7th year left wing Tomas Jurco(9) was not given a qualifying offer to stick with Chicago Blackhawks despite playing 29 NHL games scoring 6 goals and 4 assists with a +1 rating, while striking for 13 goals and 12 assists in 36 AHL contests for affiliate Rockford Icehogs.
He was on his third one-way contract at just over the league minimum, which is likely why his services weren’t retained.
It took him a few months into the new session before deciding to sign a minor league deal with Springfield Thunderbirds.
The fairly sizable forward marked up the scoresheet as predicted getting 6 goals and 4 assists in 14 games but was a bit of a lowly -10 rating.
Just ahead of the trade deadline, even though he wasn’t under a big league contract was traded to Carolina Hurricanes‘ system, reassigned to Charlotte Checkers, the still young 26-year old will be another weapon in pursuit of a personal 2nd Calder Cup and may even possibly net himself a higher level deal.
He already has 3tallies in 4 games with his new club.
Would be tough to see him stick around for another season, as he’ll likely net much more money hooking up with an elite team overseas.
Tomas Jurco (28)
Detroit Red Wings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#35 overall), Slovakian-born wing Tomas Jurco(28) received his first NHL recall after his 100th regular season AHL game with minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.
He’s off to a blistering start in his sophomore season with 11 goals and 16 assists in 26 games with a +12 rating, which surpasses his rookie season helpers number and is only one point off last year’s total points in 74 contests.
The 6’2″ 193 lbs. forward skater a 16:45 ice time, including 1:27 on the power play with 1 shot on net and 2 hits in the team’s 3-0 loss.
He’s signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015.
He was a key contributor to the Griffins’ 2013 Calder Cup Championship with 8 goals (most for a rookie) and 6 assists in 24 games.
In three years of QMJHL hockey he was a point per game player putting up 87-88-175 in 172 games and won a league title and Memorial Cup Trophy.
At only 20-years old this is a guy that is still awaiting his big breakout and it looks almost certain to happen soon.