Category: Minor League Deal

Union College Dutchmen senior right wing Caden Villegas(17) had a college best 22 assists in his final season.

The 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward from Plano, TX moved through the ranks of youth hockey before heading to juniors, where he moved up before college.

He signed a 1st pro deal with Adirondack Thunder and in 12 ECHL games, recorded 1 goal and 2 assists.

For his rookie run, he will need a contract.

He finally does come around to sign a 1-year deal to remain a Thunder for 2025/2026, but actually changes things up to become a free agent and signs for a 1st year with Maine Mariners instead.

Through 21 games with 1 goal and 5 assists, he leaves for Swindon Wildcats of the NIHL, maybe to prove something for his  game going for the next step forward.

Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate goaltender Vinnie Purpura(33) signs a 1st contract upon completing his 5th year with Adirondack Thunder and gets pressed into play his 1st ECHL game right away.

In his 2nd game, the 6’6″ 194 lbs. backstop pulls off a 1st 6-2 win after losing his debut effort in overtime.

He originally committed to Boston University Terriers , where he was used sparingly in 2 seasons, after a solid 2nd USHL frame with Omaha Lancers.

The 24-year from Lemont, IL may just find his game completely as he’s turned pro.

He would post a 2-0 record in 4 appearances, but he couldn’t have been happy with his numbers, so he signs to return for another look in a Thunder jersey for 2023/2024.

Through 25 starts, he posts a 15-4-4 record, but doesn’t have a new deal, so his rights are claimed by Reading Royals for 2024/2025.

After a decent season stopping pucks, he will returns a Royals for 2025/2026.

And yikes, he goes 3-0 to start with a .099 GAA and .967 SV%, but maybe playing time is a tiny bit of an issue here and he gets moved to Savannah Ghost Pirates, who can use them to bolster their claims.

He continues with his good game, posting a 4-2 record, 1.92 GAA and .939 SV% to score himself a 1-way AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers for the 2nd half of the 2026 season.

7th year defenseman Nolan Zajac(44) leaves a pair of seasons in the SHL for a new European adventure in 2022/2023, joining DEL‘s Grizzlys Wolfsburg.

He spent only a pair of seasons mostly in the ECHL scoring pretty big after graduating University Of Denver twice ascending to 20+ assists before deciding to head overseas.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner maybe started a little low in Sweden’s tier 2 Allsvenskan, where he detonated the scoresheet for most assists and most points by a d-man for IK Oskarshamn.

With his new German team, he manages 8 goals and 25 assists in 48 games with a +14 rating, then adds another 7 assists in a playoff run to earn himself another year to stay put.

After 2 good frames with the same team, he looks elsewhere to rivals Augsburger Panthers f0r 2024/2025.

He continues to move along for 2025/2026, signing with HK Spisska Nova Ves, but maybe with only 3 assists in 17 games, he looks for a little more and leaves for Bruleurs De Loups of Ligue Magnus.

Western Michigan University Broncos‘ senior defenseman Carter Berger(3) was a 3-year transfer from University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he was always a plus player on ice, but didn’t exactly put up a pile of points.

In 5 games with his new college club the 6′ 201 lbs. blue liner has a goal and 3 assists with a +4, which looks to blow the lid off his previous highs.

He definitely has an offensive upside, as seen in his 2nd BCHL season with Victoria Grizzlies, scoring an absolute eye-popping 27 goals and 36 assists in 54 games, earning him top honors for goals and points by a d-man in the league.

A Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#106 overall), the North Vancouver, BC native is easily eyeing an NHL entry level deal in a few months time.

He is able to take up his totals quite nicely in 2 years with an additional graduate frame and leaves his new school with a +28 rating.

Unsigned, he returns “home” agreeing to a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack.

He does pretty well, scoring 8 goals and 25 assists in 67 ECHL games to earn himself a new deal 2-way for 2025/2026 with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

In 11 games in the lower league, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists, but maybe gets a little antsy looking for another level and signs in the tough to play Tipso Extraliga with HKM Zvolen.

Plymouth State University Panthers‘ graduate defenseman Colin Tracy(27) signs a 1st pro contract with Evansville Thunderbolts for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.

The 6’3″ 190 lbs. blue liner scored a new college best 2 goals and 9 assists last season in 21 games with a +8 rating.

From Manchester, NH, the 25-year old should score more in the FPHL.

He actually has shown up on Pee Dee Pride roster; we think on a trade, but are still looking into it.

Turns out, he was with the club for 2 games with 1 assist, but moved on to Indiana Sentinels, where he had 3 assists in 10 games to get loaned up to Knoxville Ice Bears for 3 appearances before being SPHL traded to Birmingham Bulls for the rest of 2025/2026.

University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves‘ graduate center Tanner Edwards(91) already has a college best scoring with just 2 goals and 4 assists in 15 games to go along with a +3 rating is doing nicely.

The 6’1″ 170 lbs. returns home to play a year of eligibility and only ever appeared in 21 games through 4 years at Minnesota State University Mavericks.

He is easily being used and is excelling in all game situations.

The 24-year old does look great out there with his new club and has to have a smile on his face every game.

He plays a new high, by a mile 31 games, scoring 3 goals and 5 assists, then signs a 1st pro contract with Florida Everblades for his rookie season, 2025/2026.

Waived close to the calendar year, he is quickly scooped by Toledo Walleye.

He gets into 1 ECHL game with his new team and South Carolina Stingrays come seeking his duties in a trade for future considerations.

