Adler Mannheim undrafted 9th year German-born right wing Mattias Plachta(22) heads home after signing a one-year two-way entry level deal with Arizona Coyotes for the 2015/2016 season.
He received an NHL recall once early in his “rookie” campaign but was never inserted into the lineup before being reassigned back to affiliate Springfield Falcons.
The fairly sizeable 6’2″ 218 lbs. forward never quite seemed to catch on scoring only 2 goals and 5 assists in 46 AHL games, when he was involved in a bit of a low rent trade deadline deal that sent his playing rights to Pittsburgh Penguins.
From there he was sent down to continue with farm club Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he exactly matched his earlier scoring totals in the league but through only 20 games.
He also had his first North American postseason experience appearing in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games through the Eastern Conference Finals getting a goal and assist.
That would be it though for the 25-year old, as he wouldn’t be given a qualifying offer to stick around.
So did the next best thing, accepting a 4-year contract to return to the only other team he’s known and had great success with in his last year before he went exploring putting in 14 goals and 21 assists in 47 games, then adding another 5 goals and 4 assists on the way to the 2015 DEL Championship.
5th year right wing Emerson Etem(26) received a little reassurance after a bumpy start but nice finish to 2015/2016.
Traded in the offseason to New York Rangers as his entry level deal was expiring with draft team Anaheim Ducks he signed a low budget 1-year deal but sputtered at the start with his new team scoring only 3 assists with a -4 rating in 19 games.
That was plenty enough for the Blueshirts to see and ship him off to Vancouver Canucks for a kindred, under-producing former 1st round pick.
The change of scenery was exactly what the now 6’1″ 212 lbs. California native needed as his game got on track nicely ending with a career tying 7 goals, new best 5 assists and 12 points.
The only drawback was a -8 plus/minus on a non-playoff contending team but means he still has some accountability work to do.
At 24-years old he’s on his 2nd one-way contract but really should be stepping it up to continue in the NHL.
Arizona Coyotes traded a draft pick to get Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 2014 1st round selection (#19 overall), 2nd year defenseman Anthony DeAngelo(79).
He played his entire rookie campaign with Lightning affiliate Syracuse Crunch leading all rookies and other blue liners in assists with 37 and was tied for first in rookie points through 69 AHL games.
This scoring domination continued from his time in juniors, initially with Sarnia Sting until he was dealt to Soo Greyhounds in his final year of OHL.
Three times he topped all other d-man for assists, recorded most goals a pair of seasons ago and had most points in both 2013/2014 and 2014/2015.
There’s little doubt he will compete for a roster spot in the upcoming training camps but could also spend a bit more time in the minors with new farm team Tuscon Roadrunners.
He does however need to work on two-way game as he was a dismal -18 last season and a healthy scratch on a number of occasions, possibly due to some attitude issues.
Regardless of where he plays next year, he has plenty of time to develop with his entry level contract running through 2018/2019, but should step up pretty quickly with such an offensive upside.
Undrafted 4th year Russian-born goaltender Andrey Makarov(1) was signed by Buffalo Sabres in 2012/2013 season but sent back to finish up his third year of juniors with Saskatoon Blades. where he won the Memorial Cup and was voted Most Outstanding Goalie despite a 4.09 GAA and .889 SV%.
He started his rookie campaign with affiliate Rochester Americans but was pretty quickly sent further down to Fort Wayne Komets playing 31 ECHL games posting a decent 2.79 GAA and .906 SV% before returning to the AHL.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. net minder appeared in 10 contests putting up a very decent 7-3 record with 2.20 GAA and .927 SV% then starting all 5 Calder Cup Playoff match-ups.
A late cut from his sophomore training camp he appeared in his only NHL game near the end of the 2014/2015 season.
He was primarily the Amerks‘ starting goalie amassing 39 games without a postseason berth.
For the final year of his entry level deal he was shipped to the minors and basically forgotten.
The still super-young 23-year back stop voiced his displeasure with the arrangement and heading into restricted free agency has decided to head back home the the KHL signing for two years with Spartak Moskva.
It will be super-interesting to see how this develops.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 4th year defenseman Mark Alt(2) was set to become a restricted free agent but the parent club stepped in early signing him to a one-year, two-way extension, keeping him in the system.
