Andrej Sustr(2) Syracuse Crunch

6’8″ 225 lbs. Czech Republic-born, undrafted defensive tower Andrej Sustr(2) signed a two-year entry level deal with Tampa Bay Lightning that included the remainder of 2012/2013 after deciding to turn pro at the conclusion of his third season of college hockey at University Of Nebraska-Omaha.

He appeared in a pair of NHL games without registering a point while skating an average of 10 minutes in each contest and had a couple of shots of goal and a +1 rating before being reassigned to their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch to finish off the regular season.

In 8 games, he scored his first 2 pro goals and added an assist.

The 22-year old has skated in all 17 Calder Cup Playoff games with the team, adding another goal and 5 assists to his totals while going a rock steady +9 plus/minus and showing a willingness to fire pucks on the net and mix it up when the situation calls for it.

With a bit more grit he will easily develop into a feared blue liner much like another extremely large, former countryman. Very possibly this could be his only stop in the minors.

Josh Lunden(42) St. John’s IceCaps

Third year, undrafted left wing Josh Lunden(42) spent most of last season, first in training camp, then on a pair of pto’s with St. John’s IceCaps. In 31 games, he notched 8 goals and 10 assists playing mostly energy line roles.

In his sophomore campaign he was recalled for AHL games by three different times.

He has been signed for the last two seasons with Las Vegas Wranglers. He also appeared with the team during his rookie season, reassigned while under a one-year entry level contract with Phoenix Coyotes.

The 6’2″ 202 lbs. forward also participated in their 2010 training camp.

In 79 ECHL games he’s pocketed a nifty 33 goals and 36 helpers.

The 27-year old earned a well-deserved one-year contract with the IceCaps for 2013/2014, where he should be able to continue to step up his game.

Bill Thomas(29) Medvescak Zagreb

29-year old, undrafted 8th year right wing, Bill Thomas(29) has decided it’s time to leave North American pro hockey and joins Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL for 2013/2014.

He had been signed to a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado Avalanche for 2012/2013 but failed to receive a call-up in the lockout shortened season. It was the first time since he was on an AHL agreement for ’09/’10 with Springfield Falcons that he didn’t play in an NHL game.

He also left mid-season that year for the NLA in Switzerland but returned for the next campaign signing with Florida Panthers.

The unassuming 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward has played 87 contests in the show scoring 16 goals and 12 assists with three different teams.

He has 388 minor leagues games with 115 goals and 136 assists to his credit.

Seems like the right choice for the veteran player and chances are he will find his scoring touch.

See related: 12/29-10

Andrew Courtney(28) Missouri Mavericks

3rd year, undrafted forward Andrew Courtney(28) continues his pro career with the only team he’s ever suited up for under contract, Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League.

In 114 games for the team he has 49 goals and 50 assists, which is good but probably would have been even better if he hadn’t been injured and put on the shelf for a month in 2012/2013.

In the postseason he has really shined with 14 goals and 11 assists in 24 games.

He was clutch in the 2013 President’s Cup Playoffs with a game-tying tally and the eventual winning goal in overtime and a hat trick in successive contests that helped push the series to a deciding game 7.

The big 6’3″ 209 lbs. player also frequently hit the score sheet in five years of Canadian college hockey at University Of Lethbridge.

Last season he was invited to Connecticut Whale‘s training camp but released to their affiliate before deciding to return to the Mavericks.

At 28 years old he’s older than most other players that have only been playing a few years but seems to have plenty left in the tank to continue.

Jan Mursak(39) Grand Rapid Griffins

Detroit Red Wings‘ 5th year, 6th round pick in the 2006 draft (#182 overall), Slovenian-born right wing Jan Mursak(39) has already made it public knowledge of his intentions next season to join Amur Khabarovsk of the KHL, reportedly to return to playing on the bigger sheets of ice.

He didn’t let that stand in the way of scoring the winning goal in game three of the 2013 Calder Cup Finals to help his current team, AHL affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins, to a sweep-ready 3-0 series lead.

The 25-year old is set to become an unrestricted free agent after signing a two-year, one-way extension as his entry level contract was up.

He has 46 games of NHL experience to his credit scoring a pair of goals and assists.

In 213 contests in the minors, he’s registered 43 goals and 60 assists with a huge +41 rating.

Almost ironically he started the lockout season back in his country skating for Olimpija Ljubljana in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, where he logged 30 games, connecting for a career high 48 points and 29 helpers.

If he continues to excel overseas, there could be some room for him to return to North American pro hockey, but it remains to be seen if his heart keeps him closer to home.

Kyle Wilson(7) Dinamo Riga

After 7 seasons of pro hockey in North America, 28-year old center Kyle Wilson(7) opts for a 1-year contract to join 2012 and 2013 KHL champs Dinamo Riga.

