Category: Free Agent Signing

19May

Zach Solow (73)

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Former Northeastern University Huskies‘ captain, undrafted center Zach Solow(73) signs an ato with Chicago Wolves for the remainder of 2021, but it’s said to be tied to a whisper that he’s actually Nashville Predators‘ property and news actually came through their COVID dormant affiliate Milwaukee Admirals that he signed for 2021/2022, but we still have yet to see the confirmed word of his definite big league deal.

He’s a pure digger and was a point-per-game player last season for a first time in his college career.

Little doubt the only 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward has to be on a few teams lists for a big, unrestricted free agent pick up but as we said, he may be spoken for.

The 22-year old Naples, FL native did three years of junior hockey, committing to college just before his breakout campaign, when he scored 18 goals and 51 assists for 69 points (both most in the league) in 52 USHL games for Dubuque Fighting Saints.and was selected Forward Of The Year.

His initial foray into pro hockey turned out decent, as he was also signed to Florida Everblades, where he became a point-per-game player in 4 playoff games.

He signed on an AHL deal with Milwaukee to stay in the system, was in and out of the lineup before he went back down towards the end of the session to rejoin the ‘Blades.

Here he struck playoff gold and won the 2022 Kelly Cup Championship. with 9 goals and 9 assists in 19 games.

For 2022/2023, he heads into a new direction, signing a 1-year deal with Toronto Marlies.

Reassigned to ECHL affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, he is a point-per-game scorer.

He returned for last season and his game improved to 11 goals and 15 assists in 66 games, then 2 assists in 3 through the playoffs.

For 2024/2025, he is back on another 1-year deal with the Marlies.

In 52 games, he scores 6 goals and 13 assists with a +6 rating, then adds 2 goals in 2 games in the playoffs.

He will take off and signs with Adler Mannheim for 2025/2026 and we think will continue to grow his game in DEL.

18May

Justin Richards (14)

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New York Rangers signed undrafted, unrestricted free agent center Justin Richards(14) to a two-year entry level deal after he completed his third season at University Of Minnesota-Duluth, where he helped the team win consecutive NCAA Championships in 2018 and 2019.

He scored a career high 14 goals in 24 games in 2020/2021.

The 5’10” 188 lbs. forward was originally reassigned to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.

In his AHL debut, he introduced himself to his new club with a pair of assists and went on to grab 4 goals and 7 assists in 24 appearances with a +3 rating before his recall.

He was little different in his first game up posting a 1st NHL point, an assist after winning a face-off, through 18 shifts for 10:11 total ice time in a 5-4 win to close out the season with no playoff push.

For his rookie season, he would spent it entirely in the minors.

Left without a qualifying offer, he next signs with Cleveland Monsters on a minor league deal that gets boosted by agreeing to terms with parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets.

He appears in a pair of games and grabs a 2nd assist.

Next up, he would head to Rochester Americans for 2023/2024.

For 2024/2025, he’s made probably one of his best decisions, moving forward, signing a 1-year deal with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL.

He’s maybe a little light on the scoresheet through 44 games, but has a terrible minus rating that has him looking elsewhere for his next pro hockey and he signs Fehervar AV19 of IceHL, which is a great landing spot.

06May

Sean Collins (61)

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12th year center Sean Collins(61) has been league jumping for the past couple seasons, going through the KHL, DEL, Liiga and the SL to finally arrived at Steinbach Black Wings Linz of IceHL for 2023/2024 .

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in 2008 (#168 overall), he was able to get in a few games with the big club, recording a few assists, but no goals.

The solid 6’3″ 190 lbs. forward has played 278 AHL games, scoring 71 goals and 91 assists with a +23 rating.

From Saskatoon, AB, the 33-year old 4-year Cornell University Big Red senior, assistant captain scorer has to be happy with the way things are going, having come off a season, scoring a best 27 goals and 30 assists.

He is playing good hockey, scoring points, helping his team win, where he is at, so is staying put for a 3rd season in a Wings‘ jersey.

04May

Andy Miele (51)

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13th year center Andy Miele(51) finishes up another decently successful run through the SHL, this time as assistant captain for HV-71.

For 2023/2024, he decides to head off on a new adventure, signing a 1-year deal with Grizzlys Wolfsburg and he will skate his 1st season in Germany’s top league, DEL.

