Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Mathew Maione(18) takes his game overseas to HC Banska Bystrica of Slovak Extraliga for 2016/2017.
He finished up last season with Wheeling Nailers after a trade brought him over from Brampton Beast, who he played for in all of 2014/2015, then re-signed for another campaign before the transaction sent him further east.
The small-ish 5’10” 195 lbs. blue liner was also named ECHL Defenseman Of The Year after posting a league high 43 assists and 54 points.
He would continue the offensive tear in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, once again leading all players at his position in all scoring categories (6-17-23) through 26 games before getting defeated in the Finals.
The seriously good puck-moving d-man never really put up outstanding offensive numbers through three years of juniors in the OHL, then four campaigns at college at University Of Prince Edward Island.
It was once he turned pro that the jets started to fire.
The 25-year old should do well overseas and climb the hockey ladder once he gets situated.
Detroit Red Wings‘ 4th year defenseman Danny DeKeyser(65) gets a long-term 6-year extension and handsome pay day to stick with the only team he knows.
After his entry level deal was up at the end of the 2013/2014 season, it took the restricted free agent until almost the start of the his 2nd full campaign to agree to a new two-year contract.
He would put up a career high 29 assists and 31 points with a +11 rating in a best 80 NHL games.
Last season he also reached a new milestone in scoring putting together a team leading 8 goal mark.
The now 26-year may be just getting started now that he’s on the books going into his early 30’s with the hometown squad.
Undrafted 4th year defenseman Michael Boivin(28) secures a one-year AHL contract with Tuscon Roadrunners after playing last season for Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL.
The 6’2″ 182 lbs. solid puck-moving player led his team in d-man goals (10) and points (33) with a +6 rating and 157 shots on net.
6 of his tallies were on the man advantage.
He put up solid numbers through his final two years at Colorado College before heading overseas for his rookie campaign with EC Red Bull Salzburg and in the next season just so happened to win the 2015 EBEL Championship while skating for Fehervar AV19.
The 25-year old should fit in nicely with the new affiliate of Arizona Coyotes and may even impress the big club in the upcoming training camp.
Vancouver Canucks gave veteran 8th year net minder Richard Bachman(32) a one-year extension before his current 2-year deal has expired keeping him in the system through 2018.
The 5’10” 176 lbs. goalie was starter for affiliate Utica Comets playing 35 AHL games with a 17-12-5 record posting a 2.75 GAA and .900 SV%.
Signed to a one-way contract he only appeared once with the parent club, but got the win pushing his mark in 43 NHL games to 18-14-2-2.
Originally a Dallas Stars‘ 4th round pick in the 2006 draft (#120 overall) he started his pro career playing 35 ECHL games with Idaho Steelheads and following that up with an outstanding Kelly Cup playoffs.
In 8 postseason matchups he posted 6-1-1 record with a 1.59 GAA and .943 SV%.
He would get his first big league appearance the following season and then get into 18 games in the last year of his entry level agreement notching another winning campaign at 8-5-1-1.
The just turned 29-year old Salt Lake City native has always had major contracts and it would be easy to see him as an outstanding goalie coach, whenever he decides to hang up the skates.
It would be unsurprisingly to see him retire after a couple seasons overseas, simply for the experience.
6th year defenseman Brandon Burlon(7) signs his first minor league contract with Tuscon Roadrunners after 5 years in New Jersey Devils‘ prospect system.
The 26-year old was an unrestricted free agent coming off a 2-year extension but was not retained.
He has skated 290 AHL games with affiliate Albany Devils scoring 19 goals and 75 assists with a +12 but has never quite been high enough of the parent club’s depth chart for an NHL recall.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner’s best scoring season in the minors was 2014/2015, when he potted a career high 8 goals and 28 assists for 36 points.
He’ll likely receive a training camp invite from Arizona Coyotes but would need a very outstanding showing to grab himself another big league contract.
Regardless, he’ll be a good veteran leader for what will likely be a young minor league squad moving forward.
CSKA Moskva 9th year Russian-born left wing Kirill Petrov(27) is under contract for a 2nd season but his playing rights for North America are retained by New York Islanders, who signed him to a one-year entry level deal for 2015/2016 and issued a qualifying offer at the end of the season to keep him in the system.
