Undrafted 8th year defenseman Ben Wilson(14) signs on for a 6th campaign with Kalamazoo Wings.
The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward has been team captain for the past two seasons and will wear the “C” on his jersey once again.
Never the biggest point-getter, he did help Calgary Hitmen win the 2010 WHL Championship as a first year player in juniors.
He also as a rookie and sophomore skater played in the ill-fated Central Hockey League, spending most of his second season with Denver Cutthroats.
With only 40 AHL games played (2 in 2017/2018 on loan to Syracuse Crunch), he has 249 ECHL games to his credit.
The 27-year old seems to be happy where he’s at and has no reason to move on.
It would be little surprise to see him become the future head coach for the team.
Undrafted 3rd year Swedish-born left wing Daniel Muzito-Bagenda(19) returned to his country after two years signed by Rochester Americans.
He initially agreed to a tryout with AIK of Allsvenskan but was recently upped with a one-year deal.
The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward spent his rookie season in the AHL scoring 9 goals and 6 assists in 61 games but was mostly bumped down to affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones for his sophomore campaign, where he was a point-per-game player striking for 19 goals and 27 assists in 46 ECHL games.
He did most of his junior hockey close to home and even appeared in 7 games in Division 1 as a 16-year old but did come over for a year with Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL after playing 4 games for MODO.
At still only 22-years old, it seems like he’s waiting for a bigger breakout at a higher level.
Undrafted 4th year left wing Dominic Zombo(41) signs on for a third season with Cincinnati Cyclones, a team he had a career high 18 assists for in 2017/2018.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward has yet to produce breakout scoring like he did as a sophomore and junior at University Of Nebraska-Ohama, when he struck for 35 and 34 points in just under 40 NCAA games.
His best campaign as a pro was his rookie campaign, 2015/2016.
He would tally 26 points for Toledo Walleye and has yet to match it.
The 27-year old former Sioux Falls Stampede player will no doubt want to have a pivotal season to set up a next move, which may see him head overseas.
He could also like where he is and being setting up a career after he’s ready to hang up his skates.
Undrafted 4th year center Dan DeSalvo(67) signs on with Cleveland Monsters in 2018/2019 after skating for Hartford Wolf Pack last season posting 5 goals and 11 assists through 44 AHL games.
It wasn’t the 5’8″ 171 lbs. forward’s best output.
That happened as a 2nd season player for Manitoba Moose, where he notched a career high 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points.
He would also skate for the team as a rookie on loan from three-time club Tulsa Oilers and grabbed a quick 14 points in 17 games to finish off his first campaign.
All this scoring was on display through four years at Bowling Green University early as he grabbed 14 goals as a freshman skater and 25 assists in his junior year.
It’s likely the 26-year old will press early to make an impact.
4th year left wing Greg Chase(22) circles back to sign with Wichita Thunder for 2018/2019 after skating 17 ECHL games (7 goals, 10 assists) on reassignment with the team last season.
Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 7th round pick in the 2013 draft (#188 overall) he stayed with the club for a little over two seasons mostly playing with affiliates Oklahoma City Barons, then Bakersfield Condors before a trade sent him to Florida Panthers‘ prospect system as he was set to become a first time restricted free agent.
In 24 AHL games with farm club Springfield Thunderbirds, the 6′ 190 lbs. forward scored 2 goals and 3 assists with a -4 rating in a limited role and then was left unqualified by his new squad.
He was definitely a solid scoring threat through 4 years of junior hockey mostly with Calgary Hitmen and tallied more than and close to point-per-game numbers as a third and fourth year player.
The still young 23-year old should put up huge stats again in the lower league on a fairly well-stacked roster and is likely trying to set up an amazing deal to head overseas for his next adventure.
6th year center Travis Ewanyk(11) takes his game over to DEL signing for 2018/2019 with Krefeld Pinguine.
He was coming off a decent season skating for Wichita Thunder, where he played 60 ECHL games scoring 13 goals and 16 assists with a -18 on a non-playoff club.
It wasn’t his best year in the league.
That was a campaign split between Fort Wayne Komets and Idaho Steelheads in 2016/2017, when he grabbed 20 goals and 27 assists.
Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#74 overall), he was in their system for a pair of years before being traded to Ottawa Senators as he was approaching restricted free agent status.
The 25-year old never exhibited huge point getting through four runs with Edmonton Oil Kings but was a part of the 2012 WHL Championship team and uses all of his 6′ 200 lbs. frame to his advantage.
He should be able to catch fire as soon as he gets comfortable in Germany’s top hockey.
6th year defenseman Michael Boivin(28) decides to stay in EBEL for a fifth run but switches allegiances from Medvescak Zagreb to accept a one-year deal with HC Innsbruck for 2018/2019.
Through 52 games he scored a career high 17 goals and 38 points with a +19 rating last season.
The decently-sized offensive-minded blue liner came back over to Erstebank Eishockey Liga after a pair of successful campaigns in the ECHL.
He was signed by Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL for his 2nd year but was reassigned to affiliate Rapid City Rush before parting ways and loaned to Reading Royals, where he once again was able to generate lots of points but after 24 games (2 goals, 17 assists) left to return to Austria’s top hockey.
The 27-year old seems very comfortable here and it would be little surprise to see him stay put.
3rd year goaltender Jason Kasdorf(31) signs with Lausitzer Fuchse of DEL2 after not being given a qualifying offer by his contract club of the past two seasons, Buffalo Sabres.
Although he played his first and only NHL game straight out of having spent four years at RPI, he was barely able to elevate himself above a pair of ECHL affiliates, where he spent most of his time tending net.
His AHL career last all of 4 games with affiliate Rochester Americans.
Originally a Winnipeg Jets‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#157 overall), he was traded almost before he could put on the pads in a big deal that sent him eastward.
The 26-year old should be able to find his game in Germany’s tier two league and may even shut the door and move up a notch.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Tom Parisi(6) was left without a qualifying offer from his contract club of the past two seasons, Montreal Canadiens, then took a little time to figure out where to sign and play next.
The 5’11” 191 lbs. blue liner decides to head overseas joining Cardiff Devils for 2018/2019, where he would have likely excelled for the two-time EIHL Champions.
Odd as things sometimes happen though, the 25-year old got over to the United Kingdom, maybe even played a little and 3 days later decided to retire to pursue interests outside of hockey.
He likely has a decent degree Providence College, where he helped the team earn the 2015 NCAA Division 1 Championship so should be ok.
We also wouldn’t close the booking on a return to pro hockey somewhere.
Undrafted 5th year right wing Adam Schmidt(14) re-signs for a 2nd season with Reading Royals after scoring a career high 27 assists and 44 points with a +8 rating, then adding another tally and helper in 4 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward started as a pro with three campaigns in Sweden’s tier 2 Allsvenskan, playing as a rookie and sophomore skater for HC Vita Hasten before switching over to Tingsryds AIF grabbing 46 goals and 36 assists in 151 games.
He was always fairly solid through four years at Holy Cross College averaging 10+ goals and 15 assists and signed an ato with local to school club Worcester Sharks getting a goal and 2 assists in 14 AHL games.
If the 27-year old can affect the scoresheet, he may get the loan nod from the higher league.
