Florida Panthers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2015 draft (#77 overall) goaltender Sam Montembeault(33) grabs a 1st NHL recall on an emergency basis and game in what is the final year of his entry level contract.
His numbers with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds are up slightly over marks set as a rookie and seems to be a much stronger prospect in the system despite entering a first restricted free agency.
He was also selected to participate in the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic.
In his debut he made 22 of 26 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss posting a 3.87 GAA and .846 SV%.
At 6’3″ 208 lbs., the fairly large net minder had outstanding numbers through 4 years in the QMJHL for Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, where he posted a 2.49 GAA and .900 SV%.
The 22-year old seems like a no-brainer to score an extension to stay but could also be used as trade bait for another team looking for a possible future backstop.
Undrafted 2nd year center Riley Bourbonnais(23) is having a solid 2nd season splitting time between current club Allen Americans and Mainer Mariners.
He has 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in only 42 ECHL games, although not eclipsing high marks he set as a rookie (23-19-42 in 67), the current stats are in a shorter timeframe and will likely outpace those from his first campaign.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward’s hard work earns him a first loan up and he signs a pto with Iowa Wild to see if he can move the magic up a notch.
In his first pair of AHL games, he has yet to affect the scoresheet but has been a part of two victories.
The former 10+ goal and assist guy in his last seasons at RPI is still only 25-years old, so very well could land himself some more looks at the upper level.
7th year right wing Christian Thomas(19) took an unsuccessful swing through the SHL grabbing only one assist for Rogle BK in 11 games to a new deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL and has come back to life on the scoresheet.
His 9 goals and 10 assists in 35 games has earned him a two-year extension to stay on through 2020/2021.
The former high draft pick is still a ways off from his best season 2016/2017 with Hershey Bears, when he pocketed a career high 24 goals and 25 assists for 49 points.
This is the first campaign abroad for the 26-year old but he may have found an early home to play his pro hockey.
Florida Panthers‘ 4th year center Frank Vatrano(72) pots a career high 20 goals, 13 assists and 33 points in his first full season, 61 games with his new club and it’s good enough to net him a nice raise and brand new 3-year extension worth $2.533M AAV.
After a late season trade sent him from hometown team Boston Bruins down to the sunshine state, he signed his first contract before he was set to enter his first restricted free agency after connecting for 5 goals and 3 assists in 16 games with a +6 rating.
The 24-year old looks to be nicely set up moving forward but will definitely have to continue his hot scoring streak to earn another pay raise.
Colorado Avalanche 7th year left wing Andrew Aggozino(26) gets recalled for the first time in a few seasons with his three-time contract club and scores a 1st NHL goal in his first appearance.
He had an assist in his one and only game with the team back in 2014/2015, then added another pair in the follow-up campaign but has mostly been a scoring machine with affiliates.
The small forward currently leads farm club Colorado Eages with 26 goals and 29 assists in 50 AHL games putting him on pace to out distance career high marks set as a third-year skater for Cleveland (Lake Erie) Monsters (30-34-64).
Signed to a 2-year deal, the 28-year old is set to become an unrestricted free agent but looks likely to stick in Mile High City.
Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2016 draft (#114 overall) rookie defenseman Riley Stillman(70) scores a 1st NHL recall on an emergency basis and skates 19 shifts for 11:22 of total ice time with 1 shot, 5 hits, 2 penalty minutes and 1 giveaway in a 4-3 shootout loss.
The 6’1″ 196 lbs. d-man has 3 goals and 8 assists with a +5 rating for affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds in 46 AHL games and always plays a hard-hitting, aggressive style.
He was always a decent scorer through three years of juniors and took it to another level after a trade sent him to Hamilton Bulldogs, where he helped them win the 2018 OHL Championship scoring 5 goals and 9 assists in 21 games with a +19 rating.
The 20-year old is in the first year of his 3-year entry level deal and looks to be making his move to occupy a spot on the big league roster sooner than later.
New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2016 draft (#41 overall), 2nd year right wing Nathan Bastian(42) earns a 2nd recall and scores his 1st NHL goal in a 2-1 victory.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward leads affiliate Binghamton Devils with 17 goals (a career best) and his 23 points and +9 rating are also career highs in 56 AHL games.
He was always a decent scorer through three years in the OHL with Mississauga Steelheads but only once ascended to goal totals greater than he’s posted this season.
The 21-year old is just in the 1st year of his three-year entry level deal, so definitely has some time to develop but there’s no time like the present.
New York Rangers‘ 6th year Swedish-born defenseman Julius Bergman(23) is moved for the 3rd time in a single season, very likely as he’s made it known that he’ll be heading back home to sign with Frolunda Indians of the SHL for 2019/2020 and forego restricted free agency.
It’s also may be a little bit certain he won’t be extended a qualifying offer to stay.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner was originally shipped from draft club San Jose Sharks (2nd round in 2014, #46 overall) over the summertime to Ottawa Senators after spending three years with affiliate San Jose Barracuda and one game on reassignment for Worcester Sharks after a single campaign with London Knights of the OHL.
In 33 AHL games for Belleville Senators he only has 6 assists with no goals and a -9 rating.
He was recently involved as a minor part in a bigger deal sending him to Columbus Blue Jackets, who wasted no time flipping him to the Blueshirts, where he’ll play out the season with farm club Hartford Wolf Pack and not likely be part of the playoff picture.
The 23-year old played one season Division 1 and parts of one in Allsvenskan as he was also skating juniors and will likely be much happier playing his pro hockey at home.
10th year center Jamie Arniel(9) leaves Vienna Capitals, his 6th year in EBEL (5 with Dornbirner EC) and heads back to Germany signing with Augsburger Panther to hopefully help their playoff run.
He won the 2013 DEL Championship in his first season abroad with Eisbaren Berlin.
The 29-year old has had tremendous success in Austria amassing 84 goals and 143 assists in 262 games and will likely return, if things don’t escalate his new club.
EHC Winterthur‘s 7th year left wing Jared Gomes(22) signs on to stay another season after leaving two years of SC Riessersee of DEL2.
The decently sized forward has struck gold coming to Switzerland’s tier 2, Swiss League (formerly NLB) scoring 14 goals and 14 assists in 28 games but is a woeful -17 rating on a team that has struggled to win games for a 2nd straight campaign.
He actually signed a little late in the current calendar but still put up a team high for points.
At 30-years old it looks like he may stick around to play in this league until he hangs up his skates, although may look to another club for more of a playoff run.
