Category: Free Agent Signing

16Jul

Matthew Peca (63)

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7th year center Matthew Peca(63) signs a new 1-year, 2-way deal with St. Louis Blues for 2021/2022 after coming off one season for Ottawa Senators, which saw him play in 5 games with one assist.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#201 overall), the twice 10+ goals and 2-time 20+ assist Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ player has skated 78 NHL games.

The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward is likely to start with new affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, but could easily score some more looks in the show for the 28-year old.

After putting up some decent stats for the farm club, the Petawawa, ON native scores a recall to his new team and has an additional assist (6-15) in now 81 games.

Coming off his former deal, which saw him re-sign for 2-years, but receive no further looks despite posting some continued impressive AHL numbers.

For his next step he signs a 2-year minor league deal to stay in western Massachusetts.

The 3-year captain of his current club gets himself a trade for a new beginning to Syracuse Crunch at the deadline.

He wouldn’t stick for long, as the unrestricted free agent signs a 2-year deal to join close by Rochester Americans through 2027/2028.

15Jul

T.J. Tynan (9)

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8th year center T.J. Tynan(9) for the 2nd straight AHL season is the league’s MVP.

He has played 498 games, scoring 85 goals and a massive 361 assists with a +77 rating.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#66 overall), he has only skated 21 NHL games, recording 1 assist.

He was selected after an explosive freshman campaign at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and at the conclusion of his sophomore session.

The 30-year old needs a new contract to extend with Los Angeles Kings, as he is an unrestricted free agent or try his hand with another club.

He always rolls huge assists and 3 years did for Ontario Reign, but re-signs to head back to Colorado Avalanche, where he played 16 games, but will likely end up with another season in a Colorado Eagles‘ jersey.

In 52 games, he scores 8 goals and 41 assists with a +12 rating and also appears in 9 games with the big club, recording 1 assist.

For 2025/2026, he signs a 1-year, 1-way deal to stay an Avalanche.

In 67 games, he amasses 47 assists and the unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with Springfield Thunderbirds, returning to the city he got his pro career start in back 2014 for 2026/2027.

15Jul

Evan Rodrigues (17)

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Undrafted Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 8th year center Evan Rodrigues(17) had a career best 24 assists and 43 points last season, but was going to earn to much heading into the new frame to keep around, so the unrestricted agent was free to hunt for a new deal.

The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward signs with 2022 Stanley Cup Champions Colorado Avalanche for 2022/2023.

He has been a full-time NHL player for the last 4 seasons.

A bit of an inconsistent performer through 4 years at Boston University Terriers, he completely came alive as a senior assistant captain, striking for 21 goals and 40 assists in 41 NCAA Division 1 games with a +30 rating.

39 points in 69 games for his new club, then 5 points in 7 in the playoffs and this unrestricted free agent at 29-years of age is looking good for a long-term deal.

Florida Panthers waste little time, offering him $3M AAV through 2026/2027.

In the final year of his deal, New Jersey Devils come looking to add some scoring up front and trade for a 2-time Stanley Cup recipient.

15Jul

Will Borgen (17)

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9th year defenseman Will Borgen(17) gets traded to a system, where he could easily see himself on the increase side of scoring, as a Boston Bruins.

The 6’3″ 206 lbs. blue liner had 5 goals and 10 assists in 75 games last year with a +3 rating.

Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2015 draft (#92 overall), he left 3 years at St. Cloud State University Huskies to turn pro.

He next signed with Seattle Kracken, where he stayed for 4 seasons.

From Moorhead, MN, the 29-year may just be arriving.

 

14Jul

Shane Gersich (29)

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Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Shane Gersich(29) grabs another one-year, two-way deal to stick around in the prospect system.

The University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ 3-year forward has consistently put up respectable numbers for affiliate Hershey Bears.

He started his pro career with 3 NHL games fresh off his junior year at school, grabbed an assist and even skated a pair of playoff appearances en route to the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship.

The 24-year old has to be fairly happy with the way things are turning out for this 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#134 overall).

For 2022/2023, he re-signs on a minor league deal to stay where he is after recording a career high 14 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating.

After a 5th season where he’s been and a brand new 2023 Calder Cup Trophy to bear, he decides to look on and signs a 1-year deal with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should do very well.

We pretty much thought what has occurred would, he takes a good frame in Sweden’s tier 2 league, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games to a higher level of hockey next, signing with Iserlohn Roosters of DEL for 2024/2025.

He does ok with 16 goals and 21 assists in 51 games, but decides to look for another opportunity and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

After putting up some pretty amazing scoring numbers, he decides to sign with rivals, Vienna Capitals for 2026/2027.

14Jul

Blake Coleman (20)

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Blake-Coleman2

New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#75 overall) center Blake Coleman(20) suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of all but 14 AHL games of his rookie campaign with affiliate Albany Devils (4 goals, 3 assists).

The 5’11” 200 lbs. pivot didn’t let that sidetrack him too much as he had a strong training camp, was one of the last cuts to be reassigned, then got right to work.

In 34 games he is tied for team lead with 13 goals and 10 assists with a best +15 rating.

He’s always been pretty good connecting the puck with the net, basically winning every scoring award category including USA Hockey Junior Player Of The Year in his 2nd season for Indiana Ice of the USHL.

Through four years of college at Miami University (Ohio) he was a point per game guy as a senior and missed a second 20 goal showing by one, while helping his squad win the 2015 NCAA/NCHC Championship.

The 25-year old skated a decent amount of shifts for at least 11+ minutes of ice time in his first two NHL appearances.

