Category: Minor League Deal

06Nov

Zachary Borgiel (1)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Merrimack College Warriors‘ senior goaltender Zachary Borgiel(29) will do a year of eligibility at rival Providence College Friars to start a graduate program, 2024/2025.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. net minder initially started youth hockey through the Honeybaked system before doing a split junior frame and heading north, where his game came together nicely in the BCHL, starting 44 games for Cowichan Valley Capitals.

After 12 Hockey East games with some college best marks, including 2 shutouts he signs a 1st pro contract with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026, but we do feel he gets dealt due to the glut in that net.

05Nov

Max Willman (10)

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

Undrafted 3rd year center Max Willman(10) has quite the unlikely, surprise hockey story to tell.

Upon finishing up his one year in a graduate program at Boston University Terriers after a transfer from Brown University Bears, he signed an ECHL contract to join Reading Royals.

The 6′ 183 lbs. forward was loaned up to Lehigh Valley Phantoms a couple of months into his rookie run and earned an spc, mostly staying in the AHL, earning 3 goals and 6 assists in 24 games before the season exploded with no playoffs.

He re-signed to stay and in a weirdo season with like 3 constant opponents, he ascended to a career high 9 goals, 7 assists and 16 points with a +7 in just 30 games.

His efforts have earned him an NHL 2-year, 2-way deal with Philadelphia Flyers that starts in the upcoming frame.

The 26-year old is likely all smiles heading into 2021/2022.

And the story continues to take the strangest turns, as the Barnstable, MA native has made the opening night roster of the Broad Street Bullies and skated 13 shifts for 9:30 of total ice with one shot on net, one hit, 2 minutes in the sin bin and left the 5-4 shootout loss a -1 rating.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year 2-way deal with New Jersey Devils for 2023/2024.

In 18 games with the big club, he scores 3 goals and 1 assist with a +1 rating and he scores himself another year, another look in a Devils‘ jersey.

After 69 games on reassignment with Utica Comets, scoring 10 goals and 20 assist, he is off for his next venture, signing with Barys Astana of the KHL for 2025/2026.

31Oct

Troy Josephs (16)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

5th year center Troy Josephs(16) signs on for a 2nd season with HC Lugano, continuing his climb up Swiss Hockey leagues.

He skated for EHC Visp of the tier 2 SL, when arriving from North America.

The 6′ 194 lbs. was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2013 draft (#209 overall), but only signed an AHL deal with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

He was two years in the system, but mostly reassigned down to Wheeling Nailers, where he exploded on the scoresheet as a more than point-per-game player and eventually just signed an ECHL contract.

There’s little doubt the 27-year, former 4-year Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ old found his footing immediately overseas and will continue to do so, as he climbs.

He would end up a 2nd full session with the NL club, putting up 5 goals and 15 assists that he will take to a new, bold opportunity, signing a 1-year deal with Lada Togliatti of the KHL.

Doing best in his first run at Russian hockey, he scores 20 goals, but is fairly consistent as he travels between a couple of teams and for 2025/2026 will head to a 3rd, signing with HK Sochi.

After 10 games with 2 assists, not sure what has occurred, but he becomes available to Shanghai Dragons to sign for the term.

30Oct

Kyle Criscuolo (42)

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

6th year left wing Kyle Criscuolo(42) gets a new crack at the NHL with Detroit Red Wings, his first since an unsuccessful 9 game stint after signing an entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres.

The 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward started his pro career on a 1-year minor league deal with Grand Rapids Griffins, where he put up 17 goals and 24 assists with a +15 rating to get on the major radar.

He has always managed to put up good numbers with affiliates and has point-per-game stats in the current AHL frame.

The 29-year old, former Harvard University Crimson two-time captain posted outstanding points in school and is likely very happy how his pro career is stretching out to include yet another recall.

He would re-sign for a 5th season in a Griffins‘ uniform, but a mid-year minor trade sends him to San Jose Sharks for a new look and start on things at now 30-years old.

After a decent enough showing in the minors, he scores a 1-game recall to the big league and what do you know, the now 31-year old grabs a 1st NHL goal.

For 2023/2024, the Southampton Township, NJ native comes home, signing a 1-year, 2-way deal with New Jersey Devils that will very likely see him mostly with affiliate Utica Comets, but could score some looks.

He walks away from last season with a career best assists, 26 and points, 42 and he signs for 2024/2025 with Charlotte Checkers and will likely just continue to score in the minors.

After another solid scoring season with 19 goals and 16 assists with a +6 rating, he is a free agent and decides to return to Utica Comets on a 1-year deal for 2025/2026.

28Oct

Danny Weight (19)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Undrafted center Danny Weight(19) takes a single season at Boston College Eagles across the country through the transfer portal to Colorado College Tigers, where he’ll look to finish up the next three years.

He seemed to struggle scoring only grabbing a goal and an assist as a freshman in 19 Hockey East games.

It’s doubtful that the college division play was too much, but potentially he could have expected different coming from an all-star season for Penticton Vees, scoring 25 goals and 35 assists in 58 BCHL games.

He seems to score in seasonal spurts with nothing matching the 120 points (52-68) in 83 games he was able to put up as a P.A.L. Junior Islanders 16U AAA.

The 20-year old 6′ 175 lbs. forward will likely find more room to skate in the NCHC, but it still won’t be easy.

Oh, and he happens to be former 1238 NHL games played and 1033 points’ Hall Of Fame, center Doug Weight‘s son.

He skated in only 6 games on a well-led team last season, but is now a graduate and enters the transfer portal for one last college skate.

The Edmonton, AB native will next play some Atlantic Hockey with American International College Yellowjackets, which also brings him back east.

