8th year defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere(41) leaves Philadelphia Flyers‘ nest for a 1st time, after 381 NHL games, scoring 60 goals and 159 assists.
The generously listed at 5’11” 180 lbs. blue liner was traded to Arizona Coyotes, as he still has two years left on his 6-year deal signed in 2017.
He has been always known to put up a lot of assists, culminating in his 4th season, where he had 52 helpers.
The 28-year old’s offense has ticked down in the last couple campaigns, but on this new team that has legs, we could see it move back up.
After a couple of trying years in the desert, the former 3-year Union College Bobcats gets himself a trade to a Stanley Cup contender for 2023, Carolina Hurricanes.
We are maybe a little surprised the unrestricted free agent didn’t sign to stay on, but jumps for a little more money than his last deal on a 1-year term for $4.125M with the constantly rebuilding Detroit Red Wings.
Well, looks like he heads back to Carolina on a 3-year, $3.2M AAV deal after posting a 2nd highest assist total at 46 last season.
Unrestricted 5th year free agent left wing Cameron Hughes(24) signs a 2-year 2-way deal with Seattle Kracken, getting him slightly closer to his Edmonton, AB home.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#165 overall), he was with them through four seasons, scoring a career high 14 goals and 31 assists in 59 AHL games, serving as assistant captain for affiliate Providence Bruins last session.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward was senior captain at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, where he tallied 20+ assists as a sophomore and junior.
At just 25-years old with 2 games NHL experience to his resume, he could just be starting to come of age.
He blows up scoring with new career highs in goals, points and plus/minus rating for the affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds, helping them to the Calder Cup Finals both seasons.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Dallas Stars, likely spotting a hole for some play at the higher level.
USNTDP 2nd year center Max Plante(10) is an assist scoring machine and it’s definitely spotted, as he is chosen by Detroit Red Wings in the 2nd round of the 2024 NHL draft (#47 overall).
The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward had a combined 69 assists last season.
From Hermanntown, MN, the 18-year old is likely ready to get to some college hockey at his commit, University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for 2024/2025.
9th year defenseman Mike Reilly(6) signs a 1-year deal with Florida Panthers for 2023/2024 after spending most of the last 2 seasons with Boston Bruins, although he was dished to their affiliate Providence Bruins for most of last season and his contract was eventually bought out and he was waived.
He’s 3 times reached 10+ assists and 4 times 10+ points in a frame.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 (#98 overall) draft, but 1st signed his 2-year NHL entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Minnesota Wild, then re-upped with them on a 1-way deal for another 2.
A former University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, he is a veteran of 339 games in the big league and the 30-year old could hang up his skates happy if he wanted to at this point.
He was ready to be reassigned to their AHL affiliate, but in steps New York Islanders to claim him off waivers, as they look to have a need for him to help cover their blue line.
Through a 2nd best 59 games, he scores a new high 6 goals and 24 points to earn himself another 1-year deal to stay on the Isle for 2024/2025.
10th year defenseman Jacob MacDonald(26) re-signs to return to Colorado Avalanche for 2024/2025 after just 1.5 seasons away.
The 6″ 205 lbs. blue liner made a 5 year climb from minor league contracts to where he is today.
From Portland, OR, the former Cornell University Big Red 31-year old is likely glad to be heading back to his team of 3.5 frames.
Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#95 overall) rookie defenseman Jack Rathbone(51) makes his NHL debut after being recalled from affiliate Utica Comets to the taxi squad a half month ago.
He’d scored two goals and 7 assists in 8 AHL games before getting recalled.
In the 5’10” 177 lbs. d-man’s debut he skated 14 shifts for 12:04 total ice time with a shot on net and a 0 rating in a 4-1 loss.
The former Harvard University Crimson blue liner spent two years there, leaving with a tied career high 7 goals and new best 24 assists and 31 points in a COVID cut season of 28 NCAA Division 1 Hockey East games with no playoffs, then no season to play in 2021/2022 for the school, which had to make his decision to turn pro unfortunately easy.
The almost 22-year old has plenty to look forward to.
