Arizona Coyotes wasted no time and swooped in on the opening day of free agency to reacquire 10th year unrestricted free agent defenseman Andrew Campbell(2) and sign him to a new, 2-year contract.
He had spent 2014/2015 with the team splitting time in the NHL, playing a career high 33 games and for then affiliate Portland Pirates before being released.
On a two-year deal with Toronto Maple Leafs, he was named Toronto Marlies‘ captain and posted a pair of 20+ point seasons with a combined +59 rating.
Seems like there’s only upside agreeing to the big, tough to play against blue liner, who’s a veteran of 595 AHL games and owns a +86.
Agreeing to return to such a young, energize club, it’s likely he’ll see his first time in the big league since leaving Arizona the first time but will also likely be named captain of minor league squad Tuscon Roadrunners.
4th year defenseman Nick Ebert(65) takes a career season with Texas Stars, after a trade sent him to Dallas Stars‘ prospect system, scoring a new best 9 goals, 16 assists and 25 points to the KHL signing with HC Slovan Bratislava for 2017/2018 .
Originally a Los Angeles Kings’ 7th round pick in the 2012 draft (#211 overall), he was signed to a 3-year entry level deal and played his rookie season in 2014/2015 with affiliate Manchester Monarchs, appeared in two playoff games and went onto win the Calder Cup Championship.
Almost a bit ironically he was also on the 2014 OHL Championship skating for Guelph Storm.
He’d always put up good numbers as a junior player.
The 23-year old is also a +23 rating for three different AHL clubs.
It would be no surprise to see him excel in Russia despite getting off to a slow start.
3rd year right wing Casey Bailey(25) found himself without a qualifying offer from Ottawa Senators after appearing in 7 NHL with no points and scoring an AHL high 21 goals for affiliate Binghamton Senators last season.
Undeterred he agreed to a training camp invite from New York Islanders but was released early and took up his next option with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he appeared in two preseason games and was successful in scoring a minor league contract.
The 25-year old will turn 26 at the start of the new calendar and should find himself a solid place to skate in Connecticut, potentially leading to another big league contract.
10th year right wing Colton Gillies(81) started his 2nd season in the KHL skating for Dinamo Riga.
Once again, he wasn’t necessarily able to put up big numbers (8-6-14 in 43 games) but must be thought of as being a good player to keep around for his experience and leadership abilities.
After signing an spc with Bridgeport Sound Tigers and playing out 2015/2016 with the team, he made his first move overseas agreeing to a year with HC Banska Bystrica of the Slovak Extraliga.
Despite only average scoring, he was able to land himself in Russia.
The 28-year old may not ever become a scoring sensation but as long as he continues to be an asset will always grab himself a new deal.
Philadelphia Jr. Flyers‘ net minder Dakota Delbridge(31) had a perfect 2nd & 3rd periods to help his team earn their first win of the new EHL season over East Coast Wizards, 5-2.
Undrafted 3rd year left wing Ryan Misiak(9) takes a new best 18 goals and 39 points in 71 ECHL games with Rapid City Rush back to his original team Utah Grizzlies in a recent trade for 2017/2018.
He was with the South Dakota squad for part of his rookie year after a midseason transaction sent him there, then signed to stay another season.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. energy forward put up a career high 22 assists splitting time between the two teams.
He was a prolific scorer in his last two campaigns at Mercyhurst University and also lit it up in his last year of juniors for Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.
The 26-year old was third in scoring last season and should be able to continue to elevate his game back in Salt Lake City to earn a first upper league recall, if he can catch fire on the score sheet.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Reggie Traccitto(12) took the long route to turning pro but now that he’s a couple of years in, it’s starting to gel.
Signed to his third deal with Brampton Beast, he played a career best 66 ECHL games scoring a new high 21 assists and 25 points.
He was a few goals shy of his goal mark as a rookie.
The 6′ 207 lbs. blue liner had offensive outbursts as a fourth year player in the OHL, where he won most goals as a defenseman honors with 20 skating for Niagara IceDogs, then did well when he decided to go the college route next at University Of Prince Edward Island in his junior and senior years.
He almost initially turned pro in 2010/2011, when he signed a pto with Ontario Reign but after just 8 appearances was waived and decided to head to school.
Upon graduation, he even got to skate a pair of games with Toronto Marlies on an ato but signed his first contract in the lower league for 2015/2016.
He should be able to increase those totals but it might be tough for him to gain more looks from the higher league.
The 28-year old was loaned up but did not play for St. John’s IceCaps last season and was also involved in a trade as a rookie that sent him to Allen Americans.
He could decide elsewhere best suits his next move, but needs to capitalize on a solid sophomore campaign.
11th year center Jake Dowell(22) decides to change scenery for 2017/2018, signing a one-year deal with EHC Black Wings Linz of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga after 3 years of exclusively playing in the minors with Hamilton Bulldogs and the last two seasons rejoining rookie squad Rockford Icehogs.
The former Chicago Blackhawks‘ 5th round pick in the 2004 draft (#140 overall) is a veteran of 519 AHL games and tidy 157 NHL contests.
After averaging 20+ points through 4 years at University Of Wisconsin but was part of the 2006 NCAA Championship team.
He had one season where he grew his output to 35 points but only reached the 20 mark twice.
In his only full run in the big league with the club he was selected by (2010/2011), he did get 6 goals and 15 assists for a total of 21.
Even at 32-years old, this is one played that shows no signs of quitting and will likely perform really well in the top Austria league.
Walpole Express‘ forward William Lebel(22) notched a pair of tallies to give visiting Boston Jr. Rangers their first loss of the season, 3-0.
The goal gives the big 6’4″ 200 lbs. player 3 goals and an assists in 5 EHL games.
It’s the Canadian-born 19-year old’s 2nd year in the league and if can continue to produce may either move on to a higher tier junior hockey or find his way to a nice college commitment.
