Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th year center Byron Froese(10) has successfully earned himself a 2-year deal after a long slog through the minors in his first four pro seasons.
Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#119 overall) he was mostly demoted down for the majority of his three-year entry level deal to the ECHL to either affiliate Toledo Walleye or Cincinnati Cyclones after a disappointing first campaign with Rockford IceHogs.
The 6′ 201 lbs. forward was left unqualified heading into 2014/2015 and elected to sign a one-year contract returning to Cincinnati after a hot playoff run to the Kelly Cup Finals in the previous season, where he scored 25 points in 23 contests.
Loaned up to San Antonio Rampage to start the new year, it lasted only 3 games before being returned.
From there he went on a scoring tear connecting for 8 goals and 16 assists in 17 games before Toronto Marlies paid witness and signed him to a pto.
He managed to continue on the same pace he set in the lower league and wound up with an AHL career high 18 goals, 24 assists and 42 points in 46 contests with a +22 rating, earning an spc along the way.
This effort would get noticed by the parent club and grab him another big league contract through 2017.
Sent down to start 2015/2016, he easily didn’t sweat it scoring 3 times in 4 games to earn a recall that would keep him up for 56 games playing a mostly checking line role but still got him his first pair of NHL goals and 3 helpers.
The 26-year old looks to set more new career high goals with the farm club this season and has become a very efficient skater but also should receive more looks at the higher level.