2nd year Russian-born defenseman Sergei Zborovsky(5) decides to opt out of the last two years of his entry level deal with New York Rangers and head back home to the KHL joining HK Sochi for 2018/2019.
He was a 3rd round pick in the 2015 draft (#79 overall).
The big 6’4″ 208 lbs. blue liner split time between affiliates Hartford Wolf Pack and Greenville Swamp Rabbits last season spending 47 games in the ECHL and only 10 up in the AHL.
He failed to register a point in the higher league but did have a +1 rating on a struggling squad and 5 goals and 12 assists at the lower level.
In three campaigns of junior hockey for Regina Pats, he was always able to connect with the score sheet on a regular basis but took it up nicely in his final foray with 7 goals and 33 assists in 60 WHL games with a league leading +72 rating.
The 21-year old should grow into his game nicely where he’ll likely feel a lot more comfortable and can concentrate on just one team.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th year Swedish-born left wing Tobias Lindberg(25) re-ups for 2018/2019 after a late season trade from Vegas Golden Knights brought him into the system, but he was kept with their affiliate Chicago Wolves to play out the campaign and popped in a new career high 10 goals and 23 points in 64 AHL games while keeping together his perfect on-ice rating at a +8.
The former 2015 OHL Champion and CHL Memorial Cup winner in his one season with Oshawa Generals, who detonated the scoresheet grabbing 32 goals and 46 assists in 67 games with a +33 plus/minus.
He played most of his junior hockey at home for Djurgardens IF, while also skating in a few contests with tier two Allsvenskan before arriving in North America.
Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2013 draft (#102 overall), he was dealt late in his rookie campaign after getting what is still a best 17 assists for affiliate Binghamton Senators.
He did manage to play 6 big league games near the end of his rookie season with Toronto Maple Leafs grabbing a pair of assists.
The soon-to-be 23 year old seems like he is still awaiting a full scale breakout season and could find that space with new club Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to earn a 2nd NHL recall.
4th year defenseman Josiah Didier(34) re-signs to stay on for a 2nd season with Charlotte Checkers after playing a career high 54 AHL games scoring a modest new best 4 goals, 9 points and tying 5 assists with a +10 rating.
For his third straight season, the big 6’3″ 218 lbs. blue liner also appeared in the ECHL, skating 12 contests with Florida Everblades grabbing 3 goals and 4 assists.
Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#97 overall), he never signed a big league contract but stuck close agreeing to terms with affiliate St. John’s IceCaps for a pair of seasons.
He spent four years at University Of Denver after one USHL campaign for Cedar Rapids Roughriders and was twice assistant captain as a junior and senior.
The 25-year old may continue on the path in the minors, he’s appeared in 154 games, but we expect him to try his hand overseas after one more run.
San Jose Sharks acquired 3rd year extra big defenseman (6’5″ 235 lbs.) Kyle Wood(3) from Arizona Coyotes as he heads into the final campaign of his three-year entry level deal towards restricted free agency.
Originally a Colorado Avalanche‘ 3rd round pick in the 2014 draft (#84 overall), he was traded for a first time in his fourth and final year with North Bay Battalion and almost immediately given a contract.
He was always a decent performer in juniors picking up 93 points in 165 OHL games with a +35 rating.
As a rookie with Tuscon Roadrunners, his 14 goals were tied for a league best, 42 points led the team amongst blue liners and his 11 power-play tallies tops for the club.
He was also featured in the 2017 AHL All-Star Game and cranked out a 99.3 mph slap shot for hardest in the competition.
The just turned 22-year old should grow into his role as an NHL d-man.
Undrafted 4th year goaltender Joel Rumpel(33) decides to head overseas for 2018/2019 signing with Braehead Clan of the EIHL.
The 6’3″ 190 lbs. net minder has played 100 ECHL games, including a pair of back-to-back 2015 & 2016 Kelly Cup Championships with Allen Americans.
He also won a 2013 NCAA/WCHA and 2014 NCAA/B1G Championship at University Of Wisconsin.
It’s a bit of a wonder why he’s only played 2 AHL games for San Jose Barracuda, while under a 1-year entry level deal with parent club San Jose Sharks.
The 27-year old will likely do very well in the United Kingdom’s top league.
7th year center Taylor Vause(91) seems to like it where he is signing on for a third season with Vienna Capitals of EBEL, his fourth year in the league.
He posted a career high 25 assists with a +31 rating in 2017/2018 after helping the team grab the 2017 EBEL Championship.
The still fairly young 26-year old forward has been fairly consistent scoring since his arrival in Austria and it certainly looks like he’d be happy to stay but if he starts increasing his game, a higher level may woe him away temporarily.
We shall see.
6th year defenseman Andrew MacWilliam(2) re-signs to stay on with Rochester Americans.
Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 7th round pick in the 2008 draft (#188 overall), he spent two years in their prospect system as assistant captain for affiliate Toronto Marlies and also played 12 NHL games in his sophomore season grabbing a pair of assists but was not given a qualifying offer as his entry level deal expired.
He was picked up fairly quickly by Winnipeg Jets in unrestricted free agency and reassigned to farm club Manitoba Moose, where he put up a career high 14 assists and 15 points in 72 AHL games but was a woeful -17 rating on a non-playoff team.
The 6’2″ 225 lbs. blue liner was next signed quickly by New Jersey Devils and spent another full campaign in the minors with Albany Devils but seemed to mostly struggle.
Not the biggest point getter, he did have four strong seasons as a consistent plus player at University Of North Dakota, serving as captain as a senior, always plays a hard hitting style and doesn’t shy away from a confrontation when prompted.
The 28-year old seems to enjoy where he is but it would be little surprise to see him take his game overseas after this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning 4th year center Carter Verhaeghe(21) scores himself a one-year two-way extension to stick after posting a career best 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points in 58 AHL games with a +18 rating, including a team high 7 power play tallies, 4 game-winners, then went on to add 8 more points (1-7) in 7 Calder Cup Playoff contests.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward was originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#82 overall), he’s been twice traded, first to New York Islanders, where he spent a pair of years in their system before heading to Florida.
Up until last season, he’d split his rookie and sophomore campaigns with 36 ECHL games for affiliate Kansas City Mavericks (20-37-57) with a monster +27 rating, plus another 11 points in 10 2016 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.
He was also able to manage a tidy 16 goals and 13 assists in 49 games with Bridgeport Sound Tigers and another +12 plus/minus.
A former captain for Niagara IceDogs of the OHL, he twice notched 82 points as a third and fourth year player and won 2013 WJC Gold.
The 22-year old should compete hard in camp, then get back to work with Syracuse Crunch to play hard enough to earn the NHL recall.
