Florida Panthers‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#23 overall) rookie defenseman Michael Matheson(56) was recalled on an emergency basis at the end of the regular season, skated his third game and stuck around for the beginning of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He was a healthy scratch for the opening game of the series but inserted into the lineup after the team dropped game 1.
Over two postseason match-ups 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner has already seen increased ice time (up to 17:22 with :32 on the power play in game 3), has 1 shot on net, 3 breakups, 1 giveaway and 1 takeaway with a +2 rating in a win and a loss.
Playing a steady, almost unassuming style game he has been solid with affiliate Portland Pirates in his first year with 8 goals, 12 assists in 54 AHL games with a +10 rating.
This continues what he started in three campaigns at Boston College, where he was just about a 20 assist per season guy before turning pro.
The 22-year old is signed to a three year entry level deal through 2018 and will be competing for a full-time spot for his sophomore run.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft (#32 overall) right wing Christian Fischer(21) signed his three-year entry level deal after a pair of successful seasons in the USNDTP skating both USHL and USDP as a virtual point-per-game performer.
This move preempted his imminent start at Notre Dame University and instead had him assigned by the parent club to join Windsor Spitfires for the start of 2015/2016.
The 6’1″ 212 lbs. power forward really excelled in juniors scoring a team leading 40 goals and 50 assists in 66 OHL games with a +35 rating.
After his first year of playoffs concluded he signed an ato with affiliate Springfield Falcons for their end of the regular season contests.
In his 5th AHL game he scored two goals on the way to a 3-2 overtime victory for the non-playoff squad to give him three points.
The just turned 19-year old could return to the Spitfires at the start of the new season but our guess is he will either make the big club or will continue in the minors for a full campaign.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft (#32 overall) right wing Christian Fischer(21) signed his three-year entry level deal after a pair of successful seasons in the USNDTP skating both USHL and USDP as a virtual point-per-game performer.
This move preempted his imminent start at Notre Dame University and instead had him assigned by the parent club to join Windsor Spitfires for the start of 2015/2016.
The 6’1″ 212 lbs. power forward really excelled in juniors scoring a team leading 40 goals and 50 assists in 66 OHL games with a +35 rating.
After his first year of playoffs concluded he signed an ato with affiliate Springfield Falcons for their end of the regular season contests.
In his 5th AHL game he scored two goals on the way to a 3-2 overtime victory for the non-playoff squad to give him three points.
The just turned 19-year old could return to the Spitfires at the start of the new season but our guess is he will either make the big club or will continue in the minors for a full campaign.
Adirondack Thunder took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of 7 ECHL Kelly Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Manchester Monarchs as the series heads to Glens Falls Civic Center for games 3 and 4.
4-3 overtime goal scorer Peter MacArthur(21) gets jumped by Ryan Lomberg(10) in the celebration of the game-winner.
Finishing up his 8th pro season much like he did the previous one, Chad Costello(13) won the ECHL scoring title and league MVP with Allen Americans for his second straight year with slightly fewer overall totals at 24 goals, 79 assists for 103 points in 72 games but still bested the next higher player by over 20.
He was named captain for the campaign and helped guide the team to another outstanding regular season record as they head into another postseason to defend their 2015 Championship.
The small power forward with a nose for the net put another outstanding 229 shots on net, which easily helped pace his prolific presence on the score sheet.
Turning 30-years old in the off-season it will be interesting to see where the veteran skater from Johnston, Iowa goes next (or happily stays put).
Florida Everblades‘ undrafted rookie right wing Matt Willows(29) was named ECHL Rookie Of The Year after leading first year players in scoring and assists.
He also had a mighty 236 shots on net with a +14 rating in 71 games.
He was originally signed by AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers but reassigned to begin 2015/2016.
This deal came from an impressive performance on an ato with Worcester Sharks (3 goals, 2 assists in 11 games) after completing four years at University Of New Hampshire, where he was named team captain last season and basically a point-per-game player in his final pair of campaigns.
It’s very surprising the small 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward was never recalled to the higher league with such good numbers.
