12th year veteran left wing Brett Sterling(29) decides to wrap up his pro career after playing two seasons for Chicago Wolves, the team he started with in 2006/2007, while under contract with draft squad Atlanta Thrashers.
As a first year player in the Windy City, he was the AHL best rookie and top scorer with a 55 goal effort.
The decided small forward spent three seasons overseas: one season in the SHL and two in a row 2015 & 2016 EBEL Championships for EC Salzburg.
The 33-year old also won a 2008 Calder Cup with his current club and who knows may hang up the skates with another one.
Undrafted rookie defenseman Christopher Dienes(9) was under contract with Manitoba Moose but skated only one AHL game despite getting numerous recalls from affiliate Jacksonville IceMen.
The big 6’3″ 195 lbs. blue liner had a very decent first season in the ECHL scoring 5 goals and 24 assists with a -2 rating on a non-playoff team and was chosen to represent at the 2018 All-Star Game.
He was never a big point-getter through 4 years at Western Michigan University but did have a pair of campaigns with 10+ assists.
This was under the 23 assist mark he set in his 2nd year of the USHL with Fargo Force.
Signed to an ato fresh out of college with Adirondack Thunder he appeared in his first 5 pro games grabbing two assists.
The 24-year old joined his upper league team for the playoffs and although he may suit up for a postseason tilt, he will continue to gain valuable experience.
12th year right wing Jamie Tardif(49) returned to North America, heading almost full circle in his pro career signing a one-year deal with Quad City Mallards to serve as assistant captain/coach and even scored a handy 13 goals and 19 assists.
He was an ECHL rookie in 2006/2007 with Toledo Storm.
The decently-sized forward came back after three years skating for Adler Mannheim, where he helped them win the 2015 DEL Championship.
He’s decided last season was enough and retires with 2 NHL games for Boston Bruins under his belt, 489 AHL and 324 OHL games for Peterborough Petes pocketing 155 goals and 136 assists.
It seems likely the 33-year old will continue along with another team in a coaching role.
15th year defenseman Maxime Fortunus(10) signed a pto to join Springfield Thunderbirds as a guiding, steady presence on their blue line a month into 2017/2018.
The veteran of 857 AHL games, adding another 54 this season scoring 2 goals and 10 assists with a +13 rating on a non-playoff team stay on those terms somewhat surprisingly never signing an spc.
He started his pro career under contract with Louisiana IceGators of the ECHL skating two seasons with frequent loans up to Houston Aeros.
The 5’11” 205 lbs. d-man next played for Manitoba Moose and was with them for a few campaigns before Dallas Stars swooped in 2008 to sign him to an NHL deal.
He would stay in their system for 7 years, playing 9 big league games with one assist while becoming three-time captain for affiliate Texas Stars and helping them capture the 2014 Calder Cup Championship.
His next move was to sign a two-year term with Iowa Wild, where he assumed the top team presence for a season and became an assistant in 2016/2017.
What’s next for the 34-year old former Baie-Comeau Drakker player is anyone’s guess but he was definitely very useful and looks like he can still go.
6th year defenseman Darren Dietz(44) enjoyed a strong 1st season with Barys Astana scoring a career high 7 goals and 19 points through 44 KHL games to earn himself a handsome two-year extension to stick.
The 24-year old was able to impress early and often through the season and looks to have put himself in a good position to continue.
New York Rangers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#72 overall) 2nd year center Steven Fogarty(19) had a career high 13 assists and tied for 20 points in 63 AHL games with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
The listed bigger than he looks 6’3″ 215 lbs. forward is set to become a restricted free agent as his 2-year entry level deal is up.
This may have led to a late season first NHL recall for a look on a non-playoff club.
In his big league debut he skated 19 shifts for 12:16 of total ice time with one shot, one penalty, 2 hits and one giveaway in a tough shutout loss.
The twice University Of Notre Dame captain had a pair of 20+ point season to finish off at college and won a 2013 NCAA/CCHA Championship as a freshman and the BCHL Cup with Penticton Vees a year earlier.
The 25-year old (today is his birthday) should be qualified for at least another season.
8th year right wing Matt Fraser(7) takes a successful season with Dornbirner EC, scoring 27 goals and 18 assists in 51 EBEL games to Augsburger Panther of DEL for 2018/2019.
It will be his third year overseas but he was limited to just 4 SHL games in 2016/2017 for Rogle BK due to a long-term nagging injury before deciding to sign in Austria for the follow-up campaign.
The big forward left North American hockey after splitting 2015/2016 with Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks‘ affiliates but was left unqualified.
Almost a bit odd as he played his first full NHL campaign the year prior starting with Boston Bruins before a trade sent him to Edmonton Oilers.
The almost 28-year old should find great success in Germany’s top league.
10th year defenseman Cody Lampl(32) switches up teams for the first time in a few years, joining Adler Mannheim for 2018/2019 after three seasons with Fischtown Pinguins.
His first season in Germany was spent in DEL2 before he was upped to DEL, where he bettered his output and tied a career best mark of 30 points set in his last North American season with Toledo Walleye.
The 31-year old, who will turn 32 over the summer seems to have found a nice surrogate home until he decides it’s time to retire from the pro ranks.
After 19 pro seasons, the last 5 as captain of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Tom Kostopoulos(29) decides it will be time to hang up the skates after the conclusion of the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Limited to 31 AHL in the current calendar, he managed another 5 goals and 14 assists, bringing his league totals up to an almost mind-numbing 722 games grabbing 211 goals and 329 assists with a +45 rating.
He also leaves with 630 NHL games to his record with six different teams.
It seems obvious he should become an assistant coach in eastern Pennsylvania but any announcement of a future endeavor has yet to be made.
Undrafted 4th year right wing T.J. Foster(16) leaves Norway after a successful season with Frisk Asker scoring 23 goals and 25 assists in 42 GET-ligaen games, then adding another 6 points in 10 playoff contests.
He was coming off a pair of outstanding ECHL campaigns, while under contract with Toronto Marlies but mostly on reassignment, originally with Orlando Solar Bears for his rookie run before being loaned to Norfolk Admirals as a sophomore skater.
The only downside to the feisty 5’11” 175 lbs. forward’s point-per-game numbers was an accrued -22 rating.
He twice recorded 70+ points with Edmonton Oil Kings and also won the 2012 WHL Championship.
After 5 years of junior hockey, he decided on two years at University Of Alberta, where he won the 2014 CIS University Cup title and was named most valuable player.
The soon-to-be 26-year old should be able to settle into the faster paced Liiga with Sport pretty well.
Almost oddly, he only ever appeared in 3 AHL games as a first year player.
