Category: Free Agent Signing

05Aug

Hunter Shepard (30)

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Hershey Bears jumped fairly quickly to sign undrafted, former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ 2-time NCAA Champion, captain, goaltender Hunter Shepard(30) to a deal for 2020/2021.

The fairly large 6’1″ 210 lbs. net minder was reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he has played 14 ECHL games, recording a 6’5-2 record with a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% on a club headed to the postseason, as there was little room in the crease above for the young goalie.

He has gotten his opportunity to shine though in 2 AHL appearances delivering a pair of wins, including a debut shut out for a .50 GAA and .983 SV%.

The one-time NAHL Goaltender Of The Year in 2016, right before committing to college, the 25-year old has always seemed to work hard for any credit but has to have Washington Capitals step in and offer him an NHL entry level deal, as he is firmly on their radar.

For his efforts backstopping the Bears to a 12th Calder Cup Championship, he is rewarded with a 2-year, 2-way deal that is worth some handsome money wherever he throws on those pads.

He gets to start a 1st game, as the big club is out to a bit of a wobbly start and gets the W in a 6-4 contest, stopping 18 of 22 shots to potentially get a 2nd nod in another night.

His 2-1-1 record wasn’t bad, although maybe his numbers could have improved, but for a 2nd straight season with the affiliate, he posts a 27-4-3 record with a 1.76 GAA and .929 SV% to earn himself the Baz Bastien Award as the AHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender and will once again look to push his club deep in the playoffs.

He’s all set with a 2-year contract through 2024/2025, so can continue to concentrate on winning.

Very successful in his time, as an unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Ottawa Senators.

He is mostly tending net for affiliate Belleville Senators, but does see action in 1 big league game and finds himself traded to Montreal Canadiens, where he will likely report to Laval Rocket.

For 2026/2027, he decides to leave for a 1st time and accepts a deal with Barys Astana of the KHL.

03Aug

John Marino (5)

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New Jersey Devils‘ 4th year defenseman John Marino(5) was involved in a trade that sent him to the team from 3-year club Pittsburgh Penguins, where he twice notched 20+ assists, with a career high 24 last season.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner is on the hook for another 5-years for the 6-year deal he signed a year and a half ago worth an average of $4.4M AAV through 2026/2027.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#154 overall), but somewhat oddly traded before he ever got started.

The North Easton, MA native spent 3 years at nearby Harvard University Crimson, amassing an amazing +/- numbers before turning pro.

6th year d-man becomes the #1 for the new Utah Hockey Club, who pick him up for some draft options and he gets a 3-year deal moving forward.

Rebranded Utah Mammoth for his 2nd season, he pots some 32 assists in 80 games with a monster +42 rating.

He signs a new to start when his current deal ends in 2027/2028 8-year $6.75M AAV deal to stay.

02Aug

Tanner Kero (64)

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Dallas Stars re-signed 7th year center Tanner Kero(64) to a two-year two-way NHL contract through 2022/2023.

The former Michigan Tech captain put up some good numbers through his 4-year college career, but nothing like he did, when he was a senior captain and popped in 20 goals and 26 assists in 41 NCAA WCHA games.

He’s already a veteran of 111 total appearances with initial signing club Chicago Blackhawks and 39 games in 2020/2021 with current team, scoring 3 goals and 7 assists to earn his new deal.

The 28-year old has played 248 AHL games, and must be smiling but has worked hard to achieve all he has.

He spends the entire frame with affiliate, Texas Stars, but scores well through the playoffs.

Not re-signed to continue, he inks a minor league deal with Colorado Eagles.

For 2024/2025, he has likely made the best decision and agrees to terms with HV71 of the SHL, where we think he will find new life.

He throws up a decent frame in Sweden, but decides to head for Germany next and signs with Kolner Haie of DEL.

In 41 games, he scores 11 goals and 18 assists, but decides to sign with rivals Krefeld Pinguine for 2026/2027.

02Aug

Georgii Merkulov (10)

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Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ Russian-born, freshman left wing Georgii Merkulov(10) leads NCAA Division 1 players in goal scoring with 18.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward spent all of his youth hockey in his homeland and played junior hockey in the MHL for a couple seasons, including 6 VHL games for HK Tambov before leaving during the 2019/2020 session to start his American.

He joined Youngstown Phantoms and was a bit of an instant success with 6 goals and 27 assists in 36 USHL games.

The 21-year old played one more successful campaign of juniors before committing to school.

Undrafted, he will easily be a player to watch.

Boston Bruins waste no time and scoop him from one successful year at college hockey to a 3-year NHL entry level deal starting next season.

He scores a meager 24 goals and 31 assists with Providence Bruins and is back up in rookies training camp to begin the 2nd year of his entry level deal for 2023/2024 and by the looks of it is ready to compete for a spot on the big club.

After a 3rd season of 30+ assists, with a new high 39 last season, he gets a new 1-year deal to stay a Bruins and keep building.

He’s still our pick to make the big club on a more permanent basis.

After 4 years looking to break through the system, it’s time to move on and he signs a 1-year deal with Colorado Avalanche to see if a new environment can improve his chances.

02Aug

John Prokop (37)

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Union College Dutchmen junior defenseman John Prokop(37) leaves a year on the table and signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Toronto Maple Leafs, as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent.

The 6’3″ 190 lbs. blue liner scored a 2nd 8 goal season and added 19 assists, which equaled what he did as a freshman, but was down from the 26 he recorded as a sophomore and likely got him extra noticed.

From Wasau, WI, the 24-year did 4 years of mostly USHL juniors after high school.

He reported to AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies and played 3 games with no points.

