Category: Free Agent Signing

11Oct

Cam Atkinson (89)

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11th year, Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#157 overall) right wing Cam Atkinson(89) gets traded from the nest of the only team he’s ever known for his 10 year pro career that maybe wasn’t considered likely seeing his stealthy 5’8″ 176 lbs. frame.

He heads to Philadelphia Flyers to ride out the final 4 years of his big money 7-year deal he signed in 2018/2019.

The Riverside, CT native has skated an almost eye-popping 627 NHL games, scoring 213 goals and 189 assists with an overall +17 rating.

He signed his entry level deal after twice scoring big for Boston College Eagles and would report to affiliate Springfield Falcons at the end of his third year, only to pop in a 1st 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 AHL games.

At 32-years old, it’s definitely a bit of a scary signing, but he has averaged 20+ goals and once hit 29, 35 and 41 in a session.

He doesn’t quite hit his previous marks with 10+ numbers in 2 seasons for his new club, including 1 completely scrapped due to injury and is bought out of his final year of his deal.

For 2024/2025, he hooks up with only his 3rd team ever in 14 seasons of play, Tampa Bay Lightning think they can lift the now 35-year old’s scoring level.

After 809 NHL games, scoring very well, he decides at 36-years old and will likely land somewhere nicely on staff, as he is set to sign a 1-day contract with 10-year team Columbus Blue Jackets to retire officially.

11Oct

Casey Bailey (93)

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7th year right wing Casey Bailey(93) re-signs with Iserlohn Roosters after putting up a 2nd 40+ point season.

The 6’3″ 194 lbs forward has twice earlier hit the 40+ mark, first as a junior at Penn State University Nittany Lions, then as a 3rd year AHL player for Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

At 30-year old, the Anchorage, AK native is definitely still hitting the ice hard.

After a 3rd season with the same club, putting up 39 points in his last frame, he signs for 2023/2024 with DEL rivals ERC Ingolstadt.

He leaves 4 years in the league for some new waters, signing with the famous Graz99ers of IceHL, which should be a good country for him to play in.

Through 46 games, he scores 15 goals and 12 assists, so does alright, but decides to come back and play a little closer to home, signing with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.

10Oct

Daniel O’Regan (11)

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6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(11) gets a new 1-year, 2-way deal from Anaheim Ducks for 2021/2022.

The unrestricted free agent signed a 1-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights last season and put up point-per-game numbers for affiliate Henderson Silver Knights.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#138 overall), he’s been a prolific scorer since he arrived to ultimate graduate St. Sebastian’s School before committing to 4 years at Boston University Terriers, where he scored 154 points (66-88) in 154 Hockey East games.

His dad Tom O’Regan took a similar path through school.

The 27-year old will likely be pivotal to affiliate San Diego Gulls‘ success.

Mid-season he is moved to Grand Rapids Griffins and his scoring takes flight with 14 goals and 17 assists in 39 games.

For 2023/2024, he will take his 1 NHL goal to a new adventure, signing with MoDo Hockey and we think he finds comfort in scoring in the SHL.

He scores just 4 goals and 8 assists in 34 games with a -9 rating, but Kunlun Red Star see something and sign him to a 1-year KHL deal for 2024/2025.

Through 65 games, he scores pretty well, but lacks some on-ice accountability and next decides to head to DEL, where he signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings for 2025/2026.

09Oct

Brian O’Neill (91)

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13th year center Brian O’Neill(91) will skate the SHL for his 1st season, signing with Lulea HF for 2024/2025 after 2 NL frames for EV Zug.

Upon leaving North American pro hockey, the 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward spent 6 years in the KHL for Jokerit.

Undrafted, he played his 1st 3 seasons in Los Angeles Kings‘ system, winning the 2015 Calder Cup with affiliate Manchester Monarchs, getting voted MVP amongst other awards.

He would next be traded to New Jersey Devils, scoring 22 NHL games, getting 2 assists.

The 2-time Yale University Bulldogs‘ 20-goal scorer and 3-time 20+ assists for the former captain did 1 USHL year Chicago Steel before school.

We think the 35-year old still has some hockey to prove.

Off to a hot start in 2025/2026, he is rewarded with a 3-year deal to stay with Lulea HF.

08Oct

Pheonix Copley (29)

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9th year net minder Pheonix Copley(29) has finally found his NHL team, Los Angeles Kings after some searching and a 237 journey through the AHL.

He did start the frame in the minors with affiliate Ontario Reign before his recall, which quickly netted wins and solidified his spot as the team’s starter.

