6th year defenseman Chad Billins(4) heads back to the SHL, signing a two-year deal with former club as recent as 2015/2016, Linkoping HC through 2019.
He returns after a one-year visit back to North America under a one-year two-way agreement with Vancouver Canucks.
The small-ish d-man was likely looking for some time in the big league but spent all of 2016/2017 on reassignment to affiliate Utica Comets playing 72 AHL games 3 goals, 17 assists and a +4 rating.
On a team that was basically out of the playoff push to begin, he definitely should have been given a look.
He’s almost always effectively puts up helpers in the mid 20’s for a pair of seasons and 31 when he was skating for Abbotsford Heat, while under his only other major contract with Calgary Flames.
After winning the 2013 Calder Cup with initial club as a rookie, Grand Rapids Griffins he was given an NHL deal and even played 10 games recording three assists.
He split first for the KHL hooking up with CSKA Moskva but that last only 24 games before he was off on his first venture to Sweden for Lulea HF.
The 27-year old will be 28 soon enough in the offseason and is probably just looking for the best spot to contribute and when he settles he’ll likely do just that.
And it’s officially a long way from his playing days with Alpena IceDiggers.
Chad Billins(14) Grand Rapid Griffins
Undrafted, rookie defenseman Chad Billins(14) is a full-on Michigan hockey product.
He was born in Marysville, played his college game with Ferris State University and signed a one-year AHL contract with Grand Rapids Griffins.
The somewhat under-sized 5’10” 182 lbs. blue liner had a good first year campaign playing the complete 76-game regular season schedule scoring 10 goals and 27 assists with a +4 rating.
He was selected as one of three players on his team to represent at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game.
He is participating in his first pro postseason action and has a pair of assists in 5 games as the Griffins advanced to the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
It would be little surprise to see parent club Detroit Red Wings step in, complete the hometown story and sign the soon-to-be 24 year old to an entry level deal.