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.
University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ right wing graduate Nick Swaney(13) takes four seasons of consistent scoring numbers to a 1-year entry level contract with his home state draft club, Minnesota Wild (7th round, 2017, #209 overall) that starts for 2021/2022 but will sign an ato with affiliate Iowa Wild to start immediately.
The 5’11” 175 lbs. forward scored 20+ points in each of his college campaigns with his best total 28 most recently as a senior.
He was also a point-per-game skater in two years at the USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks.
We have a feeling he gets started on the scoresheet sooner than later.
He spends all of his playing time in the AHL, scoring pretty big, but gets injured last season to throw things off track.
For 2024/2025, he does something he has yet to do in his pro career, signs a minor league deal with Chicago Wolves.
Nashville Predators‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#109 overall) defenseman Marc Del Gaizo(2) will leave a year on the table at UMass Minutemen after winning the 2021 NCAA Championship in a cinderella-like run.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner was selected after his freshman season at the college, where he put up as many points basically as he did the next two, although he was almost always a plus player, leaving the school with a +60 rating.
At just 21, he can also breathe a little sigh of relief that this season may wrap up, as his 3-year entry level deal starts 2021/2022, unless he is itchy and signs an ato somewhere.
He actually jumped on for his 1st 9 AHL games for Chicago Wolves and puts up 5 assists with a +3 rating.
His contract would initiate upon playing for Milwaukee Admirals, where in his 3rd year would come away with a season best 8 goals, 34 points with another 20+ assist frame and a +18 rating, then contributed 7 points in 15 playoff games.
The 24-year old, who also played 9 NHL games last season with 3 assists and a +2 rating becomes easy to sign to a 1 year deal to continue.
Toronto Marlies‘ rookie defenseman Marshall Rifai(83) has an assist in his first 2 AHL games with a +2 rating.
He scored a college career best 5 goals and 8 assists as a senior last season for Harvard University Crimson in 35 NCAA Division 1 games with a +23 rating.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner came here fairly quickly from Beaconsfield, QC to attend Hotschkiss School USHS-Prep, then did 1 USHL season before heading to school.
At 24-years old, he’s definitely ready to get started.
He scores 4 goals and 12 assists in 69 games last season with a +3 rating to earn a 2-year deal with parent club Toronto Maple Leafs to continue under their watchful eye.
Through 34 games, he has 2 goals and 9 assists with a +15 rating to earn himself a recall and a 1st NHL game.
He skates 19 shifts for 11:33 ice time with 1 shot on net, 1 hit and 1 block in a big 4-2 win.
Appearing in 57 games last season, he scores 2 goals and a new best 17 assists with a +14 rating, then pops in 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 playoff games.
It’s easy to see him get a new 2-year deal to stick with the Leafs.
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.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ Swedish-born, senior goaltender Magnus Chrona(30) signs a 2-year entry level deal with San Jose Sharks after being picked up in a trade with draft team Tampa Bay Lightning, where he was selected in the 5th round of 2018 (#152 overall).
The absolutely massive 6’6″ 216 lbs. net minder has always done well at school, winning the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship in what was his best season as a junior with a 28-8-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .911 SV%.
He would likely be best to sign an ato with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, as they fight to make the last playoff spot.
In his rookie year, he plays the full gambit of pro hockey leagues from the ECHL, AHL and NHL, but definitely looks to be working out the some kinks for consistency.
A big offseason trade sends him to Nashville Predators to continue and he’ll likely get the nod in net for affiliate Milwaukee Admirals to start. .
10th year center Rylan Schwartz(13) helped his club Lowen Frankfurt win the 2022 DEL2 Championship with 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 12 playoff games, and for his efforts earns a promotion up to their DEL team.
This will be his 7th year playing in either of Germany’s top leagues.
The 5’10” 192 lbs. forward left after a particularly good season for Orlando Solar Bears, scoring 23 goals and 19 assists in 40 ECHL games.
As an unrestricted free agent, graduating top scorer at Colorado College Tigers, he signed a 2-year entry deal with San Jose Sharks.
The 32-year old, who calls where he plays his half birth home, is likely pretty happy to be still playing good hockey.
For 2023/2024, he will stay on for a 3rd campaign with his champion club.
He would move down to DEL2 and signs with EC Kassel Huskies and does ok, especially in the playoffs.
At 34-years old, he is heading out for a new kind of hockey in the EIHL and signs with Glasgow Clan for 2024/2025.
12th year center Jayson Megna(20) gets maybe the ultimate deal for himself, signing a 1-year, 2-way contract with Boston Bruins for 2023/2024.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. undrafted forward spent most of last season after being claimed off waivers by Anaheim Ducks , scoring a new best 6 assists, following almost 4 campaigns with Colorado Avalanche, but was being reassigned to affiliate Colorado Eagles, where he played most of his games in the system.
He has twice had 20+ goals, 3 times 10+ and 3 times 20+ assists in the AHL.
We potentially expect the 33-year old, 1-year University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks from Fort Lauderdale, FL to hold down 4th line duties for his new club and not be reassigned to the minors.
He actually only has 1 game up in the NHL, but comes away with scoring bests for his new team with 37 assists and 56 points.
At 34 years old, he is heading back, where he is likely most comfortable, signing a 2-year pact with Colorado Eagles.
Former AIC captain, undrafted defenseman Brennan Kapcheck(5) graduates and signs and 2-year AHL deal with Toronto Marlies to get his pro career started.
The small 5’9″ 170 lbs. defenseman is very mobile and knows how to move and head man the puck.
He may have failed to tally a goal in this last frame but did put up 18 assists, which basically gave him an average of 20 helpers per season throughout his college career with a combined +41 rating.
The Illinois native can also score goals, as he did in his second session with Aston Rebels of the NAHL, where he struck for 17 goals and left the program with a huge +59.
There’s a lot of upside to this young signing, who should be able to contribute positively right away.
To start 2023/2024, he started in Slovakia Extraliga with HKM Zvolen, but through 10 games only recorded 1 assist and returns under contract to the only ECHL team he has played games for, Newfoundland Growlers, where he had 25 assists last season.
After 34 games, the team collapses and he waits to sign his next contract.
The new Tahoe Knight Monsters sign him up for 2024/2025.
Minnesota Wild 7th year center Steven Fogarty(29) signed a 2-year deal to come “home” as he is a native of right up the road, Edina, MN.
He has managed to skate NHL games in the last 6 seasons, but only scored 1 goal and 2 assists with Buffalo Sabres.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. former New York Rangers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#72 overall), he off to a nice start with affiliate Iowa Wild, scoring 5 goals and 9 assists in 20 AHL games with a +7 rating.
A 2-year captain at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the 29-year old always looks to be a leader in the locker room.
After his 8th pro season, 464 AHL games, 31 NHL and the all important 1st goal and 150 NCAA, he decides that’s enough and call it quits.
We could see him starting to coach somewhere this season.
