Tootoo spent the last two seasons with the Devils, where he picked up 14 goals and 10 assists (24 points) in 134 games—he also picked up 174 penalty minutes. With Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen both being traded this offseason for salary cap purposes, the Blackhawks needed to add some veteran presence to their bottom-6.
Vey, 24, was looking like a promising prospect in 2012 and 2013 after having huge seasons with the Kings AHL affiliate, but struggled once he was with the Canucks. In two seasons, Vey picked up just 14 goals and 25 assists (39 points) in 116 games. He will get a chance to crack the Flames roster in training camp, but could start the year with Stockton (AHL).
Grant, 27, was a fourth round pick in 2007, but has only appeared in seven NHL games since then. Despite no NHL success, Grant has posted strong numbers in the AHL, including 42 points (11G / 31A) in 69 games with the Coyotes AHL affiliate last year. He is a right-handed defenseman with an offensive pedigree, so expect him to get a look in training camp.
Schultz, 30, spent last season in the AHL, aside from his one appearance with the Kings. He had 18 points (3G / 15A) in 66 games with the Ontario Reign. Schultz is not known for his offensive output, so don’t expect him to have a fantasy impact if he is able to make it to the NHL next year.
Boll, 30, had just three points (1G / 2A) in 30 games with the Blue Jackets last season. He is clearly not known for his offensive ability, but more for his physical play. Boll has just 62 career points versus 1195 penalty minutes in 518 games. When looking at advanced metrics, Boll ranks as one of the worst players in the NHL, so this signing is surprising to say the least.
Raymond, 30, was with the Flames for the last two year, splitting the 2015-16 season between Calgary and Stockton (AHL). He had four goals and one assist in 29 NHL games and 15 points (6G / 9A) in 15 AHL contests. He is just a few years removed from a 45-point season with the Maple Leafs, so his two-way contract presents excellent value for the Ducks.
Smith, 25, had a great debut season in Florida, registering 25 goals and 25 assists (50 points) in 82 games and an ultra-impressive eight points (4G / 4A) in six playoff games. Smith has only missed one game in his first three full NHL seasons and has already turned in two 20-plus goal seasons. He has a top-6 role for a good team and should have a shot at 30 goals in 2016-17.
Samuelsson, 24, was a second round pick in 2009, but has yet to have an impact at the NHL level. He is coming off of a good year with Springfield (AHL), where he had 31 points (4G / 27A) in 56 games, but still wasn’t good enough for the Coyotes to re-sign him. Now in Montreal, look for him to land in St. John’s (AHL) to start the year.
Agostino, 24, led Stockton (AHL) in points last season with 57 (23G / 34A) but the Flames still let him walk. Through two AHL seasons he has amassed 100 points (38G / 62A) in 132 games. He will likely start the year in Chicago (AHL), but could work his way into the Blues’ lineup.
Bleackley, 20, was originally drafted 23rd overall in 2014, but re-entered this year’s draft and was selected 144th overall by the Blues. At the time of the first draft, Bleackley was coming off of a 68-point (29G / 39A) season, but two years later he still hasn’t been able to duplicate that performance—he had 13 goals and 33 assists (46 points) with Red Deer (WHL) this past year.
Butler spent most of last season in the AHL, appearing in just five games with the Blues. During his time with Chicago (AHL), he had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 46 contests. He will once again be a depth defenseman for St. Louis.
Terry, 27, has spent his entire career with the Hurricanes, after being drafted by them in 2007, but is finally on the move to Montreal, where he will look to land a permanent roster spot. He had just 11 points (8G / 3A) in 68 games last year and has totalled just 34 points (20G / 14A) in 138 career NHL games, so don’t expect him to have a fantasy impact in 2016-17.
Polak had 13 points (1G / 12A) in 55 games with the Maple Leafs before they traded him to San Jose prior to last year’s NHL Trade Deadline. After the deal he only added three more assists, but the 16 points was the second highest total of his NHL career. He is known more for his bear-like strength and defensive abilities opposed to what he can or can’t do with the puck.
Trocheck is looking like a third-round steal from the 2011 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old centre is coming off of a huge 25-goal, 28-assist (53 points) season, earning himself a huge extension. He is a key member of a young core in Florida that will be looking to do even more damage in 2016-17. Trocheck should be able to turn in another 25/25 season.
Parenteau had the best year of his NHL career in his final year with the Islanders—18 goals and 49 assists (67 points) in 2011-12—but has played for three teams in four years since. Parenteau is coming off of a 20-goal, 21-assist season with the Maple Leafs and now he returns to the Islanders where he will look to re-kindle the chemistry with his old teammates, particularly John Tavares.
Nilsson was 2-0-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .935 SV% in two AHL starts last season, but didn’t have the same success at the NHL level, going 10-13-2 with a 3.12 GAA and .901 SV% with the Blues and Oilers. Nilsson has a career .900 SV% and will likely serve as Robin Lehner’s backup in 2016-17.
Malone, 27, is an NHL fourth liner. He had just six points and 75 PIMS in 57 games last season and has just 30 points in 176 career NHL games. Malone will likely replace Michael Latta, who signed with the Kings.
Arguably, Gudlevskis, 23, is good enough to be at the NHL level, but in Tampa Bay he is the third best option, which limits him to the AHL level. He was 16-12-8 with a 2.83 GAA and .907 SV% in 41 games with Syracuse last season and the only way he makes it to the NHL this year is as an injury replacement or if the Lightning end up trading Ben Bishop.
Demers was acquired mid-season in 2014-15, so 2015-16 was his first full season with the Stars. He missed 20 games, but still picked up 23 points (7G / 16A) in 62 games. He is a solid two-way defenseman who solidifies the Panthers’ second pairing and should look good as the third best defenseman on the team behind Aaron Ekblad and Keith Yandle.
Peters appeared in a career-high 21 games with the Hurricanes in 2013-14, but failed to make it to the NHL last season. He played the entire year at Hershey (AHL), where he was 17-8-7 with a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV%. Look for him to start this year with Springfield.