We believe he finds more space in this conference too.

He matches his 12 point best, but scores a new high 5 goals and signs a 1st pro deal with Wichita Thunder for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.

After 1 ECHL game, he is reassigned to affiliate Birmingham Bulls and scores a 1st SPHL goal in his 2nd game.

26Oct

Josh Jooris (36)

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

Josh-Jooris

Undrafted 7th year center Josh Jooris(36) leaves North American pro hockey for a first time to sign with Lausanne HC of NLA for 2019/2020.

He departs having played 213 NHL (23-32-55) games for 5 different teams but was exclusively in the minors with Toronto Marlies last season, although signed by the parent club Toronto Maple Leafs.

The former high scoring 6’1″ 198 lbs. Union College forward has less AHL games to his credit at 160 (20-26) but suited up for an equal amount of teams as he did at the higher level.

He is now 34-years old and that hasn’t deter how well he does in Switzerland’s top hockey.

Staying with his new Swiss team for 2 seasons, he switches it up to sign with Geneve-Servette HC, where he agrees for a 4th frame and is scoring pretty well out of the gate.

Consistently producing 20+ points, he is back for a 5th season with Geneve-Servette and is scoring very well with 3 goals and 5 assists in 17 games.

25Oct

Erik Brown (18)

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

Bridgeport Islanders‘ technically 2nd year left wing Erik Brown(18) finally got to appeared in an almost full slate of 49 AHL games last season, scoring 6 goals and 8 assists with a +6 rating.

The former RIT Tigers‘ senior captain scored 29 goals as a junior.

At 6’2″ 194 lbs., he also scored big in 2 CCHL junior seasons for the Keene, ON native.

The 26-year old will likely continue to roll scoring totals as he plays more.

As he finishes up his 3rd season with the same team, he will move on for his next club and signs a 1-year deal with Vaasan Sport to skate games in Liiga for 2023/2024.

After skating in DEL with Lowen Frankfort last season, he signs in the lower DEL2 for 2025/2026 with Dusseldorfer EG.

25Oct

Joseph LaBate (16)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

7th year left wing Joseph LaBate(16) signed a 1-year AHL deal with Milwaukee Admirals for 2021/2022 and is off to a nice 2 goal in 4 game start.

The very big 6’5″ 217 lbs. forward played 4 years at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, averaging 20 points per season before signing his 2-year entry deal with draft club, Vancouver Canucks (round 4, 2011, #101 overall).

He stayed with them for three campaigns and did play 13 NHL games (no points) before becoming a group 6 free agent and signing the first of three minor league contracts with Belleville Senators.

It was his 2nd run with the club, when he put up his best numbers, just a couple seasons ago, a tying 10 goals and best 16 assists and 26 points with a +19 rating.

The 28-year old, Eagan, MN native has to be looking overseas for his next play and could likely do incredibly well with that big frame.

He comes away with 5 goals and 7 assists in 56 games last season and decides to stick around, signing for 2022/2023 with Chicago Wolves.

In 53 games, he walks with a new best 11 goals and 11 assists with a +3 rating and will take that fortune to a new KHL cal with Barys Astana for 2023/2024, as he enters his 9th pro season.

For his 10th year playing pro hockey, he returns from 8 goals and 10 assists in 49 games to sign pto with Cleveland Monsters to make the team for 2024/2025.

He scores 1 goal and 3 assists in 5 games and he gets himself signed to a 1-year, 2-way contract by the parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets.

In 6 NHL games, he records an assist and is good for 8 goals and 13 assists in 51 games in the minors last season.

An unrestricted free agent, he heads back to his draft team and signs a 1-year deal with Vancouver Canucks for 2025/2026 and will likely join Calder Cup Champs Abbotsford Canucks for a little bit.

He is off to a hot start and maybe had a good training camp that sets him for a 1st NHL game with the team since 2017.

25Oct

Jackson Legro (3)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

University Of Southern Maine Huskies‘ senior defenseman Jackson Legro(3) transferred out of 3 years at Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen.

The 6’4″ 209 lbs. blue liner has never been big on the scoresheet.

From Brentwood, NH, the 20-year old signed a 1st pro contract with Monroe Mocassins.

In 5 FPHL games, he had 1 assist.

He will need a contract for 2025/2026.

Well, he signed and started the new season with Pee Dee Pride, but was dished to Danbury Hat Tricks.

24Oct

Tim Lovell (43)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ German-born, sophomore transfer Tim Lovell(43) has already completely burnt through any scoring he had in one year at Boston University Terriers (2 assists in 18 games with a +3 rating).

In 10 NCAA Division 1 games, he has 3 goals and 8 assists, but does have a -6, so needs to work on that.

The small 5’8″ 156 lbs. blue liner did most of his youth hockey in the Boston Advantage 15U to 18U AAA, a team his father Tim Lovell is currently General Manager of, and he played 7 NAHL games with Northeast Generals, while his dad was assistant coach.

He was drafted by Chicago Steel, but didn’t last long before he took up shop with Des Moines Buccaneers for 27 USHL games (5 goals, 11 assists) and then headed to school.

The 19-year old is definitely setting himself up for some looks.

He had a particularly productive senior year with college bests 5 goals and 32 assists with a +10 rating before transferring once more to University Of Michigan Wolverines for an extra frame.

Well, the graduate defenseman takes his 10 games in 2024/2025 with new college club to a 1st professional deal midseason with Mikkelin Jukurit of Liiga.

In 3 games, he has yet to record a point, but hockey in Finland will be a good look.

He figures into 6 games with 1 goal and 1 assist to his credit, but decides to US shores, signing for 2025/2026 with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where in 3 ECHL games has 1 assist.