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.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ rookie center Zach Hyman(11) plays a hard checking, offensive-minded style of game that’s giving the deep selection a longer, early look from the parent club.
He was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#123 overall) but traded in the off season for an older prospect.
The speedy 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward put up exceptional numbers in junior A with Hamilton Red Wings, including 102 points in his final year before joining the ranks at University Of Michigan.
In his senior year, serving as assistant captain he popped for 22 goals and 32 assists in 37 games earning him a 2014/2015 Hobey Baker Finalist nod.
A late cut from training camp, he connected immediately with the scoring sheet on reassignment to affiliate Toronto Marlies.
In 54 AHL games in his first season he has a tidy 13 goals and 20 assists with a +28 rating and 121 shots on net.
The 23-year old’s hard play has earned him an NHL recall.
In his debut he skated a whopping 22 shifts for 15:58 of ice time with two shots, 1 hit and :32 of short-handed play.
He may be on a short leash between the big league and the farm club but before too long it’s almost an easy bet he’ll be permanently up in the show.
Florida Panthers‘ 4th year left wing John McFarland(15) is having the kind of year that starts to establish players in the highest level of hockey.
In a career best 48 AHL games with new affiliate Portland Pirates, he’s recorded a career high 14 goals and is quickly closing in on the 24 points he set a couple seasons ago.
It’s shots on net though that seems to be one of the most stirring changes in his game.
When this season is all said and done, he may double his previous total of 99 from 2013/2014.
He’s already at 112.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward’s progress definitely caught the parent club’s eye, as he was recalled for his first three NHL appearances.
Averaging only 10 or so minutes a game, he at least got his skates wet and plays an aggressive checking style game that could easily finds its way onto a fourth line, especially on a young team, building from the inside.
The 23-year old is set to become a restricted free agent for a 2nd time but it’s almost a sure bet he gets extended another year if not two.
8th year pro Matt Fornataro(39) started the 2015/2016 season in Austria’s Este Banke Liga with Graz 99ers scoring a respectable 10 goals and 16 assists before deciding to head back to North American hockey for the first time in 3.5 years.
The 30-year old signed a contract with Manchester Monarchs returning to the ECHL, where he last played half a season in 2009/2010 as part of South Carolina Stingrays‘ squad.
He spent 3 seasons in Sweden’s Allsvenskan and SHL with VIK Vasteras HK and Leksands IF from 2012-2015.
It’s little surprise that he’s helping the Monarchs stay near the top of the Eastern Conference returning to a form that had him dotting up the score sheet for at least a point-per-game.
In 8 contests he has 4 goals and 4 assists with a +1 rating.
Having a veteran presence like him in the fold will definitely help this team push far in the postseason.
Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#32 overall) Swedish-born left wing Jacob De La Rose(25) split time in his rookie season playing with the parent club (4 goals, 2 assists) and then minor league affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs (6-5) and even appeared in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The 6’3″ 215 lbs. large European forward was once again a late cut from training camp yet has been with new farm club St. John’s IceCaps on par to possibly best his first season marks. He’s currently ahead with 7 assists and tied on points at 11.
He’s currently on his second recall of the current campaign and chances are even though he’s on an entry level deal will stick with the big club.
We’ll see though.
Already entering the North American market with at least 2 full years of pro experience in Allsvenskan, then SHL with Leksands IF.
While he doesn’t exactly seem to be a naturally gifted scorer, he skates himself pretty much straight into the middle of any situation and the points may start to come if paired with other players that can light the lamp.
It seems they believe he can play at the highest level of hockey and they have another year left in the entry deal to figure it out.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd year left wing Brendan Leipsic(49) got a nice, unexpected recall giving the small-ish 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward a first opportunity to show his stuff in the show.
He was outstanding through four seasons with Portland Winterhawks.
In his third campaign, he was the both WHL and all of CHL top scorer with 120 points (49 goals, 71 assists) and also won the 2013 Championship.
He also made it to the finals every season with the team starting in 2010/2011.
Originally a Nashville Predators‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#89 overall), he signed a three-year entry level contract upon completing his junior career and was reassigned to start with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.
A close to trade deadline deal sent him to his current home and he continued to mark up the score sheet when arriving to skate with their farm club Toronto Marlies.
He would finish his initial season in the AHL with most assists by a rookie at 40 through a combined 74 games.
He’s already set a new high scoring mark for himself in the league with 16 goals this season.
In his debut up in the big league he got his 1st NHL tally playing 18 shifts for 9:28 of ice time with 2:21 on the power play. He also went 100% in the face off dot, recorded 2 penalty minutes and left the game with a +1 rating.
The 21-year old would be reassigned back down quickly but got the call once again 10 days later.
He may continue to help the minor league team surge towards the playoffs but no doubt he’ll be given an extended look if his game continues to excel.
Ottawa Senators‘ big rookie left wing (6’4″ 223 lbs.) Nick Paul(13) is having a nice first season that was recently made better with a maybe slightly unexpected recall, where he first recorded an assist in his second appearance and got his 1st NHL goal to opening up the scoring in game 4, a 4-1 win.
He’s been doing decently on reassignment to affiliate Binghamton Senators, who unfortunately are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Still in 45 AHL games, the super-young 20-year old has managed 6 goals and 11 assists with a -4 rating.
Originally a Dallas Stars‘ 4th round pick in the 2013 draft (#101 overall), he was traded on the opening day of the 2014 free agency.
After finishing up his third season notching a point-per-game statistics with North Bay Battalion of the OHL, he decided it was time to turn pro signing a three-year entry level deal.
Judging by his speedy ascent from the minors to the big league, he made the right decision.
