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.
Florida Panthers‘ 2nd year center Jared McCann(17) was picked up in a late season trade with Vancouver Canucks.
The former 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#24 overall) played his full rookie season in the NHL scoring 9 goals and 9 assists through 69 games with a -6 rating before being dealt.
He started his sophomore campaign with the big club but was a little slow out of the gate pocketing only a goal and 2 assists through 17 games.
The tough, hard-skating 6’1″ 198 lbs. power forward was reassigned to affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds looking to ignite that scoring touch he had on full display in 3 years with St. Sault Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, where he notched a point-per-game.
In 5 AHL contests he has a goal and an assist but is involved in every aspect of the game when on the ice.
As an under 18 skater he won the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament gold with Team Canada.
Signed to a three year entry level deal he definitely has time to develop but looks like he’s on the cusp of being a full-time contributor at the highest level of hockey sooner than later.
Boston Bruins‘ sophomore left wing Anton Blidh(81) had a career year as a first year skater in North American style hockey.
He skated 65 AHL games scoring 10 goals and 4 assists for affiliate Providence Bruins, while always supplying energy when spotted on the ice.
A late reassignment to the minors out of training camp didn’t distract him as he starts hot scoring 5 goals and 4 assists looking like he’ll easily eclipse what he did as a rookie.
It’s earned him a first NHL recall and in his debut he skated 12 shifts for 10:12 total ice with 3 shots on net and a 0 rating in a 2-1 victory.
He definitely needs to mark up the score sheet to stay up as he’s just in the second season of his entry level deal that runs through 2017/2018, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone for him to pot some luck.
Tampa Bay Lightning 8th year (5 of those played in the Switzerland’s top league NLA, where he played also all of his junior hockey) Joel Vermin(92) spent 6 games with the parent club heading into his contract year notching his first NHL point, an assist.
He was signed to a one-year extension even before the conclusion of last calendar to continue the progress.
A late cut heading into 2016/2017 he got off to a hot start with affiliate Syracuse Crunch scoring 7 goals and 4 assists in 17 AHL games.
Just over a month in, he gets a recall and grabs another pair of assists in his new season debut.
It was an unfortunately one in the loss column for the team though but he did manage to leave the contest with a +2 rating.
There’s a strange rumor floating that he could be on the way back home, possibly if he’s sent back down to the minors but all that seems a bit doubtful and remains to be seen.
Carolina Hurricanes‘ 4th round pick in the 2014 draft (#94 overall) rookie defenseman Josh Wesley(40) is starting his career splitting time between affiliates Charlotte Checkers and Florida Everblades.
In only 2 AHL games he already has his first goal and a +2 rating.
He’s skated 8 ECHL games with a goal, 3 assists and a +3 in the lower league, so accountability doesn’t appear to be an issue.
The big 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner has never really been much a point-getter through 4 years of junior hockey in the OHL with Plymouth Whalers, Flint Firebirds and Niagara IceDogs but seems to be finding his footing on the score sheet at the pro level.
Signed to a three year entry level deal through 2019, he has time to develop but there’s no time like the present for this young 20-year old to make an impression.
He is the son of 20-year, veteran d-man Glen Wesley(2), who played a remarkable 1457 NHL games.
