2017 Offseason Headquarters

Stay up-to-date as the 2017-18 Solar Bears roster takes shape

Updated: September 29, 2017 - 1:30 p.m.

The summer months can be especially unexciting for hockey fans with no games being played. It’s the opposite for the hockey operations staff of a professional team, with coaches and other personnel pounding the phones with players, agents and other teams trying to construct a roster for the upcoming season. Throughout the offseason, fans are left to wonder whether their favorite players are sticking around.

With that in mind, we’ll attempt to bring you up to speed throughout the summer with the 2017 Offseason Headquarters. As the offseason moves further along, you will see the names of players listed below who spent time with the Orlando Solar Bears during the 2016-17 season updated with their contract status heading into the 2017-18 campaign, including when a particular player signs overseas or inks an AHL or NHL deal.

As is the case with most seasons in the ECHL, roster turnover is commonplace. Only 11 players that suited up with Orlando during the 2015-16 season played in a game for the Solar Bears in 2016-17, and several of those players did not finish the campaign with Orlando. Keep in mind of the following dates as well throughout the offseason.

June 1 — ECHL Protected lists due (View List)This gives teams the option to protect as many of its players under certain criteria to retain negotiating rights. A player on an NHL or AHL contract for next season, such as Eric Faille, Kasimir Kaskisuo or Brenden Miller, would not be eligible for inclusion on this or any of the subsequent lists.

June 13 — Future Considerations deadlineAny outstanding future considerations from the 2016-17 season must be completed by 3 p.m. ET.

June 15 — Season Ending Rosters due (View List)Season Ending Rosters are due to the league on this date by 3 p.m. ET. The Season Ending Roster is a list of up to 20 players who played for Orlando under an ECHL contract in 2016-17 and would be eligible to sign a Qualifying Offer. So for the Solar Bears, players like defenseman Blake Thompson - who signed an Amateur Try-Out Agreements with Orlando after leaving the college ranks and was never elevated to a Standard Player Contract - wouldn’t need to be included on this list.

June 16 — First day to sign ECHL contracts for 2017-18 seasonThis is likely the earliest you’ll see any major news regarding new - and returning - Solar Bears for 2017-18. Last summer the first offseason signing was not announced until July 6.

June 30 — Qualifying Offers dueEach ECHL team is entitled to reserve the rights to a maximum of eight qualified players from the initial Season Ending Roster from June 15 up to 11:59 p.m. of this date. Up to four of those players can be Veteran players - players who will have played 260+ professional games in qualifying leagues at the start of the 2017-18 season. These offers expire on August 1.

There are some further nuances to these rules, but by and large this should provide fans with a basic understanding of the offseason timeline.

Here’s the good stuff:

Signed for 2017-18 (ECHL)

F Austin Block — AGREED TO TERMS, June 22, 2017

F Darryl Bootland — AGREED TO TERMS, Sept. 21, 2017

D MacKenzie Braid — AGREED TO TERMS, Sept. 26, 2017

F Chris Crane — AGREED TO TERMS, June 28, 2017

F Troy Crema — AGREED TO TERMS, July 31, 2017

G Matt Hackett — AGREED TO TERMS, September 5, 2017

LW Kenton Helgesen — AGREED TO TERMS, September 25, 2017

D Sam Jardine — AGREED TO TERMS, August 15, 2017

F Tristan King — AGREED TO TERMS, August 22, 2017; Traded to Quad City for future considerations, Sept. 21, 2017

F Chris LeBlanc — AGREED TO TERMS, August 28, 2017

D Mike Monfredo — AGREED TO TERMS, July 25, 2017

F Jeremy Olinyk — AGREED TO TERMS, Sept. 26, 2017

F Joe Perry — AGREED TO TERMS, July 18, 2017

D Adam Phillips — AGREED TO TERMS, August 14, 2017

F Kyle Rankin — AGREED TO TERMS, August 21, 2017

F Todd Skirving — AGREED TO TERMS, August 3, 2017

F Michael Turner — AGREED TO TERMS, Sept. 26, 2017

D Nolan Valleau — AGREED TO TERMS, August 31, 2017

F Mike Vaskivuo — AGREED TO TERMS, Sept. 29, 2017

D Sean Zimmerman — AGREED TO TERMS, August 8, 2017

Signed for 2017-18 (non-ECHL)

