9th year defenseman Stefan Warg(6) switches clubs midseason to Orebro HK after almost 5 full campaigns with Malmo Redhawks, his first in Allsvenskan before getting the upgrade to their SHL squad.
The big, tough blue liner skated with the team’s tier 2 team as a rookie and sophomore skater before leaving to join Anaheim Ducks‘ prospect system, which didn’t even last a full season despite signing a two-year agreement.
At 28-years old he likely still has a lot left in his game and will retire playing the majority of his pro hockey in his home country, Sweden.
Vancouver Canucks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2015 draft (#66 overall) 2nd year defenseman Guillaume Brisebois(56) grabs a 1st NHL recall on Valentine’s Day, skates a pair of games averaging 13 shifts for roughly 8 minutes total ice time, one shot on net, 2 hits and one play breakup but did go a -3 rating in a shootout win and a loss.
The fairly sizable 6’3″ 189 lbs. blue liner is off his pace slightly from a rookie season, where he scored 3 goals and 15 assists in 68 AHL games for affiliate Utica Comets.
He currently has a pair of tallies and 7 helpers in 45 contests, but has some time to elevate those numbers.
A three time captain in juniors, twice with Acadie-Bathurst Titan and in his final season after a trade for Charlottetown Islanders he concluded his QMJHL career with a 37 assist campaign.
The 21-year old is in the 2nd season of his three-year entry level deal but will need to continue to work hard to earn an extension.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ undrafted defenseman Philippe Myers(61) earns an NHL recall and his first appearance in the show as the club’s standing for a playoff spot is slipping.
In his debut (a 3-1 win), he skated 14 shifts for 9:32 of total ice with 1 shot on net, 2 hits, 2 play breakups and left the game with a +1 rating.
The very big 6’5″ 210 lbs. blue liner has already eclipsed marks set as a rookie with a new career high 9 goals (team lead) and 20 assists for 29 points in 48 AHL games.
He was very capable of head manning the puck for scoring opportunities in his last two years with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies twice grabbing 20+ assists and potting 10+ goals with a league best +52 rating en route to a 2016 QMJHL Championship.
The recently turned 22-year old is in the middle of a three-year entry level deal that had a pair of early slides after an early signing in his third year of juniors.
Boston Bruins‘ undrafted rookie center Karson Kuhlman(83) receives maybe a bit of an unexpected recall from affiliate Providence Bruins as he may not have the most goals or assists scoring but does own an AHL team leading +22 rating.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward skated an average of 17 shifts for roughly over 10 minutes of ice time, 1 shot for his 1st NHL goal, 2 hits and 1 takeaway, all in his 2nd appearance.
He was basically quiet in his debut, probably not trying to get in anyone’s way.
A winner, former captain and MVP of the 2018 NCAA Championship with University Of Minnesota-Duluth and 2013 Clark Cup title in his first year of the USHL for Dubuque Fighting Saints, he plays with a sort of hard-working, winning instinct.
Signed to a standard two-year entry level deal as a player coming off a complete college education, the 23-year old is easily already getting plenty of nods from the higher ups.
7th year center Brian Flynn(32) decides to opt out of his 1 year two-way deal with St. Louis Blues after being mostly injured and reassigned to affiliate San Antonio Rampage. scoring a goal and 8 assists in 21 AHL games.
The 30-year old veteran of 275 NHL games (27-34-61) decides to sign for the remainder of the season with EV Zug of NLA, where he’ll likely be pretty happy playing.
Under contract last season with Dallas Stars he played exclusively in the minors with Texas Stars and grabbed career highs 18 goals, 29 assists, 47 points with a +13 rating, then added another 15 points in 22 Calder Cup Playoff game, bowing out in the Finals.
He played pretty much equal time with original signing team Buffalo Sabres, then a pair of decently successful 10 points campaigns for Montreal Canadiens.
Playing overseas might be the best route for the former University Of Maine captain, who came in undrafted and eked out a spot.
Undrafted 3rd year left wing Steve McParland(15) scores his yearly loan up to the AHL but this time with San Diego Gulls scores a first goal to go along with an assist he grabbed as a rookie.
He’s skated 11 games so far in the higher league.
Wasting little time he re-signed early summer to re-join Idaho Steelheads, a team he put up an ECHL best 31 goals and 57 points last season.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward may not appear in enough games to beat those marks in the current campaign but is almost on pace to be a point-per-game player (20-24 in 47).
His career high 29 assists, set with South Carolina Stingrays as a first year skater will likely stand for now.
At 27-years old, the former 2015 Providence College NCAA Champion will maybe not grab a contract at the upper level, but if he can catch the net more frequently could stick for an extended run.
Laval Rocket 5th year defenseman Ryan Culkin(7) has been on a bit of a short string with affiliate Maine Mariners but has played close to 10 times more ECHL games, where he looks to eclipse his career mark in assists currently at 20 and leads team d in scoring, than up in the AHL.
He did add to his totals at the higher level scoring a goal in his last game up before being reassigned.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner recorded 40+ assists in his last pair of seasons at juniors with Quebec Remparts, where he was captain in his final year, so has shown he has a knack for head manning the puck.
Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#124 overall), he was in their system for three years but wasn’t given a qualifying offer to continue.
He next signed with Tuscon Roadrunners but was sent to Fort Wayne Komets for the entirety of 2017/2018, although he was recalled, putting up some pretty great numbers (11-27-38 with a +18 rating).
The still young 25-year old may have to choose where to play his pro hockey next and could possibly look overseas for a better opportunity.
Vancouver Canucks‘ undrafted 2nd year center Zack MacEwen(71) earns a first NHL recall after fairly quickly scoring a career high 17 goals and 25 assists for a new best 42 points in only 49 AHL games this season for affiliate Utica Comets.
The big 6’4″ 211 lbs. earned an assist in his debut skating 15 shifts for 9:45 ice time, while getting 2 shots on net, dishing out 1 hit, 1 breakup and 1 giveaway with -2 rating in a 7-2 drubbing.
He’s played a pair of follow-up games with no additional points in a loss and shootout win but did go -2 in the victory matchup.
The 22-year old only skated two campaigns of juniors in the QMJHL but grabbed 30 and 43 assists, which definitely pointed towards his potential point-getting prowess.
Signed to a three-year entry level deal, he should have little problem getting an extension with continued good play.
