9th year right wing Mike Sislo(16) heads overseas for the first time in his pro career signing a one-year deal with Grizzlys Wolfsburg of DEL for 2019/2020.
The 4-time 20+ AHL goals and assists scorer (483 games played) has always been under contract with a big league team, last year skating for New York Islanders but on reassignment for the entire campaign to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
He last skated an NHL contest in 2015/2016 for New Jersey Devils, his first contracted club of 5 seasons and only time in the show and almost ironically grabbed 3 goals and an assist in 18 games, but that was his last opportunity at the highest level.
The 31-year old will probably find some open ice to put up more points in Germany’s top league and if he does may look to even better places to play on the other side of the pond.
Toronto Marlies‘ 2nd year Latvian-born defenseman Kristians Rubins(44) re-signs to stay in the system after splitting time with affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, where he was initially under contract and helped the team in 17 ECHL playoff games scoring a goal and 2 assists with a +5 rating to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship as a first year club.
Signed after a strong training camp invite, he played 15 AHL games scoring 3 assists, then appeared in one postseason contest.
The big 6’4″ 212 lbs. blue liner came over after spending most of his junior hockey in Sweden and even playing a few games in a pair of seasons for VIK Vasteras HK of Allsvenskan before coming over for two campaigns of the WHL for Medicine Hat Tigers before turning pro.
The 21-year old will likely score a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ camp invite and may even impress them but nonetheless he should spend most of his time with the farm club as a sophomore skater.
8th year center Ryan Spooner(51) almost quite literally took the money and ran, when he was offered a contract buyout at over $1M combined for the next couple seasons and has landed in the NLA with HC Lugano for 2019/2020 instead of trying to secure another NHL deal for the upcoming campaign.
He skated with three teams last season playing 52 games and limited to 3 goals and 6 assists.
The 27-year old will likely find a lot of open space in Switzerland’s top hockey and smile all the way to the bank.
Washington Capitals‘ 6th year left wing Jakub Vrana(13) scores himself a nice new two-year extension worth $3.350M AAV after playing a career high full 82 NHL game schedule blowing away marks from one season earlier with 23 goals and 24 assists with a very nice +20 rating.
The 23-year old may just be getting started but will likely need to keep up the pace to warrant another big pay day.
Minnesota Wild‘s 2nd year center Ryan Donato(6) picks up a nice two-year extension after a close to deadline trade sent him from draft club Boston Bruins.
The very decently-sized forward got right to work after the transaction sent him west scoring 4 goals and 12 assists with one game-winner and one overtime strike in 22 NHL games for his new team.
His new deal is worth $1.9M AAV and it seems like a no-brainer that with 25 points as a rookie, the 23-year old will be a 30+ point scorer going forward.
Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th year defenseman Scott Harrington(4) skated a career high 73 NHL games scoring a tied for best 2 goals and new high 15 assists and 17 points with a +6 rating, then added another 4 assists in 10 playoff contests.
His efforts get rewarded with a new 3-year extension worth $1.633 AAV.
The very decently sized blue liner has already been with the team for 3 seasons after an offseason trade from Toronto Maple Leafs.
He obviously seems to be fitting in nicely in Ohio.
The 26-year old will definitely be playing for another pay increase and will try to continue to step up his game.
Boston Bruins‘ 4th year center Danton Heinen(43) gets a nice two-year extension worth $2.8M AAV as he headed into his first restricted free agency despite putting up numbers that were a bit off from his NHL rookie season but the 2 goals and 6 assists in 24 playoff games with a +7 rating definitely still points towards a good future.
In his first campaign he played a career high 77 games, which he tied last season, scoring 16 goals and 31 assists.
The 24-year old former Surrey Eagles‘ captain is just getting started.
Christmas arrived on Independence Day in 2019 for 12th year veteran ECHL tough guy Garet Hunt(24) as he agrees to a one-year deal with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL for 2019/2020.
He takes an absolute massive 702 league games (7 seasons with Stockton Thunder, and two apiece for Alaska Aces and Jacksonville IceMen) over to Russia’s top league.
The small, very tough forward has also twice been most penalized, dropped the gloves 231 times and takes an extraordinary 2666 penalty minutes (all-time leader) with him as well.
He also is decently handy with the puck as he 5 times had 10+ goals and on occasions notched 10+ assists as well, twice hitting 30+ points but 5 seasons had 20+ totals.
At 31, 32 by the time the new season starts, he still has plenty left to hammer some more but this also may be a pretty great way to wrap up a very hard battled for pro hockey career.
