Category: Free Agent Signing

28Jun

Aaron Ness (27)

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10th year defenseman Aaron Ness(27) was in Boston Bruins‘ training camp, but signs for 2021/2022 with affiliate Providence Bruins to stay in the system.

It’s his 1st minor league deal.

The 5’10” 184 lbs. blue liner has played an outstanding 557 AHL games, scoring 45 goals and 222 assists with an overall +7 rating.

He’s appeared in 72 NHL games in 7 seasons with 3 different teams, scoring just a goal and 6 assists.

We do believe the 31-year old, former 3-year University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers will look to continue his hockey overseas next, just to be able to say he did it as a pro.

Looks like we guessed wrong, as he signs for 2022/2023 with the team he had a 50 assist campaign for a few years ago, Hershey Bears and the recently turned 32-year old should be able to help them find their playoff punch again.

He’s riding a good playoff run with the team after getting 5 goals and 14 assists in 69 games with a +14 rating during the regular season, but has yet to add anything in the playoffs.

No worries says this minor league club as they would like him to stay in Chocolatetown for at least another 2 more years.

For a 7th season, he will stay a Bears, 2024/2025.

He spends his 2nd year as team captain, but maybe limits appearances to 38 games to ease off a bit.

Well, 818 games in the AHL and 72 in the NHL with 1 goal and it’s time to at 36-years old retire from pro hockey.

We think he stays put to assume an assistant coach role, he’d be a perfect fit for.

28Jun

Ian Moore (3)

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Harvard University Crimson senior captain defenseman Ian Moore(3) signs a 2-year entry level contract with draft team Anaheim Ducks (3rd round of 2020, #67 overall) and starts his pro career with affiliate San Diego Gulls, where he’s good for a 1st AHL goal and 4 assists in 9 games to score a recall in his short pro career.

In his NHL debut, he skates 18 shifts for 15:31 of ice time with 3 shots and 1 block in a 4-2 loss.

The 6’3″ 194 lbs. blue liner equaled his college best 3 goals last season and had 18 assists as a sophomore.

From Concord, MA, the 24-year is just getting started.

In 67 games, he scores 4 goals and 8 assists, then adds another tally in the playoffs to earn himself a 2-year extension to stay a Ducks.

25Jun

Garnet Hathaway (19)

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10th year right wing Garnet Hathaway(19) didn’t much of a pay boost after signing the 4-year with Washington Capitals worth some $6M total, but he gets 1 on a 2-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers worth $2.375M AAV after a spectacular 25-game effort in a Boston Bruins‘ uniform after a trade sent him there.

The fairly big 6’3″ 207 lbs. forward 1st signed an AHL contract with Adirondack Flames for his rookie season and did well enough to catch the radar of the parent club, Calgary Flames, who signed him to a 2-year entry level deal.

He was in their system for 4 years.

The 31-year old, Brown University Bears‘ graduate from Naples, FL should work harder, but find space to score with his new team.

Doing decently for his new club, he gets 2 more years in a Flyers‘ uniform to continue his game.

With 1-year left on his deal, he is traded to Florida Panthers to hopefully elevate his game again.

24Jun

Kevin Roy (12)

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6th year center Kevin Roy(12) signs for 2021/2022 with Laval Rocket.

It’s his 2nd contract in the league, as he skated for Tuscon Roadrunners, getting 11 goals and 19 assists in 35 AHL games last season.

Originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#97 overall), he played for 3 years on 2 contracts in their system and appeared in 28 NHL games over a pair of years, scoring 6 goals and an assist.

The 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward has 56 goals and 97 assists through 218 games in the farm league.

In his one campaign of junior hockey for Lincoln Stars, he got voted USHL Player Of The Year, Most Points, Most Goals, Most Assists, Best Plus/Minus and Forward Of The Year with his 54 goals and 50 assists in 59 games.

He was easily set to go to Northeastern University Huskies, where he twice struck for 19 goals and averaged 26 assists as a sophomore then junior before being named team captain as a senior.

The 28-year old should put up good numbers for his Montreal Canadiens‘ affiliate club and may even spark some notice.

After a very solid frame in Quebec, scoring 13 goals and 20 assists, he decides to split for Sweden, joining Brynas IF of the SHL late, but after 6 games with little pop, leaves for Liiga, and signs with HIFK.

Only getting 1 goal and 5 assists in 19 games, has him looking for a good next stop and he has found it, signing with HC Innsbruck of IceHL f0r 2023/2024.

He posts an almost silly 25 goals and 33 assists with a +20 rating in 47 games, and next will skate for rivals Graz99ers in 2024/2025.

After a 2nd 39 point season, which included the 2026 IceHL Championship, he’s an easy invite back for a 3rd term with Graz99ers in 2026/2027.

24Jun

Grant Slukynsky (13)

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Western Michigan University Broncos‘ junior, assistant captain center Grant Slukynsky(13) leaves a year on the table after tying his sophomore scoring of 10 goals and posting a new college best 30 assists and 40 points with a +15 rating in 39 games last season.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward signs a 1-year NHL entry level contract as an unrestricted free agent with Los Angeles Kings for 2026/2027.

