Category: Minor League Deal

07Aug

Alex Jefferies (38)

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Merrimack College Warriors‘ senior left wing Alex Jefferies(38) is a New York Islanders‘ 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#121 overall) and signs an ato with affiliate Bridgeport Islanders to get his pro game started.

He had an assists in his AHL debut and has skated 4 games.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward had a 3rd straight college frame of 10+ goals in his final year and 27 assists as a junior.

From Framingham, MA, the 22-year old played only 2 USHL games of junior hockey for Dubuque Fighting Saints, but that was while he was playing USHS-Prep.

As he minor league team is finishing up their season, he is reassigned to the parent club for their playoff push and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal, starting 2024/2025.

After a 2nd 29 point season, he is invited for a 3rd in 2026/2027 to likely report to new affiliate Hamilton Hammers to start.

06Aug

Neil Shea (27)

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Undrafted, junior left wing Neil Shea(27) has played most of his hockey relatively close to home (Marshfield, MA), but after two underperforming seasons at Northeastern University Huskies, he’s branching out to leave for well, Connecticut, joining Sacred Heart University Pioneers in 2021/2022.

He was a prolific scorer when he committed to college in his 1st year at Lawrence Academy, then took it up a notch in his senior season with 24 goals and 34 assists in 32 USHS-Prep games before taking up with draft club, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for 11 USHL games (1 goal, 2 assists).

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward was once again selected and skated his only full season of juniors for Chicago Steel, scoring 15 goals and 28 assists.

It’s possible the switch to Atlantic Hockey style play will connect with the 22-year old’s ability to amass points.

The Massachusetts’ native has scored big with his switch of schools, amassing decent scoring with 4 goals and 10 assists, blowing away his previous college marks, in 20 NCAA Division 1 games.

He finishes up a 2nd season at his new school with a new college best 14 goals and signs a 1st contract, an ato with Chicago Wolves to test the waters.

No doubt, he will have to step up his game to score in the AHL.

He gets a 1st goal in the league and adds 1 assist in 6 games with a +3 rating as a newly turned pro.

For 2023/2024, Toronto Marlies are liking what they see and sign him to a 1-year minor league deal as an official rookie.

He actually skates 64 ECHL games for affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 18 goals and 19 assists, but is moving on and signs with Colorado Eagles for 2024/2025.

In 8 contests, he scores 1 goal and 2 assists, but on reassignment to affiliate Utah Grizzlies popped 19 goals and 20 assists in 36 games to earn another year to wear an Eagles‘ jersey more often than not.

We are a little unsure of the detail of him leaving to sign with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, but that is where he shows up under a new contract and should help them on the scoresheet.

In 21 games, he scores 4 times and 11 assists to easily earn an invite back to be a Swamp Rabbits in 2026/2027.

06Aug

Wyllum Deveaux (4)

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Harvard University Crimson graduate left wing Wyllum Deveaux(4) always looks like he should be putting up points, when he’s on the ice, but somehow through 26 games, this season has recorded but 1 assist.

Last year, as a senior was a breakout season for the fairly big 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward, as he got 1 goal and 1 assist, his college best.

What’s the likely irony is the 22-year old, Sackville, NS native will turn pro and start scoring.

You watch.

For 2023/2024, he picks up his 1st deal and signs for 1-year ECHL with Maine Mariners, who must have seen him play at school.

You watch, goals and assists will come.

Just as predicted, his rookie totals were 13 goals and 11 assists in 46 games with a +6 rating, earning him another season in a Mariners‘ uniform.

The captain will return for a 3rd season in a Maine uniform, 2025/2026 after playing a new high 66 games, scoring bests 19 goals and 12 assists.

Injury limits him to only 7 games last season, but he is still wanted to return to the Mariners in 2026/2027.

06Aug

Joey Larson (17)

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Michigan State University Spartans‘ junior right wing Joey Larson(17) leaves a year on the table to as an unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal with New York Islanders and went to affiliate Bridgeport Islanders on an ato to score 2 AHL goals and 1 assist in 6 games.

The 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward had 3 seasons of 10+ goals and assists scoring, including as a freshman at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.

From Brighton, MI, he was a point-per-game player in his final USHL campaign before college.