He didn’t see any NHL time last season and has only appeared in one big league game but elevated his skill level and accountability with affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
While the extra large-sized blue liner tied his career high AHL goals at 4 he was unable to match his best 22 assists as a rookie (he got 15), but was for the first time a plus player at +11 on a non-playoff squad that was only a little under goals for than goals against.
At 24-years old, he’ll definitely need to have a good camp to get back on the radar for another recall but they may also just be playing the waiting game for him to develop, as he is huge.
3rd year defenseman Nick Jones(5) leaves for Norway’s GET-ligaen signing a one-year deal with Stjernen for 2016/2017.
He comes off a 2nd successful season in the minors with South Carolina Stingrays, where he scored 6 goals and 13 assists including a career high 120 shots on net in 52 ECHL games, then added another 2 tallies and 4 helpers in 17 Kelly Cup Playoff games through the Eastern Conference Finals.
As a rookie reassigned to start his first year to Indy Fuel he recorded career bests 7 goals and 17 assists for 24 points in only 45 games, while recording a pair of assists in 14 AHL games in 2014/2015.
The just turned 26-year old should find more open ice overseas, add to his game and potentially climb the European hockey ladder.
Columbus Blue Jackets‘ center William Karlsson(25) receives a 2-year extension to continue growing his game with his new club.
Dealt close to the 2014/2015 trade deadline by draft team Anaheim Ducks, he skated only 18 games getting his first NHL goal and a pair of assists but was deemed expendable as they geared up for a Stanley Cup run.
He would play three games pocketing a goal and a helper, but spent more time with affiliate Springfield Falcons, where he seemed to wane going pointless in 15 AHL games with a -11 rating.
That would not deter the 2nd year forward.
After a strong training camp, he made the parent’s club opening night roster and would stay put through the 2015/2016 season scoring team a leading rookie totals for goals, assists and points with 9-11-20 totals through 81 games but had a -9 plus/minus, which we’re sure they’d like to see improvement on.
At 23-years old and about to enter his 7th year of pro hockey, it seems to be just a matter of time before he finding more open space and exploding the score sheet.
Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#108 overall) extra-big defenseman Andrew O’Brien(25) doesn’t have to wait around long before accepting his qualifying offer for a one-year extension after slapping in a career high 6 goals and tying his 14 point best mark in 59 AHL games with affiliate San Diego Gulls.
The 6’4″ 191 lbs. blue liner is an enforcer out there but mostly shies away from dropping the mitts despite being an intimidating presence and also doesn’t take too many unnecessary penalties.
Signed to a three-year entry level deal, he spent the majority of his rookie season playing for affiliate Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.
He also went down for a single appearance last campaign and got a goal.
The 23-year old played his junior hockey in the QMJHL but left to turn pro after only three seasons.
It would definitely help for him to put a little offense into his game but if he can continue to develop that stay at home style and keep his on ice accountability up, then he may just get that recall to appear in his first NHL game.
8th year former Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#27 overall) mammoth-sized 6’8″ 252 lbs. defenseman Joe Finley(3) switches it up for the first time in his pro career, leaving North America heading to Finland’s Liiga to join HIFK.
He played last season under a minor league deal with Iowa Wild and posted a career high 5 goals, tying his points best at 6.
Needless to say, he’s never really been counted on to help scoring but has been a formidable shutdown blue liner.
Originally signed to a two-year entry level contract, he was left unqualified then invited to Buffalo Sabres‘ 2011 training camp but initially inked with their farm squad Rochester Americans, where he led them early in plus/minus and penalty minutes before getting a 3-year commitment.
He played his first 5 NHL games early in 2011/2012 but spent all the next season in the AHL before being claimed on waivers by New York Islanders suiting up for 16 games and even getting his first point, an assist.
That would be all the time in the show for the big d-man. He would be reassigned to Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the entire 2013/2014.
The soon-to-be 29-year old should do well as a shutdown player overseas and could easily prosper nicely with his experience as he heads into his thirties.
Columbus Blue Jackets re-ups for another season with the 2016 AHL Calder Cup winning goaltender Anton Forsberg(31) after affiliate Lake Erie Monsters claimed the title for the first time in the team’s brief 9-year history.
He guided his squad with an unmatched 9-0 record giving up just a 1.34 GAA and .949 SV% letting in only 13 goals in 10 appearances with 2 shutouts.
He’s been less lucky on recalls to the parent club winning only once in 9 NHL games but that should change especially if the 23-year old can parlay his recent efforts in the minor league into a strong training camp to grab more starts.
