4th year center Jack Badini(21) is heading off to try something a bit different, signing with Stjernen Hockey of Fjordkraftligaen for 2023/2024.
The 6′ 203 lbs. forward should be able to connect well in Norway’s top league, as he did in his last ECHL frame for Newfoundland Growlers, while on loan from Toronto Marlies.
He signed 1 AHL deal, but as a former Anaheim Ducks‘ 3rd round pick in 2017 (#91 overall), he played 2-years in their system for San Diego Gulls after 4 years at Harvard University Crimson.
The 25-year old, Greenwich, CT native is likely to find better fortunes exploring hockey overseas for the while.
Undrafted rookie center Luke Lynch(28) skated just 4 games in last year’s COVID busted 2020/2021 for Wheeling Nailers, scoring no points, but gets his real opportunity with a contract to Jacksonville Icemen 2021/2022.
He was mostly a decent scorer for Robert Morris University Colonials, twice ascending to 20 assists, reached 17 goals as a sophomore and was named team captain as a senior.
The 5’11” 209 lbs. forward also potted point-per-game numbers as a 2nd year junior for Johnstown Tomahawks with a +17 rating.
As a Pittsburgh, PA native, he spent his last year of youth hockey in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 18U.
The 25-year old is likely very excited to get the new season going.
He would get 9 goals and 24 assists in 56 ECHL games with a +12 rating, then added 4 points in 8 games in the playoffs.
Kind of a no-brainer to keep him around if he wants to stay, and he signs for 2022/2023.
After a very impressive 2nd session in Florida, he is headed off to sign a 1-year deal with Glasgow Clan and will play games in the EIHL for 2023/2024.
San Diego Gulls signed former four year Providence College undrafted, senior captain Greg Printz(14) to an pto a little more than a month ago.
Five games in, he recorded a 1st assist.
10 games in, he gets a first pro AHL goal.
The fairly large 6’2″ 214 lbs. power forward currently sits at 1 goal and 2 assists in 12 appearances.
He had a bit of an uneasy COVID busted 2020/2021 scoring 6 goals and 9 assists in 25 games but we think it’s mostly it’s his junior year numbers that should be looked at, when he was able to get 15 goals and 12 assists through 34 contests, that season didn’t offer any playoffs as the pandemic was just shutting things down.
We think the 23-year old should get signed for 2021/2022, maybe where he is and the scoring will work itself out.
He goes from 67 games in a Springfield Thunderbirds‘ jersey last season, scoring 7 goals and 10 assists to a contract to play overseas for 2-time EIHL Champs’ Belfast Giants in 2023/2024.
Nashville Predators‘ 5th round pick in the 2016 draft (#138 overall), former outstanding point-per-game Boston University Terriers graduate, Patrick Harper(15) signed his two-year entry level deal as the plug was being pulled on the playoffs for the college hockey season and upon starting up has been mostly playing for Chicago Wolves but did start the season in the ECHL on a complete tear with Florida Everblades scoring 5 goals and 4 assist in 5 games.
The small 5’7″ 160 lbs. forward obviously knows how to find his open space.
He only has a pair of assists in 12 AHL games with a -6 but our bet is even with the bigger bodies, the puck is going to start to find him and he will be putting up stats.
The only 22-year old was drafted straight out of high school prep, played a pair of the MHSL sessions, scoring huge numbers, then finally to the USHL with Omaha Lancers before arriving at college a super youngster.
9 games into the new season without striking for affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, he has decided to opt out of the final year of his deal and heads to Finland’s Liiga, signing with HPK for the remainder of 2021/2022.
He would connect for 2 goals and 6 assists in 22 games, and has decided to opt for a bit of a lower challenge, signing with Mora IK of Allsvenskan for 2022/2023.
He will likely do very well in tier 2 Sweden’s hockey and be moved up.
A trade would send him to Kristianstads IK for most of last season, putting up decent enough numbers.
The New York native has made a decision to return to the US for 2023/2024, signing a 1-year deal with South Carolina Stingrays, which should see good results for both team and player.
4th year right wing Alec Butcher(11) put up career ECHL numbers by a pretty large stretch last season for Rapid City Rush, scoring 23 goals and 30 assists before adding another 5 points in 11 playoff matchups.
