Undrafted 4th year right wing Josh Kestner(62) takes a fantastic first season overseas at TPS, scoring 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 Liiga games with a +6 rating to a new contract with Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL for 2021/2022.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward had a very similar session for Newfoundland Growlers, grabbing another 49 points (22-27) in 61 ECHL games with a +8, then potted another 9 goals and 7 assists in 21 playoff contests en route to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
He would next sign an AHL deal with Grand Rapids Griffins but was exclusively dished to Toledo Walleye, where he received accolades for Most Goals (33), Most Points (73) and League MVP.
The 27-year old Huntsville, AL native and graduate of University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers seems to be just getting started.
He would take a decent frame in Russia back to a less successful year in Switzerland and then branch out for Czechia Extraliga and will next arrive at the tough to play Slovakia Extraliga, signing with HK Spisska Nova Ves for 2024/2025.
11th year defenseman Chris Wideman(6) re-ups with Montreal Canadiens for another two years after recording a career high 23 assists in 2020/2021 for a last place club.
He signed a one-year deal upon his other new high point mark, 9 goals and 32 assists for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in his sole year away in the KHL, where he was named tops in his position.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner definitely knows how to run up the totals on helpers, as he did in 2nd and 3rd years under contract to draft team Ottawa Senators (4th round 2009 #100 overall) with affiliate Binghamton Senators, hitting 42.
He also reached 20 twice as a junior and senior at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
This should be the 32-year old’s 6th full season playing in the NHL and he’s worked hard for every second.
After not playing any games last season, the now 34-year old decides to retire and has yet to announce where he will land next, but is assuredly going some place good to help out a team.
He hangs up those skates after 291 games in the big league and 280 in the AHL, 59 in Russia during the COVID swing and 143 NCAA Division 1.
No word in hockey where he may land next, but until then will help his wife with the beauty salons they opened together, which will keep him plenty busy.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior defenseman Jack Lyons(77) signs a 1-year deal in the AlpsHL with HDD Jesenice for 2024/2025.
The fairly big 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner isn’t a big point scorer, but looks to hold his zone effectively.
From Mississauga, ON, he did 4 years of OJHL junior hockey before college.
We think the 25-year old does better as a pro.
11th year center Chad Nehring(16) decided to head off for something new to start 2022/2023, signing with Grenoble of Ligue Magnus, but after popping 4 goals and 5 assists in just 6 games with a +8, heads back for his 5th DEL season, instead with fourth club Loewen Franfort.
A solid scorer, performer in the AHL, as a +10 player, he earned himself his only NHL contract with Ottawa Senators after scoring a career high 22 goals and 26 assists in the previous frame.
The 5’11” 201 lbs. former 4-year Lake Superior State University Lakers‘ forward left after that season.
At 35-years old, he’s still playing some excellent hockey and may not be eyeing an exit quite yet.
He grabs 12 goals and 10 assists back in Germany, which is good enough by their standards to keep him around and re-up him for another run.
You may think he should just transition straight into coaching where he is, but he has decided to wrap it up at age 37-years old, leaving behind 232 DEL games, 179 AHL, 130 ECHL and 147 NCAA, a really nice total and for his next role becomes a pro scout for Pittsburgh Penguins, starting 2024/2025. Smooth move.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ undrafted Finnish-born goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo(31) signs on for two more years in the prospect system despite being loaned to Chicago Wolves for most of last season due to a logjam in affiliate Toronto Marlies‘ crease.
In 28 AHL games he posted a 13-13 record with 2 shutouts, a 2.38 GAA and .914 SV%.
The big 6’3″ 195 lbs. net minder played only 7 games in the league as a rookie and was 5-1 with a 1.84 GAA and .935 SV% but spent most of the season in the ECHL backstopping for Orlando Solar Bears.
He played most of his junior hockey in his home country and decided to come across in 2013/2014 to join Minnesota Wilderness, where he earned the NAHL best GAA (1.48) and best SV% (.944) in 32 games, then was equal to the task in the playoffs.
His next move took him to University Of Minnesota-Duluth and his numbers continued to be outstanding.
The 24-year old may have to continue to wait for his chance at a shot to tend the cage in the NHL but it would seem like he should get his opportunity sooner than later.
He started 13 games last season with Laval Rocket, posting a 7-4 record with 2.09 GAA and .909 SV% to earn the 8th year net minder a look for Boston Bruins‘ crease, as he earns a tryout in training camp.
St. Michael’s College Purple Knights‘ senior goalie Marshall Murphy(33) signs with HK Prizma Riga of Optibet Hokeja Liga for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. net minder from Little Canada, MN will definitely look to improve his game on hopefully a better pro team.
He’s 25-year and probably didn’t make the decision to play his next hockey so far away lightly, so has to be ready.
4th year left wing Ara Nazarian(22) re-signs for a 3rd season with Jacksonville Icemen for 2022/2023.
The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward is a pretty big scorer, last year hitting for 13 goals and 18 assists in 40 ECHL games with a +12 rating.
He was also loaned up to Rochester Americans, appearing in 14 AHL games for 2 goals and 1 assist.
The Boxford, MA native scored decently through 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, striking best as a senior for 12 goals and 11 assists in 33 NCAA Division 1 games.
He was also a strong scorer at Malden Catholic USHS-Prep.
The 26-year old will very likely continue to take his game up.
He left for a year to join Belfast Giants and knocked scoring out of the park in the EIHL, but will return home under a deal to Syracuse Crunch for 2024/2025.
8th year right wing Trevor Mingoia(11) has bounced through a pair of leagues he’d previously skated, but arrives in a new place for the remainder of 2023/2024 with Valerenga of EliteHockey Ligaen.
Judging by some off ice going ons, he may have been wooed by a good deal, but looks a bit settled back at his 1st team overseas Vasteras IK HockeyAllsvenskan.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward played only 2 years ECHL and AHL before leaving.
From Fairport, NY, the 32-year old started at Union College, but left for Providence College Friars as a sophomore.
He may be settling in Sweden quite nicely.
After 6 seasons lighting up the scoreboard overseas, he has decided to return and sign with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.
Salem State University Vikings‘ Australian-born, graduate defenseman Dash Quartarolo(25) signs for his rookie season 2024/2025 with JHT Kalajoki of Suomi-sarja.
The big 6’5″ 229 lbs. blue liner didn’t play many college games, but went home 2 summers to play in the AIHL and would do ok.
He came over early for high school and skated 3 years junior hockey before heading to 2 years at Becker College Hawks, then the college went bust after COVID and he left for New England College Pilgrims.
We think the 24-year old does pretty well and maybe even plays himself up.
12th year defenseman Matt Donovan(46) will for a 3rd time take his game overseas, but this time signs for 2022/2023 with Adler Mannheim of DEL.
He twice played for SHL teams, Frölunda HC and HV71.
The former 2-year University Of Denver Pioneers‘ d-man was a New York Islanders‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#96 overall) and was in that system to start his pro career for 4 seasons.
At 6’1″ 205 lbs., he has skated 69 NHL games.
The 32-year old from of all places, Edmond, OK is likely happy to be still playing at a good level.
He actually does fairly well in German’s top league, scoring 8 goals and 15 assists with a +7 rating in 47 games, then added another 8 helpers in 12 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024, he decides to come on and sign an AHL deal with Chicago Wolves, which makes a lot of sense.
He records 39 assists in 69 games and that will do it: 69 games in the big league, 524 in the lower league with 232 assists to his credit, 13 years of pro hockey and very quickly Nashville Predators sign him up to be an assistant coach with a team he spent 3 years with, affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.
Smart move.
