7th year defenseman Reid McNeil(5) heads over to Erstebank Eishockey Liga for 2018/2019 joining Dornbirner EC.
The big blue liner was last on a minor league contract with Syracuse Crunch, where he had no goals and 9 assists in 59 games with a +3 rating, then added a pair of tallies in 7 playoff matchups.
He’s always been a big plus player going back to junior hockey for Barrie Colts and London Knights but his +49 in the AHL makes him definitely a sought after entity.
At still only 26-years old it would be little surprise to see him play his way up the hockey ladder overseas.
4th year left wing Joel Lowry(14) was set to rejoin Manchester Monarchs for 2018/2019, having re-sgn right before the new season was to get underway.
The sturdy 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward had an impressive 39 points (17-22) with a +8 rating in 33 ECHL games, while also scoring loans up to Utica Comets for one AHL game and Springfield Thunderbirds, where he spent 11 contests at the end of the campaign scoring 3 goals and 2 assists.
He would score an invite to join the latter club’s training camp and with a strong showing during preseason play stuck.
Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#140 overall), he spent his first two years in their system, mostly with affiliate Ontario Reign as a rookie but split time as a sophomore skater, which is how he ended up in New Hampshire.
He was left unqualified heading into 2017/2018.
Well, now it looks like he won’t be going anywhere soon as he has notched a very tidy 1 goal and 5 assists in 6 games with a +3 to start and even has a pair of multi-point efforts in the mix.
The 26-year old, son of famed NHLer Dave Lowry, who is currently an assistant coach for Los Angeles Kings, and brother of Winnipeg Jets‘ Adam Lowry may be starting to arrive.
Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2017 draft (#18 overall), 4th year Finnish-born defenseman Urho Vaakanainen(58) may find himself on a short string between the parent club and affiliate Providence Bruins for most of his time as a rookie.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner has already received an emergency recall after playing 6 AHL games scoring a pair of assists.
In his NHL debut he skated 17 shifts for 12:26 total ice time with 1 shot on net, 1 giveaway and a -1 rating on an overtime loss.
He came to North America with three years of pro experience as a teenager in Liiga with three different clubs.
At just 19-years old he is signed to a three-year entry level deal and looks to have all the skills to make him a top 4 d-man at the highest level of hockey but will need to continue to prove his game in the new surroundings.
Undrafted 9th year defenseman Steven Kaunisto(5) re-signs for a 2nd season with Tulsa Oilers after posting a career tying 6 goals and new best 23 assists and 29 points with a +2 rating on a non-playoff club in 71 ECHL games.
The 6′ 200 lbs. blue liner has skated for 8 different teams in the league since graduating from Lake Superior State University as team captain in 2010.
He actually started his pro career with a pair of seasons in the Central Hockey League skating time for three clubs before signing his third year with Mississippi RiverKings of the SPHL.
That experiment lasted all of 30 games before he was loaned up for the remainder of 2012/2013.
At 31-years old, he’s likely starting to eye the exits but if he can continue to contribute will likely still want to keeping on lacing up them skates.
Undrafted 2nd year right wing Reid Gardiner(24) leaves two seasons under contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to sign with Utica Comets for 2018/2019.
He originally signed his first deal in 2016/2017 but was sent back for a 5th season in the WHL after the beginning of the year and exploded on the stat sheet for new club Kelowna Rockets.
The 5’11” 193 lbs. forward would achieve the same marks as a rookie on reassignment to affiliate Wheeling Nailers.
In 58 ECHL games he scored 30 goals and 27 assists with a +15 rating on a non-playoff team.
He has been sent to Kalamazoo Wings to start his sophomore campaign but expect him to score a quick recall if he can get hot early.
There’s seems to be little doubt the 22-year old would do better taking his game overseas but may want a couple years of experience closer to home before moving on.
Undrafted 4th year defenseman Tim Daly(76) signs on with Rungsted Seier Capital for 2018/2019, where he already has 3 goals and 6 assists in 8 Metal Ligaen games.
