Category: Minor League Deal

Providence College Friars‘ freshman left wing Chase Dafoe(37) is off to try another school to play his game after appearing in only 8 last season.

The 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward signs on with University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for his sophomore session and from all accounts is excited for a new start all the way across the country.

Born in Beverly, MA, when his dad, Byron Dafoe(34) was tending net for Boston Bruins, the 21-year old should find a new lease on hockey life.

He scores a college best 13 goals and 8 assists in a high 33 games as a senior and captain and helps his team win a 1st United Collegiate Hockey Cup, comprised of independent D1 teams.

Upon completion, he signs a 2-year AHL contract with Rockford Icehogs through 2026/2027.

Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ graduate defenseman Tanner Palocsik(34) takes a 4th season (no hockey 2020/2021 COVID) of 10+ assists to a real good, 1st pro contract as a rookie with Toledo Walleye in 2024/2025.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner was very successful in 2 USPHL/NCDC seasons with Jersey Hitmen.

He transferred from 4 years at Dartmouth University Big Green.

From Aliquippa, PA, the 25-year old will likely do well for himself in the ECHL.

In 50 games, he scores just 1 goal and 2 assists and decides he will move on and joins Les Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise of Ligue Magnus for 2025/2026.

Turns out after just 4 games away, he would like to return and re-signs with the Walleye.

In 21 games this season, he scores 1 goal and 5 assists with a +8 rating, but somehow gets himself traded to Wichita Thunder for future considerations.

Rookie defenseman Jake Johansen(4) is doing ok with 1 goal and 8 assists in 38 games, but is traded from the top team in the league to Twin City Thunderbirds, who are working for playoff positioning in the FPHL.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner did 4 years at Fitchburg State University Falcons and scored a college best 7 goals and 16 assists in 27 games with a +2 rating.

He also helped the college team with the 2025 MASCAC title.

From Milford, NH, the 26-year old rose his junior game up to EHL, where he finished as captain with East Coast Wizards before school.

Way to be on the lookout, Detroit Red Wings sign now 2nd year defenseman Wyatt Newpower(38) to a two-year NHL entry level deal.

The fairly sizable 6’3″ 194 lbs. d-man was initially signed by Cleveland Monsters to a minor league deal and as a rookie scored 3 goals and 7 assists in 24 AHL games with a fairly phenomenal +10 rating.

He finished 2019/2020 COVID playoff cut season, finishing up 4 as captain for UConn Huskies, scoring a college career tying 3 goals and best 19 assists for 22 points with a +23 rating.

The 23-year old Hugo, MN native has to be smiling nicely how he played his way into this signing.

As his deal expires, he isn’t qualified to stay, so signs a minor league deal with Bridgeport Islanders for 2024/2025.

He scores a new high 8 assists and ties his twice best 10 points, which he takes to a new deal with Iowa Wild for 2025/2026, which should see him show increases.

In 23 games, he records only 3 assists with a -9 rating and Syracuse Crunch see something they can work with, so trade future considerations for him

He elevates his scoring by a bit and is a +5 in 21 games, but is dealt at the deadline to Springfield Thunderbirds, who believe they can get him ticking.

Elmira College Soaring Eagles‘ senior center Tyler Schwindt(44) realized some scoring last season with a college high (by a mile) 12 goals and 3 assists.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro deal with Binghamton Black Bears, as tournament play winds down.

In 4 FPHL games, he has 3 assists for a nice start.

From New Hamburg, ON, he did 3 years NOJHL before school.

The 25-year old definitely looks to play himself up a level quickly.

Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ junior defenseman Evan Orr(26) transferred back to where he had success in his 2nd year of junior hockey with Northeast Generals from 2 years at Michigan Tech University Broncos.

That season, the 5’11” 185 scored 5 goals and 22 assists in 25 games with a +11 rating.

From Shelby Township, MI, the 23-year old we think is in his happy place and should do well playing the independent schedule.

The senior captain scores a new college best 13 assists and 18 points, while helping pace his team to a new best record in 2025/2026.

He takes his game to a 1st pro contract with Atlanta Gladiators that should be quite a good view.

6th year right wing Matt Berry(19) decided to take the COVID season off last year and only skated one ECHL game for Kalamazoo Wings in 2019/2020, so must have been anxious to sign a contract and elected to go with the high powered offense of Toledo Walleye for 2021/2022.

He’s off to a blazing hot start, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists in 7 games with a +9 rating.

The 5’10” 176 lbs. forward started his pro career after 4 years at Michigan State University Spartans, where he averaged around 20+ points, 31 as a sophomore, in the AHL with 5 games for Norfolk Admirals.

He didn’t get any points, but for his rookie season, San Diego Gulls gave him a contract.

Through 15 games, he had 3 goals and an assist, but was mostly reassigned to affiliate Utah Grizzlies, where he was putting up point-per-game numbers.

He would head off for a couple of campaigns with Florida Everblades, putting up a best 24 goals and 44 assists for 68 points in his first year there.

The Canton, MI native once again moved west to Utah, but was quickly scooped to head back to Southern California, only to put up 4 goals and 14 assists with a +6 rating, but can’t seem to garner any real respect from the league.

At 29-years old, he’s likely just accepted his path.

He was loaned up to Grand Rapids Griffins for 19 games, grabbing 2 goals and 4 assists with a +1, but really lit it up big in the lower league with 24 goals and 37 assists in 44 games with a +30, then added another 14 (5-9) points in 21 playoff matchups.

For 2022/2023, he signs a 1-year deal with Cincinnati Cyclones and could be on the move for his best session yet.

After basically point-per-game numbers last season, matching his exact output in the previous frame 61 points, he has decided to go exploring.

For 2023/2024, he is heading to the tougher to play Slovak Extraliga and signs a 1-year deal with HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas.

He does pretty well in Slovakia, scoring 15 goals and 19 assists in 48 games with a +3 rating and 4 points in 5 playoff matchups, but wants something different and ultimately signs with Glasgow Clan, where he must have been given some good incentives.

For 2025/2026, he switches allegiances and signs with rivals Dundee Stars, where he scores pretty well, but decides to head back and signs with Fort Wayne Komets.

He is scoring ok, but gets dished and returns to Kalamazoo Wings, who maybe need him to score a little more for them in the 2nd half.

Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior left wing Caden Pattison(21) takes college best scoring 11 assists and 15 points to a 1st pro contract with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.

The big 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward has played 3 SPHL with no points, but is a +1 rating.

He did most of 3 NAHL seasons with Maine Nordiques.

From Lake Stevens, WA, the 24-year old should show signs of life scoring points as a pro.