Category: Minor League Deal

Cleveland Monsters sign unrestricted free agent, University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ graduating senior, left wing Roman Ahcan(13) to a pto for the remainder of 2022 and an spc for 2022/2023.

The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward wasn’t the biggest scorer as an assistant captain last season but did post a pair of 20+ point campaigns as a sophomore and junior.

He committed after his final year at Burnsville High USHS-MN, then went onto one session of USHL junior hockey for Cedar Rapids RoughRiders before heading to school.

The 22-year old will hopefully help his new team win some games.

In his 3rd year with the same club, he once again signs a tryout, but after 11 games with 7 goals and 1 assist is quickly snapped up for the full 2024/2025 session with the Monsters.

Winnipeg Jets 5th round pick in the 2019 draft (#144 overall) goaltender Logan Neaton(31) isn’t finding enough space in the cage for UMass Lowell Riverhawks, so after two tries goes through the transfer portal to commit to Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks for 2021/2022.

The large 6’4″ 205 lbs. net minder maybe wasn’t able to settle in Hockey East play after putting up stellar numbers, first for Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL, then even better with Prince George Spruce Kings going 32-8-5 with a league best 1.92 GAA, then posting a 16-1 mark with a 1.46 GAA and .940 SV% en route to a 2019 BCHL Championship.

He also had shutdown numbers at his local Brighton High USHS-MI.

The 22-year old may just need the belief he can play the minutes and backstop wins.

For his rookie season, he bounces around some ECHL teams to arrive at Kalamazoo Wings with a deal for 2024/2025.

Lindenwood University Lions‘ graduate defenseman Brenden Rons(22) hasn’t ever been exactly known for points and this season evened his 3 assist mark he set as a junior at Ferris State University Bulldogs.

The XL 6’5″ 220 lbs. blue liner did 3 years of mostly NAHL junior hockey, in his last season as captain for Topeka Pilots grabbing 17 assists.

From Farmington Hills, MI, the 25-year old will be an interesting watch to see what might develop next.

In 27 games, he gets 3 assists and takes that to a 1st pro contract with Rapid City Rush for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

He skates a total of 1 game with his new team and is traded to Worcester Railers for future considerations.

4th year center Nick Master(89) returns to Maine Mariners for a 3rd season after scoring new bests 16 goals and 37 assists in 57 ECHL games.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward 4 times had 10+ assists at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks.

In the 1 season he didn’t play in Maine, because COVID knocked the entire frame out, he signed with Knoxville Ice Bears and grabbed 8 goals and 18 assists in 36 SPHL games and that seemed to help propel his game.

The 27-year old from Broomall, PA should continue his scoring streak.

He signs for 2023/2024 in DEL2 with EHC Freiburg and scores well, tying a career best 16 goals and 27 assists in 42 games with a +14 rating.

We think he may have been courted to head to Esbjerg Energy of Metal Ligaen for 2024/2025.

With little pop, 1 assist in 8 games, he decides to head to Ligue Magnus, signing with Anglet Hormadi Pays Basque.

Manitoba Moose undrafted, rookie, Latvian-born right wing Haralds Egle(49) has a pair of goals in 17 AHL contests, and he scored those goals in successive outings, his 9th and 10th games.

The solid 5’10” 194 lbs. forward started the season on loan to DVTK Jegesmedvek of the Slovakian League and he lit it up scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 18 appearances.

He also had solid numbers through four years at Clarkson University Golden Knights with a total of 44 goals and 61 assists in 135 NCAA ECAC Division 1 contests and a +19 rating.

Coming over early to play junior hockey he started in a pay for league but burst that bubble in a single showing and quickly was placed on Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he stay for one campaign before taking up with Madison Capitals and started to strike the stat sheet.

He split his next frame where he was before being traded to Chicago Steel running up some 30 assists to get him notice by his college of choice.

The 24-year is pretty likely to find better footing as he continues to play more.

He takes a very decent showing, scoring 5 goals and 9 assists in 30 games with a +10 rating to a new journey, signing with SC Langenthal of Swiss League for 2022/2023.

Through 41 games, he blows up scoring to the tune of 14 goals and 37 assists with a +7 rating and will take those totals to a much better hockey in 2023/2024, agreeing to terms with HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas of Slovak Extraliga.

