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.
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.
Undrafted 2nd year right wing Ty Loney(24) has already crushed ECHL scoring totals he set last season.
In a career high 30 games he has a team leading 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points with Adirondack Thunder.
He signed a one-year deal just before training camp started after splitting time as a rookie with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Wheeling Nailers.
The fairly big 6’4″ 208 lbs. really started to catch fire in last year’s Kelly Cup playoffs, where he struck for 7 goals and 11 assists in 26 match-ups.
He was a decent point-getter through four years at University Of Denver but was maybe even more effective in his second campaign of USHL for Youngstown Phantoms.
With such a good year brewing, he’s received his first call up from Albany Devils.
It’s tough to think that if he can start to affect the score sheet, whether it’s on his first loan or later, he’ll find himself back up playing a higher level of hockey.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 14th year center Brooks Laich(23) was a late cut from training camp reassigned to affiliate Toronto Marlies to start 2016/2017.
It was his first appearance in the minors since helping Hershey Bears win the 2006 Calder Cup trophy.
The 6’2″ 215 lbs. forward spent 13 seasons with Washington Capitals (11 of those exclusively in the NHL) after being traded as a rookie from draft team Ottawa Senators (2001, 6th round, #193 overall).
It was easily a gut-wrenching decision to move the veteran player who’s name was synonymous with one squad for such a long time compiling three 20+ goals, 30+ assists and twice over 50 point campaigns with a career high 59 mark in 2009/2010.
The 33-year old has only skated 16 AHL games in the current calendar with a goal, 5 assists and a +5 rating but likely sits as a healthy scratch that are easily not performance related.
He’s in the final year of his lucrative 6-year deal signed in 2011.
He did spend some of the lockout year in the NLA with EHC Kloten and it would be little surprise to see him keep going for another couple seasons overseas as he sorts out post-hockey life.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Alex Roach(4) makes what is easily a wise decision and splits to birthplace Germany joining Eisbaren Berlin of DEL for the remainder of the 2016/2017.
Originally signed at the onset of the season by Providence Bruins but hadn’t skated a game with them before being reassigned a month in to affiliate Atlanta Gladiators.
The big 6’5″ 225 lbs. back fielder got a pair of assists in 12 ECHL games before departing overseas.
Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ signing, he spent his entire run in double A hockey, first with Ontario Reign, then skating a career high 64 contests notching new bests 6 goals and 24 assists for Manchester Monarchs in 2015/2016.
He was also a healthy scratch on occasion, which easily has contributed to his decision to move on.
The blue liner had put up a pair of 30+ assist campaigns in his last two years for Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, so he does have the ability to play sound defensively and contribute some offense.
At 23-years old he may find his footing on the bigger sheets of ice and it will be interesting to see if he stays where he is or moves on if he can make his mark.
New York Islanders‘ 4th round pick in the 2014 draft (#108 overall) rookie defenseman Devon Toews(7) was voted to join the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic after posting some impressive numbers with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the first half of 2016/2017.
The 6’1″ 180 lbs. blue liner has 4 goals and a team leading 18 assists in 33 AHL games.
A former standout at Quinnipiac University, he had a career high 7 goals and 23 assists in his third and final year en route to an NCAA/ECAC title at the school before turning pro.
The Canadian-born player also helped win the 2013 BCHL Championship for Surrey Eagles in his 2nd campaign before committing to college.
The 22-year old is probably on the cusp of a 1st NHL appearance but will have to continue to work hard and excel in the minors.
Montreal Canadiens‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#26 overall) Russian-born right wing Nikita Scherbak(38) receives his first recall after being one of the last cuts from training camp and gets his 1st NHL goal on the power play with his only shot in a disappointing 5-3 loss.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward skated 20 shifts for 11:48 total ice with one play breakup and left the game with a +1 rating.
After only a pair of junior campaigns, first with Saskatoon Blades, where he had a most goals, assists and points by a first year player, then traded to Everett Silvertips scoring almost 30 goals and 50+ assists per campaign in identical 65 WHL games, he decided to turn pro.
On reassignment for his full rookie season to affiliate St. John’s IceCaps he had 7 goals and 16 assists in 48 AHL games but was an absolutely horrendous -26.
He was off to a solid start as a sophomore skater putting up a tied for team best 10 goals and 10 assists in 27 contests.
The 21-year old, signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2018, plays a power style game and if he can continue to connect will play himself into a full-time roster spot with the big club sooner than later.
New York Rangers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#75 overall) 5th year Russian-born center Pavel Buchnevich(89) hadn’t played a pro game for just under two months, so the parent club decided to send him south to get back in game shape with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
In his AHL debut he posted the game’s first tally in a 2-1 win over Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers), a much better team on record with an absolute blast from the low slot, almost on the goal line over the shoulder of Anthony Stolarz(41).
The 6’2″ 193 lbs. forward played in all types of situations and was basically a magician with the puck on most occasions, although wasn’t exempt from some bad plays like passing a puck right to an opposing player.
In his official North American rookie season he already has 4 NHL goals and 4 assists in only 10 games with a +4 rating.
He comes in with 4 years experience in the KHL lacing up the skates for his hometown team Severstal Cherepovets, where he was quickly becoming a scoring stud.
The 21-year old won a U17 WHC gold medal in 2010 and is signed to a three year entry level deal.
Folks from Connecticut got a treat getting to see this kid play, as he ain’t coming back anytime soon.
