Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2013 draft (#93 overall) goaltender Evan Cowley(31) backstops the penalty shot attempt by Jacksonville IceMen undrafted center Everett Clark(17) during Friday night’s hard fought Manchester Monarchs‘ 2-1 ECHL home team victory.
6th year Swedish-born defenseman Calle Andersson(55) agreed to stay on another season with SC Bern after helping them win the 2017 NLA Championship last season.
He was also just recently extended through 2018/2019, as he’s off to a bit of a hot start in the new calendar.
In 14 games he’s tied last year’s 2 goals and added 4 assists.
The very decently-sized 6’2″ 217 lbs. blue liner was almost ironically bought out of the final year of his entry level deal with New York Rangers after being reassigned to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack and recorded three assists in 4 AHL games but was obviously very unhappy spending one more second in the minors.
He played the first year of his contract in Switzerland for a pair of clubs but also had two previous years of pro experience in the SHL with Farjestad BK and a follow-up campaign hometown and junior squad Malmo Redhawks.
At 23-years old, he’s still pretty young and could get another look at the NHL level before it’s a full European career for this skater.
Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2015 draft (#102 overall) Swiss-born 5th year center Denis Malgin(62) is working hard to stay up with the big club in his sophomore season in the system.
The small, speedy 5’9″ 177 lbs. forward started the campaign with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds but that lasted all of three games before being recalled.
He played 47 NHL games as a North American rookie scoring 6 goals and 4 assists including one in overtime and a game-winner with a -5 rating.
Coming over with 3 year of pro experience in NLA and NLB, the expectation might have been higher for him but considering he’s up on another level, he seems to be right on pace.
At 20-years old and still another year on his entry level deal, it would be surprising if he didn’t start to find the open spots on the ice for more scoring chances.
Arizona Coyotes‘ undrafted 3rd year defenseman Dakota Mermis(43) was a late-ish cut from training camp and although not the biggest point getter is off to a good star with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners scoring a goal and 2 assists in 10 AHL games.
His strong start has earned him a first NHL recall
In two games he’s played around 10 minutes in each appearance with 2 shots, 1 hit, 2 breakups, and 1 giveaway in a loss and a shootout win.
The almost unassuming 6′ 196 lbs. blue liner has a perchance for winning titles with his first coming in American junior hockey with Green Bay Gamblers, when he netted the 2012 USHL Clark Cup, then the next season after leaving a short stint at University Of Denver, he joined London Knights and won the 2013 OHL Championship then did it again in 2015 with Oshawa Generals.
He would also grab the 2015 Memorial Cup.
At 23-years old he may not be on a big league squad that’s going to excel any time soon, but if he has to spend anymore time in the minors could see his name on another trophy sooner than later.
He is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign.
9th year defensemen John Negrin(8) took a little time to figure out where to skate fro 2017/2018.
He chose to leave North American pro hockey for the first time signing a one-year deal with Lorenskog IK of GET-ligaen.
The blue liner spent the last four seasons under contract with Utica Comets but missed all but 22 AHL games in 2016/2017 due to injury.
Never exactly a huge point getter, he should be able to connect with the score sheet more frequently in Norway’s top league.
New York Rangers‘ undrafted 5th year Swedish-born right wing Malte Stromwell(21) was unhappy about getting sent further down the pro hockey ladder from affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack to Greenville Swamp Rabbits to start the new season, so he asked to be released from the final year of his entry level contract.
The 6′ 197 lbs. forward collected a goal and an assist with a +2 rating in 2 ECHL games before demanding a release.
He was less successful at the higher league on a struggling team scoring only 2 goals and 4 assists. with a -12 in 44 AHL contests.
Other than being a point-per-game player in his 2nd and final year of juniors with Tri-City Americans of the WHL and two seasons ago in Sweden’s tier 2 Allsvenskan with AIK he has seemingly struggled to find the net with frequency.
The 23-year signs with KooKoo of Liiga for the remainder of 2017/2018 and might be able to find his scoring legs again in Finland’s top league.
11th year center Teddy Purcell(16) was an invite to Boston Bruins‘ training camp on a tryout but the unrestricted free agent was released just before the start of the 2017/2018 calendar.
It looked like he played well enough to earn a roster spot but the spoked B was committing to a more youthful movement that was approaching.
Almost a month into the new season, the recently turned 32-year old settles to play his first hockey overseas signing a one-year deal with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.
A veteran of 571 NHL games, the undrafted forward has spent 7 full seasons in the top league scoring 101 goals and 206 assists, although he did spend the majority of last campaign in the minors with Los Angeles Kings‘ affiliate Ontario Reign.
He was a point-per-game guy with the farm club.
It’s probably not going to be a big secret to see him become a leading scoring in Russia if he can situate quickly and get comfortable.
After posting a career high 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) for Texas Stars through 55 AHL games, 7th year center Ethan Werek(29) was unable for a third time to land a contract and had to agree to a deal in the lower league.
He signed for 2017/2018 with Brampton Beast, but just a day before the ECHL season was to begin Belleville Senators called and wanted him to return after he was in training camp with the club.
The decently-sized forward, who looks a bit smaller than the 6’2″ he’s listed at got off to a good start immediately with the new squad potting two goals and an assist in his debut and is currently tied for the lead in team scoring with 9 points.
Within a couple of weeks his pto was upped to an spc.
The 26-year old has a real chance to post career high scoring numbers this season and will either get an extension where he is or leave for some better paydays across the ocean.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 6th year defenseman Will O’Neill(45) realized his 1st NHL game in the 2nd year of his 2-year deal at age 29.
He spent the first pair of his years in draft club Winnipeg Jets‘ system primarily with affiliate St. John’s IceCaps before moving on as an unrestricted free agent to a year under contract to Pittsburgh Penguins.
The almost unassumingly decently-sized blue liner played a career high 74 AHL games scoring a best 42 assists and 50 points for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
In his debut he skated 12 shifts for 9:25 of total ice with 3 shots on net in a 2-0 win.
He’s since been returned to affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms and will no doubt continue to help them win.
Montreal Canadiens‘ 7th year left wing Nicolas Deslauriers(44) finds himself reassigned to affiliate Laval Rocket to start 2017/2018.
It’s the big, tough forward’s first foray into the minors since skating 5 postseason match-ups with Rochester Americans in the 2014 Calder Cup playoffs.
He also appeared in 60 AHL games with originally draft squad Los Angeles Kings‘ farm team Manchester Monarchs, while also appearing in his first 17 NHL games after a deadline deal sent him to Buffalo Sabres.
For the next three seasons he would play exclusively in the big league and has amassed 211 appearances scoring 12 goals and 18 assists but is also a miserable -54 rating, so a bit more of a defensive game would help.
There’s little doubt the one-time defenseman turned offensive force would like to get back up to the highest level of hockey and may be offered the opportunity if the parent club continues to struggle.
One thing is for sure, the 26-year old definitely still has plenty left in the tank to move back up and stick.
