Toronto Maple Leafs‘ undrafted Russian rookie right wing Nikita Soshnikov(41) is turning heads.
The not exactly huge 5’11” 185 lbs forward was a late training camp cut to be reassigned to affiliate Toronto Marlies.
After two pro seasons in the KHL for Atlanty Mytishchi scoring 14 goals and 18 assists with a +5 in 57 games last season, he appears to be ready for the big league.
Upon his first recall after putting up a rookie tied for first 18 goals and 10 assists with a crazy +24 in 50 AHL games, it was like he was just waiting for his chance to show his abilities.
He definitely skates with a lot of passion and popped in his 1st NHL goal in his second appearance, then got another one a couple nights later, and since added an assist in 6 contests.
The 22-year old will likely stay up through the remainder of the regular calendar but once the playoff starts he’ll be battling with the farm team for the Calder Cup.
They have time as he’s signed on a three year entry deal through 2017/2018.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ just signed undrafted 3rd year right wing Carter Rowney(17) to a 2-year 2-way contract starting next season.
Previously agreeing to a series of single season deals with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he’s improved with each successive campaign to the point where he’s currently 2nd in goals at a career high 19 and holds a monster, team leading +25 rating. No other player is even close.
He also has more assists (23), points (42) and shots on net (102) than ever before.
With impressive stats like these, it’s easy to see why the parent club stepped in quickly to get the always hard skating, tough to play against forward that can obviously affect a score sheet aboard.
If not, the 26-year old would have almost easily found another suitor, as he’s a skater that works for every inch out there.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#8 overall) Swedish center William Nylander(39) is getting an opportunity to shine in the big league.
In 6 games he has his first pair of NHL goals.
The speedy and crafty stick handling 5’11” 169 lbs. forward is getting plenty of ice time, including power play minutes to show off his abilities.
He’s been absolutely tearing up the minors with Toronto Marlies.
Arriving during the middle of last season after being loaned to MODO of the SHL (8-12-20 in 21 games) the youngster immediately started putting up points scoring 14 goals and 18 assists in 37 AHL games.
A late reassignment to their affiliate after an extended training camp look heading into 2015/2016, he has been hard at work inserting more intensity into his game and his offensive numbers are popping with new career highs 18 goals 27 assists for 45 points.
His scoring prowess coming to North American hockey makes sense considering he played his first pro contests at age 16 in tier two league Allsvenskan with Sodertalje SK.
Turning just 20-years old in a couple months, he is signed through 2017/2018 and will likely see his last time with the farm club in the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs.
His dad is former 20-year veteran Michael Nylander.
Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#117 overall) 4th year defenseman Morgan Ellis(4) is starting to elevate his game to the next level after signing a one-year two-way extension just before the final bell of 2014/2015, as a restricted free agent.
The big-ish 6’1″ 211 lbs. blue liner has blown the lid of his previous year totals with new affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.
His 12 goals, 19 assists, 31 points and +8 rating through 56 AHL games this season are better than the combined efforts of his first three campaigns.
This offensive surge easily gained the notice of the parent club, who recalled him from the minors for his NHL debut.
He had excelled in helpers with 20+ through his final three years in the QMJHL, first with Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, then traded to Shawinigan Cataractes, where he won the 2012 Memorial Cup.
Playing limited shifts and minutes he was at least reassigned back down with a 0 rating in three team losses.
The 23-year old will once again enter into restricted free agent status but the big club has to like what they’re seeing to re-up for another look.
Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#26 overall) 2nd year center Brendan Gaunce(5o) has taken his game to the next level in his sophomore season with affiliate Utica Comets.
He’s already surpassed his goal mark with 15, tied his assist high at 18, has a new best 33 points and a +9 rating in just over half the AHL games since his rookie campaign.
The 6’2″ 207 lbs. power forward that also fires his fair share of pucks on the net received his big league debut early in the 2015/2016 for a couple of contests and was interestingly returned after his 1st NHL goal.
