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.
3rd year right wing Matt Willows(90) decides to call it a career after posting a career best 32 goals and 74 points in 72 ECHL games with Reading Royals to become an assistant coach at NCAA III Manhattanville College, where he’ll also being studying to earn his master’s degree.
He also led the team in all scoring categories.
The small, feisty forward leaves the league having scored 77 goals and 124 assists for 201 points through 206 games with a +20 rating.
He started his pro career on an ato with Worcester Sharks but was recalled to the AHL for only one other appearance in 2016/2017 to signing team San Jose Barracuda.
His contract for 2017/2018 was actually with Lehigh Valley Phantoms but wasn’t given a look up.
The 26-year old will turn 27 over the summer and maybe has made a good decision moving forward but will be missed on the ice.
Undrafted center John Dunbar(90) has literally been all over the map with his career but will skate a 2nd season for Guildford Flames after posting a pretty awesome 22 goals and league leading 59 assists in 55 EIHL games.
He showed up after spending the majority of 2016/2017 with Norfolk Admirals connecting for 19 goals and 31 assists in 61 ECHL games on a very subpar team.
The small 5’8″ 175 lbs. forward actually started that season in France2 with Mulhouse playing just 8 games scoring 6 goals and 7 assists before leaving to return to North America.
This followed two years at Northern AB Institute Of Technology of the CCAA, where he helped them win back-to-back championships and led in all scoring categories.
That wasn’t his first consecutive titles though as he started his pro career splitting time with Fort Wayne Komets and Penscola Ice Flyers and won the 2013 and 2014 SPHL titles.
You’d think that would be enough of a hockey story but no, this player even had a year and a half at Quinnipiac University after a pair of mega-successful years for Calgary Canucks of the AJHL but left college to head back to juniors for half a season with Fort McMurray Oil Barons earning a point-per-game.
The 26-year old is probably happy to be spending a 2nd year anywhere but seems to be making a nice home in the United Kingdom’s top league.
