Category: Free Agent Signing

04Aug

Devon Levi (27)

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Despite his 3-3 record, Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore goalie Devon Levi(27) gives his team a chance to win each game with 2.01 GAA and .934 SV%.

Brought on board to his school as he was posting a monster junior season with Carleton Place Canadiens, earning a 1.47 GAA and .941 SV% on a 34-2-1 record in 37 CCHL games and basically earning every awarded allotted him.

The 6′ 189 lbs. net minder was spotted by Florida Panthers, who selected him in the 7th round of 2020 (#212 overall), but shipped him to Buffalo Sabres in a recent trade.

At this point, it’s just up to the 19-year old to keep stopping pucks until it feels right to sign an entry level deal, which looks to loom in his future.

After 2 seasons of effectively stopping pucks at college hockey (with 1 COVID season scratched), he decides it’s time to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal and start doing what he does in the pros now.

With back-to-back excellent frames with the affiliate Rochester Americans and plenty of work as a rookie in the show, he is ready to return on a 2-year deal worth $812.5K AAV to stay a Sabres and continue growth.

03Aug

Alex Laferriere (14)

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#83 overall), right wing Alex Laferriere(14) signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal after completing a hugely successful sophomore season with Harvard University Crimson, scoring a new best 21 goals and 21 assists with a +13 rating in 34 games.

To start his pro career he signs a ato with affiliate Ontario Reign, scoring a 1st AHL goal in 4 games before exiting.

Look for the 6′ 172 lbs. to maybe add some weight over the summer and compete for a roster spot at 1st official camp.

After two seasons up, scoring a new career best 19 goals and 23 assists with a +22 rating last season, the restricted free agent signs a new 3-year deal to stay a Kings‘ scorer for $4.1M AAV.

02Aug

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.

02Aug

Yaniv Perets (60)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ NCAA Division 1 Championship winning, junior goaltender Yaniv Perets(60) signs a 2-year entry level deal with Carolina Hurricanes.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. net minder ran a 34-4-3 record last season with a 1.49 GAA and .931 SV% and 10 shutouts.

It’s a bit of a wonder why the 23-year old from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC was never drafted, despite winning the 2019 USPHL/NCDC Championship with Junior Bruins.

He should do well now that he’s decided to turn pro with a year left in college.

Recalled from the ECHL to the backup for a 2nd time, in this outing he is put into net to face 1 shot in 12:46 net time that he turned away and he has a 1st NHL appearance.

Nice backup.

After playing in all three leagues last season, he is an unrestricted free agent and signs a 1-year AHL deal with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

29Jul

Brian Pinho (28)

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6th year center Brian Pinho(28) gets signed relatively quickly in unrestricted free agency by New York Islanders for 2023/2024.

He had a best 17 assists, but his 20 goals in his 2nd season with Hershey Bears, under contract to draft club Washington Capitals, 6th round 2013 (#174 overall) are tops in that category, which suggests he can score at this level.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward had 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 6 playoff games with Utica Comets last season.

He did 4 years at Providence College Friars, serving as senior captain, twice getting 12 goals and 20+ assists.

The 28-year old from Beverly, MA is in a good spot moving forward.

After a season best point totals, he joins Charlotte Checkers on a 2-year AHL pact.

29Jul

Travis Boyd (72)

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Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th year center Travis Boyd(72) is putting behind him a by a mile NHL career best campaign, scoring 16 goals and 18 assists to earn a nice two-year extension.

The former Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#177 overall) once had 15 helpers.

He was also a 2-time 20+ assist player as a junior and senior at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was also a twice 30+ assist and once had 47 in an AHL season for Hershey Bears.

He continues a nice scoring rolling the start of his new contract, but gets hurt trashing last year after 16 games.

An unrestricted free agent, he moves away from his 3-year team and signs a 1-year deal with Minnesota Wild for 2024/2025.

As an assistant captain for affiliate Iowa Wild, he scores a career 22 goals and 31 assists in 63 games to sign a new 1-year 2-way deal with Toronto Maple Leafs.

29Jul

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.

28Jul

Andrew Poturalski (22)

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Undrafted 6th year center Andrew Poturalski(22) circles back to rejoin his original team, Carolina Hurricanes on a 1-year 2-way contract for 2021/2022.

He spent the last two years away under a pair of contracts to Anaheim Ducks, which saw him only play for their affiliate San Diego Gulls.

The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game guy in 2020/2021, scoring 9 goals and 34 assists in 44 AHL games.

He was an outstanding scorer for then farm club Charlotte Checkers, averaging 20+ goals and 35+ assists in 3 years.

The 2-year University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ skater put up big numbers in Hockey East, just like he did in his 2nd year of the USHL with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Although he may have only seen two NHL games as a rookie, we think he may be on a short list for a quick recall in 2021/2022.

Almost oddly, he is recalled for 2 games and grabs 2 assists, but is captain of affiliate Chicago Wolves and absolutely blows up scoring with 28 goals and 73 assists in 71 games, then goes on to win the 2022 Calder Cup Championship.

He is twice the league leading scorer.

As a free agent, he signs a 2-year deal with Seattle Kracken and helps lead their affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds to a pair of minor league finals before bowing out.

For 2024/2025, he signs another 2-year pact, but moves on to the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.

He steps away for something different, signing with Avangard Omsk for 2025/2026 and we think will do really well in the KHL.

28Jul

Jayden Struble (47)

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Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2019 draft (#43 overall), defenseman Jayden Struble(47) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal as his college team of the last 4 seasons, Northeastern University Huskies wrap up Hockey East play.

The 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner is set to AHL debut with affiliate Laval Rocket.

A Cumberland, RI native, the 21-year old didn’t play any real junior hockey before heading to college.

He plays 2 straight seasons of 56 appearances and records a new assist high with 11 and points, 13 with a +2 rating to earn a new 2-year deal, as a restricted free agent to stick around in a Canadiens‘ sweater.

28Jul

Sam Malinski (70)

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Cornell University Big Red senior captain, defenseman Sam Walinski(70) signs an pto with Colorado Eagles and in 2 games already has a 1st AHL goal and an assist with a +3 rating on a playoff bound club.

Undrafted, parent club Colorado Avalanche inked him to a 2-year NHL deal after he posted a college career best 8 goals, junior season tying 18 assists and new high 26 points with a +10 rating, which was a +20 in his junior session.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner put up some magical points in his 2nd NAHL junior frame with Bismarck Bobcats, striking for 14 goals and 31 assists in 59 games with another +20 rating.

From Lakeville, MN, the 24-year old gets lucky, but could just be the right unrestricted pick up.

He will remember November 13 going forward, as that is the date of his NHL debut.

In a 5-1 win, he skated 17 shifts for 12:02 worth of ice time, had 1 shot, 1 hit and was a +1, when it was all done.

Last season he appears in 76 games, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists with a +8 rating and earns another season as an unrestricted free agent, keeping him an Avalanche.