Category: Free Agent Signing

Dartmouth College Big Green sophomore goaltender Cooper Black(31) puts up some college career best numbers with a 13-8-8 record with a 2.58 GAA and .910 SV%, including 2 shutouts.

The absolute giant 6’8″ 240 lbs. undrafted backstop signs a 2-year entry level  contract with Florida Panthers, starting next season, but will join the team on a pto for the playoffs.

From Alpena, MI, he did 2 NAHL campaigns with almost identical stats, but played on a better team to start.

The 22-year old was complete shutdown as a senior USHS-MI.

He reports to affiliate Charlotte Checkers on a pto to start.

12th year center Nick Shore(23) swaps close to 2 years, scoring good numbers with HV71 for 1 at Linkoping HC 2024/2025.

The 3rd round Los Angeles Kings‘ draft pick in the 2011 draft (#82 overall)

He initially left North American hockey after his 3rd straight year in the NHL and left for 1 year in the KHL.

Wooed back for another spin in the biggest league, taking his total up to 299 games, he didn’t really put up the numbers and next found the net on multiple occasions in Slovakia Extraliga, but swapped that quickly for hockey in Switzerland, signing with EV Zug.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward would help his team win the 2021 NL Championship.

He returned to Russia, but the former 3-year University Of Denver Pioneers went back before switching to Sweden, where he stays.

The 31-year old from Denver, CO has made a neat little journey out of playing pro hockey for himself.

Edmonton Oilers‘ 12th year center Brad Malone(17) gets re-upped on a new 2-year deal worth some tidy sums regardless of where he plays.

He has served as captain of affiliate Bakersfield Condors for the past couple seasons and looks to return for that role in 2022/2023.

The 6’2″ 217 lbs. forward was actually playing under an AHL deal last season, when he was signed initially to come aboard.

He almost quietly has 207 NHL games to his credit, even appearing in 8 games last season with a goal and an assist, and 462 in the minors.

At 33-years old, the former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate, Miramichi, NB native must have a huge smile on his face.

After a 4th season of being team captain, he decides his ice time is up and announces his retirement, but you can bet he won’t be traveling too far away from the game.

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.