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.
Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd year undrafted goaltender Charlie Lindgren(39) is off to a hot start through 4 NHL games with the parent club running a perfect record and recently getting a first shutout.
His games have been played across three seasons with his first victory coming after leaving his third year at St. Cloud State University and signing an entry level deal.
He had his next pair of starts in the follow-up campaign as a rookie and posted another 2 wins but holding down a spot between the pipes in that system is going to take a good string of solid play.
Almost ironically the 6’1″ 182 lbs. goalie is just ok in the lower league and has only a decent record in the AHL.
The soon-to-be 24-year old will be entering his 2nd restricted free agency and looks to be in line for a nice pay bump and contract extension.
10th year right wing Harrison Reed(17) started the new season in GET-ligaen with Stavanger Oilers.
He played 11 games scoring 3 goals but opted out to rejoin Dresdner Eislowen of DEL2, a team he had lots of success with just a couple years ago.
In 138 regular season and playoff games in the league he’s absolutely detonated the stat sheet scoring an eye-popping 80 goals and 101 assists, which shatters even solid marks he put up through time spent in the ECHL.
He also showed nice prowess lighting the lamp last campaign in Metal Ligaen with SonderjyskE, where he was a point-per-game player.
The 29-year old seems quite content playing in mostly tier 2 leagues overseas, as he’s able really excel his game and can likely continue for a long while.
12th year net minder Justin Peters(35) switches it up after only 12 KHL games with Dinamo Riga heading to Germany’s DEL.
He signs with Kolner Haie, where he should have much better luck than what he was able to achieve in his short stint in Russia.
After 8 years in draft squad Carolina Hurricanes‘ prospect system, he spent a pair of years with Washington Capitals before inking with Arizona Coyotes for last season and subsequently getting traded to Dallas Stars.
He left having appeared in 83 NHL and 301 AHL games.
At 31-years old he should still have some pro hockey time left in the tank but will need to find the right fit.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Kevin Gibson(24) signed for 2017/2018 with Milton Keynes Lightning and was doing fine scoring a goal and four assists through 10 EIHL games.
He returns to North America as an illness in his family has him wanting to play his hockey closer to home, agreeing to terms with Toledo Walleye.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner played his first pair of seasons with Quad City Mallards and came to life on the scoresheet last campaign grabbing two goals and 28 assists with a monstrous, team leading, tied for fourth in the league +32 rating.
After two runs through the USHL and NAHL he accepted an invitation to head to University Of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where as a junior and senior he started putting up some points.
He played limited minutes in his first appearance back but left the 4-3 win with a +1 rating.
4th year right wing Scott Kosmachuk(17) was not given a qualifying offer to stay in Winnipeg Jets‘ prospect system after his three year entry left deal was up.
He tied a career high 17 assists in less AHL games with affiliate Manitoba Moose but failed to earn another recall despite putting up 3 assists in 8 NHL contests during the prior season.
The feisty, smallish forward signed a late one-year minor league deal with Hartford Wolf Pack and was an invite to parent club New York Rangers‘ training camp.
He’s out of the gate quickly in the new campaign scoring a goal and adding a team tied 6 assists in 10 games, which could very well lead to a new big league deal if the Blueshirts get desperate enough.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th year defenseman Derek Forbort(24) receives a nice pay bump heading into a contract year for the restricted free agent.
His current deal runs through the 2017/2018 calendar but he just received good news they’d like to keep him around for another two campaigns on a $2.525M AAV raise.
The big, punishing defender played a career high, full slate of 82 NHL games last season scoring a new best two goals, 16 assists and 18 points with a +8 rating.
He’s also off to a nice start this year with three assists and another +8 in just 8 appearances.
The 25-year old is likely looking at life in California long-term.
