Category: Minor League Deal

19Sep

Nick Swaney (13)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ right wing graduate Nick Swaney(13) takes four seasons of consistent scoring numbers to a 1-year entry level contract with his home state draft club, Minnesota Wild (7th round, 2017, #209 overall) that starts for 2021/2022 but will sign an ato with affiliate Iowa Wild to start immediately.

The 5’11” 175 lbs. forward scored 20+ points in each of his college campaigns with his best total 28 most recently as a senior.

He was also a point-per-game skater in two years at the USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks.

We have a feeling he gets started on the scoresheet sooner than later.

He spends all of his playing time in the AHL, scoring pretty big, but gets injured last season to throw things off track.

For 2024/2025, he does something he has yet to do in his pro career, signs a minor league deal with Chicago Wolves.

18Sep

Dakota Raabe (22)

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Utah Grizzles‘ 2nd year right wing Dakota Raabe(22) re-ups after a successful rookie run, scoring 11 goals and 25 assists in 55 ECHL games last season.

He was never really a scorer through school with a sophomore best of 5 goals and 9 assists at University Of Michigan Wolverines and didn’t even do as well in a graduate season at Sacred Heart University Pioneers.

Upon finishing up though, has found the net in his 1st run where he is, connecting for 3 goals and 4 assists in 10 games with a +6 rating, then adding 6 points in 14 playoff matchups.

The 5’9″ 170 lbs. speedy forward from Capistrano Beach, CA has to be on a short list of guys that need a look at a higher level.

He actually gets moved to Iowa Heartlanders to hopefully energize their scoring and could find new energy with a different club.

In 12 games, he grabs 4 goals and 4 assists to earn himself an invite to return in a Heartlanders‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

18Sep

Alex Young (21)

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Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ senior center Alex Young(21) didn’t put up the numbers he did as a junior at Colgate University Raiders, scoring 21 goals and 18 assists in 40 games.

The 5’11” 183 lbs. forward scored big in his 2nd and 3rd junior years with Cranmore Eagles, collecting 30+ goals and 40+ assists in the AJHL.

From Calgary, AB, the 23-year old graduates, signs a standard player contract with Adirondack Thunder and would go on to grab a 1st 2 ECHL goals and 4 assists in 7 games with a +5 rating, looking to be playoff ready.

He doesn’t come away with any points in 9 playoff games, but has earned himself a full rookie season look in a Thunder jersey for 2024/2025.

17Sep

Zach White (5)

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6th year center Zach White(5) gets traded from single year team Worcester Railers to Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2024/2025.

He twice had really good seasons with Iowa Heartlanders.

The 5’7″ 150 lbs. former Curry College Colonels‘ senior captain started his pro career with a solid frame in France2, scoring big.

He came back during the COVID season and agreed to terms with Carolina Thunderbirds of the FPHL.

From Milford, CT, the 28-year old has work his game up nicely.

16Sep

Bobby Raymond (21)

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14th year defenseman Bobby Raymond(21) is trying his hand at a new league for 2022/2023, signing for 1-year with Grenoble of Ligue Magnus.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner spent the last 3 seasons in DEL2 last winning the 2022 Championship with Loewen Franfort and DEL the previous two, as captain and assistant for Iserlohn Roosters, his 2nd stint with the team.

Almost oddly, his one title in Germany’s top league came during his one campaign for Adler Mannheim.

He also played 3 seasons for EC Salzburg in the old EBEL, where he ran his best point totals.

The RIT Tigers‘ graduate had a good run there, in his 2nd run with Florida Everblades and helped them capture the 2012 ECHL Kelly Cup trophy.

At 35-years old, he’s likely happy to be playing at the level his is and still contributing big.

He starts the new frame 2023/2024 playing in the OEHL, but gets wooed to enter the fray once again at 38-years old, signing with 2023 Erste Liga Champs, Gyergyoi HK.

In 8 games, he scores 1 goal and 3 assists, then through 10 playoff matchups, he adds another goal and 2 assists with a +3 rating to very much be wanted back in a Bears‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

16Sep

Benton Maass (11) with video feature: 1-question interview

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Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2017 draft (#182 overall) defenseman Benton Maass(11) goes from a four-year skate for University Of New Hampshire Wildcats to a fifth year of eligibility, playing close to home on the start of a graduate degree with Minnesota State University Mavericks.

