Category: Minor League Deal

09May

James Phelan (14)

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Trois Rivières Lions‘ 3rd year center James Phelan(14) played almost an entire frame with 1 team for a 1st time in his pro career, skating 62 games, scoring 5 goals and 18 assists with a +3 rating.

He originally signed a 1-year AHL deal with Texas Stars, following 5 sessions in the QMJHL.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward would follow that up one an ECHL contract, but split time with 2 teams not figuring into every game.

Next, the Laval, QC native went to 2 years of University Of New Brunswick Reds through the COVID period.

The 26-year old could stick where he’s at, as he seems to fit in nicely, but could go exploring for what’s next.

He takes a pretty good rookie frame scoring 5 goals and 18 assists with a +3 rating on a non-playoff team to his next hockey adventure, heading to the EIHL for 2023/2024, signing a 1-year deal with Dundee Stars.

His numbers aren’t huge, but not bad in his 1st year overseas, but he’s going to explore for 2024/2025 and signs with Gothiques d’Amiens to skate Ligue Magnus.

He would score pretty well in this league, but decides to sign with rivals Dragons de Rouen for 2025/2026.

In a tiny bit less 31 games, he scores an equal to 1st season 27 points.

As the year wraps up, he has decided for a reason not yet released to retire from the game.

08May

Peter DiLiberatore (4)

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Quinnipiac University‘s 3rd year, assistant captain defenseman Peter DiLiberatore(4) decides to forego his senior campaign in favor of signing a 3-year entry level deal with draft team, Vegas Golden Knights.

The 6′ 180 lbs. blue liner was a 6th round pick in 2018 (#160 overall).

His numbers at college have been pretty consistent.

He tied his 6 goal best in 2020/2021 and averaged 15 helpers through his three years.

There’s little doubt he’ll report immediately, likely hooking up with affiliate Henderson Silver Knights, a stellar AHL club, so breaking that lineup could be a thinker.

After almost 2 full seasons and his entry level contract about to expire, he gets dealt to Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline, who look like they were eyeing him to be obtained and should retain him for at least another year.

Invited to Arizona Coyotes‘ training camp on a pto, he is released and looked to sign with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners for 2023/2024, but has slipped off the radar and will lace them up with South Carolina Stingrays.

He plays 8 ECHL games with his new club, recording 3 assists to get himself loaned up to his former team.

While there he gets 1 goal and 2 assists for a new league best of 3 points and gets himself a deal for the season to stay up.

In 29 games, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists with a +2 rating to earn an invite to return for 2024/2025 in a Roadrunners‘ jersey.

He still struggled to get into games and score with only 2 goals in 19 games, so he decides to leave and see if he can’t find something better for himself elsewhere.

Signing with Kalmar HC of HockeyAllsvenskan, he goes on to find his scoring legs with 8 goals and 28 assists, as a d-man.

This performance earns him a look up and contract with Malmo Redhawks SHL for 2026/2027.

08May

Patrick Giles (54)

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Massive 6’5″ 216 lbs. center Patrick Giles(54) took 4 years, 2 as assistant captain at Boston College Eagles to a 1st pro contract upon elimination from the NCAA Division 1 tournament.

He signs an ato with Charlotte Checkers under the watchful eye of parent club Florida Panthers dictating moves and will skate under an AHL deal for 2022/2023.

In 10 games, he has only an assist, but is likely adjusting to the new style game.

Although playing Hockey East for 4 sessions definitely had to help and in his senior year he scored a college career best 15 goals and 22 points.

The 22-year old from Chevy Chase, MD, who came up through the USNTDP program should be able to find his game, but will have to work for it and look for his spots.

After 10 pro games to end the 2021/2022 session, he had 1 assist, but the big team see something in the towering frame moving forward and sign him up for a 2-year NHL entry level deal through 2023/2024.

He’s had 2 good seasons in the minors without a recall, but is looking closer to ready to earn a 2-year extension to stay with the affiliate, Checkers.

Signed to another 2-year extension, he looks set to make the big club and just a few games in, earns a spot due to the injury bug hitting early and he makes an NHL debut, skates 11 shifts for 7:34 of ice time with 2 shots, 1 block, 2 giveaways and went 75% in the face off dot in a 5-2 loss.

After 9 games with no points, but still lighting it up nicely in the minors, he is traded to San Jose Sharks, where they may have better room to slot the big player.

He spends 67 with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, running up some good points and when called up gets 1 assists in 3 games with a +1 rating.

His numbers are solid enough to merit a 2-year extension through 2027/2028 to stay a Sharks.

 

07May

Trent Burnham (1)

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RIT Tigers‘ graduate net minder Trent Burnham(1) only played 2 games after a tough senior year, but we’re unsure if it was specifically they were riding another goalie for most of the season.