He works his way into an average of 10 games per frame, but gets himself moved in his 4th season with the team that sends him to Pittsburgh Penguins for 2023/2024, although he already has 1 goal in the minors and that’s likely where he headed first.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Buffalo Sabres that could see him mostly reassigned to affiliate Rochester Americans, but also could see him as being given an opportunity with his new team.
3rd year center J.D. Dudek(18) returned to these shores after spending 2020/2021 overseas with Bodens HF doing quite well with 7 goals and 4 assists in 16 HockeyEttan games with a +7 rating and re-signed to Worcester Railers, who he spent 27 ECHL games with as a rookie (2-10-12).
Originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#152 overall), he signed an ato with affiliate Binghamton Devils upon graduating 4 years at Boston College Eagles, but that’s about how far it went.
The Auburn, NH native was quickly dished to Allen Americans after 1 game back in central MA.
Soon to be turning 26, he has to have his eye on what might be more possible for his playing career overseas.
He would get 6 goals and 10 assists with a +4 rating in 62 games last season and decides maybe return as thought, signing for 2022/2023 with Tranas AIF, where once again he should put up strong numbers in Sweden’s tier 3 league.
After 14 games, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating, he decides to head elsewhere, joining Coventry Blaze for the remainder of 2022/2023.
He walks away from last season with 9 goals and 8 assists in 29 games with a +5, which is favorable enough to score 2023/2024 to once again play in the EIHL.
After almost 2 seasons with the English team, he decides to head back home and signs with the Railers once again for a hopeful improved outcome.
13rd year left wing Jason Zucker(16) signed a 1-year deal with Buffalo Sabres for 2024/2025 after a similar contract last season with Arizona Coyotes that yielded some ok results on a far from playoff team.
The always looked smaller than 5’11” 192 lbs. forward has 3 times scored 20+ goals and once 30+ and had an exact same ratio in assists.
From Newport Beach, CA, he did only 2 sessions at University Of Denver Pioneers, as he ran up 45 and 46 points to quickly move on.
He made all the right moves, playing his way through the USNTDP on up.
Big 6’3″ 183 lbs. defenseman Cameron Crotty(95) was an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft (#82 overall), originally reassigned to start his pro career of Norway for Sparta Sarpsborg, scoring 3 assists in 7 Eliteserian games.
He returned at the beginning of the AHL season in February and has been skating games with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners scoring, well, 3 assists in 25 games with a handy +5 rating.
What he may not score, he totally makes up for in the punishing accountability for opposing players.
After a disappointing suspension of the 2020 NCAA playoffs, the almost 22-year old would have headed into his senior year at Boston University but instead signed a three-year entry level deal to turn pro.
It may not take him too long in the minors to get a look from the big club.
He would take up his game, skating 2 seasons with the affiliate and this season has a very respectable 3 goals and 9 assists in 45 games with a +5 rating.
His play earns him an NHL look and he is recalled to play his debut, going 16 shifts for 10:03 ice time with 2 block shots, 4 hits and left the game with a -1 rating in a 4-2 loss.
At the end of his entry level deal, he is not retained and quickly signed by Minnesota Wild for 2024/2025.
6th year left wing Danton Heinen(43) doesn’t find the right fit with Anaheim Ducks, who he was traded to late in 2019/2020 to by long time club Boston Bruins and signed for another year after producing 3 goals and an assist in 9 NHL games to start.
He seemed to mostly struggle on a non-winning team and wasn’t qualified to receive another deal.
Last year was easily an anomaly for the 6’1″ 188 lbs. forward, who signed a 1-year deal for $1.1 AAV a little late into free agency with Pittsburgh Penguins for 2021/2022.
The still only 26-year old, 2-year University Of Denver standout should be able to excel with the talent around him in PA.
For 2023/2024, as an unrestricted free agent looking for a new home, he accepts a training camp invite from his old haunt in Boston.
He comes into town, takes nothing for granted, works hard to gain notice and nets himself a 1-year contract worth $775 AAV.
Coming away with 36 points in 72 games with a +16 rating is all good and Vancouver Canucks swoop in, offering a 2-year deal at $2.25 AAV to move coasts.
