14 year veteran left wing Matt Ellis(37) decided to hang up his skates after a nice, long pro career for an undrafted player, who started his career with 71 ECHL games with Toledo Storm, while under the watchful eye of Detroit Red Wings.
He spent the first three seasons signed to a minor league contract before netting his big league contract.
It would take him another campaign with affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins, getting an AHL best 28 assists before he earned his first recall.
The 6′ 212 lbs. forward split time in 2006/2007 but was skating full-time in the show in the next campaign but after a waiver claim by Los Angeles Kings, finished a short stint in California before being once again grabbed on the wire by Buffalo Sabres to start 2008/2009.
He would spend his next 8 seasons in upper state New York finishing up on a contract with Rochester Americans in 2015/2016.
The 35-year old transitions into coaching now that his playing days are behind him at the Academy Of Hockey.
He has 356 NHL games on his resume.
New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd year center Joe Blandisi(9) has already tied his 14 assist mark with affiliate Albany Devils through 26 AHL games and is only a pair of goals shy of his high of 9.
The 6′ 200 lbs. forward will likely spend more time in the minors in his sophomore season than he did as a first year player, when for 41 NHL contests he netted 5 goals and 12 assists with a bit of a woeful -14 rating.
He was one of the final training camp cuts to be reassigned to the farm club and in the final year of his entry level deal, so it seems a bit odd that he has yet to appear with the big club in 2016/2017.
The former Barrie Colts‘ assistant captain and top scorer of the OHL with 52 in 2014/2015 will likely see a stat sheet breakout but needs to regain the opportunity.
Originally a Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#162 overall), he was left unsigned and even attended Buffalo Sabres 2014 camp before his huge season in juniors, when he was noticed and inked.
At just 22-years old, he certainly plays like a skater that deserves to be a full-time member of the show but with all their prospects in the pipeline it will be interesting to see if he continues where he is or move on.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th year defenseman Cameron Gaunce(24) is making the most of a first NHL recall in a couple seasons.
Through 3 games he already has a pair of assists and is getting himself very situated in game play with 4 hits, a pair of play breakups and takeaways, four minutes of penalties, twice skating 15+ minutes of ice time with a+3 rating and all three appearances were in decisive victories.
He was signed quickly on the first day of unrestricted free agency to a one-year two-way contract.
In 39 AHL games with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he scored 2 goals and 6 assists with a +6 rating.
He set new career high 35 assists and 37 points in 75 games last season with Portland Pirates, while under contract to Florida Panthers.
The decently sized d-man also won a 2014 Calder Cup Championship with Texas Stars, while on the books with Dallas Stars.
He also played 9 games with them in 2013/2014.
The 26-year old may have found himself a solid home in Pennsylvania for the time being.
Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#161 overall), 3rd year defenseman Jake Dotchin(59) skates his first NHL game after getting off to a career year start with affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
He already has 3 goals and 9 assists in 33 AHL games with a +10 rating, which is 2nd on the team.
The big 6’3″ 212 lbs. plays a hard-hitting style game but also can affect the score sheet as he did in his third and final year with Barrie Colts, where he notched 35 assists in 63 OHL games.
In his debut he dished out 4 hits in 18 shifts for 11:47 of total ice time but left the game with a -1 rating in a 5-3 loss.
Not one to drop the gloves often, the 22-year old is unafraid to protect teammates and could become a valuable tough guy in the parent’s club lineup.
3rd year right wing Derek DeBlois(39) returned one month into the new season from a lower body injury suffered in the 2nd round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and signed with South Carolina Stingrays, the team he’s spent most of his pro hockey time with.
In 12 ECHL games he got off to a speedy start scoring 10 goals and 8 assists with a +8 rating.
The hard-skating forward must be ready to pursue a new avenue as he’s agreed to play out the rest of the current calendar in Germany’s DEL2 for EC Kassel Huskies.
After spending most of 2015/2016 on loan and eventually under contract to Cleveland Monsters skating a career high 35 AHL games scoring 2 goals and 3 assists before being returned for the postseason.
Before getting injured he was able to contribute 3 goals and 6 assists in 10 playoff match-ups.
The 25-year old should continue to excel in scoring as he moves overseas and will likely climb the ladder to tougher levels of play.
11th year left wing Jordan Smotherman(10) leaves Manchester Monarchs after signing with the team a month into 2016/2017.
It was the first time the former Atlanta Thrashers‘ 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#116 overall) signed a contract in the league and there was little doubt he would score big at the lower level of hockey as he potted 12 goals and 8 assists in 18 ECHL games.
