Chirps from Center Ice
A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
2017 AHL Top 100 Free Agents and Beyond – The Big Board
NOTE: Final update was made on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. No other updates will be made going forward.
Back for its third year on the blog is a concept thought up by the great Jonathan Bombulie and carried on by this blog with the help of many. It’s the 2017 AHL Free Agent Big Board. I have to think that Bombulie at the time saw board after board of NBA Free Agents, NFL Free Agents and NHL Free Agents and thought, “what the hell, let’s do one in the AHL.” The concept has been so well received by all parts of the AHL community that I had to make sure that the idea lived on after Jonathan moved to Pittsburgh to cover the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This project in and of itself doesn’t get done year after year without the contributions of many. They are, in no particular order, the following people.
Kyle Mace
Matt Trust
Chris Reynolds
Tracey Lake
Alan Saunders
Nathan Mallett
I personally would like to thank them all again for their insights and help on this massive project.
Information compiled on the names that follow was gathered from the following websites: The AHL, CapFriendly, HockeyDB and Elite Prospects.
Please feel free to reach out regarding corrections, errors or signings. NHL Free Agency begins Saturday, July 1 at noon.
Please hit the jump if you did not link in direct and please read, share and enjoy….
Rank | Name | Position | 2016-17 Team | Comments |
1 | Signed with Boston (NHL) | |||
2 | Signed with Toronto (NHL) | |||
3 | Signed with Montreal (NHL) | |||
4 | Signed with Colo`rado (NHL) | |||
5 | Signed with New York Rangers (NHL) | |||
6 | T.J. Hensick | C | ONT | Resurgent veteran who led the Reign in points with 52. 31 years old and still a few good years left in the tank. |
7 | Signed with Colorado (NHL) | |||
8 | Signed with Tampa Bay (NHL) | |||
9 | Signed with New Jersey (NHL) | |||
10 | Signed with Pittsburgh (NHL) | |||
11 | Re-signed with Boston (NHL) | |||
12 | Signed with New York Rangers (NYR) | |||
13 | Jason Akeson | RW | BNG | Puts up points wherever he goes. Led the B-Sens in scoring. |
14 | Signed with Philadelphia (NHL) | |||
15 | Signed with Washington (NHL) | |||
16 | Spencer Abbott | LW | SD | Almost 50 points between Rockford and San Diego for Abbott. Will fit in any top six. |
17 | Re-signed with Utica (AHL) | |||
18 | Signed with Florida (NHL) | |||
19 | Signed with Vegas (NHL) | |||
20 | Signed with Minnesota (NHL) | |||
21 | Signed with Vegas (NHL) | |||
22 | Re-signed with Philadelphia (NHL) | |||
23 | Adam Payerl | C | MIL | Breakout season for Milwaukee. Played all 76 games and scored 38 points. |
24 | Signed with Toronto (NHL) | |||
25 | Antoine Laganiere | C | SD | Yale product set career highs in goals (21) and points (30) |
26 | Re-signed with Philadelphia (NHL) | |||
27 | Re-signed with Florida (NHL) | |||
28 | Casey Bailey | C | BNG | Tied for third on the B-Sens in scoring, co-led the team in goals. Put him on your team and watch him thrive. |
29 | Signed with Calgary (NHL) | |||
30 | Signed with Minnesota (NHL) | |||
31 | Re-signed with Lehigh Valley (AHL) | |||
32 | Signed with Dallas (NHL) | |||
33 | Signed with Chicago (NHL) | |||
34 | Signed with Ottawa (NHL) | |||
35 | Signed by Edmonton (NHL) | |||
36 | Brett Sterling | F | CHI | Future hall of famer has carved out a career in Rosemont. |
37 | Signed with Dynamo Minsk (KHL) | |||
38 | Signed with New Jersey (NHL) | |||