The 6′ 165 lbs. goaltender signed to be Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs as emergency back-up goaltender and is sticking through the SPHL playoffs.

He transferred from his junior year at Lindenwood University Lions, where he was unreal playing D3 as a freshman.

From Eagle River, AK, the 26-year old will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

07May

Grayson Dietrich (17)

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Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior center Grayson Dietrich(17) had his best college scoring season as a junior with 5 goals and 6 assists after transferring from his sophomore frame at American International College Yellowjackets.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro deal with Port Huron Prowlers upon tournament completion and scores 6 goals and 2 assists in 5 FPHL games with a +10 rating.

From Calgary, AB, the 24-year old did 3 AJHL seasons before colllege.

He looks to sign his way up is how it’s looking for 2026/2027.

03May

Bill Sweezey (6)

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Boston Bruins sign hometown boy (Hanson, MA), 5th year defenseman Bill Sweezey(6) to a new 2-year, 2-way NHL deal after spending most of the last 3 years with Cleveland Monsters, under contract with Columbus Blue Jackets for the last 2.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner originally signed his 1st AHL deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the COVID busted 2020/2021 after graduating Yale University Bulldogs before moving on to a similar deal in Ohio.

He only did 1 USHL junior run before college.

The 28-year old will likely spend most of his time with affiliate Providence Bruins, but that means hockey even closer to home.

In 69 games last season, he scored a new minor league best 16 assists with a +21 rating that earns him another hometown season in a Bruins‘ uniform.

02May

Kenny Agostino (11)

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Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod‘s 2nd year center Kenny Agostino(11) is already off to a good start for 2022/2023 with 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 KHL games with a +3 rating.

Last season he scored 20 goals and 20 assists in 46 games with a +8, his 1st season overseas.

The former 4-year 10+ goal scorer and 2 time 20+ assist guy at Yale University Bulldogs was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#140 overall).

He was traded to Calgary Flames and signed an entry level deal before his skates ever hit the ice.

The Morristown, NJ native bounced around on 1-year deals mostly before getting signed to a 2-year, 1-way contract late with Toronto Maple Leafs, yet he only appeared in 1 NHL game with them.

At 30-years old, he’s done ok enough, but is still likely earning his way in Russia and playing some elite puck.

For 2023/2024, he is trading in a couple of seasons where he is for new surroundings in the SHL and will join Skelleftea AIK.

He actually switches things up and heads to Germany instead, signing with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL and scores himself point-per-game numbers in 48 (14-34), but will ink with rivals, ERC Ingolstadt for 2024/2025 and likely do just as well.

With another 19 goals to his credit last season, he is easily wanted to return for a 3rd frame at Ingolstadt 2026/2027.

01May

Corey Trivino (86)

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11th year center Corey Trivino(86) switches up 3.5 years with EC Kassel Huskies to rivals Eisbaren Regensburg for 2022/2023 in DEL2.

He has been very successful dishing helpers in 2 of the last 3 seasons, amassing 30+ assists in each frame.

Originally a New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#36 overall), he never signed, spending most of his 1st 3 seasons in the ECHL, but then turned a 39 AHL game loan into an overseas deal.

He switched up his early time overseas between the KHL and EBEL mostly before leaving for Germany’s tier 2 league.

The 32-year old, former Boston University Terriers‘, 2009 NCAA Division 1 Champion doesn’t seem to see an end line anywhere.

In the new session with his new club he has already run up a league best for himself 18 goals and is projected to possibly do better than his assist best of 39, so he agrees to stay on for a 2nd campaign 2024/2025, because he’s having a grand old time.

He continues at a clip of almost point-per-game numbers and is asked to return for a 4th season with Eisbaren.

30Apr

Rieger Lorenz (15)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ senior, assistant captain center Rieger Lorenz(15) scored a college best 17 goals and 18 assists in 43 games with a +25 rating en route to a 2nd 2026 NCAA Division 1 Championship.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with draft team Minnesota Wild (2nd round, 2022, #56 overall).

From Calgary, AB, the 22-year old had 1 huge AJHL frame before colllege.

He reports to affiliate Iowa Wild and plays 3 AHL before the season ends.

30Apr

John Larkin (3)

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Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ senior defenseman John Larkin(3) grabbed 1 goal and 5 assists in a college high 36 games last season.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner transferred after his junior year from little use at Ohio State University Buckeyes.

He did 4 seasons of junior hockey, exploding scoring when he shifted to the NAHL.

From Detroit, MI, the 25-year old signed his 1st pro contract with the not so far Port Huron Prowlers.

In 5 FPHL games, he scored 7 assists with a +5 rating, then added 3 points in 3 playoff games with a +4.