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.
12th year right wing Corey Tropp(12) is off to a good start in his 2nd season overseas, this year with Vienna Capitals of IceHL after a good, short stint with Straubing Tigers (8-11-19 in 27 DEL games with a +6 rating).
He could easily see career high totals in this Austria-based league.
The super-solid 6′ 192 lbs. power forward twice hit the 20 goal mark and 2 times had 30+ assists in the AHL.
Originally a Buffalo Sabres’ 3rd round pick in the 2007 (#89 overall), he’s skated 149 NHL games,
He was a full-time fixture in the league for a pair of seasons, first with draft club, then a fairly successful run with Columbus Blue Jackets for most of two sessions.
The 3-year Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior assistant captain, 32-year old is likely just enjoying his hockey at this point.
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.
3rd year defenseman Jake Massie(34) signs a 1-year AHL deal with Hershey Bears for 2021/2022 after spending all of last season with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, scoring 3 goals and 8 assists with a +3 rating in 51 ECHL games, while under the 2nd year of his entry level deal with Florida Panthers.
The 6’1″ 179 lbs. blue liner was originally drafted by Carolina Hurricanes in the 6th round of 2015 (#156 overall), but went unsigned after a trade sent his rights to Chicago Blackhawks.
This all basically happened before he was to start his first year of juniors with Omaha Lancers, which is also when he committed to University Of Vermont Catamounts, where he spent the following three years.
The 24-year old will likely do better in his 2nd run of the farm league for the majors.
7th year center Joel Lowry(14) switches it up overseas, heading from Iserlohn Roosters of DEL to Vienna Capitals IceHL for 2021/2022.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. power forward was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#140 overall), spent 2 years in the system, but was left unqualified when his entry level deal expired.
His only other big league contract was a season signed by Florida Panthers, after producing high marks (10 goals, 20 assists) for their affiliate.
The Cornell University Big Red graduate had three 20+ point campaigns in college.
It will be little surprise to see the 29-year old detonate Austria’s collective league.
10th year defenseman Dylan Olsen(91) returns to Wichita Thunder after taking 2020/2021 off.
He played 4 ECHL games with the team to end 2019/2020, scoring 3 assists.
The brick wall 6’2″ 223 lbs. blue liner returned from half a season with HK Nitra of Tipos Extraliga.
This was his 2nd session overseas, as he arrived the year before to skate for Nottingham Panthers, doing decently with 19 points in 46 EIHL games.
He is originally a 2009 1st round pick of Chicago Blackhawks (#28 overall) and has played 124 NHL games for draft club and Florida Panthers, scoring 5 goals and 17 assists.
The former 2-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, who he just so happened to get credited in their 2011 NCAA Championship, but had left to turn pro with Rockford Icehogs.
He’s set to turn 31-years old as the season gets fully underway, and has to be still doing because he purely still loves it.
16-year net minder Curtis McElhinney(35) was snooping around for a new deal to play 2021/2022, but nothing seemed to break, as the 2-year deal at his best hit $1.3M AAV with Tampa Bay Lightning was expiring.
He is 38-years old.
The 6’1″ 210 lbs. goalie has 249 NHL games to his credit, posting a 94-95-20 record, mostly as a relief pitcher.
He started his pro career on an AHL deal to tend the cage for Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights before attracting the attention of Calgary Flames, who signed him to his one-year deal.
The Colorado College solid backstop (62-16-8) with a 2.32 GAA, .912 SV% and 8 shutouts, 2 WCHA Goaltending Champion was surprisingly overlooked to step right in, but the longevity that he’s built is pretty incredible.
He’s won a decent amount of awards in his run, but none sweeter than back-to-back 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup Championships.
5th year defenseman Rob O’Gara(42) decides to call it a career, just as he accepts the assistant coaching position at his old school, Yale University Bulldogs.
The big 6’4″ 214 lbs. d-man skated 33 NHL games, 11 with draft club Boston Bruins (5th round, 2011, #151 overall), no points and 22 for New York Rangers, who he was traded to in a late season deal.
He got his only points with the Blueshirts, 3 assists.
In 205 AHL games with 5 different clubs, most notably two seasons for Providence Bruins, he has 14 goals and 29 assists, but most notable is his overall +21 rating of in zone accountability.
The 28-year old will likely miss competing on ice for a bit, but his experience will help develop young players.
