Zykov led the AHL with 33 goals and added 21 assists (54 points) in 63 games with the Charlotte Checkers. Zykov will battle for a roster spot in Hurricanes’ training camp this fall. He has eight points (4G / 4A) in 12 career NHL games.
Vatrano split his 2018 season between the Bruins and Panthers. The 23-year-old had eight points (5G / 3A) in 16 games with Florida, finishing the year with 10 points (7G / 3A) in 41 games. Vatrano seemed to have found a nice home in Florida and should be a bottom-6 winger with them to start 2019.
Kempny was acquired from the Blackhawks mid-season in 2018. Kempny had seven points (1G / 6A) in 31 games with Chicago and three points (2G / 1A) in 22 games with Washington—10 points (3G / 7A) in 53 games overall. Kempny is a solid second/third-paring defenseman, who will be with the Capitals through the 2022 season.
In his first year with the Capitals, Smith-Pelly had 16 points (7G / 9A) in 75 games. The winger had a -4.7 relative Corsi with Washington and will likely be a fourth liner again in 2019.
Rau had just one assist in three games with the Wild last season. He spent most of the year in the AHL, where he had 50 points (23G / 27A) in 69 games. Rau will push for a roster spot in training camp but will have a tough time cracking one of the deepest rosters in the NHL.
Sheahan was acquired from the Red Wings early in the season, and scored 11 goals with 21 assists (32 points) in 73 games with the Penguins. Sheahan posted a horrible -6.0 relative Corsi with the Penguins, but earned another season with them. He will likely serve as their No.4 centre with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Derick Brassard ahead of him on the depth chart.
Connauton is coming off of his best season in the NHL, scoring 11 goals with 10 assists (21 points) in 73 games with the Coyotes. Connauton averaged just 15:11 TOI/GM, so expect him to serve as a third pairing defenseman again in 2019.
Rust has become a valuable middle-6 winger for the Penguins, scoring 13 goals with 25 assists (38 points) in 69 games this past season. Rust occasionally sees time on a line with Evgeni Malkin but is equally effective in a checking-line role. He grades out as the No.52 ranked RW in hockey according to Corsica Player Ratings.
Di Giuseppe was in and out of the Hurricanes’ lineup last season but appeared in a career-high 49 NHL games, scoring five goals with eight assists (13 points). The 24-year-old likely won’t be a full-time player in 2019 either, but is an effective bottom-6 player when he gets plugged into the lineup.
The former No.12 overall pick has never been able to find his game at the NHL-level and often splits his season between the AHL and NHL. This past season, Murphy had 28 points (4G / 24A) in 48 games with Iowa and five points (2G / 3A) in 21 games with Minnesota. He will likely serve as the Wild’ No.7 defenseman throughout the 2019 season.
Sprong dominated the AHL last season, collecting 32 goals and 33 assists (65 points) in 65 games before being called-up by the Penguins. After arriving in the NHL, he had two goals and one assist in eight games. Sprong has been great at lower-levels but it hasn’t translated into NHL success yet.
