Undrafted 6th year defenseman Robert Shea(92) returns to pro hockey after a season away, joining the Chinese-based club ORG Beijing of the VHL for 2019/2020.
He left after recording a career high 8 goals and 27 assists for 35 points with a +32 rating in 63 ECHL games for Fort Wayne Komets, then added another 9 points in 18 playoff games in 2017/2018.
The 5’11” 198 lbs. former 4-year Bowling Green University blue liner won a 2013 Kelly Cup on an ato with Reading Royals in his debut after completing college.
He’s signed a few AHL contracts but has skated most of his games in the lower league.
The 29-year old got off to a nice start with his new club and has been given a promotion up to the KHL with affiliate Kunlun Red Star, where he just may stick.
Tuscon Roadrunners‘ undrafted rookie defenseman Ryker Killins(43) started his first pro season with affiliate Rapid City Rush and he went right to work scoring a goal and 2 assists in 3 ECHL games to earn a quick recall.
The small but agile 5’9″ 181 lbs. blue liner should be able to do ok in the AHL.
He spent four seasons at Ferris State University but only really put up decent points as a junior, so his sudden scoring streak sort of nicely comes out of nowhere.
After completing his final year of college he signed an ato with South Carolina Stingrays and that’s where his offense started to see the light as he struck for 3 goals and 6 assists with a +7 rating, which eclipsed like two campaigns at school.
The 23-year old will have to work hard to find his spot at the next level but just may do it.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2015 draft (#125 overall) 4th year Ukraine-born left wing Dmytro Timashov(41) grabs a spot on the opening night roster, already has a multi-point game and now adds a 1st NHL goal to his early credit.
Bentley Falcons‘ senior center Jake Kauppila(19) faces off with a big puck bounce against University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ sophomore Jackson Pierson(11) in Friday night’s NCAA Division 1 matchup at Bentley Arena won by the home team 3-2 in overtime.
11th year center Oscar Lindberg(19) is off to a hot start with his new club EV Zug scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 NLA games.
He left after 4 full NHL seasons, two with initial contract team New York Rangers, then one and a half for Vegas Golden Knights and finally 20 games with Ottawa Senators potting 5 goals and 3 assists but he elected to leave as his 2nd two-year one-way deal was up and he was still an unsigned free agent heading into 2019/2020.
The 27-year skated 252 games in the big league (39 goals, 40 assists with an overall +7 rating) and I might take a bet that says if he strikes big for points in Switzerland’s top league a team will come knocking and he’ll be wooed back.
11th year defenseman Travis Ehrhardt(2) signs on for a 2nd season with Glasgow Clan after scoring a new best 26 assists and 31 points.
It’s his first time re-upping with a club since he spent a pair of campaigns with Utica Comets from 2014 – 2016 playing a career high 64 AHL games and netting 6 tallies.
He left after his 2nd frame to join Geneve-Servette HC of the NLA for his new adventure but played only 25 games with 4 assists to his credit.
In maybe a bit of a surprising next move, he agreed to terms with KRS Heilongjiang of the tier two Russian league VHL.
It worked to elevate his game enough and brought the 30-year old to the EIHL and he looks to play out his time nicely.
Boston Bruins‘ 3rd year center Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson(22) leaves as his entry level deal expires and he was set to become a restricted free agent.
His playing rights will be retained but heads back home for the first time since coming over for junior hockey in 2013/2014.
With a basic glut of talent up front in the system, he has a better chance to further develop in Sweden’s top league SHL and signs to Vaxjo Lakers for 2019/2020.
It’s a wonder if we’ve seen the last of the 22-year old but if he catches fire, he could be wooed a return with the right deal.
4th year right wing Trevor Mingoia(9) leaves after a pretty solid half season with Rogle BK, then getting promoted from his stint with Vasterviks IK of Allsvenskan, where he was basically a point per game performer.
In 26 SHL games, he potted 7 goals and 5 assists.
The versatile forward takes these totals to a new journey signing for 2019/2020 with KooKoo of Liiga.
He’s off to a hot start with 7 goals and 4 assist in 13 games.
If the 27-year old can put together a great showing in Finland’s top league, he’ll pretty much get to chose where he wants to end up next.
Undrafted 2nd year center Matt Bradley(27) re-ups for another season with Toronto Marlies, despite playing no games for the team in 2018/2019, as he was on reassignment to affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, where he was getting busy winning the 2019 ECHL Kelly Cup Championship as a first year club.
The 6′ 190 lbs. rookie skater scored 15 goals and 30 assists in 66 games, then added another 7 points in 22 playoff contests.
He was a point per game player in his final two seasons with Medicine Hat Tigers then as assistant captain of Regina Pats of the WHL.
It would be little surprise to see the 22-year old make his AHL debut in 2019/2020 and may even stick in that lineup.
6th year left wing Jordan-Samuels Thomas(37) signs on with 2nd year club Worcester Railers for 2019/2020.
He returned from his short stint overseas last spotted with Medevescak Zagreb of EBEL before coming back midseason to sign with Hershey Bears and reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays.
Almost oddly the one-time Atlanta Thrashers‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft (#203 overall) was able to put up good numbers in both DEL and Austria’s top league but for whatever reason couldn’t get comfortable enough to stay.
The 29-year old old, former 20+ point getter through 4 years of college at Bowling Green University and Quinnipiac should find happiness playing for and be counted upon by his new team.
