There was nothing in the way of surprises in the playoff-eligibility list submitted by the Newfoundland Growlers to the ECHL earlier this week.
That doesn’t mean there weren’t a couple of notable inclusions.
Newfoundland’s declared 20-man active roster — two goalies, seven defencemen and 11 forwards — is almost entirely made up of familiar names, players who have been with the team throughout the season.
The one exception is a teenager who has yet to play a minute at Mile One Centre in St. John’s, where the Growlers open up a best-of-seven Kelly Cup first-round playoff series with games against the Brampton Beast Friday and Saturday nights.
That would be Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, the 18-year-old forward and 2018 Toronto Maple Leafs’ third-round draft pick who made his professional debut with Newfoundland last weekend as the team closed out its regular-season schedule with three road games in New England.
The Growlers could have also submitted a three-man reserve list, but chose not to do so. Instead, Newfoundland’s reserve appears to almost entirely in Toronto in the form of six players on recall to the American Hockey League Marlies, but who meet ECHL eligibility requirements to join the Growlers for the ECHL post-season. That could happen through straight re-assignments or if the Marlies’ playoff run ends before Newfoundland’s.
Up to the start of the ECHL conference finals, the Growlers can supplement their playoff roster with any available recalled player until they reach a 23-player maximum.
And not all the listed recalled players are with the Marlies. There is also veteran defenceman Kyle Cumiskey, the former NHLer and Stanley Cup winner with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Cumiskey appeared in nine games with Newfoundland last fall, meaning he meets ECHL playoff requirements. And even though he now is with the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins on an AHL contract, his ECHL rights have been retained by the Growlers all along, meaning — technically, at least — he could be back with Newfoundland if and when the P-Bruins’ season ends.
Growlers’ playoff eligibility list
20-player active roster
- Eric Levine, G; Michael Garteig, G
- Ilya Nekolenko, D; Sam Jardine, D; Adam Pardy, D; Garrett Johnston, D; Alex Gudbranson, D; Evan Neugold, D; James Melindy, D
- Marcus Power, F; J.J. Piccinich, F; Matt Bradley, F; Todd Skirving, F; Zach O'Brien, F; Brady Ferguson, F; Josh Kestner, F; Derian Plouffe, F; Giorgio Estephan, F; Scott Pooley, F; Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, F
Injured reserve
- None
Reserve (three maximum)
- None
Playoff-eligible, but on AHL recall
- Kyle Cumiskey, D; Griffen Molino, F; Hudson Elynuik, F; Kristians Rubins, D; Eamon McAdam, G; Ryan Moore, F; Gabriel Gagne, F
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