ECHL’s announces “protected lists” for teams: Walleye protect mix of North American, European-playing players

The ECHL allows its teams to protect non-free agent players who the teams wish to retain, and here’s the Toledo Walleye’s protected list:

Simon Denis, Jared Wilson, Trevor Hamilton, Ryan Obuchowski, Kevin Lohan, Beau Schmitz, Parker Reno, Jamie Doornbosch, Scott Czarnowczan, Jacob MacDonald, Kyle Bonis, Austen Brassard, Tyler Barnes, Colin Jacobs, Connor Crisp, Mike Embach, Charlie O’Connor, Christian Hilbrich, Shane Berschbach, Alden Hirschfeld, A.J. Jenks, Dane Walters, Tyson Spink, Tylor Spink

As you’ll note, some of the Walleye’s protected players are skating in Europe or elsewhere, so the Walleye are attempting to retain their rights should players like Simon Denis, Kyle Bonis or the Spink brothers return to North America.

Update: Here’s more information from the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

The ECHL will announce season-ending rosters June 15. Those rosters may include only 20 players.

Each team then is entitled to reserve rights to a maximum of eight players from the list by extending a qualifying offer no later than July 1. No more than four can be veterans — defined as those who have played more than 260 professional games.

Goaltender Pat Nagle was not on the protected list. But last season the veteran signed an American Hockey League contract with Grand Rapids and then was assigned to Toledo.

Other players that were under AHL contracts and saw significant time with the Walleye were Kevin Tansey, Mike Borkowski, Patrick McCarron, Dylan Sadowy, and Zach Nastasiuk.

“No ECHL team has their rights,” Watson said.

…

Watson has made it clear the vast majority of the players from last season’s team will not be here in 2018-19.

“I’d say less than five of those players will dress for us,” he said.

Watson said he has been in communication with players, coaches, and agents from across the country as he begins to put together the team’s roster for next season.