He’s almost easily set to surpass marks (10-28-38, +24) he set as a sophomore skater, when suited up for Utah Grizzlies playing a career high 59 ECHL games.
It was in that season he also earned his first and only AHL loan to Manitoba Moose.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner played 4 years at St. Cloud State University but couldn’t affect the scoresheet like he did in two campaigns in the BCHL for Langley Chiefs, where he amassed 20+ assists.
At 26-years old, he may have found a pretty nice place to play in Denmark but we expect him to look elsewhere if he pops the stat sheet the way we look for him to.
Undrafted 4th year right wing Kyle Baun(12) signs for 2018/2019 with Belfast Giants.
In 7 EIHL games he already has 5 goals and 5 assists with a +2 rating.
Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ prospect after three solid seasons at Colgate University, he signed a 3-year entry level deal and played his first three NHL games after leaving school with 20+ point campaigns throughout.
He would follow that up by earning a spot on the opening night roster as a rookie but was reassigned to affiliate Rockford IceHogs for the remainder of the calendar.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. would somehow earn a 2-year, one-way extension despite only putting together a one goal, 8 assist 9 point performance in 43 AHL games.
He would be sent straight to the farm club from training camp and stayed for a full 74 game slate scoring a fairly meaningful 14 goals and 20 assists.
That would be pretty much it though as heading into the final year of his deal he was involved in a minor trade that sent him to Montreal Canadiens.
He lasted with them until just before the trade deadline, where he was a spare part in a blockbuster deal with Toronto Maple Leafs that would basically leave him unqualified moving forward.
Oddly, he was on Toronto Marlies‘ playoff squad en route to the 2018 Calder Cup Championship but failed to appear in a game.
Little doubt, the 26-year old would take the money and run for some hockey he could sink his teeth into.
Undrafted 6th year center Thomas Frazee(25) re-signs with Allen Americans after a late season trade brought him to the team and he scored 7 goals and 5 assists with a +5 rating in 15 ECHL games.
The 6’3″ 210 lbs. forward has always produced 10+ goals and twice (including last season and 2015/2016) notched 31 assists.
He was a decent point producer through 5 years of junior hockey before heading off to a pair of years at Lakehead University,then deciding to turn pro.
Getting his start (2013/2014) in the Central Hockey League with Quad City Mallards, he scored big as a rookie grabbing 24 goals and 23 assists.
He has twice been loaned up to the AHL but only has one assist in 9 contests.
At 28-years old, it’s a bit of a wonder why he has yet to try his hand at hockey on the other side of the pond but may head there next to play out the remaining time of his career.
Boston Bruins‘ 8th year Swedish-born center Joakim Nordstrom(20) is looking to prove he has offensive prowess early with his new club.
In 4 NHL games he’s already posted his first goal for the team and seems to have more up his sleeve.
His peak scoring was in his first year with Carolina Hurricanes after being traded from draft squad Chicago Blackhawks (3rd round, 2010, #90 overall).
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward potted a career high 10 goals and 14 assists, has trailed off since but his still looked to for his speedy presence.
He started his pro career with a pair of years in the SHL, one on loan under his entry level deal, with AIK, who he played most of his juniors for.
The 26-year old could explode his scoring stats in the current campaign, which will help him on the two-year contract through 2020 he signed to come to Boston.
New York Rangers‘ 9th year defenseman Brendan Smith(42) spent some late season games with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack in 2017/2018, as they were out of the playoff hunt and some of the younger players were getting a look.
It was his first visit to the minors since early 2013.
Originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#27 overall), he spent 6 and a half years before being traded.
Although the 6’2″ 195 lbs. blue liner is more of a stay-at-home style d-man he did notch a nice 15 goals and 37 assists in his third and final year at University Of Wisconsin but has yet to achieve anything close since turning pro.
The 29-year old has 355 NHL games to his credit, has a multi-million dollar contract that runs through 2021 and is right back up at the highest level of hockey as 2018/2019 begins.