39 | Chris Rumble | D | BNG | Led a terrible B-Sens defensive corps in points (27) and was actually decent in +/- (-7) compared to the rest of the team. |
40 | Carter Camper | C | ALB | Early season shoulder injury limited him to 47 games, but was a steady presence on the top 2 lines upon returning. |
41 | Signed with Carolina (NHL) | |||
42 | Joe Whitney | LW | TUC | Big season two seasons ago with Bridgeport and eclipsed that point total with two teams in San Antonio and Tucson. Speedy little winger at 5’6 |
43 | Cody Kunyk | C | UTI | Fifth on the Comets in scoring. Special teams ace. |
44 | Signed with Wilkes-Barre / Scranton (AHL) | |||
45 | Signed with Winnipeg (NHL) | |||
46 | Signed with Buffalo (NHL) | |||
47 | Re-signed with Bakersfield (AHL) | |||
48 | Brett Sutter | F | ONT | Breakout season for Sutter with 36 points. Can play on your power play unit. |
49 | Chris Brown | F | HFD | Good solid performance with 14-13-27 – a point producer no matter where he goes. |
50 | Re-signed with Providence (AHL) | |||
51 | Re-signed with Hershey (AHL) | |||
52 | Signed with Buffalo (NHL) | |||
53 | Signed with Columbus (NHL) | |||
54 | Signed with Toronto (AHL) | |||
55 | Signed with Toronto (AHL) | |||
56 | Signed with Tampa Bay (NHL) | |||
57 | Signed with New York Islanders (NHL) | |||
58 | Signed with Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) | |||
59 | Given Qualifying Offer by Colorado (NHL) | |||
60 | Signed by Florida (NHL) | |||
61 | Signed with Kunlun Red Star (KHL) | |||
62 | Signed with Hartford (AHL) | |||
63 | Re-signed by Ottawa (NHL) | |||
64 | Colby Robak | D | UTI | Offensive defenseman who moves the puck and can quarterback a power play. |
65 | Signed with Winnipeg (NHL) | |||
66 | Jeremy Morin | F | TUC | Winger that can play on either side. 30 points last season. |
67 | Signed with Pittsburgh (NHL) | |||
68 | Pascal Pelletier | LW | UTI | 28 points for Utica after playing two seasons in the KHL. |
69 | Signed with Kunlun Red Star (KHL) | |||
70 | Signed with Vegas (NHL) | |||
71 | Brendan Ranford | LW | SA | Bounced around the league and still managed 34 points. Good player on the right team. |
72 | Signed by Buffalo (NHL) | |||
73 | Expected to sign with New Jersey (NHL) | |||
74 | Ben Holmstrom | C | BRI | Durable center has appeared in every game for Sound Tigers in past two seasons. |
75 | Re-signed with Manitoba (AHL) | |||
76 | Signed with Fischtown Pinguine (DEL) | |||
77 | Re-signed with Texas (AHL) | |||
78 | Signed with Charlotte (AHL) | |||
79 | Brandon Mashinter | LW | RFD | 41 NHL games the season prior, spent all year with Rockford. Even 15 goals, 15 assists. Third on the team in scoring. |
80 | Jim O’Brien | C | SA | Took a step back this season on a bad Rampage team. Likely rebound candidate somewhere else. |
81 | Mike Kostka | D | STK | 61 games with Binghamton and Stockton. 12 points for each team. Point producing defenseman from UMass Amherst. |
82 | Signed with New Jersey (NHL) | |||
83 | Jeremy Langlois | RW | RFD | Journeyman winger that can play all situations, PP / PK. |
84 | Signed with Florida (NHL) | |||
85 | Signed with Phoenix (NHL) | |||
86 | Matt Carey | LW | HFD | Strong goal performance with 21 but very weak defensively at -25 |
87 | Joe Pendenza | C | CLE | Bit of a break out season for Cleveland for this UMass-Lowell product, 21 points. |
88 | Signed with Utica (AHL) | |||
89 | Jordan Samuels-Thomas | F | SD | Doesn’t take a lot of penalties. Plays balanced offensive game. |
90 | Nathan Paetsch | D | GR | Veteran of 167 NHL games is a mainstay on defense for Grand Rapids, where he has played the last five seasons and is a combined +84. |
