Category: Free Agent Signing

18Jun

Kevin Roy (12)

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6th year center Kevin Roy(12) signs for 2021/2022 with Laval Rocket.

It’s his 2nd contract in the league, as he skated for Tuscon Roadrunners, getting 11 goals and 19 assists in 35 AHL games last season.

Originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#97 overall), he played for 3 years on 2 contracts in their system and appeared in 28 NHL games over a pair of years, scoring 6 goals and an assist.

The 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward has 56 goals and 97 assists through 218 games in the farm league.

In his one campaign of junior hockey for Lincoln Stars, he got voted USHL Player Of The Year, Most Points, Most Goals, Most Assists, Best Plus/Minus and Forward Of The Year with his 54 goals and 50 assists in 59 games.

He was easily set to go to Northeastern University Huskies, where he twice struck for 19 goals and averaged 26 assists as a sophomore then junior before being named team captain as a senior.

The 28-year old should put up good numbers for his Montreal Canadiens‘ affiliate club and may even spark some notice.

After a very solid frame in Quebec, scoring 13 goals and 20 assists, he decides to split for Sweden, joining Brynas IF of the SHL late, but after 6 games with little pop, leaves for Liiga, and signs with HIFK.

Only getting 1 goal and 5 assists in 19 games, has him looking for a good next stop and he has found it, signing with HC Innsbruck of IceHL f0r 2023/2024.

He posts an almost silly 25 goals and 33 assists with a +20 rating in 47 games, and next will skate for rivals Graz99ers in 2024/2025.

After a 2nd 39 point season, which included the 2026 IceHL Championship, he’s an easy invite back for a 3rd term with Graz99ers in 2026/2027.

17Jun

Grant Slukynsky (13)

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Western Michigan University Broncos‘ junior, assistant captain center Grant Slukynsky(13) leaves a year on the table after tying his sophomore scoring of 10 goals and posting a new college best 30 assists and 40 points with a +15 rating in 39 games last season.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward signs a 1-year NHL entry level contract as an unrestricted free agent with Los Angeles Kings for 2026/2027.

After blowing away scoring at USHS-MN, he stretch for 3 USHL seasons before committing to Northern Michigan University Wildcats.

10Jun

Nicholas Abruzzese (26)

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In his NHL debut, center Nick Abruzzese(26) skates 15 shifts for 9:05 ice time in a 6-3 Toronto Maple Leafs‘ win.

The 5’9″ 160 lbs. forward was a 4th round pick in the 2019 (#124 overall).

He was signed to a 2-year entry level after skating his junior season for Harvard University Crimson.

The Slate Hill, NY native had a very good 2nd USHL season for Chicago Steel, scoring a league high assists (51) and points (80).

At 22-years old, he may spend a little time in the AHL to see how that develops.

He has been playing up in the show since he started and pots a 1st goal in his 9th appearance.

After 69 games with 16 goals and 32 assists, then 7 points in 7 playoff games and 2 assists in 2 games in the big league, he is retained for 2023/2024.

The restricted free agent gets a new, 2-year 2-way deal and will likely continue with affiliate Toronto Marlies, and it’s very likely he will continue to see time in the show.

Coming off a 2nd successful run in the minors, he is an unrestricted free agent and signs for 1-year with Tampa Bay Lightning.

In 56 games with the affiliate Syracuse Crunch, he earns a 2nd 50+ scoring season to score another 1-year contract.

08Jun

Magnus Chrona (30)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ Swedish-born, senior goaltender Magnus Chrona(30) signs a 2-year entry level deal with San Jose Sharks after being picked up in a trade with draft team Tampa Bay Lightning, where he was selected in the 5th round of 2018 (#152 overall).

The absolutely massive 6’6″ 216 lbs. net minder has always done well at school, winning the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship in what was his best season as a junior with a 28-8-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .911 SV%.

He would likely be best to sign an ato with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, as they fight to make the last playoff spot.

In his rookie year, he plays the full gambit of pro hockey leagues from the ECHL, AHL and NHL, but definitely looks to be working out the some kinks for consistency.

A big offseason trade sends him to Nashville Predators to continue and he’ll likely get the nod in net for affiliate Milwaukee Admirals to start.

He spends 2 seasons in net for the affiliate, but his contract is up and he is looking to home for his next contract, signing with Brynas IF of the SHL, which should be outstanding for him.

06Jun

Owen Michaels (34)

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Western Michigan University Broncos‘ junior right wing Owen Michaels(34) oddly signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal for 2025/2026 as an unrestricted free agent with Edmonton Oilers, yet doesn’t play a game.

So the 6′ 179 lbs. forward, who won the 2025 NCAA Division 1 title last year is a restricted free agent.

From Detroit, MI, the 24-year old did 4 USHL sessions before school.

We are guessing.

03Jun

Charlie Coyle (13)

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Boston Bruins‘ 3rd year center (10th overall), Charlie Coyle(13) taking some practice tips and plays in front of net minder Linus Ullmark at practice this morning after scoring a pair of goals in the team’s last home game.

He skated a year and a half at Boston University Terriers, but the San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round 2010 draft pick (#28 overall) decided to split for junior hockey in Canada.

The 6’3″ 214 lbs. forward joined Saint Johns Sea Dogs and ended up winning the 2012 QMJHL Championship with playoff scoring totals that equaled 2-points per game for the Winthrop, MA native.

In his 6th season wearing the same jersey, he gets a trade to Colorado Avalanche to help a playoff push and does.