After blowing away scoring at USHS-MN, he stretch for 3 USHL seasons before committing to Northern Michigan University Wildcats.

10Jun

Nicholas Abruzzese (26)

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In his NHL debut, center Nick Abruzzese(26) skates 15 shifts for 9:05 ice time in a 6-3 Toronto Maple Leafs‘ win.

The 5’9″ 160 lbs. forward was a 4th round pick in the 2019 (#124 overall).

He was signed to a 2-year entry level after skating his junior season for Harvard University Crimson.

The Slate Hill, NY native had a very good 2nd USHL season for Chicago Steel, scoring a league high assists (51) and points (80).

At 22-years old, he may spend a little time in the AHL to see how that develops.

He has been playing up in the show since he started and pots a 1st goal in his 9th appearance.

After 69 games with 16 goals and 32 assists, then 7 points in 7 playoff games and 2 assists in 2 games in the big league, he is retained for 2023/2024.

The restricted free agent gets a new, 2-year 2-way deal and will likely continue with affiliate Toronto Marlies, and it’s very likely he will continue to see time in the show.

Coming off a 2nd successful run in the minors, he is an unrestricted free agent and signs for 1-year with Tampa Bay Lightning.

In 56 games with the affiliate Syracuse Crunch, he earns a 2nd 50+ scoring season to score another 1-year contract.

08Jun

Magnus Chrona (30)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ Swedish-born, senior goaltender Magnus Chrona(30) signs a 2-year entry level deal with San Jose Sharks after being picked up in a trade with draft team Tampa Bay Lightning, where he was selected in the 5th round of 2018 (#152 overall).

The absolutely massive 6’6″ 216 lbs. net minder has always done well at school, winning the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship in what was his best season as a junior with a 28-8-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .911 SV%.

He would likely be best to sign an ato with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, as they fight to make the last playoff spot.

In his rookie year, he plays the full gambit of pro hockey leagues from the ECHL, AHL and NHL, but definitely looks to be working out the some kinks for consistency.

A big offseason trade sends him to Nashville Predators to continue and he’ll likely get the nod in net for affiliate Milwaukee Admirals to start.

He spends 2 seasons in net for the affiliate, but his contract is up and he is looking to home for his next contract, signing with Brynas IF of the SHL, which should be outstanding for him.

06Jun

Owen Michaels (34)

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Western Michigan University Broncos‘ junior right wing Owen Michaels(34) oddly signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal for 2025/2026 as an unrestricted free agent with Edmonton Oilers, yet doesn’t play a game.

So the 6′ 179 lbs. forward, who won the 2025 NCAA Division 1 title last year is a restricted free agent.

From Detroit, MI, the 24-year old did 4 USHL sessions before school.

We are guessing.

03Jun

Charlie Coyle (13)

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Boston Bruins‘ 3rd year center (10th overall), Charlie Coyle(13) taking some practice tips and plays in front of net minder Linus Ullmark at practice this morning after scoring a pair of goals in the team’s last home game.

He skated a year and a half at Boston University Terriers, but the San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round 2010 draft pick (#28 overall) decided to split for junior hockey in Canada.

The 6’3″ 214 lbs. forward joined Saint Johns Sea Dogs and ended up winning the 2012 QMJHL Championship with playoff scoring totals that equaled 2-points per game for the Winthrop, MA native.

In his 6th season wearing the same jersey, he gets a trade to Colorado Avalanche to help a playoff push and does.

As a free agent, he signs a 1-year deal to join Columbus Blue Jackets and blows up scoring to the tune of 20 goals and 38 assists in a full slate of 82 NHL games with a +3 rating.

Heading into the offseason, the would be unrestricted free agent gets re-upped for 6 years at $36M AAV to stay a Blue Jackets.

31May

Cole Bardreau (10)

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Undrafted 7th year right wing Cole Bardreau(10) re-ups for a 3rd season with New York Islanders on a 2-year, 2-way deal.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward is somewhat inconsistent scoring but did pop a very solid 10 goals and 6 assists in just 24 AHL games in 2020/2021’s COVID-baked season.

It was a similar through 4 years at Cornell University Big Red, but in his senior year he did manage new bests 17 assists and 22 points.

Originally signed as an unrestricted free agent by Philadelphia Flyers, he spent 4 years in their system under a pair of contracts.

Over a pair of recalls from his current club, he’s appeared in 10 NHL games scoring a goal and an assist.

If the 28-year can go on a bit of a tear to start 2021/2022, he could easily earn more time up.

A career best 15 goals and 16 assists in 67 games and a single game recall earns him another look for 2023/2024, but somehow structured under an affiliate Bridgeport Islanders‘ deal.

It’s becoming a no brainer as to where he is going to sign at this point as he returns for a 6th run in Bridgeport after once again coming away with 10+ goals and assists.

He will head on a new excursion that we can only think good things will come to him from, signing with HC Falkensteiner Pustertal Wolfe for 2025/2026.

Indeed, good things to come, as he is almost a point-per-game player and then helps a deep playoff run to get himself an easy invite back to continue to be a Wolfe.