Kichton, 24, has yet to make it to the NHL, but is coming off of a strong year with Manitoba (AHL). The former seventh-round pick had 41 points (11G / 30A) in 68 games and will once again find himself in Manitoba to start the 2016-17 season.
Scheifele, 23, the former seventh overall pick (2011) is coming off of his best season as a professional, having collected 61 points (29G / 32A) in 71 games. The 6-foot-3 centre emerged as the Jets’ top-line centre and this extension will keep him in that role for many years to come. If Scheifele can stay healthy in 2016-17, he could approach the 70-point plateau.
MacKinnon, 20, was the first overall pick in 2013 and is coming off of three strong seasons to start his NHL career. In 2015-16, MacKinnon had 21 goals and 31 assists (52 points) in 72 games. He has missed 28 games over the three years, but has scored at a strong pace—22 goals, 35 assists per 82 games. Entering his age 21 season, expect MacKinnon to take another step forward.
Bernier, 27, was originally acquired from the Kings to be the goalie of the future in Toronto, but that never really panned out. Bernier was 59-68-17 with a 2.80 GAA and .915 SV% in 140 starts and 11 relief appearances with the Maple Leafs over three seasons. This summer the Leafs brought in Frederik Andersen from Anaheim to be their new starter, now Bernier is headed the other way to serve as John Gibson’s backup.
Markstrom’s NHL career didn’t get off to a great start, but he seems to have settled in in Vancouver. He was excellent with Utica (AHL) two years ago and went 13-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and .915 SV% in 32 games with the Canucks last season. Markstrom will battle with Ryan Miller for starts as the Canucks’ No. 1 netminder.
After posting 18 goals in back-to-back seasons, Perreault’s nine goals in 2015-16 was disappointing. In his first two years with the Jets he has posted back-to-back 41-point seasons and should be expected to be back in that range again in 2016-17.
Wilson, 25, split his 2015-16 season between the AHL and NHL. Wilson, a former fourth round pick (107 overall in 2009), had no points in 29 games with the Panthers despite posting 20 points (7G / 13A) in 37 games with Portland (AHL). Look for him to start the 2016-17 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Kelly, 35, is a bottom-6 forward that can play centre or wing that the Senators are very familiar with. He was drafted by the Senators back in 1999 and spent the first six and a half years of his NHL career in an Ottawa uniform. He the last five and a half years in Boston, but was limited to just 11 games in 2015-16 because of a fractured left femur.
Palmieri 25, had the best season of his career in his first year in New Jersey. He entered 2015-16 with a career-high of 14 goals, but burst out for 30 goals along with 27 assists (57 points) in 82 games. Palmieri should benefit from the Devils adding Taylor Hall to the mix for 2016-17.
Claesson, 23, was a fifth round pick (126th overall) in 2011 and finally made it to the NHL in 2015-16. He spent most of the year with Binghamton (AHL), but appeared in 16 NHL games, but collecting just two assists. During his time in the AHL, Claesson had 10 points (3G / 7A) in 55 contests. He will look to crack the Senators’ opening night roster in training camp.
Coreau, 24, was 29-15-2 with a 2.43 GAA and .922 SV% in 47 games as the No. 1 option in Grand Rapids (AHL). Coreau is a monster netminder, standing in at 6-foot-6 and 220 lbs. He fits the mould of the modern era NHL netminder, but as long as Petr Mrazek and Jimmy Howard are ahead of him on the depth chart, he will likely only see AHL duty.
MacKenzie is a quality fourth line centre, that will not do a lot of scoring. He led the Panthers in face-off percentage (54.8%) and was second in hits per game with 2.4. MacKenzie’s value lies in the faceoff circle and on the penalty kill, where he led all Panthers’ forwards with a 2:38 PK/TOI per game.
Kalinin, 25, recorded 15 points (8G / 7A) in 78 games in his first NHL season after playing five seasons in KHL before hand. Kalinin is a big centre (6’3” / 200 lbs) who should find himself in a third line role in 2016-17.
Tennyson, 26, spent the majority of last season with the Sharks, but only played in 29 games. He also appeared in five games in the AHL, but failed to record a point. Tennyson will either start as the Hurricanes’ seventh defenseman.
Cracknell spent last season wit hate Oilers and the Canucks, appearing in a total of 52 games. The 6-foot-2, 210 lbs. forward collected 10 points (5G / 5A) in those contests and serves as a depth forward for the Stars.
Beck, 25, played the majority of last season in the AHL, where he recorded 33 points (16G / 17A) in 46 games with Bridgeport. He played just two games with the Islanders and has just 23 points (11G / 12A) in 87 career NHL games.
Paajarvi, 25, serves as a depth forward for the Blues. He worked himself in and out of the lineup during the 2015-16 season, appearing in 48 games. The former 10th overall pick had just nine points (3G / 6A) in those games while picking up seven points (4G / 3A) in seven games with Chicago (AHL).
Brennan, 27, is a Moorestown, New Jersey native, which is just 30 minutes away from Philadelphia and he grew up watching the Flyers. Brennan has bounced around from team-to-team throughout his career, despite posting elite numbers at the AHL level. He is coming off of a 68-point (25G / 43A) season with the Toronto Marlies, but has just 13 points (5G / 8A) in 53 career NHL games.
Dzingel, 24, split the 2015-16 campaign between Ottawa and Binghamton (AHL). His 30 games with Ottawa were the first 30 games of his NHL career and he tallied three goals with six assists. In his time with the the “Baby Sens” he picked up 36 points (12G / 24A) in 44 contests. Dzingel figures to be in the Senators opening day roster.
Jensen was acquired in the deal that sent Emerson Etem to Vancouver, and he spent the entire year in the AHL. Jensen had 15 goals and 10 assists (25 points) in 41 games with Hartford, to go along with the 12 points (4G / 8A) he had with Utica before the trade. The 2011 first round pick (29th overall) will look to make the Rangers out of training camp this fall.
