Category: Free Agent Signing

22Nov

Nick Lappin (28)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

7th year center Nick Lappin(28) re-decides retirement and will return to the ice, signing a 1-year ECHL deal with Florida Everblades, his 1st journey into the league, since signing a pair of AHL deals for the last couple seasons.

Undrafted, he signed a 2-year NHL entry level deal after skating 4 frames at Brown University Bears, 2 as assistant captain and after his point-per-game senior session, he signed an ato with affiliate Albany Devils and scored 3 goals and 4 assists in 12 games, then another 7 points in 11 playoff matchups to get his pro career started.

The 6’1″ 174 lbs. forward played most of his rookie season in the upper league, but had a pretty miserable -17 rating, but was a solid scorer at the lower level.

For his next two years he mostly toiled in the minors.

At 30-years old, he likely wasn’t ready to give up the game he loves quite yet and will be an invaluable part of the dressing room for his new club.

15Nov

Matt Bartkowski (43)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

13th year defenseman Matt Bartkowski(43) was released from his tryout by New York Rangers as the new season begun.

It took him a few weeks to find himself a new deal for 2022/2023, but he decides to sign with Rochester Americans.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. blue liner will add to his 436 AHL game total and even if he misses a few games could roll 500 games played in the league.

He also has 236 NHL appearances to his credit.

The former 2-year Ohio State University Buckeyes was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 7th round pick in 2008 (#190 overall), but signed his 1st entry level deal with Boston Bruins, where he stuck in the system for 5 sessions, including his 1st pair of full frames in the big league.

At 34-years old, he has earned well, so must just still love playing the game and giving back at this point to the younger set playing minor league hockey.

06Oct

Tage Thompson (72)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

Buffalo Sabres‘ 6th year 6’7″ 218 lbs. center Tage Thompson(72) gets rewarded with a handsome 7-year $7M+ deal through 2029/2030 after scoring a career high by a mile 38 goals and 30 assists in 78 NHL games.

Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2016 draft (#26 overall), he was traded in the offseason after splitting his rookie season between the big league and AHL.

He twice scored 32 points as a member of the University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he played for two seasons before turning pro.

The 24-year old from of all places Glendale, AZ could easily be a 100-point player.

04Oct

David Warsofsky (55)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

12th year defenseman David Warsofsky(55) switches up a decently good season for ERC Ingolstadt to signing with DEL rivals Augsburger Panther 2022/2023.

The veteran of 55 NHL and 476 AHL games, he wracked up a pretty amazing 195 assists through 11 seasons in the direct affiliate league.

Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 4th round pick in 2008 (#95 overall), his signing rights were traded to Boston Bruins, where he agreed to a 3-year entry level deal upon leaving Boston University Terriers after 3 sessions and a 2009 NCAA Division 1 Championship.

The 32-year old from Marshfield, MA has to be happy about still playing some amazing hockey and earning a good living from doing so.

29Sep

John Albert (14)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

12th year center John Albert(14) stays with Toledo Walleye for a 2nd season after scoring an ECHL best 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points last season.

The one-time Atlanta Thrashers‘ 5th round pick in the 2007 draft (#165 overall) has only played 9 games with original contract club, Winnipeg Jets, scoring his only NHL goal in the process.

He has played in 339 AHL games with 4 different teams.

The senior captain at Ohio State University Buckeyes has twice gone overseas, but only skated a full season once with Karpat of Liiga.

At 33-years old, 5’11” 179 lbs. Cleveland, OH native is home to play his pro hockey nowadays.

29Sep

Matt Frattin (39)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

12th year right wing Matt Frattin(39) leaves 5 years in the KHL to sign a 1-year deal with HC Bolzano Foxes of IceHL.

In his 1st game, he had an assist.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs‘ forward has 135 NHL games, scoring 17 goals and 18 assists to his credit.

A 4 year University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ was a Hobey Baker Finalist as a senior, popping the score sheet for 36 goals and 24 assists.

