Rattie, 24, averaged 23 goals and 22 assists (45 points) in his first three AHL seasons, but had just five points (2G / 3A) in 22 games with Chicago (AHL) last year. The former No.32 overall pick has registered 10 points (4G / 6A) in 35 career NHL games, but posted elite numbers in junior and will be given a shot to make the Oilers out of training camp.
Bennett, 25, was the No.20 overall pick in 2010 but has yet to produce like a first rounder, largely thanks to injury issues. Bennett had 19 points (8G / 11A) in 65 games with the Devils last year and has just 64 points (24G / 40A) in 194 career NHL games. Bennett will likely serve as a bottom-6 forward in St. Louis.
Verhaeghe, 21, was a third round pick (No.82 overall) in 2013 but has split his last two seasons between the AHL and ECHL. Last season he had 29 points (16G / 13A) in 45 games with Bridgeport (AHL) and an impressive 32 points (12G / 20A) in just 16 games with Missouri (ECHL). Verhaeghe will likely report to the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) to start 2017-18.
Gudlevskis went 15-10-4 with a 2.65 GAA and .897 SV% in 37 games as the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) starter in 2016-17. Gudlevskis has had some strong performances while representing Latvia internationally, but has not posted a SV% above .907 in single AHL season. Gudlevskis will likely report to Bridgeport (AHL) to start 2017-18.
The Kings have thinned out on the wing over the years and Cammalleri helps add some much needed scoring to their top-6. Even at 35-years-old, Cammalleri has posted consistent offensive numbers, but staying healthy has been a bugaboo for the veteran winger. During his three years in New Jersey, Cammalleri missed 75 games—or 30.5% of the games.
Postma posted elite numbers in juniors 10 years ago and has had great seasons in the AHL but that game has failed to translate into the NHL. Postma has a strong shot and should help infuse some offence into the Bruins bottom-pairing and help replace the loss of Colin Miller.
Wiercioch had 12 points (4G / 8A) in 57 games with the Avalanche last season and has never appeared in more then 56 games in any of his first five NHL seasons. Now in Vancouver, Wiercioch is expected to serve as their No.7 defenseman.
With a lot of high priced forwards at the top of their lineup the Blackhawks needed to fill out their roster with some value contracts and that’s what Wingels provides. Wingels hasn’t posted good numbers in the last few seasons, but has posted great numbers at lower levels and earlier in his NHL career, making him a low-risk/high-reward signing for Chicago.
Pitlick has split his time between the AHL and NHL in his first three professional seasons. Last year he had 21 points (7G / 14A) in 37 games with Bakersfield and 11 points (8G / 3A) in 31 games with Edmonton. He is a capable scorer with good size (6-foot, 202 lbs) who brings some offence and some upside to the Stars bottom-6.
Niemi’s numbers have been slipping for the last few years, finally resulting in an .892 SV% and a buyout in 2016-17. Niemi is a value option to serve as Matt Murray’s backup with Marc-Andre Fleury being selected by the Vegas Golden Knights. A limited role is probably best for the 33-year-old and he will be playing behind a more defensively responsible team than he was in Dallas.
Hanzal, 30, had 20 goals and 29 assists (49 points) in 71 games with the Coyotes and Wild last year. Hanzal has always had a lot of offensive potential to go along with great size (6’6” / 226 lbs.) but has had a tough time with durability. Hanzal heads to Dallas where he will replace Cody Eakin, who was picked up by the Vegas Golden Knights. The Stars have arguably the best offence he has ever been a part of and that could unlock the offensive potential Hanzal has been teasing us with for years.
After two years in Calgary, Jooris split his 2016-17 season between the Rangers and Coyotes, where he had four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 54 games. Jooris is a hard-working forward that plays all three forward positions, but has posted limited offensive numbers in his brief three-year NHL career.
Berube was a part of a goaltending trio in Brooklyn for the last two seasons and will likely have to battle with Anton Forsberg for the backup job to Corey Crawford. The 25-year-old has posted a career 3.10 GAA and .900 SV% in 21 career NHL starts, but has amassed impressive numbers at the AHL level.
The Blues traded Ryan Reaves to the Penguins at the NHL Draft so bring in Chris Thorburn to replace the lost toughness. The 34-year-old had three goals, one assist and 95 PIMS in 64 games with the Jets a year ago.
After struggling offensively for years, Hunwick managed to post 19 points (1G / 18A) in in 72 games with the Maple Leafs a season ago. Hunwick will help replace Trevor Daley, who left for Detroit in free agency and should be third pairing defenseman.
Witkowski, 27, is a Michigan native that is headed home after spending the first five years of his professional career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Witkowski is capable of playing on the blueline or on the wing and adds some size and toughness to the Red Wings’ depth chart. Witkowski has just four assists and 58 PIMS in 54 career NHL games.
Williams was in Carolina from 2004 until his was traded to Los Angeles midway through the 2009 season. Since then, he has posted 20-plus goals in four of seven full 82-game seasons, while posting 40-plus points in six of seven. Williams helps add depth and playoff experience to the wing of a young Carolina team that has playoff aspirations in 2017-18.
Wilson was the No.7 overall pick in 2008, but never really lived up to expectations, posting a career-high of just 20 goals and 42 points (2014-15). Wilson was slipping down the Predators depth chart, but should play an increased role in Colorado, where mid-30’s points should be his floor.
Pouliot had 33 goals and 37 assists (70 points) in 113 games in his first two seasons in Edmonton, but struggled a year ago leading to a buyout. The 30-year-old winger goes from being overpaid to potentially one of the best value contracts in 2017-18 free agency. Pouliot will likely play on the second or third line behind Evander Kane and is capable of posting a 20-20 season if he can stay healthy.
Bonino had one of the best seasons of his career 2016-17, posting 18 goals and 19 assists (37 points) in 80 games and added an additional seven points (4G / 3A) in 21 playoff games to help the Penguins to their second Stanley Cup in a row. Bonino will fill the hole left by Mike Fisher’s expected departure and should serve as the Predators No.2/No.3 centre.
