Category: Minor League Deal

18Dec

Patrick Grasso (21)

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Undrafted center Patrick Grasso(21) signs his first pro contract with Utica Comets for 2021/2022 after 5 seasons at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.

Almost oddly his best scoring year was as a freshman, when he struck for 20 goals and 13 assists, which followed up a particularly good 3rd/4th USHL campaign for close-to-home Des Moines Buccaneers.

The small 5’7″ 170 lbs. 25-year old quick pivot will likely do well in the AHL.

He actually had a goal and 3 assists in 9 games, but was mostly sent down to skate with affiliate Adirondack Thunder, where he was stellar scoring 26 goals and 24 assists in 68 ECHL games.

For 2022/2023, he goes a bit of the easy route, signs to stay in Glens Falls, NY and will potentially score some loans up to the higher league.

He comes up with a new league and team best 37 goals and 59 assists in 64 games and is loaned up to 2 teams for 9 games, gaining 2 assists.

The Des Moines, IA native is back for a 3rd run with his favorite team.

He’s taking some good 3rd year stats with him to a new adventure, signing for 2024/2025 with HC Innsbruck Sharks of the IceHL and should do very well in Austria’s top hockey.

In 45 games, he strikes for 21 goals and 14 assists, but is a horrible -25 rating, so looks to explore other pro hockey and signs with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan.

For 2025/2026, he starts with Belfast Giants, but after scoring quite decently in 16 EIHL games, decides to head back to where he has scored the most, Adirondack Thunder for the rest of 2025/2026 and will add to their stat sheet.

17Dec

Griffin Ness (77)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior right wing Griffin Ness(77) recorded his 3rd straight college hockey season of 6 points and signs a 1st pro deal with Maine Mariners.

In 2 ECHL, he doesn’t have any points with a -3 rating and didn’t appear in the playoffs.

The 6′ 184 lbs. forward was a big scorer at Wayzata USHS-MN high school, then put up similar stats as 2-time captain for Waterloo Black Hawks before college.

We will see if the 24-year old gets retained for a full pro season look.

He’s actually signed for 2024/2025, but gets traded just before the start of the new year to Toledo Walleye, which is going to be blessing to his point production.

With 11 goals and 11 assists in 59 games, he’s proving he can connect with the net, but gets himself swapped in a player deal to Utah Grizzlies, who may need him a little more.

He scores 3 goals and 7 assists in 14 games with his new team and they are liking what they see to re-sign him to return in Utah for 2025/2026.

In 24 games, he picks up 6 goals and 9 assists, but Kalamazoo Wings eye and want him for future considerations.

15Dec

Hunter Johannes (18)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate left wing Hunter Johannes(18) had a fairly solid year of eligibility scoring 12 goals and 7 assists in 31 games with a +10 rating.

The big 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward oddly did best scoring as a senior at Lindenwood University Lions with point-per-game numbers, 13 goals and 16 assists in 28 games.

From Eden Prairie, MN, he did his high school hockey right there, finding his edge as a senior.

He seemed to bounce around junior hockey a bit, never quite sticking in one place too long before eventually heading to his 1st school of 3 years, American International College Yellowjackets.

Upon graduating, he signed a 1-year AHL with Grand Rapids Griffins for 2024/2025, but joins them on an ato.

He’s without points in 6 games, but we feel it’s just a matter of time.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a pto with Florida Panthers that should turn into a 1-year deal, as he reports to affiliate Charlotte Checkers.

After 17 ECHL games on reassignment to Savannah Ghost Pirates, scoring 1 goal and 7 assists, he finds himself traded to Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but reports with affiliate Reading Royals.

In his debut with this club, he scores himself a hat trick to say hello.

13Dec

Matt Koethe(47)

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University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ senior center Matt Koethe(47) has always recorded 10+ points through college hockey and once the schedule was done signed on, an ato to join Tulsa Oilers.

the 5′ 10″ 190 lbs. forward from Minnetonka, MN scored 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 ECHL games with a +1 rating.

For his rookie season, he is an easy sign to return for a full frame, 2025/2026.

After high school hockey, the now 26-year old did 2 years of junior hockey, right where he was heading to school, Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

He skates 5 games in the new session with 1 assist, but something isn’t equaling and he is released to be pick up by Iowa Heartlanders to see if they can energize the scoring.

13Dec

Brendahn Brawley (1)

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Plymouth State University Panthers‘ senior goalie Brendahn Brawley(1) goes pro, maybe a bit conservatively signing for 2023/2024 with Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL.

For the last 3 seasons, his team has won the D3 MASCAC Division and he has been stellar in net the last campaign going 22-3-1 with a 2.02 GAA and .932 SV%.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. net minder from Morton, PA did 2 sessions with Philadelphia Little Flyers, getting voted Goaltender Of The Year and coming away with the best SV% in his 2nd frame.

He at 24-years old is likely ready to get started.

Not exactly sure what occurred, but he reported to Peoria Icemen before being released after 10 games and picked up by Evansville Thunderbirds for his rookie season.

He would next head off to France2, signing with Les Elephants de Chambery for 2024/2025, but didn’t seem to catch on.

Heading back for 2025/2026, he re-signs with the Thunderbolts, but after 1 appearance will go to France3 this time, agreeing with Toulous-Blagnac Les Belougas.

12Dec

Patrick Moynihan (19)

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Providence College Friars‘ senior right wing Patrick Moynihan(19) is a New Jersey Devils‘ 6th round pick in 2019 (#158 overall) and has decided, likely with the club’s oversight to extend school and head to University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a graduate year.

He maybe didn’t have the season he wanted to after scoring college bests as a junior (11 goals, 14 assists) in 38 games.

