Undrafted 5th year left wing Denver Manderson(23) signed a one-year two-way deal with Toronto Marlies but has spent a majority of the season reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Orlando Solar Bears, where he leads the team in goals (18) and scoring (49).
His goal total ties his career high mark and 31 assists and point totals are new bests.
The not exactly huge 5’10” 180 lbs. forward has only appeared in 6 AHL games this season and may see one more recall but it’s definitely way down from the 36 games he skated in 2013/2014, while under contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He managed a pair of goals and 9 assists in what would qualify as his rookie campaign in the league.
He also played 27 games with Wheeling Nailers that season scoring 11 goals and 18 assists with a +10 rating and added another 2 tallies and 4 helpers in 6 playoff contests.
Missing the entire 2012/2013 except for one game due to injury, he also played the entire 2011/2012 with the team notching 40 points (18-22) through 51 games.
In maybe a bit of a strange move, he actually started his pro career in Finland’s second tier Mestis with HeKi putting up some respectable marks before the Ontario native turned his attention closer to home.
He also came up through juniors a bit unlikely as he spent most of his time in the lower BCHL putting up outstanding marks (over 2 points per game in his final run as team captain) with Penticton Vees.
It seems likely that he’ll earn himself another contract with an NHL farm club but will have to continue to work hard to find a more permanent spot on the roster.