6th year left wing Kyle Criscuolo(42) gets a new crack at the NHL with Detroit Red Wings, his first since an unsuccessful 9 game stint after signing an entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres.
The 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward started his pro career on a 1-year minor league deal with Grand Rapids Griffins, where he put up 17 goals and 24 assists with a +15 rating to get on the major radar.
He has always managed to put up good numbers with affiliates and has point-per-game stats in the current AHL frame.
The 29-year old, former Harvard University Crimson two-time captain posted outstanding points in school and is likely very happy how his pro career is stretching out to include yet another recall.
He would re-sign for a 5th season in a Griffins‘ uniform, but a mid-year minor trade sends him to San Jose Sharks for a new look and start on things at now 30-years old.
After a decent enough showing in the minors, he scores a 1-game recall to the big league and what do you know, the now 31-year old grabs a 1st NHL goal.
For 2023/2024, the Southampton Township, NJ native comes home, signing a 1-year, 2-way deal with New Jersey Devils that will very likely see him mostly with affiliate Utica Comets, but could score some looks.
He walks away from last season with a career best assists, 26 and points, 42 and he signs for 2024/2025 with Charlotte Checkers and will likely just continue to score in the minors.
After another solid scoring season with 19 goals and 16 assists with a +6 rating, he is a free agent and decides to return to Utica Comets on a 1-year deal for 2025/2026.
Undrafted 7th year center Josh Jooris(36) leaves North American pro hockey for a first time to sign with Lausanne HC of NLA for 2019/2020.
He departs having played 213 NHL (23-32-55) games for 5 different teams but was exclusively in the minors with Toronto Marlies last season, although signed by the parent club Toronto Maple Leafs.
The former high scoring 6’1″ 198 lbs. Union College forward has less AHL games to his credit at 160 (20-26) but suited up for an equal amount of teams as he did at the higher level.
He is now 34-years old and that hasn’t deter how well he does in Switzerland’s top hockey.
Staying with his new Swiss team for 2 seasons, he switches it up to sign with Geneve-Servette HC, where he agrees for a 4th frame and is scoring pretty well out of the gate.
Consistently producing 20+ points, he is back for a 5th season with Geneve-Servette and is scoring very well with 3 goals and 5 assists in 17 games.
Boston Bruins‘ undrafted 2nd year goaltender Brandon Bussi(35) needed a new contract as a restricted free agent and picks up a 1-year 2-way NHL deal to continue his progress.
The big 6’4″ 227 lbs. net minder went 22-5-4 as a rookie with a 2.40 GAA and .925 SV% and despite losing 3 games posted similar totals in 4 playoff match ups.
From Sound Beach, NY, he did 3 years at Western Michigan University Broncos after bouncing around juniors his 1st two campaigns, then posted a very strong USHL frame with Muskegon Lumberjacks before heading to school.
The 25-year old is off to a pretty strong start on a good team for him and posted a shutout in a 2023 preseason game.
He has been a rock in net for affiliate Providence Bruins and the unrestricted free agent picks up a new 1-year, 2-way deal to continue.
An unrestricted free agent heading into 2025/2026, Florida Panthers sign him on opening day.
Put on waivers for the purpose of reassignment, he is busy moving, as Carolina Hurricanes claim his contract to start the season.
After a couple of almosts with his former club, he gets the nod in net for his 1st big league start and comes away with a 5-1 win on a 1.00 GAA and .941 SV%, nicely impressive NHL debut.
5th year right wing Anthony Angello(17) signs a 1-year NHL deal with St. Louis Blues, as an unrestricted free agent after spending the 1st 4 years of his pro career in Pittsburgh Penguins‘ organization.
The towering 6’5″ 209 lbs. forward twice scored 16 goals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has definitely shown a perchance for potential big numbers.
He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#145 overall).
The Albany, NY native did 3 years at Cornell University Big Red before leaving to sign his entry level contract.
At 26-years old, he could be just arriving.
He is acquired late season by Nashville Predators, who send him directly to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, where he helps their deep 2023 Calder Cup Playoff push.
It’s little doubt he is signed quickly to a 2-year 2-way deal though 2024/2025.
A trade sent him to Tampa Bay Lightning organization, he was reassigned to close by home Syracuse Crunch and scored well in 19 games.
With no deal going forward, he decides to leave hockey after 339 AHL games and 31 NHL games to his credit and could actually head back for his senior year somewhere is a possibility we see.
Calgary Flames‘ 8th year center Kevin Rooney(21) gets re-upped for a 1-year extension, as his 2-year deal was set to expire.
He signed for the same money $1.3M.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward has skated for 3 different teams, originally signed by New Jersey Devils after 4 years and an 2015 NCAA Division 1 national title with Providence College Friars.
He almost ironically seemed to do best in 2 seasons with New York Rangers before heading to his current club.
The 30-year old from Canton, MA has to be pretty happy how things have turned out.