We do think the 22-year old, Millis, MA native could see his game improve in the Big Ten, but will have to skate for it, no doubt.

Upon losing the signing rights for him, he agrees on an ato with Chicago Wolves to get started as a pro.

He only appears in 1 AHL game with no points and for his rookie season, 2024/2025 signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

We think the 5’11” 183 lbs. forward will score in the ECHL.

He grabs a 1st goal and 14 assists in 27 games, but is eyed by a team out west, who claim him in a trade to head to Idaho Steelheads.

He actually does pretty well with this team, but is a free agent at the end of the frame and signs with Reading Royals for 2025/2026.

Through 11 games, he has 2 goals and 2 assists with a 0 rating, but gets himself traded to Allen Americans.

11Dec

Carter Turnbull (98)

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Undrafted senior center Carter Turnbull(98) takes a solid year as team captain, pushing his University Of Connecticut Huskies to its deepest Hockey East climb to the Finals and a loss in overtime to a 1st pro contract with South Carolina Stingrays.

The 5’8″ 181 lbs. forward took a few games to get situated, but finally popped in his 1st ECHL goal and a 2nd one a couple nights later to sit at 2 tallies in 6 games.

He had 30 goals and assists throughout his 3 years with Powell River Kings in 155 BCHL games.

The 23-year old from Nanaimo, BC should be able to light up the league and climb, if he sticks.

He would finish his first pro contract with 2 goals and 3 assists in 11 games to warrant a full look in North Charleston for his rookie season 2022/2023.

After lighting things up to the tune of 24 goals and 18 assists in 41 games, he decides to head off for an opportunity overseas, joining HKM Zvolen for their Slovak Extraliga playoff run.

He appears in 6 games during the end of the regular frame, then skates 7 in the postseason, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist in 7 games.

Slovak rivals HC Banska Bystrica swoop in an sign him up for 2023/2024, and we should see his numbers improve.

He is well over a point-per-game player in the tough to play Slovak hockey, equaling 25 goals and 31 assists in 41 games, but heads of to IceHL for a new experience with Asiago Hockey that could put him back on the radar for a better deal back home.

While scoring isn’t an issue with his new club, on ice accountability is faltering, so he up and moves back to Slovakia, signing once again with HC Banska Bystrica to hopefully regain some glory.

He gets on board and is invited to return to the tune of 20 goals and 17 assists in just 22 games with a +17 rating and there is a desire to keep him around long-term on a 2-year extension through 2026/2027 with HC Banska.

11Dec

Matt Crasa (22)

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UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior center Matt Crasa(22) scored best with 12 goals and 9 assists as a freshman, although he did finish with those same 9 markers and signed a 1st pro deal, an ato with Norfolk Admirals, where he got right onto the scoring sheet with a multi-point game, tallying his 1st ECHL goal.

In 11 regular season contests he added 1 other goal and 3 assists, then in 6 playoff matchups, contributed an assist.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward did 2 seasons of juniors, finishing up strong in the USHL with Fargo Force.

He also won a couple of youth championships.

The 24-year old from New York, NY will need a new contract, if he wants one.

After 13 games, he is waived with 1 goal and 1 assist, but gets almost immediately scooped by Wichita Thunder for the remainder of 2025/2026.

10Dec

Robbie Stucker (4)

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#210 overall), University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ graduate defenseman Robbie Stucker(4) transferred in from 3 years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers and has adjusted to Hockey East play nicely.

He had a college career best 4 goals and 10 assists last season in 34 games and this season is on his way again, getting 3 goals and 7 assists in 24 contests.

The 6’3″ 179 lbs. blue liner played only 1 season of juniors, but ended up claiming the 2018 USHL Championship with Fargo Force, scoring 2 goals and 8 assists in 14 playoff games to help the team get there.

From St. Paul, MN, the 24-year old will be an interesting watch to get his NHL entry level deal, but thinks he plays hard and should get a look.

Upon getting knocked from Hockey East tournament play, he signs a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays to get things started.

After 10 games, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists with a +9 rating, he is going to branch out and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with somewhat rivals Iowa Heartlanders for 2023/2024.

Utah Grizzlies make a trade to grab the big d-man in hopes he helps their blue line for a playoff push.

He goes from split time last session to signing for 2024/2025 with Orlando Solar Bears, which should be a really good stop for him.

Before he’s barely even started with his new team, Reading Royals are looking to bolster their blue line and offer up future considerations to score him.

With 1 goal and a new high 16 assists, he signs to stay a Royals for 2025/2026.

After 1 goal and 4 assists in 17 game with a +2 rating, he heads back to Utah Grizzlies.

10Dec

Chris Brown (11)

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11th year center Chris Brown(11) takes 4 seasons with Nurnberg Tigers and trades it in to return to Iserlohn Roosters, the team he started with overseas, for 2022/2023.

The 6’3″ 214 lbs. forward was originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#36 overall) and was in their system for only about a year and a half before being traded to Washington Capitals. , where he arguably had his best success, but still only played 23 NHL games with 2 goals, 1 assist and a +1 rating.

He’s a 3-time 10+ goal scorer and 20+ assist guy in DEL.

The 31-year old former 3-year University Of Michigan Wolverines from Flower Mound, TX keeps on ticking very nicely.

For 2023/2024, he will start a new adventure at now 32-years old and head to Slovak Extraliga to suit up for HC Slovan Bratislava.

He scores kind of big in Austria with 14 goals in 24 games and decides to head back to Germany and signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings.

After 7 seasons in the same league, he looks to switch things up a bit and signs with Fehervar AV19 of IceHL and comes away with 21 goals and 12 assists in 48 games.

For 2025/2026, he late was going to retire, but decides to come play hockey a little closer to home and agrees to terms with Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL.