2022 Charlotte Checkers Offseason Player Tracker

SEASON SYNOPSIS

The Charlotte Checkers returned to AHL play in 2021-22 after sitting out the 2021 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019 Calder Cup Champions were looking to repeat as the last crowned AHL champion, as well, clinching the Atlantic Division with a 42-24-6, 90 points, a .625 points percentage, and 36 regulation wins to break the top-seed tie with Springfield. In the postseason, Charlotte was granted a first round bye. The Checkers then defeated Bridgeport three games to one in the best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals. Charlotte was then swept in the divisional finals by Springfield, three games to none.

Charlotte took full benefit of the dual affiliation with both Florida and Seattle last season. Florida-contracted centerman Zac Dalpe led the team in goals (30), another Panthers center — Aleksi Heponiemi— boasted the most in team assists (30), and Seattle-signed centerman Alexander True led the team in total points (42). The Kraken-contracted netminder Joey Daccord finished the year with a 19-11-2 record, 2.28 goals against average (fifth in the AHL), and was tied for second league-wide with a .925 save percentage.

(List accurate as of October 27th at 2:10pm ET)

UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS

Forwards

• Connor Bunnaman – Last year of two-way standard player NHL contract
  
• Zac Dalpe – Last year of two-way standard player NHL contract
• Grigori Denisenko – Last year of entry-level contract
  
• Logan Hutsko – Last year of entry-level contract
  
• Serron Noel – Last year of entry-level contract
• Aleksi Heponiemi – Signed one-year, two-way NHL contract extension on July 5
• Henry Bowlby – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 26
• Patrick Giles – Signed a PTO plus one-year AHL contract on March 18; signed a two-year, entry-level NHL contract on September 20

Defensemen

• Max Gildon – Last year of entry-level contract
  
• John Ludvig – Last year of entry-level contract
• Zach Uens – First year of entry-level contract
• Dennis Cesana – Signed a two-year AHL contract (starting 2022-23) on March 8
• Matt Kiersted – Signed a two-year NHL contract extension (2022-23 is two-way; 2023-23 is one-way) on June 27
• Lucas Carlsson – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract extension on July 8

Goaltenders

• Spencer Knight – Last year of entry-level contract
• Evan Fitzpatrick – Signed a one-year AHL contract extension on June 9

NEW ADDITIONS

Forwards

• Justin Sourdif – First year of entry-level contract (played for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL in 2021-22)
• Anton Levtchi – Signed a one-year, entry-level contract on June 14 (played for Tappara in Liiga in 2021-22)
• Riley Bezeau – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 11 (played for the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL in 2021-22)
• Gerry Mayhew – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 15 (played for Anaheim & Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021-22)
• Chris Tierney – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 16 (played for Ottawa in 2021-22)
• Dominic Franco – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 20 (played for the Rochester Americans and ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones in 2021-22)
• Cam Morrison – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 26 (played for the Rockford IceHogs in 2021-22)
• Ethan Keppen – Signed a one-year AHL contract on August 22 (played for the Flint Firebirds of the OHL in 2021-22)
• Riley Nash – Signed a two-year AHL contract on September 15 (played with Winnipeg, Arizona, & Tampa Bay and the Syracuse Crunch in 2021-22)

Defensemen

• Santtu Kinnunen – Signed a two-year, entry-level contract on May 2 (played for Tappara in Liiga in 2021-22)
• Calle Själin – Signed a two-year, entry-level contract on June 10 (played for Leksands IF in the SHL in 2021-22)
• Nathan Staios – Signed a three-year, entry-level contract on July 13 (played for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL in 2021-22)
• Anthony Bitetto – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 13 (played for the Hartford Wolf Pack and San Jose Barracuda in 2021-22)
• Michael Del Zotto – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 17 (played for the Ottawa and Belleville Senators in 2021-22)
• Lukas Kälble – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 22 (played for Clarkson University of the NCAA and the ECHL’s Florida Everblades in 2021-22)

Goaltenders

• Mack Guzda – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract (played with Barrie Colts & Owen Sound Attack in the OHL in 2021-22)
• Alex Lyon – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 13 (played for Carolina and the Chicago Wolves in 2021-22)
• Cam Johnson – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 20 (played for the Cleveland Monsters and ECHL’s Florida Everblades in 2021-22)

DEPARTURES (STANDARD)

Forwards

• Ryan Lohin – Signed a one-year AHL contract with Hartford on July 6
• Cole Schwindt – Traded to Calgary by Florida on July 22
• Scott Wilson – Signed a contract with Vityaz Podolsk of the KHL on August 15; had initially signed a one-year AHL contract with Charlotte on July 19
• Max Zimmer – Signed a one-year contract with the Vienna Capitals of the ICEHL on August 20
• German Rubtsov – Signed a one-year, two-way contract with Spartak Moskva of the KHL on August 24

Defensemen

• Chase Priskie – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with Buffalo on July 13
• Nolan Kneen – ECHL rights traded from Allen to Florida on August 9
• Jacob Friend – Signed a PTO with Manitoba on October 3

Goaltenders

• Christopher Gibson – Signed a PTO with Arizona on September 13, released from PTO on September 29; signed AHL PTO with Coachella Valley on October 13, signed one-year, two-way NHL contract with Seattle on October 27

DEPARTURES (SEATTLE CONTRACTED PLAYERS)

Forwards

• Luke Henman
• Kole Lind
• Max McCormick
• Alexander True
• Carsen Twarynski

Defensemen

• Connor Carrick
• Dennis Cholowski
• Cale Fleury
• Gustav Olofsson

Goaltenders

• Antoine Bibeau 
• Joey Daccord

(Special thanks to CapFriendly and Elite Prospects for all the contract terms and definitions for this offseason player tracker!)

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Other 2022 AHL Off Season Trackers :

Pacific

• Abbotsford Canucks

• Bakersfield Condors

• Calgary Wranglers

• Coachella Valley Firebirds

• Colorado Eagles

• Henderson Silver Knights

• Ontario Reign

• San Diego Gulls

• San Jose Barracuda

• Tucson Roadrunners

 

Central

• Chicago Wolves

• Grand Rapids Griffins

• Iowa Wild

• Manitoba Moose

• Milwaukee Admirals

• Rockford IceHogs

• Texas Stars

 

North

• Belleville Senators

• Cleveland Monsters

• Laval Rocket

• Rochester Americans

• Syracuse Crunch

• Toronto Marlies

• Utica Comets

 

Atlantic

• Bridgeport Islanders

• Charlotte Checkers

• Hartford Wolf Pack

• Hershey Bears

• Lehigh Valley Phantoms

• Providence Bruins

• Springfield Thunderbirds 
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins