Undrafted rookie defenseman Tanner Jago(4) signs with Texas Stars of the AHL to start his pro career.
He’s likely on a two-way deal, so the former Bentley University captain may get reassigned to Idaho Steelheads to get his feet wet and he does.
At 6′ 181 lbs. he plays a versatile defender’s game twice ascending to 28 points in his final two college campaigns.
The 25-year Canadian-native should fit in nicely in his first choice for a contract.
Northeast Generals‘ 2nd year center Trevor Smith(16) celebrates a late third period goal to break the 1-1 tie with Jamestown Rebels in the 2nd of three NAHL games over the weekend that they ultimately won 4-1 after dropping the first matchup of the series.
The 5’9″ 175 lbs. Raleigh, NC native has committed to University Of Vermont for 2020/2021 and should do well, as he’s a digger.
He was also a recent invite to New York Islanders’ Development Camp.
8th year left wing Shane Prince(33) takes some decent half season totals (6 goals, 13 assists) in 30 KHL games for Sibir Novosibirsk after beginning his first season away from North American pro hockey with HC Davos of the NLA to a new one-year deal with Dinamo Riga.
The former Ottawa Senators‘ draft pick wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the club he was traded to New York Islanders after spending most of the 2nd year on the sidelines with a pair of injuries.
He has 128 NHL games to his credit with pretty decent numbers for the limited minutes he played (12-26-38) and 210 in the AHL with 67 goals, 83 assists and a +40 rating.
The 26-year old seems to be just getting his game started in Russia.
Florida Panthers‘ 5th year rough and tumble center Noel Acciari(55) signed a new three year deal worth $1.66,667M AAV to switch teams from Boston Bruins for the first time in four seasons after scoring a new career high 8 assists and 14 points.
The 27-year old unrestricted free agent should do well in his new hockey home and add some necessary punch to the lineup.
Tampa Bay Lightning 4th year center Brayden Point(21) comes to the end of his entry level deal after scoring a career high 41 goals and 51 assists for 92 points with a +27 rating and holds out for a solid deal moving forward with his draft club.
He recently signed at just after the start of 2019/2020 training camp for a 3-year extension at $6.75M AAV and will get back to work immediately no doubt looking to eclipse last year’s marks.
Signed initially after his third season in the WHL, he appeared in 9 AHL games with affiliate Syracuse Crunch and another 4 in the playoffs, but after the following training camp was returned to Moosejaw Warriors for his fourth and final campaign.
In 229 NHL games, he has 91 goals and 107 assists with a +47 rating.
If the 23-year continues on the path he’s on, when he reaches his next contract negotiation he will be an unrestricted free agent and it will pay off in gold.
10th year center Brock Trotter(91) has definitely not had an easy path to continuing to play pro hockey but endures and even put up a career high tying 41 assists last season for Dornbirner EC.
The 32-year old moves on to Slovak Tipsport Liga signing a one-year deal with HKM Zloven for 2019/2020.
He was sidelined with an injury for two campaigns from 2012-2014, getting a successful tryout with Medevascak Zagreb of the KHL upon his return but that last only 16 games before being traded to Dinamo Riga.
After that somewhat uneven outing in Russia he moved onto Sweden’s tier two league, Allsvenskan, grabbing a year with IF Bjorkloven, where he started to gain his scoring legs again (6-20-26 in 35 games).
His next foray had him heading to Liiga under agreement with SaiPa.
He did well but it was his next inter-league move to Karpat, when he really started to gel getting 4 goals and 8 assists with a +4 rating in 9 games before adding another 2 points in 2 playoff matchups.
Deciding to head back to North America, he inked a pto with Chicago Wolves and was on their opening night roster but last four AHL games before being released.
He would mostly stay sidelined for 2017/2018 but has obviously returned with little problem and much success in Austria’s top hockey.
There’s little doubt he’ll do well in Slovakia’s top league, if he can stay healthy.
13th year defenseman Brendan Mikkelson(27) switches up leagues for a 2nd straight season moving from DEL to EBEL signing with EC Salzburg for 2019/2020.
He’s never been an offensive machine but in his last campaign with Adler Mannheim managed a 6 goal and 8 assist effort then added another 3 assists in the playoffs en route to capturing the 2019 DEL Championship.
The 32-year old veteran of 131 NHL games, 329 AHL, 143 SHL, 2006 WHL Championship, 2007 Memorial Cup Championship with Vancouver Giants, he even skated games for the long forgotten Anaheim Ducks‘ affiliate Iowa Chops, should continue to do well as he ages and contribute when necessary.
10th year right wing Brandon Kozun(15) trades in three seasons for Lokomotiv Jaroslavl for a new start with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
The small forward has excelled ever since reaching Russia’s top league in 2015/2016.
In 224 KHL games he has scored 71 goals and 110 assists with a mammoth +34 rating.
The 29-year old, former Calgary Hitmen standout, three-time league All-Star
16th year net minder Barry Burst(33) has been on an overseas tour for the last 7 seasons playing mostly in the KHL (172 games) but also had one-year stops in the NLA and DEL.
He returned in 2012/2013 on a deal with Abbotsford Heat, where in 35 AHL games he had a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% on a non-playoff team.
The big 6’2″ 227 lbs. goaltender took that impressive campaign to a first contract in Russia with Medevescak Zagreb.
At 36-years old, it’s a wonder how much longer the former Calgary Hitmen star will continue, but signing a new agreement with HC Slovan Bratislova of Slovak Tipsport Liga likely means he will once again put up good numbers to be sought for the cage by another team.
9th year Swedish-born defenseman Philip Samuelson(34) leaves North American pro hockey for a first time joining HK Hradec Kralove of Tipsport Czech Extraliga on a try out.
He was most recently under contract with Charlotte Checkers after becoming an unrestricted free agent for parent club Carolina Hurricanes, then last season skated 67 games for Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The 28-year old leaves with 13 NHL (0 points) and 512 AHL games to his credit.
He was released after 3 games with no points but signed quickly with Leksand IF of the SHL to continue.
