16 years and 965 NHL games played is plenty enough for David Backes(42) to call it a career at the ripe old age of 37.
The 6’3″ 215 lbs. always a banger signed a 1-day deal with St. Louis Blues, the team he skated 727 of those games with.
He was five-time team captain before being wooed by a lucrative 5-year deal from Boston Bruins to leave the nest.
This was the team who selected him in the 2nd round of the 2003 draft (#62 overall), he spent the first 10 years of his pro career with.
The former Minnesota State University (Mankato) Bulldogs‘ junior captain was a huge, twice 40+ point scorer through 3 years of college.
He only spent half of one season in the minors with Peoria Rivermen and originally signed an ato with the team after signing his entry level deal.
The Minneapolis, MN native only one a single title, the 2003 Clark Cup Championship with his 1.5 year junior club, Lincoln Stars.
3rd year defenseman Johnny Coughlin(11) continues his tour through ECHL teams and very nicely ends up back with Cincinnati Cyclones, who he played 9 games, scoring 2 goals at the end of 2019/2020.
The big 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner first arrived, playing 10 games (4 assists) for Maine Mariners straight out of 4 years at Holy Cross College Crusaders, where he three times had 10+ assists.
His best scoring was during his rookie season with Norfolk Admirals, where he netted 9 goals and 8 assists in 47 games but had a lowly plus/minus.
We think what caught his new team’s attention was last campaign’s showing with Rapid City Rush, in 26 games scored 2 goals and 3 assists, but raised his accountability to a +7 rating.
It’s likely the Fairport, NY native has his best league showing in 2021/2022.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Jake Linhart(7) becomes the first signing with Iowa Heartlanders after taking last season off.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner played a pair of seasons to kick off his pro career for Adirondack Thunder, where as a rookie he scored a career high 8 goals and 22 assists.
He also showed he could be a decent scorer through 4 years at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, averaging 10+ assists in his last three campaigns.
The 25-year old will likely continue to add to those stats with his new ECHL team.
12th year center Kale Mouillierat(21) extends his time to a fourth season with Straubing Tigers, as he’s pretty much averaged 20 points per frame, even in 2020/2021’s shortened to 36 games, he still connected for 19.
A veteran of 297 AHL, 117 ECHL and 7 NHL games (1 goal, 1 assist), first with New York Islanders, then Pittsburgh Penguins originally left to skate in the SHL for Lulea HF.
The 6′ 181 lbs. pivot wasn’t so successful in Sweden, so turned his attention to Germany’s top hockey and signed to ERC Ingolstadt.
He would put up a best 18 assists and 31 points with a +15 rating for this club, but left after only one turn as he was likely being wooed with better money by DEL rivals.
It’s almost impossible to believe the former Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks‘ senior assistant captain is 33-years old.
We still remember him being a rookie star for Idaho Steelheads.
Huge 6’6″ 249 lbs., France-import, right wing Justin Addamo(22) leaves Robert Morris University Colonials, as they decide to suspend their college hockey program for at least the current year, enters the transfer portal and will head to RPI Engineers for his senior year.
A decent scorer through some tough seasons at college, he should be more focused for 2021/2022 to increase those totals.
US junior hockey was maybe a little more giving to his game, as he ran up pretty good totals and won the 2017 NAHL Robertson Cup.
He came over after playing all of his youth hockey at home, then was elevated to play 5 games with Rouen II of France3, scoring an eye-popping 5 goals and 2 assists.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Anthony Wyse(6) re-signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits after a trade brought him over from original ECHL team, Indy Fuel.
He recorded 2 goals, when he arrived to go with the 2 assists he got earlier in the season.
The big 6’3″ 225 lbs. blue liner has never been much of a point-getter through 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, but did step up for 17 assists in 54 USHL games his one year of juniors with Lincoln Stars.
We think the 25-year old Newton, MA native, who played his youth hockey in Boston Advantage program will start finding his routes.
Undrafted left wing Taylor Best(19) took both 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 off before entering into his first pro contract with Fayettesville Marksmen for 2021/2022.
The former four-year Mercyhurst College Lakers‘ forward averaged 10 goals and 10 assists in each of his seasons.
He initially committed to the school of his choice after a solid 2nd frame for Whitby Fury, then pumped up scoring to 37 goals and 53 assists in 47 OJHL games in his third year and left the program with most points, assists and league valuable player awards.
The 5’10” 187 lbs. forward moved onto a year of American junior hockey, signing with Youngstown Phantoms and kept putting up points (11-23) in 54 USHL games.
We have little doubt the now 27-year old will be lighting the lamp quite frequently in the SPHL.
Jan Kern(27) came here for a hopeful successful college career after agreeing late upon finishing 3 years of junior hockey to American International College, but after a crazy COVID stop-and-go 2020/2021 has decided to return home, signing with HC Slavia Praha of Czech2.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. left wing scored well for 2nd USHL team, Omaha Lancers, getting 13 goals and 19 assists in 50 games.
He played all of his youth hockey with the team the now 22-year old has taken up pro ranks with, and is probably almost literally right next to his parent’s house.
4th year center Blaine Byron(12) takes 153 AHL games of playing experience to a new adventure with Eisbaren Berlin of DEL for 2021/2022.
The former University Of Maine Black Bears‘ forward, who went on a scoring splurge in his senior year for 18 goals and 23 assists in 36 Hockey East games, signed three consecutive contracts with Springfield Thunderbirds, and definitely had a breakout frame in his 2nd campaign, grabbing 13 goals and 12 assists.
He would be traded in the middle of the next season to Ontario Reign and once again had 12 goals and this time 22 assists in 54 games.
The 6′ 172 lbs. light pivot stuck on a follow-up deal, and through the bizarre 2020/2021 scored 6 goals and 6 assists in 17 games, which probably put him fully on the radar for the Germany club to grab.
It would be little surprise to see the 25-year old excel in this very solid overseas league.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2016 draft (#86 overall), defenseman Casey Fitzgerald(5) re-ups for another 2-years as he was set to enter restricted free agent status.
He scored a career tying 2 goals and high 9 assists and 11 points for affiliate Rochester Americans in 2020/2021.
The former two-time Boston College Eagles‘ captain averaged 15 assists per season through college with an overall +26 rating.
He was a 2-year member of the USNTDP for junior hockey.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. blue liner, son of New Jersey Devils‘ General Manager, Tom Fitzgerald could get the nod for some NHL time this season.
