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.
Undrafted right wing Brett Cameron(10) will spend his sophomore season in Norway’s GET-ligaen with Lillehammer joining former South Carolina Stingrays‘ teammate Stephan Vigier.
He had an impressive rookie campaign scoring 20 goals and 28 assists in 61 ECHL games and then added another 5 goals and 4 assists in 19 Kelly Cup Playoff games with a +8 rating.
The 6’2″ 202 lbs. forward was always able to put up close to point-per-game stats through three years of AJHL with Spruce Grove Saints but seemed to slow that pace once he made it to University Of Alaska-Anchorage, where he spent five seasons with one cut short and the last two as team captain.
He would get right back to business potting three goals and an assist upon turning pro on an ato with the South Carolina after finishing up college.
He would also be loaned to Adirondack Flames for 5 AHL games to finish 2014/2015.
The 26-year old should again find the net often once he lands overseas.
9th year defenseman Mike Ratchuk(7) splits North American hockey for a second time signing a one-year deal with Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL for 2016/2017.
He first left a few seasons ago for Erste Bank Eishockey Liga‘s Olimpija Ljubljana after winning the 2012 Kelly Cup with Florida Everblades but only last for half the year before returning to post a career high 19 assists in just 31 games.
The 5’11” 190 blue liner would next move on agreeing to a contract with Wheeling Nailers, where he played 69 ECHL games and set new bests for scoring with a league leading 15 goals by a d-man and 29 assists for 44 points, including an outstanding 183 shots on net.
He returned to the Nailers for another campaign but was injured limiting his play to 28 appearances, yet was still able to connect for a pair of goals and 9 assists.
Originally a Philadephia Flyers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#42 overall), he spent his rookie season with affiliate Philadephia Phantoms and would start his sophomore year in the system before being traded early on to Columbus Blue Jackets, where he took up with Syracuse Crunch.
He would start the last year of his entry level deal with new farm club Springfield Falcons but was sent further down to Fort Wayne Komets of the Central Hockey League and appeared in their playoffs.
The 28-year old has proven he can put up points and will likely do very well over in England.
5th year center Max Reinhart(25) has decided to take his game overseas signing a one-year deal with Kolner Haie of DEL for 2016/2017.
He was set to become a restricted free agent for the 2nd time in his career and may have been hearing rumblings from contract club Nashville Predators about leaving him unqualified for another extension after playing a career high 73 AHL games, scoring 23 goals.
This was still drastically down from his sophomore season with draft team Calgary Flames‘ (3rd round of 2010, #64 overall) affiliate Abbotsford Heat, where he pocketed 21 goals and 42 assists for 63 points in 66 games.
The 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward easily has that goal scoring ability in his game, as he did through four years of juniors for Kootenay Ice, where he won the 2011 WHL Championship with a playoff league leading 15 goals.
The still only 24-year old will do well in German pro hockey and may return on another NHL deal.
9th year undrafted goalie David Leggio(73) played his first season after 4 years at Clarkson University on a minor league deal with Albany River Rats but spent most of his rookie campaign in the ECHL tending net for Florida Everblades.
Maybe not the start to his career he wanted to have but he did manage to put up some impressive numbers with a decent postseason run.
He would next leave for overseas signing a one-year contract with Finland’s TPS.
The 6′ 185 lbs. backstop was decent through the regular season but took it to another level in the playoffs posting a 1.57 GAA and .942 SV%, good enough to lead his team to the 2010 Liiga Championship.
Good enough to catch the attention of Buffalo Sabres, who inked him to an entry level deal and kept him in the prospect system for three years, appearing in a monumental 64 AHL games with Rochester Americans in 2012/2013.
He would try his hand at unrestricted free agent status to follow up the strong performance agreeing to a term with Washington Capitals but would be their primary goal presence with affiliate Hershey Bears but no NHL games to add to his credit.
New York Islanders became his next suitors to give them some veteran presence in net but he struggled with farm team Bridgeport Sound Tigers before being shipped to Arizona Coyotes, where he circled back to Portland Pirates.
That was enough of North American hockey for the veteran net minder, so he was off to Germay’s DEL with EHC Red Bull Munchen for his next adventure and what a ride it was.
He rose up to get back on his game playing 23 games with a sturdy 2.02 GAA and .930 SV% but it was again in the playoffs that he really came back to life shutting down opponents in 14 games on a 1.76 GAA and repeat .930 SV% to be crowned 2016 DEL Champions.
The soon-to-be 32-year old wasted little time to consider where he’d play in 2016/2017, instead re-signing to stay put for repeat shot at the title.