He’d only ever played 4 NHL games but as a sophomore skater got his only goal and assist in a pair of appearances before being returned to affiliate Chicago Wolves, where he would help them win the 2008 Calder Cup Championship.
The fairly big 6’3″ 225 lbs. forward (you’d never guess it) has been playing mostly in Sweden for the last four seasons with a quick half season stop in Finland and even had his first year away from closer to home, which is the hockey hotbed Corvalis, OR, in Denmark for Metal-Ligaen and won all sorts of scoring awards.
For the remainder of the current calendar the 30-year old returns to Allsvenskan joining MODO.
It would be a bit of a surprise to see him return again before he decides to retire those skates.
Toronto Maple Leafs made an early summer trade after last season’s draft to acquire former 1st rounder Kerby Rychel(36) from draft team Columbus Blue Jackets was likely to see if he’d blossom in the final campaign of his entry level deal.
He’s set to become a restricted free agent for the first time in his pro career at the end of the current calendar.
Once again the decently sized power forward was a late training camp cut to be sent to affiliate Toronto Marlies.
In 35 AHL games he has 8 goals and 11 assists but is a bit of a woeful -14 rating.
After playing a career high 32 games in the big league scoring 2 goals and 7 assists with a +5, he was sent back late in the season to farm club Cleveland Monsters.
In 17 playoff games he had one goal and 5 assists en route to a first ever 2016 Calder Cup Championship.
The 22-year old will likely earn a call up this season for a looksie but needs to start turning some heads sooner than later.
Binghamton Senators‘ undrafted 2nd year defenseman Chris Rumble(15) is putting together a fantastic sophomore season in his first full AHL campaign.
In 28 games he has a team leading 4 goals, 11 assists for 15 points with a +5 rating.
As a rookie he skated a full slate for Evansville Icemen scoring 11 goals and 29 assists in 64 ECHL games.
He was given a one year extension after joining them on an ato at the end of his three years at Canisus College, where he helped them win an NCAA/AHA Championship in 2013, as a first year player.
The decently sized 6’1″ 195 lbs. Virginia native took an interesting path through US junior hockey, first playing a 2008/2009 USHL campaign with Sioux Falls Stampede, then switching it up for Wenatchee Wild of the NAHL for two successful seasons before school.
At 26-years old with another successful year under his belt it would be little surprise to see him split for some overseas action next but could also see a path to playing at even a higher level closer to home if he can keep up the numbers.
Either way, he’s a brave story and Leukemia survivor, which let’s us know why he had to take a year off before heading to college.
New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#75 overall) center Blake Coleman(40) suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of all but 14 AHL games of his rookie campaign with affiliate Albany Devils (4 goals, 3 assists).
The 5’11” 200 lbs. pivot didn’t let that sidetrack him too much as he had a strong training camp, was one of the last cuts to be reassigned, then got right to work.
In 34 games he is tied for team lead with 13 goals and 10 assists with a best +15 rating.
He’s always been pretty good connecting the puck with the net, basically winning every scoring award category including USA Hockey Junior Player Of The Year in his 2nd season for Indiana Ice of the USHL.
Through four years of college at Miami University (Ohio) he was a point per game guy as a senior and missed a second 20 goal showing by one, while helping his squad win the 2015 NCAA/NCHC Championship.
The 25-year old skated a decent amount of shifts for at least 11+ minutes of ice time in his first two NHL appearances.
There’s little doubt he has the tenacity to become a full-time player in the show but will have to continue to work hard for his opportunities.
Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#92 overall) 3rd year goaltender Sam Brittain(1) is having an outstanding season in between the pipes for Manchester Monarchs.
He’s well on his way to playing a career high games with already a new best 17 wins and will likely appear in the postseason for the first time.
The 6’1″ 215 lbs. net minder is playing almost exclusively in the ECHL for a 2nd time after being Portland Pirates‘ back up in 2015/2016.
He posted some decent numbers in his sophomore campaign but there’s a bit of a log jam for goalies at the higher level so this insures he gets plenty of playing time.
The 24-year old former University Of Denver standout has received recalls to AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds and was even an emergency call up to the parent club but is waiting for the nod to get in a game.
There’s little doubt that when he does he’ll put forth his best effort, because that’s the type of player he is.
Signed to a one-year extension after his entry level deal was up, he looks to be a sure bet to keep around especially if he can make a deep playoff push.
