Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th year center Alex Broadhurst(25) gets rewarded for a decent regular season (10 goals, 26 assists in 60 AHL games) with new squad Lake Erie Monsters, then bursting his scoring more wide open in the postseason en route to winning the 2016 Calder Cup Championship.
A minor cog in a big trade that sent him from draft club Chicago Blackhawks (7th round 2011, #199 overall) to Ohio, he breaks through at the right time.
He became a restricted free agent on July 1, when his 3-year entry level deal expired.
The 5’11” 188 lbs. forward made his argument to be re-signed even more effective, when he posted 3 goals and tied for team 2nd 9 assists for 12 points in 17 playoff contests.
The still super-young 23-year old took a bit of a non-traditional path starting with two seasons for Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, where in his 2nd campaign captured the 2012 Clark Cup Championship before leaving to join the London Knights.
It would turn out to be a good move as he’d go on to win his 2nd title in a row, grabbing the 2013 OHL Championship.
This would be all the junior hockey the deep selection would need as he was ready to start his pro career on reassignment to Rockford Icehogs.
He has still yet to surpass minor league marks he established as a rookie (16 goals, 29 assists for 45 points in 70 games) but looks to be setting himself up for a first NHL recall if he can continue along this path.
7th year center A.J. Jenks(27) signs his fourth ECHL contract for 2016/2017 and third straight to stay with Toledo Walleye, where he played in a career high 55 games scoring 22 goals and 23 assists for 45 points with an astonishing 211 shots on net.
Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#100 overall), he spent the first year and a half of his career with affiliates before being traded to Carolina Hurricanes.
For the next year and a half of his entry level deal the fairly large 6’2″ 200 lbs. power forward played limited AHL games with Charlotte Checkers and Florida Everblades before being left unqualified.
The former OHL standout for Plymouth Whalers next signed a contract to stay with the Everblades but get loaned for 24 games back up with Charlotte.
Even under his first deal with the Walleye, he was once again called up for 27 more contests with the Checkers.
He was never really able to connect much on the score sheet in the higher league when recalled until last season.
He skated 5 games for Grand Rapids Griffins pocketing 2 goals and 1 assist, one fight with a +1 rating.
It’s a little surprising the still young 26-year old doesn’t play more consistently at a higher level of hockey but 2016/2017 could be that breakthrough campaign if he gets another opportunity.
Fifth year center Travis Oleksuk(11) splits for the Italian-based HC Bolzano Foxes of Este Bank Eishockey Liga.
He played under an AHL contract last season with Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 7 goals and 15 assists in a mostly energy line role, after three years as a San Jose Sharks‘ prospect.
At 27-years old heading into his 2nd unrestricted free agency it’s possible he wanted a bit more from his pro hockey than the minor leagues could offer and should excel unlike he ever has on the score sheet with his new squad.
Detroit Red Wings‘ 5th year center Luke Glendening(41) gets rewarded with a brand new 4-year extension for recording a most career points last season, while he still has another year left on his current contract.
The somewhat small-ish forward connected for 8 goals, 13 assists and 21 points with a +4 rating and 41 penalty minutes.
2016/2017 was his 2nd full NHL campaign.
He scored a best 12 goals in 2015/2016 and in the previous year appeared in 56 big league games, leaving two seasons of minor league play in the rear view.
The 27-year old old will definitely need to continue putting up points but with his hard-hitting style game he’s likely preparing himself for the opportunity to excel on a whole other level.
After scoring 40+ points over 4 seasons (50+ in two of those campaigns), 7th year center Kael Mouillierat(21) takes his game overseas for 2016/2017 joining Lulea HF of the SHL.
He spent last year under contract with Pittsburgh Penguins but only had a single big league appearance skating 67 AHL games with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The speedy forward that sees the complete sheet of ice when he plays appeared in his first 6 NHL games in the previous season while under contract with New York Islanders.
He scored his first goal and assist before being reassigned back to Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The 28-year old may have been sensing it would be tough to pick up another contract has decided it’s probably best to move his game overseas to continue.
He should absolutely tear up the score sheet in Sweden.