Great side story, his dad, Jeff actually played for the team in the late 90’s.

After 8 games with no points, he gets moved to Adirondack Thunder, where in his debut he scores for a very nice start.

RPI Engineers‘ junior portal transfer from Northeastern University, left wing T.J. Walsh(13) has easily made the best hockey decision to switch up schools and join the ECAC.

The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward has already blown the lid off his previous scoring, tying his college career high 2 goals and new best by lots 8 assists with a +2 rating in 15 games.

He only managed to light up scoring in his final year of juniors at Des Moines Buccaneers, getting 17 goals and 32 assists in 53 USHL games before hitting school.

The Shrewsbury, MA native did have one almost earth shattering session for Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U AAA, grabbing more than goal per game totals, 71 goals and 65 assists in 66 games.

Now that the switch is made and the season is off and running with the results he’s seeing, you got to think there’s a little smile on his face for 2021/2022.

In his senior year, he scored a new college best 7 goals, but his 15 assists as a 3rd year player stood as that category high.

For a graduate session, the undrafted 23-year old is heading to Sacred Heart University Pioneers and will compete some Atlantic Hockey for 2023/2024.

He scores a college best 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in his final frame and takes it to a 1st pro deal with Orlando Solar Bears, which should heed him good points in the ECHL.

In 2 games he has an assist.

For his rookie season, 2024/2025 he ultimately decides to sign with Iowa Heartlanders.

After a solid 43 point season in 66 games, he gets himself traded to his hometown team, Worcester Railers for 2025/2026.

In 11 games, he has only 2 assists, so Indy Fuel see what’s happening and offer up some future considerations to bring him over.

Edmonton Oilers‘ 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#100 overall), University Of Denver Pioneers‘ sophomore left wing Carter Savoie(8) is this close to knocking off first year totals in fewer games.

He already has a college best 12 assists and 22 points, with goal-scoring just one off his total from 2020/2021.

The small 5’9″ but stocky 190 lbs. forward has always been a heck of a point-producer through youth hockey, then blew up juniors with Sherwood Park Crusaders, notching a crazy 172 points (84 goals, 88 assists) in 112 AJHL games.

At just 19-years old, we’ll see what the parent club says about having him turn pro before his four years are up.

And just like that, as he finishes up a 2022 NCAA Division 1 Champion, he signs an at0 with affiliate Bakersfield Condors, which just may be the dawn of him officially signing an NHL entry level deal, turning pro.

After 2 years in the AHL, he gets a nice deal to leave and joins TPS of Liiga.

In 5 games in Finland’s top league, he records only 1 assist and decides to leave and return on a 1-year deal with Ontario Reign for 2024/2025.

Reassigned to Greenville Swamp Rabbits, he puts out a team leading 20+ goals and assists in 57 games and signs for 2025/2026 with Allen Americans.

He actually gets a trade right back to the Rabbits before the new season starts.

Through 22 ECHL games, he has 7 goals and 8 assists and maybe decides he would like a little more competition and heads off to Tipos Extraliga, signing with HK Spisska Nova Ves.

In 2 games, he has 1 assist.

UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ Latvian-born, graduate goaltender Gustavs Davis Grigals(31) signs a 1st pro deal with Milwaukee Admirals for 2023/2024, but has joined the club for the Calder Cup playoff push, although not likely to see action.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. net minder had a 12-9-2 record with a 2.05 GAA and .924 SV%, including 2 shutouts.

He was better than any previous season he played at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, but did have 1 outstanding run through the NAHL juniors with Shreveport Mudbugs.

The 24-year old should be a standout performer as a rookie.

Parent club, Nashville Predators step in as the season is wrapping up and sign him for the current frame to an NHL contract, in a move we can only feel has implications for next season moving forward.

He is mostly sent to play in the ECHL for his rookie season and he decides to move back closer to home, signing with HK Dukla Trencin of Slovak Extraliga, where we think he re-finds his game.

After 5 games, he will switch things up and move on to Finland’s top hockey, Liiga signing with SaiPa for 2024/2025.

We do think it gels for him here.

In 15 games, he has a 8-6-1 record with a 2.96 GAA and .899 SV%, which is good enough for him to earn an invite for another season, 2026/2027 to stay at SaiPa.

Jacksonville Icemen signed 4 year Army West Point Black Knights‘ senior defenseman Anthony Firriolo(23) to an ato.

In 5 ECHL games, he has 1 assist.

The 5’11” 165 lbs. blue liner had a college career best 24 assists and 29 points last season.

He put up 34 helpers in his 2nd NAHL campaign for Corpus Christi Ice Rays.

We would be surprised if the 24-year old from Towaco, NJ does find more room to head man the puck for points.

He’s not sticking around to see if the team he’s moving forward with, as he signs with Atlanta Gladiators for 2023/2024.

Released during training camp, Indy Fuel step right in to offer him a deal.

9 games in with 1 goal to his credit, he gets shipped to Iowa Heartlanders.

He stays here 21 games to record 2 goals and 8 assists with a -2 rating and once again during his rookie frame gets moved to Tulsa Oilers, who seem to want to add him.

In 7 games, he scores 1 goal and 3 assists with a -3 rating and Toledo Walleye see something in his game that they sign him for 2024/2025.

After just 2 games with no scoring, he goes back to the Gladiators, who he didn’t play with after signing.

He is scoring decently with the team in a 2nd frame, but gets himself dealt back to Iowa Heartlanders for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season.