Category: Europe

13May

Andrej Sustr (19)

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10th year Czechia-born defenseman Andrej Sustr(19) hasn’t been home since an appearance in Czechia3 in 2008/2009, but signs for 2024/2025 in Czech Extraliga with the league powerhouse HC Dynamo Pardibuce.

The absolute huge 6’8″ 225 lbs. blue liner has 362 NHL games to his credit and is known for his large bruising presence.

He came over early after youth hockey back home and did 2 seasons of junior hockey before moving onto to 3 at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.

Almost oddly he took off the season before COVID infected to play for Kunlun Red Star for 2 frames in the KHL before returning.

The 33-year old will be missed, but this has to be the right thing for him to do for his hockey career.

He does well there and plays himself up to a deal with Tappara, where he got 1 goal and 11 assists in 38 Liiga games.

For 2025/2026, he looks to return to the AHL, but after 11 games is released and takes up with Kalmar HC and has no points in 10 HockeyAllsvenskan games, but is a +4 rating.

He would end up appearing in 20 games for 1 goal and 4 assists with a +11 rating, then added another helper in 7 playoff matchups.

For 2026/2027, he heads to Liiga and signs with Jurukit, which will be another challenging step for the 35-year old.

11May

Tyler McNeely (94)

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14th year center Tyler McNeely(94) steps back to re-join Germany3 for 2024/2025, but will switch allegiances, signing with Bietigheim Steelers, who he played for their DEL2 team earlier career with success for a couple of seasons.

The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward has suited up for 3 different German teams over 12 years of his career.

Undrafted, the former twice captain of Northeastern University Huskies, 1st signed with Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders), but quickly moved on after 2 seasons closer to home, Burnaby, BC.

At 37-years old, he must still be having fun, playing pro hockey.

He will spend a 14th season in German pro hockey, but once again ticks it down a level and sign for 2026/2027 with Hannover Indians, where he last scored 24 goals and 60 points in 42 games in the league.

10May

Shawn O’Donnell (71)

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9th year right wing Shawn O’Donnell(71) takes a couple of seasons of good numbers in Metal Ligaen, most currently for SønderjyskE to a new endeavor with Dornbirner EC of IceHL, Austria.

The 6’2″ 209 lbs. power forward has spent the majority of his playing time in the AHL with Hartford Wolf Pack, but was basically a point-per-game guy in the lower ECHL.

Through junior hockey in the MJAHL, he produced big numbers before heading to college at St. Mary’s University Huskies, where he won the 2010 CIS University Cup Championship as a freshman.

The 33-year old from Cole Harbour, NS is likely to be pretty happy to still be playing pro hockey.

For 2022/2023, he heads back to the 1st league he joined coming over from the US, DEL2 and signs with EHC Freiburg.

After 24 games this season, he has tied his goal mark in the league at 8 and set a new assist high with 19 helpers to earn himself another year of his contract for 2024/2025, which has to be nice for the now 34-year old pivot.

He would captain the team in his 3rd year and stay for a 4th, scoring an equal to his best 15 goals, but decides to move on to team up with rivals, Dusseldorfer EG for 2026/2027.

02May

Kenny Agostino (11)

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Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod‘s 2nd year center Kenny Agostino(11) is already off to a good start for 2022/2023 with 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 KHL games with a +3 rating.

Last season he scored 20 goals and 20 assists in 46 games with a +8, his 1st season overseas.

The former 4-year 10+ goal scorer and 2 time 20+ assist guy at Yale University Bulldogs was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#140 overall).

He was traded to Calgary Flames and signed an entry level deal before his skates ever hit the ice.

The Morristown, NJ native bounced around on 1-year deals mostly before getting signed to a 2-year, 1-way contract late with Toronto Maple Leafs, yet he only appeared in 1 NHL game with them.

At 30-years old, he’s done ok enough, but is still likely earning his way in Russia and playing some elite puck.

For 2023/2024, he is trading in a couple of seasons where he is for new surroundings in the SHL and will join Skelleftea AIK.

He actually switches things up and heads to Germany instead, signing with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL and scores himself point-per-game numbers in 48 (14-34), but will ink with rivals, ERC Ingolstadt for 2024/2025 and likely do just as well.

With another 19 goals to his credit last season, he is easily wanted to return for a 3rd frame at Ingolstadt 2026/2027.

02May

Chris Theodore (26)

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University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ graduate left wing Chris Theodore(26) may have not put up best in his 6th college frame, but was still a competent 8 goals and 6 assists in 27 outings.

The 5’6″ 178 lbs. forward came down from his hometown in Beaconsfield, QC for USHS-Prep, which he detonated, then slipped away for a junior year in the CCHL before committing.

He originally committed to 4 years at American International College Yellowjackets, and may have been granted a year of exception due to only 3 games as a sophomore.

From there, he moved onto what must have been his senior year at Union College Dutchmen.

The 26-year old certainly would get a look if he decides to turn pro.

He signs for 2024/2025 as a rookie in Ligue Magnus with Les Jokers Cergy-Pontoise.

After scoring 8 goals and 8 assists in 44 games, he will next head to DEL2, signing with Lausitzer Fuchse for 2025/2026.

With a decent 10 goals and 10 assist frame, he is asked to return for a 2nd year in Fuchse, 2026/2027.

