Philadelphia Flyers‘ 8th year defenseman Davis Drewiske(5) was signed mostly as a depth player and will in all likelihood spend most of the season with affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
In fact, he’s already played 39 AHL games earning a goal and 4 assists with an impressive +3 rating on a team that’s even in goal differential and currently just outside of the playoff picture.
The undrafted 6’2″ 225 lbs. blue liner played the last couple of years in the minors with Hamilton Bulldogs, while under contract to Montreal Canadiens. and actually had his best point productive last year with 4 goals, 18 assists and a +15 plus/minus in a career high 62 games.
Previous to that he spent 5 seasons with Los Angeles Kings, the team that first signed him after four years at University Of Wisconsin, where he was team captain as a senior and won the 2006 NCAA Championship as a sophomore.
He was even part of the 2012 Stanley Cup Championship team even though he did not play in the playoffs and only appeared in 9 games throughout the regular season. He still managed to have his name included to be engraved on the coveted trophy.
At 31-years old it’s tough to say how much longer a decent contract will be attainable and he may seek to play his hockey overseas to keep going.
Winnipeg Jets‘ 3rd year right wing J.C. Lipon(46) receives his 1st recall in the final year of his entry level deal, but he deserves it as he’s hitting the back of the net with more frequency for AHL affiliate Manitoba Moose (8-9-17 in 30), while continuing to play that agitating style of pest hockey he’s known for. He has already has three fighting majors, 15 last year and 14 his rookie campaign.
In his NHL debut he skated only 8 shifts for 7:11 total ice time with one hit and one takeaway in a 2-1 loss.
The 22-year old is set to become a restricted free agent after the current season but it’s a likely bet both sides will work out a deal for him to stick around another year.
7th year left wing Yannick Riendeau(13) seemed to have a tough decision where to play his pro hockey for 2015/2016.
He started by signing a contract towards the beginning of the season with Brampton Beast and appeared in their first pair of ECHL games recording an assist before deciding to return to Jonquiere Marquis of LNAH, where he played 2014/2015 scoring more than a point per game through the regular calendar then again in the playoffs.
It’s a bit of a wonder why he didn’t stick (other than money stakes) in the ECHL as he had great scoring success in the four years he spent there.
The undrafted 5’10” 186 lbs. forward was originally signed by Boston Bruins to a three-year entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent coming off an explosive run with Drummondville Voltigeurs, managing to lead the league in goals, assists and points through the regular season and playoffs to the 2009 QMJHL Championship.
Upon being reassigned, he failed to stick in the AHL with Providence Bruins despite showing some improvement in his third campaign but was mostly dispatched to the lower league.
His rights would be traded late in the season to New York Islanders but he stayed put where he was playing under signing his first minor league deal for 2011/2012 with Stockton Thunder.
It was after this season that he decided to journey and found himself playing in France’s Lique Magnus for Dragons De Rouen. Once again he lit the lamp big at this level.
The 27-year old’s story has come back to France after his pair of earlier stops and he signed a contract to join Les Ducs d’Anger.
He seems to be adjusting just fine with 6 goals, 15 assists in only 12 games.
Next stop?
Buffalo Sabres‘ 5th year center Philip Varone(84) has connected for at least a goal in each of his three years of recalls up to the NHL, but on his most recent visit the 5’10” 190 lbs. mini power forward scored on his first and only shot on net to get the ball rolling in a 4-1 victory.
That would put his shooting % at 100. He skated 13 shifts for 8:01 of ice time with 2 penalty minutes and one hit in his first appearance of the 2015/2016 season.
He played 28 games with the parent club in 2014/2015 scoring 3 goals and 2 assists, while also playing in 55 AHL games putting up a leading 44 points with affiliate Rochester Americans.
His 10 goals are tops on the Amerks this season He’s been the team’s top of scorer for the past two.
The 25-year old will become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign and should be a shoe-in to keep in the system.
New York Islanders‘ 3rd year, Finnish-born goalie Christopher Gibson(60) received his first NHL game recently coming in for relief, putting out the fire on a 5-2 drubbing.
He faced 17 shots making 16 saves in 29:03 of work and left with a .943 SV%.
It was the only appearance he made before being sent back to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he has been solid in net.
In 25 AHL games he has an 11-7 record with a 2.32 GAA and .932 SV% and 2 shutouts equaling his mark he posted in 45 contests last season for Toronto Marlies.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. net minder was traded from Toronto Maple Leafs just before the start of 2015/2016 in what was mostly a minor league prospect transaction.
