Boston Bruins‘ undrafted 3rd year center Colby Cave(26) received an unexpected emergency recall from affiliate Providence Bruins and was pressed into action as multi-players fell ill.
The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward skated a healthy 18 shifts for 11:15 total ice with 2 penalty minutes, a pair of block shots and went 60% on the face off dot in a 2-1 shootout victory.
He earned his promotion to the big club with his work in the minors.
With two straight 13 goal seasons and new career high 26 assists in a full schedule of 76 AHL games last season, he’s already on pace to bump his helpers marker up to a new level in the current campaign.
He also has a nice +6 rating.
In his final pair of years for Swift Current Broncos, he averaged a point-per-WHL-game.
As he is set to turn 23-years old on the day after Christmas, he’s set to become a restricted free agency at the end of 2017/2018 but looks to be an easy in for at least a one-year extension.
9th year, former Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round draft pick in the 2005 draft (#29 overall), right wing Steve Downie(17) quietly called it a career after 2015/2016.
He wrapped things up with 8 AHL games for Springfield Falcons after being reassigned from contract team Arizona Coyotes after the mid-point of the season.
It was his first time in the minors since 2009 with Philadelphia Phantoms.
The 5’11” 191 lbs. feisty forward that led the league with 238 penalty minutes while playing for Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014/2015 played 434 NHL games scoring only a modest 76 goals and 120 assists with a +21 rating skating for 5 different teams and had 43 fights in the big league.
He also was part of the 2006 Peterborough Petes’ OHL Championship team.
The now 30-year old may have not accomplished all he wanted in his pro career but has to be pretty pleased looking back.
3rd year center Ryan Kujawinski(17) was recently involved in a trade that sent him from draft team New Jersey Devils to Arizona Coyotes.
He’s been injured but had been able to grab a goal and an assist in 5 AHL games with Binghamton Devils before being dealt.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward hasn’t quite produced in the minors the way he had through four years in the OHL.
At 22-years old he is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current season but unless he starts producing fairly big it seems a bit unlikely that he’ll garner a qualifying offer to remain in the desert.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 10th year center Chris Mueller(19) was quick at unrestricted free agency to ink a new 2-year deal with the 2nd year one-way, to stay with them through 2019 after putting up a career high 48 assists for Tuscon Roadrunners, while under contract to Arizona Coyotes.
It’s been a couple of seasons since he’s played in the NHL.
His last trip was with New York Rangers, when he got into 7 games scoring a goal and an assist.
He could get another look in the show if he keeps his numbers up in the AHL with affiliate Toronto Marlies.
At 31-years old, he will be 33 when his contract is up.
That’s when it will be interesting to see what’s next for the veteran forward.
New York Islanders‘ undrafted rookie center John Stevens(18) had to wait a bit after preseason injury before making his debut with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers but a couple of weeks into the new season appeared in his first game.
The hard-working former captain at Northeastern University got right to work.
He had three points (a goal and 2 assists) in his first three AHL games.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward was successful in connecting with the score sheet in college with very close to point-per-game numbers for his final two campaigns.
It would be little surprise to see the 23-year old make his NHL debut either in the first or second year of his entry level contract.
9th year left wing Tim Miller(9) has spent the last 4 years in Germany and got off to a hot start with new team Dresdner Eislowen of DEL2 before getting called up to Krefeld Pinguine, where in 11 DEL games he has yet to strike the score sheet.
He was putting up some big stats in regards to penalty minutes recently but as he’s recently turned 30 may have ticked that down a notch.
A veteran of 228 AHL games with 5 different teams, it’s good to see him having decent success continuing his playing career in Germany.
Undrafted rookie left wing Tyler Coulter(73) signed near the start of the new season with Allen Americans but before the first official face off he was traded to Jacksonville IceMen.\
In 14 ECHL games he scored a goal and 3 assists with a +2 rating on a team that is dead last in the standings with only 4 wins.
He was a prolific scorer, especially in the last pair of campaigns with Brandon Wheat Kings, where he was close to a point-per-game player and earned a training camp invite from Arizona Coyotes.
The 6’1″ 210 lbs. forward has made a decision to leave his pro status on the shelf for the time being and head to University Of Calgary on a full scholarship to hopefully earn a degree in commerce.
It’s very possible the still super-young 21-year old will return and will likely be older and better.
Buffalo Sabres‘ undrafted 2nd year center Kyle Criscuolo(51) scored himself a nice 2-year entry level contract after a successful rookie season on a minor league deal with Grand Rapids Griffins, where in a full slate of 76 AHL games he posted 17 goals and 24 assists with a +15 rating, then added another 9 points en route to the 2017 Calder Cup Championship.
The former two-time captain at Harvard University consistently put up outstanding numbers in college hockey.
After getting off to a quick start as an assistant captain with affiliate Rochester Americans, he claimed a first recall one month into the new calendar for his first NHL appearances and skated in 8 games with no points in limited minutes.
The small 5’8″ 170 lbs. forward plays a hard skating style and fights for open space to gain scoring opportunities.
Interestingly enough the 25-year old will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of his new deal and could gain more notice if he’s able to keep up his level of play.
Undrafted 3rd year left wing Scott Allen(9) started the new season under contract with Tuscon Roadrunners but after 5 only games getting a goal and an assist decides to split for Eispiraten Crimmitschau of DEL2.
He appeared in a career high 57 AHL contests in 2016/2017 with Bakersfield Condors grabbing 8 goals and 11 assists.
The big 6’3″ 200 lbs. forward started his pro career skating for Colorado Eagles on an ato after four years at University Of Alaska-Anchorage, where he served as team captain as a senior.
For his rookie campaign he signed with Kansas City Mavericks but was traded to Norfolk Admirals a month into the new calendar.
He finished his first full ECHL year as almost a point-per-game player.
The 27-year old that spent three years with Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL, winning a pair of championships in 2010 and 2011 before committing to college.
There seems to be little doubt he’ll excel nicely in Germany’s tier 2 league and likely be looked at to move up.
Edmonton Oilers‘ 7th year center Brad Malone(22) signed a two-year 2-way contract on the 2nd day of unrestricted free agency to join his new team.
The fairly large 6’1″ 210 lbs. power forward spent all of last season in the minors, while under contract with Washington Capitals, but was traded to St. Louis Blues just before the deadline and played out the calendar with affiliate Chicago Wolves.
He started 2017/2018 with farm team Bakersfield Condors but has already been recalled on a a pair of occasions and appeared in 7 more NHL games with no points.
From 2014-2016, he skated exclusively in the show for Carolina Hurricanes appearing in 122 games as an agitating role player.
The 28-year old definitely has a big league caliber like style but may need to connect with the score sheet a bit more to continue to get chances.
