Category: Minor League Deal

20Feb

Mitchell Gibson (35)

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Washington Capitals‘ 4th round pick in 2018 (#124 overall), goaltender Mitchell Gibson(35) finished up his 4 years at Harvard University Crimson with a stellar performance as a senior with a best record 18-7-2 with 3 shutouts.

He signs a very conservative at 23-years old 1-year NHL entry level contract.

The 6’1″ 187 lbs. net minder has certainly proven he can shoulder the load for a top-ranked team at college.

From Phoenixville, PA, he probably just a little excited to get started with pro hockey close to home for affiliate Hershey Bears.

He would work 1 more year under contract with the big club, but still was not getting the appearance despite some good play in the minors.

For 2025/2026, he signs an AHL contract to be a Bears.

After putting up some solid numbers in both lower leagues, the parent club is still paying attention and signs him to a 2-year extension through 2029 to rejoin the Capitals.

20Feb

Tyriq Outen (1)

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Knoxville Ice Bears‘ rookie goaltender Tyriq Outen(1) got loaned up to and signs with Wichita Thunder, is 2-1-1 in 4 ECHL games, but looks to better 3.85 GAA and .875 SV%.

The big 6’4″ 192 lbs. net minder was 1-3 in 5 SPHL games before being sent to the higher league.

From Tampa, FL, he jumped around schools, originally going to Acadia University Axemen, but played no games, then transferred to Stevenson University Mustangs, going 19-6 with a 1.82 GAA, .943 SV% and 4 shutouts.

He took this performance to signing with Long Island University Sharks and he continued, recording a 7-5-1 record with 1.93 GAA and .920 SV%.

We think the 25-year old, one-time South Shore Kings, Maine Nordiques is just getting his footing started.

In no time, Kalamazoo Wings need him more, so give up some future considerations to score him.

20Feb

Peter Laviolette (11)

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4th year left wing Peter Laviolette(11) got ECHL waived and picked up quick by Savannah Ghost Pirates in hopes to get him producing points the way his size 6’4″ 220 lbs. thinks it should.

He was almost a point-per-game scorer in his graduate year at Plymouth State University Panthers.

Twice did he score 11 points with West Virginia hometown Wheeling Nailers, a team he spent 3 seasons with.

The 28-year old is the son of Coach Laviolette.

19Feb

Will Weber (78)

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Schwenninger Wild Wings‘ 3rd year defenseman Will Weber(78) will hang around for a 4th frame, as he signs a 1-year extension through 2024/2025.

The big 6’4″ 227 lbs. blue liner doesn’t necessarily put up a lot of points, but is a fairly accountable, very large presence out there.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall), he only twice had 10+ assists.

The first time was his sophomore season at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks and the 2nd was his 1st session of DEL for Fischtown Pinguins.

At 35-years old, he has to be glad he’s still pulling down good contracts to play pro hockey.

Add another season, as he will skate for a 6th frame in a Wild Wings‘ jersey that he is looking mighty comfortable in lately.

And yup, he may not be playing as many games as a 37-year old, 23, but will return for more Wild Wings in 2026/2027.

19Feb

Lauri Sertti (5)

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American International College Yellowjackets‘ Finnish-born graduate defenseman Lauri Sertti(5) signs a contract to return home for his rookie season, Liiga with HPK 2025/2026.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner scored 1 goal and 6 assists in 37 games with a +1 rating last season.

His best scoring in college came as a junior at RPI Engineers, where he had 4 goals and 11 assists in 40 games.

He did most of his youth hockey and juniors at home until coming over for a single NAHL frame before school.

We look for the 25-year old to do pretty well in his home league.

Through 35 games, he has 1 goal and 5 assists with a -2 rating, but maybe wants to reach out to see what else there is in the pro field of hockey for him and signs in the tricky Tipsport Extraliga with HK Dukla Michalovce for the 2nd half of 2025/2026.

18Feb

Kieffer Bellows (81)

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2016 draft (#19 overall), left wing Kieffer Bellows(81) signs a 1-year deal as a restricted free agent to stay.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward play the entire 2020/2021 session up with the big club, but only skated 14 games, scoring 3 goals, so was either a healthy scratch or reassigned to the taxi squad.

As a 2nd year player, he would score an AHL best 22 goals and 9 assists for 31 points for affiliate Bridgeport Islanders (Sound Tigers).

The former Edina High School, MN native was selected to head to Boston University Terriers and went onto 2 very successful USHL seasons before heading to college, but only lasted there for one year before deciding to split for Portland Winterhawks.

In 56 WHL games, he scored 41 goals and 33 assists with a +40 rating.

The 23-year old is son of former NHL player of 1188 games, Brian Bellows.

He would end up playing his 1st full frame in the big league, skating a healthy 45 games, scoring a not so bad 6 goals and 13 assists that would lead to his new 1-year, 1-way deal worth a tidy $1.2M AAV.

For 2022/2023, he would start on the roster, but it was decided to waive with the intention of reporting to the minors, but Philadelphia Flyers didn’t let him sit long and pulled him in.

He’s played 3 games with his new team, and although all loses, he’s kept it simple in his 10+ minutes of play and is only a -1.

We think the now 24-year old finds his footing, sticks and starts to make an impression.

