New Jersey Devils added big 6’4″ 225 lbs. 8th year left wing Luke Gazdic(20) a few days into unrestricted free agency.
It was the first time the sizable forward was without a deal heading into a new season.
Originally a Dallas Stars‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#172 overall) he spent 4 years in the system mostly with affiliate Texas Stars but also did some time in the ECHL with Idaho Steelheads.
He’s never been a big point producer. His best campaign came in his third year and was only a modest 11 goals and 12 assists in a career high 76 AHL games.
Almost ironically it was when he had to clear waivers at the beginning of 2013/2014 that Edmonton Oilers spotted something that fit into their roster ideas.
He played his only full NHL season that year scoring a best 2 goals and 2 assists in 67 games with 15 fighting majors in his 127 penalty minutes.
For the next two runs he would skate most of his time at the highest level but did get reassigned on a couple occasions to the minors.
The 27-year started 2016/2017 on the injured list after breaking his foot blocking a shot in the opening game of the preseason.
When he returned, he was reassigned to Albany Devils, where he had a pair of assists in 13 contests before being recalled for his first appearance with his new club.
In his debut he skated a very conservative 7 shifts for only 3:49 of total ice but is being kept around so that time may see a quick increase.
Boston Bruins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft (#85 overall) rookie defenseman Matt Grzelcyk(48) is having a great start to his pro career with affiliate Providence Bruins.
The small 5’9″ 174 lbs. blue liner leads all first year skaters with 11 assists and 12 points in 25 AHL games with an impressive +12 rating.
His solid work has led to an early debut for the parent club.
Skating a solid 25 shifts for 14:34 of total ice he also had three shots on net with a 0 plus/minus never looking too out of place in what was a bit of a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss.
He was frequently able to connect for decent points through four campaigns at Boston University, twice getting to the 10 goal mark and reaching 20+ assists on two occasions as well.
Signed to a two-year entry level, the 22-year looks to be on the right trajectory but would likely benefit from increased time in the minors, playing all types of situations.
New York Rangers‘ sophomore defenseman Brady Skjei(76) found his way into 7 big league games as a rookie scoring no points, but came away with a +1 rating.
The big blue liner led affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack first year d-men in assists (24) and scoring (28) in a career high 68 AHL games.
He would make the Blueshirts out of training camp for 2016/2017 and has played his way into a top role on the team.
With 13 assists through 31 games, he already is showing a marked improvement over stats he was able to post through three years of college hockey and closer to what he was able to achieve in his initial year as a pro.
The 22-year old also just potted his first NHL goal, which makes sense considering he averages over a shot on net per game.
This is definitely a high draft selection that learned a great deal from his time in the minors and has arrived into his game quickly.
Calgary Flames‘ 2nd round pick int he 2014 draft (#34 overall) rookie goalie Mason McDonald(35) is looking very comfortable in net and off to a hot start on reassignment to Adirondack Thunder.
In 13 ECHL games he has a 8-2-1-2 record with a 2.50 GAA and .902 SV%.
The rangy 6’4″ 200 lbs. back stop was a bit hot and cold through four seasons in the QMJHL, first with Acadie-Bathurst Titan, then Charlottetown Islanders but really found his footing winning a gold medal with the under 18 Team Canada at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.
Signed to a 3-year entry level deal through 2019 he’s playing at a lower level of hockey than anticipated with the glut of talent in the parent club’s cage, but at the very least has time to develop and despite it being early already showing what he can do.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#174 overall), 3rd year goalie Antoine Bibeau(30) gets into his 1st NHL game after a pair of strong seasons and good start to 2016/2017 with affiliate Toronto Marlies.
He wasn’t able to get the victory but did come away some more impressive stats.
The 6’3″ 210 lbs. net minder made 26 of 28 saves for a 2.11 GAA and .929 SV% in 58 minutes of playing time.
These numbers are similar to ones he was able to post through most of his 4 years in the QMJHL especially in 2013/0214 after being traded to Val-d’Or Foreurs.
He was able to help his team win the President’s Cup, while being voted Most Valuable Player in the playoffs and the Memorial Cup’s Most Outstanding Goaltender.
A late cut from training camp, he managed to have some nice preseason appearances to solidify his spot on the radar.
Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the 22-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current calendar but with more starts and successful outings in the big league, he’ll likely be kept around for more than one more look.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 11th year Swedish-born goaltender Jhonas Enroth(1) was reassigned to affiliate Toronto Marlies after a rough start as back up going 0-3-1 with a 3.94 GAA and .872 SV%.
He won his debut but it wasn’t exactly an easy outing, letting up three goals.
The 5’10” 175 lbs. net minder signed a one-year deal as an unrestricted free agent after putting up some impressive marks in a similar role last season for Los Angeles Kings.
Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#46 overall), he was with the team from 2008-2015 and a their starter for 2014/2015 before being traded near the deadline to Dallas Stars.
After playing junior hockey in his country and two years with Sodertalje, first in tier 2 Allsvenskan, then the SHL, he spent his first few seasons mostly in the minors with Portland Pirates putting together some impressive numbers.
It would be easy to see the veteran but still young 28-year old head back over to Europe and possibly home to play plenty more effective campaigns before retiring.
10th year center Brodie Dupont(7) returns to North American hockey after 2 and a half seasons with Iserlohn Roosters of DEL.
He was always able to put up decent numbers with the team, especially in 2014/2015 when he connected for 11 goals and 21 assists then added another 4 points in 6 playoff match-ups.
Limited to only 28 games last season, he signed a one-year minor league deal with Norfolk Admirals a month into the new campaign for 2016/2017.
In 11 ECHL games, the first he’s ever played, he already has a pair of goals and 5 assists.
The 29-year old would be well-suited to find a squad that has some postseason potential and would probably be amongst the top scorers in the league.
Kalamazoo Wings‘ 7th year center Justin Taylor(93) has been with the team for either most or all of his time as a pro.
The former Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#180 overall) originally signed a contract with Bridgeport Sound Tigers but played only 15 AHL games with no points before being reassigned.
In the lower league he would excel as a rookie scoring 23 goals and 25 assists in 48 ECHL contests.
This would mirror the output he was able to achieve in his last three campaigns of juniors with London Knights of the OHL, where he was virtually a point-per-game guy.
The only year he would skate for other squads was his third, 2012/2013.
Re-signed for a second run with the K-Wings, he got off to a slow start with 3 assists and was traded to Trenton Titans, but also seemed to struggle some there before he was once again shipped off, this time to Idaho Steelheads.
He didn’t exactly regain his footing grabbing 6 goals and 3 assists in 25 games but when it was postseason time his game got elevated and he popped in 5 tallies with 4 helpers in 17 Kelly Cup Playoff match-ups.
That would be the last time he put on the skates for another team and has been in Michigan ever since and is credited for 349 games with 4 seasons of 40+ point production.
It would be little surprise to see the 27-year old eclipse the 50 point mark in 2016/2017 and continue with them for the rest of his career before stepping into coaching.
He’s definitely an exciting player to watch.
Undrafted sophomore right wing Matt Berry(27) is already more than a point-per-game producer for new squad Florida Everblades with 7 goals, 14 assists and a +3 in 19 ECHL contests.
He had similar marks as a rookie.
In 38 games with Utah Grizzlies on reassignment from contract team San Diego Gulls, he grabbed 16 goals and 21 assists with a +11 rating.
The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward also played 15 AHL games scoring 3 goals and an assist.
He will easily garner more attention in the higher league again this season and might even do well enough to grab a contract.
Through four years at Michigan State University, he was already a proven scoring standout.
He was an invite to affiliate Charlotte Checkers‘ training camp to start 2016/2017.
Regardless, the 24-year old is an elite skate where he is and always looks to give it his all when he’s out there.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 7th year defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer(42) signed his first big league contract with the team a few weeks into free agency.
The sturdy pounding blue liner had a career year in 2015/2016, his second run and first full campaign of 74 AHL games for Hershey Bears. scoring 6 goals and 14 assists with a +10 rating.
He then went on to add another 4 assists through 21 Calder Cup Playoff matchups that saw them finally bow out in the Finals.
Already notching 7 assists through 22 contests with affiliate Rochester Americans, he scores a 1st ever NHL recall.
In his debut he skated 21 shifts for 10:03 of ice time with 3 hits, 1 giveaway and came out with a -1 in an overtime loss.
He’s soon to turn 28-years old and as previously thought he could be a late bloomer who’s just getting started at the highest level of hockey.
