With Justin Shugg's recall to Carolina, the Checkers have brought back left wing Gabriel Desjardins, signing him to a professional tryout contract.
This will be the rookie's second stint with the Checkers this season, as he spent two weeks on a PTO with the team at the end of November, playing five games and recording one assist. The 22-year-old rookie joins the Checkers from their ECHL affiliate in Florida, where he has posted 12 points (7g, 5a) in 17 games. He also has nine games of AHL experience with the Lake Erie Monsters, which were the only nine games he played at any level last season due to injury.
The 6-foot, 212-pound native of Montreal, Quebec, scored 185 points (85g, 100a) in 297 career Quebec Major Junior Hockey League games over five seasons with Halifax, Quebec and Rouyn-Noranda. The undrafted Desjardins has attended NHL development camps in San Jose and Tampa Bay.
Desjardins will become the third PTO signing in the Checkers’ lineup, alongside A.J. Jenks and Andrew Rowe. The Checkers are still without forward Brody Sutter, who began skating with a no-contact jersey yesterday, as well as Greg Nemisz, who has been ruled out for the year with a knee injury.
