Boston Bruins‘ 9th year, Finnish-born center Erik Haula(56) signed a tw0-year $2.5M AAV contract near the beginning of unrestricted free agency after coming off an ok season for Nashville Predators.
Originally a Minnesota Wild 7th round draft pick in the 2009 draft (#182 overall), he spent the first four years of his pro career with the team after being a total offensive threat for three campaigns at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The 6″ 194 lbs. forward was next grabbed in Vegas Golden Knights‘ expansion draft and signed to a lucrative three-year deal, then had his most outstanding offensive numbers right away with 29 goals and 26 assists, but a bit of a terrible -16 rating in 76 NHL games.
The 30-year old is off to maybe a bit of a slow start in 2021/2022 with only a goal an 4 assists in 14 games, but always seems to have the ability to strike for multi-point outings at any given point.
New York Rangers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2015 draft (#184 overall), Slovakian-born goaltender Adam Huska(32) scored his NHL debut.
In his first game, he was absolutely shelled and completely abandoned by his defense.
The big 6’4″ 218 lbs. net minder deserves another chance almost immediately.
He did all of his youth hockey back home before coming over to join Green Bay Gamblers after a playing U18 in Slovakia2.
The Zvolen native got off to a slow start, but when he returned for a full run went 26-9-2 with a 1.82 GAA and .931 SV% for league bests and Goaltender Of The Year before committing to University Of Connecticut Huskies.
He stayed in school only three years before signing a two-year entry level deal, and is currently on a 1-year extension.
Undrafted 4th year 6’1″ 209 lbs. center tower Nic Pierog(61) decides to head for some new kind of hockey, signing with HKM Zvolen of Slovak Extraliga for 2021/2022.
The former two-time Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ captain always keeps it exciting on the ice and maybe what he had yet to develop scoring in college, he’s definitely a new kind of player as a pro.
Through 179 ECHL games, he’s popped in 78 goals and 56 assists.
He would end up signing an AHL deal with Springfield Thunderbirds after agreeing to head off, but aside from one appearance played 4 games for Worcester Railers (2 goals, 2 assists), but is now set to head to some tougher hockey in the top Slovakian league.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Alex Thow(3) started 2021/2022 with 6 Tipos Extraliga games for HKM Zvolen, but was unable to connect, so decided to leave and signs with Nottingham Panthers.
The former 4-year Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ blue liner was always a + player, graduating with a +30 rating and posting a college career best 8 goals and 18 assists as a senior before signing an AHL ato with Utica Comets.
He would sign an extension over the summer to stay, but was reassigned to Kalamazoo Wings, where he spent the entirety of his rookie campaign, scoring ECHL bests 7 goals and 22 assists.
The 6’1″ 200 lbs. 26-year old d-man from East York, ON will likely do very well in the EIHL.
12th year left wing Jerry D’Amigo(9) played his hockey closer to home during the pandemic 2020/2021, signing with Orlando Solar Bears, doing ok scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 52 ECHL games with a 3 AHL game loan to Colorado Eagles.
The 5’11” 201 lbs. forward leaves once again, rejoining DEL, but switch allegiances, agreeing to terms with Dusseldorfer EG for 2021/2022.
In 10 games, he has 3 goals and 1 assist with a +1 rating, so the 30-year old is still off and running.
The Binghamton, NY native had an interesting run through juniors and college hockey before turning pro.
He started with 2 years in the USDP program before agreeing to college at RPI Engineers, where he put up point-per-game numbers before signing his 3-year entry level deal.
A Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#158 overall), he was reassigned as a rookie to affiliate Toronto Marlies.
He would pot a decent 5 goals and 10 assists in 43 AHL games, but was sent to Kitchener Rangers to play out the remainder of the season in the OHL and blew up the stat sheet.
The 30-year old has only skated 31 NHL games with a goal and 2 assists to his credit, but has to be just still enjoying his time on ice and what he’s still able to accomplish.
For his 10th pro season, veteran of 275 NHL games, Brian Flynn(10) comes home to sign a 1-year deal with New Jersey Devils, and has him reassigned to affiliate Utica Comets, after spending the past pair of seasons overseas, mostly with HC Ambri-Piotta, wrapping up 33/34 points in his time in the NL.
He also skated 13 games for EV Zug after leaving 21 AHL games for San Antonio Rampage and ended up claiming victory of the 2019 Swiss Cup.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. was never much of a scorer in the big league, mostly a fourth line grinder wearing opponents down.
Undrafted, after graduating from 4 years at University Of Maine Black Bears, where he was a huge hit for points, signed a 1-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres and split time between the big club and affiliate Rochester Americans.
The 33-year old is rolling nicely with 2 goals and an assist in 4 games to start 2021/2022, and is likely a great person to have in the locker room and on the bench.
Undrafted 7th year defenseman Ryan Johnston(89) switches up top overseas leagues for a third time, landing in Finland with Liiga, signing a 1-year deal for HPK.
The former 3-year Colgate University Raiders‘ blue liner started his pro career on a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Montreal Canadiens that led to 10 games over two seasons, but no qualifying offer to stay.
From there, he departed for a pair of campaigns in the SHL.
The 5’10” 179 lbs. blue liner maybe somewhat oddly returned for 2019/2020, signing a 1-year AHL deal with San Diego Gulls.
He left for Germany during the pandemic, signing with Iserlohn Roosters and doing quite well with 3 goals and 10 assists in 17 DEL games with a +7 rating.
The 29-year old is off to a bit of a hot start with 4 assists in 9 games to start 2021/2022 and could find a good league to play out his career in.
After 4 seasons at Boston College, Finnish-born defenseman Jesper Mattila(7) didn’t think long about heading home to start his pro career signing for 2020/2021 with Kalpa, and in 51 Liiga games had 3 goals and 6 assists with a +3 rating.
He left after a COVID-shortened 2019/2020 season with a +30 in 34 NCAA games.
It wouldn’t be strange at all to see the 5’11” 183 lbs. 23 old blue liner just stay in his home country to play his hockey and start a nice family (or something that approximates that).
The still young 24-year old signs on for a 2nd season with Kalpa after scoring 3 goals and 7 assists with a +7 rating on 58 games.
He has 1 goal and 2assists in 16 games to start the new frame.
12th year center Rob Bordson(29) was going to spend a 2nd season close to home, even agreeing to terms, but decided a better deal was out there he needed to grab, signing a 1-year deal with Stavenger Oilers of Fjordkraftligaen for 2021/2022.
He came home to skate last year with Kansas City Mavericks and came one point shy of his best league totals, tying a 17 goal high.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward only did better in his 1st campaign away for DEL, getting 8 goals and 30 assists for Fischtown Pinguins with a +10 rating.
He has played 380 AHL games and 106 in the ECHL with more than point-per-game numbers.
The 33-year old, former 3-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ skater is probably just still enjoying the game to stick with it.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Ryker Killins(44) decides to go exploring for his new contract, signing a 1-year deal with Esbjerg Energy for 2021/2022.
In 2 ECHL seasons, he’s basically managed to tie his 21 points, but whereas he had a dismal plus/minus with Rapid City Rush, he pulled that up very nicely for Jacksonville Icemen to a +4 on good scoring.
The small 5’9″ 181 lbs. blue liner managed a few games loaned up to Tuscon Roadrunners as a rookie but didn’t connect.
He was probably most impressive in the pros after completing his 4th year at Ferris State University Bulldogs to sign an ato to South Carolina Stingrays and immediately he got to work, floating 3 goals and 6 assists in 14 games with a +7.
We suspect the 25-year old from Wawa, ON destroys Denmark’s top league, Metal Ligean.