8th year defenseman Brett Bellemore(37) signs with the new KHL team based in China, HC Redstar Kunlun for 2016/2017.
It’s his first pro hockey outside of North American since turning pro in 2009/2010 as a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#162 overall).
The big 6’4″ 210 lbs. blue liner was in the team’s system for 6 years with his last pair of campaigns played exclusively in the NHL.
He would tally a career high 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points in his final season 2014/2015 with them but was left unqualified.
As an unrestricted free agent he attended New York Rangers‘ training camp on an invite and eventually sign a one-year minor league contract with Providence Bruins for 2015/2016.
The 28-year old should do well in his new situation.
Veteran defenseman Dylan Reese(42) heads into his 10th pro season joining HV71 of the SHL.
It’s the blue liner’s 2nd foray into overseas play.
Signed to a pair of one-year contracts with Arizona Coyotes, (quickly inked after the first year) he had his best season in 2014/2015 with Portland Pirates scoring a career high 10 goals and 30 assists in 72 AHL games with a +12 rating and 152 shots on net.
He would suffer an Achilles tendon injury in the off-season leading into 2015/2016 that sidelined him for most of the campaign with new farm club Springfield Falcons but responded nicely when he returned assuming leadership duties with the team, pocketing one goal and 7 assists through 23 games.
The soon-to-be 32-year old should do nicely in the top Swedish league but may return on a minor league deal to bridge into coaching as his playing time winds down.
3rd year right wing Caleb Herbert(40) signs a one-year contract with Texas Stars for 2016/2017.
With his two-year entry level deal expiring, he was left unqualified by draft team Washington Capitals after being largely unproductive with affiliate Hershey Bears.
He scored three points on an ato fresh out of college, where he posted three straight seasons of 19 assist totals but has only been able to produce 4 assists through 38 AHL games over the last pair of campaigns.
The big power forward has done much better on reassignment to South Carolina Stingrays.
Through 57 ECHL regular season contests he’s connected for 29 goals and 13 assists for 42 points with a +15 rating, then was able to keep up that pace with 13 goals and 17 assists in 40 Kelly Cup Playoffs games.
He was tied for team first in 2016 postseason goal scoring.
The 24-year old will need to continue to put up numbers in the higher league or will once again find himself sent down.
It’s probably already crossed his mind to head overseas to see if his fortunes can improve.
3rd year right wing Caleb Herbert(40) signs a one-year contract with Texas Stars for 2016/2017.
With his two-year entry level deal expiring, he was left unqualified by draft team Washington Capitals after being largely unproductive with affiliate Hershey Bears.
He scored three points on an ato fresh out of college, where he posted three straight seasons of 19 assist totals but has only been able to produce 4 assists through 38 AHL games over the last pair of campaigns.
The big power forward has done much better on reassignment to South Carolina Stingrays.
Through 57 ECHL regular season contests he’s connected for 29 goals and 13 assists for 42 points with a +15 rating, then was able to keep up that pace with 13 goals and 17 assists in 40 Kelly Cup Playoffs games.
He was tied for team first in 2016 postseason goal scoring.
The 24-year old will need to continue to put up numbers in the higher league or will once again find himself sent down.
It’s probably already crossed his mind to head overseas to see if his fortunes can improve.
Undrafted 4th year center Rylan Schwartz(13) will take his game over to Germany second tier DEL2 joining Heilbronner Falken for 2016/2017 after playing most of last season with Orlando Solar Bears, scoring at over a point-per-game pace.
The 5’11” 200 lbs. forward that always skates with a lot of grit and fire put in a career high 23 goals and 42 points in 40 ECHL games.
These totals closely matched what he was able to do in the prior campaign on reassignment to Allen Americans, where he was a member of the 2015 Kelly Cup Championship squad.
He scored an NCAA most overall points in his final year 2012/2013 at Colorado College at 53 before signing a two-year entry level deal with San Jose Sharks.
In his rookie season, he skated a best 73 AHL games scoring 5 goals and 13 assists on reassignment to affiliate Worcester Sharks playing mostly limited minutes on the 4th line and as a penalty killer.
The 26-year old should take his scoring to another level in the upcoming season and work himself up the hockey ladder overseas.
