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.
9th year center Justin Hodgman(88) left a decently successful 2nd tour of duty in Finland’s Liiga with Pelicans (10 goals, 10 assists in 26 games) after starting last season for a short stint in Czech Extraliga.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. somewhat menacing looking forward, who mostly stays clear of the penalty box, signed an extension to stay with Adirondack Thunder.
He had initially signed with the team, collecting 4 goals and 6 assists in 16 games on an ato after three years of college were up with his final year at University Of Prince Edward Island.
In 45 games this season he has 13 goals and 22 assists with a +6 rating.
Taking a somewhat odd route through juniors, he spent two years with Sarnia Sting before splitting the next season in three different leagues and finishing up with fourth and an overage campaign in the QMJHL with three different teams, then turning to college.
The 24-year old, Texas-born native may look overseas next to add more clubs to his pro resume but we shall see.
8th year net minder Nick Riopel(32) has been under contract with Syracuse Crunch for the past couple of campaigns but has only seen 18:42 minutes of perfect play in a 4-2 loss.
The 6′ 188 lbs. has played 166 ECHL games posting a 84-62-8-4 record with 4 shutouts and a 2.95 GAA and .906 SV%.
He would start his rookie season on reassignment to Greenville Road Warriors but was recalled for 11 more AHL appearances before being sent back.
His next move saw him ink a deal to stay in South Carolina for a full run and although he didn’t have outstanding stats it helped set up a transfer overseas to Dundee Stars of the EIHL.
Returning to North America for his next venture would see him play mostly for Norfolk Admirals and he was able to elevate his game to a level that got him notice from the higher league.
Carolina Hurricanes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2014 draft (#67 overall) rookie left wing Warren Foegele(37) gets off to a hot start in his big league debut scoring a goal and an assist, then added another tally in game 2.
He leads 1st year skaters for affiliate Charlotte Checkers with 26 goals and 16 assists through 65 AHL games.
Vancouver Canucks‘ undrafted 3rd year defenseman Ashton Sautner(59) had been recalled previously but failed to play his first big league game until recently.
In his debut, he skated 17 shifts for 12:54 total ice with 2 hits and 2 play breakups in a huge 4-1 win.
Not exactly known for putting up points with affiliate Utica Comets, he has a career high 9 assists and 12 points in 59 AHL games but did total 12 goals and 39 assists in 72 games as a 4th year player in juniors.
The almost 24-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current calendar but seems like a good bet to re-up with for at least another season.
Carolina Hurricanes‘ 3rd year Russian-born left wing Valentin Zykov(73) is popping the score sheet in his recent recall from affiliate Charlotte Checkers, where he’s exploded for a career high 32 goals, 20 assists and 52 points in 61 AHL games.
The solidly built 6’1″ 224 lbs. forward was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#37 overall), but got off to a slow start as a rookie with minor league club Ontario Reign (7 goals, 7 assists), then was traded at the deadline.
He basically doubled his scoring totals as a sophomore skater to 16 goals and 18 assists in 66 games, which put him on the radar of the parent club to earn his first summons to the big league.
It took him no time to get settled in a first appearance of 2016/2017, as he connected for his first NHL goal.
He would somewhat repeat the feat but bettered it in a first venture up for 2017/2018.
Going scoreless in his debut, he struck for 2 tallies in his 2nd game and added a pair of assists in his third outing.
The almost 23-year old, former more than point-per-game guy in three seasons of the QMJHL with Baie-Comeau Drakkar is only getting started.
In 50 ECHL games he’s picked up a notable 9 goals and 18 assists with a +1 rating, while only appearing in 5 contests at the higher level grabbing an assist.
The big 6’3″ 210 lbs. blue liner was under contract with Rochester Americans last campaign, while also attending parent club Buffalo Sabres training camp but was released.
He had 3 goals and 6 assists in 48 games on a non-playoff club.
The two-time Clarkson University captain was never exactly the biggest point getter through college but did get 10+ assists in his first two years.
He signed an ato with Albany Devils upon graduation scoring a goal and an assist.
At 25-years old it’s very possible he could look elsewhere for his next pro hockey.
