Stephenson had five goals and six assists (11 points) in 64 games with the Capitals a season ago. The 25-year-old has settled into a bottom-6 role with Washington, but will have to battle with offseason additions Garnet Hathaway and Brendan Leipsic for playing time to start the 2020 campaign.
Turgeon had 20 points (6G / 14A) in 72 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) last season. He played in four games with the Red Wings but seems destined to start 2020 in the AHL for the fourth straight season.
Buchnevich set new career-highs in goals (21) and points-per-game (0.59) in 2019 while appearing in 64 games with the Rangers. Buchnevich has been a breakout candidate for the last two seasons, but 2020 looks like his best chance yet. As long as Buchnevich can remain in the Rangers’ to-6, the additions of Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko should give Buchneviche plenty of talent to work with.
Marino was picked in the sixth-round in 2015 and remains unsigned. Marino is a 6-foot-2, 181 lbs. right-shot defenseman who had three goals and eight assists (11 points) in 33 games in his Junior Year at Harvard University.
Lettieri spent most of the 2019 season in the AHL, ranking fourth among Hartford skaters with 48 points (23G / 25A) in 48 games. He played sparingly with the Rangers, picking up just three points (1G / 2A) in 27 games. The Rangers added some big names up front this offseason, likely pushing Lettieri back to the AHL to start 2020.
Dries split his 2019 campaign between the Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Eagles (AHL). During his time in the NHL, the 25-year-old centre had three goals and three assists in 40 games. Dries will likely be a fringe NHLer to start the 2020 season. The P-E Bellemare signing this offseason will likely push him back to the NHL to start though.
Rodrigues had nine goals and 20 assists (29 points) in 74 games during his first full NHL season in 2018-19. With bigger named prospects faltering around him, Rodrigues settled into a middle-6 role with the Sabres and finished the season ranked fourth among Buffalo forwards in TOI/GP (15:49). Entering the 2020 season, Rodrigues will once again be battling with Casey Mittelstadt for the No.2 centre role.
Borgman spent all of 2019 in the AHL, where he racked up four goals and 13 assists (17 points) in 45 games. Borgman will likely start the 2020 season in the AHL but will be one of the first call-ups when the Blues need a defenseman.
Schmaltz is a former first-round pick (No.25 overall in 2012) but has appeared in just 42 career NHL games since. Last season, Schmaltz had nine points (1G / 8A) in 36 AHL games and just two assists in 20 NHL games with the Blues. Schmaltz will likely start the 2020 season with the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
Weegar had 15 points (4G / 11A) in 64 games with the Panthers last season, while ranking sixth among Panthers defensemen in TOI/GM (16:58). Weegar will likely open the 2020 season as the Panthers No.6 defenseman.
McCormick had one goal in 14 games with the Senators last year and 20 points (9G / 11A) in 45 AHL games in Belleville and Colorado. McCormick will likely start 2020 in the AHL but will be one of the first players called up to fill a bottom-6 role in Carolina.
After missing just one game in 2017 and 2018 combined, Bennett appeared in just 71 games last season but averaged the least ice-time of his career (13:17 TOI/GM). Bennett wrapped the season up with 27 points (13G / 14A). Bennett will likely be fighting with Michael Frolik for a spot on the Flames’ second line but will likely open the year in the bottom-6.
Djoos missed a lot of time in 2019 due to a thigh injury that required surgery. The 24-year-old ended up finishing the season with 10 points (1G / 9A) in 45 games. Djoos will likely battle with Jonas Siegenthaler for the No.6 defenseman spot to open the 2020 season.
Gaudet had 25 points (8G / 17A) in 50 games with Milwaukee (AHL) last season. Gaudet has appeared in just 20 NHL games since turning pro in 2014. The 26-year-old will start 2020 in the AHL.
Wilson split the 2019 between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) and Pittsburgh (NHL). The 28-year-old had two goals and six assists (eight points) in 50 games with the Penguins—the first eight points of his NHL career (34 previous games with the Panthers). Wilson will start next year in the AHL.
Kossila spend most of the 2019 season in the AHL, where he had 14 goals and 21 assists (35 points) in 44 games with San Diego. The 26-year-old has two goals and one assist in 19 career NHL games (all with Anaheim). He will start 2020 with the Marlies.
Aberg is a former second-round pick of the Predators but Nashville gave up on him in 2018 and he ended up playing in Anaheim and Minnesota last year where he totalled 12 goals and 13 assists (25 points) in 59 games. It’s tough to envision Aberg making the Maple Leafs opening night roster but he could be an extra or one of the first AHL call-ups given his NHL experience.
Agostino has been a prolific AHL scorer throughout the years but has not been able to find the same success at the NHL-level. However, in 2019 he set career-highs in games played (63), goals (6) and assists (18) with the Canadiens and Devils. Agostino will likely start 2020 with the Marlies.
Engelland had 12 points (2G / 10A) in 74 games in his second season with the Golden Knights. While his point totals aren’t impressive, Engelland led Vegas in blocked shots (152), was fourth in hits (165) and ranked first among defensemen in SH TOI/GP (3:12). Engelland brings a reliable defensive game to the Vegas top-4 and was a priority for them this offseason.
Clarkson has a career-ending injury and will never play again in the NH. Trading Sparks and picking up Clarkson’s contract, which will be moved to LTIR, provides the Maple Leafs with a little more wiggle room in terms of cap-space. Michal Neuvirth has been signed to a PTO and could land the backup job in Toronto with Sparks now in Vegas.