He stayed with the farm team for the next four months before recently receiving a second summons up to the show and looks like he’s fitting in pretty nicely.
Although he’s yet to add to his totals on the score sheet, he is 100% in the face off dot and adds spark plug energy depth in roughly 10 minutes of ice time, including short-handed situations.
The soon-to-be 22-year old former Belleville Bulls‘ point-per-OHL game player is signed to a 3-year entry level deal through 2016/2017.
You can expect him to compete for a permanent spot on the parent club next season.
A pair of 21’s struggling to win the face off: Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ captain Ben Holmstrom(21) leans in to pull the puck back in the defensive zone battle vs. Springfield Falcons‘ Dustin Jeffrey(21).
It looks to be dead even.
Jeffrey was since traded at the deadline back to his first team of five seasons, Pittsburgh Penguins.
Calgary Flames‘ undrafted 2nd year right wing Garnet Hathaway(64) spent the majority of his first season signed to a minor league contract with then affiliate Adirondack Flames posting solid numbers (19 goals, 17 assists), which was good enough to get him a two-year entry level deal towards the end of 2014/2015.
The fairly sizable 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward spent training camp with the parent club and previously signed an ato with Abbotsford Heat after completing four years at Brown University.
His numbers were decent in college hockey but nothing too stellar and in his first 9 AHL games (including one postseason) he failed to record a point.
A late cut to be reassigned to new affiliate Stockton Heat, he didn’t exactly go crazy on the score sheet but continued to show steady progress connecting for a tidy 6 goals, 17 assists in 35 contests.
It was enough to get him a first late season recall.
The 24-year old has skated 4 games averaging 20 shifts for roughly 14 minutes of playing time with 3 shots, a battering ram 19 hits, 7 breakups, 1 takeaway, 6 penalty minutes, 2 assists (in one game) and even :42 short-handed time. He also has a nice +3 rating in only one victory and 3 losses.
Impressive stats that should keep in up in the big league for awhile longer.
He’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign but will definitely be qualified to continue his pro game right where he is.
Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th year right wing Corey Tropp(12) was recently involved in a trade that sent him from Chicago Blackhawks‘ system, where he was skating with non-affiliate Albany Devils.
He was reassigned there as opposed to direct farm team Rockford IceHogs, because they were worried his ice time would suffer on such a prospect heavy squad.
The agitating, tough 6′ 195 lbs. forward has been doing well in his most recent home, striking for a career high 11 goals, 17 assists with a +2 rating and 5 fighting majors in 51 AHL games.
His previous bests were as a rookie for Portland Pirates, where he had 30 assists and 40 points with 9 bouts.
Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#89 overall), he spent 2 and a half years with them, including 34 NHL games as a sophomore and another 9 before being claimed off waivers by Columbus Blue Jackets.
He would finish out 2013/2014 there and played the entire 2014/2015 season in the big league, but upon trying out his first free agency has yet to appear in a game in the show this year.
It seems most likely that he’ll stay in the minors for the remainder of the calendar, sent down to San Diego Gulls.
The 26-year old former Michigan State University standout will once again be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current campaign and seems a bit unlikely that he’ll be retained.
It could point towards him trying his hand at pro hockey overseas for his next contract but that easily remains to be seen.
Florida Panthers‘ fourth year center Greg McKegg(39) has consistently played NHL games in the last three seasons but has yet to record a point.
Traded from his draft team in the off season, he immediately signed a one-year deal.
This season he’s already appeared in almost double the games he did with Toronto Maple Leafs but has easily been skating more of an energy line role, averaging roughly 8 minutes a contest.
He will become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign but like a good bet to be qualified to stay put.
The 23-year old had his best offensive marks as a sophomore with Toronto Marlies (19 goals, 28 assists).
Although he may come up well short in 2015/2016 with Portland Pirates (9-12 in 41 AHL games), he’s providing drive and leadership on a team that looks to make a big push come postseason.
