Category: Free Agent Signing

28Feb

C.J. Smith (29)

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JYP left wing C.J. Smith(29) quickly signs up for a 1-year extension after 1 goal and 4 assists through 5 games looks like a lock for him to score goals in Liiga after starting the season late with the team.

After 3 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, the 5’11” 183 lbs. forward signed an NHL entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Buffalo Sabres and stayed in their system for 4 years.

The 29-year old from Des Moines, IA is said to be coming back from surgery due to an injury, so this is a nice landing spot for him to re-stake his game.

He comes away with 8 goals and 12 assists in 33 games, which gains interest from Barys Astana of the KHL for 2024/2025.

So much for the tryout in Germany, as he will head home under contract to Charlotte Checkers, where he should do well and help.

He definitely help his new team win games, going into the playoffs, but waits a moment before signing 2025/2026 and agrees to terms with Bridgeport Islanders.

After 17 AHL games with 8 assists, he decides to head of to DEL and signs with Fischtown Pinguins for the 2nd half of 2025/2026.

27Feb

Jake Lucchini (19)

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Undrafted 4th year center Jake Lucchini(19) signed with Montreal Canadiens for 2020/2021 and has agreed to continue in the system on a minor league deal to affiliate Laval Rocket.

The former Michigan Tech Huskies‘ senior captain jumped in quick upon signing his first deal on an ato with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, grabbing a quick 6 goals and an assist in 15 AHL games.

He had a similar breakout upon the trade, scoring 4 goals and 1 assist in 6 games after being obtained in a trade with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 5’11” 183 lbs. forward will need to get back on the scoring tear but could easily play his way into another NHL contract.

A product of Trail, BC, he played for hometown juniors Trail Smoke Eaters popping the lid leading the team with 35 goals and 48 assists in 58 BCHL games.

The 26-year old is still climbing.

After 2 almost 20 goal (19) sessions with Belleville Senators and a 2nd 30+ assist frame, he signs as an unrestricted free agent for 2023/2024 with Minnesota Wild and will help their affiliate Iowa Wild climb into the rankings.

He also skated 11 games with Ottawa Senators and potted a 1st big league goal.

After 40 games in the big league and 30 in the minors, he would move on to sign a 1-year deal with Nashville Predators.

He only skated 3 games with them, but 70 in the minors with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.

It appears his time is good there as, after a 2nd 20+ assist season, signs for 2026/2027.

26Feb

Kevin Gravel (5)

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9th year defenseman Kevin Gravel(5) has got to be feeling the same way he did when he was a rookie with Manchester Monarchs making an unlikely AHL run to capture the 2015 Calder Cup trophy.

The now 31-year old is locked in with his team, Milwaukee Admirals in a Western Conference battle to head to the Finals.

He has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games with a +4 rating.

The 6’4″ 203 lbs. blue liner is signed on a 2-year 2-way deal to Nashville Predators and skated 23 games with them this past season.

He has played 132 NHL games and 332 in the lower league.

Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in 2010 (#148 overall), he initially was on a minor league contract, when helping his team to the title, but quickly upped on a 2-year entry level deal heading into the next frame.

The St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ 4-year d-man exploded in his senior year with 10 goals, seemingly out of nowhere.

He’s got another year left on his current deal, so he should settle in nicely.

Playing super well as team captain for the affiliate, Admirals with great plus numbers, despite maybe not scoring huge points earns him 2 more seasons at nice little pay bump to stay.

He is definitely well-liked and asked to stay for another 2 years to remain an Admirals.

19Feb

Will Weber (78)

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Schwenninger Wild Wings‘ 3rd year defenseman Will Weber(78) will hang around for a 4th frame, as he signs a 1-year extension through 2024/2025.

The big 6’4″ 227 lbs. blue liner doesn’t necessarily put up a lot of points, but is a fairly accountable, very large presence out there.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall), he only twice had 10+ assists.

The first time was his sophomore season at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks and the 2nd was his 1st session of DEL for Fischtown Pinguins.

At 35-years old, he has to be glad he’s still pulling down good contracts to play pro hockey.

Add another season, as he will skate for a 6th frame in a Wild Wings‘ jersey that he is looking mighty comfortable in lately.

And yup, he may not be playing as many games as a 37-year old, 23, but will return for more Wild Wings in 2026/2027.

18Feb

Kieffer Bellows (81)

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2016 draft (#19 overall), left wing Kieffer Bellows(81) signs a 1-year deal as a restricted free agent to stay.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward play the entire 2020/2021 session up with the big club, but only skated 14 games, scoring 3 goals, so was either a healthy scratch or reassigned to the taxi squad.