After adding training camp look that didn’t quite settle, Utah Mammoth step in and offer him a 1-year 2-way deal for 2025/2026.
11th year, Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#157 overall) right wing Cam Atkinson(89) gets traded from the nest of the only team he’s ever known for his 10 year pro career that maybe wasn’t considered likely seeing his stealthy 5’8″ 176 lbs. frame.
He heads to Philadelphia Flyers to ride out the final 4 years of his big money 7-year deal he signed in 2018/2019.
The Riverside, CT native has skated an almost eye-popping 627 NHL games, scoring 213 goals and 189 assists with an overall +17 rating.
He signed his entry level deal after twice scoring big for Boston College Eagles and would report to affiliate Springfield Falcons at the end of his third year, only to pop in a 1st 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 AHL games.
At 32-years old, it’s definitely a bit of a scary signing, but he has averaged 20+ goals and once hit 29, 35 and 41 in a session.
He doesn’t quite hit his previous marks with 10+ numbers in 2 seasons for his new club, including 1 completely scrapped due to injury and is bought out of his final year of his deal.
For 2024/2025, he hooks up with only his 3rd team ever in 14 seasons of play, Tampa Bay Lightning think they can lift the now 35-year old’s scoring level.
After 809 NHL games, scoring very well, he decides at 36-years old and will likely land somewhere nicely on staff, as he is set to sign a 1-day contract with 10-year team Columbus Blue Jackets to retire officially.
7th year right wing Casey Bailey(93) re-signs with Iserlohn Roosters after putting up a 2nd 40+ point season.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs forward has twice earlier hit the 40+ mark, first as a junior at Penn State University Nittany Lions, then as a 3rd year AHL player for Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
At 30-year old, the Anchorage, AK native is definitely still hitting the ice hard.
After a 3rd season with the same club, putting up 39 points in his last frame, he signs for 2023/2024 with DEL rivals ERC Ingolstadt.
He leaves 4 years in the league for some new waters, signing with the famous Graz99ers of IceHL, which should be a good country for him to play in.
Through 46 games, he scores 15 goals and 12 assists, so does alright, but decides to come back and play a little closer to home, signing with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.
6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(11) gets a new 1-year, 2-way deal from Anaheim Ducks for 2021/2022.
The unrestricted free agent signed a 1-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights last season and put up point-per-game numbers for affiliate Henderson Silver Knights.
Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#138 overall), he’s been a prolific scorer since he arrived to ultimate graduate St. Sebastian’s School before committing to 4 years at Boston University Terriers, where he scored 154 points (66-88) in 154 Hockey East games.
His dad Tom O’Regan took a similar path through school.
The 27-year old will likely be pivotal to affiliate San Diego Gulls‘ success.
Mid-season he is moved to Grand Rapids Griffins and his scoring takes flight with 14 goals and 17 assists in 39 games.
For 2023/2024, he will take his 1 NHL goal to a new adventure, signing with MoDo Hockey and we think he finds comfort in scoring in the SHL.
He scores just 4 goals and 8 assists in 34 games with a -9 rating, but Kunlun Red Star see something and sign him to a 1-year KHL deal for 2024/2025.
Through 65 games, he scores pretty well, but lacks some on-ice accountability and next decides to head to DEL, where he signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings for 2025/2026.
13th year center Brian O’Neill(91) will skate the SHL for his 1st season, signing with Lulea HF for 2024/2025 after 2 NL frames for EV Zug.
Upon leaving North American pro hockey, the 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward spent 6 years in the KHL for Jokerit.
Undrafted, he played his 1st 3 seasons in Los Angeles Kings‘ system, winning the 2015 Calder Cup with affiliate Manchester Monarchs, getting voted MVP amongst other awards.
He would next be traded to New Jersey Devils, scoring 22 NHL games, getting 2 assists.
The 2-time Yale University Bulldogs‘ 20-goal scorer and 3-time 20+ assists for the former captain did 1 USHL year Chicago Steel before school.
We think the 35-year old still has some hockey to prove.
Off to a hot start in 2025/2026, he is rewarded with a 3-year deal to stay with Lulea HF.
9th year net minder Pheonix Copley(29) has finally found his NHL team, Los Angeles Kings after some searching and a 237 journey through the AHL.
He did start the frame in the minors with affiliate Ontario Reign before his recall, which quickly netted wins and solidified his spot as the team’s starter.
The 6’4″ 200 lbs. wall has a 17-4-2 record with a 2.74 GAA and .901 SV%.
Undrafted, the former Michigan Tech Huskies‘ goalie has played 6 years in the system of initial signing club, Washington Capitals.
The 31-year old picks up a nice new 1-year deal to stay at $1.5M AAV.
He plays 1 game in the big league with not great results, but hums along nicely in 42 games in the minors with a good record to earn another year, basically at league minimum to return in a Kings‘ jersey.
We actually think there is more shine in the now 33-year old.
He is claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay Lightning, who will use him as a back-up and with affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
