The Toledo Walleye will have plenty of offensive production returning next season as the roster continues to solidify this offseason.
Six of the team's forwards from last season, including leading scorer Brandon Hawkins, are back in the fold. The half-dozen forwards that have been re-signed accounted for 49 percent of the team's goals last season.
Toledo scored an average of 4.1 goals per game last season, the third-most in the ECHL.
“We really liked our forward group last year and we've been fortunate enough to bring back as many of the key pieces as we could,” Walleye coach Pat Mikesch said. “It's a great way to start putting together the 2024-25 team.”
The team's top four leading scorers are back, led by record-setting forward Hawkins, who paced the Walleye with 93 points, followed by Trenton Bliss (72), Sam Craggs (56), and Brandon Kruse (54).
“It's gone very well for us with our forward group,” said Mikesch, while also acknowledging the loss of key offensive producers Orrin Centazzo and Riley Sawchuk to European teams.
Hawkins, who won the ECHL's MVP award, said the returning players are motivated to advance beyond the Western Conference finals — surpassing last season's Kelly Cup playoff run.
“It's awesome. We're all coming back with even more of a fire,” Hawkins said. “We got so close last year and we're ready to take that next step. It's guys that have proven they can do it. We know exactly what they can do, and you can rely on them to do it. And they're all character people on and away from the rink.”
Mikesch said he also is excited about the signing of forward Casey Dornbach, who appeared in 55 games with the Iowa Heartlanders last season and ranked second on the team in scoring. The 27-year-old netted 42 points — 13 goals and 29 assists — for the Heartlanders.
The team has announced the signing of eight forwards and two defensemen.
On Wednesday, ECHL all-star Jalen Smereck became the first defenseman to sign.
“We all know how valuable he is going to be," Mikesch said of Smereck, who led all ECHL defensemen in scoring with 70 points in 71 games last season.
On Thursday, defenseman Brendon Michaelian re-signed.
Mikesch said recruiting defensemen has been a point of emphasis throughout the offseason. He said another priority was to increase the size and physicality on the defensive end.
“I think we will be a little bigger and stronger back there,” Mikesch said. “We're starting to solidify our D-core. We still have some pieces to add, but I like what we've been able to do in the offseason.”
The Toledo coaching staff is looking for versatile D-men who can run the power play after the departure of defensemen Riley McCourt and Michael Prapavessis to European teams. Veteran defenseman Jacob Graves, who provided a physical presence, opted to sign with the South Carolina Stingrays.
A potential big boost to the back end could be defenseman Chaz Reddekopp, who signed a two-way contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins (Toledo's AHL affiliate) last week. The rugged 6-foot-4 defenseman was captain of the rival Kalamazoo Wings last season and ranked second in the ECHL with 194 penalty minutes.
But Mikesch opted not to specifically talk about the possible addition of Reddekopp because the defenseman could still play up in Grand Rapids.
Defenseman Grant Gabriele also is expected to be back. Gabriele led all ECHL players in plus-minus rating with a plus-34 last season. Gabriele, who played four years at Ohio State, played in 40 games and produced 15 points with 14 assists.
Mikesch said the Walleye organization is currently having “major conversations” with at least two more solid defensemen.
Mikesch said adding defensive depth to the roster is key but said the ECHL's salary cap also must be taken into consideration. The weekly salary cap this season will be $14,600 per week.
“That's where a lot of the decision-making goes,” Mikesch said. “We want to make sure that we're putting the best product out there we can.”
Mikesch said he also hopes to get defenseman Adrien Beraldo back. Beraldo, who is 6-foot and 183 pounds, had 115 penalty minutes in 58 games last season for the Walleye. Beraldo missed the end of the season with a lower-body injury.
“He's another size guy,” Mikesch said.
Mikesch also acknowledged that talented and bigger defensemen are a premium commodity at all levels of hockey.
“If there's a 6-3 defenseman that can skate and make plays, and they're hard to play against … they don't spend a lot of time in our league,” Mikesch said. “We'd like to have tough and physical defensemen, but it's also finding where they can still contribute to our team [culture].”
On the offensive end, the seven players that have been re-signed accounted for 142 of the team's 289 goals last season. Center Conlan Keenan also has re-signed, along with left wingers Darian Pilon and Dalton Messina.
Mikesch said a few of those returning players look to build off of what he called “career years.”
“We're going to give them every opportunity to play with similar players that they were with last year. We already know we have chemistry, which is a nice way to start things,” he said.
Hawkins said the built-in familiarity also is expected to be beneficial.
“It makes it easier,” Hawkins said. “I know what I'm getting out of those guys every night. Like Sam Craggs. He's hard-nosed and hard-working. Conlan Keenan is dependable on every part of the ice. You know he will be responsible. It's all very predictable.
“All the guys are so excited to come back to Toledo. We just have to finish and find those final pieces.”
Mikesch said he and his assistant coaches, Alden Hirschfeld and Brent Bain, are very comfortable with where the roster sits at this point.
“We were ahead of where we were at last summer. There's still going to be some moving parts,” Mikesch said.
Mikesch, who will be entering his second season as head coach, was hired on July 14 last summer and missed out on the early offseason recruiting period.
A portion of the roster also will consist of players sent to the Walleye from Grand Rapids through their relationship with the NHL parent Detroit Red Wings. Those decisions are not made until the AHL and NHL training camps are complete.
Both of the Walleye's goaltenders will come from Grand Rapids, including most likely the return of Jan Bednar, who started his career in Toledo last season.
Hawkins said he is very pleased with the way the roster is coming together.
“Every year the puzzle changes, and you have to find different pieces that fit perfectly,” he said. “It's so hard to do it. But we trust [the coaching staff] so much.”
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