Category: Free Agent Signing

30Jun

Tyler Kopff (21)

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Brown University Bears‘ sophomore left wing Tyler Kopff(21) finishes up tournament play and maybe just a slight surprise, as he’s coming off a college best 9 goals and 19 assists collection in 32 games with a +1 rating to signing a 2-year NHL deal with Buffalo Sabres, as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent and leaves 2 years on the shelf.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward from Ridgewood, NJ did all his youth hockey next to home before making the jump to the BCHL for a couple of remarkable sessions before school.

His contract begins next season, 2025/2o26, but he signed an ato with affiliate Rochester Americans and in 6 AHL games came away with 1 assist.

28Jun

Scott Wilson (10)

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Charlotte Checkers‘ 8th year center Scott Wilson(10) is off to a good start with his new team, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists in 16 AHL games, while helping them win games.

Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#209 overall), he was selected after a 2nd strong session for Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL.

The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward would then head to UMass-Lowell Riverhawks for three seasons.

He spent three years in the Pens’ system and played the entire 2016/2017 in the NHL en route of the 2017 Stanley Cup Championship, where he played 20 playoff matchups, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists.

The 29-year old should have some fun with his minor league deal this year and then look for a nice overseas contract for 2022/2023.

After scoring a career best 24 goals in 71 games, he decides at the last minute to head off and sign with Vityaz Podolsk, as we thought he might do, after initially thinking he was going to return.

He should be able to match up well in the KHL.

After a couple of good 20-goal scoring seasons, he was maybe off a bit in the current frame, so switches up allegiances to skate for Salavat Yulaev Ufa for the remainder of 2024/2025.

He has a pretty spectacular season with 9 goals and 14 assists in 30 games with a +13 rating, then added 16 points in 19 playoff matchups, but for 2025/2026, he will sign with a 5th league team, agreeing to terms for HC Sibir Novosibirsk for 2025/2026.

27Jun

Brett Seney (62)

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4th year center Brett Seney(62) was an unrestricted free agent coming off a 1-year extension with draft club, New Jersey Devils (6th round, 2015, #157 overall) to sign away on a two-way deal for a first time with Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 7 AHL games, he has 4 goals with a +2 rating, which has to have the parent club at least watching.

The small 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward was a sniper in four years at Merrimack College Warriors, striking for 26 points twice to start and finished with campaigns of 31 and 32 totals before graduating.

His 3 goals and 5 assists on 12 games signed to an ato after college was probably a good indicator of what could occur.

It will be interesting to see if the 25-year old gets anymore time in the show and what he does next.

In 2021/2022, the London, ON native would put up a new career best 42 assists and 59 points in 62 games with a +16 rating and also skated a pair of games in the big league.

For 2022/2023, he jumps ship for another 1-year, 2-way deal, this time from Chicago Blackhawks, where he could very put in more time at a higher level.

After an almost point-per-game season with affiliate, as MVP Rockford IceHogs and a 1st NHL goal for the team, he gets a 1-year deal to continue, then almost repeat performances through more games, he’s given more time in a ‘Hawks‘ jersey.

He continues to motor with points and for 2025/2026, he signs a 2-year AHL deal to remain captain of the Icehogs.

15Jun

Philip Samuelsson (34)

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12th year, Swedish-born defenseman Philip Samuelsson(34) left 3 seasons of playing in his home country’s top league, SHL for a new adventure, signing for 2022/2023 with Fischtown Pinguins.

In 22 DEL games, he has 12 assists, so is on pace for a big first season in Germany.

The former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#61 overall) has played 512 AHL games, scoring 27 goals and 124 assists with a massive +76 rating.

He’s also appeared in 13 NHL games.

Because his dad, Ulf Samuelsson(5) was playing hockey in the US, he did his high school and junior hockey here.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner even did 2 years at Boston College Eagles before turning pro on a 3-year entry level deal.

At 31-years old, he is still able to pull down good contracts, so must have at least a little smile on his face.

He finishes up his debut frame in Germany with 4 goals and 27 assists in 47 games only to be wooed by rivals Straubing Tigers to stay in the country and sign for 2023/2024.

After an exceptionally strong year, scoring 4 goals and 12 assists with a +5 rating through 49 games, then adding another 4 points in 11 playoff matchups, it’s a no brainer to keep him in a Tigers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

3 seasons in Germany is all good and is heads of to IceHL and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

We think the 33-year old will do well and discover a few more years remaining.

