Burakovsky was picked No.23 overall back in 2013 but has yet to top 40 points in five NHL seasons. In his defence, Burakovsky has never played more than 13:50 TOI/gm, so the Avalanche will see what he can do for them in a larger role. The 24-year-old has tremendous speed, a great shot but had just 12 goals and 13 assists (25 points) in 76 games a season ago.
The Maple Leafs have found a seventh-round gem in Johnsson. The 24-year-old had 20 goals and 23 assists (43 points) in 73 games during his first full NHL season. Johnsson also added one goal and three assists in seven playoff games and should be locked into a top-6 role on a line with Auston Matthews in 2020.
During his first full season with the Maple Leafs, Kapanen registered 20 goals and 24 assists (44 points) in 78 games. The 22-year-old was quiet during the postseason but should be able to build off of strong start to his NHL career. However, Kapanen’s ceiling may be limited because he is destined to play third-line minutes on a deep Toronto roster.
Nedeljkovic, who is viewed as one of the best goaltending prospects in the NHL, is coming off of an outstanding 2018-19 AHL campaign. Nedeljkovic led the AHL in wins (34) and GAA (2.26) en route to being named the league’s best netminder. He wasn’t done there, Nedeljkovic went 10-4-0 with a 2.34 GAA and .916 SV% in the AHL playoffs to help guide Charlotte to a Calder Cup Championship. With Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney both likely leaving in free agency, Nedeljkovic could see a lot of games at the NHL next year.
Sikura was a prolific point producer during his time at Northeastern University but has not had the same success at the NHL-level yet. Last year he appeared in 46 AHL games and 33 NHL games. During his time in Rockford he had 17 goals and 18 assists (35 points) but registered just eight assists with the Blackhawks. The lack of wing depth in Chicago should allow Sikura to start the 2020 season in a middle-6 role with the opportunity to move up the lineup if he starts producing.
Quenneville, who was a restricted free agent, was acquired from the Devils last week for John Hayden. The 23-year-old winger split last year between the AHL and NHL. With Binghamton (AHL), he had 18 goals and 21 assists (39 points) in 37 games but scored just one goal in 19 games with New Jersey. Quenneville projects to start the 2020 season on the Blackhawks’ third or fourth line.
Gunnarsson had a difficult season with injuries in 2018-19, missing a total of 57 games with a combination of ailments. He finished the year with seven points (3G / 4A) in 25 games and added three points (1G / 2A) in 19 playoff games to help the Blues to a Stanley Cup—the first of his career.
Rodewald spent most of the 2018-19 season with Belleville (AHL), where he was first on the team in goals (23) and second in points (47) in 59 games. He also played in six NHL games but has yet to register a point in 10 career games with the Senators.
Fedun had four goals and seven assists (11 points) in 54 games with Dallas last year and also appeared in seven games on their playoff run. The 31-year-old defenseman will likely remain as the Stars’ No.6/7th blueline option in 2020.
It was expected that Carolina would buy Marleau out after acquiring him from Toronto but GM Don Waddell confirmed it on Thursday. The Hurricanes received a first and seventh-round to take on the $6.25M cap-hit that comes with buying him out. It is believed that Marleau wants to return to San Jose to close out his career.
Roy was selected in the fourth-round (No.96 overall) in the 2015 NHL draft. Since then, Roy has appeared in just seven career NHL games but is coming off of a 17-goal, 19-assist (36 points) season with Charlotte (AHL). Roy will likely start in Chicago (AHL) given the depth of the Golden Knights lineup.
Haula missed 67 games last season after suffering a lower-body injury that required him to be stretchered off of the ice in November. In his two seasons with Vegas, Haula had 62 points (31G / 31A) in 91 total games. Haula has one-year left at $2.75M AAV and the condition on the fifth-round pick is dependent on Haula re-signing in Carolina after next season.
Luongo ends a fantastic career ranked second in NHL history in games played (1,044), third in wins (489) and ninth in shutouts. Luongo was originally drafted No.4 overall by the Islanders in 1997 but appeared in just 24 games with them—he went on to pay 572 with Florida and 448 with Vancouver.
Trotman, 28, splits 2018-19 season between the AHL and NHL. During his brief time with the Penguins, Trotman had one assist in 13 games. He scored one goal with four assists (five points) in 24 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he will likely start the 2019-20 campaign.
Czuczman spent all of last season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), where he was second among defensemen with 21 points (4G / 17A) in 65 games. The 28-year-old has just 13 games of NHL experience and they all came in 2014 with the Islanders.
Philadelphia had their choice between three goalies, Elliott, Cam Talbot and Michal Neuvirth to be Carter Hart’s backup next season and it looks like Elliott will be the guy. The 34-year-old had a 2.96 GAA and .907 SV% last year but was limited by injuries to just 26 games.
Reilly had three goals and eight assists (11 points) in 57 games for Montreal last year. Reilly shuffled in and out of the Montreal lineup all season but ranked third among defensemen in PP TOI/gm (1:25) when he did play. He will likely fill the exact same role in 2020.
Robinson split the 2018-19 season between the NHL and AHL but failed to register a point in 13 games with the Blue Jackets. During his time in the AHL, Robinson had 12 goals and 12 assists (24 points) in 45 games. He is expected to be a member of the Blue Jackets bottom-6 to start 2019-20.
The Lightning selected Nolan Foote with the No.27 overall pick last Friday and didn’t waste any time signing him to an entry-level deal. Foote, who is the son of for Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote, joins his brother (Cal) in the Tampa Bay organization. The left-winger had 36 goals and 27 assists (63 points) in 66 games with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) this season.
Connauton appeared in 50 games with Arizona last season, posting just one goal and seven assists (eight points). The blueline is crowded right now in Colorado, so look for Connauton to serve as the No.6/7 defenseman for most of the 2020 campaign.