Although maybe not the biggest point-getter on the ice, the 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner did manage 23 assists as a senior at the hometown Elk River High in 25 USHS-MN games and 13 helpers at a freshman as his new college.

He also had 16 points (a high of 7 tallies and 9 assists) in 26 NAHL games, when he arrived at Fairbanks Ice Dogs upon completing high school.

It’s all happened fairly quickly for the 22-year old but the player who’s been in three NHL development camps looks ready at every turn.

As he finishes up, his 5th college season, he signs an ato with affiliate Hershey Bears and will join them for the remainder of the AHL frame.

Almost oddly, he plays only 2 games with his contract club, getting 1 assist and a +2 rating and is reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he gets 4 goals and 7 assists in 55 ECHL games with a +13 rating.

His play is good enough to earn a continued look in Chocolatetown.

In his 2nd frame further down south, he scores a new career best 8 goals and 19 assists in 64 games with a +17 rating, so things are looking up.

Something is amiss though, as he decides to accept an assistant coach role at Lindenwood University Lions for 2024/2025, changing the role he will play in pro hockey.

16Sep

Parker Saretsky (28)

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2nd year right wing Parker Saretsky(28) switches up teams for his 2nd ECHL frame.

He had 8 assists in 43 games last season for Trois Rivieres Lions, but signs with Wichita Thunder for 2024/2025.

This should turn out to be a good move for the 6′ 176 lbs. forward.

From Wainwright, AB, he scored fairly strongly in his last 2 frames of AJHL before school.

He would head to 4 years at Michigan Tech University Huskies.

The 25-year old will likely find more room with his new club.

15Sep

Cole Schneider (25)

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10th year veteran left wing Cole Schneider(25) re-signs to stay as captain with Milwaukee Admirals for 2022/2023.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward has played 632 AHL games.

He has also skated 6 in the NHL for Buffalo Sabres with one assist.

Undrafted, he signed a 2-year entry level deal straight out of 2 years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he had a 23 goal, 22 assist in 38 games sophomore season.

At 31-years old, the Williamsville, NY native is likely just still having fun.

After 3.5 years with the same club, he has decided to look for a new avenue and signs for 2023/2024 with Chicago Wolves.

13th year veteran is off to explore new lands for the later part of his hockey career and signs for 2024/2025 with Storhamar of EliteHockey Ligaen.

15Sep

Dustin Manz (26)

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American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate transfer, center Dustin Manz(26), as a senior from Lake State Superior University Lakers posts a college best 24 assists and 31 points and takes it to a 1st ECHL contract with Wheeling Nailers.

The 5’10” 194 lbs. forward started juniors in the NAHL, but headed north, hooking up with Prince George Spruce Kings, scoring big and winning the 2019 BCHL Championship in his 2nd year before school.

From Vanderbilt, MI, the 24-year scored 2 goals in his 3rd league game.

He takes that pair of tallies to a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025 with the Nailers.

15Sep

Zach Walker (18)

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Pensacola Ice Flyers‘ rookie right wing Zach Walker(18) has a couple of goals and an assist in 21 SPHL contests.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward was never much of a scorer during four seasons at Boston College.

He posted his highest totals as a freshman with 2 goals and 5 assists.

The still young 22-year old started with a couple of campaigns in the USNTDP.

It will be interesting to see if he plays himself up to another level or heads overseas for different gold.

He finished his first session, scoring 4 goals and 6 assists in 36 games, then went on to light it up for a goal and 3 assists with a +5 in 4 playoff contests, which easily put him back on the radar.

The Boise, ID native gets the call from his local team and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with Idaho Steelheads for 2021/2022.

He was originally going to sign with them for last season, but they decided to sit out the pandemic run and he becomes the first born in the state capital to play for the team.

After 10 goals and 13 assists in 63 games with a +6 rating, he’s definitely feeling right at home, and stays for a 2nd session.

He’s basically fairly steady in his 2nd session, getting 6 goals and 12 assists in 56 games with a +12 rating.

For 2023/2024, he leaves home and signs a 1-year deal with Adirondack Thunder that should makes sense for his scoring to continue.

He is limited to only 27 games last season and is involved in some incidents that get him suspended for long stretches, but the wear and tear on him is enough as he leans into what to do for 2024/2025 and will stay in a Thunder “jersey” joining their front office to handle the team’s community relations and also take part in some sales.