11th year Finnish-born net minder Mikko Koskinen(19) has been shutting the door in the KHL for the last 5 seasons, for the past four with SKA St. Petersburg en route to a pair of titles, 2015 and 2017 Gagarin Cup plus loads of best goaltender and shutouts nods.
The extra large 6’6″ 205 lbs. back stop has played his way into a 1-year, 1-way deal with Edmonton Oilers, who are looking for something like an outstanding goalie to change their fortunes.
He’ll definitely be competing for the starter job.
His last and only other NHL experience was as a sophomore player for New York Islanders, where he was a 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#31 overall) and played 4 games with less than spectacular results.
The 29-year old turns 30 over the summer and could just be getting started.
Undrafted 8th year right wing Kevin Clark(11) has been on an interesting pro hockey journey overseas, which started after leaving a tough 2nd season of low scoring under contract with St. John’s IceCaps of the AHL late in the 2012/2013 for Krefeld Pinguine of DEL.
After a productive playoff showing (5 goals, 2 assists in 9 games) he re-signed to stay for a full campaign scoring a team leading 30 goals and second 38 assists and 68 points.
The small 5’8″ 170 lbs. forward would switch allegiances for 2014/2015 agreeing with rivals Hamburg Freezers, where he grabbed a team high by a wide margin 66 points (32-34), good enough to earn him most goals, forward and player of the year honors.
He next decided to try a bit of a higher rung of hockey joining SCL Tigers.
Although he wasn’t able to reach the marks he set in Germany, his 35 points in 42 NLA games was still very good and another 3 goals and 11 assists in 12 postseason matchups.
The journey continued with his next stop heading for Brynas IF of the SHL and his 23 goals would be tops for 2015/2016 in the league, then would once again pop the stat sheet in the playoffs (9-8-17 in 20).
After one more season in Sweden’s top league, he signs for 2018/2019 at the highest level possible on the other shores, the KHL agreeing to terms with Dinamo Riga.
The 30-year old will have his work cut out for him but could continue on the offensive surge he’s now been noted for achieving.
8th year undrafted defenseman, sometimes forward Sena Acolatse(14) decides it’s time to try the overseas route after a pair of AHL deals kept him in the league he’s played his entire career at 355 games.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner signs for 2018/2019 with Straubing Tigers of DEL.
He’s played for 5 minor league clubs with his first three years spent on an entry level deal with San Jose Sharks‘ affiliate Worcester Sharks.
His best offensive season was 6 goals, a career high 17 assists and 23 points for first year Springfield Thunderbirds in 2016/2017.
He also was a point-per-game guy in his 5th, overage season in the WHL with Prince George Cougars.
Not exactly known for his offense, he’s physically tough to play against with 660 penalty minutes and 42 fighting majors to his credit.
The now 27-year old should be able to elevate his game to a whole new level in Germany’s top league.
It’s a bit of a wonder why he was never given a look at the highest level of hockey.
Undrafted 3rd year center Adam Krause(26) decides to hang up the skates and head back to his alma mater University Of Minnesota-Duluth to accept a position as assistant coach for 2018/2019.
He comes off his first full AHL season with Rochester Americans playing a career high 46 games tying a 3 goal mark with new best 5 assists, 8 points and +3 rating.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward came off a pair of seasons in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ system but spent more time in the ECHL with affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he had a pair of 24 point campaigns.
He spent one season in the USHL before college and was named captain as a junior.
The 26-year old will do well in a coaching role.
New Jersey Devils‘ 10th year defenseman Brian Strait(7) earns a new 2-year deal despite not appearing in an NHL game for the first time in 5 seasons.
He played 61 AHL games with affiliate Binghamton Devils serving as one of their assistant captains scoring 3 goals and 5 assists, while always being a true leader on and off the ice.
Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft (#65 overall), he spent 3 and a half years in their system before being claimed off waivers by New York Islanders, where he skated exclusively in the big league before signing as a free agent with Winnipeg Jets for one campaign.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. former Boston University blue liner and 2009 NCAA Champion isn’t relied so much for putting points on the board as much as being a stay at home d-man that’s tough to play against and owns a +32 rating in the minors.
At 30-years old he’s definitely a player the team can count on and will definitely be looked upon to return the farm club to glory and could earn more time up in the show.
Undrafted 3rd year center Travis St. Denis(24) scores a 2-year NHL entry level deal with New York Islanders after posting career high and team leading goals (23), assists (21) and points (44) with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
He also had 169 shots on net and 4 game-winning goals, including 11 on the power-play in 2017/2018.
The former Quinnipiac University assistant captain as a senior and standout helped the team win the 2016 NCAA/ECAC title while recording more than a point-per-game.
He had even better marks in his fourth stint in junior hockey with Penticton Vees (88 points in 54 games) en route to the 2012 BCHL Championship.
The small 5’7″ 170 lbs. 25-year old forward will need to continue his uptick offensive surge to score a recall but is definitely on path.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Dylan Zink(25) decides to waste little time to figure out where he’ll play next signing a one-year deal with Sparta Sarpsborg of GET-ligaen.
As a rookie he was under contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins but skated only 7 AHL games grabbing one assist.
He was an invite to parent club Pittsburgh Penguins‘ training camp.
The 6’ 180 lbs. blue liner played most of last season with affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he scored 4 goals and 18 assists with a +4 rating in 46 ECHL games.
He was fairly successful on the scoresheet through 4 years at UMass-Lowell, which followed a pair of stints in the NAHL.
It’s quite possible the 25-year old is just getting started, will likely post career high stats in Norway’s top league and work his way up the overseas hockey ladder.
Boston Bruins‘ 2nd year defenseman Connor Clifton(6) earns a 2-year entry deal after a solid rookie showing with affiliate Providence Bruins.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner scored 4 goals and 9 assists for 13 points with a +11 rating in 54 AHL games.
Taking a bit of a long shot route before turning pro, he spent 3 seasons in the tier 3 junior EHL with New Jersey Hitmen before signing of for a full campaign with the USNTDP team of the USHL, where his stock seemed to rise after winning a silver medal in World Juniors U18 play.
He next agreed to spend his next four years at Quinnipiac University and was named captain as a senior and helped them win the 2016 NCAA/ECAC Championship.
Originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 5th round pick in the 2013 draft (#133 overall), the 23-year old plays a versatile, two-way style that will likely continue to grow into his pro game.
Tampa Bay Lightning‘s Russian-born rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachyov(98) had himself quite the first season.
After an offseason trade sent him from draft club Montreal Canadiens (1st round, 2016, #9 overall) to his current team, he stepped it up.
The already sizable 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner played 3 games in 2017/2018 with the Habs before being returned to a 2nd campaign for Windsor Spitfires, where he once again eclipsed the 30+ assist mark with a +22 rating and was named the league’s top defenseman in 2015/2016.
He returned to the parent club after completing his juniors calendar for another appearance but was still held off the scoresheet despite increased playing time.
This year he’s scored 9 goals and 31 assists for 40 points with a +11 getting himself off to a strong start and added another 2 goals and 2 assists in 8 Stanley Cup Playoff contests.
The hard-working, hard-hitting d-man will turn just 20-years old over the summer but is playing like he’s been guarding the zone for a lot longer than he has.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers sign undrafted rookie left wing Ryan Hitchcock(46) to a two-year extension.
He stays on after agreeing to an ato fresh off 4 years at Yale University, as captain in his senior campaign, where he netted a college high 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) in 31 NCAA games.
The 5’10” 176 lbs. definitely possesses a scoring touch grabbing a nice 3 goals and 6 assists in his first 16 AHL games.
There’s little doubt the 22-year old will be invited to New York Islanders‘ upcoming training camps and it’s easy to see he’ll be looking to make an impression.