G Kasimir Kaskisuo — (Toronto, NHL, two-year deal signed March 28, 2016)

D Jeff King — (Toronto, AHL, listed on Maple Leafs training camp roster as under AHL contract for 2017-18)

F Mason Marchment — (Toronto, AHL, listed on Maple Leafs rookie camp roster as under AHL contract for 2017-18)

Players eligible for Protection

F Darik Angeli — Traded to Rapid City Rush for rights to Alex Mikulovich, August 16, 2017

D Eric Baier (Veteran) — Announced as head coach of Central Florida Hockey Club, May 18, 2017

F Austin Block — AGREED TO TERMS, June 22, 2017

D Chris Bradley

F Milos Bubela — Signed with HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia), June 14, 2017

F Justin Buzzeo — Signed with Graz 99ers (Austria), May 22, 2017

F Brian Christie (DID NOT PLAY IN 2016-17)

F Chris Crane — AGREED TO TERMS, June 28, 2017

D Ben Danford — Rights traded to Atlanta, June 8, 2017

D Taylor Doherty (Veteran) — Signed with Providence Bruins (AHL), Aug. 18, 2017

G Mitch Gillam — Attending training camp with Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL), Sept. 24, 2017

D Jeff King — (Toronto, AHL, listed on Maple Leafs training camp roster as under AHL contract for 2017-18)

D Trevor Ludwig (Veteran)

F Denver Manderson (Veteran)

G Ryan Massa

D Spencer McAvoy (DID NOT PLAY IN 2016-17)

F Ryan Moore —

F Joe Perry — AGREED TO TERMS, July 18, 2017

D Adam Phillips — Negotiating rights acquired from Indy, June 13, 2017; AGREED TO TERMS, Aug. 14, 2017

F Spencer Pommells (DID NOT PLAY IN 2016-17)

F Taylor Stefishen (PLAYED IN FRANCE IN 2016-17)

F Ethan Werek (Veteran) — Signed with HC Kunlun Red Star (KHL), June 27, 2017

Players ineligible for Orlando’s Protected List

D Nikolas Brouillard — (Toronto, AHL, signed June 7, 2016) — Committed to McGill University Redmen (USports), Sept. 7, 2017

F Tony Cameranesi — (Toronto, AHL, signed April 9, 2016) — Signed with Manchester Monarchs, Aug. 23, 2017

F Shane Conacher — (Toronto, AHL, signed April 9, 2016)

F Eric Faille — (Toronto, AHL, signed July 12, 2016) — Signed with HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia), May 31, 2017

F Brett Findlay (Toronto, AHL, signed July 26, 2016) — Signed with Stockton Heat, Sept. 25, 2017

D Jon Jutzi — (Toronto, AHL, signed August 30, 2016) — Signed with Kalamazoo Wings, Aug. 10, 2017

G Kasimir Kaskisuo — (Toronto, NHL, two-year deal signed March 28, 2016)

D Daniel Maggio — (Toronto, AHL, signed August 22, 2016)

F Mason Marchment (Toronto, AHL, listed on Maple Leafs rookie camp roster as under AHL contract for 2017-18)

D Brenden Miller — (Toronto, AHL, two-year deal signed July 3, 2015) — Signed with Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk (Russia, VHL), Aug. 9, 2017

D Ty Stanton — (Toronto, AHL, signed March 23, 2016)

D Blake Thompson — (Signed ATO, April 2, 2017) — Signed with Fort Wayne Komets, Aug. 16, 2017

F Chase Witala — (Toronto, AHL, signed April 9, 2016) — Signed with Atlanta Gladiators, Sept. 12, 2017

Continue to check back periodically as we will be making updates throughout the offseason!