Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 8th year left wing Garrett Wilson(19) reappeared in the NHL with a 10-game stint (1 assist) a month into the new season, his third in the prospect system.
He last appeared in the big league 2015/2016 playing 29 games on two stints for original contract club Florida Panthers, including another 6 in the playoffs (1 assist).
The decently sized power forward type figure has been named captain for affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after two seasons wearing the “A” and is off and running like never before potting 6 goals and 6 assists in 12 AHL games.
He had a career year in the minors last season with 25 assists and 42 points.
The 27-year old is on the 2nd year of a 2-year two-way deal and looks likely to re-up for at least one more look from the parent club.
Jokerit‘s 8th year defenseman Viktor Loov(50) has impressed his new club in 33 KHL games scoring 4 goals and 7 assists with a +13 rating to earn a one-year +1 extension to stay.
It’s his first foray overseas since starting his career in the home country with two seasons of Allsvenskan and one for MODO of the SHL before joining draft club Toronto Maple Leafs 2014/2015.
He spent 2 and a half years there before a trade sent him to New Jersey Devils‘, where he was given an extension but stayed in the AHL before being dealt to Minnesota Wild in a minor transaction.
The big blue liner recorded a career high 19 assists and 24 points in the split session.
Set to become a group 6 UFA, he decided to move on instead of looking for a new deal.
The 26-year old may have found a pretty nice long-time home playing in Russia’s top league, but based in Finland with his team.
Jacksonville Icemen undrafted 3rd year defenseman/forward Dajon Mingo(10) gets a well-deserved 1st loan up to Manitoba Moose on a pto.
He only played one AHL game without recording a point but was a +1 rating in a one goal loss before being returned.
The smallish 5’8″ 174 lbs. very mobile blue liner is off to his best start in his 2nd season with the team scoring 5 goals and 11 assists in 22 ECHL games, which is on pace to become career highs.
He attended Bowling Green University after a pair of 20+ goal campaigns in the NAHL and started a fifth year at college before deciding to leave and turn pro with Toledo Walleye.
At 28-years old, the former very young figure skater may only have so much time remaining to be considered for call-ups but could also be making an argument that he could play at a higher level.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd year center Danny O’Regan(65) has been in the minors with affiliate Rochester Americans since a pair of games shortly after a trade sent him from original draft team San Jose Sharks (5th round, 2011, #138 overall) late last season.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward played a career high 19 games at the highest level recording 4 assists in 2017/2018 before being dealt.
He has 24 games in the big league to his credit, which also includes a first NHL goal.
Through 4 years at Boston University, he was a point-per-game player (66-88 in 154 games), including 23 goals and 27 assists as a junior and that same season, a 2015 NCAA/Hockey East Championship.
The 24-year old grabbed an AHL high 58 points for a rookie with San Jose Barracuda and has been an elite scorer throughout his career and if his parent club wasn’t as strong as it is currently would no doubt be recalled for an extended run.
He is on a one-year extension and set to become a restricted free agent for a 2nd time.
10th year left wing Brandon Mashinter(53) signed one month into the new season with Rapid City Rush, his first foray in the lower league and to no one’s surprise struck for 1 goal and 4 assists in 5 ECHL games.
Well, seemingly that was a little warm up run to gain a deal with ERC Ingolstadt of DEL for the remainder of 2018/2019, another first for the veteran forward.
His first hockey overseas.
The 30-year old should be able to use that big frame quite nicely in Germany’s top league and may just find himself a new home away from home.
Buffalo Sabres‘ undrafted 5th year Swedish-born defenseman Lawrence Pilut(24) gets a first, early taste of NHL action after leading all AHL defenseman in assists with 19 and 2nd in points, 22 for affiliate Rochester Americans.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. blue liner played all his junior hockey in his home country with HV71, then signed and spent the next four years with the club excelling in his final season to be chosen as d-man of the year with 8 goals and 30 assists before coming over under a tw0-year entry level deal.
He’s been with the big club for 4 games skating 20+ shifts a night for what’s building up to 20 minutes of ice time and grabbed his first point, an assist in his last outing.
The 22-year old is still filling out his frame but looks to be well on his way to becoming a top 6 defenseman.
Ottawa Senators‘ mammoth 4th year defenseman Ben Harpur(67) signed a new two-year one-way extension before heading into restricted free agency just after the midseason point last year.
He played a career high 41 games in the big league in 2017/2018, getting his first point, an assist.
That was after spending more time in the previous campaign with affiliate Binghamton Senators grabbing a career tied 2 goals and a bit out of nowhere best 25 assists, a total which dwarfed even totals he put up through junior hockey in the OHL.
Well, it doesn’t look like he’ll be spending much, if any time in the AHL and through 9 appearances in the current frame and 62 overall, the 23-year old notched his first NHL goal.
We’re betting he chips out a permanent spot on that blue line.
11the year center Matt Pope(42) continues to push his career as he maintain serious numbers and signs for a 2nd season with Cardiff Devils after scoring 21 goals and 37 assists in 52 games, then adding 6 points in 4 contests en route to the 2018 EIHL Championship.
Pretty nifty work for a then 33-year old that’s never had a big league contract but has eked out what seems like a pretty good career in hockey.
The point total mark was only 2nd to 2016/2017, when the 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward signed with Tohoku Free Blades and notched most points in the Asia League grabbing 68 (33-35).
He also did quite well a couple seasons before in Italy’s top Serie A with Valpellice (63 points).
Now at 34-years old he really kind of seems to be showing no signs of stopping unless the former Bemidji State University player wants to but easily could transition into coaching nicely if that’s what he sees post playing career.
6th year left wing Andrew Clark(57) is absolutely on fire in his third campaign with HC Innsbruck scoring 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points in 22 EBEL games, which leads the league in assists and points.
He was a more than a point-per-game player in his first pair of seasons with the team.
At 30-years old, he must feel pretty settled in his new-ish hockey home and will likely stay put but could also decide to return to North America to pursue life after the skates have left the ice.
After signing for a 5th season with South Carolina Stingrays, undrafted left wing Marcus Perrier(15) has decided to head off in a new direction 11 ECHL games into the new season and leave for Ferencvaros TC of Erste Liga.
Never exactly the most prolific scorer, the solid 6’1″ 225 lbs. forward leaves the league with a huge +49 rating, which is some very high accountability out there.
The former three campaign Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, then three years at Bowling Green University player will likely take it up a notch in Hungary’s top hockey.
At 27-years old you can’t blame him for wanting to try something different.
