Category: Free Agent Signing

22Aug

John Farinacci (26)

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Boston Bruins‘ sign unrestricted free agent center John Farinacci(26) to a 2-year NHL entry level deal after finishing up his 4th year at Harvard University Crimson as senior captain.

He was originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft (#76 overall), but went oddly unsigned.

The 6’ 190 lbs. forward from Red Bank, NJ came north for his high school hockey, but played little junior hockey before committing to school.

He is the Crimson coach Ted Donato‘s nephew.

In his 2nd season in the minors, he scores 9 goals and a new best 28 assists to earn himself a 1st recall.

He skates 16 shifts for 10:58 ice time with 1 shot that equaled a 1st NHL goal and 3 hits for his debut, a 5-4 overtime loss.

In his 2nd season in the minors, he matches his 1st year totals with 38 points with a +9 rating and plays a 1st game in the big league to score himself a new deal with the Bruins for 2025/2026, as a restricted free agent.

The restricted free agent going into 2026/2027 isn’t re-upped, so signs a 1-year AHL deal with Milwaukee Admirals that we know is under the radar of the parent club.

19Aug

Ross Colton (79)

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Former 2-year University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ rookie center Ross Colton(79) pocketed the only goal, the game-winner in game 5, to help Tampa Bay Lightning win their 2nd straight Stanley Cup Championship.

The 6′ 191 lbs. forward had 4 goals and 2 assists through 23 NHL Playoff contests with a +4 rating, while playing only an average of just over 10 minutes per appearance.

He also had 4 tallies to win games throughout the 2020/2021 season.

The 24-year old is set to become a restricted free agent for the first time in his pro career and will likely expect a nice, healthy increased pay day for his next likely long-term contract.

As his contract is set to expire, off a season where he scored 16 goals and 16 assists, he gets dished to Colorado Avalanche, as he’s set to make too much money for his original club to be able to afford and grabs a nifty 4 year $4M AAV deal to step it up with his new club.

After 3 years productive in the system, he gets traded to Nashville Predators f0r 2026/2027.

09Aug

Cam Johnson (33)

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4th year goaltender Cam Johnson(33) split his playing time between the AHL with Cleveland Monsters and ECHL for Florida Everblades, while under NHL contract for a 2nd season to parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets.

He started most of the season in the lower league, but played most of the latter part with the direct affiliate.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. net minder was loaned down when the upper team’s year was up, he joined them to backstop their playoff run.

He would finish with a 15-2-1 mark and 1.90 GAA and .933 SV% on the way to being declared MVP of the 2022 Kelly Cup Champions.

The 27-year old from Troy, MI, who also won the 2016 NCAA Division 1 Championship with University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, needs a new contract for 2022/2023, but this seems like almost a 2-year lockup.

An unrestricted free agent, he wasn’t retained, but fairly quickly into free agency signs a 1-year deal with Charlotte Checkers, which seems like it will be a perfect fit.

After guiding the Everblades to a 2nd straight Kelly Cup and grabbing MVP honors, he is rewarded with a 1-year deal with parent club Charlotte Checkers for 2023/2024.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Springfield Thunderbirds and hopes to become their #1 net minder, returning him specifically to the league for the 1st time in a few seasons.

He is reassigned and plays a crazy 47 games with a league best 1.92 GAA and .921 SV% and a 37-6-4 record to win MVP.

For 2025/2026, he re-signs with the Thunderbirds and we shall see.

He wins another Kelly Cup in 2026 and signs with the new parent club, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 2026/2027.

05Aug

Danton Heinen (43)

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6th year left wing Danton Heinen(43) doesn’t find the right fit with Anaheim Ducks, who he was traded to late in 2019/2020 to by long time club Boston Bruins and signed for another year after producing 3 goals and an assist in 9 NHL games to start.

He seemed to mostly struggle on a non-winning team and wasn’t qualified to receive another deal.