As a 2nd year player, he would score an AHL best 22 goals and 9 assists for 31 points for affiliate Bridgeport Islanders (Sound Tigers).

The former Edina High School, MN native was selected to head to Boston University Terriers and went onto 2 very successful USHL seasons before heading to college, but only lasted there for one year before deciding to split for Portland Winterhawks.

In 56 WHL games, he scored 41 goals and 33 assists with a +40 rating.

The 23-year old is son of former NHL player of 1188 games, Brian Bellows.

He would end up playing his 1st full frame in the big league, skating a healthy 45 games, scoring a not so bad 6 goals and 13 assists that would lead to his new 1-year, 1-way deal worth a tidy $1.2M AAV.

For 2022/2023, he would start on the roster, but it was decided to waive with the intention of reporting to the minors, but Philadelphia Flyers didn’t let him sit long and pulled him in.

He’s played 3 games with his new team, and although all loses, he’s kept it simple in his 10+ minutes of play and is only a -1.

We think the now 24-year old finds his footing, sticks and starts to make an impression.

He actually doesn’t really find his footing with 3 goals through 27 games.

For 2023/2024, he signed a pto with Toronto Marlies, is scoring big, not looking back and gets a deal for the current season.

Nashville Predators see something for their weighted 2024/2025 lineup that may start with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, but could get a call up for the 1st time in a couple of frames.

He takes some solid regular season play and point-per-game playoff looks to something new on his pro hockey playing career, a deal overseas with Brynas IF of the SHL, which should heed good results for him.

In 43 games, he has 7 goals and 7 assists with a +3 rating to earn himself an invite to be with Brynas again for 2027/2028.

15Feb

Zach Solow (73)

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Former Northeastern University Huskies‘ captain, undrafted center Zach Solow(73) signs an ato with Chicago Wolves for the remainder of 2021, but it’s said to be tied to a whisper that he’s actually Nashville Predators‘ property and news actually came through their COVID dormant affiliate Milwaukee Admirals that he signed for 2021/2022, but we still have yet to see the confirmed word of his definite big league deal.

He’s a pure digger and was a point-per-game player last season for a first time in his college career.

Little doubt the only 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward has to be on a few teams lists for a big, unrestricted free agent pick up but as we said, he may be spoken for.

The 22-year old Naples, FL native did three years of junior hockey, committing to college just before his breakout campaign, when he scored 18 goals and 51 assists for 69 points (both most in the league) in 52 USHL games for Dubuque Fighting Saints.and was selected Forward Of The Year.

His initial foray into pro hockey turned out decent, as he was also signed to Florida Everblades, where he became a point-per-game player in 4 playoff games.

He signed on an AHL deal with Milwaukee to stay in the system, was in and out of the lineup before he went back down towards the end of the session to rejoin the ‘Blades.

Here he struck playoff gold and won the 2022 Kelly Cup Championship. with 9 goals and 9 assists in 19 games.

For 2022/2023, he heads into a new direction, signing a 1-year deal with Toronto Marlies.

Reassigned to ECHL affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, he is a point-per-game scorer.

He returned for last season and his game improved to 11 goals and 15 assists in 66 games, then 2 assists in 3 through the playoffs.

For 2024/2025, he is back on another 1-year deal with the Marlies.

In 52 games, he scores 6 goals and 13 assists with a +6 rating, then adds 2 goals in 2 games in the playoffs.

He will take off and signs with Adler Mannheim for 2025/2026 and we think will continue to grow his game in DEL.

In 44 games, with 14 goals and 19 assists with a +10 rating earns him another year to stay in a Mannheim jersey through 2026/2027.

10Feb

Riley Barber (11)

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8th year right wing Riley Barber(11) signs a 1-year deal with Dallas Stars for 2022/2023, as an unrestricted free agent, coming out of 2 years of contracts with Detroit Red Wings.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward is off to another quick start this season, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 AHL games for affiliate Texas Stars.

He once had north of 30 goals and 4 times passed the 20+ tally mark and on 3 occasions had 20+ assists.

Originally a Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#167 overall), he stayed in their system for 4 years after burning a hole through the college score sheet with Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.

The 28-year old has somehow skated in 16 NHL games but not registered a point.

You have to think he’ll get another opportunity where he is this season.

He manages a very good, career high 32 goals and 32 assists in 69 games for the Cedar Park team and will next take his scoring abilities to the KHL, signing a 1-year deal with Barys Astana for 2023/2024.