The small 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward started overseas in Sweden after 15 NHL games (2 assists, +2 rating) and 478 AHL and won himself a 2018 Championship with Vaxjo Lakers.

His biggest success was likely the 3 seasons he spent in the KHL with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

The 35-year old, former Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks is likely to continue to do well.

Scoring 44 assists 3 straight seasons in the league below the show indicates he can score and as he’s getting older he shows little signs of slowing, grabbing 14 goals and 32 assists in 52 games to earn the now 36-year old another look in Germany with the Grizzlys.

He grabs 16 goals and 16 assists in 52 games as a now 37-year old and continues to want to skate and signs with rivals, Fischtown Pinguins for 2025/2026.

19Apr

Will Weber (78)

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Schwenninger Wild Wings‘ 3rd year defenseman Will Weber(78) will hang around for a 4th frame, as he signs a 1-year extension through 2024/2025.

The big 6’4″ 227 lbs. blue liner doesn’t necessarily put up a lot of points, but is a fairly accountable, very large presence out there.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall), he only twice had 10+ assists.

The first time was his sophomore season at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks and the 2nd was his 1st session of DEL for Fischtown Pinguins.

At 35-years old, he has to be glad he’s still pulling down good contracts to play pro hockey.

Add another season, as he will skate for a 6th frame in a Wild Wings‘ jersey that he is looking mighty comfortable in lately.

18Apr

Jack Williams (29)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ junior right wing Jack Williams(29) leaves a year on the table to sign a 2-year entry level contract unrestricted free agent contract with Columbus Blue Jackets.

The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward skated 14 shifts for 11:09 of ice time with 1 hit, 1 shot block, 1 giveaway and left a 6-1 victory with a +1 rating.

In his final college season, he scored a best 25 assists and 41 points.

From Biddeford, ME, the 23-year old had a very successful 2nd USHL junior season before school, so we do think he will get to scoring once set into a lineup.

13Apr

Karsen Dorwart (23)

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Michigan State University Spartans‘ undrafted junior left wing Karsen Dorwart(23) leaves a year on the table and signs a 2-year unrestricted free agent NHL entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward has skated 3 games with his newly signed team, but has yet to score.

He had 20+ points in as a freshman and over 30 in his next 2 seasons with a +20 as a senior.

The Sherwood, OR native did 1 campaign of juniors before college.

Only 22-years old, he should do well with the big club or be reassigned for a little development.

10Apr

Noah Beck (18)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ senior defenseman Noah Beck(18) 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.

08Apr

Cody Kunyk (37)

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9th year center Cody Kunyk(37) returns to Karpat after a year away in the KHL that actually grabbed hold scoring come playoff time for Barys Nur-Sultan.

The undrafted 5’11” 194 lbs. forward has skated 5 seasons in Liiga, Finland’s top hockey and tossed off a league best 39 assists in 2019/2020.

He signed a 1-year entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Tampa Bay Lightning upon graduating University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks with 20+ goals and assists as a senior and even played 1 NHL game fresh out of school.

The Sherwood Park, AB native skated the AHL his rookie season for affiliate Syracuse Crunch, but left for Denmark’s Metal Ligaen in the next session, running up decent points for Gentofte Stars.

At 32-years old, he still seems to be connecting and is wanted for what he brings, so there’s little reason to put down the skates.

He would move along after a 5th strong year playing Finnish hockey to Germany and signed with Lowen Frankfort in 2023/2024, where he would come away with a pro best 17 goals and some decent point totals, but signs with rivals Augsburger Panther for 2024/2025 and should have continued success.

After a successful 1st season with the team, he re-signs to return a Panther for 2025/2026.

06Apr

Caleb MacDonald (9)

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University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ freshman defenseman Caleb MacDonald(9) will take a 31 games 1st season, scoring 4 goals and 10 assist with a +13 rating to the transfer portal and he will play hockey just a little closer to home, committing to University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for 2024/2025.

The 6’4″ 220 lbs. forward from Cambridge, ON played 3 years of juniors up north, but really connected in his 2nd AJHL session with Whitecourt Wolverines, where he had 50 assists in his 2nd frame before school.

We are thinking the undrafted 21-year old puts himself on some radar.

After one season in the midwest, playing college hockey, he captures the attention of Columbus Blue Jackets, who offer him a 2-year NHL entry level deal to leave a couple of years of school on the table.