Arizona Coyotes‘ 5th year left wing Jordan Martinook(48) must have enjoyed his first full NHL campaign after increasing his scoring output each season with affiliate Portland Pirates.
He played almost a full 82 game slate missing perfect attendance by only a single outing, connecting for a very decent 9 goals and 15 assists for 24 points.
The 23-year old will definitely be looking to add to those totals in the upcoming year with his two-year extension up at the end of next season.
Undrafted third year defenseman Jake Chelios(27) gets rewarded with a one-year two-way NHL deal for 2016/2017 by Carolina Hurricanes, the parent club of Charlotte Checkers, the team he was under contract with for his sophomore campaign, which featured many career bests.
The former Michigan State University and Chicago Steel of the USHL blue liner put up great numbers as a teenager in US juniors but only in his senior year did he get 19 assists in 36 games.
This past season he had 7 goals and 24 assists for 31 points in 73 AHL games.
As a rookie he actually did ok with a goal and 14 assists with Chicago Wolves, so it seems there are indicators his game is growing with experience.
The already 25-year old needs to have more accountability in his own zone.
He’s a -21 rating.
Bets are good this will all develop.
Heading into a 6th season, defenseman Brett Flemming(20) had arguably one of his best years in 2015/2016 with HC Bolzano Foxes of EBEL (Erste Bank Eishockey Liga) scoring a career high 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 54 games.
It was his first time away from North America hockey after spending his first three years in Washington Capitals‘ system.
He was a 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#145 overall) playing most of his time with affiliates Hershey Bears and Reading Royals, where he helped them win the 2013 ECHL Kelly Cup Championship with 5 goals and 7 assists in 22 postseason contests.
At 5’11” 189 lbs. he’s not exactly the biggest guy on the blue line but is accountable and proved he can move the puck for scoring chances in four years with Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors of the OHL.
The 25-year takes the next step in his European excursion signing with KLH Chomutov of the Czech Extraliga.
Adirondack Thunder took a 3-2 ECHL Eastern Conference Semifinals series lead with a 3-2 overtime win on a Gunnar Hughes(28) goal in game 5 at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
He gets mugged by Michael Kilpatrick(11) , Patch Alber(3), Ryan Lomberg(10) and eventually all teammates for his goal scoring heroics.
Heading into his 7th season, veteran right wing Eric Selleck(44) will be an unrestricted free agent for the third time in his pro career.
He was nicely fortunate after one-year on a minor league deal with Portland Pirates to catch the attention of the parent club Arizona Coyotes, who signed him to a two-way contract for 2015/2016.
His 23 points in 74 AHL games last season established new career highs in all scoring categories for the decently sized pugilist.
As he’s gotten a little older though it seems he’s pick and choosing his battles with a bit more restraint.
His 7 fighting majors were down more than half from the previous year and he was able to continue the offensive surge raising his goal mark for a season to 10.
The parent club took notice and recalled him for his third NHL game and from a viewer’s standpoint everything seemed to go as planned.
The 28-year old skated 17 shifts for 9:33 including :22 on the power play with 1 shot, 3 hits and 1 5-minute fighting major.
It wouldn’t be a surprised to see him get re-upped for another year right where he is.
He’s a really good role model player for the youngsters in the system to be around.
New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#5 overall) right wing Michael Dal Colle(19) was off to a great start through his first 4 years, mostly with Oshawa Generals but the former captain was traded half way through the season to Kingston Frontenacs to finish out his early development.
The still growing, already fairly large 6’3″ 198 lbs. forward put up 1.28 points-per-game numbers in juniors scoring 131 goals and 185 assists in 246 games, while winning the 2015 OHL Championship and Memorial Cup adding even more points to those totals along the way.
He was reassigned to start his pro career with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he failed to register a point in three AHL games but did get on the score sheet through 3 Calder Cup Playoffs contests with an assist before the team bowed out in the opening round.
Signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2019, he’s already been invited to the 2014 and 2015 training camps and was one of the Black Aces on the 2016 Isles‘ playoff squad.
The 19-year old, who will turn 20 over the summer, should compete for a spot on the parent club but could also spend a year on the farm to make sure his skill set is fully ready for the show.
For 2016/2017, defenseman Derek Smith(27) will be entering his tenth pro season and will turn 32-years old at the onset of new hockey calendar.
He was signed to a one-year, two-way deal by Arizona Coyotes early in unrestricted free agency but played, when he was healthy, which wasn’t more than 28 AHL games with affiliate Springfield Falcons.
Very much a shame too as he had two goals and 17 assists for 19 points, which was easily first among defense before he went down with permanent injury, which has definitely plagued him a bit.
Tough to say where the solid playing, mobile d-man will take his game for double digits in the pro career but it probably wouldn’t be a stretch to see him return to the Swiss NLA, where he skated in 2014/2015 with ZSC Lions for a stint or some place similar.
He did spend three years trolling the blue line for Calgary Flames from 2011 – 2014.
Heading into his 8th pro season, undrafted right wing Greg Scott(41) leaves the SHL‘s Brynas IF after three successful years averaging close to 20 goals and over 20 assists a season for CSKA Moskva of the KHL.
Originally signed to a three year entry level deal as a free agent by Toronto Maple Leafs, he was given a two-year extension despite playing the whole time with minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies.
The 6′ 193 lbs. forward was a point-per-game player in his final pair of campaigns in the WHL for Seattle Thunderbirds, then was able to put together decent numbers in the AHL, including a remarkable +31 rating over four years but received no NHL time.
The 27-year may have missed out on that opportunity but he must be smiling about his recent past and future.
Undrafted, Ukrainian-born right wing Pavel Padakin(27) will head into a 2nd year closer to home for his sophomore campaign joining HK Sochi of the KHL.
Signed to a one-year minor league contract in his rookie campaign he split time with contract team Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Reading Royals.
The 6′ 205 lbs. forward skated 41 AHL games with 2 goals and 7 assists and 26 ECHL contests getting 8 goals and 9 assists.
He completed his first season up in the higher league but when that team failed to make the postseason he was not on the playoff roster of the affiliate.
Not exactly the most prolific scorer through three WHL seasons with Calgary Hitmen and Regina Pats after one year of US juniors in the NAHL playing for Fairbanks Ice Dogs, it’s little surprise that he’ll head back to where it’s more comfortable to continue his pro career.
New York Rangers‘ 6th year goalie, Swedish-born Magnus Hellberg(45) played a career high 53 AHL games with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack posting an easy best 30 wins and 20 losses with a 2.40 GAA and .918 SV% including 4 shutouts.
Originally a Nashville Predators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#38 overall) he played his first two pro seasons in Allvenskan with Almtuna IS, then Frolunda HC of the SHL before coming to North America.
The big 6’5″ 200 lbs. net minder played most of his time with minor league team Milwaukee Admirals, but did get into his only NHL game in 2012 and also had a smattering of appearances in the ECHL for Cincinnati Cyclones.
As the just turned 25-year old was heading into his first restricted free agency at the end of 2014/2015, he was dealt to the Blueshirts and quickly signed to a two-year deal.
He was recalled on a couple of occasions but mostly for simple practice and back up purposes. He could easily slide into more big league time, especially if he keeps up the workload for the farm team.