91 | Re-signed with Carolina (NHL) | |||
92 | Re-signed with Manitoba (AHL) | |||
93 | Signed with Dinamo Riga (KHL) | |||
94 | Signed with HC Bolzano (EBEL) | |||
95 | Keith Aulie | D | STK | NHL veteran of 165+ games. Points have never been much to write home about, but this 28 year old is an eight year veteran defender. |
96 | Jeff Schultz | D | SD | 400+ NHL games. Mentored a San Diego blue line and a Gulls team that made it to the second round of the playoffs. |
97 | Re-signed with Milwaukee (AHL) | |||
98 | Tim Kennedy | C | RCH | A veteran with 162 NHL games to his resumé, Kennedy came back from Europe to play 47 games with Rochester in 2016-17. He scored just four goals but added 29 helpers, exceeding his totals in a year and a half split between the KHL and the SHL. |
99 | Sena Acolatse | D / RW | SPR | Bit of a breakout year for the seven year pro; a career high 23 points to go along with 147 PIMs. |
100 | Signed with Linköping HC (SHL) |
–
Below are 222 other free agents listed in alphabetical order.
–
Name | Position | 2017-17 Team | Comments |
Conor Allen | D | GR | Undrafted 27 year old played 56 games for Grand Rapids. Likely a depth defender. |
Scott Allen | LW | BAK | Checking line winger put up 19 points in his first full year at the AHL level. |
Daniel Altshuller | G | CHA | 24 games last season in AHL and ECHL. Oshawa General looking for fresh start some place else. |
Brady Austin | D | RCH | A former seventh-round draft pick, Austin didn’t make it to the NHL for his goal-scoring. He’s posted just seven in 210 AHL games with Rochester over the last three seasons. He’s also a minus-28 and had just two fighting majors in 2016-17. A big body and a sound forecheck seem to be his calling cards. |
Signed with Edmonton (NHL) | |||
Signed with EHC Kloten (Austria) | |||
Alex Belzile | C | SA | ECHL All Star/Decent bottom 6 depth guy in AHL with some scoring punch |
Mac Bennett | D | RCH | Former Michigan captain has been a minus player every season as he bounced between Hamilton, St. John’s and Rochester. But the former Montreal third-round pick also gets saddled with tough defensive matchups and isn’t much of a scoring threat. |
Marc-Andre Bergeron | D | CLE | Limited to 22 games last season. NHL vet of 290 games |
Signed with San Jose (NHL) | |||
Stu Bickel | D | SD | Cruiserweight who finished second overall in PIMs in just 26 games. |
Patrick Bjorkstrand | C | ONT | 25 year old played in his first season of North American hockey and wasn’t tendered a QO after 12 points in 42 games. Winger that can play on either side. |
Graham Black | C | SPR | Just 33 games with Springfield last season and not tendered a QO by parent Florida. |
Colin Blackwell | C | SJ | Harvard grad played in 57 regular season and 15 playoff games and went total 7-7-14. |
Dylan Blujus | D | SYR | 24 total games for a Syracuse team that lost in six games in the Calder Cup Final. Numbers aren’t great. No QO from Tampa Bay. |
Signed with Tampa Bay (NHL) | |||
Signed by San Jose (NHL) | |||
MIke Borkowski | F | GR | Late bloomer at age 25; has just 63 AHL games to his credit. |
Troy Bourke | F | SA | Versatile forward that can slide in anywhere. Hard worker and fan favorite |
Ryan Bourque | F | HER | Between injuries and lineup juggling, the other Bourque Brother struggled to find a stable spot in Hershey’s depth chart for the first half of the season. Fell into a solid groove playing a shutdown role for the Bears the second half of the season. |
