Category: Minor League Deal

RPI Engineers‘ graduate goaltender Linden Marshall(40) went out into the world as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent and signed up with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

The 6’3″ 194 lbs. net minder played roughly 8 minutes in a relief effort, saving 8 without letting one in.

He was just under a week later scoped by Cleveland Monsters and signed to an ato.

The 23-year old from Victoria, BC is off to a nice start.

9th year defenseman Mark Alt(3) gets traded in a minor league deal, going from San Jose Barracuda to Rochester Americans.

The big 6’4″ 201 lbs. blue liner has played 456 AHL games.

Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#53 overall) traded to Philadelphia Flyers, as he was a junior at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

He quickly signed a 3-year entry level deal.

The Kansas City, MO native has played under NHL contract for 5 different team, but only appeared in 20 games.

He’s definitely more of a stay-at-home d-man, but has struck for 20 assists once and 10+ 3 times.

It would definitely almost be a no-brainer for the 30-year old to look overseas for some different kind of fun and a next good contract to play under.

Providence College Friars‘ graduate center Kohen Oleschefski(51) signs a 1st pro deal with Rochester Americans for the remainder of 2021/2022.

He’s coming off a solid session, where his totals were just a goal and an assist off his college career highs and was a +7 skater.

The 6’1″ 187 lbs. forward came to his new school on a year of eligibility through the transfer portal upon completing 4 seasons at University Of Denver Pioneers.

A native of Abbotsford, BC, he played a couple of BCHL frames, with his 2nd going off the hook for 52 assists in 58 games for Chilliwack Chiefs.

No points in his first 2 AHL games, but the 24-year old can’t be too far off.

Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate student, defenseman Joey Matthews(4) came over from 4 years at Dartmouth College Big Green and leaves with a new best 2 goals and college career tying 9 points from 2021/2022.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. blue liner has signed his 1st pro contract with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

He played a pair of seasons in USHL juniors before committing to school.

The 24-year old from Columbia, IL should be able to impress quickly in the ECHL.

 

3rd year defenseman John Furgele(21) has figured into 4 ECHL games with new team, Worcester Railers and already has a goal to his credit.

He, like a good many other players took 2020/2021 off due to COVID restrictions.

The year previous though, he bounced around amongst 4 different teams.

He was more settled as a rookie, spending 51 games with Maine Mariners, reaching career high 8 goals and 13 assists.

In 2 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats before entering the transfer portal and finishing up as assistant captain for Quinnipiac University Bobcats, he averaged 10 helpers.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. d-man had an interesting juniors’ route through a pair of NAHL campaigns with Bismarck Bobcats before ending up back closer to home in the EHL, where he won the 2013 Championship and then stayed as they switched to the USPHL before heading to school.

It would be little suprise to see the 28-year old breakout with some numbers this season.

And indeed that sort of happened as he has equaled his high 13 assists, set as a rookie, and has a new best +12 rating.

Almost oddly he gets dealt from one team fighting to retain playoff berth to another in roughly the same position, Tulsa Oilers.

Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Billy Sweezey(6) takes a decent first year playing through a pandemic mess for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring no goals but 4 assists in 22 AHL games with a +2 rating to a new league deal with rival Cleveland Monsters.

The sturdy 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner has never been much of a point-getter, except as a junior and senior at Noble & Greenough School USHS-Prep, when he walked away with 20 & 18 assists.

He had an almost opposite one year in USHL juniors with Chicago Steel, scoring 3 goals but only getting one assist.

The Hanson, MA native only scored 3 goals through 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs and on a couple of occasions flirted with 10 assists (9 as a sophomore and 8 senior).

A more stay-at-home style d-man, the 25-year old could become a valuable + player on his new club.

His 4 goals and 6 assists with a +6 rating in 45 games has earned the sturdy d-man a 2-year NHL entry level deal with parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets through 2024.

Atlanta Gladiators‘ 2nd season, 5th year net minder Chris Nell(30) recently appeared in his 100th ECHL game.

Undrafted, he signed a 2-year NHL entry level deal with New York Rangers, fresh off 3 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons.

He spent most of his rookie season with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, but was also lent to 3 lower league teams.

The 6’2″ 187 lbs. goalie played 39 games in the follow-up season in the E and even posted some outstanding stats over two appearances in the AHL with a .084 GAA and .973 SV%, but had maybe been already passed over at that point.

It would be little surprise to see the 27-year old, Green Bay, WI native to look outside the box next season for different hockey logistics.

12th year defenseman Cody Goloubef(29) decides for the 1st time in his pro career life to reach out across the seas for some new kind of hockey, signing for the remainder of 2021/2022 with SC Bern.

He only ever played one full season, 2015-2016, the 6th and final season with draft club (round 2, 2008, #37 overall) Columbus Blue Jackets, when he skated 43 NHL games, scoring a goal and best 7 assists and 8 points.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner has spent 3 full campaigns in the AHL, including most recently signed to Belleville Senators.

He is credited for appearing in 353 games with 39 goals and 90 assists with a +7 rating and a very decent 160 in the big league, scoring 3 goals and 22 assists with a -7.

The 32-year old, former 3-year University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ d-man has basically worked pretty hard at his craft to earn what he’s earned, should do well and have fun playing in the NL, Switzerland’s top hockey.

10th year left wing Mike Hoeffel(11) decided to sit out last season, but returns for his 5th year in DEL, signing with his 3rd club, Krefeld Pinguine for the remainder of 2021/2022.

He originally came over and signed a deal with DEL2 club, Eispiraten Crimmitschau after a successful stint in Fjordkraftligaen for Stavenger Oilers, where the won the 2016 Norway Championship.

An undrafted free agent after completing four years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, scoring quite well, he signed a 2-year entry level deal with New Jersey Devils, but skated only with their AHL affiliate Albany Devils.

The 32-year old probably is just happy folks want to pay him to lace up the skates.

Undrafted 2nd year right wing Austin McIlmurray(25) did ok as a rookie, scoring 6 goals and 4 assists in 22 ECHL games for Wichita Thunder after lighting it up as a senior for Sacred Heart University Pioneers, grabbing 18 goals and 14 assists in 34 with a +5 rating Atlantic Hockey contests.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward spent only one campaign in juniors, playing for Coquitlam Express and was a point-per-game player in this league (27-34 in 57 BCHL games).

He moves on for 2021/2022, signing a 1-year deal with Florida Everblades.

The 24-year old, Coral Springs, FL native should be able to take up scoring nicely in a new, full season without interruptions.

He lasts all of 2 games in his home state before that experiment leads him to a new opportunity with Toledo Walleye, where he gets 2 goals an 4 assists in 28 contests.

Not finished moving, he traded to Iowa Heartlanders and scores a goal in his debut against his former team for a nice start.