Undrafted 8th year goaltender Casey DeSmith(1) gets a new 2-year deal to stick with the only team he has ever known, Pittsburgh Penguins, signing a new 2-year NHL deal.
The 6′ 181 lbs. net minder has consistently held his GAA to around 2 and SV% in the .900 range either up with the big club or tending for affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, so has some skill in the crease.
His actual 1st contract after graduating University Of New Hampshire Wildcats was with Wheeling Nailers and he played 13 ECHL games with very good numbers to get loaned up in the system, where he did outstanding in 6 AHL games to earn his entry level contract in the next frame.
The 31-year old from Rochester, NH has worked very hard, but also has had some very good luck riding on his shoulders.
For the 1st time in his pro career, he gets moved to a new team, Montreal Canadiens, who pick up his contract.
He barely suits up for his new club and gets a promo photo shot before he is moved to Vancouver Canucks, who may have more of a need for a new kind of #1.
It’s here where his game comes back together, as he gets 29 starts and does pretty well, but it’s his playoff look that really gets him some action.
Dallas Stars step in and offers the unrestricted free agent a 3-year deal.
Undrafted left wing, Kobe Roth(11) finishes up a graduate season as captain of University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs to sign a 1st pro deal for 2022/2023 with Florida Everblades.
The 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward posted a college career best 16 goals and 13 assists last season and was a 3-time 10+ tally-getter.
We think the 25-year old from Mason City, IA is going to find some room in the ECHL to get on the scoreboard lots.
After spending most of his rookie season putting up formidable numbers with the eventual 2023 Kelly Cup Champs before getting traded to Kalamazoo Wings to finish out the frame, he has decided to look onwards.
For 2023/2024, he signs with Coventry Blaze and should see quite the uptick in his scoring in the EIHL.
And he definitely did, scoring 25 goals and 16 assists in 54 games, but will next take his game to Germany3 and signs with Tilburg Trappers for 2024/2025.
10th year, former 2012 1st round NHL draft pick, defenseman Brady Skjei(86) switches up to only his 3rd team for 2024/2025, signing a 7-year deal worth some $7M AAV with another contender, Nashville Predators.
The 6’3″ 209 lbs. blue liner, scored a new career best 34 assists and 47 points last season.
He did 3 years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers before signing his 3-year entry level deal with the team that selected him, New York Rangers.
There’s little doubt his game really came together in the 4 years with Carolina Hurricanes.
The 30-year old is likely very far from finished, obviously.
Trois-Rivières Lions‘ rookie defenseman, Latvian-born defenseman Markuss Komuls(23) will take his pro game closer to home in 2024/2025, signing with HC Nove Zamky of the tough to play Slovak Extraliga.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner came over early for junior hockey and played his way up from an EHL season to the NAHL for 3, earning a commit to University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, where he skated 4 seasons.
We think the 26-year old does well there to continue to gain recognition.
Undrafted defenseman Zach Vinnell(6) will take his game to Bowling Green University Falcons for his senior year, leaving behind 3 seasons and a college career junior season at Merrimack College Warriors, scoring 4 goals and 12 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Cochrane, AB played 3 years of junior hockey in the close by AJHL.
We think the 24-year old scored himself a nice invite to Edmonton Oilers‘ development camp and will likely see some mature ice time in the CCHA.
Although he only scored 1 goal with his new college team, he did manage a best 19 assists.
He will take his recent fortunes to a 1st pro deal with Indy Fuel to finish out the season.
In 16 games to debut his pro game, he scores 1 goal and 9 assists with a 0 rating, then added 1 assist in 2 playoff matchups.
He’s taking his game elsewhere for 2023/2024, as he signs on to strengthen the blue line for 1-year with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL.
After 15 games, 1 goal 4 assists, he seemingly leaves and signs with Sheffield Steelers, who seem very happy to have him in their lineup.
He would do pretty well with 1 goal and 4 assists through 15 games with a +12 rating.
Something isn’t gelling on ice though and the 26-year old decides to retire and as soon as 2024/2025 will take up ranks as an assistant coach with rivals, Coventry Blaze.
10th year center Domenic Alberga(88) leaves his team of the last 5 seasons, HC Bolzano to sign with Dundee Stars of the EIHL for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward maybe didn’t have the year he was used to and wants to switch things up.
He played 4 ECHL sessions to start his pro career, 3 with Norfolk Admirals and was loaned up in his final frame that maybe had him looking for more and headed overseas.
From Maple, ON, he played 4 OHL junior campaigns before heading to Ryerson University Rams for 2.
The 31-year old keeps it going.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior left wing Chase Bradley(20) leaves a year on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level contract with Colorado Avalanche.
The 6′ 198 lbs. forward was originally drafted by Detroit Red Wings in the 7th round of the 2020 draft (#203 overall), but they elected to not sign him.
He scored a college best 11 goals and 11 assists last season.
From St. Louis, MO, the 22-year old will likely start with their affiliate Colorado Eagles, but could blossom quickly.
Elmira College Soaring Eagles‘ senior left wing Nicholas Domitrovic(8) signs for 2024/2o25 in France2 with Les Ours-de-Villard.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward scored a college best 18 goals and 20 assists in 28 games with a +25 rating last season.
From Ottawa, ON, he did 3 CCHL seasons before committing to college.
We do think the 24-year old will do well with the 2023/2024 league champs next season.
2nd year USNTDP defenseman John Whipple(4) finally selects University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers for a 2024/2025 commit.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. blue liner is 2024 draft eligible.
From Morristown, NJ, the 17-year old isn’t exactly known for putting up points, but holds his zone steady.
After another year of mostly shut down play, despite not many points and overall +25 player, he is selected in the 5th round by Detroit Red Wings, who will watch him go to school to start.
Maine Nordiques‘ 1st year net minder Carter Richardson(73) maybe takes a moment, but commits to Lake Superior State University Lakers for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. goalie rode some pretty impressive regular season NAHL stats, but then even notched it up a bit in the playoffs with a 1.73 GAA and .950 SV%.
From Dartmouth, NS, the only 18-year old will be impressive when called upon.