Austen Brassard | RW | SD | Depth winger who saw more ECHL time than AHL work. Has some offensive upside. |
Re-signed with Providence (AHL) | |||
Sam Brittain | G | SPR | Depth goaltender who saw more ECHL action than AHL action. 25 years old and probably a backup for your AHL team or a veteran for your ECHL one. |
Mathieu Brodeur | D | SYR | Cape Breton product with size. Puck mover. Saw some ECHL time, sign him for depth. |
Signed with EC Saltzburg (EBEL) | |||
Signed with Ottawa (NHL) | |||
Jarrett Burton | C | WBS | 11 points in AHL for the Penguins and ECHL for Wheeling. Depth center. |
Anthony Camara | LW | STJ | Split AHL / ECHL time. Decent size. Third round pick of Boston in 2011. |
Tony Cameranesi | C | TOR | 31 games for Toronto, the rest spent in ECHL with Orlando. Better ECHL numbers. A depth center. |
Colin Campbell | F | GR | Decent sized player that can center or play on the wing and can kill penalties. May be a diamond in the rough type grab. |
Signed with Phoenix (NHL) | |||
Re-signed with Colorado (NHL) | |||
Chris Carlisle | D | BNG | Durable defender. Puck mover. |
Jordan Caron | RW | CHI | Production went down this season and St. Louis didn’t qualify him. |
Mac Carruth | G | RFD | Probably a veteran ECHL starter for your third string prospect to learn from. |
Ryan Carter | F | IA | Season cut short by a torn labrum. 473 NHL games. Reports cite he may retire. |
Signed with Vegas (NHL) | |||
Daniel Catenacci | C | HFD | Traded at the deadline for Mat Bodie, put up 9 points (4-5) in 19 games with Hartford. Rangers didn’t qualify him. |
Mat Clark | D | SA | Good leader and solid D-man when healthy. Battled injuries last 2 seasons. |
Re-signed with Toronto (AHL) | |||
Adam Comrie | D | SYR | 19 points in 55 games for Syracuse. Didn’t see playoff time with the Crunch. |
Brian Cooper | D | SD | Nebraska-Omaha product still learning game at age 23. 4-6-10 in 37 games for the Gulls. |
Re-signed with Washington (NHL) | |||
Ryan Culkin | D | STK | Pointless in 19 games with the Heat, but was almot point a game with ECHL Adirondack, 14 points in 16 games, |
Patrick Cullity | D | BRI | Depth defender. 36 games for Bridgeport last season. |
Yann Danis | G | STJ | 36 year old veteran netminder can still put up good numbers. Sign him to mentor your number one AHL keeper. |
Jaedon Descheneau | RW | BAK | Kootenay Ice product elevatored up and down from ECHL to AHL. Points consistant at any level. |
Chris DeSousa | C | RFD | Depth center. Third or fourth line. |
Signed with Ontario (AHL) | |||
Josiah Didier | D | STJ | Good shot blocker, good size, penalty killer. |
Signed with Barys Astana (KHL) | |||
Kayle Doetzel | D | STK | 22 year old Red Deer Rebel is undrafted defender with decent size at 6’3. |
Signed with Edmonton (NHL) | |||
Signed with Toronto (AHL) | |||
Pat Dwyer | RW | CHA | Vertean winger returned from a year in Sweden and put up OK numbers for an OK Charlotte team. |
Nick Ebert | D | TEX | Career high in points set. Can play on power play. Didn’t get QO from Dallas. |
Signed with Detroit (NHL) | |||
Tim Erixon | D | WBS | Had deal lined up for Europe before the season ended. Likely headed there if he doesn’t find the golden carrot here. |
Bobby Farnham | RW | STJ | Fan favorite in Wilkes-Barre looking for a new home after 71 games with the IceCaps this past season. |
Signed with Minnesota (NHL) | |||
Brett Findlay | F | TOR | Equal production in AHL / ECHL. Winger who can center a lower line. Decent speed. |
Justin Fontaine | RW | BAK | Minnesota-Deluth product found himself back in the AHL since 12-13 and put up 41 points in 65 contests. |
