Undrafted goaltender Aaron Dell(30) has put up some kind of career in his so far 9 years of net tending time.
After 3 strong seasons at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, he signed a first contract with Allen Americans, where he won the 2013 Central Hockey League Championship and was voted Most Outstanding Goalie.
Next up, he moved leagues agreeing to terms with Utah Grizzlies and again, put up some solid numbers 19-7-3 with a 2.14 GAA and .920 SV% in 29 ECHL games, including a pair of shutouts, then got some impressive playoff numbers.
This pair of years earned him a one-way contract with San Jose Sharks for 2014/2015.
He would split time in his first campaign between leagues, but was impressive in 26 starts for a 15-8-2 record with a 2.06 GAA and .927 SV%, 4 blankings.
The Airdrie, AB native quickly re-upped for another year and followed the team to their new home San Jose Barracuda.
He started a career high 40 AHL games and received some recalls, but no time in net.
That would happen in 2016/2017 and he hasn’t looked back, having played a career 114 games, posting a winning record.
We’re thinking the 32-year old finds some more rock star to help a struggling Buffalo Sabres on his one-year, two-way deal.
For 2024/2025, his 13th season in net, he circles back to sign a 1-year deal with the Barracuda.
New Hampshire Avalanche 2nd year defenseman Ryan Dann(2) makes an early commit to Wilkes University Colonels for 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner will be a nice addition to their zone.
He had 4 goals and 4 assists in 37 EHL games last season.
From Windham, NH, the 20-year old has done all his youth in the system and it will be his 1st time leaving home.
In 3 games in the current frame, 2024/2025 he already has 1 goal and 2 assists.
6th year defenseman Andrew Peeke(52) will spend a 1st full season, 2024/2025 with the team he was traded to late last season, Boston Bruins.
The 6’3″ 216 lbs. blue liner was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round 2016 draft pick (#34 overall) and skated some 218 NHL games with them.
He played 3 years at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he had 21 assists in the season before he signed his entry level deal.
From Parkland, FL, the 26-year old could easily put up career highs next season with his new team.
11th year defenseman Chris Wideman(6) re-ups with Montreal Canadiens for another two years after recording a career high 23 assists in 2020/2021 for a last place club.
He signed a one-year deal upon his other new high point mark, 9 goals and 32 assists for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in his sole year away in the KHL, where he was named tops in his position.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner definitely knows how to run up the totals on helpers, as he did in 2nd and 3rd years under contract to draft team Ottawa Senators (4th round 2009 #100 overall) with affiliate Binghamton Senators, hitting 42.
He also reached 20 twice as a junior and senior at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
This should be the 32-year old’s 6th full season playing in the NHL and he’s worked hard for every second.
After not playing any games last season, the now 34-year old decides to retire and has yet to announce where he will land next, but is assuredly going some place good to help out a team.
He hangs up those skates after 291 games in the big league and 280 in the AHL, 59 in Russia during the COVID swing and 143 NCAA Division 1.
No word in hockey where he may land next, but until then will help his wife with the beauty salons they opened together, which will keep him plenty busy.
Colorado College Tigers‘ graduate defenseman Connor Mayer(6) completes his studies and turns pro, signing a standard player contract with Utah Grizzlies.
The 5’11” 195 lbs. blue liner was never much of a scorer, getting his best 4 goals and 8 assists as a freshman, but maybe more importantly was a +10 rating player.
From Champlin, MN, he did 3 USHL junior sessions before committing.
The 24-year old finds room to score with his 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists on unfortunately a non-playoff team.
He scores 1 goal and 2 assists in 5 games and the parent club and the team from his college town signs him, Colorado Eagles for 2024/2025.
Robert Morris University Colonials‘ graduate goaltender Chad Veltri(31) signs a 1st pro contract with Kalamazoo Wings for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. net minder leaves college hockey with a 2.86 GAA and .910 SV%.
From Fox Chapel, PA he did 2 years of juniors, NAHL to USHL before committing to Niagara University Purple Eagles, where he stayed 4 years.
The 26-year old is likely excited to get started.
13th year goaltender Alex Stalock(32) sees his career come full circle as he returns to 2005 draft team San Jose Sharks (4th round, #112 overall) in a trade to have him back.
He was tending net with infrequency for Edmonton Oilers‘ affiliate Bakersfield Condors and existed on the team’s taxi squad last season after being picked up on waivers from 3 years with Minnesota Wild.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. net minder has appeared in 151 NHL games with a 61-48-18 record and 2.61 GA, .909 SV%.
He is a former USHL junior hockey Clark Cup Champion, playoff MVP, best SV% and Goaltender Of The Year recipient.
The 34-year old, 3-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs is likely just a little happy to return to where it all started.
As an unrestricted free agent, he heads to Chicago Blackhawks for 2022/2023 on a 1-way deal to help them shore up their crease.
He would actually play 27 games, striking a 9-15-2 with not terrible stats on a non-playoff team, but he unrestricted and signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks for 2023/2024.
San Diego Gulls enjoy his presence for 15 games last season and now at age 37, it’s time for him to announce his retirement and he will immediately take that winning personality of his to the Sharks‘ broadcast booth, starting 2024/2025.
Undrafted rookie left wing Jade Miller(16) signed with South Carolina Stingrays over the summer after COVID busted any form of a 2019/2020 playoff run for his 4-year college team, University Of Minnesota-Duluth, where he won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2018 and 2019.
In 26 ECHL games, he has a first pro goal and an assist with a -3 rating, which is odd for a player that was very accountable through college.
The Minot, ND native played a pair of seasons for Austin Bruins of the NAHL and fully came out of his shell, busting for 29 goals and 22 assists in 60 games as a 2nd year skater.
Through just another game from when we 1st posted, 27, he was able to grab another goal for 2, but stayed at 1 assist.
The ‘Rays like what they see though and re-sign him to return for 2021/2022.
For 2022/2023 he decides to jump to Idaho Steelheads after posting 11 goals and 20 assists in a full slate of 72 games.
He records a new league best 16 goals and 33 points with a +28 rating, then adds 8 (3-5) points in 20 playoff match ups to cinch an invite to return to Idaho for 2023/2024.
Not quite making the same impression as a year ago, he is still wanted to return to wear a Steelheads‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
Miami University-Ohio Redhawks‘ senior center Chase Pletzke(28) is going to take on a graduate year at University of Michigan Wolverines.
The 5’11” 175 lbs. forward is a bit of a perplexing story.
In 20 games last season he had no points, but as a junior grabbed 7 goals only and his best college frame so far as a freshman with 6 goals and 8 assists in 28 appearances.
It will be a bit of a wonder if the close by Bay City, MI native makes the roster regularly.
He would play in 30 games with his new college club and get 1 goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating and he takes that to a 1st pro contract with relatively near to his hometown, Kalamazoo Wings for his rookie year, 2024/2025.
Savannah Ghost Pirates swoop in to claim big 6’3″ 194 lbs. defenseman Nick Parody(10) off waivers after being released by Rapid City Rush, where he spent 12 games, recording 1 assist.
He was loaned up from Fayetteville Marksmen of the SPHL.
The Harrisburg, PA native signed with them after his senior year at Elmira College Soaring Eagles.
He spent the 3 previous seasons at Canisius College Golden Griffins.
The 26-year did 2 USPHL/NCDC sessions with Islanders Hockey Club before school.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Fort Wayne Komets on a 2-way deal.
