2022 Springfield Thunderbirds Offseason Player Tracker

SEASON SYNOPSIS

After opting out of the 2021 AHL season during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Springfield Thunderbirds came back in 2021-22 looking to make its first postseason appearance in franchise history. The T-Birds took care of business during the regular season, finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a 43-24-9 record, 95 points, and a .625 points percentage. Springfield had clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time, but the mission didn’t end there for head coach Drew Bannister and company.

The Thunderbirds swept through the divisional rounds, first eliminating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins three games to none in the semis before handling the Charlotte Checkers three games to none in the finals. Awaiting in the Eastern Conference Finals was a tougher Laval Rocket team who gave the Thunderbirds its first difficult test. The battle for the east went all seven games, with the back and forth victories ending in a 4-0 shutout for Springfield in a Game 7 match-up. In the 2022 Calder Cup Finals, the T-Birds ran into a brick wall, falling to the Chicago Wolves four games to one. The T-Birds’ first postseason appearance yielded an Eastern Conference Championship and the Richard F. Canning Trophy.

Springfield had the benefit of top-end playmaker Sam Anas leading the team in both assists (44) and total points (64) while also contributing 20 goals, as well. Fellow forward Matthew Peca took the team lead in goal scoring (23) while finishing second in total points (60) behind Anas. Right winger Will Bitten showed out for the T-Birds in the postseason, posting eight goals and 13 assists for 21 total points in 18 games played. He led the team in both goals and assists in the 2021-22 playoffs.

A two-headed monster in net aided Springfield’s success in both its regular season and postseason campaigns. Charlie Lindgren posted a 24-7-1 regular season record with a 2.21 goals against average and .925 save percentage in 34 games played. Joel Hofer had slightly more work, coming in at 18-14-6 with a 2.96 GAA and .905 SV% in 39 games played. Lindgren and Hofer alternated all starts through the playoffs and into the Calder Cup Finals.

(List accurate as of September 29th at 3:55pm ET)

UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS

Forwards

• Nikita Alexandrov – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Mathias Laferrière – Last year of entry-level contract
• Jake Neighbours – First year of entry-level contract
• Nathan Walker – Second-to-last year of NHL contract (22-23 is two-way; 23-24 is one-way)
• Keean Washkurak – Second-to-last year on entry-level contract
• Luke Witkowski – Last year of standard, two-way NHL contract
• Logan Brown – Signed a one-year, one-way NHL contract extension on February 8
• Alexei Toropchenko – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract extension on February 9
• Matthew Peca – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract on March 24
• Drew Callin – Signed a one-year AHL contract extension on July 11
• Hugh McGing – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 12
• Will Bitten – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract on July 13
• Nathan Todd – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 25
• Klim Kostin – Signed a one-year, one-way NHL contract on July 27

Defensemen

• Brady Lyle – Last year of entry-level contract
• Steven Santini – Last year of standard, two-way NHL contract
• Tyler Tucker – Last year of entry-level contract
• ‘Tommy Cross – Signed a one-year AHL contract extension on March 9
• Matthew Kessel – Signed a two-year, entry-level contract on March 27
• Calle Rosen – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract extension on June 1
• Griffen Luce – Signed a one-year AHL contract extension on July 11
• Scott Perunovich – Signed a one-year, one-way NHL contract on July 14

Goaltenders

• Colten Ellis – Second-to-last year on entry-level contract
• Joel Hofer – Last year of entry-level contract

NEW ADDITIONS

Forwards

• Brayden Guy – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 13 (played for the Sarnia Sting and Guelph Storm of the OHL in 2021-22)
• Anthony Angello – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 14 (played for Pittsburgh and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2021-22)
• Matthew Highmore – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 14 (played for Vancouver in 2021-22)
• Josh Leivo – Signed a one-year, one-way NHL contract on July 14 (played for Carolina and the Chicago Wolves in 2021-22)
• Dylan McLaughlin – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 14 (played for the Rockford IceHogs in 2021-22)
• Martin Frk – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 15 (played for Los Angeles and the Ontario Reign in 2021-22)

Goaltenders

• Will Cranley – Signed a three-year, entry-level contract on March 2 (played with the Ottawa 67s of the OHL in 2021-22)
• Vadim Zherenko – Signed a three-year, entry-level contract on May 17 (played with Ilves of Liiga and KOOVEE of Mestis in 2021-22)

DEPARTURES

Forwards

• Dakota Joshua – Signed a two-year, one-way NHL contract with Vancouver on July 13
• Mackenzie MacEachern – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with Carolina on July 15
• Mitchell Balmas – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Iowa Wild on July 19
• Tanner Kaspick – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract with the Iowa Wild on July 21
• Sam Anas – Signed a one-year AHL contract with the Hershey Bears on August 15
• James Neal – Signed a PTO with Columbus on September 1
• Michael Kim – Signed a one-year AHL contract with the Hershey Bears on September 8

Defensemen

• Josh Wesley – Signed a contract with HC Litvínov in the Czechia League on September 29

Goaltenders

• Charlie Lindgren – Signed a three-year, one-way NHL contract with Washington on July 13

(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