01May

Corey Trivino (86)

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11th year center Corey Trivino(86) switches up 3.5 years with EC Kassel Huskies to rivals Eisbaren Regensburg for 2022/2023 in DEL2.

He has been very successful dishing helpers in 2 of the last 3 seasons, amassing 30+ assists in each frame.

Originally a New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#36 overall), he never signed, spending most of his 1st 3 seasons in the ECHL, but then turned a 39 AHL game loan into an overseas deal.

He switched up his early time overseas between the KHL and EBEL mostly before leaving for Germany’s tier 2 league.

The 32-year old, former Boston University Terriers‘, 2009 NCAA Division 1 Champion doesn’t seem to see an end line anywhere.

In the new session with his new club he has already run up a league best for himself 18 goals and is projected to possibly do better than his assist best of 39, so he agrees to stay on for a 2nd campaign 2024/2025, because he’s having a grand old time.

He continues at a clip of almost point-per-game numbers and is asked to return for a 4th season with Eisbaren.

23Apr

Robbie Czarnik (77)

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12th year center Robbie Czarnik(77) signs on for a 3rd tour with Ravensburg Towerstars after posting exactly 30 assists for a 2nd time and adding 15 goals with a +13 rating, then popped in another 10 points in 13 playoff games.

His 241 games in DEL2 mark the most in any league he’s played.

The 6′ 190 lbs. former Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#63 overall) has scored 120 goals and 145 assists with a +54 rating and a 2019 Championship in his 1st run with current club.

He was pretty much a similar sniper in the ECHL through 183 games.

The 32-year old from Detroit, MI, who played his college hockey for just two years at University Of Michigan Wolverines has to have a little smile on his face, seeing how smoothly things go.

He signs on for a 6th season in a Towerstars‘ jersey 2024/2025, where he recorded his 3rd straight 40+ point session.

Another 29 goals and 29 assists in 50 games and it’s another no-brainer to have him return as a 36-year old in a Towerstars‘ uniform.

20Apr

Myles Powell (17)

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5th year center Myles Powell(17) helps his team HV71 win the 2022 HockeyAllsvenskan Championship with a nice job, 3 goals and 10 assists in 15 games and earns an SHL promotion, but in the process jumps ship and signs to rival IK Oskarshamn for 2022/2023.

The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward, former R.I.T. Tigers‘ captain scored 13 goals and 26 assists as a senior before heading to Rochester Americans and affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones to start his pro career.

He stayed there for his rookie season not connecting in the AHL, but was a point-per-game guy in the ECHL.

The Comox, BC native bounced around the minors for the next two years before heading overseas.

At 27-years old he’s still elevating his game.

He scores 9 goals and 6 assists in 50 games, but will head back to the lower league in Sweden to take up with IF Bjorkloven for 2023/2024.

In 41 games, scoring 20 goals and 23 assists is very good, so he will next take his game to DEL, where he signs with ERC Ingolstadt for 2024/2025.

He is scoring well in 2 seasons with his new club and signs on to stay a 3rd at Ingolstadt 2026/2027.

14Apr

Nash Nienhuis (4)

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Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior captain defenseman Nash Nienhuis(4) scored a college career best 9 goals and tied his 15 assists set as a junior.

The undrafted 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner will take his game overseas for his rookie frame, as he signs with EC Red Bull Salzburg of IceHL.

From Sarnia, ON, he did 1 season GOJHL before transferring to the USHL, where he skated mostly with Muskegon Lumberjacks before heading to school.

We look for the 24-year old to do well in Austria’s top league.

In his 1st frame with the team he would win the 2025 Championship and sign on for a more productive 2nd season with 17 assists and 19 points in 47 games with a +20 rating, then 3 more points in the playoffs.

No doubt, he signs for a 3rd year at Red Bull.

09Apr

Andrew Poturalski (22)

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Undrafted 6th year center Andrew Poturalski(22) circles back to rejoin his original team, Carolina Hurricanes on a 1-year 2-way contract for 2021/2022.

He spent the last two years away under a pair of contracts to Anaheim Ducks, which saw him only play for their affiliate San Diego Gulls.

The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game guy in 2020/2021, scoring 9 goals and 34 assists in 44 AHL games.

He was an outstanding scorer for then farm club Charlotte Checkers, averaging 20+ goals and 35+ assists in 3 years.

The 2-year University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ skater put up big numbers in Hockey East, just like he did in his 2nd year of the USHL with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Although he may have only seen two NHL games as a rookie, we think he may be on a short list for a quick recall in 2021/2022.

Almost oddly, he is recalled for 2 games and grabs 2 assists, but is captain of affiliate Chicago Wolves and absolutely blows up scoring with 28 goals and 73 assists in 71 games, then goes on to win the 2022 Calder Cup Championship.

He is twice the league leading scorer.

As a free agent, he signs a 2-year deal with Seattle Kracken and helps lead their affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds to a pair of minor league finals before bowing out.

For 2024/2025, he signs another 2-year pact, but moves on to the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.

He steps away for something different, signing with Avangard Omsk for 2025/2026 and we think will do really well in the KHL.

In 67 games, he comes away with 27 goals and 39 assists with a +29 rating and most game-winning goals (7) to sign for another year with Omsk 2026/2027.