Florida Panthers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#76 overall) 3rd year right wing Logan Shaw(48) received his first NHL recall.
In 5 games with new affiliate Portland Pirates the fairly sizable 6’3″ 202 lbs. forward has a pair of goals (both came in the home opener) on 19 shots with a -4 rating.
Last season he skated in a career high 69 AHL games for San Antonio Rampage putting in a personal best 13 goals and 12 assists with 125 shots on net, while maintaining a +3 plus/minus.
He also skated in 2 postseason contests with no points.
It’s maybe a bit unsure why he got the call-up as he wasnt’ even a later training camp cut, but his fairly large frame could have something to do with it.
In his big league debut he was out there for 12 shifts worth 10:49 of ice time, had 1 shot on net, 1 takeaway and 3 hits in a 3-1 loss.
Boston Bandits‘ Latvian-born forward Eduards Tralmaks(34) has seemingly made a pact with the devil (look at that crazy spiked tongue) to be in the Eastern (Junior) Hockey League‘s top five goals, assists and points early in the 2015/2016 season.
This is the now 18-year old’s third year with the team. He spent his first pair of campaigns playing in the under 18 league scoring more than a point per game and made 18 appearances in the Elite division in 2014/2015 with 5 goals and 6 assists.
The towering 6’2″ 187 lbs. pivot looks to make a huge splash this season and could easily move on to a Canadian junior league or accept an invitation to join an NCAA Division 1 squad sooner than later.
San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#27 overall), Russian-born rookie right wing Nicolay Goldobin(82) got his first NHL goal in his 2nd big league game.
Signed to a three-year entry level deal at the start of the 2014/2015 season he was sent to Finland’s Liiga to start his pro career playing for HIFK.
In 38 games he scored 11 goals and 10 assists but had a -9 rating.
At the conclusion of their postseason he was brought over to skate with affiliate Worcester Sharks, where he struck for 3 goals and 2 assists in 9 AHL contests with a -6 plus/minus. He also appeared in 4 Calder Cup Playoff match ups but didn’t register a point.
It wasn’t his first experience in North American hockey. He really grabbed the spotlight in two years (2012-2014) as leading scorer with Sarnia Sting amassing 68 goals and 97 assists in 135 OHL games but once again had a super-lowly -37.
The 20-year old started his first campaign on reassignment with new minor league club San Jose Barracuda.
He was a late cut from training camp and appeared in 4 games with no points and a -5 before getting his first recall.
The still small-ish 5’11” 185 lbs. forward looks to have a promising career but needs way more accountability as a two-way skater in his game or will be heading back home before long.
Ottawa Senators‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#171 overall) right wing Max McCormick(89) had a good pair of training camps kicking off his sophomore season in the organization.
He played his entire rookie year with affiliate Binghamton Senators.
In 62 AHL games he scored 10 goals and 10 assists with a +2 rating on a non-playoff team.
He had a single goal in 4 games on reassignment in the current campaign before receiving his first NHL recall.
The not so huge 5’11” 183 lbs. forward skated 16 shifts for 13:32 of total ice in his debut and had one shot on net, 5 hits, one takeaway and even played :12 of power play time in a 4-1 loss.
He’s known for a fairly combative style game and had one fight in preseason but dropped the mitts 11 times last year in the minors for 133 minutes in penalties.
Even early on in one year of USHL juniors with Sioux City Musketeers he was known for mixing it up regularly, while also marking up the score sheet (21 goals and 21 assists in 55 contests). He was a former 1st round pick in the league.
Once committed to Ohio State University, he dropped his pims considerably and concentrated on continuing to bolster his offensive numbers.
Before he left to turn pro three years later he was virtually a point-per-game guy with 88 points in 94 games.
Signed to a 2-year entry level deal, the now 23-year old may not stay up with the big club but there’s no time like the present to make a good impression.
It may be this year’s NHL feel good story.
To start his fourth pro season, deep draft pick Chris Wideman(45) made Ottawa Senators‘ 2015/2016 opening night roster.
In his third year with minor league affiliate Binghamton Senators he was voted outstanding AHL defenseman and posted career high numbers with 75 games, 17 goals, his 42 assists tied the same mark from the previous year and 61 points were all a new best, and led the league.
He also had a +9 rating and a pretty huge 229 shots on net with a slight uptick 116 minutes in penalties, including one fight.
It was the kind of year that earned him a second one-year extension to stay with the only club he’s known.
He came in ready, had a strong training camp and earned his spot.
So far in two NHL games he skated 18 shifts for 15 minutes of ice time.
