Category: Free Agent Signing

10th year center Ryan Dzingel(80) waits until almost the end of the 2023/2024 season to sign, but does with Henderson Silver Knights and has 4 goals and 1 assist in 12 AHL games.

He played 22 games last season for Chicago Wolves.

The former Ottawa Senators‘ draft pick 3 times scored 20+ goals, twice 20+ assists.

He did 3 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes, serving as captain as a sophomore and junior year assistant.

From Wheaton, IL, the 32-year old spent the majority of 7 years in the NHL, so has done well and is playing out his string mostly it seems.

He should be a good player to have around for playoffs.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ junior goal scorer Jacob Quillan(16) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Toronto Maple Leafs, leaving a year at school on the table.

Undrafted, he had a college best 29 assists and 46 points in 39 games with a +17 rating last season.

The Dartmouth, NS native did only 1 more than point-per-20-game BCHL COVID-busted season for Penticton Vees.

He’s ready at 22-years old for the next step.

St. Lawrence University Saints‘ graduate net minder Ben Kraws(33) transferred into his 3rd school, following 2 years at Arizona State University Sun Devils after 2 with Miami University Ohio Redhawks.

The very sizable 6’5″ 201 lbs. goalie had 2 decent USHL frames in juniors for Sioux City Musketeers and started 49 games and was shutout in the playoffs for his 2nd year.

From Cranbury, NJ, the 25-year old will be an interesting watch to see what might transpire next.

His finishes up a spectacular run to the ECAC Finals, where they are beat, but cap off a fantastic season to elevate him for his 1-year NHL entry level contract with Dallas Stars.

7th year right wing Zach Hyman(18) leaves his home for the last 6 years with Toronto Maple Leafs to sign a new 5-year deal as an unrestricted free agent with Edmonton Oilers, worth an estimated $5.5 AAV.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. power forward has twice scored 21 goals (2018-2020) and two times 15 in 345 NHL games with a mammoth +72 rating.

Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#123 overall), he was traded before ever officially wearing a jersey.

The former 4-year University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ forward was a Hobey Baker Award finalist as a senior, when he scored a cool 22 goals and 32 assists in 37 Big Ten games with a +24 rating.

He’s already 29-years old, although it seems like it was yesterday, when he donned a Toronto Marlies‘ jersey.

His goal scoring ascends to a career high 51 this season and in the process he pots his 200th overall tally.

Next season will be his 10th in the league and now 31-years old shows zero signs of stopping.

The Oilers‘ jersey fits well.

University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior defenseman Drew Bavaro(24) signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Boston Bruins after playing his high school and 1st round of college hockey in the local market.

The 6’1″ 202 lbs. blue liner played 2 years at Bentley University Falcons before transferring after his sophomore frame.

From Brandenton, FL, the 23-year old scored a college best 10 goals and 10 assists last season.

It is reported he will sign an ato with affiliate Providence Bruins and join the AHL team.

Drew Bavaro (22)

Brown University Bears‘ senior captain Luke Krys(2) enters the transport portal and comes out on the other side, maybe a little unsuspectingly hooking up with inner state rival Providence College Friars for 2023/2024.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward had a college best 14 assists and 16 points last season.

He will definitely be more challenged in Hockey East play.

Almost oddly, the Ringefield, CT native only played some juniors during the 2020/2021 campaign, when the ECAC didn’t play and hooked up with Muskegon Lumberjacks for 5 USHL games, while attending school.

We could easily see the 22-year old play himself onto some decent pro teams radar to pick up a contract after he finishes.

And it occurs, he plays a college best 35 games, gets a new high 6 goals and 17 points with a +2 rating and parlays that into a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Dallas Stars that will see him report to affiliate Texas Stars first.

10th year defenseman Matt Tennyson(7) has appeared in NHL games now 9 of 10 years playing professional hockey, as he just gets his first summons from new 2-year contract club, Nashville Predators.

In his 2021/2022 debut, he skated 18 shifts for 12:50 of total ice time, with one assist, 2 penalty minutes, 2 hits, 1 giveaway and left a 5-2 win a +1 rating, which he followed up with a 2 assist appearance, giving him 3 helpers and a +2 since his return.

