck through one round of Calder Cup Playoffs.
He notched a pair of assists in 4 postseason matchups.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner recorded two 30+ assists’ seasons in juniors and also won the 2010 WHL Championship as a third year player with Calgary Hitmen.
He also contributed a hefty 6 goals and 10 assists through 23 games to that title.
The 25-year old should be able to earn a spot out of training camp at the higher level of hockey in 2017/2018 but may also turn his sights elsewhere to continue elevating his game.
6th year center Ethan Werek(20) signed his 2nd ECHL contract to start 2016/2017 with Orlando Solar Bears but only played a pair of games scoring a goal and two assists before being loaned to Texas Stars, where he was recently given an spc to finish out the season.
In 21 AHL games he has 3 goals and 6 assists with a +2 rating.
The former New York Rangers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#47 overall) was traded to Arizona Coyotes before ever really be part of their system.
Signed to a three year entry level deal, he skated for affiliate Portland Pirates exclusively but was left unqualified heading into 2014/2015.
He would next agree to terms with Providence Bruins but was still unable to elevate his point production to what it was through three years of juniors in the OHL with Kingston Frontenacs when he was a point-per-game player.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward inked his first contract in the lower league with Florida Everblades heading into 2015/2016, but after two months potting 12 goals and 14 assists in 24 games ith a +17 rating was loaned up to Charlotte Checkers.
He played the rest of the regular calendar and even signed a contract but was returned to appear in his first Kelly Cup Playoffs.
At just 25-years old, it will be interesting to see where he heads next but it would be no surprise to see him leave North America to pursue a higher level of hockey overseas.