He finds luck in the tough to play Slovakian hockey league, scoring 11 goals and 28 assists in 49 games, then adds another 4 points in the playoffs.

For 2024/2025, he signs with rivals HC Slovan Bratislava, where we think he will find a lot of success.

Beginning of the season, he is doing well with 5 goals and 5 assists in 17 games, but finds himself returning to HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas.

UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ Latvian-born, graduate goaltender Gustavs Davis Grigals(39) signs a 1st pro deal with Milwaukee Admirals for 2023/2024, but has joined the club for the Calder Cup playoff push, although not likely to see action.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. net minder had a 12-9-2 record with a 2.05 GAA and .924 SV%, including 2 shutouts.

He was better than any previous season he played at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, but did have 1 outstanding run through the NAHL juniors with Shreveport Mudbugs.

The 24-year old should be a standout performer as a rookie.

Parent club, Nashville Predators step in as the season is wrapping up and sign him for the current frame to an NHL contract, in a move we can only feel has implications for next season moving forward.

He is mostly sent to play in the ECHL for his rookie season and he decides to move back closer to home, signing with HK Dukla Trencin of Slovak Extraliga, where we think he re-finds his game.

After 5 games, he will switch things up and move on to Finland’s top hockey, Liiga signing with SaiPa for 2024/2025.

We do think it gels for him here.

Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#210 overall), University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ graduate defenseman Robbie Stucker(7) 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.

Rookie left wing Max Neill(6) signs on for a full frame with Utah Grizzlies after joining the team upon finishing up at University Of Waterloo Warriors, where he scored pretty well.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward from Portage la Prairie, MB did a couple of sessions of juniors close to home before heading to 2 years in the NAHL, where he had 20+ goals and 20+ assists in his 2nd frame before college.

He committed to Lindenwood University Lions, but left after an unsuccessful freshman year.

We think the 23-year old gets settled with his team will start finding ways to produce points.

He actually doesn’t report and signs with Bloomington Bison for his rookie frame.

9th year right wing Danny Kristo(79) has not really lasted long with many teams after his 76 NL games spent with SC Rapperswill-Jona Lakers, scoring 46 points.

He’s definitely managed to score pretty well, whether he was in the KHL, DEL or SHL, but maybe has found a niche with Rytiri Kladno, where he has 3 goals and 7 assists in 34 Tipsport Extraliga games.

The 6′ 194 lbs. Montreal Canadiens‘ 2008 2nd round draft pick (#56 overall) forward is a three time 20+ goal scorer in the AHL.

You have to think the former two-time 26 assist, senior assistant captain at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 32-year is happy to still be playing for decent enough money.

He will head to his 7th country for pro hockey in 2022/2023, signing a 1-year deal with HK Dukla Michelovce, which should be some very decent games to jump into after finishing up in Sweden’s tier 2 last frame.

After starting the frame with 6 games in Slovakia, he decides to move on, signing with Sheffield Steelers for the remainder of the season.

He will strike well in the EIHL.

And he did, through 47 games, he posted 12 goals and 18 assists with a +7 rating, then came alive more in 4 playoff matchups, striking for 2 goals and 3 assists.

For 2023/2024, he pulls the traitor move and takes his numbers to a rival, Coventry Blaze.

He would have a similar scoring season and considers 11 years to be a good term, so decides it’s time to leave the ice to a yet named next step, but could easily transition into coaching in a second.

271 AHL games and 157 at NCAA Divison 1 were mosts.

Army West Point Black Knights‘ defenseman Thomas Farrell(4) finished up 4 years, leaving with a best 6 goals and 20 points as a senior and signs with Toledo Walleye.

In 4 ECHL games he has a goal, an empty netter and an assist with a +3 rating.

The 6’1″ 200 lbs. blue liner had a career best 25 assists in his 1 NAHL season for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights with an impressive +22 rating before committing to college.

From Mettawa, IL, the 24-year old should do well in the pro ranks.

His play under an ato is impressive enough for him to net a 1-year deal to continue with the Walleye.

In 28 games, he scores 2 goals and 4 assists with a +5 rating to earn a contract for a continued look in 2024/2025 in a Walleye jersey.

He’s actually released from his contract before playing in the current frame and gets immediately adopted by Indy Fuel.