New York Islanders‘ 5th year center Cole Bardreau(34) received his first recall from affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers after 4 AHL games but no points.
The former 4-season Philadelphia Flyers‘ prospect was a group 6 UFA heading into the new campaign but was signed on the opening day of unrestricted free agency with a new two-year deal.
He grabbed a first point, an assist in his 4th outing and added a 1st NHL goal (on a penalty shot) in his 7th.
The 26-year old may be thinking he’s the right player at the right time to fill in the gaps left on the Isles‘ roster due to early season injury.
14th year left wing Matt Moulson(26) signed a first ever minor league contract to skate with Hershey Bears for 2019/2020, where he hopes to contribute for a Calder Cup Championship, which would be his first pro hockey title.
Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 9th round in the 2003 draft (#263 overall), he never quite fit into their plans before leaving.
The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward was a three-time 30+ goal scorer with New York Islanders playing a full NHL schedule of 82 games in each of those seasons.
He has skated 650 games in the league.
The 36-year old could have easily called it quits after his last deal with Buffalo Sabres and being loaned to Ontario Reign for most of his last two campaigns, which last season saw him pot 28 goals and 34 assists in 68 AHL games, but something inside him still wants more from the game.
Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#165 overall) 2nd year left wing Cameron Hughes(53) grabs a 1st NHL recall after a decently strong start scoring 2 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating for affiliate Providence Bruins in 13 AHL games.
The 5’11” light 160 lbs. forward played 16 shifts for 9:53 total ice with 1 hit, 2 shot blocks and was a -1 rating in a furious 6-4 win but we honestly barely heard his name called or saw him touch the puck.
As a rookie, he stayed in the minors skating 52 games grabbing 13 goals and 15 assists with a +9.
He twice dished 20+ assists as a sophomore and junior at University Of Wisconsin.
The 22-year old native of Edmonton, Alberta is in the 2nd year of his odd 3-year post college entry level deal and was a healthy scratch for his 2nd day in the big league and maybe needs a little more work at the lower level to better establish himself.
Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2018 draft (#46 overall), 3rd year Slovakian-born defenseman Martin Fehervary(42) was on the opening night roster and skated his 1st 3 NHL games before being reassigned to affiliate Hershey Bears for some seasoning but was summoned again without playing.
In his debut he played an average of 20 shifts for roughly 14+ minutes of ice time with 4 shots, 2 penalty minutes and was a 0 rating.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner skated in Sweden’s two leagues: the SHL and Allsvenskan with HV71 and IK Oskarshamn putting up identical numbers (1-6-7).
He also played 9 games for Malmo Redhawks as a teenager, where he spent his junior hockey.
Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the 20-year old still has time to develop but should be playing at the highest level sooner than later.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ rookie defenseman John Marino(6) decided to forego his 4th year at Harvard University to sign a two-year entry level deal and maybe a little out of nowhere made the opening night roster.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner now has a 1st NHL goal, scored in his backyard TD Garden in Boston, to go along with an assist in 13 games.
Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#154 overall), he was acquired in the offseason to help bolster defense in Pennsylvania.
He has definite benefitted from a contract player leaving an open spot in a contract dispute, but the 22-year old won’t be looking anywhere but on the ice for what to do next.
Ottawa Senators‘ 5th round pick in the 2015 draft (#139 overall) Slovakian-born 6th year defenseman Christian Jaros(15) is starting the final season of his entry level deal on reassignment to affiliate Belleville Senators.
He skated a career high 61 NHL games getting a goal and 9 assists, which is close to totals he posted as an AHL rookie the previous campaign.
In 7 games this season he has a goal and an assist.
The fairly large 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner started his pro career with Lulea HF of the SHL and also spent some early time in Allsvenskan playing for Asploven HC.
As a 23-year old, he is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current season and will be interesting to see if he’s qualified to keep around.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd year center Tage Thompson(72) starts his contract season reassigned to affiliate Rochester Americans and he’s lighting it up with 4 goals and 4 assists in 9 AHL games with a +3 rating and one game winning tally, so is very likely on the radar for a recall if needed.
Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2016 draft (#26 overall), he played in their system for a year and 16 games with Chicago Wolves on an ato after leaving a 2nd year at University Of Connecticut.
He split time in his rookie campaign up for 41 games and reassigned for 30 to affiliate San Antonio Rampage before he was a component part of a huge trade that sent him east.
The large and lanky 6’6″ 215 lbs. forward spent all but 8 games in the big league last season playing a career high 65 NHL games scoring a new best 7 goals and 12 points.
He just turned 22-years old and looks good to re-up for at least a couple more years to see if he can add to those totals.
Boston Bruins‘ 7th year right wing Brett Ritchie(18) did not receive a qualifying offer to stay with draft club Dallas Stars (2nd round, 2011, #44 overall) coming off a two-year one-way deal after recording a season low scoring (4-2-6 in 53 games), but then signed a new 1-year one-way deal worth $1M to come east on the opening day of unrestricted free agency.
The mammoth 6’4″ 220 lbs. forward put up a goal in his first game against his former club with his new one and currently sits at a pair of tallies and an assist.
He has 251 NHL games to his credit and 141 in the AHL, where he’s also scored some big goals and helped Texas Stars to the 2014 Calder Cup.
The 26-year is set to become a restricted free agent for the last time in his pro career at the end of the current session but you can bet if he can continue to connect he won’t have to look far.
Tampa Bay Lightning 3rd year Russian-born left wing Alexander Volkov(92) makes his NHL debut in what is a contract year for the upcoming restricted free agent.
The 6’1″ 191 lbs. forward has basically lit the lamp big for affiliate Syracuse Crunch twice posting 23 goals and increasing assists to 25 and points to 48 last season for new career highs.
He’s off to a hot start this year with three assists in three AHL games.
In his debut he skated 19 shifts for 12:49 total ice, had one hit and left the 7-6 overtime win with a -2 rating.
He did his junior hockey at home and even played 15 games for the tier 2 VHL SKA-Neva St. Petersburg scoring 3 goals, then added another goal and 2 assists in 8 playoff games.
The 22-year old should be a no-brainer to re-up for at least another year if not two.
Happy Halloween hockey players and fans!
