Boston Bruins‘ 7th round pick in the 2008 draft (#170 overall) sixth year defenseman Matt Bartkowski(44) had pretty much done all he could under the current system with the club.
Heading into 2015/2016 he was left without a contract coming off a one-year extension for a continued look, but after a disappointing season getting only 4 assists in 47 games with a -6 rating on a non-playoff team it was time to look elsewhere.
The 6’1″ 196 d-man had his most productive year 2013/2014 wearing a spoked B, as he dished the puck for 18 assists and was a +22 plus/minus and was looked at as a blue liner strong in his own zone with the ability to move the puck.
It was his first full year up in the big league.
In his first three campaigns he split time between the parent team and minor league affiliate Providence Bruins, where he was able to connect for almost 20 assists each season and always counted on to punish players in the attacking zone.
It didn’t take long for Vancouver Canucks to step in, signing him to a nice pay increase on a one-way contract as unrestricted free agency opened.
The 27-year old has new life, striking for his first two NHL goals and 5 assists in the first 25 games with the new club and also looks to show a healthy increase in penalty minutes.
Time and change of scenery may be just want the doctor ordered for this deep draft selection to realize his potential.
For his 5th year pro goaltender Tyler Beskorowany(30) did decide to head overseas joining Dusseldorfer EG of DEL and wound up being the leagues 2014/2015 Goalie Of The Year with 42 starts and a 2.53 GAA and .920 SV%.
He also appeared in 12 playoff games posting a 2.88 GAA and .910 SV%.
For 2015/2016 the still young 25-year old net minder barely wasted any time during the summer before deciding to return to North America after a single season abroad signing an AHL contract with Springfield Falcons.
Unfortunately they had a bit of a logjam with players vying for time between the pipes and he found himself reassigned down to affiliate Norfolk Admirals after a couple rough outings.
He would fare no better through 4 games on a team that has struggled to win early in the campaign.
Recalled to be the backup as Arizona Coyotes‘ prospect parts were moving around he stayed only a short time before being returned to the ECHL.
The back and forth a few times must have been plenty enough as he inked for the remainder of this year’s hockey calendar to return to Germany and suit up with Nurnberg Ice Tigers.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 14th year veteran goaltender, Slovakian-born Peter Budaj(31) is having one of his best season starts with new affiliate Ontario Reign.
In 14 AHL games he’s posted a 10-3 record with a stingy 1.64 GAA, .934 SV% and 4 shutouts.
This comes after an horrendous outing with Winnipeg Jets‘ minor league club St. John’s IceCaps, where he went 0-9-6 in 19 contests.
His pro playing career started as a Colorado Avalanche 2nd round pick in the 2001 draft (#63 overall).
He spent the first three years with former farm club Hershey Bears, making his early mark.
The 6’1″ 192 lbs. net minder would spend his next 6 seasons either in the starter role or splitting playing time with the parent club before signing a two-year deal in 2011 with Montreal Canadiens as an unrestricted free agent.
He would ink a 2-year extension as the earlier deal was expiring and played more games for Le Bleu Blanc Rouge 2013/2014 than previous seasons but found himself thrown into the mix on a trade for a prospect to Winnipeg in the final year of his contract.
The 33-year old was in some unfamiliar territory, without a deal but ready to guard the cage somewhere.
Given a training camp tryout with the Kings he was impressive enough to score himself a more time and may even get another shot for the big club before it’s all done in 2015/2016.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#170 overall) 3rd year goaltender Garret Sparks(31) spent most of his time in net last season on reassignment to Orlando Solar Bears, where he put up some decent numbers.
He had a 21-7-2-1 record with a 2.34 GAA, .936 SV% and 5 shutouts in 36 ECHL games.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. net minder rebounded with an outstanding training camp and preseason making him a late cut to be sent down to affiliate Toronto Marlies.
He’s off to a blazing start splitting time in between the pipes with a rookie but seeing lots of action.
In 11 AHL games he has an 8-2-1 mark with a rock solid 1.98 GAA and .938 SV% and two shutouts, helping his team to the second best record in the league.
With a slumping parent club, his efforts are giving him the chance to prove his mettle at the highest level of hockey.
The 22-year old received his recall and NHL start.
He made 24 saves on equal number of shots for the 2-0 win and a first ever blanking of an opponent in a Maple Leafs‘ goaltending debut.
Signed through the end 2015/2016 he’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season but will no doubt be upped for another year or two at the current pace he’s setting.
He also possesses the coolest pair of goalie pads out there.
Utica Comets‘ undrafted 7th year defenseman Travis Ehrhardt(2) signs his 2nd AHL contract after initially accepting a tryout agreement with the team to start the season.
The deceptively bigger looking than his listed 5’11” 205 lbs. blue liner plays a fairly rugged game and definitely has the ability to put up points like he did with Moose Jaw Warriors then Portland Winterhawks in WHL junior hockey.
He’s off to a hot start in the current campaign with 4 goals (ties his best and shares the team lead) and 3 assists in 17 games.
Initially signed to a three-year entry level deal by Detroit Red Wings and played mostly with affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.
He did pretty well in his sophomore season with 4 goals and 11 assists.
