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.
New York Rangers‘ former 1st round pick, 7th year defenseman Chris Summers(55) doesn’t have to think much about where the unrestricted free agent will skate next season, as he gets extended to stay on a two-way deal, his first since his first extension in 2012/2013
This comes after putting up a career high 3 goals in 74 AHL games with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner plays a more stay at home, steady style earning a three-game NHL taking his total up to 70 throughout his career.
He did put up over 10 assists in each of his last three seasons at University Of Michigan, where he won 2008 and 2010 NCAA/CCHA Championships.
He had 8 helpers last season.
The 28-year old will once again likely add to games played in the big league next season and could even raise that number higher with a bit of a grittier performance.
Anaheim Ducks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#65 overall) center Joseph Cramarossa(19) gets the good news with little waiting as he’s extended another year after putting up as modest new best 11 goals and 6 assists in 61 AHL games with new affiliate San Diego Gulls, then adds another 3 tallies in 9 playoff match-ups.
The 6′ 192 lbs. plays an almost unassuming hard checking style game that opens up scoring chances, which he seems to be just finding and it maybe open up an opportunity with the parent club in the forthcoming season, especially with a strong training camp.
The 23-year old played four seasons in the OHL scoring at almost a point-per-game clip in his final season as assistant captain with Belleville Bulls, so he has it in him.
Norfolk Admirals‘ 4th year center, who only spent 4 ECHL games with the team, Steve Mele(26) drops his stick over a crouching Manchester Monarchs‘ rookie Matt Leitner(17) in hopes of gaining access to the puck.
Undrafted, fourth year Alaskan-born right wing Tyler Currier(15) joins his fourth ECHL team in three seasons signing a deal for 2016/2017 after a trade with Indy Fuel.
He enjoyed a career campaign last year with Elmira Jackals playing in a high 66 games shattering his previous bests potting 21 goals, 14 assists for 35 points and a +5 rating on a non-playoff squad.
The decently-sized 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward also skated his first pair of AHL games getting recalled first by Springfield Falcons connecting for a goal and an assist in his league debut, then was loaned to Utica Comets to close out the season.
These totals were more on pace with what he achieved in two plus stints of US junior hockey in the NAHL with home state Alaska Avalanche, where he posted 84 points in 124 games before heading off to four years at University Of Alaska-Anchorage.
He was more challenged to affect the score sheet through his college hockey run.
The 28-year old will likely add nicely to his totals with a new team but may be on the short end of another recall due to his veteran status.
It will be little surprise to see him pull up roots and make his way overseas after this season but we shall see.
Montreal Canadiens re-signed restricted free agent, right wing Sven Andrighetto(42) to a one-year, one-way contract extension as he heads into his fourth season with the organization.
The small but speedy with good hands forward split his time with the big club and new affiliate St. John’s IceCaps in 2015/2016, but ended up appearing in a career high 44 NHL games scoring a new best 7 goals and 10 assists for 18 points with a +1 rating on a non-playoff contending squad.
The 23-year old was a late training camp cut before being sent to the minors to start last campaign but looks to find a permanent roster spot and increase his overall stats in the upcoming year.
Ryan Craig(12) has been the captain of his AHL squad for the past 6 seasons (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for two, Springfield Falcons 3 and Lake Erie Monsters 1) but in 13 pro years has been held without a title.
Until this season.
He led Lake Erie/Cleveland hockey to their first championship in 52 years winning the 2016 AHL Calder Cup.
The big body forward competes hard every time he’s on the ice and that’s been for an eye-popping 694 regular and post-season games in the league.
The 34-year old will once again wear the “C” on his jersey for the second season of a two-year deal with the Monsters and it has to be a wonder if it will be the last time donning a jersey for the veteran player.
