Thomas was a fourth-round pick in 2014 and is coming off of his third full season with Syracuse (AHL), where he had 16 points (2G / 14A) in 67 games. Thomas has never been much of a point producer and likely won’t make the jump to the NHL while the Lightning have a strong blue line.
Smith had a career-year in 2016, scoring 25 goals with 11 assists (36 points) but has just 14 goals and 33 assists (47 points) in the last two seasons combined. With RFA Brendan Perlini still in need of a contract, the Blackhawks clear $1.3M by swapping Anisimov for Smith. The 31-year-old probably doesn’t have the same offensive upside as Anisimov, but should settle in as a quality bottom-6 option for Chicago, who has completely re-tooled that part of their roster this offseason.
This trade was all about the Blackhawks clearing cap-space and Anisimov is a middle-6 upgrade over Smith. Anisimov is coming off of a 15-goal, 22-assist season in 2019 and had three straight 20-plus goal seasons but won’t have the same surrounding cast with the Senators.
Soucy improved on his first AHL season, posting 20 points (5G / 15A) in 66 games with Iowa. The 6-foot-5, 208 lbs. defenseman has the kind of size that the Wild’s blueline lacks but he likely sits eighth on the depth chart at the moment, so look for him to remain in Iowa to start 2020.
After finishing his Junior season at Clarkson University, Sturm turned pro and appeared in two NHL games with the Wild at the end of 2019. The 24-year-old led Clarkson with 45 points (14G / 31A) in 39 games. Sturm has NHL-size (6-foot-3, 207 lbs.) but with Eric Staal, Mikko Koivu, Joel Eriksson Ek and Victor Rask ahead of him on the depth chart, he is likely headed for the AHL to start the year.
The Wild acquired Donato in the Charlie Coyle trade and the Harvard grad picked up 16 points (4G / 12A) in 22 games with Minnesota after the trade. The 24-year-old has gifted hands and middle-6 potential but his position to start 2020 is uncertain. He had a strong showing to end last season but the additions of Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman will likely push him down the depth chart and maybe to the AHL to being the year.
Valiev has moved around Canada over the last year, going from Toronto to Montreal and then Calgary. The 24-year-old blueliner is a former third-round pick and had four goals and 17 assists (21 points) in 57 AHL games a season ago. Valiev will almost certainly start the 2020 season with Stockton (AHL).
Lomberg had 29 points (12G / 17A) in 58 games with Stockton (AHL) last season and had a brief four-game showing with the Flames, where he had 17 PIMS. Lomberg is a fourth-line player who could have a spot in Calgary next year after Garnet Hathaway signed with the Capitals this summer.
Petersen spent the majority of last season in the AHL, where he went 13-22-1 with a 4.02 GAA and .896 SV% in 38 games. The 24-year-old actually posted much more impressive numbers with the Kings, where he was 5-4-1 with a 2.61 GAA and.924 SV%. Petersen will likely be Ontario’s (AHL) No.1 netminder to start 2020.
Archibald set a career-high with 22 points (12G / 10A) in 68 games with the Coyotes last season. The 26-year-old winger will be a key part of the Oilers fourth line in 2020 but has very little offensive upside.
Bischoff had two goals and 11 assists (13 points) in 60 games with Chicago (AHL) last season. The 24-year-old doesn’t bring a lot of offence to the table but is sound in his own end but remains a bit of a stretch to play for Vegas in the near future.
Aube-Kubel had 16 goals and 14 assists (30 points) in 54 AHL games and appeared in the first nine NHL games of his career with Philadelphia in 2019. The 23-year-old doesn’t have great size but can play a solid two-way game with some offensive flair for the bottom-6. He will likely start 2020 in the AHL but could be one of the Flyers first call-ups.
Forsling had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 43 games with the Blackhawks last year and had a few games in the AHL. The 23-year-old blueliner was traded to Carolina this offseason and will likely be on their third-pairing to start 2020. If he plays a full season in the NHL, Forsling has 20-plus point upside with the Hurricanes.
Blueger was a second-round pick (No. 52 overall) in 2012 and had a great start in the AHL last year. The 24-year-old opened the season with 39 points (21G / 18A) in 45 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before being promoted to Pittsburgh. Blueger had 10 points (6G / 4A) in 28 NHL games and is a lock for the Penguins bottom-6 to start 2020.
Nogier had just nine points (1G / 8A) in 74 games with Manitoba (AHL) last year and has appeared 11 career NHL games since being drafted in the fourth-round in 2014. Nogier will open 2020 with the Moose but could be the first call-up for the Jets blueline.
Fleury split the 2019 campaign between the AHL and NHL but is set to become a full-time NHLer in 2020. Fleury had just one assist in 20 NHL games a year ago but brings great size (6-foot-3, 208 lbs.) and excellent skating ability to the Hurricanes bottom-4.
Rempal turned pro in 2019 and recorded 40 points (15G / 25A) in 59 AHL games but did not have a point in seven NHL games after being called-up. Rempal has showcased offensive ability but will be limited to the bottom-6 when he’s in with the Kings in 2020.
