12th year net minder Keith Kincaid(30) signed a 2-year unrestricted free agent deal with Boston Bruins smack in the middle of 2022/2023 offseason.
He was with New York Rangers/Hartford Wolf Pack for the 2 prior campaigns.
Undrafted, he arrived as a pro after an outstanding 2nd session at Union College Bobcats, where he posted a 1.99 GAA and .920 SV% with a 25-10-3 record, then signed an entry level deal with New Jersey Devils and stayed in the system for 8 years before moving on.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs. goalie has appeared in 167 NHL games with a winning record and very decent stats.
At 33-years old, he easily is showing no signs of stopping.
For 2023/2024, he circles back to the team, where it all started New Jersey Devils, but mostly will be on loan to Utica Comets, but could compete for a spot that looks to be opening.
He actually ends up on loan, starting 24 games to Chicago Wolves and for 2024/2025 signs with Charlotte Checkers that should be a good landing spot for the 35-year old.
Undrafted goaltender Aaron Dell(30) has put up some kind of career in his so far 9 years of net tending time.
After 3 strong seasons at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, he signed a first contract with Allen Americans, where he won the 2013 Central Hockey League Championship and was voted Most Outstanding Goalie.
Next up, he moved leagues agreeing to terms with Utah Grizzlies and again, put up some solid numbers 19-7-3 with a 2.14 GAA and .920 SV% in 29 ECHL games, including a pair of shutouts, then got some impressive playoff numbers.
This pair of years earned him a one-way contract with San Jose Sharks for 2014/2015.
He would split time in his first campaign between leagues, but was impressive in 26 starts for a 15-8-2 record with a 2.06 GAA and .927 SV%, 4 blankings.
The Airdrie, AB native quickly re-upped for another year and followed the team to their new home San Jose Barracuda.
He started a career high 40 AHL games and received some recalls, but no time in net.
That would happen in 2016/2017 and he hasn’t looked back, having played a career 114 games, posting a winning record.
We’re thinking the 32-year old finds some more rock star to help a struggling Buffalo Sabres on his one-year, two-way deal.
For 2024/2025, his 13th season in net, he circles back to sign a 1-year deal with the Barracuda.
6th year defenseman Andrew Peeke(52) will spend a 1st full season, 2024/2025 with the team he was traded to late last season, Boston Bruins.
The 6’3″ 216 lbs. blue liner was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round 2016 draft pick (#34 overall) and skated some 218 NHL games with them.
He played 3 years at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he had 21 assists in the season before he signed his entry level deal.
From Parkland, FL, the 26-year old could easily put up career highs next season with his new team.
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.
13th year goaltender Alex Stalock(32) sees his career come full circle as he returns to 2005 draft team San Jose Sharks (4th round, #112 overall) in a trade to have him back.
He was tending net with infrequency for Edmonton Oilers‘ affiliate Bakersfield Condors and existed on the team’s taxi squad last season after being picked up on waivers from 3 years with Minnesota Wild.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. net minder has appeared in 151 NHL games with a 61-48-18 record and 2.61 GA, .909 SV%.
He is a former USHL junior hockey Clark Cup Champion, playoff MVP, best SV% and Goaltender Of The Year recipient.
The 34-year old, 3-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs is likely just a little happy to return to where it all started.
As an unrestricted free agent, he heads to Chicago Blackhawks for 2022/2023 on a 1-way deal to help them shore up their crease.
He would actually play 27 games, striking a 9-15-2 with not terrible stats on a non-playoff team, but he unrestricted and signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks for 2023/2024.
San Diego Gulls enjoy his presence for 15 games last season and now at age 37, it’s time for him to announce his retirement and he will immediately take that winning personality of his to the Sharks‘ broadcast booth, starting 2024/2025.
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.
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.
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.