Mark Fraser | D | BAK | Nothing flashy with this defender. 6’4 and knows how to throw fists. Vet of 219 NHL contests. |
Signed with Montreal (NHL) | |||
Brett Gallant | LW | CLE | Enforcer. 1134 AHL PIMs. |
Signed with Tampa Bay (NHL) | |||
Signed with Calgary (NHL) | |||
Re-signed with Hershey (AHL) | |||
Paul Geiger | D | RCH | Defensive defenseman brings size and toughness. Was a two-year captain at Clarkson. Had a hard time staying in Rochester’s lineup in 2016-17 and spent some time in the ECHL. |
Eric Gelinas | D | SA | Veteran D man with size and puck moving ability. Struggled with Avs defensive structure. |
Tom Gilbert | D | HER | An NHL veteran who found himself a spot mentoring Hershey’s defense near the trade deadline. 34-years-old; could be facing retirement. |
Sahir Gill | F | WBS | Boston U product. Can play center or wing. 44 games with WBS and 18 points. |
Given Qualifying Offer by Colorado (NHL) | |||
Tanner Glass | LW | HFD | Lead the team in PIM with 86, netting 15 points in the process, spent 11 games in NHL. |
Scott Glennie | RW | MTB | 8th overall pick in 2009 NHL draft by Dallas hasn’t panned out. Has battled litany of injuries as well. |
Barry Goers | D | WBS | Steady handed defender you can plug in any situation. |
Boyd Gordon | C | LV | 33 year old veteran has lost s step and battled injuries. 1 goal in 19 games betweeen PHI and LV. |
Brandon Gormley | D | BNG | Decent sized defender who is OK on the power play. Moved to Binghamton from Albany around midseason. |
Jesse Graham | D | BRI | Saw more ECHL action than AHL this season, Islanders didn’t qualify him. Depth guy. |
Signed with Anaheim (NHL) | |||
Re-signed with Toronto (NHL) | |||
Given Qualifying Offer by Colorado (NHL) | |||
Nate Guenin | D | SD | Will be 35 this December. Veteran defender who plays a smart game. |
Jonas Gunnarsson | G | MIL | 16 games for Milwaukee and a robust 3.29 GAA and a .878 SV% |
Matt Hackett | G | SD | Limited to just 7 games last season. |
Marc Hagel | RW | BNG | Change in scenery from Minnesota organization to Ottawa didn’t do much of anything for Hagel. |
Kyle Hagel | D | CHA | Bruiserweight who saw just 24 games with Charlotte last year. |
Ryan Haggerty | RW | WBS | Played foruth line in Wilkes-Barre. Known for big, heavy shot but it wasn’t used much in that role. |
Mike Halmo | LW | SYR | Numbers took a dip on a good Crunch team. Was a 40 point producer in two seasons with Bridgeport prior to coming over. |
Signed with Phoenix (NHL) | |||
Expected to re-sign with Providence (AHL) | |||
Shane Harper | RW | ALB | Acquired from Florida at the trade deadline, was mostly a 3rd / 4th line plugin down the stretch. |
Cal Heeter | G | GR | Depth goaltender who sees more action in the ECHL. Still managed to go 10-2 for the champion Griffins. |
Samuel Henley | C | SA | Giant defensive forward who can fill in for a top 6 role when called upon. |
Caleb Herbert | F | TEX | Bottom 6 forward with some offensive upside. |
Sam Herr | LW | ONT | Smart forward is a gradute of Notre Dame. Disciplined bottom six type. |
Christian Hilbrich | D | WBS | Hulking 6’7 defender had some games with AHL Penguins. |
Re-signed with Bridgeport (AHL) | |||
Quinton Howden | C | MTB | Top six-ish forward didn’t get qualified by Winnipeg. Use him on your power play. |
Tommy Hughes | D | HFD | Downhill season for Hughes with worst numbers of career; no goals, 5 assists and -13 |
Signed with Lehigh Valley (AHL) | |||
Signed with Vegas (NHL) | |||
Sam Jardine | D | SA | Struggles with AHL forwards. Can play a nasty game. Not a terrible option for depth |
