Undrafted 4th year defenseman Travis Walsh(23) takes 3 very decent ECHL seasons over to Metal Ligaen signing with Esbjerg Energy for 2019/2020.
The 5’11” 185 blue liner had a career high 25 assists and 31 points with a +13 rating last season for Manchester Monarchs.
He started his pro career on an ato with Kansas City Mavericks for three games and was also loaned up to Chicago Wolves to skate his only 3 AHL games after graduating from Michigan State University, where he was a three-time 10+ assist player and twice assistant captain.
As a rookie, he was signed by Idaho Steelheads and collected a best 7 goals.
The rugged d-man should do very well in Denmark’s top league and should be able to climb the overseas hockey ladder.
Washington Capitals‘ 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#134 overall), left wing Shane Gersich(10) appeared in his first 3 NHL games (1 assist) and also a pair of Stanley Cup playoff appearances, but did not get his name included on the coveted prize at the end, fresh off three years at University of North Dakota, where he popped 21 goals as a sophomore, had two 16 assist campaigns before he left, and won the 2016 NCAA Championship in his first year of college hockey.
As a rookie, he scored 8 goals and 16 assists in 66 AHL games for affiliate Hershey Bears with a +5 rating, then added 3 more points in 9 playoff contests.
The 5’11” 174 lbs. forward seems to be a bit generously listed but plays a speed skating, agitators game, always seemingly to be in the face of an opponent.
He will look to make a bigger impression on the parent club hoping to find a spot on the big league roster for 2019/2020, but if not the 22-year old, signed to a one-year extension, will continue to try to play his game and gain notice.
4th year center Tony Cameranesi(25) heads off to Norway in pursuit of continuing his pro hockey career, signing with Storhamar of GET-ligaen for 2019/2020 after a super successful 2nd campaign for Manchester Monarchs, where he potted a career high 24 goals and 29 assists for 54 points with a +8 and then in the playoffs added another 10 points in 11 games
For a 2nd season he was loaned up to Utica Comets but played a significant less 19 games over the 34 he played in his sophomore season putting together 3 goals and 5 assists in that stint.
He was a three time 30+ point guy through four years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth.
Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#130 overall), he was never signed but did agree to terms as a rookie with affiliate Toronto Marlies.
He spent most of his time in his first season reassigned to Orlando Solar Bears, where he appeared in 43 ECHL games.
The 25-year old, former assistant captain should do really well where he’s going and possibly be on the lookout for better options moving forward.
10th year net minder Sami Aittokallio(31) maybe had a bit of an off-season with Sport in 2018/2019 but gets right to it and signs with league rivals Assat for 2019/2020.
The upcoming campaign will be his 6th in his home country’s Liiga after twice leaving initially for draft club Colorado Avalanche, who he was under contract with for four years but was loaned to Karpat upon being given an extension.
He would be left unqualified heading into 2016/2017, but was likely already set being playing hockey at home, so it mattered little.
The decently sized goaltender would leave again signing for a season with HC Sparta Praha of Tipsport Czech Extraliga but after a so-so playoff performance headed back to Finland.
At only 26-years old he may look around to see what else is out there but could be all set to stay especially if he’s at the top of his game.
3rd year center Troy Josephs(33) wasn’t getting the attention he desired from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the team he was under contract with but only appeared in 11 AHL games and asked to be released midseason.
He was mostly dispatched to affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he dominated with 21 goals and 18 assists in 32 ECHL games with a +7 rating.
Off he went midseason, signed with Storhamar of GET-ligaen and turned up the heat in Norway scoring 12 goals and 11 assists in 23 games, then adding another 15 points in 16 playoff games.
The 25-year old caught the attention of EHC Visp of NLB and decided to move operations to Switzerland tier 2 league for 2019/2020.
He should be able to do well here and continue to move up.
Extra big 7th year defenseman Thomas Larkin(37) signs on for a third full season with Adler Mannheim after helping the team win the 2019 DEL Championship.
Limited to only 33 games this season, he still scored almost equal to his high marks set in the prior frame with 6 goals, 11 assists and a +18 rating.
The 28-year old initially joined his now long-term home after his 2nd campaign with Medvescak Zagreb went south and looks to want to stay for as long as possible.
Undrafted 3rd year left wing Grant Besse(9) is off to play in Germany’s top league DEL joining Krefeld Pinguine for 2019/2020 after two consecutive ECHL seasons posting identical marks of 30 goals and 32 assists for South Carolina Stingrays and as a rookie with Norfolk Admirals. , which netted him the most points by a rookie nod from the league.
The 5’10” 186 lbs. forward was under contract to Hershey Bears last campaign and did notch a pair of tallies in 7 AHL games.
He did even better than that on loan the previous year for Cleveland Monsters to end 2017/2018 with a goal and 6 assists in the 11 upper league outings.
Scoring hasn’t ever really been a problem for the Plymouth, MN native, who won the Mr. Hockey Award as the top senior in Minnesota high school hockey, then folowed that up with helping his University Of Wisconsin team capture the 2014 NCAA/B1G Championship.
We have a feeling the 24-year old is going to light it up overseas.
8th year center Andrew Yogan(12) enjoyed two successful seasons with HC Innsbruck scoring a career high 34 goals and 61 points in 52 EBEL games but decides to move on signing with the opposition, Fehervar AV19 for 2019/2020.
It will be the 27-year old’s 4 campaign in Austria’s top league and we have to think if he continues to put up big numbers will look elsewhere to continue, unless he simply thinks this country is worth staying in to play his pro game.
CSKA Moskva‘s 6th year center Maxim Mamin(98) signs a 2-year extension through 2021 to stay.
He has spent 5 of his 6 pro seasons with the team.
It was his tip attempt that won the 2019 KHL Gargarin Cup Championship.
Released after starting 2018/2019 with contract club Florida Panthers for 7 NHL games, he came up empty on the score sheet, was to head to their AHL affiliate but asked to be loaned back to Russia for development there and now it appears the still young 24-year old ain’t coming back.
