Sgarbossa was passed over in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft but was signed as a free agent by the San Jose Sharks to a three-year entry level contract on September 21, 2010.[2] Sgarbossa was signed after appearing in the NHL YoungStars tournament for the Sharks, scoring 3 goals and 4 points in 2 contests. Sgarbossa was again on the move in the OHL the following 2010–11 season when he was traded by the Spirit to the Sudbury Wolves. He immediately made an impact with the Wolves to lead the team in scoring for the remainder of the campaign with 62 points in only 37 games.
During the 2011–12 season, whilst with the Wolves, Sgarbossa's NHL rights were traded by San Jose at the trade deadline on February 27, 2012, to the Colorado Avalanche, along with Jamie McGinn and Mike Connolly in exchange for Daniel Winnik, TJ Galiardi and a seventh round draft selection.[3] At the conclusion of the season, marking the end of his junior career, Sgarbossa became the first Sudbury Wolves player in 33 years, since Mike Foligno, to claim the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the OHL's leading point scorer with 102 points. Finishing second in league MVP voting and earning a selection in the First All-Star team, Sgarbossa was given the accolade as Sudbury Professional Athlete of the year.[4] In his first professional season in 2012–13, Sgarbossa was directly assigned by the Avalanche to their AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, due to the ongoing NHL lockout. He made his professional debut on opening night in a 2–1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons on October 12, 2012.[5] Sgarbossa quickly established himself as one of the Avalanche's top prospects by immediately becoming an offensive leader for the Monsters. At the midpoint of the season, and leading the Monsters in scoring, tied for second amongst rookies in the AHL, he was selected alongside fellow Monsters rookie Andrew Agozzino to participate in the AHL All-Star Game.[6] Straight after contributing to a Western Conference All-Star victory, Sgarbossa received his first NHL recall to the Avalanche on January 29, 2013.[7] He made his NHL debut the next day for the Avalanche in a 3–0 road defeat against the Vancouver Canucks.[8] After six scoreless games with Colorado, Sgarbossa was returned to Lake Erie, to continue his season. On February 26, his ability to also play with an edge was evident as he was suspended by the AHL for one game after an slashing incident with Michael Liambas of the Milwaukee Admirals.[9]
In the 2014–15 season at the trade deadline, Sgarbossa was traded by the Avalanche to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Mat Clark on March 2, 2015. He was assigned to AHL affiliate the Norfolk Admirals.[10] Sgarbossa began the 2016–17 season within the AHL with the San Diego Gulls before he was recalled to the Ducks. He had appeared in a career high 9 games with 2 assists for the Ducks before he was dealt to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Logan Shaw on November 16, 2016. He was instantly re-assigned to the Panthers affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.[11] Sgarbossa impressed with the Thunderbirds and was quickly recalled to the Panthers. Enjoying his longest stint in the NHL, Sgarbossa closed out the season in Florida, appearing in 29 games for 2 goals and 7 points.
Following the completion of the season with the Panthers, Sgarbossa was not tendered a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. On July 1, 2017, Sgarbossa signed a one-year, one-way $650,000 deal with the Winnipeg Jets.[12] He was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for the duration of the 2017–18 season, posting 40 points in 68 games. As a free agent from the Jets, Sgarbossa left to sign a one-year, two-way contract with reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Washington Capitals, on July 1, 2018.[13] In the following 2018–19 season, Sgarbossa led the Capitals' AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, with 30 goals and 65 points, which tied for ninth in the AHL and set personal AHL career highs in goals, assists and points. In the post-season he added 3 points in five playoff games.
On June 29, 2019, Sgarbossa agreed to a two-year, two-way $700,000 contract extension to remain with the Capitals.[14] After signing a two year extension, Sgarbossa was called up from the AHL to the Capitals on November 20, 2019, where he played in two games registering zero points with an average 8:07 TOI per game. He was reassigned to Hershey on November 24, 2019.[15]
The American Hockey League announced Sgarbossa was selected to the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic alongside fellow Bears teammate, Matt Moulson.[16] This is his second All-Star selection,[17] his last came with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2013 where he put up 44 points in 57 GP.
On May 8, 2023, Sgarbossa signed a two year, two-way contract extension with the Capitals, placing him among the highest paid players in the AHL.[18][19]
On February 5, 2024, the Capitals recalled Sgarbossa from the Bears to replace Evgeny Kuznetsov, who left the team to enter the NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program.[20]
Brian R. Willsie is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. Willsie was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the 6th round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft and played almost 400 games in the National Hockey League with the Avalanche, Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings. Willsie currently works in a player development role within the Avalanche organization.