Approaching a first restricted free agency he decided to move on and signed with TPS of Finland’s top league Liiga but only appeared in 17 contests with no points.
He returned and inked a short term contract with St. John’s IceCaps but appeared only 8 times before bolting to Norway joining Stavenger Oilers, and help win the 2013 Spengler Cup.
He contributed a goal and 4 assists in 15 playoff games with a +9 rating.
The now 26-year old has been a Vancouver Canucks‘ training camp invite and just might play himself into a real look next go round.
Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 10th year defenseman Jaime Sifers(26) played well enough under contract to then affiliate Springfield Falcons to earn himself a two-year, two-way deal heading into the 2015/2016 season.
He recorded a career high 19 assists with a best 131 shots on net and 81 penalty minutes.
The 5’11” 200 lbs. blue liner returned after three seasons overseas in DEL playing for Adler Mannheim, where he was their assistant captain in 2013/2014.
Undrafted, he was initially signed by Toronto Maple Leafs to a two-year entry level contract after four years at University Of Vermont.
He was resigned for another campaign, received his first NHL recall from Toronto Marlies and played 23 games in the big league grabbing his only two points, a pair of assists.
An unrestricted free agent going into his fourth season he signed with Minnesota Wild and made the team out of training camp but was up and down with Houston Aeros. managing to appear in 14 games with the parent club.
His next move would find him joining Atlanta Thrashers‘ organization but he spent the entire run with Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
The 32-year old has spent all of his playing time with new farm team Lake Erie Monsters and is off to a decent start with 2 goals, 4 assists and a +6 rating.
He could easily gain a look and will probably give them every reason to give it the nod.
Springfield Falcons‘ 2nd year left wing Greg Carey(12) is having an outstanding breakout season.
He’s already eclipsed scoring marks from his rookie campaign with 3 goals, 6 assists for 9 points and a +4 rating.
The 5’10” 204 lbs. undrafted forward looks much bigger than his stats might suggest and plays an all out checking style game, while always heading to the net for offensive chances.
Signed to a 1-year entry level deal by Arizona Coyotes he split time in his first campaign between then affiliate Portland Pirates and Atlanta Gladiators.
He was close to a point-per-game guy in the ECHL, picking up where he left off after four years of college hockey at St. Lawrence University.
Left unqualified going into 2015/2016, he was a training camp invite to Coyotes‘ camp and was on the list to be reassigned to new farm club Springfield, although he was an unrestricted free agent.
He signed a one-year AHL deal and although he had a bit of a bumpy start has found himself with opportunities that he’s answered and has performed well on the team’s first line.
The 25-year old may just play himself into a new big league contract but will have to keep pace.
8th year pro Dale Weise(23) has certainly made himself a bona fide NHL player since we’ve written.
It’s in there. We saw it.
At the start of 2011 when Vancouver Canucks claimed him off the waiver wire from draft team New York Rangers, where he spent three seasons, he played a full schedule of 68 big league games scoring 4 goals and 4 assists in mostly a 4th line role.
He would get extended twice and add to his assists by triple but traded to Montreal Canadiens and it started to gel.
In 17 games he had 3 goals and 1 assists with a +4 but then in the playoffs struck for 3 goals and 4 assists in 16 postseason match-ups with a +5.
The unrestricted free agent had extension written all over him and no time was wasted tying him up for two more years.
His workman like approach was starting to sprout offense and in 2014/2015 he rallied for 10 goals and 9 assists with a +21 rating.
At 27-years old in the final year of his current deal he’s off to his hottest start ever, emerging as a real power forward with a crazy 9 goals and 5 assists in 22 games with a +8.
He’s looking to burst his all-time numbers and pick himself up a great next contract.
Not bad for a bit of a deep 4th round draft pick, former Swift Current Broncos.
10th year, veteran defenseman Nathan Oystrick(74) returned last season from a pair of years playing for HC Lev Praha putting up some decent numbers and was even an assistant captain in 2013/2014 with a deep playoff run that had him score 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points in 22 KHL games.
Signing a month into the 2014/2015 campaign on a pto with Springfield Falcons, he only appeared in 12 AHL games before being released a few months later.
The 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner had some time to think about his next pro hockey pursuit and agreed quickly in the off-season to a one-year deal with Elmira Jackals and become the team captain/assistant coach.
He made a good decision and looks to be fitting in nicely with his new role.
It’s his first time in the ECHL and he already has a goal and 8 assists in 13 games.
At 32-years old he may decide to hang up the skates next season (after playing his 500th pro game) but our bet is he’s doing so well and likes it where he is, so he may stay and play at least one more year before heading behind the bench.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th year Slovakian-born right wing Richard Panik(18) played 76 games in the NHL after being scooped on waivers from Tampa Bay Lightning.
He ended up scoring career highs 11 goals and 6 assists but was a last minute cut heading into the current season.
Back in the minors with affiliate Toronto Marlies he has been playing his game, lighting the lamp with consistency (4 goals, 12 assists in 16 AHL games with a +5 rating and 33 shots on net).
The 24-year old is on a one-way deal this season worth just under a million dollars but will need to get some playing time in the big league to score another similar deal.
For now he can only continue to impress on the farm as he waits for a call.