While scoring 10 goals and 13 assists in 28 games, he still finds himself on the move and will head to AK Bars Kazan for the rest of the season.

He does ok, but signs with his 3rd team, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, where he scores well with 16 goals and 14 assists, but lacks a little with a -13 on ice accountability.

For 2025/2026, he decides to move to Germany and ERC Ingolstadt step right in to ink him to a DEL deal.

He absolutely blows up scoring to the tune of 27 goals and 29 assists in 46 games with a +24 rating to conservatively only signing for another year in 2026/2027, Ingolstadt.

02Feb

Andrej Sustr (19)

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10th year Czechia-born defenseman Andrej Sustr(19) hasn’t been home since an appearance in Czechia3 in 2008/2009, but signs for 2024/2025 in Czech Extraliga with the league powerhouse HC Dynamo Pardibuce.

The absolute huge 6’8″ 225 lbs. blue liner has 362 NHL games to his credit and is known for his large bruising presence.

He came over early after youth hockey back home and did 2 seasons of junior hockey before moving onto to 3 at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.

Almost oddly he took off the season before COVID infected to play for Kunlun Red Star for 2 frames in the KHL before returning.

The 33-year old will be missed, but this has to be the right thing for him to do for his hockey career.

He does well there and plays himself up to a deal with Tappara, where he got 1 goal and 11 assists in 38 Liiga games.

For 2025/2026, he looks to return to the AHL, but after 11 games is released and takes up with Kalmar HC and has no points in 10 HockeyAllsvenskan games, but is a +4 rating.

26Jan

Joe Snively (7)

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Washington Capitals‘ 3rd year undrafted center Joe Snively(7) gets a 1st recall after lighting it up big for affiliate Hershey Bears with 8 goals and a career high 14 assists for 22 points with a +13 rating in 21 AHL games.

Through 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs, he was a more than point-per-game player, scoring 58 goals and 81 assists in 129 NCAA Division 1 games with a +18.

He was similarly good in 2 years of junior hockey for Sioux City Musketeers, getting 132 points in 164 USHL games.

In his NHL debut, he skated 11 shifts for 6:53 ice time with an assist, 2 shots on net, 1 hit and left a 3-2 loss with a +1.

The 25-year old Virginia native will be a 2nd time restricted free agent at the end of the current frame and should be a early shoe in for a couple campaign contract extension.

He must have also had a lot of family and friends in the stands for his first game.

For 2024/2025, coming off a 2-year extension that paid him basically 1-way money and winning a 2nd straight Calder Cup Championship with his team of 3 seasons, he decides to look elsewhere and agrees to a 1-year, 2-way deal with Detroit Red Wings that we are sure he hopes means more playing time up.

He takes a minor league best 21 goals with Grand Rapids Griffins to a new project, signing with Djurgardens IF of SHL for 2025/2026 that looks to be equally great.

In 38 games, he grabs 10 goals and 19 assists to earn a 2-year extension to stay Djurgardens IF through 2028.

24Jan

Alex Steeves (21)

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Toronto Maple Leafs‘ undrafted recent 3-year free agent entry level deal signee, forward Alex Steeves(21) is set to have the summer off as his contract kicks in for 2021/2022, and it doesn’t look like he’s set to sign an ato with say, affiliate Toronto Marlies to get some more playing time in.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. pivot leaves a year on the table at Notre Dame University Fighting Irish after scoring a career high 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 29 games.

His team had to unfortunately pull out of the NCAA Tournament due to COVID protocols.

He opened the season he committed to college in tier 3 junior hockey EHL with a team he’d been with through 16 & 18U, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs.

After blowing things up quickly with 6 points in 4 games, he agreed to join Sioux City Musketeers, got noticed then played two seasons with Dubuque Fighting Saints, where he was a point-per-game skater in his 2nd campaign.

He may start out in the minors but look for him to make a splash quickly.

The 22-year old scores his first NHL recall due to injury, so may get a more advanced look.

In a 3 games, he’s skated an average of 13 shifts for roughly 7/8 minutes with a few shots, takeaways and even recorded a 1st point, an assist in a win.

He continues to put up scoring with a new best 27 goals and 57 points in 65 AHL games last season to earn himself another 1-year, 2-way deal to keep on, keepin’ on.

After blowing up scoring in his 4th season on the books with draft club, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and on opening day, signs a 1-year $825K AAV deal with sort of hometown club, Boston Bruins for 2025/2026.

In 33 games, he has 8 goals and 6 assists, which earns him a 2-year extension to stay a Bruins through 2028 at $1.625M AAV, a nice pay increase.