9th year, undrafted left wing Tim Schaller(5) signs a 2nd straight minor league contract, this time to Bakersfield Condors, after a fairly successful 2020/2021 AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He was coming off a two-year deal with Vancouver Canucks that didn’t materialize too well and would eventually lead him to be dealt to Los Angeles Kings to kill that contract.
The 6’2″ 204 lbs. forward had his best success in 2 seasons to Boston Bruins, where he grabbed 7 goals and 7 assists in 59 NHL games before coming alive with career bests 12 goals and 10 assists in the next campaign.
He appeared in less than 20 games over two seasons with original contract club, Buffalo Sabres.
The former 2-time Providence College Friars‘ captain was good for 20 points from his sophomore season onward.
At still just 30-years old, it’s likely he just still wants to play, which is why we think his next look will be to see what becomes available overseas for 2022/2023.
After a solid season in California, scoring 10 goals and 15 assists in 67 games with a +11 rating, he is moving on, agreeing to a new deal for 2022/2023 with Milwaukee Admirals.
Laker Aldridge(7) trades a solid 3rd NAHL season 2022/2023 commitment to Michigan State University Spartans, but instead will head in the direction of Ohio University Bobcats as an incoming freshman.
In 49 games he has 12 goals, 13 assists and is a +14 rating.
The 6′ 181 lbs. 21-year old forward from Lake Orion, MI should be able to make an impression as a freshman.
Undrafted rookie left wing Grant Cooper(26) signs a first pro contract with Reading Royals after completing 4 years at Clarkson University Golden Knights.
In his senior year, he finished with career high 8 goals, 6 assists for 14 points with a +7 in 22 Atlantic Hockey games.
The 6′ 198 lbs. forward was a very prolific scorer through 4+ junior years with Cornwall Colts, putting in 77 goals and 89 assists in 182 CCHL games.
From Cornwall, ON, the 25-year old is likely wanting to just get things started.
In a bit of a strange move, although he may have been offered a nice deal, he heads over to the tier 2 English league NIHL and signs with Leeds Knights for 2022/2023.
We will be very interested to see where this leads.
8th year center Scott Allen(29) switches up many very good years in DEL2 for a new adventure in the EIHL, signing with Sheffield Steelers for 2022/2023.
The 6’3″ 198 lbs. power forward, senior captain at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves should most definitely find room to put up plenty of numbers in this league.
He was a decent scorer in the ECHL, who played himself up to the AHL. , played a complete season for Bakersfield Condors, then signed with Tuscon Roadrunners, played 5 games, getting a goal and an assist, but decided to split for Germany.
2nd year left wing Gianluca Esteves(28) had a decent enough rookie campaign for Cincinnati Cyclones, scoring 9 goals and 15 assists with a +2 rating, but decided to shop around for his next contract and agrees to 2022/2023 with non-divisional rivals Wichita Thunder.
He somehow never really struck for points in his four years at Michigan State University Spartans like he did in his 1 season of NAHL juniors for Aston Rebels.
The small 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward from Winnipeg, MB should find a little more room to put up points with his new club.
10th year defenseman Cameron Schilling(5) opts out of his minor league deal with Abbotsford Canucks to sign with Djurgardens IF of SHL for the remainder of 2021/2022.
Undrafted, the big 6’3″ 190 lbs. blue liner has always been able to play himself into NHL contracts, despite only officially playing 10 games with 1 assist to his credit in the league.
He had three seasons of 10+ assists through 4 years at Miami University-Ohio Redhawks with a +58 rating but somehow wasn’t able to get himself into a situation, where a strong stay-at-home style defenseman was needed.
The 33-year old from Carmel, IN has done well for himself and is probably just happy to be pulling down good contracts is worth smiling about.
After playing in the higher league last season, doing pretty darn well, he will take his game to Allsvenskan for 2022/2023, signing with the same club.
3rd year left wing Cam Morrison(45) is left unqualified by Chicago Blackhawks after a pair of seasons in their system.
In his only active season, he scored 5 goals and 9 assists in 43 AHL games for affiliate Rockford IceHogs with a +1 rating.
For 2022/2023, the big 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward signs a minor league deal to join Charlotte Checkers.
Originally a Colorado Avalanche 2nd round pick in the 2016 draft (#40 overall), but never signed leaving him an unrestricted free agent upon graduating University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he was always a 10+ assist player.
He was drafted after his only USHL session, where he blew up scoring with 34 goals, 32 assists and a +38 rating.
The Aurora, ON native is actually signed by Florida Panthers to his contract, who have him no their radar.
Worcester Railers‘ top scoring rookie center Brent Beaudoin(12) gets an invite up on loan to join Providence Bruins for at least the final few games of the 2021/2022 season after his team was eliminated from ECHL playoff contention.
The very hard working 5’11” 181 lbs. forward scored 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points with a +2 rating on a team that wasn’t always winning games.
He spent 4 years at Brown University Bears putting up points at a decent rate and when he finished up college hockey he joined his current team for one game, getting a goal and an assist to let them know.
The 26-year old from Londonderry, NH, who played his junior hockey in a pair of pay-to-play leagues, may just be getting started and most definitely will put up a fight.
It seemed like almost a sure bet, but we waited a bit and yup, he re-signs to return for 2022/2023 and we expect him to put up more points and maybe even score more loans up to the higher league.
8th year center Ryan Dzingel(18) skated his 400th NHL game with new club, San Jose Sharks after being traded, then waived and picked up by his current team.
For 2021/2022, he was originally signed by Arizona Coyotes, but traded after only scoring 3 goals and 4 assists in 26 games on a struggling unit, then was picked up by Toronto Maple Leafs, put on waivers and claimed.
The 6′ 196 lbs. forward has 86 goals and 101 assists in the big league, but is a -20 rating, so needs to bring that up.
He has skated 6 full seasons at the highest level and it looks like the 29-year old, former Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ goal scorer has arrived somewhere they can use him.
For 2022/2023, he returns to Carolina Hurricanes, where he spent a full season and had a 2nd highest assist total.
We think the 30-year old will catch some new life.
Undrafted 6th year center Tanner Sorenson(9) didn’t skate last season, as the team he has spent most of his pro career with also took it off due to COVID restrictions.
Kalamazoo Wings are back and quickly signed up the 5’9″ 179 lbs. forward with 67 goals and 95 assists in 217 ECHL games.
The former Michigan State University Spartans‘ pivot only had one good scoring season at school as a sophomore, but seemed to struggle with injuries later.
We’re not sure what it is but the 28-year old, Anchorage, AL native seems to love his hockey home in WI.
After putting up solid numbers, 20 goals and 36 assists last season, he signs with Nottingham Panthers for 2022/2023 and will likely do really well in the EIHL.
