9th year, undrafted left wing Tim Schaller(5) signs a 2nd straight minor league contract, this time to Bakersfield Condors, after a fairly successful 2020/2021 AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He was coming off a two-year deal with Vancouver Canucks that didn’t materialize too well and would eventually lead him to be dealt to Los Angeles Kings to kill that contract.
The 6’2″ 204 lbs. forward had his best success in 2 seasons to Boston Bruins, where he grabbed 7 goals and 7 assists in 59 NHL games before coming alive with career bests 12 goals and 10 assists in the next campaign.
He appeared in less than 20 games over two seasons with original contract club, Buffalo Sabres.
The former 2-time Providence College Friars‘ captain was good for 20 points from his sophomore season onward.
At still just 30-years old, it’s likely he just still wants to play, which is why we think his next look will be to see what becomes available overseas for 2022/2023.
After a solid season in California, scoring 10 goals and 15 assists in 67 games with a +11 rating, he is moving on, agreeing to a new deal for 2022/2023 with Milwaukee Admirals.
10th year defenseman Cameron Schilling(5) opts out of his minor league deal with Abbotsford Canucks to sign with Djurgardens IF of SHL for the remainder of 2021/2022.
Undrafted, the big 6’3″ 190 lbs. blue liner has always been able to play himself into NHL contracts, despite only officially playing 10 games with 1 assist to his credit in the league.
He had three seasons of 10+ assists through 4 years at Miami University-Ohio Redhawks with a +58 rating but somehow wasn’t able to get himself into a situation, where a strong stay-at-home style defenseman was needed.
The 33-year old from Carmel, IN has done well for himself and is probably just happy to be pulling down good contracts is worth smiling about.
After playing in the higher league last season, doing pretty darn well, he will take his game to Allsvenskan for 2022/2023, signing with the same club.
3rd year left wing Cam Morrison(45) is left unqualified by Chicago Blackhawks after a pair of seasons in their system.
In his only active season, he scored 5 goals and 9 assists in 43 AHL games for affiliate Rockford IceHogs with a +1 rating.
For 2022/2023, the big 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward signs a minor league deal to join Charlotte Checkers.
Originally a Colorado Avalanche 2nd round pick in the 2016 draft (#40 overall), but never signed leaving him an unrestricted free agent upon graduating University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he was always a 10+ assist player.
He was drafted after his only USHL session, where he blew up scoring with 34 goals, 32 assists and a +38 rating.
The Aurora, ON native is actually signed by Florida Panthers to his contract, who have him no their radar.
8th year center Ryan Dzingel(18) skated his 400th NHL game with new club, San Jose Sharks after being traded, then waived and picked up by his current team.
For 2021/2022, he was originally signed by Arizona Coyotes, but traded after only scoring 3 goals and 4 assists in 26 games on a struggling unit, then was picked up by Toronto Maple Leafs, put on waivers and claimed.
The 6′ 196 lbs. forward has 86 goals and 101 assists in the big league, but is a -20 rating, so needs to bring that up.
He has skated 6 full seasons at the highest level and it looks like the 29-year old, former Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ goal scorer has arrived somewhere they can use him.
For 2022/2023, he returns to Carolina Hurricanes, where he spent a full season and had a 2nd highest assist total.
We think the 30-year old will catch some new life.
Minnesota Wild 8th year defenseman Kevin Czuczman(7) is spending most of his time thus far in 2021/2022 with affiliate Iowa Wild, but has been on the short list for recalls.
He has only skated 15 NHL games with 13 of those after his 3rd year at Lake Superior State University Lakers for entry level contract club, New York Islanders.
The 6’3″ 195 lbs. blu liner spent his first couple with their affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, but when his contract expired was left unqualified as a group 6 free agent.
He couldn’t have landed at a better spot and signed for one year with Manitoba Moose, producing career high 9 goals and 23 assists to gain the attention of Pittsburgh Penguins, who signed him to a two-way for a year.
In his first frame for his new club, he once again reached a new best on assists, striking for 31 with a +15 rating.
He would make not equal this output in his 2nd year under contract, but did well enough to earn another two to stay.
The 30-year old from London, ON has definitely worked hard for what he has earned and mostly seemed to smile about it.
In likely the most no brainer of free agency, he signs for 2022/2023 with Ilves of Liiga and will likely perform really well in Finland’s top league.
11th year defenseman Nicholas Schaus(28) returns to Norfolk Admirals, where he spent 18 AHL games in his third pro season.
Now an ECHL team, in 5 games, he’s already posted a pair of assists.
The 5’11” 200 lbs. blue liner has always been known for dishing helpers in good amounts, reaching 20+ assists and 30+ points overseas on 3 occasions.
He had 10+ assists for 3 of 4 years at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks.
The 35-year old is a great team guy and maybe shows little signs of slowing down.
He likes where he is and decides to stay for 2022/2023 after putting in 4 goals and 11 assists.
This could be it, then he would be an amazing coach.
After 8 seasons of essentially guiding Reading Royals and winning the 2013 Kelly Cup with the team as an assistant captain, Kirk MacDonald(13) steps away for a new opportunity to become head coach with Dubuque Fighting Saints.
He wrapped up his playing days with that title and went on to become assistant coach at his old college, RPI Engineers to get his feet wet, but turned pro after a single frame.
Not sure what went into the 6’2″ 209 lbs. right wing veteran of 272 AHL games and 135 ECHL games had in mind to leave for a USHL junior hockey team, but obviously there is some reasoning there.
12 years is plenty enough for undrafted net minder of 235 NHL games, Carter Hutton(40), who announces his retirement.
Considering some of the clubs he’s needed to backstop, his 94-90-27 record with a 2.76 GAA and .908 SV% is fairly impressive.
The 36-year old, former UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ goalie will likely become a great game analyst somewhere.
Trent Vogelhuber(13) retired from pro hockey a few years ago and immediately was adopted by Cleveland Monsters to become their assistant coach, a role he’s filled for the last 4 seasons.
He actually had his best campaign for the team, when they were called Lake Erie Monsters, scoring 11 goals and 16 assists in 70 AHL games and helping them win the 2016 Calder Cup.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward was actually a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in the 2007 draft (#211 overall), but didn’t actually sign an NHL contract until after winning the minor league title by Colorado Avalanche.
He skated two sessions with their affiliate before deciding to change sceneries.
The former Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks from right there in Dublin, OH, at 33-years old becomes his team’s newest, 7th all-time head coach.
10th year, Finnish-born goaltender Jussi Olkinuora(45) walks away from the 2022 IIHF World Championships with a bunch of awards for the home team, Finland, including MVP, Best GAA, Best Goaltender and a Gold Medal, his 2nd in two years.
He also won a similar award for winning the 2022 Olympics.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. net minder was undrafted, but quickly signed by Winnipeg Jets upon complete his 2nd season at University Of Denver Pioneers.
He only stayed with them for a pair of seasons, but signed with their new affiliate Manitoba Moose in the following frame, only to be reassigned to Tulsa Oilers for most of the session.
The Helsinki native split for three campaigns in his homeland before accepting an offer to head to the KHL.
He came to life with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, but has decided to play in Switzerland 2022/2023 for EHC Beil-Bienne.
The 31-year old could return on a one-way NHL deal and hit his payday is what we’re looking at.