In 63 games, he scores 17 goals and 11 assists on a bit of a tough luck team, but he is signed to return for the next 2 years to stay an Islanders.

06Aug

Colin Tracy (27)

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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.

In 29 games, he scores 4 goals and 5 assists with a +11 rating to sign on for an extension 2026/2027 to stay a Bulls.

05Aug

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.

He is mostly tending net for affiliate Belleville Senators, but does see action in 1 big league game and finds himself traded to Montreal Canadiens, where he will likely report to Laval Rocket.

For 2026/2027, he decides to leave for a 1st time and accepts a deal with Barys Astana of the KHL.

05Aug

Tyler Weiss (40)

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2nd year left wing Tyler Weiss(40) agrees to a 1-year AHL deal with Hershey Bears for 2024/2025 after scoring well last season in the ECHL with Newfoundland Growlers.

The 5’10” 154 lbs. forward was actually signed by Toronto Marlies after twice putting up 20+ assists’ campaigns at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.

From Raleigh, NC, the 24-year old did 2 sessions with USNTDP before heading to school.

After scoring a handy 22 goals and 34 assists in 63 games last season with South Carolina Stingrays with a +20 mark, he gets himself a contract with Chicago Wolves for 2025/2026 in a nice job of playing yourself up.

He unfortunately got shipped back down to the affiliate and scored decently even after a trade, but for 2026/2027 he makes the smart move and returns to South Carolina.

05Aug

Jack Millar (5)

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Colorado College Tigers‘ big 6’5″ 220 lbs. assistant captain, senior defenseman Jack Millar(5) signs an pto with Ontario Reign, but appears in only 1 game.

He had a college best 4 goals and 8 assists in 37 last frame.

From Westminster, CO, he stayed close to home for college, but played 2 USHL seasons with Cedar Rapids Roughriders before school.

The 23-year old also did all his youth hockey near home.

He will need a new deal for 2024/2025.

In 62 games under a new deal, he scores 12 assists with a +19 rating, then re-signs for 2 goals and 7 assists in 2025/2026 with another +18 rating.

For 2026/2027, he signs a 2-year deal to stay with the Reign.

04Aug

Spencer Asuchak (26)

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Despite only appearing in 6 ECHL games last season, center Spencer Asuchak(26) will wear an Allen Americans‘ sweater for an 11th straight season, in one form or another.

The most games he’s ever dressed for is a full 72 schedule in 2018/2019.

He has amassed 465 games in the league.

The very big 6’6″ 230 lbs. forward has a career best 27 goals and 40 assists.

From Kamloops, BC, after 4 WHL frames, he went to a year of Mount Royal University Cougars before officially turning pro.

the 31-year old probably has roots in the Texas town now.

He left for a brief stint over in Erste Liga, playing for SC Csikszereda, but somehow didn’t have much luck and will return for 10th season with the now hometown boys, Allen Americans.

Last season 13 goals and 19 assists in 52 games leads him back for a 10th season as an Americans.

04Aug

Travis St. Denis (74)

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Straubing Tigers‘ 7th year center Travis St. Denis(74) re-ups to return to the German club, his 2nd year in DEL.

He scored 22 goals and 17 assists in 51 games last season.

The 5’7″ 170 lbs. forward was twice a 40+ point scorer in the AHL for Bridgeport Sound Tigers, while under contract to New York Islanders for at least one of those sessions.

He spent 4 seasons at Quinnipiac University Bobcats, always increasing his totals to leave as a senior with 49 points in 43 NCAA Division 1 games.

The Trail, BC native played his junior hockey up north and won a 2012 BCHL Championship with Penticton Vees, scoring 37 goals and 51 assists in 54 games, then adding 13 more points in the playoffs.

At 29-years old, he is likely to be happy still playing hockey at a very high level.

After spending 2 years with the same club, recording just about exact excellent numbers, he reaches out and signs with rivals, ERC Ingolstadt for 2023/2024.

His season with a new German team doesn’t go maybe as planned and he heads right back, where he scored 22 goals in each of his 2 frames, the Tigers for 2024/2025.

He continued to play well, but maybe after 4 years in 1 league was looking for something different and signed with EC Salzburg of IceHL.

Scoring in this league increases to levels reached when he initially hit Germany, but for 2026/2027 he signs with rivals, EC-KAC.