Category: Free Agent Signing

03May

Bill Sweezey (6)

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Boston Bruins sign hometown boy (Hanson, MA), 5th year defenseman Bill Sweezey(6) to a new 2-year, 2-way NHL deal after spending most of the last 3 years with Cleveland Monsters, under contract with Columbus Blue Jackets for the last 2.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner originally signed his 1st AHL deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the COVID busted 2020/2021 after graduating Yale University Bulldogs before moving on to a similar deal in Ohio.

He only did 1 USHL junior run before college.

The 28-year old will likely spend most of his time with affiliate Providence Bruins, but that means hockey even closer to home.

In 69 games last season, he scored a new minor league best 16 assists with a +21 rating that earns him another hometown season in a Bruins‘ uniform.

03May

Dylan Hryckowian (14)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ center Dylan Hryckowian(14) scores a new best 22 assists and 37 points in 30 games last season with a +4 rating that the team his brother Justin skated his 1st full season with Dallas Stars come knocking to sign the undrafted player to a 2-year NHL entry level deal through 2027/2028 and to leave a year at school on the table.

He was in their development camp last season.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward starts with affiliate Texas Stars and through 12 AHL games, he 3 goals and 3 assists with a +2 rating as they head into playoffs.

From L’lle-Bizard, QC, the 21-year old did just 1 USHL junior frame, exploding scoring before school.

02May

Kenny Agostino (11)

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Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod‘s 2nd year center Kenny Agostino(11) is already off to a good start for 2022/2023 with 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 KHL games with a +3 rating.

Last season he scored 20 goals and 20 assists in 46 games with a +8, his 1st season overseas.

The former 4-year 10+ goal scorer and 2 time 20+ assist guy at Yale University Bulldogs was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#140 overall).

He was traded to Calgary Flames and signed an entry level deal before his skates ever hit the ice.

The Morristown, NJ native bounced around on 1-year deals mostly before getting signed to a 2-year, 1-way contract late with Toronto Maple Leafs, yet he only appeared in 1 NHL game with them.

At 30-years old, he’s done ok enough, but is still likely earning his way in Russia and playing some elite puck.

For 2023/2024, he is trading in a couple of seasons where he is for new surroundings in the SHL and will join Skelleftea AIK.

He actually switches things up and heads to Germany instead, signing with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL and scores himself point-per-game numbers in 48 (14-34), but will ink with rivals, ERC Ingolstadt for 2024/2025 and likely do just as well.

With another 19 goals to his credit last season, he is easily wanted to return for a 3rd frame at Ingolstadt 2026/2027.

23Apr

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.

Another 29 goals and 29 assists in 50 games and it’s another no-brainer to have him return as a 36-year old in a Towerstars‘ uniform.

15Apr

Luke Haymes (43)

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Dartmouth College Big Green junior center Luke Haymes(43) had 12 goals and 6 assists in 22 games last season and will leave a year on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal, as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent with Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. forward from Ottawa, ON did only 1 BCHL season before school.

He scored 2 goals and 4 assists in 9 AHL games with a +1 rating on an ato with affiliate Toronto Marlies.

We look for the 21-year old to step right in, when given an opportunity.

In 63 games, he scored a new best 15 goals and 17 assists and gets the recall for his NHL debut and has appeared in 3 games thus far with a 1st assist in the books.

10Apr

Brandon Buhr (64)

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Union College Dutchmen senior right wing Brandon Buhr(64) takes a 2nd season of 19 goals scoring to a 1-year NHL entry level contract as an unrestricted free agent with Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward twice had 19 goals and 3 times 10+ tallies.

He came over after a freshman year at Clarkson University Golden Knights, where he had little use.

From North Vancouver, BC, the 23-year old has 2 assists in 4 AHL games.

09Apr

Andrew Poturalski (22)

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Undrafted 6th year center Andrew Poturalski(22) circles back to rejoin his original team, Carolina Hurricanes on a 1-year 2-way contract for 2021/2022.

He spent the last two years away under a pair of contracts to Anaheim Ducks, which saw him only play for their affiliate San Diego Gulls.

The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game guy in 2020/2021, scoring 9 goals and 34 assists in 44 AHL games.

He was an outstanding scorer for then farm club Charlotte Checkers, averaging 20+ goals and 35+ assists in 3 years.

The 2-year University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ skater put up big numbers in Hockey East, just like he did in his 2nd year of the USHL with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Although he may have only seen two NHL games as a rookie, we think he may be on a short list for a quick recall in 2021/2022.

Almost oddly, he is recalled for 2 games and grabs 2 assists, but is captain of affiliate Chicago Wolves and absolutely blows up scoring with 28 goals and 73 assists in 71 games, then goes on to win the 2022 Calder Cup Championship.

He is twice the league leading scorer.

As a free agent, he signs a 2-year deal with Seattle Kracken and helps lead their affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds to a pair of minor league finals before bowing out.

For 2024/2025, he signs another 2-year pact, but moves on to the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.

He steps away for something different, signing with Avangard Omsk for 2025/2026 and we think will do really well in the KHL.

In 67 games, he comes away with 27 goals and 39 assists with a +29 rating and most game-winning goals (7) to sign for another year with Omsk 2026/2027.

01Apr

Kyle Chauvette (36)

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Union College Dutchmen junior goaltender Kyle Chauvette(36) enters the transfer portal for a bit of a different college hockey look and joins University Of New Hampshire Wildcats for his senior year.

He has already started 3 games with a 1-2 record, 3.05 GAA, .908 SV%.

The 6′ 190 lbs. always had good seasons coming in.

From Goffstown, NH, the 23-year old only left to play 2 years of USHL before college.

Despite maybe not a winning record, he comes away with a pretty nice looking season and at the end of tournament play is asked to be emergency backup goalie for San Jose Sharks, who happen to be in Boston that night.

30Mar

Max Lundgren (47)

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Merrimack College Warriors‘ Swedish-born, sophomore goaltender Max Lundgren(47) posted a 2-0, 24 save shutout to push his team to a 1st time in 4 years birth to the 2026 Hockey East Finals and a bid to head to the NCAA D1 Tournament for a debut visit there.

The undrafted, big as a house 6’5″ 229 lbs. net minder posted a 20-15-2 record in full slate of 37 games played last season, making some spectacular saves in the meantime.

He has easily played himself onto every NHL teams’ radar.

And yup, the local team, Boston Bruins is the one who have been maybe watching him most closely and sign him up to a 1-year entry deal for 2026/2027, but he will likely report to Providence Bruins to hopefully get some starts in.