The ECHL season is finally here and we couldn’t be more excited for another year of the premier AA league on FloHockey. Every single week you’ll find intense hockey played in front of passionate fan bases across North America.
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This season will be no different, especially with the familiar narrative that everyone is going to be chasing the Florida Everblades. Teams have been loading up this offseason, however, and there’s plenty of reason to believe things are going to be even more wide open with the way the talent has been spread across the league.
Here’s a look at some of the players that I’ll be keeping a close eye out for this year.
Alexander Burmistrov, F, Cincinnati Cyclones
It was one of the big surprises of the ECHL offseason. Cincinnati announced they had acquired former NHLer and top-10 pick Alexander Burmistrov, who had not played in North America since the 2017-18 season. The 34-year-old had been in the KHL over that time and now will look to be a leader in Cincinnati. With 348 NHL games to his name, it’s a good bet he’ll have a lot to offer the Cyclones.
Justin Taylor, F, Wheeling Nailers
Taylor will go down as one of the all-time greats in the ECHL. The 37-year-old is entering his 16th ECHL season and is joining the seventh different organization, though the bulk of his career was spent with the Kalamazoo Wings. Taylor is 65 games away from becoming the first player to reach 1,000 games played in the ECHL, expanding on the record of most games played in the league that he already owns.
Introducing our 2026-27 Captain, Justin Taylor!
— Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) October 14, 2026
The ECHL's all-time leader in games played, with 935 regular-season appearances, Taylor enters his 17th ECHL season with a new title: Captain of the Nailers!
We couldn't be more excited to have Justin leading the way this season!… pic.twitter.com/n3n2gJPl5y
Daniel Amesbury, F, Adirondack Thunder
He isn’t always going to be in the lineup, but when he is, you notice. When “Diamond Hands” drops the gloves, it’s usually an event. Adirondack brought back the pugilist who appeared in 23 games for them last season and racked up 149 penalty minutes. “The Baddest Man In Hockey” has 70 ECHL games under his belt and an astonishing 379 penalty minutes in his pro career. Over a pro career that has spanned 12 years, Amesbury’s PIM counter is at 1,520.
Adam Gajan, G, Indy Fuel
Gajan will be one of the highest-drafted recent prospects in the ECHL this season. Selected 35th overall in 2023, he spent an extra year in the USHL before two solid campaigns with Minnesota Duluth. Last season, he was selected to Slovakia’s Olympic team and played in the IIHF Men’s World Championship. He’s got some more developing to do, but Gajan is an exciting talent to get a glimpse of in the ECHL.
Chris Terry, F, Toledo Walleye
Signed earlier this week, Terry will be entering his 18th year of professional hockey. He hadn’t suited up in the ECHL yet over those previous 17 years but did play in 939 AHL games and 152 NHL games over that span. The 37-year-old is a one-time AHL scoring champion and multi-time All-Star. Toledo is getting a lot of experience and a proven scorer.
BREAKING: Toledo Walleye sign forward Chris Terry. The Brampton, Ontario native has parts of five NHL seasons under his belt, and comes to Toledo fresh off being an alternate captain for the AHL's Bridgeport Islanders.
— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) October 14, 2026
📰 | https://t.co/RUAIcn1WWw pic.twitter.com/2XRKRAjZ4c
Brandon Hawkins, F, Toledo Walleye
The Mayor of Toledo is the most gifted goal scorer in the league with 225 potted in 412 ECHL games. He won the Kelly Cup in his one year with Ft. Wayne, but has been dying to bring a championship back to T-Town. The Walleye are always a contender and this two-time MVP is always a threat to light the lamp a whole bunch.
Cam Johnson, G, Florida Everblades
Simply put, Johnson is the most decorated goaltender in ECHL history. He has four Kelly Cup titles, all with the Everblades and has been named the postseason MVP in three of those championship runs. Johnson has also twice been named Goalie of the Year in the ECHL. In 253 career games, he has won 154 of them with 20 shutouts and a save percentage of .918. His numbers only get better in the playoffs. The 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing, which means the Everblades won’t be slowing either.
Cam Johnson. Fourth Kelly Cup Title. Third Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP. No Words. Absolute BEAST.@ECHL | @FL_Everblades #ECHL #KellyCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/UxH3LCnGob
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) June 16, 2026
Simon Després, D, Ft. Wayne Komets
A first-round pick back in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Després has spent eight of the last nine seasons primarily in Europe. From Slovakia to Germany to Sweden, Austria, England, Scottland and even playing in Australia, Després is back for what could be his North American swan song. Playing for Ben Boudreau in Ft. Wayne, Després actually also played for Ben’s dad Bruce in the NHL while with the Anaheim Ducks. Després has 193 NHL games under his belt and is looking to close out his career on a high note with a Ft. Wayne squad that has legitimate championship aspirations.
Scott Ratzlaff, G, Orlando Solar Bears (BUF)
After splitting last season between the AHL and ECHL, Ratzlaff is going to start things off in the ECHL and in a new environment this year. He’s playing for the Orlando Solar Bears after skating for rival Jacksonville last season, which was his first full professional campaign. The 2023 fifth-round pick is looking to move himself up the Sabres goalie depth chart, which he can do with a strong start in the ECHL.
Hank Crone, F, Allen Americans
One of the most reliably productive players in the ECHL over the last five seasons, Crone is back for another season with Allen. He has averaged 1.21 points per game over the course of his ECHL career and won the league scoring title, MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in his first season in the league. Allen is still looking to get over the hump in the postseason though. Having Crone back should help in that regard, especially if he can recapture that rookie magic.
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