Geekie ranked fifth on the team in scoring last year with 46 points and tied for fourth with 19 goals, both totals that tied for seventh among all AHL rookies. The 21-year-old also put up 18 points (8g, 10a) in 19 playoff games to lead all AHL rookies and tied for second on the team.
Kuokkanen is heading into his third pro season in North America after ranking eighth on the Checkers in scoring last season with 38 points (12g, 26a) in 48 games, earning himself an AHL All-Star Game selection. In his career the 21-year-old Finn has recorded 78 points (23g, 55a) in 108 AHL games for Charlotte.
Lorentz spent the majority of his second pro campaign with the Checkers last season, logging nine points (3g, 6a) in 29 games. The 23-year-old also appeared in 12 playoff games and picked up five points (1g, 4a) along the way.
Luostarinen, a second-round pick in 2017, is making the jump to North America for the first time. The 21-year-old Finn broke out for KalPa in his native country’s top league last season, posting 36 points (15g, 21a) in 54 games – good for second on the team.
Markison was at Carolina’s NHL camp on a tryout after signing an AHL deal with Charlotte over the summer. The 26-year-old is heading into his fifth full pro season with 72 points (21g, 51a) in 208 AHL games under his belt.
Mattheos is set to start his first full pro season after joining the Checkers for their championship run last season. The 20-year-old notched three points (2g, 1a) in 11 regular-season games for Charlotte at the end of the year following the conclusion of his WHL career with Brandon and added four more (3g, 1a) in 14 postseason games.
Bean is coming off a standout first pro season in which he ranked second among all rookie blue liners and tied for 12th among all defensemen with 44 points (13g, 31), earning a spot on the AHL’s All-Rookie Team. The 13th overall pick in 2016, Bean also added five points (1g, 4a) in 15 postseason games during Charlotte’s run to the Cup.
Wood joined the organization over the summer in the trade that sent Trevor Carrick to San Jose. The 23-year-old blue liner is coming off a 35-point season with the San Jose Barracuda in which he ranked second among team defensemen in scoring and matched his career high with 29 assists. The Ontario native has recorded 97 points (23g, 74a) in 187 AHL games over his three full pro seasons with Springfield, Tucson and San Jose, including a 14-goal, 43-point rookie campaign that netted him a spot in the 2016-17 AHL All-Star Game and on the All-Rookie Team.
Nedeljkovic comes to Charlotte as the reigning AHL Most Outstanding Goaltender, having led the league in wins and goals-against average last season en route to a spot on the league’s First All-Star Team.