As a free agent, he signs a 1-year deal to join Columbus Blue Jackets and blows up scoring to the tune of 20 goals and 38 assists in a full slate of 82 NHL games with a +3 rating.

Heading into the offseason, the would be unrestricted free agent gets re-upped for 6 years at $36M AAV to stay a Blue Jackets.

31May

Cole Bardreau (10)

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Undrafted 7th year right wing Cole Bardreau(10) re-ups for a 3rd season with New York Islanders on a 2-year, 2-way deal.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward is somewhat inconsistent scoring but did pop a very solid 10 goals and 6 assists in just 24 AHL games in 2020/2021’s COVID-baked season.

It was a similar through 4 years at Cornell University Big Red, but in his senior year he did manage new bests 17 assists and 22 points.

Originally signed as an unrestricted free agent by Philadelphia Flyers, he spent 4 years in their system under a pair of contracts.

Over a pair of recalls from his current club, he’s appeared in 10 NHL games scoring a goal and an assist.

If the 28-year can go on a bit of a tear to start 2021/2022, he could easily earn more time up.

A career best 15 goals and 16 assists in 67 games and a single game recall earns him another look for 2023/2024, but somehow structured under an affiliate Bridgeport Islanders‘ deal.

It’s becoming a no brainer as to where he is going to sign at this point as he returns for a 6th run in Bridgeport after once again coming away with 10+ goals and assists.

He will head on a new excursion that we can only think good things will come to him from, signing with HC Falkensteiner Pustertal Wolfe for 2025/2026.

Indeed, good things to come, as he is almost a point-per-game player and then helps a deep playoff run to get himself an easy invite back to continue to be a Wolfe.

31May

Henry Bowlby (28)

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Florida Panthers‘ undrafted center Henry Bowlby(28) leaves three years of Harvard University as he enters his senior season with zero hockey to play due to COVID considerations shelving it for the college in 2020/2021.

The decently sized 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward was assigned to affiliate Syracuse Crunch to start his career after signing a 2-year entry level deal that started right away.

In his AHL debut he potted his first pro goal and still has the one tally and no assists through 4 games with a +3 rating.

He’d always been a scorer in the teens at school, three times getting 8 assists and twice similar goal totals, so it will be interesting to see if a more open style opens up the scoring valve.

As a rookie, he scores 12 goals and 16 assists with a +14 rating and he is given a 1-year, 2-way deal to stay for 2022/2023.

We think he plays his way to an NHL recall.

He would score almost identical 2nd and 3rd frames for affiliate Charlotte Checkers, but was a group 6 unrestricted free agent at the end of his deal and was basically set free.

The Edina, MN next picks Colorado Eagles to play games, signing a minor league contract for 2023/2024.

After 7 games into his career with 1 goal and 2 assists in the north and he maybe gets a better offer to head to Sweden and signs with Rogle BK.

He should do well in the SHL.

Through 29 games, he scores 2 goals and 5 assists, then adds 2 points in 15 playoff matchups to be wanted back for 2024/2025 in a Rogle BK uniform.

He scores 4 goals and 3 assists in 43 games, which isn’t too terrible, but decides to push off for a new deal in IceHL with HC Falkensteiner Pustertal Wolfe for 2025/2026.

In 47 games, he scores 19 goals and 24 assists with a +18 rating, then performed well in the playoffs to grab another year for 2026/2027 to be a Wolfe again.

30May

Jake Livanavage (57)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ junior defenseman Jake Livanavage(57) had his 2nd 5 goal season and 3rd 20+ assists in a frame.

The 5’10” 174 lbs. blue liner was signed as an unrestricted free agent for 2-years by Pittsburgh Penguins.

He did 3 USHL seasons with Chicago Steel and won the 2021 Clark Cup Championship, when he 1st got there.

From Gilbert, AZ, the 22-year old played 1 NHL game to start.

26May

Tanner Fritz (16)

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Undrafted 7th year right wing Tanner Fritz(16) signs a 2nd straight AHL contract, but will skate for heated CT opponents from where he’s played 198 games, Bridgeport (Sound Tigers) Islanders to Hartford Wolf Pack for 2021/2022.

The 5’11” 192 lbs. forward originally signed a minor league deal after 4 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes , including captain as a senior and junior assistant, to the only team he’s thus far appeared with, but was up to a 2-way NHL contract after his sophomore season in which he popped 19 goals and 23 assists.

He played all of his youth hockey and 4 years of junior hockey close to home with Grand Prairie Storm and won the 2009 AJHL Championship, then was voted most valuable player, scoring 70 points in 60 games, before heading off to college.

The 30-year old signed a pair of contracts with parent club New York Islanders, including a single 1-way deal, and played in 42 games with 3 goals and 5 assists.

It’s likely this could be his last time in the minors, as we’re predicting he leave for some hockey overseas before retirement.

After 2 years of playing up the road in Connecticut, he returns on a 1-year minor league deal with Bridgeport for 2023/2204.

After 20 games, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists, he may be getting a little bored as he closes in on 350 games played in the league.

He decides to leave and signs with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL, which should definitely bring some challenge and excitement back into his game.

Not surprisingly he does ok with 2 goals and 9 assists in 18 games, but decides not to try and return.

He waits a little and signs with SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of NL and with 5 goals and 7 assists in 15 games with a +3 rating, there’s little doubt he gets asked to return for 2025/2026.

With 9 goals, 18 assists in 47 games and a +17 rating, his is easily invited back for a 3rd run with the Lakers, 2026/2027.