Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Simon Denis(9) signed for a 2nd season with Toledo Walleye after putting up some outstanding numbers as a rookie.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner had 15 goals and 40 assists with a team leading, monster +40 rating in 70 ECHL games.
He was potentially on pace to eclipse those numbers as a sophomore skater but was happily loaned up to Hartford Wolf Pack, where he played 7 AHL games scoring 4 assists.
Almost a bit oddly, he was never really much of a point getter through 4 years at Ferris State University but did have 10+ assists in three campaigns, was a two-time assistant captain and a part of the 2016 NCAA/WCHA Championship, as a senior.
It will be interesting to see where the almost 28-year old will play next but wouldn’t be surprising to see him head overseas for a better payday and more advanced play.
Undrafted 6th year left wing Matt White(97) signs on for a 2nd season with Augsburger Panther after putting up a career high 16 goals and 26 assists in 52 DEL games.
This mark almost exactly mirrored what he scored for Milwaukee Admirals in the 2nd year of his deal but played more AHL games at 71.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft (#46 overall) Dutch-born right wing Daniel Sprong(11) has already been on an incredible journey, yet he’s only considered a rookie in 2017/2018 despite having already played 18 games in the big league.
The decently sized 6′ 195 lbs. forward made the parent club’s opening night roster in what would have been his 3rd year of QMJHL skating 18 games scoring his first pair of NHL goals before it was decided to return him to Charlottetown Islanders, where he popped the score sheet yet again.
In 10 AHL games, he grabbed 5 goals and 2 assists with a +1 rating before the team bowed out.
His next move had him joining the Pens as a practice player, which would give him more experience but unfortunately he suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him for many months.
Upon healing, he once again was returned to his junior club for a fourth and final year.
He started his first official season in the minors and continued his point-per-game production (30-31-61 in 62 games) before being recalled for 8 games grabbing another two goals and an assist with a +2 before being returned.
The still super-young 21-year old is set to become a restricted free agent after the current campaign and should be extended decently to stay in the system and will likely find him competing for a full-time spot in the show.
He remained unsigned as he approached what would have been a rookie campaign but instead decided to head to school, signing with Saint Mary’s University, where he would spend the next 5 years.
Upon completing school, he skated 3 games with Elsipogtog Hawks of the NESHL but that lasted only 3 games (with 3 assists) before he finally decided to ink his first contract with Wichita Thunder partway through 2016/2017.
The 6’2″ 215 lbs. blue liner took his scoring up a notch grabbing 10 goals and 20 assists in 44 ECHL games on a non-playoff team.
He would earn his first loan up a couple of months later to Binghamton Senators appearing in 8 AHL games getting no points.
Re-signed over the summer heading into his sophomore season, he played another 17 games in Kansas before a trade sent him to Brampton Beast.
His goal totals for the current year are off but he’ll likely pass the 20 helper mark he set in 2016/2017.
After a recent trade that was to send the 28-year old to Toledo Walleye, he decided to retire instead of report, which is slightly surprising as he would have been going to a playoff team to compete for the Kelly Cup.
After 16 SPHL games scoring 6 goals and 7 assists with a +4 rating was loaned up to Brampton Beast.
He stayed up with the team for a month but was returned, then less than a month later went back.
Through 42 ECHL games he has 5 goals and 9 assists, which along with consistent hard work was enough to earn him a loan another rung up the hockey ladder to Montreal Canadiens‘ affiliate Laval Rocket.
In his AHL debut, he was part of a 5-4 overtime victory on a team that has struggled to win games.
Not bad results for the former NCAA Division III Westfield State University captain, who did detonate the scoresheet as a senior connecting for 19 goals and 21 assists in 26 games.
The 25-year old also struck for point-per-game numbers in his first and third seasons with Texas Tornado of the NAHL.
That followed two years in the USNTDP of the USHL.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2016 draft (#49 overall), he was picked up in the trade that sent Rick Nash to Bean Town.
The 6′ 198 lbs. blue liner signed an ato to join affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack to get some games under his belt.
In 5 AHL games he has his first pro goal and an assist with a +1 rating.
It honestly wouldn’t be out of the question to see the parent club give him a shot at the big league as they are out of the playoff push and have been using lots of younger talent at d.
No doubt, this 20-year old is just getting started.
His efforts scored him a two-year NHL deal through 2019.
The 5’11” 196 lbs. forward earned 10 goals and 11 assists in 30 games this season but also spent significant time on the injured reserve list.
Upon his return he started scorching the scoresheet, which helped him earn a 1st big league recall from affiliate Belleville Senators.
In his 2 game stint with the parent club he didn’t manage any points but dished out 6 hits, had one shot on net, one giveaway and went 75% at the face-off dot in roughly 12 shifts per appearance for 10 minutes of ice time.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft (#206 overall), he spent his first two campaigns with their farm squad Providence Bruins.
The former Clarkson University player twice had 20+ assists and close to 30 point seasons, while increasing his penalty minutes that pointed towards the feistiness he would bring to the table as a pro.
At 26-years old he’ll become an unrestricted free agent at the end of his contract but could grab a spot as a 4th line plugger.
He played his first ever ECHL games, skating in 19 with only a pair of tallies and one helper before being loaned up to Utica Comets.
The big 6’3″ 228 lbs. forward spent 27 games (3 goals, 3 assists) in central New York before being released but then claimed by his former club of 6 seasons Belleville Senators.
He’s off to a quick start with a goal and an assist in 4 games and looks to be blending in well with his former team that’s out of playoff contention.
The 28-year old will likely be released back to the southern most state to help that top rated team in their quest for another Kelly Cup Championship, but what’s next for a player who spent 26 games in the NHL with Ottawa Senators is anyone’s guess.
Vancouver Canucks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft (#36 overall), 2nd year goalie Thatcher Demko(35) earns a 1st game up in the big league and comes away with his 1st NHL 5-4 overtime win.
The very large 6’4″ 192 lbs. net minder left Boston College after three seasons, was named NCAA Top Collegiate Goaltender and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award posting a 1.93 GAA and .935 SV% in 39 games before signing his 3-year entry level deal.
A somewhat odd San Diego, CA native, he grew up playing in the San Diego Jr. Gulls development program before moving onto a year in the USHL with Omaha Lancers.
He’s consistently put up outstanding numbers and looks to be backstopping himself into a position to challenge for the starter job at the top level.