He’s yet to register a point but has a +2 rating with 6 shots on net in a pair of losses, one in the shootout.
The now 25-year old blue liner may have not seen the last of the minors but it’s also a risk the parent team might not be willing to risk.
Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#6 overall) rookie right wing Jake Virtanen(18) excelled in three years with Calgary Hitmen and decided to turn pro at the conclusion of the 2014/2015 season signing an ato with affiliate Utica Comets.
In 10 AHL playoff games he had one assist with a +2 rating that ended in the Calder Cup Finals.
The 19-year old is still eligible to play another campaign in juniors but made the parent clubs roster out of training camp and has appeared in his first four NHL games registering no points with a +1 plus/minus.
He’s skated an average of 10 shifts and around 9 minutes so far per contest.
At 6’1″ 208 lbs. he’s definitely got power forward size but seems to be still searching for his spots on the ice.
If he doesn’t pick up steam quickly, he may be returned for a final season of WHL to find the mojo that made him such a high selection.
Los Angeles Kings‘ former 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#15 overall), 3rd year defenseman Derek Forbort(7) managed to make the NHL opening night roster but it took him three straight team losses out of the gate to crack the lineup.
The parent club has to be happy about inserting him as they’ve now won two straight.
The big 6’4″ 212 lbs. blue liner skated an average of 18 shifts for 10 minutes of ice time, 2 shots on net, 2 minutes in penalties, 2 giveaways, 1 breakup and a 0 rating.
Last season he put in a career high 4 goals with affiliate Manchester Monarchs on their way to winning the 2015 AHL Calder Cup Championship and also received his first recall for a couple of weeks before being sent back.
Still only 23 and in the final season of his entry level deal, he can be sent down to new farm club Ontario Reign without having to clear waivers but if the team continues to score wins it’s a good bet he’ll stay put.
After a season overseas playing hockey in Finland’s Liiga for Tappara, 7th year defenseman David Kolomatis(6) returns to a familiar place signing with Manchester Monarchs.
He spent his first four campaigns as a youngster in the city while under contract with Los Angeles Kings before signing a 2013/2014 deal with Washington Capitals‘ organization and skating for their affiliate Hershey Bears.
The now veteran blue liner had a ok year away from home but put up only half the numbers he was used to scoring. In 64 games he had a goal and 12 assists with a -10 rating.
At 26-years old he grabbed his old jersey number and was smartly named captain of his new ECHL squad, his first time playing in the lower league.
He definitely has what it takes to lead this group far.
Washington Capitals‘ 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft (#77 overall) center Chandler Stephenson(18) played his first NHL game in just his second pro season.
He skated 9 shifts for 8:43 total ice time and was a great 83% in the face off dot with one takeaway and one giveaway in an impressive 4-1 victory.
In four years of junior hockey with Regina Pats he posted 30 goals and 59 assists with a +27 rating in 69 WHL games in his final campaign.
On reassignment to farm club Hershey Bears for his rookie season he played a tenacious style but seemed to be getting situated with 7 goals and 7 assists in 54 AHL contests but really came to life in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games getting 1 goal and 4 assists with a +4 rating through two rounds before exiting.
Heading into his sophomore season he had a strong training camp and was one of the last cuts before 2015/2016 started.
The super-young 21-year old may not stay with the parent club unless they keep winning but he’s off on a good skate to begin his time in the big league.
Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#176 overall) fourth year right wing Tyler Randell(64) scored his first NHL goal in his debut, a 6-2 win over Colorado Avalanche for the team’s first win of the 2015/2016 season. His tally turned out to be the game-winner.
He had a great training camp and was on the opening night roster, despite being a healthy scratch for three games to start.
Last season with affiliate Providence Bruins he posted career highs in virtually every category: 74 AHL games, 11 goals, 9 assists, 20 points, a +4 rating, 107 shots on net and 120 penalty minutes with 14 fights.
He even dropped the mitts in three preseason games with the big club, which may have helped solidify his spot.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. tough skating forward had a bit of a roundabout path to get to where he is.
Signed to his three-year entry level deal at the conclusion of his fourth OHL season mostly with Kitchener Rangers he was returned for an overage fifth campaign after starting 2011/2012 in the minors.
He would start his official rookie year 2012/2013 on reassignment to South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL but was called up and sent back on a couple of occasions.
The 24-year played his first full year with the farm team in 2013/2014 but only skated 43 games and was a healthy scratch more often that he would have liked.
With lots of hard work and perseverance he’s put himself into a good position with the parent club and they are seeing the results.