14Jun

Roman Ahcan (37)

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Cleveland Monsters sign unrestricted free agent, University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ graduating senior, left wing Roman Ahcan(37) to a pto for the remainder of 2022 and an spc for 2022/2023.

The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward wasn’t the biggest scorer as an assistant captain last season but did post a pair of 20+ point campaigns as a sophomore and junior.

He committed after his final year at Burnsville High USHS-MN, then went onto one session of USHL junior hockey for Cedar Rapids RoughRiders before heading to school.

The 22-year old will hopefully help his new team win some games.

In his 3rd year with the same club, he once again signs a tryout, but after 11 games with 7 goals and 1 assist is quickly snapped up for the full 2024/2025 session with the Monsters.

He had his best season in the minors, scoring 18 goals and 11 assists 67 AHL games with a +4 rating, then added another 3 points (1-2) in 6 playoff matchups with a +2.

His awesome play earns him a 2-year contract to stay in a Monsters‘ jersey.

12Jun

Mark Friedman (52)

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th year defenseman Mark Friedman(52) re-ups for another two years after scoring a goal and 4 assists in 26 NHL games with a +1 rating.

The 5’10” 192 lbs. blue liner has appeared in big league games for the last 4 seasons, but seems to have arrived in the current session.

He scored 2 goals and an assist in 5 games, when he arrived via the waiver wire from Philadelphia Flyers.

The Bowling Green State University Falcons blue liner left a year on the table after scoring college career best 8 goals, 18 assist and 26 points.

It looks like the 26-year old is in a good spot with his new team.

He picks up 20+ games in the big league 2 years in a row, but gets himself traded in sort of a minor deal to Vancouver Canucks, where he could find a spot on d with the big club.

In 5 games, he had no points, but got 1 goal and 5 assists in 20 games with a +4 rating for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.

He finds himself traded to Nashville Predators to help shore up their zone, but initially he will head to Milwaukee Admirals.

In 21 games, he comes away with 2 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating, which in turn he will take to a new opportunity in his 9th season to go skate for Rogle BK of the SHL for 2025/2026.

09Jun

Brock Nelson (11)

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Brock-Nelson

New York Islanders‘ 7th year center Brock Nelson(11) gets re-upped on a 6-year extension through 2025.

He’s a 4-time 20-goal scorer and actually had 19 in 2017/2018, so 5-time is merited, 3-time 20+ assists and twice 10+ on helpers.

The fairly large power forward had 4 goals in 8 Stanley Cup playoff games.

Set to turn 28-years old, the former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks at the start of the new session, his deal is worth $6M AV with a no trade clause for the first two seasons and then some modified terms.

He is traded in the final year of his contract to Colorado Avalanche, where he scores 6 goals and 7 assists in 19 games with a +6 rating, then adds 4 helpers in 7 playoff matchups with a +2.

Takes little time in the off-season to sign him up on a 3-year deal.

27May

Steven Kampfer (51)

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12th year NHL defenseman Steven Kampfer(51) will try something new for 2021/2022, signing a 1-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.

The former University Of Michigan Wolverines blue liner was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round 2007 draft pick (#93 overall) but traded to Boston Bruins and agreed to terms upon completing his fourth year at college.

He left the Black & Gold within his entry level deal, traded to Minnesota Wild, where he stayed for two seasons before being dealt to New York Rangers but was again quickly on the move to Florida Panthers, where he stayed for another pair of campaigns.

The 5’11” 198 lbs. d-man started his next frame in the zone for the ‘Cats but after a single game was changing addresses heading back to the Blueshirts.

It seems like this is a player who favors 2 year terms with teams, as he did another here before rejoining his original club in Boston for another two year contract and a solid role as a fill-in guy.

The 32-year old may find continued life in Russia’s top hockey but we would be surprised to see him jump around a bit before deciding to pull the curtain on it.

After putting up a career high 11 goals, 19 assists and 30 points and being named assistant captain of Team USA Olympic squad, the now 33-year old will return home on a 1-year 2-way deal with close to home, Jackson, MI, Detroit Red Wings worth at least $325K in the minors and the league minimum $750 if he stays up.

He would be traded for future considerations to Arizona Coyotes, where he would actually do alright on a non-playoff team with 3 goals and 19 assists that actually gave him a career high 6 goals and 23 assists.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate, he is named team captain for 2023/2024 of Tuscon Roadrunners.

With no quit in site, he will return to Russia for 2024/2025 and signs with Traktor Chelyabinsk.

After an incredibly solid year, scoring 10 goals and a new best 22 assists and 32 points, then doing very well in the playoffs, he decides 16 pro careers will do it and retires.

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.

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.