The 34-year old from Edmonton, AB shows little signs of quit.

27Sep

Andrew Hammond (35)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors | Leave a comment

Undrafted 9th year goaltender Andrew Hammond(35) was signed last season with Minnesota Wild, but never made it from their taxi squad practices to a game, yet was given another season to rejoin the system.

It’s his 2nd stint with the team, circling back in just a year’s time after signing with Buffalo Sabres.

For his last pair of seasons played, he’s averaged exactly 33 AHL games in net, sporting similar numbers.

The former Bowling Green State University Falcons net minder signed as an unrestricted free agent with Ottawa Senators.

After spending most of his rookie season with affiliate Binghamton Senators, he did earn one tell-tale appearance subbing for the parent club.

The 6’1″ 231 lbs. goalie earned his stripes as a sophomore skater, gets recalled, pressed for duty and comes away with the victory, and it just didn’t stop.

He posted a 20-1-2 record to propel the Sens into the playoffs.

His theatrics earned him a 3-year with a $4+M hit, but his game would start to slip under a rebuilding team.

At 33-years old, the White Rock, BC is likely very happy he’s still able to prove the Hamburglar has still got game.

Well, he was recently traded to Montreal Canadiens and recently got his turn, posting a 3-0 mark, then barely over a month in with his new club is on the move again, dished to New Jersey Devils, another team not looking good for a playoff run.

It’s not a tough decision for the 10th year net minder to head off for 2022/2023, signing a 1-year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk for 2022/2023 and should find his fortunes in the KHL will be better.

19Sep

Mark Arcobello (36)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

13th year right wing Mark Arcobello(36) stays with HC Lugano and will captain the NL team for a 3rd year.

He is a more than point-per-game player through 299 games in the league, scoring 302 (114-188) points.

The only 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward is equal to the task in the AHL, where the Yale University Bulldogs‘ graduate has 220 points in 237 games with a +62 rating.

He also has 139 appearances in the NHL with 5 teams.

The 34-year old, undrafted player from Milford, CT must be pretty happy to still be playing some amazing hockey.

08Sep

Riley Sheahan (15)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

10th year defenseman Riley Sheahan(15) waits a tiny bit after Buffalo Sabres decline to do anything to retain his rights, but Seattle Kraken move in and offer him a nice 1-year deal worth $850K AAV.

The former Detroit Red Wings‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#21 overall) spent his rookie season with affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins and won the 2013 AHL Calder Cup Championship.

He split next campaign between the two leagues, but was up full-time after signing his first one-way contract, as he was set to become a restricted free agent.

The 6’2″ 216 lbs. has his best point production in the first year of his new deal, scoring 13 goals and best 23 assists for 36 points in an almost full slate, 79 NHL games.

He would follow it up with another good session, a new high 14 goals and 11 assists in 81 games.

Almost oddly, it was after signing his most lucrative 2-year deal, where his numbers started to slide and he was traded early in the final frame of it to Pittsburgh Penguins.

It was literally the team magic that brought him back to life, striking for 11 goals and 21 assists.

He bounced around a little from there, but we’re thinking the former 3-year University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish 29-year old will like his new surroundings.

After posting some decent totals, 4 goals, 13 assists in 68 games, he chooses to move closer to home, St. Catharine’s, ON and signs on with the Sabres for a 2nd time in a couple seasons.

07Sep

Cole Guttman (19)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

Cole Guttman(19) takes a 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship with his school of 4 years University Of Denver Pioneers, where he scored a college career best 19 goals and 26 assists in 41 games with a +20 rating to a new 2-year NHL entry level deal with Chicago Blackhawks.

The 5’9″ 168 lbs. forward was originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2017 draft (#180 overall).

He basically signed up everywhere after an exceptional 1st USHL season with Dubuque Fighting Saints, scoring 27 goals and 27 assists in 53 games.

The 23-year old Northridge, CA native will have to fight for space and will likely start with affiliate Rockford Icehogs but will likely compete for every inch.