Through his rookie frame, he skates 24 games with 1 goal and 2 assists, but doesn’t figure in the playoffs, as they go for a 2026 Calder Cup.

For 2026/2027, Milwaukee Admirals see something and sign him up.

29Jul

Noah Beck (20)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ senior defenseman Noah Beck(20) takes 2 years of 17 assists to a graduate season at Arizona State University Sun Devils for 2024/2025.

The Richmond Hill, ON native did 1 season juniors OJHL before coming down to the USHL upon the encouragement of new college team and then getting drafted by St. Louis Blues in the 7th round of 2020 (#194 overall).

He scored well with 4 goals and 23 assists in 44 games.

The 6’3″ 183 lbs. blue liner will likely do well playing his new club’s independent schedule.

He explodes scoring 5 goals and 28 assists in 37 games with a +12 rating to become an unrestricted free agent and get signed by San Jose Sharks, as he wasn’t picked up by the team that selected him.

To start his pro career, he reports to affiliate San Jose Barracuda on an ato.

He would sign on for the full 2025/2026, but spent most of his playing time with affiliate Wichita Thunder, posting 9 goals and 32 assists in 44 ECHL games with a +4 rating.

For 2026/2027, Hershey Bears are watching and sign him up to a new AHL deal.

28Jul

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.

Mostly tending net with Ontario Reign last season, he puts up impressive numbers still and gains the eye of Columbus Blue Jackets, who sign him for 2026/2027.

27Jul

Robert “Bobo” Carpenter (14)

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Undrafted 3rd year, center Robert “Bobo” Carpenter(14) signs a 1-year AHL deal with Milwaukee Admirals for 2021/2022.

He was originally inked to a 2-year entry level deal by New York Islanders after graduating as captain of Boston University Terriers.

Almost oddly, the 5’11” 200 lbs. forward was a breakout scorer as a junior, recording 20 goals and 15 assists in 40 Hockey East games, but maybe played a slightly more reserved style as team leader.

The North Reading, MA native took an interesting path through Austin Prep USHS-Prep to local youth and junior premiere before arriving at Sioux City Musketeers upon graduation, where he pumped in point-per-game stats for his short spell in the USHL.

We think the 25-year old will do well within his new club’s system and potentially gain notice from the parent club Nashville Predators.

After suffering a mid-season injury after putting up point-per-game numbers in the ECHL, he will return to Florida Everblades, signing a 1-year deal for 2022/2023.

He absolutely destroys scoring on the team’s way to a 3rd straight Kelly Cup trophy, but he’s set to move on and we are sure Belfast Giants of the EIHL really want him in their uniform for 2024/2025.

In 47 games, he scores 18 goals and 17 assists, then adds 5 points in the playoffs to win a 2nd straight trophy, but decides to return closer to home for 2025/2026 and signs with Kansas City Mavericks.

He grabs 25 goals and 18 assists in 42 games with a +19 rating, then adds another 16 points in the playoffs to carry his team to the Kelly Cup Finals.

After a really good run, he has decided at 29 years old to retire and move his game behind the bench as assistant coach for Merrimack College Warriors Women’s hockey team.

27Jul

Scott Perunovich (48)

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St. Louis Blues‘ 2nd round pick in the 2018 draft (#45 overall), rookie defenseman Scott Perunovich(48) gets a first NHL recall after putting up a dandy 2 goals and 18 assists in 12 AHL games for affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.

In his debut he skated an almost unreal 24 shifts for 18:26 ice time with 1 shot on net in a 3-2 loss.

They must figure the unlikely 5’10” 175 lbs. blue liner is accountable and may come to life head-manning the puck.

In his first and second years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs managed to capture a pair of back-to-back NCAA Division 1 Championships. and left winning Player Of The Year award and the Hobey Baker Award as a junior.

He played three campaigns recording 85 assists with an overall +49 rating.

The 23-year old, Hibbing, MN native is just getting started.

He would stay up in the big league for 19 games and record 6 assists with a +2 rating, then added another 4 assists in 7 playoff contests.

For his efforts, he gets rewarded with a 1-year, 1-way contract at the league minimum to show them some more.

He was just about a point-per-game player in the minors, playing limited games due to a season ending injury, but returned to appear only in the big guns lineup and scores 17 assists in 54 games with a +1 rating.

His efforts are rewarded to return in a Blues‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

NY Islanders are suffering injuries in their zone and inquire, pick him up in a trade and will employ his services for the remainder of the year.

He has 2 goals and 4 assists with a +1 rating.

As a free agent, he signs a new 1-year 2-way deal with Utah Mammoth that will hopefully bring his assist strength back.

He heads to affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners and runs up 9 goals and 40 assists in 64 games with a +4 rating.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year deal with Los Angeles Kings for 2026/2027.

26Jul

Noel Acciari (52)

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8th year right wing Noel Acciari(52) inked a 1-year, 1-way deal with St. Louis Blues shortly into unrestricted free agency, following 3 successful campaigns for Florida Panthers.

Undrafted he was initially signed by Boston Bruins after winning the 2015 NCAA Division 1 Championship with Providence College Friars.

The 5’10” 209 lbs. forward has never really been a big scorer, but did pot 20 in his 1st season in the sunshine state.

He currently has 11, including 1 in his 2nd game with new team Toronto Maple Leafs after a recent trade sent him north.

The 31-year is a free agent at the end of the current frame, but we think he inks for 1 or 2 more to stay, as he was sought.

He actually jumps ship for a smart, nice 3-year deal with Pittsburgh Penguins to the tune of $2M AAV.

Finishing up his deal with a 13 goals and 12 assists in 67 games with a +14 rating, the unrestricted free agent signs a 2-year deal with the team down the street, Philadelphia Flyers through 2027/2028.