Last year was easily an anomaly for the 6’1″ 188 lbs. forward, who signed a 1-year deal for $1.1 AAV a little late into free agency with Pittsburgh Penguins for 2021/2022.

The still only 26-year old, 2-year University Of Denver standout should be able to excel with the talent around him in PA.

For 2023/2024, as an unrestricted free agent looking for a new home, he accepts a training camp invite from his old haunt in Boston.

He comes into town, takes nothing for granted, works hard to gain notice and nets himself a 1-year contract worth $775 AAV.

Coming away with 36 points in 72 games with a +16 rating is all good and Vancouver Canucks swoop in, offering a 2-year deal at $2.25 AAV to move coasts.

After 51 games, he is traded back to Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the new season, he is reassigned to affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for some games in the current frame, but is recalled to trade to Columbus Blue Jackets.

After 33 games with 5 goals, 5 assists and a +6 rating, he gets an invite back to stay a Blue Jackets for 2026/2027.

05Aug

Hunter Shepard (30)

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Hershey Bears jumped fairly quickly to sign undrafted, former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ 2-time NCAA Champion, captain, goaltender Hunter Shepard(30) to a deal for 2020/2021.

The fairly large 6’1″ 210 lbs. net minder was reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he has played 14 ECHL games, recording a 6’5-2 record with a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% on a club headed to the postseason, as there was little room in the crease above for the young goalie.

He has gotten his opportunity to shine though in 2 AHL appearances delivering a pair of wins, including a debut shut out for a .50 GAA and .983 SV%.

The one-time NAHL Goaltender Of The Year in 2016, right before committing to college, the 25-year old has always seemed to work hard for any credit but has to have Washington Capitals step in and offer him an NHL entry level deal, as he is firmly on their radar.

For his efforts backstopping the Bears to a 12th Calder Cup Championship, he is rewarded with a 2-year, 2-way deal that is worth some handsome money wherever he throws on those pads.

He gets to start a 1st game, as the big club is out to a bit of a wobbly start and gets the W in a 6-4 contest, stopping 18 of 22 shots to potentially get a 2nd nod in another night.

His 2-1-1 record wasn’t bad, although maybe his numbers could have improved, but for a 2nd straight season with the affiliate, he posts a 27-4-3 record with a 1.76 GAA and .929 SV% to earn himself the Baz Bastien Award as the AHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender and will once again look to push his club deep in the playoffs.

He’s all set with a 2-year contract through 2024/2025, so can continue to concentrate on winning.

Very successful in his time, as an unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Ottawa Senators.

He is mostly tending net for affiliate Belleville Senators, but does see action in 1 big league game and finds himself traded to Montreal Canadiens, where he will likely report to Laval Rocket.

For 2026/2027, he decides to leave for a 1st time and accepts a deal with Barys Astana of the KHL.

03Aug

John Marino (5)

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New Jersey Devils‘ 4th year defenseman John Marino(5) was involved in a trade that sent him to the team from 3-year club Pittsburgh Penguins, where he twice notched 20+ assists, with a career high 24 last season.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner is on the hook for another 5-years for the 6-year deal he signed a year and a half ago worth an average of $4.4M AAV through 2026/2027.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#154 overall), but somewhat oddly traded before he ever got started.

The North Easton, MA native spent 3 years at nearby Harvard University Crimson, amassing an amazing +/- numbers before turning pro.

6th year d-man becomes the #1 for the new Utah Hockey Club, who pick him up for some draft options and he gets a 3-year deal moving forward.

Rebranded Utah Mammoth for his 2nd season, he pots some 32 assists in 80 games with a monster +42 rating.

He signs a new to start when his current deal ends in 2027/2028 8-year $6.75M AAV deal to stay.

02Aug

Tanner Kero (64)

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Dallas Stars re-signed 7th year center Tanner Kero(64) to a two-year two-way NHL contract through 2022/2023.

