4th year goalie Oscar Dansk(35) was not tendered a qualifying offer to stay in Columbus Blue Jackets‘ system despite being recalled from loan to Rogle BK of the SHL, where he’d spent two seasons of his entry level deal.
The newly unrestricted free agent didn’t stay without a contract for long as Vegas Golden Knights swooped in to offer him a one-year two-way deal, which was accepted.
He reported directly to affiliate Chicago Wolves and played in one AHL game with less than glowing results.
Regardless of the outcome, the parent club was forced into their own compromising situation as starting goalies were dropping like flies.
Acting as back-up in his first game with the big club, he was pressed into action as their second net minder would fall to injury mid-game.
He would stop 10-11 shots on his way to a first NHL victory in overtime.
The 23-year old would get the nod to see it was a fluke, which it turned out not to be as he would blocked 29-31 shots for a second win and currently sits at 2-0 with a 2.43 GAA and .929 SV%.
He may be starting to settle into his game in less than ideal circumstances but there’s nothing like being a pro than proving your ready despite what the situation.
Ottawa Senators‘ 1st round pick in the 2015 draft (#18 overall) rookie defenseman Thomas Chabot(5) started on reassignment to affiliate Bellville Senators but barely lasted a couple of appearances before he was returned to the parent squad playing his first NHL games.
He went on to record a pair of assists with a +4 rating in 3 games but because of a glut of good blue liners in the system, the 6’2″ 196 lbs. was once again sent down.
In an almost related move, he actually started last season on the big league roster but only got to skate one game before it was determined it would be best of his development to send him back for his final junior year.
A move that would pay off, as he’s now the former 2017 QMJHL Champion with Saint John Sea Dogs, who twice had 20+ assists in his first two years and +30 in his final two, so he knows how to head man the puck.
At still just 20-years old, this is a player that could use some valuable time in the minors and will probably put up big numbers in the AHL but also show effectiveness when needed with the big club.
11th year goaltender Nathan Lawson(51) won himself a first title last season after appearing in 6 regular season games with HC Banska Bystrica posting an impressive 1.94 GAA and .936 GAA, then took those numbers even lower to a shut the door .93 GAA and .962 GAA in three playoff games to the 2017 Slovak Extraliga Championship.
Almost in the land of unbelievable he doesn’t stick with his cup winning squad but agrees to a one-year deal with fierce opponents HK Nitra.
It’s possible that he was considering retiring at 34-years old but in the last minute decided to stay on in the country.
The 6’2″ 196 lbs. net minder has played games in 6 leagues, including 11 NHL games, 180 in the AHL and 2 years and 77 starts in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
He spent three years at University Of Alaska-Anchorage before turning pro and no doubt a minor league club would be lucky to have him serve as goalie coach but we shall see what happens.
13th year left wing Alexandre Picard(81) gets the bump up to the best league overseas, the KHL signing a one-year deal with Amur Khabarovsk after a solid season in the Czech Extraliga for HK Hradec Kralove, where he put up some impressive numbers (7-13-20 in 25 games and another 5 in the playoffs).
This came after 4 seasons in Switzerland top league NLA mostly with Geneve-Servette, where he won a pair of 2014 & 2015 Spengler Cups.
The fairly sizable and feisty forward was the most penalized player in the Swiss league in 2013/2014 but has always kept the focus on scoring too.
The recently turned 32-year old still seems to have a lot of time left to impress.
East Coast Wizards‘ forward Trent Pitser(3) finds the back of the net on a wicked wrister to open up scoring for the home team on a 7-2 win over tough to beat Vermont Lumberjacks in EHL action.
Undrafted 4th year defenseman Nolan Descoteaux(4) signs with Indy Fuel after a career high scoring with Alaska Aces, where he grabbed 10 goals and 20 assists in 60 ECHL games.
He started his third season with home state club Allen Americans but was waived after 2 appearances and claimed.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner won the 2015 Kelly Cup as a rookie with the team and returned for 24 contests the next campaign but bounced around between four squads before again returning.
He’s had more success on the stat sheet since turning pro than he did in four years at Rochester Institute Of Technology but did win the 2014 NCAA/AHA Championship.
The 27-year old should do well with his new squad but it might take some extra effort to pass last year’s marks.
Fourth year right wing Robin Kovacs(96) opts out of the final two years of his entry level deal, although he still may get some of the money, heading back to the homeland joining Lulea HF of the SHL.
After attending New York Rangers‘ training camp, he was a 3rd round pick in 2015 (#62 overall), and being an early cut, refused to report to Hartford Wolf Pack, where he spent all of last season scoring two goals and 10 assists in 72 AHL games.
There’s little doubt this lanky 6′ 178 lbs. forward has some abilities and is likely they’ll come to life sooner than later.
He’s already had great success in the tier 2 Allsvenskan with AIK but with what he flashed in the minor league last year, he’s ready for the big boy show in Sweden.
Undrafted 10th year center Peter MacArthur(16) scored a new career high and team best 24 goals and 39 assists for 63 points in 63 ECHL games with two season home team Adirondack Thunder.
He’s taking his show on the road signing a one-year deal with Allen Americans for 2017/2018.
It will be his 11th team, including three overseas from 2012-2016.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward has played 190 AHL games and 150 in the lower league, where he’s a point-per-game guy.
At 32-years old he could be looking at moves that make sense for any post-hockey plans but as he’s still dotting the score sheet so heavily, he may just stick with it.
6th year center Brendan Shinnimin(39) goes from half a season in Russia and took a little time to find a new job skating for Vaxjo Lakers HC of the SHL in 2017/2018.
He initially left signing a one-year deal with Switzerland’s SCL Tigers but lasted only 12 NLA games (2 goals, 7 assists) before mid-campaign deciding to try his hand at the KHL, where he joined Barys Astana playing 17 contests (2 goals, 4 assists) before adding another tally in 10 playoff appearances.
The now 26-year old, former WHL sniper, should do well in Sweden’s top league and may just settle nicely there.
Undrafted 2nd year left wing Mason Marchment(20) looks determined to make his mark as a sophomore skater.
The big 6’4″ 204 lbs. power forward spent most of his rookie season with Orlando Solar Bears playing 35 ECHL goals scoring 14 goals and 6 assists, then added another 5 points in 7 playoff match-ups, while only appearing in 9 AHL games with contract club Toronto Marlies.
In a pair of contests to start 2017/2018 he already posted his first tally, a game-winner and is moving around the ice like a man possessed.
He only spent two years in the OHL with three different teams before deciding to turn pro.
The 22-year old sure looks like he ready to arrive and contribute, and if he can make that happen will likely receive a look from a big league club.
