Undrafted 3rd year center Mike Vecchione(21) enters group 6 unrestricted free agency only to sign a new 2-way 1-year deal on opening day with St. Louis Blues.
The former Hobey Baker Award Finalist played his first two NHL games for original contract club Philadelphia Flyers after scoring 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points (overall league leader) in 38 games and graduating from Union College, where he also won the Cinderella story 2014 NCAA Championship as a rookie.
He signed a one-year entry level but quickly re-signed an extension for 2 more on one-way terms.
The 26-year old will definitely be entering camp eyeing a spot on the Stanley Cup Champions‘ opening night roster.
8th year right wing Dan Maggio(21) decides to switch it up going forward and signs for one-year with Herning Blue Fox of Metal Ligaen.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward has never been the biggest point getter even through 4 years of junior hockey in the OHL but definitely has his teammates backs when needed.
He definitely reduced his fight card visits since a 2nd year with Cleveland Monsters, where he had a career high 215 penalty minutes but actually reduced majors to 21 from 23.
The 28-year old should be able to increase his offensive production in Denmark’s top league.
12th year center Cody Bass(45) decides after one-year on an AHL deal with Colorado Eagles is enough and calls it a pro hockey career.
He leaves the game having appeared in only 75 NHL games but always been under contract throughout his entire run aside from last season.
His 452 minor league games were quite possibly highlighted by the Cinderella run in his fourth season under contract to draft club Ottawa Senators and reassigned to affiliate Binghamton Senators, where he helped the club win the 2011 Calder Cup Championship as assistant captain.
The solidly built 32-year old may have not earned quite what he deserved from his playing time but has always been a tough presence out there, sticking up for teammates and will likely enjoy his time off ice or could get back into it coaching.
Undrafted 2nd year blue liner Tim Davison(6) takes a solid, best 26 assist campaign for South Carolina Stingrays off to a new adventure over in Metal Ligaen with Aalborg Pirates for 2019/2020.
He also had 4 goals in 62 ECHL games.
This was his best offensive production, almost equally the 36 helpers he had through four years at University Of Wisconsin.
The 25-year old will likely do very well in Denmark’s top league and set himself up to move onto better overseas hockey as he continues to play.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Alex Breton(6) signs with Iowa Wild for 2019/2020 after joining them for training camp last season, getting released and agreeing to terms with ECHL affiliate Allen Americans.
The 6′ 192 lbs. blue liner scored 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points to lead all d-man on the team in the three catergories.
He twice hit the 20+ assist mark in juniors with Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL and in his final campaign reached 30.
The 22-year old was loaned up on a pair of occasions grabbing a goal with Belleville Senators, then another three tallies and a helper for Springfield Thunderbirds in 10 AHL games.
5th year defenseman Sam Jardine(21) helps Newfoundland Growlers win the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship in their debut season, his individual second trophy, but decides he’s off on a new adventure, signing a one-year deal with Cardiff Devils for 2019/2020.
He played only 10 regular season games with the team but appeared in all 23 playoff games scoring a goal and 7 assists.
Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#169 overall), he never signed, instead agreeing to terms on four minor league deals.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. blue liner skated last season under contract to Toronto Marlies, where he played a career high 37 AHL games grabbing a new best goal and 6 assists.
At 25-years old, he will likely do well in the EIHL and quite potentially move up levels over there as he continues.
Undrafted 2nd year left wing Dexter Dancs(5) re-signs to stay with Rapid City Rush after a late season trade.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward actually skated for three teams as a rookie, starting 2018/2019 with a couple games for Idaho Steelheads ,then a quick trade sent him to Manchester Monarchs for 26 ECHL games (4 assists) but before the campaign closed he was sent west a month before the end of the regular season.
He really seemed to find his footing, when he was dealt for the final time, as he struck for a goal and 7 assists in just 12 games with a +5 rating on his new club.
This was more in line with his production in his senior year at University Of Michigan (12-16-28).
The 24-year old will be looking to have a solid season and then maybe head overseas for the best possible hockey he can find.
6th year center Brady Vail(27) re-signs for a 2nd season with Cincinnati Cyclones after putting up a career high 27 goals and 38 assists for 65 points with a +16 rating in 68 ECHL games, then added another 9 points in 11 playoff contests.
The 25-year old seems to be taking scoring up to another level and could definitely yield a loan or two up in the forthcoming campaign.
Undrafted 3rd year right wing Matt Gaudreau(40) scores a new deal with Stockton Heat, AHL affiliate of Calgary Flames, where his brother Johnny plays, obviously bringing them closer together.
Signed by Bridgeport Sound Tigers for his first pair of pro campaigns, the small 5’9″ 190 lbs. forward played only 17 games scoring a goal and 4 assists.
He was mostly reassigned to affiliate Worcester Railers, where he was twice able to score 12 times and had a career high 21 assists and 33 points in 50 ECHL games.
A solid skater through four years at Boston College, he was able to take it up nicely as a senior scoring 8 goals and 27 assists in 30 games.
The 24-year old will need to work hard to stay at the upper level but with family close by may just elevate his game.
9th year center Ethan Werek(61) takes a decently successful season for HC Olecari Trinec of Tipsport Czech Extraliga scoring 13 goals and 11 assists to a new deal with Kunlun Red Star.
He was four times a 10+ goals and assist player in the AHL and ended his time in North American pro hockey with a career high 15 helpers for Belleville Senators.
The 28-year old will have to work hard in the KHL to get his stats up to a level he’s comfortable with but this is easily a player that can move up his game when called upon.
