Category: Europe

16Jul

Teddy Blueger (53)

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7th year, Latvian center Teddy Blueger(53) gets a trade from 2nd round draft club Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played his 1st 250 NHL games and 179 in the AHL.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward was showing disintegrating numbers in the current frame, probably leading to his relocation to Vegas Golden Knights, but may have found a bit of a gem to get dealt to.

He’s twice a 20+ goal scorer in the minors and worth 10+ assists 3 going on 4 times in the big league.

The Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks‘ 4-year played was good for 10+ goals twice and 20+ assists twice.

At 28-years old, it’s probably nice for him to get a new start.

He starts to ignite his scoring some, submitting for 2 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, then adding another 2 points in 6 playoff matchups, en route to a 2023 Stanley Cup Championship.

He gets his name etched on the trophy and is an unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with the rebuilding forever Vancouver Canucks worth some $1.9M AAV.

Scoring a new best 22 assists and career tying 28 points, he is rewarded to stay in a Canucks‘ jersey for 2 more seasons at $1.8M AAV.

16Jul

Filip Engaras (16)

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Swedish-born, rookie center Filip Engaras(16) was recently flipped in a trade from 1st contract club, Bakersfield Condors to out of conference team, Utica Comets for the remainder of 2023.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward actually spent more time with affiliate Fort Wayne Komets, appearing in 23 ECHL games with good scoring clips and on ice accountability, but does look to be headed towards the AHL to start with his new squad.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#169 overall), but only signed a minor league contract to start his pro career.

A graduate of 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, he definitely was able to connect for points as a junior and senior.

After 53 games last season, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists with a +2 rating, he is signed for a 1-year contract extension to stay a Comets.

15Jul

Matt O’Connor (29)

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8th year net minder Matt O’Connor(29) gets a new, 3rd deal to stay with HK Nitra for 2022/2023.

In 32 games, the massive 6’6″ 205 lbs. goalie has a 2.35 GAA and .928 SV%.

He signed his 1st pro contract after an explosive junior year at Boston University Terriers, posting a 25-4-4 record in 35 NCAA Division 1 games with Ottawa Senators, but only stuck with them for 2 sessions.

The Toronto, ON native next signed with Nashville Predators, but struggled.

He was able to lift his performance in the next frame with Wheeling Nailers and would next jump and sign overseas with Rodovre Mighty Bulls, but still seemed to have troubles in Metal Ligaen.

The 3o-year old will likely stay put and continue to excel in Slovakia.

As is the case for a few players, who have been around for a little while, he signs on for 2023/2024 with SC Csikszereda of Erste Liga, so maybe their giving their international players some money.

He does very ok through 21 starts, but may yearns for the type of hockey he 1st came over for, so signs Ligue Magnus for 2024/2025 with Les Ducs d’Angers that should equal a strong signing for both parties.

15Jul

Ryan Barrow (79)

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Undrafted University Of Denver Pioneers‘ 2022 NCAA Division 1 Champs‘ graduate right wing Ryan Barrow(79) signs with Manchester Storm for 2022/2023.

He scored a college best 8 goals and 13 assists with a +19 rating as a senior.

The 6’2″ 183 lbs. forward from Banff, AB took an interesting route through junior hockey, 1st skating a pair of frames with local Banff Bears of the HJHL before moving on to 2 BCHL sessions for Langley Rivermen, where he really popped scoring in his 2nd frame with the team.

It would seem the decently sized rookie will find open space to score in a league such as the EIHL.

Coming off a fairly successful frame, scoring 12 goals and 20 assists in 30 games, he up and signs with rivals Cardiff Devils for 2023/2024.

After 50 games, scoring 13 goals and 19 assists with a +6 rating, he likes where he is and re-signs to stay a Devils.

13Jul

Wayne Letourneau (8)

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4th year defenseman Wayne Letourneau(8) skates maybe his 2nd real pro season, signing with Diables Rouges de Briancon of Ligue Magnus for 2024/2025.

The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner’s other campaign was 55 ECHL games for Adirondack Thunder, scoring a more than not bad 3 goals and 18 assists with a +4 rating.

He played small stretches of LNAH, except last frame skated mostly with Riviere-du-Loup 3L, scoring quite well with 6 goals and 21 assists in 35 games.

From 3 years at College Champlain-Lennoxville Cougars, potting 34 assists in 35 games in his final year, he has worked hard for every minute.

13Jul

Brent Beaudoin (12)

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Undrafted, 3rd year center Brent Beaudoin(12) not surprisingly jumps ship after 2 ECHL seasons with Worcester Railers to a great opportunity in Slovak Extraliga, signing to HK Poprad for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward scored a career best 20 goals and 35 assists with a +5 rating in 71 games.

Where he is going will be tougher hockey for the Brown University Bears‘ senior, assistant captain.

