Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 9th year goaltender Michael Hutchinson(39) was off to an uneven start with his new club Florida Panthers after signing with the team on the opening day of unrestricted free agency, which led him to be traded north.
The former 5 year Winnipeg Jets‘ net minder had a whirlwind 2013/2014, where he played the majority of his games, 28 in the ECHL with affiliate Ontario Reign and also guarded the cage in 24 AHL contests for St. John’s IceCaps before taking them on a playoff run that only ended after game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals.
He managed a 1.95 GAA and .938 SV% in a losing effort, which was probably helped by the three games in the NHL he ended up getting recalled for to close out the season.
His efforts would gain him notice as one of those few players almost every year that plays games in each of the top three pro hockey leagues.
Those 55 games had to be the clincher in him next scoring a two-year extension with the 2nd season on a one-way deal.
Buffalo Sabres‘ undrafted sophomore left wing C.J. Smith(49) scores a 1st NHL recall since skating two games (1 assist) after completing a third season at UMass-Lowell.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward is currently 2nd in goals, assists and points for affiliate Rochester Americans.
He led all rookies last year in scoring with 17 goals and 27 assists in 57 AHL games, but stayed in the minors despite the parent club’s shortcomings.
A point-per-game performer in college hockey, he spent two campaigns in the NAHL with Austin Bruins before upping his game to a single frame in the USHL before committing to school.
On a 1-year extension, he’s set to become a restricted free agent for a 2nd time but looks to be reupped for at least another look (or two).
Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#78 overall) 6th year Swedish-born goaltender Marcus Hogberg(35) is one of those few players that each year plays games in three of the top North American leagues in a single season.
The big 6’5″ 217 lbs. net minder suffered a pair of losses in his 2 NHL games, one close, the other a bit lopsided (3.56 GAA, .883 SV%) but has been fairly strong for affiliate Belleville Senators holding down at 3-3-1 record with a 2.32 GAA and .916 SV%.
In one ECHL appearance for Brampton Beast, a 2-1 overtime loss, he was strong in his appearance saving 29 shots with a 1.89 GAA and .935 SV%.
Originally playing his junior hockey in his home country, he was elevated in 2012/2013 with a few SHL starts for Linkoping HC, while also playing a contests for a pair of Allsvenskan clubs.
His best season overseas was likely his last 2016/2017 before coming this way.
Signed to a 2-year entry level deal, the 24-year old will become a first time restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign.
Our bet is he’s stays put.
Happy 2019 and all that it offers!
17th year Finnish-born goaltender Hannu Toivonen(30) appeared in only one game for HIFK of Liiga, where he has spent 5 full seasons in his home country’s top hockey but decided to leave heading back to North America for the first time since 2013/2014 inking with Maine Mariners.
After 3 super successful campaigns in Finland with Ilves, he almost weirdly departed for lesser leagues in Austria and Denmark, where his numbers slipped badly.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2002 draft (#29 overall), he has played 61 NHL games and 214 in the AHL with 5 different clubs.
The big 6’3″ 209 lbs. net minder returns to the ECHL after spending time with Orlando Solar Bears and Toledo Walleye in his last stints that included a pair of loans up.
The 34-year old has seemingly made a bit of a strange decision to come back to these shores but it could also be to get a bit of a better footing prior to signing one final deal before he decides to officially retire, or it’s a bid for a championship that’s been elusive in his career.
3rd year Russian-born center Radel Fazleev(19) opts out of the third year of his entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers to head home signing for the remainder of 2018/2019 with Ak Bars Kazan.
He was a 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#168 overall), while lighting it up for Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.
The 6’1″ 192 lbs. forward was off to a bit of a rough start with affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the current frame scoring only 2 assists in 15 AHL games after getting a modest career high 15 assists and 19 points in 63 games last season.
He was recalled but never skated a regular season NHL game.
At just 22-years old, he may just do better playing his hockey closer to home rather than trying for a spot in the big league.
Boston Bruins‘ 5th year center Gemel Smith(29) played a few more NHL games after being claimed on waivers from draft club Dallas Stars (4th round of the 2012 draft, #104 overall), where he scored 2 goals and an assists in 14 contests.
He didn’t have any points before being reassigned to affiliate Providence Bruins with a couple shots, hits and takeaways but was a -3 rating in three team victories.
Since reporting he has a goal and an assist in 3 AHL games, his first since the 2016/2017 season as a third year player.
He posted career high totals in the minors during that session (12-21-33).
A prolific scorer through three seasons of the OHL with Owen Sound Attack and London Knights, he was also a member of the under 18 Canadian club that won the 2012 Hlinka Memorial Cup.
With 80 games of experience in the big league (11-9-20), the 24-year old still has a little way to go to prove he should stick, but is also set to become a third time restricted free agent on a one-way deal, so will need to step it up.
New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft (#42 overall) goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood(29) has been getting some opportunities in net with the big club and has come away with a 40-save 1st NHL victory on the road.
In three games the very large 6’4″ 225 lbs. backstop has been rather stingy with a 2.24 GAA and .930 SV%.
His numbers have been only slightly under what he’s achieved with the big club, in 15 AHL games for affiliate Binghamton Devils he has a 6-7-1-1 record with a 2.69 GAA and .911 SV%.
He was voted 2016 OHL Goaltender Of The Year in his third and final session with Barrie Colts, playing an almost mind boggling 139 starts over his time with the team.
At 22-years old he’s still only in the 2nd year of his entry level deal thanks to a pair of contract slides available to him, so has some time to develop, although that looks to be happening in 2018/2019.
Washington Capitals‘ 4th year defenseman Tyler Lewington(78) scores an appearance in a 1st NHL game, skating 21 shifts for 13:07 of total ice time with 4 hits, 1 shot on net, 2 penalty minutes, 1 giveaway and exited the 4-0 win with a +1 rating.
In the 1st season of a new 2-year deal, he’s playing hard for affiliate Hershey Bears grabbing 2 goals and 4 assists in 26 AHL games with a -8 rating, 67 penalty minutes and 28 shots on net with a squad that is at times struggling.
The just turned 24-year old will need to play a hard style game in the big league to stick but knows what it’s like to come from out of nowhere with his deep draft selection.
Undrafted 3rd year right wing Conor Riley(44) scores a first loan up to Binghamton Devils after leading his club of the last three seasons Adirondack Thunder in goals with 12 through 26 ECHL games.
In 2 games (both wins) the 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward potted a first AHL tally before being returned for Christmas break.
He is on pace to shatter his career high totals in the current campaign.
Never the biggest point guy through four years at University Of Maine, his output is on another level since turning graduating.
Not shabby work for a guy who started his pro career with 8 SPHL games for Peoria Rivermen before getting the opportunity with the club from Glens Falls, NY.
At 26-years old is very possible for him to establish himself in the higher league but he’ll have to continue to put in the work and affect the scoresheet.
