6th year defenseman Matt Finn(4) takes a 3 team loan up to the AHL from ECHL Kelly Cup contender Florida Everblades, where he was roughly a point per game player off to a new adventure, signing a one-year deal with EHC Linz Black Wings of Erstebank Eishockey Liga.
16th year veteran center Marco Rosa(91) signs on for a third season with Asiago Hockey 1935 of the AlpsHL.
The 6′ 185 lbs. first left for Liiga in 2012/2013 but after one campaign switched things up to sign in DEL, where he lasted with a couple of clubs for four years.
He decided to come “home” to Italy in 2017/2018 and seems to be settling nicely as he’s put up a very solid 57 and 50 points.
The 37-year old has played for 4 teams in his pro career that no longer exist and one almost but doesn’t seem to be looking back until it’s time for the one-time Merrimack College senior captain to hang up the skates.
Undrafted 2nd year right wing Dylan Willick(11) sets off on a new path for 2019/2020 signing a one year deal with Podhale Nowy Targ of Polska Hokej Liga.
The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward signed as a rookie with Worcester Railers scoring 8 goals and 7 assists in 68 ECHL games after agreeing on a ato to join the team after his college was finished.
He struck for 2 goals and 2 assists in 6 games to put him on track for his first deal after finishing up 5 years at University Of New Brunswick, which followed his junior career with Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.
In the last season of each of these endeavors, he would serve as team captain and even go on to win back-to-back 2016 & 2017 USports University Cup Championships.
The 26-year old could do really well in Poland’s top league or find the whole experience completely uncomfortable and return.
13th year veteran defenseman Tom Pyatt(10) leaves North American pro hockey for a 2nd time, this time heading to the SHL hooking up with Skelleftea AIK for 2019/2020.
He had some of his best offense production in two campaigns in the NLA for Geneve-Servette HC 2014-2016, so could light up Sweden’s top league in much the same manner.
Originally a New York Rangers‘ 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#107 overall) he had he best production as a sophomore skater for affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack (15-22-37).
The 5’11” 180 lbs. blue liner was under contract to Ottawa Senators‘ last season on the 2nd year of a one-way deal but traded as the new year arrived to Vancouver Canucks, who reassigned him for the balance of the season to farm club, Utica Comets.
He’s skated 445 NHL games, plus another 192 in the AHL, but still at 34-years old the d-man should be able to find some room on the ice to play his game.
After 4 AHL contracts but only 24 games (with no points), undrafted 5th year right wing Alex Wideman(10) leaves for a 1-year deal in DEL2 with Eispiraten Crimmitschau for 2019/2020.
He posted a career high 23 goals and 39 assists for 63 points with a +37 rating for Cincinnati Cyclones.
In 244 ECHL games, the 5’8″ 170 lbs. forward has 76 goals and 128 assists.
The 27-year old, former Miami University (Ohio) player should do very well in Germany’s tier 2 league.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Daniil Miromanov(62) almost oddly signs on for 2019/2020 with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg of Russia’s tier 2 league, VHL after recording a career high 49 ECHL games played scoring 13 goals and 27 assists with a +15 rating.
He’s played in the league previously, reassigned from his short 15-game stint with HK Sochi as a rookie after three years of junior hockey in the QMJHL.
The big 6’4″ 198 lbs. forward started his 2nd season in Tipsport Czech Extraliga for HC Dynamo Pardubice but that lasted only 16 games with a loan down to Czech2 before he signed with Manchester Monarchs, where he had his best success.
As a still young 22-year old, he should be easily able to elevate his game to the next level and make the climb up the overseas hockey ladder.
Rochester Americans‘ 4th year center Eric Cornel(20) signs a one-year minor league agreement to stay on after parent club Buffalo Sabres did not make a qualifying offer to keep him in the system.
He played a career high, full schedule of 76 AHL games last season scoring a tied for best 9 goals and new best 13 assists and 22 points, including two game-winning tallies.
The 6’2″ 198 lbs. forward was an explosive scorer through juniors for Peterborough Petes, twice ascending to 30+ assists and in his final campaign had 56 helpers and two times 20+ strikes.
One has to think that the 23-year old is going to play himself into a nice contract overseas.
6th year defenseman Dennis Robertson(20) up and leaves for Erstebank Eishockey League joining HC Bolzano Foxes for 2019/2020 after winning the AHL Calder Cup with his team of 5 seasons Charlotte Checkers.
The 6’1″ 208 lbs. blue liner almost didn’t spend as much time in North Carolina as he was traded at the onset of his sophomore season to Chicago Blackhawks and played 37 games for affiliate Rockford Icehogs, but was almost strangely returned in a subsequent deal.
Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#173 overall), he was always good for 10+ assist through 4 years at Brown University, twice as team captain and had 25 helpers for junior squad Langley Chiefs of the BCHL.
At 28-years old he will likely do well in Austria’s top league to likely move on to continued better hockey.
Anaheim Ducks‘ 8th year defenseman Chris Wideman(6) was an unrestricted free agent for just around two weeks before being signed to a one-year, two-way deal.
He joins a team that might be well-suited for his style game and could very well land him a spot on the 2019/2020 opening night roster.
It’s very possible that he could turn some offense on the blue line after spending time with no less than five different teams (including three NHL) last season going from original draft club Ottawa Senators, where he was in his 7th year, then traded to Edmonton Oilers but that only lasted all of 5 games, 2 assists before being shipped to Florida Panthers and he was mostly dispatched to affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds to play out the contract.
The 29-year old will turn 30 midseason but bets are the former Miami University (Ohio) standout is going to make an impression on the Ducks‘ blue line.
Undrafted 5th year goaltender Matt O’Connor(30) will take his game to Metal Ligaen for 2019/2020 signing a one-year deal with Rodovre Mighty Bulls.
The very sizable 6’6″ 205 lbs. net minder was originally signed for a couple of seasons out of Boston University, where he left with a solid 2.18 GAA and .927 SV%, by Ottawa Senators but was mostly reassigned to sub .500 affiliate Binghamton Senators.
When he was left unqualified, Nashville Predators quickly stepped in offering him a one-year deal, but bounced him around to no less than 6 different teams in two leagues.
Next, he would sign with the club of his final stop in 2017/2018, Wheeling Nailers and received a 2-game AHL loan up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins putting in 1-0 effort, 2.26 GAA and .930 SV%.
With probably nothing better than another ECHL deal on the table, the 27-year old, who have one NHL start heads off to Denmark’s top league and will likely have fun and do very well.
