Florida Panthers‘ 10th year net minder Harri Sateri(29) was wooed to return to North American pro hockey after three strong seasons with Vitayz Podolsk on a 1-year, 2-way deal.
He played 132 KHL games posting a 2.62 GAA and .923 SV% from 2014-2017 after leaving San Jose Sharks‘ prospect system.
Starting a new campaign with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, he’s posted a 5-6 record in 12 AHL games on a team that struggled early but was recalled just after the new year.
He struggled early with three losses in his first ever big league starts but was continued to be given opportunities and has rebounded nicely.
In his last three contests, he’s back stopped three wins, allowing only 5 goals with a .945 SV% and was voted the NHL 2nd star of the week.
If the 28-year old can continue to excel serving as main back up, there’s little doubt he’ll be in line for a multi-year extension to stay.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Kevin Lough(13) started his sophomore season with the team he’d had a successful rookie campaign with, Adirondack Thunder.
In 21 ECHL games, he was flirting with career high totals, scoring 2 goals and 12 assists (he notched 4 goals, 14 assists in 2016/2017).
His efforts earned the 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner a loan up to Chicago Wolves, which paid off nicely as he connected for three assists in his first pair of AHL games and has since put up a pair of goals and 7 helpers in 22 contests with a +4 rating.
This scoring outburst is new for a player that was only able to put up moderate numbers through 4 years at Colgate University.
The 25-year old seems to be climbing the hockey ladder as he was recently given an spc to stick through the current season and from the looks of it could play himself into a new deal sooner than later.
Tampa Bay Lightning 6th year left wing Michael Bournival(15) has been on a bit of a tear with affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
Although he’s only ever played one full season in the minors and scored on a point-per-every-other-game pace last season with the same squad, his totals in the current campaign are blowing the lid off previous marks.
A late reassignment from training camp, through 40 AHL games he has a new high 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points with a +8 rating.
Originally a Colorado Avalanche‘ 3rd round pick in the 2010 draft (#71 overall), he was traded in the last run of juniors to Montreal Canadiens, where he was quickly signed to a three-year entry level deal.
As a senior captain of Shawinigan Cataractes, he would lead them onto a 2012 Memorial Cup victory.
The smallish 5’11” 198 lbs. forward signed a one-year extension, but was sidelined for much of 2015/2016 with concussion issues resulting in him not picking up a qualifying offer to stay on.
He quickly inked a new deal as an unrestricted free agent with the Lightning and split time, playing 19 NHL games.
The 25-year old has 4 more games in the big league under his belt with no points but that likely won’t stand for too long if he continues to get more time.
What the next move for the upcoming restricted free agent is anyone’s guess, but it’s doubtful his time is up in North America.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Willie Corrin(55) signed his latest deal with Brampton Beast after spending 40 ECHL games with the team last season on reassignment from contract club Toronto Marlies.
He played only 4 AHL games scoring no points last season.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner was on an extension signed after he joined the team, when his four years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth were completed
He notched a pair of assists and had a +4 rating in 4 contests.
Once again, the sophomore skater, who never really put up outstanding numbers through college, looks to be setting a new pace for scoring in the latest campaign grabbing 4 goals and 14 assists with a +7 in 26 games.
His efforts have earned him a loan up to Belleville Senators.
In three games he had no points, 2 penalty minutes and 5 shots on net.
The 26-year old looks to be set to grab another contract in the higher league moving forward or will find some better hockey overseas next season.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ undrafted 2nd year goaltender Alex Lyon(49) gets the nod for his first NHL start after putting out the fire for the last 8 minutes of a loss the night before.
He stopped 18 of 22 shots for a .818 SV% in a late 3rd 4-3 defeat against division rivals New Jersey Devils. but did less well in a 2nd appearance surrendering 3 goals on 23 shots and was pulled for the final frame.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. net minder is a pretty strong 40-22-7-4 with a 2.79 GAA and .911 SV% with affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms through 71 AHL games.
He’s played 24 this season with a 13-8-2 record.
The 25-year old is on a one-year extension through the end of the current calendar and set for a second restricted free agency.
It’s sort of a no brainer to make it right to keep the former Yale University stand out around.
Undrafted 4th year defenseman Cody Corbett(84) takes a career high 18 assists and 21 points over to Orli Znojmo of EBEL for the remainder of the 2017/2018 season.
He put up those numbers on a strong Idaho Steelheads‘ squad in just 34 ECHL games before deciding to leave.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner has always been a plus player in the lower league.
Originally signed by Colorado Avalanche to a 3-year entry level deal, he spent most of his time with affiliates but after a trade deadline transaction sent him to Washington Capitals, where he was assigned to South Carolina Stingrays.
He had an amazing run to the Kelly Cup Finals scoring a goal and 8 assists in 22 games with a +6 rating but was left unqualified heading into another campaign.
The 24-year old, twice 2012 & 2014 WHL Champion with Edmonton Oil Kings and one-time 2014 Memorial Cup winner should do very well in Austria and move himself up the hockey ladder overseas in short order.
2nd year center Stephen MacAulay(81) earns the loan up to Syracuse Crunch from contract club Florida Everblades, where he’s lighting it up at a 20/20 rate in 40 ECHL games with a +16 rating.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward couldn’t have picked a tougher minor league team nut to crack, but could also find himself fitting in nicely within their system.
He spent most of his rookie campaign under contract with Springfield Thunderbirds but only managed 2 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating in 39 AHL games and was occasionally lent down to the Everblades, where he also appeared in 10 Kelly Cup playoff matchup.
Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#164 overall) he’s a 3 straight QMJHL Champion, twice with Saint John Sea Dogs and once Halifax Mooseheads.
He also managed CHL Memorial Cups with both teams.
Almost oddly left unsigned to an entry level deal, his first deal was under the watchful eye of Montreal Canadiens but signed by affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs.
He played 8 games scoring a goal and an assist but was also loaned to Wheeling Nailers for 13 games before he decided to jump and join Saint Mary’s University, a place he’d stay to get educated for the next three years.
It will be interesting to see what the next move for the 25-year old will be.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#167 overall) German-born rookie left wing Freddie Tiffels(46) has been up and down between affiliates Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Wheeling Nailers.
He has a moderate 1 goal and 1 assist in 11 AHL games with a +1 rating, while unloading plenty of offensive opportunities in the lower league scoring 4 goals and 11 assists in 18 ECHL contests with 66 shots on net.
Taking an interesting route, coming overseas to play junior hockey with two USHL seasons before committing to Western Michigan State for three years then signing his entry level deal through 2019.
Putting up points has not been a problem, especially helpers for the listed at 6’1″ 206 lbs. forward but looks much smaller.
He definitely has no problem skating, so if he can start igniting where he is to get a better opportunity, he just may stick and impress.