The 24-year old is only signed for through the end of the current season and readies for the start of the Kelly Cup Playoffs on a strong squad.
Heading into 2016/2017 he will likely once again compete for a spot on the next level of hockey but could also take his great start and head overseas for greener pastures.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#21 overall) rookie center Frederik Gauthier(23) is another young player getting his chance with the big squad in a non-playoff berth season.
The huge 6’5″ 238 lbs. power forward has appeared in 7 games scoring his first NHL point, an assist while skating a lot of minutes short-handed time, delivering crushing hits and breaking up plays.
He’s having a good first year with league leading affiliate Toronto Marlies scoring 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 54 AHL contests with a +17 rating in a mostly checking line role.
This comes after three years of junior hockey with Rimouski Oceanic, where he was virtually a point-per-game player and won the 2015 QMJHL Championship.
The soon-to-be 21-year old, signed through 2017/2018 on an entry level deal, will compete hard at the upcoming training camp for a full-time roster spot but may just win the minor league’s highest award, the Calder Cup first.
New York Islanders‘ undrafted huge 6’5″ 232 lbs. rookie left wing Ross Johnston(56) is part of a growing number of players to skate three leagues in a single season.
Most of his games have been with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 37 AHL contests getting a goal and 3 assists but mostly being a tough to play against punishing style blue liner.
He has 64 penalty minutes and one-third of that time was 4 fighting majors, so he has no problem mixing it up.
It continues a pattern started through four year in juniors starting with Moncton Wildcats and ending last season with Charlottetown Islanders.
In his last three campaigns he was pretty much a 30 point guy from back at the point.
Five months into his first year pro he was reassigned down to Missouri Mavericks, possibly to regain some confidence.
He ended up spending pretty much the month of February there scoring rather nicely with 4 goals and 7 assists in 13 ECHL games before going back up.
As the parent club solidified their postseason position they saw it as a time to cycle some of their promising youngsters into the system to see how they do.
In his one NHL game he skated 22 shifts for 16:17 total ice and took 4 minutes of penalties but still was a 0 rating in a 5-2 loss.
The 22-year old signed a three-year entry level deal and this is definitely a good early look to get.
Buffalo Sabres‘ undrafted rookie left wing Evan Rodrigues(71) has been puttiing together a good first season with affiliate Rochester Americans scoring 9 goals and 19 assists in 69 AHL games with a -10 rating and a phenomenal 155 shots on net.
As the parent club wraps up the regular calendar they have been starting to recall from the farm club with more frequency and the 5’11” 174 lbs. forward has earned a look.
In 2 games he skated an average of 16 shifts for roughly 12 minutes of ice time, including 1:31 on the power play with 8 shots, 3 hits and his 1st NHL goal and a game-winning assist in overtime. He also had a +2 rating.
The 22-year old showed much offensive flare in his final season at Boston University as an assistant captain, scoring 20 goals and 41 assists with a +30 rating before the team bowed out of the final four in the last game.
Signed to a 2-year entry level deal, he was a late scratch from his first training camp and is likely a player to watch on what will likely be a high powered offense heading into 2016/2017.
Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2013 draft (#108 overall) gigantic 6’6″ 222 lbs. defenseman Ben Harpur(67) is another one of those rare players to skate in three leagues in one season.
He was in uniform mostly with AHL affiliate Binghamton Senators for the majority of the year but also was reassigned further down for four ECHL games around the break to Evansville IceMen.
The mostly punishing stay at home style d-man has a goal and 4 assists with a -12 rating in 44 games in the higher league.
His size and play (and the fact that they are out of playoff contention) has the parent club taking a look at the young 21-year old, who played 4 campaigns with Guelph Storm winning the 2013 OHL Championship.
In 5 games skating a decent amount of shifts and time he’s managed fairly well with one NHL assist, a +1 rating, 3 shots, 9 hits, a high 7 play breakups, 2 giveaways and 2 penalty minutes in mostly team winning efforts.
He’s only on the first year of a three year deal and as he goes he looks to be getting way more comfortable and ready to fit right in.