The former Michigan Tech captain put up some good numbers through his 4-year college career, but nothing like he did, when he was a senior captain and popped in 20 goals and 26 assists in 41 NCAA WCHA games.

He’s already a veteran of 111 total appearances with initial signing club Chicago Blackhawks and 39 games in 2020/2021 with current team, scoring 3 goals and 7 assists to earn his new deal.

The 28-year old has played 248 AHL games, and must be smiling but has worked hard to achieve all he has.

He spends the entire frame with affiliate, Texas Stars, but scores well through the playoffs.

Not re-signed to continue, he inks a minor league deal with Colorado Eagles.

For 2024/2025, he has likely made the best decision and agrees to terms with HV71 of the SHL, where we think he will find new life.

He throws up a decent frame in Sweden, but decides to head for Germany next and signs with Kolner Haie of DEL.

In 41 games, he scores 11 goals and 18 assists, but decides to sign with rivals Krefeld Pinguine for 2026/2027.

02Aug

Georgii Merkulov (10)

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Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ Russian-born, freshman left wing Georgii Merkulov(10) leads NCAA Division 1 players in goal scoring with 18.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward spent all of his youth hockey in his homeland and played junior hockey in the MHL for a couple seasons, including 6 VHL games for HK Tambov before leaving during the 2019/2020 session to start his American.

He joined Youngstown Phantoms and was a bit of an instant success with 6 goals and 27 assists in 36 USHL games.

The 21-year old played one more successful campaign of juniors before committing to school.

Undrafted, he will easily be a player to watch.

Boston Bruins waste no time and scoop him from one successful year at college hockey to a 3-year NHL entry level deal starting next season.

He scores a meager 24 goals and 31 assists with Providence Bruins and is back up in rookies training camp to begin the 2nd year of his entry level deal for 2023/2024 and by the looks of it is ready to compete for a spot on the big club.

After a 3rd season of 30+ assists, with a new high 39 last season, he gets a new 1-year deal to stay a Bruins and keep building.

He’s still our pick to make the big club on a more permanent basis.

After 4 years looking to break through the system, it’s time to move on and he signs a 1-year deal with Colorado Avalanche to see if a new environment can improve his chances.

02Aug

John Prokop (37)

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Union College Dutchmen junior defenseman John Prokop(37) leaves a year on the table and signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Toronto Maple Leafs, as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent.

The 6’3″ 190 lbs. blue liner scored a 2nd 8 goal season and added 19 assists, which equaled what he did as a freshman, but was down from the 26 he recorded as a sophomore and likely got him extra noticed.

From Wasau, WI, the 24-year did 4 years of mostly USHL juniors after high school.

He reported to AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies and played 3 games with no points.

Through his rookie frame, he skates 24 games with 1 goal and 2 assists, but doesn’t figure in the playoffs, as they go for a 2026 Calder Cup.

For 2026/2027, Milwaukee Admirals see something and sign him up.

29Jul

Noah Beck (20)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ senior defenseman Noah Beck(20) takes 2 years of 17 assists to a graduate season at Arizona State University Sun Devils for 2024/2025.

The Richmond Hill, ON native did 1 season juniors OJHL before coming down to the USHL upon the encouragement of new college team and then getting drafted by St. Louis Blues in the 7th round of 2020 (#194 overall).

He scored well with 4 goals and 23 assists in 44 games.

The 6’3″ 183 lbs. blue liner will likely do well playing his new club’s independent schedule.

He explodes scoring 5 goals and 28 assists in 37 games with a +12 rating to become an unrestricted free agent and get signed by San Jose Sharks, as he wasn’t picked up by the team that selected him.

To start his pro career, he reports to affiliate San Jose Barracuda on an ato.

He would sign on for the full 2025/2026, but spent most of his playing time with affiliate Wichita Thunder, posting 9 goals and 32 assists in 44 ECHL games with a +4 rating.

For 2026/2027, Hershey Bears are watching and sign him up to a new AHL deal.