Schemitsch was a third-round pick in 2015 and is coming off of 24 points (9G / 15A) in his second full AHL season. Schemitsch has good size (6-foot-4, 206 lbs.) but remains too low on the depth chart to make a push for a roster spot this fall.
Hunt split his 2019 season between the NHL and AHL, posting 44 points (23G / 21A) in 51 games with Springfield (AHL) and 10 points (3G / 7A) in 31 games with Florida (NHL). Despite moderate NHL success, Hunt will likely start 2020 in the AHL.
Hawryluk was selected No.32 overall in 2014 and finally cracked the NHL roster in 2019. The 23-year-old right winger had 12 points (7G / 5A) in 42 games with the Panthers, while averaging just 9:26 TOI/gm. With Brett Connolly and Noel Acciari singing this summer and Owen Tippett knocking on the door to make the team in training camp, Hawryluk could start the year in the AHL again.
Hicketts led all Grand Rapids defensemen with 27 points (3G / 24A) in 64 games in 2018-19. Hicketts has just three assists in 16 career NHL games but continues to get bumped down the Red Wings depth chart and may never become a full-time NHLer in Detroit.
Compher set career-highs in goals (16), assists (16) and points (32) in 66 games last season. Compher averaged 17:29 TOI/gm but carried a -4.1 relative CorsiFor% but will likely get bumped down the depth chart following the addition of Nazem Kadri this summer. Compher should settle in as Colorado’s third line centre and could thrive against the oppositions’ bottom-6.
MacInnis was originally a second-round pick of the Coyotes (No. 43 overall in 2014) but spent last season with the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate in Cleveland. The 23-year-old centre had four goals and 20 assists (24 points) in 71 games with the Monsters and will start the 2019-20 year with Cleveland.
Carrick was acquired from Toronto in early-October before the Stars traded him to New Jersey in late-February. The 25-year-old ended up picking up seven points (1G / 6A) in 20 games with the Devils, giving him a total of 11 points (2G / 9A) in just 34 games. With the addition of P.K. Subban this summer, Carrick will likely battle with Mirco Mueller for the sixth D-spot in 2020.
Del Zotto bounced from Vancouver to Anaheim to St. Louis, where he eventually won a Stanley Cup but signs back with Anaheim, where he had three assists in 12 games. Overall, Del Zotto had 10 points (1G / 9A) in 42 games a season ago, but should have a chance to play more regularly in 2020.
Kloos was in his second year in the Wild’s AHL farm system before being acquired for Pontus Aberg in January and spending 25 games with San Diego (AHL). Kloos has just two career NHL games under his belt and spent last year posting 18 goals and 27 assists (45 points) in 59 combined NHL games. Look for him to start 2020 with San Diego but could be one of the first call-ups for a thin Ducks team.
De Leo was originally a fourth-round pick of the Jets but 2018-19 was his first season with the Ducks organization. The 23-year-old was second on the Gulls with 55 points (20G / 35A) in 66 games and will likely be among their top players to start 2020.
Wideman went from a regular NHLer in 2016 and 2017 to a fringe/AHL player after a leg injury in 2018. The 29-year-old has posted solid offensive numbers at lower-levels, including 15 points (3G / 12A) in 19 AHL games last year and could push for the sixth defenseman spot with Anaheim in 2020.
After showing flashes of his potential in 2018, Vrana took another step forward in 2019, setting a carer-high in goals (24), assists (23) and points (47) in 82 games. Vrana did that while barely averaging over 14 minutes per game but could easily play closer to 16 minutes in the Capitals top-6 in 2020. With increased playing time, Vrana could be a legit 60-plus point threat.
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.
