As the NHL pre-season gets underway, the pros from Maple Ridge all have new addresses.
Victor Bartley is in training camp with the Minnesota Wild, and scored a goal in pre-season action against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
Bartley bounced around a bit last year, going from the Nashville Predators to Montreal, where he saw just nine NHL games. His 10 total games last season were the fewest he’s played during his four-year NHL career.
He has one goal and 23 points in 121 NHL games and was given a one-year, two-way deal with the Wild. It carries a cap hit of $650,000 at the NHL level.
Brad Hunt has left the Edmonton Oilers and is in St. Louis, and is expected to skate with the Chicago Wolves, the team’s AHL affiliate, on a one-year, two-way deal.
Patrick Wiercioch, who grew up in Maple Ridge and attended the Pitt Meadows secondary hockey academy, was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche.
The six-foot-five defenceman played four seasons with the Ottawa Senators, and has 62 points in 211 NHL games.
And Andrew Ladd of Maple Ridge signed as a free agent with the New York Islanders.
The former captain of the Winnipeg Jets is being hailed by media in New York for his leadership and physicality and the experience of winning two Stanley Cups. He signed a seven-year deal worth $38.5 million.
The 31-year-old is coming off a season where he scored 25 goals and put up 46 points.