Category: Minor League Deal

University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate portal transfer from 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs‘ right wing Kevin O’Neil(17) has definitely chosen right to continue his year of eligibility, scoring a goal and 3 assists in 7 games, but the 5’11” 181 lbs. power forward could step up those totals at any point.

The Latham, NY native only played one year of juniors, splitting time between Madison Capitals and Fargo Force after detonating three years at Albany Academy.

It’s possible this is the type of player that could get them an invite to an NHL camp and be discovered.

The 24-year old finishes up his year of eligibility with totals very much in line with his bests, hovering in the land of 16 and his team presses Hockey East as far as they have ever to fulfill an unreal season.

Deciding to turn pro, he signs a 1st deal with South Carolina Stingrays to hopefully get them pointed in a better scoring direction and has a pair of goals and an assist in 3 ECHL games with a +3 rating.

Nice start.

He finishes up his tryout deal scoring 6 goals and 4 assists in 10 games to be a cinch to stay a Stingray for 2022/2023.

After 2 games loan to Hershey Bears, scoring a 1st AHL goal and a prolific frame for the lower league team, potting 24 goals and 26 assists, he scores a 1-year deal in the upper league for 2023/2024.

He would mostly play in the lower league and blows up scoring to the tune of 16 goals and 47 assists in 63 games with only 4 games up for the contract club.

Utica Comets step right in and offer the close by NYer a 1-year deal for 2024/2025.

He is mostly reassigned to affiliate Adirondack Thunder, where he scores a big 19 goals and 30 assists.

Set to head overseas for his next find, he decides to re-sign with the Thunder for the 2nd half of the 2025/2026 season.

Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ graduate left wing Lukas Sillinger(39) has steadily put up better numbers with 37 assists and 48 points last season and already has 3 assists in 6 games this year.

He initially did 2 sessions at Bemidji State University Beavers, where he was a point-per-game player as a sophomore.

The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward was born in Regina, SK and did 3 BCHL campaigns before college.

He’s the 24-year old son of Mike Sillinger, veteran of 1049 NHL games.

After a season of 8 goals and 30 assists in 35 games with a +8 rating, he waits a bit, but signs a pto to join Iowa Wild for his rookie season, 2025/2026.

In 5 AHL games with no points, he is released and quickly scooped up by Florida Everblades to skate the 2nd half of 2025/2026.

After 7 ECHL games with 1 assist and a -3 rating, Allen Americans see him floundering and think they can provide the spark, signing him to a contract.

Ferris State University Bulldogs‘ junior defense Andrew Noel(28) leaves a year on the table to sign with Cincinnati Cyclones for his rookie season, 2025/2026.

In 17 games, he has 2 goals and 4 assists.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner from Maynard, MA did 2 years of juniors before school, including 1 in the BCHL.

At 25-years old, he is scoring better as a pro.

In his 1st year, he is doing ok, but gets himself traded to Utah Grizzlies for the 2nd half.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.