Anthony Stewart is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, having played in the NHL, AHL, and KHL. He was born in Quebec, and his family moved to Toronto while he was a child. Stewart played minor hockey in Toronto, winning three all-Ontario championships. After his minor hockey career, he was selected by the Kingston Frontenacs in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft. After two seasons with Kingston, he was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, at 25th overall. He spent four years in the Panthers' system, dividing his time between the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL), after which he joined the Atlanta Thrashers for two years. When the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg to become the new Winnipeg Jets, they did not offer him a new contract, and he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes as a free agent. After one season in Carolina he was traded to the Kings, but spent most of the season in the minor leagues. He signed a professional tryout contract with the San Jose Sharks to begin the 2013–14 NHL season, but was not offered a contract. He subsequently signed with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in the KHL. His younger brother Chris also played in the NHL, and retired after the 2019–2020 season playing for Philadelphia Flyers.
Derek MacKenzie is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who most notably played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is currently an assistant coach for the NHL's Nashville Predators.
Chris Stewart is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, and Philadelphia Flyers. He played junior hockey with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Stewart is the younger brother of Anthony Stewart, who also played in the NHL.
Nathan Smith is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player from Sherwood Park, Alberta. He played in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota Wild.
James Robert McGinn IV is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 36th overall, by the San Jose Sharks of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He skated in over 600 NHL games.
Akim Aliu is a Nigerian-born Canadian-Ukrainian professional ice hockey player currently on a professional tryout deal with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League (AHL). Aliu was a second round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks, 56th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and has played for several AHL and ECHL teams in both the Blackhawks and Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organizations before a trade to the Calgary Flames. Aliu made his NHL debut on April 5, 2012.
Brian P. Fahey is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Washington Capitals. Fahey was born in Des Plaines, Illinois, but grew up in Glenview, Illinois.
Michael Vernace is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Victor J. Oreskovich is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Selected 55th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, he played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and Kitchener Rangers of the major junior Ontario Hockey League (OHL) before deciding to turn professional. After signing a contract with the Avalanche in 2007, he was assigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, but chose not to report and spent two years away from hockey. In 2009, he signed with the Florida Panthers and spent the subsequent season between the NHL and the team's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. The following off-season, he was traded to the Canucks, joining the team in 2011 on their run to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Boston Bruins. In October 2011, he was waived by the Canucks and assigned to the Chicago Wolves, the Canucks' AHL affiliate. Oreskovich retired from hockey in 2012, and returned to university in 2015. He completed a Master of Business Administration degree, and joined the Royal Bank of Canada.
Joey Hishon is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Colorado Avalanche. Hishon was drafted by the Avalanche in the first-round 17th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. With his career hampered by a long-term concussion, Hishon played within the Avalanche organization for four seasons and a combined total of only sixteen games before spending two years abroad in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and Swedish Hockey League (SHL) to complete his playing career.
Mathew Clark is an American-born Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League with the Anaheim Ducks, after he was selected by the Ducks in the 2nd round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Cameron Gaunce is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL). Gaunce was selected by Colorado Avalanche in the second round, 50th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Michael Brian Connolly is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Connolly has previously played in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche.
John McFarland is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Florida Panthers. He was taken first overall in the 2008 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection by the Sudbury Wolves. He was selected by the Panthers in the second round, 33rd overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. McFarland retired from professional hockey on February 6, 2019. In 2021, he was hired as an assistant coach for the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs.
Jayson Megna is an American professional ice hockey forward playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Megna was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but grew up in Northbrook, Illinois where he started to play hockey at the age of 7.
Andrew Agozzino is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing for the San Diego Gulls in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Christopher Bigras is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played under contract with the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Bigras was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He was born in Orillia, Ontario, but grew up in Elmvale, Ontario.
Connor Brown is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Brown was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round, 156th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Brown played for the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 2011 until 2014, then for the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Toronto Marlies for the better part of two seasons before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs full-time in the 2016–17 season. He played for two more years with Toronto before he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2019. Brown spent three seasons with the Senators where he was an alternate captain. He was traded to the Washington Capitals heading into the 2022–23 NHL season.
Dylan William Strome is a Canadian professional ice hockey center for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Ahead of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Strome was considered a top prospect, and was selected third overall by the Arizona Coyotes. He has also played for the Chicago Blackhawks.
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