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.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th year center Carter Rowney(37) fresh off his first big league contract signed back in March of last season scores the early recall for an NHL debut after just about a point-per-game start with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Last season while playing under a minor league agreement, he potted a career high and team second 24 goals and 54 points while finishing with a leading +23 rating in 74 AHL games.
He took his hot hand into the Calder Cup Playoffs, where through 10 match-ups he scored 4 goals and 8 assists.
The now 27-year old skated 11 shifts for 9:20 total ice time with 2 hits, one takeaway, went 30% on the face off dot and left a 4-2 victory with a -1 rating.
That is likely easily remedied if he can stick around to be inserted back into the lineup.
Rookie defenseman Nolan Zajac(39) is the fourth and final brother to enter into a pro hockey career.
His older siblings Travis, Darcy and Kelly play in the NHL, GET-ligaen or the ECHL currently.
At a small 5’8″ 180 lbs., he plays a much bigger style than listed and is the only blue liner in the family.
Signed to a one-year minor league contract with Toledo Walleye he’s already eclipsed decent marks he set at four years of University Of Denver, where he average roughly 5 goals and 20 assists each campaign.
Previously, through a seemingly long term of three years at juniors in the USHL, he had a pair of seasons with 27 assists before heading off to college.
In 40 games he already has a very nice team leading for d-men and first year skaters 8 goals, 25 assists for 33 points with a +16 rating.
The 24-year old was recently loaned for three AHL games to Hershey Bears.
He grabbed his first assist in the higher league, was a +1 and looked to be a full-on part of the team before being returned.
5th year left wing Alexandre Mallet(95) switches up overseas teams mid-season in the Czech Extraliga, leaving slumping HC Dynamo Pardubice for HC Kometa Brno.
He was off to a slow start scoring only a goal and 6 assists in 36 games but has already struck for his first tally with his new squad.
Originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#57 overall), he skated most of his rookie season with Kalamazoo Wings before spending the entirety of his sophomore campaign for farm club Utica Comets.
In 59 AHL games he would only get a goal and 4 assists.
The decently sized 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward put up some outstanding numbers in his third and final year of the QMJHL with Rimouski Oceanic, but that was his only breakout before being selected and turning pro.
He was traded a month into the final year of his entry level deal to New York Islanders but was immediately shipped to Stockton Thunder to finish out 2014/2015.
Left unqualified, he agreed to a minor league deal with his team of three seasons, K-Wings and had his best offensive output of 23 goals and 34 assists in a full schedule of 72 ECHL games.
It will be interesting to see where the 22-year old heads next but he’ll need an impressive run to finish out 2016/2017 to climb the hockey ladder.
Anaheim Ducks‘ undrafted 3rd year net minder Ryan Faragher(68) signed a new one-year deal at almost the halfway point of the current campaign after again impressing with ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies.
It’s his third season with the team after a stellar 2015/2016, where he posted a 24-13 record in 41 games with a 2.33 GAA and .917 SV%, including three shut outs.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. goalie has been loaned to direct farm squad San Diego Gulls but has yet to start for them in 2016/2107.
He was initially signed to a one-year entry level deal with the Ducks after three solid campaigns at St. Cloud State University and a 2010 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship with Bismarck Bobcats.
It’s a bit uncertain why the 26-year old was inked so late, as they have a good amount of depth at the back stop position, but it was certainly some good news for him to score a new term.
Providence Bruins‘ veteran center Peter Mueller(93) looks to gain an advantage on Springfield Thunderbirds‘ pivot Chase Balisy(13), who has the puck just on the back hand of his stick, near his left skate for the defensive zone face off win.