He has appeared in 168 games in the big league.

The 6’2″ 203 lbs. blue liner spent 3 years at Western Michigan University Broncos before signing his entry level deal with San Jose Sharks, where he stayed in the system for 4 campaigns.

He has also played 335 AHL games to his credit, and had a healthy 3 goals and 8 assists in 30 games prior to his recall.

The 31-year old probably has a little smile on his face that he still gets to do this.

For 2022/2023, he signs a minor league deal with Coachella Valley Firebirds, putting him pretty close to where he started his pro career in San Jose Sharks and close to home.

He will be an awesome leader here.

No doubt, he shines in his new role and scores a career high 18 assists, helping take his young squad all the way to the Calder Cup Finals.

He decides to wait a long while before making a new decision, where to turn next and at 33-years old he will test the waters overseas, signing with HC Lugano of NL for the remainder of the 2024.

UMass Minutemen 2021 Championship goaltender Matt Murray(32) decided to extend his year of eligibility to spend a 5th season in the crease for his team.

He played a college career high 34 starts for a 21-12-2 record.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. net minder won a 2016 AJHL title as a 2nd year junior player and committed to school from there.

He would add a campaign of USHL, playing a monster amount of games (52) for Fargo Force.

The undrafted 24-year old from St. Albert, AB finishes up school and looks for a contract, signing with Texas Stars.

A week later he gets his 1st AHL start posting a 3-2 win with 20 saves.

He’s going to be a good person to have on your team.

In 6 starts, he posts a 5-1 record with a 1.68 GAA and .948 SV%, then does even better in a pair of playoff appearances.

It’s an absolute no brainer for him to be brought back on a 2-year minor league deal and his play will almost undoubtedly put him on Dallas Stars‘ radar.

Happy Halloween: 10/31-2022 he scores himself a 1-year NHL contract for 2022/2023 that will likely be just the start.

To cap off a successful run for 1st place in the minors, the big club brings him up for his 1st start and he gets a 5-2 win on a limited use 19 saves against Chicago Blackhawks to start March.

He gets himself a nice new 1-year, 2-way deal to continue in Texas for 2023/2024.

After an 8-4-1 start in Cedar Park, he scores himself a 1st call up for the new year and posts a 4-0 shutout win for himself.

Washington Capitals‘ must had their eyes on goalie Clay Stevenson(33) previous to him putting up solid numbers in a losing record effort (6-14-2) with 2.70 GAA and .922 SV%.

The undrafted net minder was signed to a 2-year NHL entry level contract through 2023/2024.

It’s very likely they saw the big 6’4″ 194 lbs. back stop put up a 1.77 GAA and .936 SV% on a 30-2-2 record for Coquitlam Express, giving him best all around numbers in the BCHL.

The 23-year old from Drayton Valley, AB is likely ready to start.

As he puts up a 1.70 GAA and .934 SV% with 4 shutouts in 13 appearances for affiliate Hershey Bears, he is rewarded as a restricted free agent, who’s entry level contract is up at the end of the current frame, with a new 3-year $2.325M deal to stick around.

Calgary Flames‘ 6th year defenseman Andy Welinski(45) has been spending time in 2021/2022 with affiliate Stockton Heat, putting up 2 goals with 12 assists and a +11 rating, helping a very good team win.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner could easily score himself an NHL recall.

He played 14 games last season for a 2nd time for original entry level contract club Anaheim Ducks and maybe didn’t get any points, but was a nice +4 rating.

The former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs averaged 6 goals and 10+ assists a season.

He also won the 2012 USHL Clark Cup Championship with Green Bay Gamblers before heading to school, so has that in his hockey pedigree.

At 28-years old, he only taking small bites off the apple for contracts and that just could be the way it plays out for him.

For 2022/2023, he signs a new 1-year, lucrative 2-way deal with New York Rangers, but will likely spend the majority of his time working with the youngsters for affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.

He was a very solid plus player through regular season and playoffs.

Although he never appeared with the main club, he becomes a piece of trade bait at the deadline and is shipped to Chicago Blackhawks, where he could actually play in a game or two.

After 8 games with Utica Comets, he is waived and not long after, for a first time signs overseas with Lowen Frankfort of DEL to continue.