4th year center Mark MacMillan(16) spent last season under contract to Wichita Thunder picking up a career high 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in 65 ECHL games, then added another 5 points in 6 Kelly Cup Playoff matchups but has decided to look elsewhere agreeing for 2018/2019 with Tingsryds AIF of Allsvenskan.
Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#113 overall), he was signed to a 2-year entry level deal and spent 120 AHL with then affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.
He scored 12 goals and 18 assists with a -16 rating, but it wasn’t enough to be qualified to stick in the prospect system.
The decently prolific 6′ 182 lbs. forward notched 10+ goals and assists through 4 years at the University Of North Dakota, which followed a pair of outstanding efforts in the BCHL that had him as well over a point-per-game performer.
At 26-years old, he should excel nicely overseas in Sweden’s tier two hockey league and potentially be moved up to the higher level.
8th year center Scott Tanski(41) has played 294 ECHL games (50 goals, 56 assists) with 3 different clubs but was a healthy scratch all too often last season with Reading Royals, so has decided to pursue some overseas hockey for 2018/2019.
The fast, feisty 6’2″ 197 lbs. forward signs a one-year deal with Braehead Clan of EIHL and should see his offensive numbers pop.
He started his pro career with one AHL season for Connecticut Whale after four years with Brampton Battalion of the OHL, but never made it back up to the higher league.
Although he’s already 28-years old, he may find some new life in the United Kingdom and be able to raise his game to another level.
Tampa Bay Lightning 4th year defenseman Daniel Walcott(85) signs on to stay for another season after playing a career high tying 62 AHL games scoring a new best 5 goals and three time tying 11 assists for 16 points with a +5 rating, 70 penalty minutes and 2 game-winning strikes for affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
The not exactly huge 5’11” 175 lbs. blue liner averaged 30+ assists in two seasons with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL, where he served as captain in his final campaign.
Originally a New York Rangers‘ 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#140 overall), he was traded before his rookie season after playing 1 game with minor league club Hartford Wolf Pack after leaving juniors.
He signed a 3-year entry level deal at the start of 2015/2016.
The 24-year old, who has also spent 3 ECHL games skating for Greenville Swamp Rabbits as a rookie, was set to become a restricted free agency but avoids any contract squabbles by agreeing quick to continue the pursuit of the dream.
Undrafted 4th year center Nick Huard(40) decides to stay on for a second season with Dresdner Eislowen after scoring a very decent 19 goals and 22 assists in 51 DEL2 games.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward has been able to mark up the scoresheet effectively in 3 years of MJAHL then 3 campaigns at University Of Guelph but was less successful in one try at the QMJHL.
He turned pro after finishing up school signing an ato with Cincinnati Cyclones and put up 3 goals and 3 assists in 13 ECHL games, then re-signed heading into his rookie season.
It was in 2015/2016, when he had his best success with a career high 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points and led the league with 15 power play tallies.
The 27-year old seems comfortable in Germany’s tier 2 but it seems like if he can string together another successful run will be elevated to the next level.
Undrafted 2nd year left wing Evan Jasper(10) takes a great rookie season scoring a Greenville Swamp Rabbits team tied high 29 assists and 2nd best 21 goals and 50 points in 64 ECHL games to Frederickshavn White Hawks of Metal Ligaen for 2018/2019.
He also played 11 games with them after graduating four years at Sacred Heart University, where he put up decent stats and served as assistant captain as a junior and captain as a senior.
This followed three outstanding seasons of juniors in the OJHL with Cobourg Cougars.
Those stats in the lower league were good enough to earn him a loan up to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
He played 3 AHL games and recorded an assist.
The 26-year old should be able to connect big in Denmark’s top league and nicely move up the hockey ladder overseas.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Kevin Schulze(26) takes a pair of strong seasons with Wheeling Nailers, scoring 21 goals and 70 assists in 118 ECHL games overseas to Vasterviks IF of Allsvenskan for 2018/2019.
His 47 assists last season were tops amongst blue liners in the league.
The smallish 5’9″ 165 lbs. d-man also was loaned up to affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for one AHL game as a rookie and 12 more in the most recent campaign grabbing an assist with an overall +2 rating.
He did 4 years at University Of Wisconsin helping them to a 2013 NCAA/WCHA Championship as a first year player and the 2014 NCAA/B1G title in his sophomore run.
The 25-year old should be able to do very well in Sweden’s tier two hockey league and could play himself up to a higher level.
Undrafted 5th year left wing Garrett Thompson(48) takes quite a career year scoring (29-42-71 in 67 ECHL games with a +22 rating) with Fort Wayne Komets over to Frisk Asker of GET ligaen for 2018/2019.
He also played 2 AHL games on loan to Iowa Wild with no points.
The 6’2″ 191 lbs. forward was initially signed to an ato by Binghamton Senators following four successful seasons of 10+ goals at Ferris State University and was reassigned to the team after signing a one-year entry level deal with parent club Ottawa Senators.
This followed three campaigns in the NAHL for Traverse City North Stars, in which he was close to a point-per-game performer in his final run.
After three seasons in Indiana, the 28-year old should be ready to do very well in Norway’s top league.
Florida Panthers‘ 4th year defenseman Josh Brown(3) signs a two-year extension to stick in the prospect system.
The very sizable 6’5″ 220 lbs. blue liner has been a punishing pillar in the zone for affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds despite not putting up many points on the scoresheet, but unafraid to drop the mitts (5 fighting majors in 2017/2108 and 8 the previous campaign), when pushed.
He was a two-time captain for Oshawa Generals and helped guide them to the 2015 OHL Championship and Memorial Cup.
The 24-year old looks to be a great candidate for a first NHL recall as the new season approaches
Undrafted 9th year right wing Carter Bancks(34) signs on for a fifth (and sixth) campaign with Utica Comets.
He’s expected to resume as team captain for a third straight season, a role he filled in his final run of the WHL with Lethbridge Hurricanes, where he was always a consistent scorer.
The 5’11” 182 lbs. forward initially signed an ato with Abbotsford Heat after junior hockey and would be given an extension to play as a rookie and unfortunately limited to just 29 AHL games but did manage 5 goals and 14 assists.
It was good enough to grab the attention of the parent club Calgary Flames, who signed him to a tw0-year entry level deal.
He played his only pair of NHL games, no points, at the end of 2012/2013 but was left unqualified to once again pick up with the farm club on a 2nd contract.
At 28-years old, he seems pretty content but it would be little surprise to see him try his hand overseas after the current term is up, as he will have skated 500+ games in the league.