For 2022/2023, he was traded and subsequently signed a 1-year deal with Reading Royals.
In 10 games, the 5’10” 183 lbs. forward has 2 goals and 2 assists.
He did have 10+ goals in each of his first 2 seasons and 18 assists in his 2nd run with Wheeling Nailers.
The Anchorage, AK native skated two campaigns in juniors NAHL for local Kenai Brown Bears , being named league MVP in his 2nd, before heading off to 3 years at Sacred Heart University, where as a sophomore he recorded 22 assists in 37 games, but left in his senior year to head home to University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves.
At 28-years old, he could be getting a bit of a late jump on scoring.
In a full-slate of 72 games he busts out 21 goals and 28 assists with a +8 rating and he will be back in a Royals‘ uniform for 2023/2024.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Zach Giuttari(44) re-signs with Hartford Wolf Pack for a 2nd season.
He signed a 1-game ato after graduating as senior captain from Brown University Bears, where he put up three years of decent point production.
The very decently sized 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner spent only one season in juniors for Chilliwack Chiefs with good numbers (8-9) in 54 BCHL games.
His 3 goals and 3 assists as a rookie in a ridiculous season of 22 AHL games with a +4 are good stats to keep him on board.
The 25-year old, Warwick, R.I native will likely do much better this year as it will be more normal and he’ll have one run under his belt.
Turns out he’s a hell of a lacrosse player too.
After 120+ games in Connecticut, he gets shipped across the country for a new start with Abbotsford Canucks.
In 17 games, he gets 3 assists, then adds another 2 in 6 playoff matchups to somehow land an amazing deal to head to the SHL and play games for Vaxjo Lakers HC in 2023/2024.
7th year center Jeff Kubiak(36) re-signs with the only team his ever agreed to a pro contract with Bridgeport Islanders for 2023/2024.
For a 3rd AHL frame, he was able to record 20+ assists last season.
The 4-year Cornell University Big Red forward twice had 10+ assists in college play and was a +19 rating.
At 6’3″ 212 lbs., the 29-year old is certainly a good guy to have around.
Undrafted rookie right wing Todd Goehring(29) signs with Worcester Railers for 2023/2024 after graduating 5 years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers, then signing an ato to start his pro work at Atlanta Gladiators, but in 6 games got no points.
The 5’11” 175 lbs. forward split junior seasons in the USHL and NAHL with Chicago Steel and New Jersey Junior Titans before reporting to school.
From Wayside, NJ, he should fit in well with his new ECHL team.
Wheeling Nailers re-sign Cornell University Big Red graduating senior defenseman Sebastian Dirven(6) after he joined the team on an ato after finishing up tournament play with 1 goal and 2 assists in 4 games.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward is an easy re-sign for 2023/2024 to see what he has in a full 72 game frame.
From Bainsville, ON, he played 2 junior frames in the CCHL before heading to Central Illinois Flying Aces for 2 USHL seasons prior to college.
He should find the room he needs in the ECHL to be a big goal scorer as a rookie in 2023/2024.
Undrafted, 6th year goaltender Adam Carlson(31) makes the easy decision to return for another, third season to tend net for Rapid City Rush.
He had an ok enough campaign in 2020/2021, but we’re thinking the 6’3″ 190 lbs. back stop will look more like he did when he arrived in 2018/2019.
Originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal by Washington Capitals after coming off just one year of college at Mercyhurst University Lakers, he would mostly be reassigned to ECHL affiliate South Carolina Stingrays.
The 27-year old may have found a pretty solid place to call his hockey home for awhile.
He would spend all of 2021/2022 on the injured reserve list and even ended up as assistant coach on the bench as the frame was wrapping up, but will return to the net for 2022/2023, his 4th in a Rush uniform.
After 35 Rush starts last season, posting an admirable 15-15-2 record with a 3.35 GAA and .897 SV% on a non-playoff team, he has decided maybe that is enough for suiting up for a pro hockey game again and onto a different path.
He was behind the bench when he was injured likely comes with some managerial smarts, so we do believe that’s where we will see him next.