He actually doesn’t really find his footing with 3 goals through 27 games.

For 2023/2024, he signed a pto with Toronto Marlies, is scoring big, not looking back and gets a deal for the current season.

Nashville Predators see something for their weighted 2024/2025 lineup that may start with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, but could get a call up for the 1st time in a couple of frames.

He takes some solid regular season play and point-per-game playoff looks to something new on his pro hockey playing career, a deal overseas with Brynas IF of the SHL, which should heed good results for him.

In 43 games, he has 7 goals and 7 assists with a +3 rating to earn himself an invite to be with Brynas again for 2027/2028.

17Feb

Christophe Fillion (25)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ junior left wing Christophe Fillion(25) looks to have a career season with already 6 goals, needing 1 to tie his high from last year and 4 assists, going for 13 to eclipse that best mark.

The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward left his 2nd USHL season with Muskegon Lumberjacks to join his current college club.

He had a pretty huge 1st frame and previously the Sherbrooke, QC native skated in the BCHL for Wenatchee Wild, putting up decent numbers.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see the 23-year old put up point-per-game numbers in 2o23/2024.

He comes away with a college high 12 goals as a senior and the undrafted player decides to go for a year of eligibility at Miami University Ohio Redhawks.

In 32 games, he scores 4 goals and 6 assists on a tough luck team and as the season wraps up, he signs a 1st pro deal with Idaho Steelheads.

In 8 ECHL games, he has an assist with a 0 rating.

He doesn’t decide to try to stay and instead agrees to terms with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie run, 2025/2026.

In 12 games, he scores 2 goals with a +1 rating, but Wichita Thunder eye something in his game they want and trade for future considerations to acquire him.

17Feb

Nate Kallen (26)

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Maine Mariners‘ 3rd year defenseman Nate Kallen(26) re-ups to return for a 2nd ECHL season after scoring a career best 6 goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 46 games.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner also received a 3 game AHL loan to Springfield Thunderbirds, where he scored a goal.

After joining his host team for 3 games upon graduating as senior captain for Ferris State University Bulldogs, he had a bit of a trying rookie start first that eventually saw him sign with Macon Mayhem and do very well in 25 SPHL games, scoring 4 goals and 15 assists with a +14 rating that was easily a good part of his pro learning curve.

The 24-year old from San Diego, CA will very likely just continue to take up his game.

He decides to return from a season in the EIHL with Glascow Clan after repairing a late injury and signs a 1-year deal with the new team, Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.

After another decent run with the Monsters, he decides to move off for something a bit different and signs with Vienna Capitals of the IceHL, where he will continue to do well.

16Feb

Ryan Naumovski (39)

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Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior right wing Ryan Naumovski(39) takes a new college best, scoring 9 goals and 17 assists for a new journey through the transfer portal to Augustana College Vikings for 2023/2024.

The 6′ light 160 lbs. forward was a point-per-game player for New Jersey Junior Titans in his 2nd NAHL season.

Undrafted from Shelby Township, MI, the 23-year old will likely have some fun playing that tough D1 schedule the 1st year team is taking on.

He basically equals his scoring from his senior frame perfectly in slightly less games, as a graduate player.

Upon finishing up their independent schedule, he signs with Kalamazoo Wings.

He appears in just 3 ECHL games to round out the season, getting 1 assist.

For 2024/2025, he signs on for a full year in a Wings‘ uniform.

He waits a minute after a decent first full frame with a pro team and signs with Florida Everblades for his 2nd season.

For the 2nd half of 2025/2026, he returns to the Everblades and has 1 assist in 5 games.

16Feb

Mitch Walinski (27)

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Salve Regina University Seahawks‘ senior right wing Mitch Walinski(27) saw his team’s season end in a close game against the club maybe to win the entire D3 hockey this year.

The 6’1″ 180 lbs. forward takes the news in stride and quickly signs a 1st pro deal with Atlanta Gladiators.

He posted an assist in his debut and then a few days later in game 2, grabs a 1st ECHL goal with a 0 rating in some high scoring wins.

From Lincoln, RI, the 24-year old left two seasons with 10+ goals and 10+ assists in college hockey.

He finished his ato with 3 goals and 1 assist and a -5 rating, but they see something they want to continue and sign him up for his official rookie season, 2023/2024.

Scoring ok for his 1st year, he definitely needs to bring up that +/-, but he is wanted to return to wear a Gladiators‘ sweater for 2024/2025.

He grabs 7 goals and 5 assists last season, but hadn’t figured into a game yet this season, so gets dished to Adirondack Thunder to see if they can turn the magic.

After 4 games with no points he gets waived and quickly scooped by the new Bloomington Bison.

He gets picked up after 5 games, no points by Wheeling Nailers on an earlier future considerations deal, but in 9 outings has yet to hit the score sheet, almost surprisingly.

With things not improving done the line in the league, he opts to leave and sign in the secondary British, NIHL with Bristol Pitbulls in hopes of regaining some scoring confidence.

After a successful 16 game run, scoring 17 goals and 7 assists, he leaves for a shot at Germany4, signing 2025/2026 with EV Dingolfing and has completely exploded scoring with 33 goals and 24 assists in 30 games.