The 6’4″ 200 lbs. wall has a 17-4-2 record with a 2.74 GAA and .901 SV%.

Undrafted, the former Michigan Tech Huskies‘ goalie has played 6 years in the system of initial signing club, Washington Capitals.

The 31-year old picks up a nice new 1-year deal to stay at $1.5M AAV.

He plays 1 game in the big league with not great results, but hums along nicely in 42 games in the minors with a good record to earn another year, basically at league minimum to return in a Kings‘ jersey.

We actually think there is more shine in the now 33-year old.

He is claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay Lightning, who will use him as a back-up and with affiliate Syracuse Crunch.

07Oct

Justin Vaive (46)

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14th year left wing, Justin Vaive(46) signs with Cincinnati Cyclones for a 9th ECHL season, 2024/2025.

He’s served as team captain 3 times.

The big 6’6″ 238 lbs. forward was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#92 overall), but never signed.

He did however sign an NHL contract a few years later with New York Islanders, which had him spend his entire time with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

From Buffalo, NY and son of former NHLer Rick Vaive, the 35-year old, who did 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks may not score like he once did, but he will certainly bring himself back up to a + player.

For an 8 season, 6 as team captain, he signs on to a team he has found a pretty great home with in Cincinnati for 2025/2026.

30Sep

Anthony Stolarz (41)

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10th year net minder Anthony Stolarz(41) gets a 1-year NHL deal with Florida Panthers worth $1.1M AAV after spending the last 4 in Anaheim Ducks‘ system.

Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#45 overall), he spent the 1st 5 years of his pro career with them.

The huge 6’6″ 243 lbs. goalie played 8 games at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks before leaving to join London Knights for 2 seasons, winning the 2013 OHL Championship in his 1st after coming from college.

At 29-years old, he will likely see more action in the show, but also will help train the youngsters in the system.

In 27 games for his new team as primary backup, he comes away with some pretty outstanding numbers to help the team win the 2024 Stanley Cup.

An unrestricted free agent, Toronto Maple Leafs are interested and agree to terms on 2 years for $2.5M AAV.

He posts a pretty outstanding frame, despite going through some knee problems to earn himself a new 4-year deal that starts 2026/2027 for $3.75M AAV to stay in the Leafs‘ net long-term.

27Sep

Travis Mitchell (10)

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Cornell University Big Red senior captain, defenseman Travis Mitchell(10) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with New York Islanders as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent.

He’s big at 6’3″ 201 lbs and can put up assists in a decent manner, getting 13 assists in his last two frames and 6 goals last season for a college career best 19 points.

The South Lyon, MI native skated 3 USHL campaigns, most of 2 for Omaha Lancers amassing 26 assists in his last session.

He played a 2nd season with affiliate Bridgeport Islanders and had a best 4 goals and 9 assists to earn another 1-year deal to stay in Islanders‘ system.

26Sep

Riley Nash (20)

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12th year unrestricted free agent center Riley Nash(20) picks up a 1-year deal at the minimum with Winnipeg Jets for 2021/2022.

He was coming off a good money deal, but terrible fit with Columbus Blue Jackets that was eventually rolled to Toronto Maple Leafs for no games played.

A former Edmonton Oilers‘ 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#21 overall), he’s never quick displayed the offensive finesse he did in 2 seasons with Thompson Blazer U18 AAA, then 1 season for Salmon Arms Silverbacks, scoring 38 goals and 46 assists in 55 BCHL games before heading to Cornell University Big Red.

The 6’2″ 188 lbs. forward is a veteran of 578 NHL games, 63 goals, 109 assists with his best outing coming in the 2nd year of his 2-year deal with Boston Bruins, and he somehow tipped in career highs 15 goals and 26 assists with a +16 rating to earn him that 3-year deal with the Ohio club.

At 32-years old, we got to think he’s pretty happy just getting a contract and who knows what he’s still capable of putting together.

For 2022/2023, he will return on a 2-year AHL deal to where it all started 13 years ago in 2010 with Charlotte Checkers, and will likely be one of the happiest guys in the locker room (and a true leader).

His 1st time back in forever and he lights it up big with an easy minor league career best 24 goals and 35 assists.

For 2023/2024, he makes maybe a little of a strategic decision, signing for 2-year 2-way the 2nd campaign with New York Rangers.

He plays 41 games in the minors, scoring well, then shows nice increases in the Calder Cup playoffs, but sits for all of the 2nd year of his deal and after 628 NHL and 312 in the A, at 36-years old enough is enough due to nagging concussion issues.

We see what awaits him next.