Andrej Nestrasil has had a rough calendar year. On February 25 of last year, the Carolina Hurricanes winger, performing at a career-best level, fractured a vertebra in his neck in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs when he fell into the boards. He returned from the injury to start this season, but played in only 16 games (mostly in the first month of the season) while serving as a healthy scratch in 24 others before he was placed on waivers on January 9.
When he cleared waivers the next day, he was sent to the Charlotte Checkers, where he’s stayed with the exception of a one-game cameo on March 1.