He is in the final year of his entry level deal he signed after four campaigns guarding the cage with Chicoutimi Sangueneens of the QMJHL.
On numerous occasions he was voted with top goaltender of the week honors and in 2009/2010 had the best SV% in the league.
Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#49 overall) he never inked with them.
The 23-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season and it’s looking good for him to be given a qualifying offer to stick in the system.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd year right wing Josh Leivo(32) has scored himself recalls in each of his seasons in the prospect system.
He had a bit of a down tick in goals and points (11-32) in his sophomore campaign but did slightly outpace his previous efforts in assists (21) in fewer appearances.
The power forward style player also skated a couple more games (9) with the parent club last season and got himself another NHL goal in the process.
Off to a super-hot start with affiliate Toronto Marlies, in 35 AHL games he already has equal to his goals from 2014/2015 with 11 and 19 assists, which looks to easily beat his previous high mark.
He was recently summoned for his first game of 2015/2016 with the big club and played 16 shifts for 10:58 of total ice with 2 shots on net, 1 hit and 2:37 of power play time.
With injuries to starters, he could find himself staying up for some extended time, especially if he can produce on the score sheet.
The 22-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign and will likely be a no brainer to extend for at least another look.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th year center Tyler Toffoli(73) last played a minor league game in late-ish 2013/2014 with former farm team Manchester Monarchs.
He actually started the first month of the season with the affiliate before being recalled despite putting up his first pair of NHL goals and 3 assists in 10 contests through the lockout shortened campaign and another 2 tallies and 4 helpers in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward with a knack for the net was up and down on three occasions in sophomore year, which was maybe a little odd considering he posted 12 goals and 17 assists in 62 games with a +21 rating, then 7 goals and 7 assists in 26 postseason match ups en route to the 2014 Stanley Cup Championship.
That finally would be all the convincing the parent club needed as in 2014/2015 he skated a 76 game schedule with a career high 23 goals, 26 assists and 49 points and again had a monster +25 plus/minus on a non-playoff squad.
Signed to a huge 2-year extension payday before his restricted free agency kicked in, he has become a go-to-guy in 2015/2016 and looks to eclipse his scoring best from last year 20 goals already in only half a season’s work.
The 23-year has all real positives in his stats but the phenomenal +72 he owns on ice is crazy accountability, while marking up the score sheet big.
He should be a future Kings‘ prize draft pick for many years to come.
St. Louis Blues‘ 3rd year right wing Ty Rattie(18) scored his first NHL goal in his 6th game (1st back up) on his second recall from the parent club this season.
His first big league tally came after he had a pair of assists for a 2-game point streak on his first time in 2015/2016 with the big club.
A last minute cut from training camp, he’s been lighting it up at a career high pace in the minors with affiliate Chicago Wolves.
In 29 AHL games he already has 9 goals and 14 assists.
The 22-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season and looks good to be extended for at least one more year.
He could very well be on his way to scoring a one-way contract with his next deal.
St. Louis Blues‘ 3rd year right wing Ty Rattie(18) scored his first NHL goal in his 6th game (1st back up) on his second recall from the parent club this season.
His first big league tally came after he had a pair of assists for a 2-game point streak on his first time in 2015/2016 with the big club.
A last minute cut from training camp, he’s been lighting it up at a career high pace in the minors with affiliate Chicago Wolves.
In 29 AHL games he already has 9 goals and 14 assists.
The 22-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season and looks good to be extended for at least one more year.
He could very well be on his way to scoring a one-way contract with his next deal.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ 3rd year center Phillip Danault(24) underwent hip surgery over the summer that caused him to miss training camp and the early part of 2015/2016.
It was a bit daunting for him to undergo the procedure as he heads into the final year of his entry level deal and is set to become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the current campaign.
Cleared to return to action a little early he was reassigned to affiliate Rockford IceHogs at the beginning of December.
He appeared in 6 AHL games scoring a goal and an assist when he was recalled as the injury bug bit the parent club.
In his second game he would notch his first point, an assist and then a week later got another one and went on a three-game point streak before putting the puck in the back of the net for his first NHL goal, which turned out to be the game-winner.
The 22-year old is seeing a good deal of time on ice full strength and is being utilized in short-handed situations through his 12 appearances thus far.
The former 1st round draft pick may just be playing his way into a permanent roster spot.
