After 6 seasons Darren Kramer(22) has decided to hang up the skates.
The 6’1″ 210 lbs. forward spent all but 19 ECHL games as a rookie in the AHL skating 265 games with Binghamton Senators and Manitoba Moose scoring 21 goals and 20 assists but wasn’t around for his skills with the puck.
He lead the league in 2014/2015 with 284 penalty minutes including a 26 fighting majors.
It was a relatively quick ascent for him to the pro ranks after 2 campaigns and 10 games with Grand Prairie Storm of the AJHL, he was upped to the WHL for two quick seasons with Spokane Chiefs.
No word on what the 26-year old will pursue next but he was always well-liked and respected in the dressing room and would easily make a great coach somewhere in the ranks.
8th year Swedish-born defenseman Petter Granberg(6) decides to head home on a new 3-year deal with Skelleftea IK of the SHL after spending the entirety of 2017/2018 in the minors.
While under contract with Nashville Predators, who picked him up on waivers from draft club Toronto Maple Leafs (4th round in 2010, #116 overall), he played a full schedule of 76 AHL games scoring a career high 3 goals, 11 assists and 14 points for affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.
Without an NHL recall (he’s played 45 games recording 2 assists with a +2 rating), he was set to enter restricted free agency for a second time in his pro career but maybe thought it better to opt out after coming off a one-way contract in 2017/2018.
The soon-to-be 26-year old will be welcomed home to his old club of 2010 – 2013, which he won the 2013 Championship with before leaving for North America.
Undrafted 6th year Swedish-born defenseman Lukas Bengtsson(32) decides to not wait around to see if he’ll score a qualifying offer from Pittsburgh Penguins, the team he’d signed a 2-year entry level deal with in 2016/2017.
He was headed into his first restricted free agency and may have picked up an extension but injuries have plagued him over the course of the past couple seasons with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The 5’10” 172 lbs. mobile defenseman that plays with accountability scored one goal and 20 assists in just 53 AHL games with a +21 rating, then added two assists in 6 Calder Cup Playoff contests.
He started his pro career with two seasons in Allsvenskan for Mora IK, then was elevated and agreed to terms with Frolunda HC helping them win the 2016 SHL Championship.
The recently turned 24-year old heads back home to Sweden signing for 2018/2019 with Linkoping HC.
We barely got to know you.
Washington Capitals‘ 7th round pick in the 2013 draft (#204 overall) defenseman Tyler Lewington(2) picks up a new 2-year two-way extension to continue.
He’s skated 175 AHL games with affiliate Hershey Bears scoring a modest 9 goals, 25 assists with an overall +22 rating, a season high 10 fighting majors and 149 penalty minutes.
The relatively big 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner appeared in 14 ECHL games with South Carolina Stingrays as a rookie (1 goal, 5 assists) but skated almost full slate at the upper level for the last pair of campaigns.
He was a pretty big assist guy, especially in his last two seasons of the WHL, when he posted 30+ helpers with Medicine Hat Tigers.
It seems likely the 23-year old will receive a first NHL recall soon and his toughness factor could play his way into sticking.
6th year defenseman Kevin Gagne(14) initially left in the final season of his entry level contract with Anaheim Ducks to be loaned to Mora IK of Allsvenskan, tier 2 in Sweden pro hockey.
He appeared in only 23 games but managed to score 3 goals and 8 assists, which was in line with what he put up in juniors at 20+ for 4 seasons and 30+ as an over-age player.
The small blue liner with offensive upside was given a one year extension to stay and in 2016/2017 was voted Best Defenseman Of The Year with 7 goals and 18 assists to go along with a +13 rating, then had another 6 assists in 9 playoff games.
He was bumped up signing a one-year deal with Rogle BK, where he grabbed 6 goals and 3 assists in 36 SHL games, which was a little backwards for him.
For 2018/2019, the 26-year old will return to Mora IK as they are also playing in the top league.
There seems to be little doubt he’ll continue to grow into his game and may make moves as offers are out there.
10th year center Corey Elkins(39) returned for 2017/2018 after 4+ successful campaigns for HIFK, where he scored 42 goals and 87 assists in 223 Liiga games and was three time league best on the face-off dot.
The former Los Angeles Kings‘ prospect initially left for Czech Republic after two seasons with affiliate Manchester Monarchs and only a few games up in the big league left him discouraged.
His first stint overseas for HC Pardubice of Tipsport Extraliga was decent enough for him to earn a one-year deal with Anaheim Ducks to return.
He was reassigned to affiliate Norfolk Admirals but got off to a slow start and sent down further to Fort Wayne Komets, where he struck for 3 goals and 3 assists in 4 ECHL games.
The big 6’2″ 220 lbs. forward decided to opt out of his deal, leaving his long run in Finland.
He decided to return to skate for Grand Rapids Griffins, signing with a team close to his home in West Bloomfield, MI.
Appearing in a full calendar of 76 AHL games, he scored 9 goals and 11 assists but has quickly decided to return to Europe at the conclusion of the season.
The 33-year will head to Germany’s DEL signing with Grizzlys Wolfsburg and likely do well but may return again to become a player/assistant coach.
We shall see.
11th year Swede center David Ullstrom(61) returns to North America for the first time since 2013/2014 signing a one-year two-way deal with Arizona Coyotes.
The big 6’3″ 198 lbs. forward is now 29-years old and had some very decent scoring seasons in the KHL but spent last year at home as an assistant captain for HV71.
He also won a 2017 SHL Championship with them when he returned from a shortened season in Russia.
With 49 NHL games to his credit scoring 6 goals and 7 assists, he might work on the young squad.
Training camp awaits.
7th year left wing Andrew Johnston(61) seems to like his time in Ligue Magnus as he signs on to stay but switches teams from Chamonix to rivals Boxers de Bordeaux for 2018/2019.
He scored a career high 32 assists and 50 points in 44 games last season.
In his first foray overseas with DVTK Jegesmedvek he managed a new best 19 goals en route to the 2017 Erste Liga Championship.
Before leaving North American pro hockey he skated 50 AHL games and 150 in the ECHL with 6 different teams.
One more good season in France and the soon-to-be 27-year old may look elsewhere for some better hockey and a more lucrative payday.
