Offseason moves aplenty for NHL hopefuls | TheAHL.com

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer

Many familiar names from across the AHL have found new organizations and fresh opportunities this offseason as National Hockey League teams restock their pipelines heading into the 2024-25 season.

Here is a look at some of last year’s key AHL players from the Eastern Conference, and where they’ll be trying to make that final step to an NHL roster:

BELLEVILLE (OTTAWA)
A familiar Belleville forward is remaining with the Ottawa organization while several other established AHL names have signed with Ottawa as well.

Versatile two-way forward Garrett Pilon, a 2023 Calder Cup champion with Hershey, is back after signing a new two-year, two-way deal with Ottawa. Pilon led the B-Sens with 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 62 games. Ottawa also secured forward sniper Adam Gaudette, whose 44 goals with Springfield this past season led the AHL. Gaudette had a previous run with Ottawa, playing 50 games for the NHL club in 2021-22. Ontario forward Hayden Hodgson also signed with Ottawa. On the blue line, Jeremy Davies (Rochester) and Filip Roos (Rockford) have also joined the organization on NHL two-way deals while Wyatte Wylie (Ontario) will be with Belleville on an AHL contract.

Ottawa also dealt forward Egor Sokolov to Utah for forward Jan Jenik, who had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 55 games this past season for Tucson.

BRIDGEPORT (NEW YORK ISLANDERS)
Marc Gatcomb (Abbotsford) and Fredrik Karlström (Texas) are new faces in the Islanders organization.

Defenseman Wyatt Newpower (Grand Rapids) is off to Bridgeport on an AHL deal as is forward Justin Gill, who had back-to-back seasons with 40 or more goals in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and was an Islanders fifth-round pick in 2023. Veteran forward Brian Pinho is also staying with Bridgeport on a new AHL contract.

CHARLOTTE (FLORIDA)
Goaltender Chris Driedger, who backstopped Coachella Valley to the Calder Cup Finals, is back with the Florida organization to compete with Spencer Knight for playing time with the Panthers. New signee Ken Appleby and returnee Evan Cormier offer more depth in net.

Forward Rasmus Asplund has a new one-year, two-way contract after posting a career-best 44 points (nine goals, a team-leading 35 assists) in 67 games for the Checkers; he also has played 183 NHL games. Veteran forward Kyle Criscuolo has moved over from Utica on a new one-year AHL contract with the Checkers as well. He had 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists)…