Nashville Predators‘ 5th round pick in the 2017 draft (#154 overall) Czech Republic-born goaltender Tomas Vomacka(33) gets signed to a two-year entry level deal after completing his college studies at University Of Connecticut Huskies in three seasons.
He’s appeared in 71 NCAA Hockey East games posting a 2.87 GAA and .903 SV%.
The fairly large 6’3″ 190 lbs. net minder started most of his playing time back home but came over for a pair of campaigns, first in the NAHL with Corpus Christi Ice Rays, where he made his college commitment, then a run in the USHL for Lincoln Stars.
His contract kicks in immediately but considering the parent club doesn’t have an affiliate, it’s unsure where he’ll start his pro career.
He would mostly be reassigned to a pair of ECHL clubs for his contract period, but does not get a qualifying offer to stick.
The Trutnov native will head home to continue his pro career, maybe conservatively signing a 1-year deal with HC Dynamo Pardubice of Czechia2 for 2023/2024.
10th year center Corban Knight(9) signs to stay on for a 3rd season with Avangard Omsk Hawks.
Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#135 overall), he eventually signed an entry level deal with Calgary Flames after completing 4 successful years at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
He would next sign with the team that selected him and play a career high 20 NHL games, scoring 2 goals and 5 assists.
For the 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward final big league contract, he agreed to terms with Philadelphia Flyers and appeared in 23 games before deciding to next leave for the KHL.
The 32-year old from Oliver, BC put up a career best 30 assists and 48 points last season and raised the 2021 Gagarin Cup with his current club and also was credited with the most points in a session by a foreigner.
He didn’t match his totals from the previous campaign, but 15 goals and 19 assists through 58 games with a +14 rating, then adding another 10 points (5-5) in 14 playoff matchups, and easily he would be in good standing.
For 2023/2024, he decides to embark on something different and signs for 1-year with SC Bern of NL.
He should do really well in Switzerland’s top hockey.
15th year goaltender Cory Schneider(35) earns a 2nd straight contract with New York Islanders to continue to help out the younger net minders in the system and also possibly earn some time in the cage with the big club.
Originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2004 draft (#26 overall), he definitely had 6 strong seasons with the team and once posted both league best GAA and most shutouts.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. net minder decided to go exploring for a lucrative deal and landed on a handsome 7-year deal with New Jersey Devils, where once again, he basically put up stellar numbers, but ended as the team began shifting gears and was put on unqualified waivers to buy out the remaining two years of the deal.
And that’s where the 35-year old, former 3-year Boston College Eagles‘ standout goalie has landed himself on a pair of one year deals at the league minimum, but that’s hardly the cause at this point.
He re-ups for a 3rd season on the Isle.
410 NHL games and 224 AHL is quite enough to wrap it up for the decade and a half net minder, who leaves the game at 37-years old with some impressive marks.
It’s almost silly to say, it will be interesting to see where he pops up next.
14th year defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk(12) signs a 1-year deal worth just $1.05M with Boston Bruins as an unrestricted free agent, which brings him back “home” to where he played his 3 years of college hockey at Boston University Terriers.
The 6′ 207 lbs. blue liner was originally a Colorado Avalanche 1st round pick in 2017 (#14 overall), but played only half a season there before being traded to St. Louis Blues.
He stayed with them for 7 campaigns scoring 10+ goals 3 times, 30+ assists 5 and 40+ points on 5 occasions.
The 34-year old from New Rochelle, NY did 2 years at the USNTDP before college and playing on his new team could get him back into the 20+ point range, as he did 4 of the last 5 sessions.
Salve Regina University Seahawks‘ graduate right wing John McLean(22) played his 1st pro hockey for Olofstroms IK of Division3 last season, running up scoring totals 19 goals and 17 assists in 26 games, then added another 8 (4-4) in 6 through the playoffs.
He ran up good, almost point-per-game totals sophomore through graduate seasons.
The fairly big 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward from North Andover, MA played his high school hockey at Malden Catholic, then maybe conservatively went on to play of Islanders HC Premier team and won a USPHL Premier Championship.
At 27-years old already, he switches things up to advance to a bit of a higher level in BeNeLiga, where he signs for 2023/2024 with EG Diez Limburg Rockets.
We think he will have great success here too and hopefully look for some pro hockey that competes at the level he does.
2nd year center Alex Cohen(10) had a strange 1st year skating pro, playing for 3 different SPHL teams and exiting for 3 games in Czechia3 before returning.
Atlanta Gladiators see something in the 6′ 192 lbs. forward and sign him to a tryout agreement for 2023/2024.
He played 3 years of NAHL junior hockey for Northeast Generals, scoring a best 16 goals and 15 assists in his 3rd frame.
The Newton, MA native was with Union College Bobcats for 3 seasons, but played only 15 games total as one ECAC season was scrapped due to COVID.
9th year right wing Justin Crandall(22) will spend a 3rd season in a Cardiff Devils‘ uniform after continuing to post good numbers following a season, where he got a career best 45 assists in an EIHL frame.
He twice had 30+ assists and averaged 20 goals in the ECHL before leaving for overseas.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward has also 5 times had 20+ assists through Metal Ligaen and HockeyAllsvenskan.
From Lakeville, MN, the former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ 31-year old has worked for every inch he has gained.
10th year center Steve Whitney(10) is putting up points like he’s in the prime of his career (10 goals, 12 assists in 19 games) for SC Langenthal of SL.
He had two 50+ point seasons in the ECHL and was a strong scorer for Stavanger Oilers last season, helping them win the 2022 Norway Championship.
The small 5’7″ 168 lbs., former 4 year Boston College Eagles‘ scorer from Boston, MA is still doing pretty well at 31-years old.
After scoring 21 goals and 21 assists in 38 games, then 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 playoff games, he will take his talents to a new country, signing in Metal Ligaen with Rungsted Seier Capital for 2023/2024.
4th year center Jack Badini(21) is heading off to try something a bit different, signing with Stjernen Hockey of Fjordkraftligaen for 2023/2024.
The 6′ 203 lbs. forward should be able to connect well in Norway’s top league, as he did in his last ECHL frame for Newfoundland Growlers, while on loan from Toronto Marlies.
He signed 1 AHL deal, but as a former Anaheim Ducks‘ 3rd round pick in 2017 (#91 overall), he played 2-years in their system for San Diego Gulls after 4 years at Harvard University Crimson.
The 25-year old, Greenwich, CT native is likely to find better fortunes exploring hockey overseas for the while.
Undrafted rookie center Luke Lynch(28) skated just 4 games in last year’s COVID busted 2020/2021 for Wheeling Nailers, scoring no points, but gets his real opportunity with a contract to Jacksonville Icemen 2021/2022.
He was mostly a decent scorer for Robert Morris University Colonials, twice ascending to 20 assists, reached 17 goals as a sophomore and was named team captain as a senior.
The 5’11” 209 lbs. forward also potted point-per-game numbers as a 2nd year junior for Johnstown Tomahawks with a +17 rating.
As a Pittsburgh, PA native, he spent his last year of youth hockey in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 18U.
The 25-year old is likely very excited to get the new season going.
He would get 9 goals and 24 assists in 56 ECHL games with a +12 rating, then added 4 points in 8 games in the playoffs.
Kind of a no-brainer to keep him around if he wants to stay, and he signs for 2022/2023.
After a very impressive 2nd session in Florida, he is headed off to sign a 1-year deal with Glasgow Clan and will play games in the EIHL for 2023/2024.