Nikita Jevpalovs | LW | SJ | Latvian skater was not given a qualifying offer from the Sharks. Just 21 points for the Barracuda. Once scored 100 for Blainville-Boisbriand in 14-15. |
Signed with CSKA Moskva (KHL) | |||
Michael Joly | RW | HFD | Split 50/50 between AHL / ECHL. Depth winger with better ECHL numbers. |
Kellen Jones | F | BRI | Found a little bit of stability with Bridgeport last season, appearing in 58 games. |
Sergei Kalinin | F | TOR | 43 games on NHL work before getting moved to Toronto organization. May go back overseas. |
Dan Kelly | D | SJ | Production took a dip with the Barracuda after coming over from New Jersey the season prior. PIMs went up. Enforcer type. |
Signed with Carolina (NHL) | |||
Scott Kosmachuk | RW | MTB | Could be a diamond in the rough find. 64 points in two seasons on bad Moose teams. |
Re-signed with Manitoba (AHL) | |||
Adam Krause | F | WBS | 14 games with the Penguins, call up for depth at center. |
Signed with Dinamo Riga (KHL) | |||
Re-signed with Hershey (AHL) | |||
Signed with Nashville (NHL) | |||
Re-signed with New York Islanders (NHL) | |||
Brooks Laich | F | TOR | Waived to the Marlies from the Maple Leafs and didn’t really set the AHL on fire. His better days may be behind him. |
Max Lamarche | D | LV | 26 games each with Reading (ECHL) and Lehigh Valley. Point production almost even between both leagues too. |
Jon Landry | D | BRI | Veteran defender / leader. Sign him for depth. |
Signed with Tucson (AHL) | |||
Matt Lashoff | D | SA | Struggled in San Antonio. Did not play again after being released from PTO mid-season |
Signed by Arizona (NHL) | |||
Loic Leduc | D | BRI | 6’5 D who can skate. |
Maxime Legace | G | TEX | A 3.56 GAA and a .883 SV% in 32 games. |
Guillaume Lepine | D | BNG | 6’4 defender from the Q with snarl. Numbers never were flashy. |
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond | RW | SYR | Pugilist in a sport trying to run away from fighting. |
Signed with Anaheim (NHL) | |||
Ty Loney | RW | CHI | Troy’s kid, loaned out to a couple teams by ECHL Adirondack, 20 games with Chicago where he had 4-5-9 |
Signed by Edmonton (NHL) | |||
Joel Lowry | LW | ONT | 8 points in 40 games for the Reign. Cut loose by Los Angeles. Cornell product. |
Mark MacMillan | RW | STJ | Numbers weren’t anything to gawk at, so Montreal didn’t qualify MacMillan. |
Signed with Rochester (AHL) | |||
Signed with Edmonton (NHL) | |||
Jan Mandat | C | ALB | Rookie from the Czech Republic had a solid first professional season as a bottom 6 forward. |
Colin Markison | F | BRI | Energetic foward slowed by a couple of injuries. |
Ben Marshall | D | PRO | First season with Providence playing in only 14 games scoring 6 points. Stronger performance in ECHL with 22 points. |
Signed with Calgary (NHL) | |||
Re-signed with Detroit (NHL) | |||
Patrick McNally | D | SJ | 4th round Canucks draft pick in 2010 still looking for his first NHL game. Bottom pair defender. |
Reid McNeill | D | CHI | Big defender who plays with snarl. |
Zbynek Michalek | D | TUC | 780+ NHL games. Legendary Coyote mentored a Roadrunners team under difficult circumstances. May be retiring. |
Jacob Middleton | D | SJ | Still young, just 21, looking for a new team after just 9 points in 50 games for this former Ottawa 67. |
Tyler Morley | C | SD | 17 points in 48 games. Will be 26 this fall. Prospect tag fading. |
Mitchell Moroz | LW | TUC | 41 games between Bakersfield and Tucson. 9 points to show. |
