Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in the 2016 draft (#175 overall) Russian-born 4th year center Maxim Mamim(38) received a 1st NHL recall as a North American rookie with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.
The 6’2″ 191 lbs. forward plays tough checking style that also leaves him open for scoring opportunities.
Through 29 AHL games he has 9 goals and 13 assists with a +5 rating on a team that has a losing record.
In his debut he skated 15 shifts for 9:19 total ice time with 2 penalty minutes and one play breakup in a 3-2 shootout loss.
He started his pro career with three years playing for CSKA Moskva, where last season he had 12 goals and 13 assists with a +17 rating.
The recently turned 23-year old looks to become an impact player in the big league but may have to turn on the jets as he has just a 2-year entry level deal to turn some heads.
Undrafted 4th year left wing Jack Nevins(24) is one very tough skater to play against due to his constant, agitating presence on the ice.
Originally an unrestricted free agency Montreal Canadiens‘ signing, he was given an entry level deal but traded to Buffalo Sabres at the deadline of his rookie campaign.
The 6’2″ 210 lbs. forward spent the final year of his contract with affiliate Rochester Americans, but in 59 AHL games was only able to manage 4 goals with a -16 rating.
Never really much of a goal scorer he switched teams and leagues frequently through his junior career but did show signs of life as captain with Charlottetown Islanders scoring 14 goals and 22 assists before a trade sent him to Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, where he also hit it pretty big in the QMJHL playoffs.
Left unqualified, he signed with Quad City Mallards for 2016/2017 and was able to do decently through a career high 61 ECHL games.
He was also loaned up for one appearance with Iowa Wild.
The 24-year old looks to be putting up slightly better numbers in his second year in the league with new team Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
He may be best served to continue his game overseas in a league like EIHL, where he would likely do extremely well.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft (#34 overall) 2nd year defenseman Travis Dermott(8) is rewarded for his uptick of play with affiliate Toronto Marlies with a first NHL recall.
In 26 AHL games he has a pair of goals and a team second 16 assists with a +15 rating, so is only off rookie numbers (5-19-24 in 59 games) by a small margin.
The sort of small-is looking 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner definitely knows how to head man the puck or put it into play for scoring chances.
That became very obvious in his last two seasons (of three) with Erie Otters and he matched 37 assists before being offer a chance to skate pro on an entry level slide before this season, which is the first of his three year entry level deal.
He’s also the type of player that is always skating and gets himself directly into the play when the puck is visible.
His work earned him a first big league point, an assist in shootout win.
Through 2 games before being reassigned he skated some decent minutes, had some shots on nets, hits, 2 penalty minutes and even a few giveaways.
The 21-year old still has a ways to go but may be getting there sooner than later.
Undrafted 2nd year center Mark Naclerio(67) decides to leave Reading Royals and head to Erste Bank Eishockey Liga signing for the remainder of 2017/2018 with EHC Linz.
He was likely heading towards new career highs scoring 10 goals and 18 assists in 36 ECHL games, which was very close to marks he set last season skating for Atlanta Gladiators (14-19-36), while on reassignment from contract club Providence Bruins.
In 10 AHL contests through 2016/2017 he was less successful with a goal and an assists.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward initially skated 7 games with the P-Bruins after finishing up four years at Brown University, where he was a decent scorer, especially as a sophomore, when he struck for 16 goals and 19 assists.
The 25-year old should be able to do well in Austria’s top league.
New York Islanders‘ 3rd year left wing Ross Johnston(52) earned a 2nd NHL game, making it two straight seasons of appearances for the huge, tough guy.
He played 11 shifts for a brief 5:49 total ice but got off 2 shots, 2 hits, a fighting major and ten minute misconduct, while picking up his first point, an assist in a 7-3 drubbing of Chicago Blackhawks.
In 37 AHL games, he’s already picked up a new career best 8 assists.
It’s possible the 23-year old has earned another look in the current recall and may have even upped the ante on his upcoming restricted free agent status.
This is a player that absolutely thumps out there.
Undrated 3rd year center Michael Kirkpatrick(11) earns his first loan to the AHL.
Cleveland Monsters became the suitors to call on the 5’11” 175 lbs. forward, who is essentially a point-per-game guy in the ECHL (65-93-158 in 168 games).
He’s under contract for a second straight season with Florida Everblades and his production in the current campaign looks to be his best yet.
As a rookie, he led Adirondack Thunder in scoring.
Then as a sophomore skater was a bonkers, tied for team leading +32 rating.
He won the 2011 QMJHL Championship and subsequent Memorial Cup, while he was with Saint John’s Sea Dogs, where he also put up some outstanding numbers.
From there he was given a two-year deal with St. John’s IceCaps but a month in with no games under his belt decided to leave to attend St. Francis Xavier University and stayed hot scoring.
It’s a bit of a wonder why the 27-year old doesn’t move on to find some better hockey (and money) overseas, unless the Nova Scotia native is content be a high level player and appreciates the higher level opportunity he’s been given.
Texas Stars‘ rookie center Max French(17) started the season with affiliate Idaho Steelheads and has been returned after 25 AHL games scoring 3 goals and 3 assists with a -2 rating.
They likely want to see if they can ignite that scoring in the lower league as he did, especially as a junior assistant captain and senior captain with Bentley University.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward was a point-per-game player through four years of college hockey.
A tenacious skater, he should start lighting up the ECHL when he lands.
It would be no surprise if the 25-year old’s next contract came from a suitor overseas.
Fischtown Pinguins‘ 3rd year undrafted center Ross Mauermann(14) got off to a quick start in 2017/2018 scoring 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 41 DEL games with a +6 rating.
These numbers almost double what he was able to score in a similar amount of games last season and are more points than he had in a full AHL schedule as a rookie for Springfield Falcons.
The smallish 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward was part of the 2015 NCAA Championship team with Providence College and produced three 20+ point campaigns along with his best marks, 36 points as a junior.
He also has a combined +30.
The 27-year old’s stepped up game was rewarded with a one-year extension to stay on.
Cincinnati Cyclones‘ undrafted 5th year center Shawn O’Donnell(16) looks to eclipse scoring marks he set last season with the team (14-28-42).
Through 26 ECHL games he already has 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points with a +6 rating and unloaded 101 shots on net.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward started his pro career after 4 years at St. Mary’s University on an ato to join Florida Everblades and after 5 appearances and playoffs was signed for his rookie year but then traded to Wichita Thunder before the start of training camp.
He wasn’t there long though as he was loaned up to Hartford Wolf Pack and never looked back, staying with them for the next three seasons.
In 134 AHL games he was unable to produce what he has in the lower league (7-11-18) but always was able to fill that role as an agitating third or fourth line defender.
It would seem mostly likely that the next move for the 29-year old will be to head off to Europe for another few seasons but could stick closer to home and start grooming himself for coaching opportunities.
4th year extra-big defenseman (6’7″ 222 lbs.) Loic Leduc(21) has made a decision to take a step back joining Thetford Mines Assurancia of the LNAH for the remainder of the calendar, leaving Reading Royals after 24 ECHL games scoring 6 assists.
He returns to play a bit closer to home in the semi-pro Quebec league.
Originally a New York Islanders‘ 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#103 overall), the blue liner was in the team’s prospect system for three seasons before being left unqualified heading into 2017/2018.
He played 53 AHL games with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers but was reassigned further down for most of his time.
Not exactly counted on for his point production, he’s more known for inflicting a punishing presence for any players that wander too close to his net.
It’s still possible the super-young 23-year old decides accept another contract in double A hockey but could be strategizing to move his game to a higher level overseas.
