6th year left wing Mike Halmo(91) was a group 6 unrestricted free agent under contract with Tampa Bay Lightning for 2016/2017.
Without a new deal he leaves for new territory securing a late summer one-year agreement with HC Bolzano Foxes and is off to a solid start with a goal and two assists in 4 Erste Bank Eishockey Liga games to start the new season.
The hard-skating forward will likely surpass his AHL career high totals of 22 goals and 41 points from 2015/2016, while skating for Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
He spent the first four years of his pro career with New York Islanders, where as a sophomore player he played 20 games in the big league scoring his one and only NHL point, a goal.
The 26-year old may have left to pursue options overseas but he likely to be just getting started in Austria.
Mike Halmo(26) Bridgeport Sound Tigers
New York Islanders‘ undrafted, 2nd year left wing Mike Halmo(26) is off to a flying start with minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
In 8 games he’s already surpassed (by 1) the 5 goals he scored in 46 games from his rookie season. He’s also less than half a dozen assists and points away from eclipsing those marks as well.
The 5’11” 195 lbs. forward put up big numbers in his final year of juniors with Owen Sound Attack and may just be starting to catch fire on the score sheet as a pro. He also their captain and won an OHL Championship in 2010 with the team
He signed a three-year entry level deal that keeps him in the prospect system through 2015.
The 22-year old is making a solid argument that he belongs on a higher level of play but the parent club is probably waiting a little bit to see if he can sustain it.