Kenney Morrison | D | STK | 6’2 defender from Lloydminster, Alberta out of Western Michigan University. Doesn’t take a lot of penalties. Bottom pair defender. |
Signed with GMB Nottingham Panthers | |||
Peter Mueller | F | PRO | Weaker defensive-Forward at -5 but very disciplined with only 20 PIM Solid point performance with 25 points. |
Signed with Lehigh Valley (AHL) | |||
David Musil | D | TUC | 60 games between Bakersfield and Tucson. 40 points. Diamond in the rough signing for the right team. |
David Musil | D | BAK | Whoops, duplicate entry. There’s always a duplicate entry. Congrats! You found the easter egg! |
Daniel Muzito-Bagenda | F | RCH | Muzito Bagenda, a 21-year-old Swede, posted 15 points in 61 games as a pro rookie in 2016-17. He brings solid size, skating a vision for a younger player, but may need the right environment to develop. |
John Negrin | D | UTI | Just 22 games for Negrin last season after 22 points in 58 games the season prior for Utica. |
Signed with Fischtown Pinguins (DEL) | |||
Andrej Nestrasil | F | CHA | 19 games with Carolina, 39 with Charlotte. 19 points total. Not tendered QO by the Canes. |
Jared Nightengale | D | CHI | Saw more games for ECHL Toledo, where he has been the captain for years. |
Signed with Frisk Asker (Norway) | |||
Signed with Nashville (NHL) | |||
Signed with Anaheim (NHL) | |||
Ryan Olsen | C | MTB | Bottom six center saw three games in ECHL. |
Mark Olver | F | BAK | Signed with Eisbären Berlin (DEL) |
Adam Pardy | D | MIL | 33 year old defender with 342 NHL games under his belt. |
Signed with Edmonton (NHL) | |||
Signed with New York Rangers (NHL) | |||
Rod Pelley | C | ALB | Last captain in A-Devils history, he only missed 5 games and centered the mostly veteran 4th line admirably. |
Signed with Washington (NHL) | |||
Stuart Percy | D | WBS | If you sign him, you better get injury insurance. Guy can’t stay healthy. |
Rick Pinkston | D | MIL | ECHL depth defender. Plays a smart game. |
Signed with Buffalo (NHL) | |||
Teddy Purcell | F | ONT | 38 points in 38 games for Ontario last year after 7 years in the NHL. 101 NHL games. |
Jonathan Racine | D | SYR | Pro numbers haven’t been anything to write home about, almost underwhelming. Not tendered a QO by Tampa Bay. |
Signed with Ottawa (NHL) | |||
Signed with Edmonton (NHL) | |||
Signed with Minnesota (NHL) | |||
Joel Rechlicz | RW | BAK | 54 PIMs in 15 games. Players like Rechlicz are one dimensional and sadly are being put to pasture. |
Signed with Dallas (NHL) | |||
Borna Rendulic | RW | UTI | Croatian winger can run a power play. 12-11-23 for the Comets this past season. |
Mike Ribero | C | MIL | 21 assists in both NHL and AHL this year for this veteran of over 1000 NHL games. A great add to any AHL team. |
Signed with Phoenix (NHL) | |||
Re-signed with Carolina (NHL) | |||
Eric Robinson | F | SPR | 40 games for Springfield playing out of the depth role. |
Jack Rodewald | RW | BNG | Rookie winger led the freshman Senators in point scoring. 18 goals is a good starting point. Could be a diamond in the rough grab. |
Posted in error – Rangers still own rights. | |||
Garret Ross | LW | TUC | Training camp injury limited him to just 27 games. |
Marco Roy | C | UTI | Has battled injuries. 23 appearances for Utica last year. |
Re-signed by Pittsburgh (NHL) | |||
Scott Sabourin | RW | SD | Signed with Anaheim (NHL) |
Henrik Samuelsson | C | BAK | Traded to Edmonton for Mitch Moroz. Hasn’t been able to live up to that 40 points he put up with Portland in 14-15. |
Nick Saracino | F | IA | Providence College product appeared in just 33 games for teh Wild last season. |
