When the season ended, MacLean put together a list of players he’d like to reach out to. Then it started to become clear who would be available. Luke Curadi announced he was retiring after a shoulder surgery, for example.

“You pinpoint who you’re interested in bringing back and then who is actually interested in coming back,” MacLean said. “Everyone is really positive leaving at the end of the season, but give it a month and things can sort of unfold. You can’t necessarily accommodate everyone who wants to come back.”

In the minor leagues, you never know who you’re going to be sent by your AHL and NHL affiliates, so you don’t really know what holes you’re filling or how many of them there will be. MacLean was a little surprised he was able to accommodate as many returners as he has.

Signing a few leaders helps bring back some of the other players, as well. Players like to know they have teammates they trust in those leadership positions, like Mathieu Brodeur or MacArthur.

“Those are guys that you trust to build a good atmosphere, so it helps to know we got some guys,” MacLean said. “At this level, your older guys have to be really invested and I think those guys are.”