Undrafted 3rd year center Cameron Critchlow(11) takes almost identical ECHL seasons for Jacksonville Icemen scoring over to the EIHL joining Manchester Storm for his next pro hockey adventure.
The smallish 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward played 5 campaigns of junior hockey in the QMJHL (twice captain) before deciding to head off to school for 5 years at University Of New Brunswick, where he won the 2013, 2016 and 2017 USports University Cup Championships and was a three-time captain.
After school, he headed to some offseason pro hockey signing with Adelaide Adrenaline scoring a massive 22 goals and 21 assists in 26 AIHL games with a +18 rating and was voted league MVP and was an obvious All-Star Game invite.
The 27-year old should do exceedingly well in the United Kingdom’s top league.
Undrafted 4th year defenseman Macoy Erkamps(24) re-ups for a 2nd run with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after being obtained in a trade with Ottawa Senators, who he was signed with to a 3-year entry level deal.
The 5’11” 193 lbs. blue liner was not given a qualifying offer by Pittsburgh Penguins but stays in the system agreeing to terms with their affiliate.
He had mostly split time between the direct farm club and the lower league appearing in 81 ECHL games.
The former Brandon Wheat Kings‘ captain, 24-year old helped them to the 2016 WHL Championship and put up a phenomenal 58 assist mark in his 5th, overage season in juniors, so is still waiting for his breakout season.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 6th year center Scott Laughton(21) gets another nice two year extension after posting a career high 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points in a full slate of 82 regular season games.
His new deal is worth a nice pay bump of $2.3M per AAV, which is up a cool million plus from his previous contract.
The 25-year old will next be an unrestricted free agent for a first time at the end of 2021 and we would think the former high draft pick will need to continue the path upward on the scoresheet to stick with the only club he knows.
6th year center Jarrett Burton(20) signs for a year with Rochester Americans, his first time away from Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins and Wheeling Nailers axis in 5 seasons.
He takes with him a career high 66 AHL games scoring new bests 15 assists, 21 points and +4 rating.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward is basically a point-per-game guy in the ECHL but is likely trying to not look back at this point.
At 28-years old, the former Clarkson University assistant captain, who scored 10+ goals as a junior and senior, could be trying to have one more productive run in the minors before pushing off overseas.
3rd year left wing Jesse Gabrielle(17) takes a successful summer vacation with CBR Brave, scoring 16 goals and 8 assists (including a hat trick in his debut) through only 6 AIHL games to a new one-year deal for HK Nitra of Slovak Tipsport Liga.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2015 draft (#105 overall), he was released from his contract after only a season in the system.
He had started what would have been his rookie campaign with 21 AHL games for affiliate Providence Bruins but was sent back to Regina Pats for a 5th, overage year of juniors.
The 5’11” 205 lbs. forward was reassigned to the ECHL for all of his first full season but wasn’t able to pop the score sheet.
At still only 22-years old, he still has plenty of time to play his way up the ladder overseas.
8th year left wing John Persson(19) steps out of his zone for a 2nd time in his pro career, leaving the home league SHL for Liiga signing a one-year deal with SaiPa for 2019/2020.
He has played the last four seasons in his home league after leaving New York Islanders‘ system.
The 27-year old will likely come to life in Switzerland’s top league.
Undrafted 2nd year left wing Mike Szmatula(91) had a solid rookie season with Adirondack Thunder scoring a team tied for first 27 goals and 21 assists in 60 ECHL games, while also being loaned on a pair of occasions up to Stockton Heat and Utica Comets, where in 5 AHL games he produced no points.
The 5’9″ 180 lbs. forward takes his game to Champions HL, signing for 2019/2020 with GKS Tychy.
He was a super-successful scorer through a year in the NAHL with Traverse City North Stars before taking it up a level to Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.
This led him to Northeastern University but after two successful seasons, he decided to attend school closer to home at the University Of Minnesota.
The soon-to-turn 27-year old
4th year right wing Juho Lammikko(91) decides he’s not interested whether Florida Panthers want to extend him a qualifying offer or not and signs a one-year deal to join Karpat of Liiga back home in Finland for 2019/2020.
He played a career high 40 NHL games last season scoring six assists and producing points in every other game with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds (6-12-18 in 36).
The 23-year old will likely be happier just playing his hockey close to home and has done well enough from his big league contract to settle back nicely but continue playing at a high level.
5th year left wing Colton Hargrove(14) takes a decent enough season scoring 13 goals (including 4 game-winners) and 13 assists for new club Texas Stars in 74 AHL games with a +4 rating to Austria hooking up with the Italian-based HC Bolzano Foxes of the EBEL for 2019/2020.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 7th round pick in the 2012 draft (#205 overall), he was in the team’s system for a pair of seasons but not offered a qualifying offer as his 2-year entry level deal was up.
The 6’1″ 202 lbs. forward next signed a minor league deal to stay on with affiliate Providence Bruins and went on to have his best campaign with 16 goals and 17 assists in only 52 games.
He has three times scored 10+ goals and in each season also had 10+ assists, so as he did through three years at Western Michigan University has proven he can get to the net.
The 27-year old will no doubt do well overseas once he gets settled.