From Londonderry, NH, the 27-year old played mostly tier 3 juniors to earn his way up.

After 7 games in Slovakia with only 1 assist, he has a change of heart and signs up with Dundee Stars to play in the EIHL for the remainder of the frame.

He takes some ok stats, 8 goals and 20 assists in 43 games, but decides to move on and signs with Anglet Hormadi Pays Basque of Ligue Magnus for 2024/2025, where we think he does very well.

12Jul

Max Gildon (38)

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As a great many players last season, defenseman Max Gildon leaves a year at University Of New Hampshire to sign his 3-year entry level deal.

He was selected by Florida Panthers in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft (#66 overall) and had his best college scoring season last session, tallying new best 22 assists and 29 points before all of hockey was shut down by the COVID outbreak.

The fairly large 6’3″ 191 lbs. started his pro journey with Syracuse Crunch but was quickly moved to Bakersfield Condors for possible room considerations by a team with no affiliate in 2020/2021.

He has almost quietly put up some really nice numbers scoring a pair of goals and 10 assists in 24 AHL games with a phenom +16 rating.

The Plano, TX native committed to college after 2 campaigns with USNTDP, where he average 20 helpers.

At almost 22, he’s not likely waiting too long for his chance at the big game.

41 games on loan, he scores 2 goals and 10 assists with a 0 rating and will take his game to DEL, signing a 1-year deal with Adler Mannheim for 2023/2024.

He takes what appears to be a fairly steady frame in Germany, scoring 4 goals and 5 assists in 43 games with a +6 rating, but he wants more and signs in Tipos Extraliga with HC Kosice for 2024/2025, which will give him a look at his game on the next level.

10Jul

Mitch Gillam (30)

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5th year goaltender Mitch Gillam(30) takes a good, much shortened season for Wichita Thunder, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.47 GAA and .927 SV% to a new deal with Indy Fuel for 2021/2022.

The 6′ 174 lbs., former 4-year Cornell University Big Red backstop put up real solid, good numbers at school (47-28-17) with a 2.15 GAA and .923 SV%.

He’s definitely made a career out of playing in the ECHL with 133 games to his credit, but almost oddly in his only AHL appearance with Bridgeport Sound Tigers left with a 1.54 GAA and .944 SV%, but has received no future looks from the top farm league.

If the 29-year old starts strong, he most definitely should earn another look from the level up, but we think he may set his sights on overseas options after this frame.

He will take what was a pretty good season with a 17-12-1 record to a new adventure, signing for 2022/2023 with Manglerud Star of Fjordkraft-ligaen.

After a bit of a rough go with his initial club, he would be traded to Valerenga, where things would improve dramatically, as he went 8-4 with a 2.08 GAA and .923 SV%, but has decided to push on and sign with Odense Bulldogs for 2023/2024 and skate in Metal Ligaen.

He’s not exactly doing so badly in Denmark, but he’s heading back to EliteHockey Ligaen, signing with his 3rd team, Frisk Asker.

In 6 games, he posts a 4-1 record with a 1.82 GAA and .932 SV%, then appears in 10 playoff games.

We are thinking maybe the job isn’t done here, so he signs on to where an ‘Asker jersey again in 2024/2025.

09Jul

Robbie Czarnik (77)

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12th year center Robbie Czarnik(77) signs on for a 3rd tour with Ravensburg Towerstars after posting exactly 30 assists for a 2nd time and adding 15 goals with a +13 rating, then popped in another 10 points in 13 playoff games.

His 241 games in DEL2 mark the most in any league he’s played.

The 6′ 190 lbs. former Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#63 overall) has scored 120 goals and 145 assists with a +54 rating and a 2019 Championship in his 1st run with current club.

He was pretty much a similar sniper in the ECHL through 183 games.

The 32-year old from Detroit, MI, who played his college hockey for just two years at University Of Michigan Wolverines has to have a little smile on his face, seeing how smoothly things go.

He signs on for a 6th season in a Towerstars‘ jersey 2024/2025, where he recorded his 3rd straight 40+ point session.

08Jul

Nolan Zajac (44)

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7th year defenseman Nolan Zajac(44) leaves a pair of seasons in the SHL for a new European adventure in 2022/2023, joining DEL‘s Grizzlys Wolfsburg.

He spent only a pair of seasons mostly in the ECHL scoring pretty big after graduating University Of Denver twice ascending to 20+ assists before deciding to head overseas.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner maybe started a little low in Sweden’s tier 2 Allsvenskan, where he detonated the scoresheet for most assists and most points by a d-man for IK Oskarshamn.

With his new German team, he manages 8 goals and 25 assists in 48 games with a +14 rating, then adds another 7 assists in a playoff run to earn himself another year to stay put.

After 2 good frames with the same team, he looks elsewhere to rivals Augsburger Panthers f0r 2024/2025.