Re-signed with Florida (NHL) | |||
Signed with Winnipeg (NHL) | |||
Rob Scuderi | D | ONT | Aging defender given a long term contract he wouldn’t live up to. Will be 39 in December. Appeared in just 15 games for Ontario. |
Eric Selleck | F | TUC | Led Tucscon in PIMs with 103. Will turn 30 October 20. |
Signed with Pittsburgh (NHL) | |||
Signed with Villacher SV (EBEL) | |||
Given Qualifying Offer by Colorado (NHL) | |||
Mackenzie Skapski | G | HFD | Not a good year for Skapski with a record of 2-8 and a GAA of 4.73 |
Shawn St. Amant | LW | SA | Rookie got stronger as season progressed. Great on forecheck and PK and has a deceptively good shot. |
Signed with Edmonton (NHL) | |||
Brett Stern | D | WBS | ECHL depth defender. |
Dustin Stevenson | D | TEX | Gritty defender. Dime a dozen. 119 PIMs for Texas last year. |
Signed with Charlotte (AHL) | |||
Tyson Strachan | D | RCH | A big, physical defenseman with an underrated first pass can hurt teams physically and chip in with some offense at the AHL level. He’s played over 60 AHL games in three of the last four seasons and shows no sign of slowing down at age 32. |
Signed with Pittsburgh (NHL) | |||
Signed with Manitoba Moose (AHL) | |||
Nick Tarnasky | LW | SD | PIMs have nose dived since fighting being slowly phased out. Production way down from last season. |
Christian Thomas | F | HER | Hershey’s leading goal scorer struggled to find playing time late in the season for Hershey. Career year in goals, assists, and points. Will be a vat exempt next season (311 NHL/AHL GP) |
Signed with Pittsburgh (NHL) | |||
Branden Troock | RW | TUC | Depth winger wasn’t qualified by Arizona after trade with Dallas. |
Justin Vaive | LW | RCH | After working his way up from the ECHL to post a 32-point season in Hartford in 2014-15, Vaive’s offense has fallen apart since them. He had 17 points in 63 games with Bridgeport in 2015-16 and had just nine in 66 games 2016-17. |
Nolan Valleau | D | RFD | 46 games with Rockford, 8 points. Dime a dozen defender. |
Scooter Vaughan | D | CHI | Bottom pair defender with average numbers. Entering his fifth AHL season this fall. |
Yannick Veilleux | LW | STJ | Third or fourthliner with nice size and a bit of snarl. |
Mike Weber | D | IA | Pittsburgh native of 351 NHL games had just 8 points for Iowa this season, in first AHL action since 09-10. |
Stephon Williams | G | BRI | 3.08 GAA and a .891 SV% 24 games for Bridgeport last year. |
Re-signed with Pittsburgh (NHL) | |||
James Wisniewski | D | CHI | Came over from KHL and signed PTO with Wolves, appearing in 21 games and going 4-7-11. 552 NHL games. |
Brendan Woods | LW | CHA | Injuries limited him to 24 games. Good size and isn’t afraid to get dirty. |
Signed with HC Bolzano (EBEL) | |||
Oleg Yevenko | D | CLE | 49 points, 6 points on defense with a Cleveland team that missed playoffs. Not tendered a QO by Columbus. |
Gus Young | D | SA | Depth AHL defenseman. Plays a safe and structured defensive game. |
Signed with Straubing Tigers (DEL) |
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This list will be pinned to the top of the blog for about a month and will update as players sign with new teams.
Max McCormick was re-signed by Ottawa.
The club’s formal announcement that Kris Newbury has signed with Fischtown Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga has only come within the last 18 hours or so … it is also now known that Chinese club Kunlun Red Star of the Russian-dominated Kontinental Hockey League has signed Ethan Werek.
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