He was a late cut from the Isles‘ training camp but matters went south once he reported to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The fairly sizable 6’3″ 200 lbs. power forward played with enough grit and intensity but it was easy to tell he was unhappy playing in the minors after spending his whole career in the KHL.
Playing most of his hockey for hometown Ak Bars Kazan, he started with them a a junior player before joining the pro squad in 2008/2009 and winning back-to-back 2009 (no playoff games) and 2010 Gagarin Cup Championships.
He stayed with them for the first 7 years before leaving to see if he could make an NHL dream come true but after being reassigned continued for only 13 AHL games before requesting a return to Russia and split.
It’s completely unlikely the 26-year will return to these shores unless he’s guaranteed a spot with the parent club on a one-way deal.
Undrafted 10th year veteran defenseman Todd Perry(47) re-ups for a 2nd straight (3rd overall) season with Reading Royals.
The very big looking 6’3″ 234 lbs. blue liner started his pro campaign on a one-year deal with Toronto Marlies but spent most of his time in the ECHL with affiliate Columbia Inferno, where his 6 goals and 22 assists are still career high marks.
He would re-sign for his sophomore season playing the entire year with the team through an almost full schedule of 70 AHL games posting a best 2 goals and 5 assists at the higher level of hockey.
After one more shortened run (27 contests), he would ink for his first time with the Royals before leaving for Russia’s tier 2 VHL playing the majority of 4 seasons in the league and a short 9 game stint with Admiral Vladivostok.
The 29-year old will turn 30 mid-season plays a tough, shutdown style and is always good for a few fights each season but takes few penalty minutes.
Undrafted 2nd year left wing Matt Garbowsky(24) signs a one-year deal with Colorado Eagles, where he should have a breakout season.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. former 2014/2015 Hobey Baker finalist comes off his 1st contract with Rochester Americans but only played 16 AHL games spending most of his rookie time on reassignment to affiliate Elmira Jackals.
In 33 ECHL games he notched 7 goals and 14 assists with a +4 rating on a non-playoff team.
He was outstanding in his four seasons of college hockey registering almost a point-per-game but really had a breakout campaign as a senior, when he put together 26 goals and 28 assists in 40 games with a +28 rating.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 26-year become one of the team leaders for points and possibly even help his squad to a first Kelly Cup Championship.
3rd year center Brady Vail(22) signs a one-year deal to join Fort Wayne Komets for 2016/2017 after setting career high scoring marks with Orlando Solar Bears last season.
In his 2nd season playing with the club on reassignment from contract team Toronto Marlies, he scored 20 goals and 38 assists (1st) for 58 points (2nd) with a +6 rating in 70 ECHL games.
The former Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#94 overall) was never signed despite spending time twice after his junior seasons ended with affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs.
Through 4 campaigns with Windsor Spitfires of the OHL he three times put up 20+ goals and 30+ assists really busting out in his final year with 32-51 totals.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward has been less successful at the AHL level grabbing only a goal and two assists in 23 appearances.
At just 22-years old, the Florida-born player will likely enjoy his time in Indiana and could continue to receive looks and a loan to the higher league, if he can stay hot.
St. Louis Blues‘ 3rd year left wing Kenny Agostino(15) signed a one-year one-way deal on the second day of unrestricted free agency.
He was left unqualified by his team of contract for the past pair of seasons, Calgary Flames despite having a career year with affiliate Stockton Heat scoring 23 goals and 34 assists in 65 AHL games with 177 shots on net.
The 6′ 200 lbs. forward also appeared in 2 games with the parent club but had no points and a -2 rating.
His only other games in the big league came after completing four years at Yale University, where he won the 2013 NCAA Championship as a junior and was a point-per-game player.
The former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick in the 2013 draft (#140 overall) would join the Flames for the final 8 games of the 2012/2013 season grabbing his first NHL goal and assist.
He was part of a prospects package trade for Jerome Iginla.
With a strong training camp, the 24-year old could earn a spot but if not, will likely continue to light up the minors with Chicago Wolves.
