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.
Toronto Maple Leafs shore up their spot in net by acquiring 9th year, still young 26-year old Danish-born goaltender Frederik Andersen(30) from Anaheim Ducks for a pair of high draft picks then quickly sign the upcoming restricted free agent to a 5-year deal.
Despite playing 125 regular season games posting an outstanding record of 77 wins and 26 losses with a 2.32 GAA and .919 SV%.
The big net minder also appeared in 28 playoff games for his draft team with equally outstanding marks, but was never officially given the outright starters’ role.
He did, in fact, become the first goalie from his country to appear in an NHL game early in the 2013 campaign.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 6th year center Craig Cunningham(22) receives an extension to stay with the club for 2016/2017, although only appearing in 10 NHL games last season scoring one assist.
This came after being claimed off waivers from draft team Boston Bruins (4th round, 2010 draft, #97 overall) near the end of 2014/2015.
In that season the 5’10” 184 lbs. forward skated his first full campaign in the big league scoring a career high 3 goals and 4 assists in 51 games.
He’s been captain of his AHL team for the last two seasons and will likely assume that same role if reassigned to new affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners before the new campaign starts.
The 25-year old will no doubt do everything he can to prove he’s worthy to make the jump up to be on the opening night roster out of the upcoming training camp.
He’s had plenty of success in the lower league scoring more than 40+ points three times and has been a 20+ goal scorer on four occasions, while recording a career high 24 assists last season.
It’s little surprise as he achieved identical, outstanding 97 point runs in junior hockey with Vancouver Giants then Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.
If the small-ish forward can work his game to be on one of the top three lines, he could achieve similar results.
5th year center Cam Reid(28) heads off to Germany signing a one-year deal with Ravensburg Towerstars of DEL2 for 2016/2017.
This comes after his best showing in a postseason scoring 5 goals and 6 assists through 14 Kelly Cup Playoff games in his 2nd season with Reading Royals.
The big 6’3″ 209 lbs. power forward put up career high totals with the team in 2014/2015 pocketing 25 goals and 34 assists with a +11 rating.
He didn’t reach quite those stats last season but still got a respectable 18 goals and 30 helpers in 58 games.
Originally a Nashville Predators‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft (#192 overall) he never signed but did ink down the ladder with ECHL affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones for his rookie campaign in 2012/2013.
He however would spend 54 AHL games on loan and land an eventual contract with Milwaukee Admirals grabbing a decent 3 goals and 18 assists.
That wouldn’t be enough to keep him around though, and he next landed with Lake Erie Monsters, who signed him to a minor league deal, although he would spend most of his time on reassignment to Devner Cutthroats of the Central Hockey League for the year.
The 24-year old will likely explode the score sheet overseas and it would be zero surprise to see him ascend the European pro hockey ladder.
Boston Bruins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#90 overall) Slovakian-born left wing Peter Cehlarik(67) signs a three-year entry level deal through 2018/2019 after coming off his most productive season in the SHL with Lulea HF, the team he’s been with for the last four years on the pro level and also a pair of stints as a junior.
He was actually selected after posting 3 goals and 3 assists in his first 8 games as a 17-year old.
The 6’2″ 208 lbs. forward would split time with Asploven HC of tier two league Allsvenskan in his first full season before putting up a pair of almost equal 20 point campaigns.
It’s thought the soon-to-be 21-year old will start his North American career with affiliate Providence Bruins but with a strong training camp could easily make his way into the big league quickly.
