Tampa Bay Lightning 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft (#35 overall) Czech-Republic-born 2nd year defenseman Dominik Masin(27) was a late cut from training camp to be reassigned to affiliate Syracuse Crunch but is flourishing in his sophomore campaign.
Through 37 AHL games he has 6 goals and 10 assists for 16 points with a +16 rating.
He had 32 assists in 57 OHL games with a +28 rating in his 2nd and final season with Peterborough Petes, so there’s definitely a possible offense upside.
At 6’2″ 198 lbs. he definitely has the size.
Signed to a three year entry level deal through next season, he’s likely to compete for a spot on the blue line sooner than later.
New York Rangers‘ 7th year center Peter Holland(22) has appeared in NHL games ever since his rookie season 2011/2012, but has yet to play a game in the current calendar.
The big, power forward was traded from Montreal Canadiens, who had given him a nice two-year deal on the opening day of unrestricted free agency, just short of a couple of months into 2017/2018.
He is tearing up the AHL on a point-per-game pace and looks to eclipse his best marks in the league he put up as a rookie (23-37-60).
From 2014-2017, while under contract with Toronto Maple Leafs, he was full-time in the big league and eclipsed the 20-point mark twice before being dealt to Arizona Coyotes.
The almost 27-year old should get a recall but even if he doesn’t is on a one-way deal for next season and could be easily looked at to fill a fourth line checking role but definitely needs to pull up a horrible -28 in 243 games.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th year right wing Mike Sislo(9) picked up a new contract as an unrestricted free agent on opening day to join his new team.
In 28 AHL games with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners, serving as assistant captain, he has 10 goals and 8 assists with a -1 rating and has already received a first recall but has yet to play.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward was left in the minors under his last deal with Colorado Avalanche and eventually loaned to Toronto Marlies at trade deadline.
It’s definitely possible for the 29-year to earn more time in the big league but keeping him on may need more money than his current club is willing to offer.
Our bet is he continues his pro hockey overseas for 2018/2019 but we do hope he decides to stay.
6th year right wing Phil Lane(29) is having a career campaign after a preseason trade sent him to Atlanta Gladiators.
In 33 ECHL games he has a team leading, new best 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points with a +11 rating on a team that sometimes struggles to win.
He was dealt from Adirondack Thunder after struggling with the injury bug for most of last season.
In the previous year he skated for Springfield Falcons, initially signing a pto until he was given an AHL contract to stay onboard.
After his entry level contract with draft club Arizona Coyotes was up, he wasn’t given a qualifying offer making him an unrestricted free agent.
He was loaned up to Milwaukee Admirals scoring a goal in 3 appearances and was again recalled but this time by Binghamton Devils, where he could stick with a struggling squad.
Not exactly the biggest point getter, it was still a bit of a surprise he didn’t earn an NHL recall as his aggressive style may have fit nicely into a 4th line role.
It would be little surprise to see the 25-year old explore more opportunities overseas, especially if 2017/2018 ends up being a huge breakout season.
10th year right wing Jan Mursak(39) started his 5th season in the KHL with a new club Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod but after 13 games scoring only 1 assist has been released.
It took him little time to find a new team, as he joins Frolunda Indians of the SHL for the remainder of the calendar and should return to similar scoring levels he’s enjoyed in the past.
The soon to be 30-year old could easily spend the next 5 years of his pro career in Sweden but could also sooner decide to play closer to home as he wraps it up.
Undrafted third year center Eric Neiley(59) leaves Adirondack Thunder after 30 ECHL games scoring 10 goals and 12 assists for Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward grabbed a career high 27 goals and 20 assists in 61 games, while under contract to Atlanta Gladiators, his second season with the team.
He spent most of his rookie campaign with the club on reassignment from Providence Bruins, where he played only 6 AHL games with no points.
There’s little doubt the former Dartmouth University star can effect the score sheet.
He had two years of very close to point-per-game production in college and should be able to light it up in the United Kingdom.
3rd year defenseman Patrick McNally(44) signed a one-year contract with Worcester Railers of the ECHL and was doing quite nicely scoring 12 goals and 12 assists with a +15 rating on the first year club.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner takes those impressive numbers to a new adventure for the remainder of 2017/2018 agreeing with Leksands IF.
Originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#115 overall) he was traded to San Jose Sharks after he put in four years at Harvard University and inked for 2-years on an entry level deal.
He was reassigned to affiliate San Jose Barracuda, where he played 94 AHL games but was not given a qualifying offer to stick despite a decent sophomore campaign.
The recently turned 26-year old should be able to take it to the next level in Sweden’s tier two league, Allsvenskan and even likely will find himself moving up the hockey ladder to the SHL with some sound play.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#72 overall) left wing Tyrell Goulbourne(12) just one season ago split time between affiliates Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Reading Royals but was limited to 1 goal through 24 AHL games and did much better in the lower league (8 goals, 11 assists).
In 34 contests with the farm team this year though he’s already approaching close to season high totals of 6 goals and 4 assists with a +8 rating.
It was enough to earn a first NHL recall from the parent club.
In his 2 games he failed to register a point in a very conservative 10 shifts for around 5 minutes per appearance but came away with a +1 rating and threw 4 hits in two victories, so that’s ain’t too bad.
The 6′ 199 lbs. forward won the 2015 WHL Championship with long-term squad Kelowna Rockets before turning pro.
He’s always been a decent scorer but hasn’t exactly produced the type of stats you see for such a decently high selection.
Signed to a three year entry level deal he will become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign.
It won’t be any surprise to see the almost 24-year old get a one-year extension but will need to continue to perform well in the minors.
Boston Bruins‘ 2nd year defenseman Matt Grzelcyk(48) started on the main roster but after one game was reassigned to play 14 AHL games to continue his sophomore season scoring 4 assists with a +4 rating.
He was recalled a little over a month in and has not looked back.
Through 22 games, the small blue liner has a first NHL goal, 4 assists with a huge +13 rating.
The Charlestown, MA native has to be thrilled playing home hockey right next to where he grew up.
At 23-years old, soon to turn 24, the restricted free agent is going to be in line for a nice pay boost, multi-year extension.
New York Islanders‘ 5th round pick in the 2017 draft (#139 overall), 5th year (1st in North America) Swedish-born defenseman Sebastian Aho(28) nets a first NHL goal and an assist in his 3rd game, but is a -6 on a team that has been struggling as of late.
The swift-moving d-man with strong puck control has lit up affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers on reassignment.
Through 29 AHL games he has 9 goals and 11 assists with a +1.
In his big league appearances he’s skated roughly 20 shifts for 15 minutes of ice time and has 7 shots on net.
The 21-year old looks to have a nice, long career in pro hockey, whether he stays on this side of the pond or not.