There’s little doubt he has the tenacity to become a full-time player in the show but will have to continue to work hard for his opportunities.

He has certainly earned his time as an upper league player, amassing some 693 games at this point, winning 2020 & 2021 Stanley Cup trophies with Tampa Bay Lightning and scored a career high 30 goals with Calgary Flames just a few years ago.

Well, in the off season he is dealt in the final year of his contract to Minnesota Wild for a new start.

14Jul

Matt Stienburg (36)

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Cornell University Big Red junior, center Matt Stienburg(36) is a Colorado Avalanche 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft (#63 overall) and looks to be ready for another breakout session.

In 3 games, he’s got a pair of goals and looks to score many many more in 2021/2022.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. native of Halifax, NS originally accepted his college in his first season, then was NHL selected in the follow-up frame, where he was almost a point and a half player and served as team captain, while also heading to 3 USHL games with Sioux City Musketeers of a junior hockey career during break.

At 21-years old and one year away from finishing through some tough college hockey times without a 2020/2021 frame, he probably should just continue before signing an entry level deal, but he’s easily the style of power forward the parent club wants.

Smitten by the injury bug, his senior year as assistant captain was limited to 18 appearances with 2 goals and 5 assists.

He plows through though and signs an ato to join Colorado Eagles to hopefully get back to pushing his game forward.

In his 4th AHL game, he records a 1st point, a nice assist for himself.

He appears in 4 more playoff games and gets another helper point for himself.

It looks as though he has made a decent enough impression to score a contract for 2023/2024.

Through 54 games last season, he scores 5 goals and 8 assists with a +2 rating and in the opening 2 games of the 2024/2025 season, he grabs 1 goal and 1 assist with a +2 to earn a 1st NHL recall.

In his debut he skates 9 shifts for 4:36 of ice time, including 3 hits and 1 fight with a -1 rating in a 5-3 loss, then follows it up with 8 shifts for 5:16 ice and 2 shots on net in an overtime win.

He has been absolutely hampered by the injury bug for the past 2 seasons, playing barely 10 games, but Vancouver Canucks have him back to better health and sign him for 2026/2027.

13Jul

Angus Crookshank (9)

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Ottawa Senators step in to sign 5th round pick in the 2018 draft (#126 overall) left wing Angus Crookshank(9) to a three-year entry deal, leaving one year of school at University Of New Hampshire on the table, after scoring 9 goals and 9 assists in 20 games in a completely broken NCAA season.

The 21-year old from North Vancouver, BC has always been a fairly consistent scorer netting more than a point per game in his 2nd year with Langley Rivermen of the BCHL before committing to college and getting on the radar fully to be selected.

He has finally arrived to make his debut with affiliate Belleville Senators and notched an assist in his debut, a resounding 7-2 win.

With the season continuing and the parent club being out of the playoff hunt, he could garner a look.

He is running totals with their affiliate Belleville Senators and has 10 goals and 11 assists in 24 games this season to earn a 1st NHL recall.

In his debut, he skates 16 shifts for 10:11 ice time with 3 hits in a 6-3 loss to one of the best teams in the league.

He is basically a point-per-game player for the affiliate and gets 2 goals and 1 assist in 13 games in the big league to earn himself a 1-year extension.

Amassing 8 games in the big league, he notches an assist, but in the minors he pops for another 20+ goal campaign.

An unrestricted free agent for a 1st time, he signs a 2-year deal with New Jersey Devils, that may have him see some playing time with Utica Comets, but definitely offers him a window to earn his way up.

He scores 24 goals and 12 assists in 60 AHL games and gets 8 up in the big league, where he gets a 1st NHL goal.

For 2026/2027, he gets traded to Florida Panthers.

13Jul

Jack Drury (72)

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ rookie center Jack Drury(72) scores a first recall for his debut and pots a first NHL goal in the process to help the win.

Who had those odds?

The 5’11” 174 lbs. forward skated 23 shifts for 16:05 of ice time with 4 shots, 2 hits, 2 blocks and 2 penalty minutes, leaving the contest with +1 rating.

He’ll easily always where his former school, Harvard University Crimson on his sleeve.

As a rookie, playing in the AHL for affiliate Chicago Wolves, he wins himself a 2022 Calder Cup Championship with very good numbers.

He would split duties for just 1 more frame before becoming full-time in the show, where 8 goals and 19 assists in 74 games with a +4 rating, then adding another 5 points in 11 playoff matchups with a +7.

The restricted free agent picks himself up a nice 2-year deal to stay in a Hurricanes‘ sweater, moving forward through at least 2025/2026.

In an epic deal, he is traded to Colorado Avalanche, where in his debut, he scores a 1st goal with the team.

He comes away with a decent amount of points for his new club, but once again, he’s on the trade block headed to Nashville Predators and gets a 5-year $22.5M deal.

13Jul

Cam Thiesing (15)

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Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ junior center Cam Thiesing(15) signs a 2-year 2-way NHL contract with NY Islanders and an undrafted, unrestricted free agent, leaving a year of school on the table.

He had 15 goals as a sophomore and 17 assists in his freshman year, but also scored well with 9 goals and 7 assists in 31 games last season.

The 6′ 183 lbs. forward did 3 years junior hockey and in his 2nd USHL with Green Bay Gamblers was very close to a point-per-game scorer.

From Franklin, TN, they obviously see something in the 23-year olds game they want now.

After a new pro best 9 goals and 2nd rung of 8 assists in 63 games last season with a +4 rating, he signs with new affiliate Hamilton Hammers for 2026/2027.