He was most recently signed to a two-year deal by Nashville Predators with the second year of the deal on a one-way contract.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward was moved in the off season to Tampa Bay Lightning, playing only 22 games for their minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch but was once again on the chopping block after scoring only 5 goals.

He was traded to Anaheim Ducks, where he was reassigned to Norfolk Admirals and seemed to regain some of his scoring touch with 3 goals and 9 assists in 16 games.

In 427 AHL games, he has amassed an impressive 319 points (149 goals and 170 assists) with an outstanding +48 rating and won back-to-back Calder Cup Championships with Hershey Bears.

Originally a Minnesota Wild 9th round pick in the 2004 draft (#272 overall), he has skated in 39 NHL games with 3 different teams recording a modest 4 goals and 9 assists.

He was set to become an unrestricted free agent upon deciding to take his game overseas.

See related: 3/8-11, 3/12-13

Francis Pare(9) Grand Rapids Griffins

Detroit Red Wings‘ undrafted fifth year right wing, Francis Pare(9) scored the winning goal for minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins in game 2 of the 2013 Calder Cup Finals to help give his team a 2-0 series lead.

Appearing in all 20 postseasons contests, he has 3 goals and 9 assists. 2 of his strikes came on the power play, including the recent game-winner.

In 68 2012/2013 regular season outings he notched 22 goals and 22 assists

He is currently in the final campaign of his 2-year contract extension, which he signed as his tw0-year entry level deal was wrapping up.

In his first year as a pro he signed a one-year agreement with the Griffins.

He has played in 363 AHL games, all with Grand Rapids, scoring 102 goals and 135 assists with a +19 rating.

The 5’10″ 191 lbs. forward had an outstanding junior career registering 1.12 points per game over 4 seasons in the QMJHL. He was selected league MVP in his final season.

The soon-to-be 26-year old enters his first off season as an unrestricted free agent. He has yet to skate in an NHL game but we have to think his chances of re-upping one more time are good, unless he feels the need to explore the market.

Riley Sheahan(19) Grand Rapid Griffins

Detroit Red Wings‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#21 overall), rookie center Riley Sheahan(19) got the winning goal for their minor league affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins in game 1 of the AHL Calder Cup Finals.

In 20 postseason contest he has 3 goals and 9 assists with a +6 rating. He appeared in all 72 regular season games and showed excellent point production with 16 markers and 20 helpers.

He’s appeared in a pair of games (one last season after finishing up 3 years at Notre Dame and one this year) with the parent club but has yet to hit the score sheet.

The 6’2″ 212 lbs. forward was never much of a scorer in college hockey but with a fairly large frame at only 21-years old he is definitely a prospect with potential.

Adam Payerl(28) WBS Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins‘ undrafted rookie center Adam Payerl(28) had himself a pretty successful first year with AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins playing mostly a fourth line role of limited minutes, designed to consistently infuse energy into a game when it’s your call to hit the ice.

The 6’3″ 219 lbs. big frame forward successfully achieved that each and every time he jumped over those boards and managed to get even better with his first taste of postseason hockey as a pro.

In 44 games he scored 3 goals and 7 assists, then in 15 Calder Cup Playoff contests got another tally and a pair of helpers but mostly seemed to be that guy to turn the momentum of a game when it was necessary.

He was never a real prolific on the score sheet through 5 years of juniors, but in his last season with Belleville Bulls he did put up some decent numbers with career highs for goals, points and penalty minutes.

The 22-year old is signed through 2014/2015 on a three-year entry level deal that could heed a call-up to the show if they are in need of a big body to help create space for the parent club (and it’s looking like they could use that sort of player).

Tomas Kubalik(19) HC Lev Praha

3rd year, Czech Republic-born right wing Tomas Kubalik(19) was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#135 overall), signed to a three-year entry level deal.

He was playing in his third season with their AHL team, Springfield Falcons, where in the last couple seasons his point production had slipped to a level that was equal to the totals of his rookie campaign. Although part of that story can be attributed to the injury bug that seemed to follow him.

Reports suggested the 6’3″ 220 lbs. skater with all the attributes of a power forward wanted out of town, because he wasn’t get a fair shot with the parent club. In 12 NHL games over a couple of seasons he had one goal and three assists with a -6 rating.

He was involved in a late season trade of minor league players with Winnipeg Jets that had him reassigned to their affiliate St. John’s IceCaps for the remainder of his contract. He only connected for 3 assists in 10 games, which resulted in at least a couple of games as a healthy scratch.

The 23-year old, who has been playing pro hockey since he was 16, was set to become a restricted free agent but decided it’s time to take his game back overseas, signing a 1-year deal to join HC Lev Praha of the KHL.

One has to think if he is able to connect there, he may be invited back for another go at the North American style game.