Former Merrimack College captain, Finnish-born Sami Tavernier(79) played one AHL game for Syracuse Crunch on an ato after graduating last season but decided to move on for his official rookie campaign to his other homeland, France’s Ligue Magnus joining Chamonix, where he struck for a quick 4 goals and 7 assists in 11 games.
He was scooped by Kalpa to come home there and join the fight for the 2020/2021 season.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward pocketed 2 goals and 3 assists in 22 Liiga games with a +4 rating.
He came from scoring decently in college but has yet to really connect with the scoresheet, although that could come, especially if he re-signs, where he’s at.
Edmonton Oilers‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#208 overall), sizable, sturdy 6’3″ 203 lbs. defensemen Philip Kemp(5) leaves Yale University after 3 seasons and a COVID-stifled 2020/2021 season to turn up in Sweden’s tier 2 league Allsvenskan on loan to Vasby IK.
In 32 games he’s got 3 goals and 7 assists with a woeful -15 rating but is now in the playoffs with a pair of tallies and a +2 through 5 outings.
A consistent presence on the blue line, he was only a marginal point producer through college and two years of USNTDP but will be looked to for his built to guard the zone, when his 3-year entry level deal kicks in next season.
Former 4-year Robert Morris University captain, center Daniel Mantenuto(9) chose to branch out after school and agreed to join Italy’s Asiago of AlpsHL for 2020/2021.
In 140 NCAA Division 1 games the 5’9″ 170 lbs. pivot recorded 22 goals and 44 assists.
The Thornhill, ON but also listed as Italian residence, has picked a solid landing spot for his rookie campaign as he’s produced 13 goals and 19 assists in 34 games with a +11 rating and also played games in the Italian league with the club picking up another goal and 5 assists in 5 contests.
He keeps it up, he’ll definitely be getting some looks from a higher league across the way, if he’s looking.
Union College left wing Parker Foo(28) leaves a year on the table as his team is shelved for 2020/2021, so he’s decided to leave and sign a two-year deal to join brother Spencer with HC Kunlun Red Star.
His NHL playing rights until summer 2021 get retained by Chicago Blackhawks, who drafted him in the 5th round of 2017 (#144 overall).
They may get interested if he responds to Russian pro style.
In 34 KHL games he has a pair of goals and an assist.
We shall see.
Detroit Red Wings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft (#71 overall) Finnish-born defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo(26) had to make a difficult decision as his senior year approached at Boston University.
With the blessing of his NHL club, he made his way back home, eventually signing with Assat for 2020/2021 and in 50 Liiga games has 3 goals and 8 assists with a bit of a troubling -9 rating.
The fairly big 6’3″ 198 lbs. forward is still on track to sign next year and explore pro hockey in America, when we’re ready.
American International College right wing Martin Mellberg(10) headed home to Sweden after 4 years of college to start his pro career with Almtuna IS.
In 51 Allsvenskan games he had 5 goals and 20 assists for the season..
He left college hockey scoring a career high 19 assists and 28 points with 9 goals that tied his best effort from junior season.
It wouldn’t be tough to see the 25-year old play his way up the ladder to reach the SHL.
Undrafted, small (5’7″ 175 lbs.) center Odeen Tufto(29) was signed to a 1-year entry level deal, starting 2021/2022 by back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions Tampa Bay Lightning, after finishing up four super good seasons at Quinnipiac University Bobcats.
He was a 10 goal, 30+ assist guy in ECAC play, earning him awards for most assists 2020/2021 with 39 as team captain, Division Player Of The Year and a top 10 for Hobey Baker.
The Chaska, MN native basically has put up points everywhere he’s played: St. Thomas Academy USHS-MN and two campaigns of junior hockey, one in the BCHL and one for three different teams in the USHL.
He played 4 AHL games on an ato for affiliate Syracuse Crunch without scoring a point, but we feel once the 24-year old gets himself situated for a full run at a title, he’ll start to heat up.
Playing only 4 games up, he would spend most of his rookie season with Orlando Solar Bears, running up some points with 7 goals and 24 assists in 36 ECHL games that after not being qualified, he parlays to a new deal for 2022/2023 with Tuscon Roadrunners.
After no games with his contract club, he was eventually sent to Atlanta Gladiators for some playing time and in 12 games he turns over 3 goals and 4 assists, but is all set with his time in the minors here and agrees to see out the rest of 2023 with Krefeld Pinguine of DEL2.
Florida Panthers‘ 5th year center Mike Sgarbossa(48) maybe had to question if he would see another chance to crack an NHL roster after an early season trade from Anaheim Ducks, where he spent the last pair of years, mostly with affiliate San Diego Gulls but also appeared in a career high 9 big league to start the current calendar.
The small-ish hard skating forward recorded a career high two assists before being dealt, then reassigned to the minors joining new farm squad Springfield Thunderbirds.
The 24-year old was really starting to make it pop after entering the new surroundings scoring 4 goals and 8 assists in 14 AHL contests and really seeming to control the play a lot better.
It’s paid off as he’s received a recall and already appeared in another 7 games pushing his new high up to 16 games skating lots of minutes but still looking to grab more points and his first goal.
He’s set to become a restricted free agent one more time and it would be a likely bet that they look to keep him around.
For his 14th professional year playing hockey, he decides to take a look elsewhere and signs with HC Lugano of NL for 2 years, where he will do extremely well in Switzerland.
