Category: Minor League Deal

24May

Josh Nadeau (83)

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University Of Maine Black Bears‘ junior right wing Josh Nadeau(83) had point-per-game numbers, 17 goals, 13 assists in 30 games last season that he takes to signing a 1-year AHL deal with Laval Rocket for 2026/2027, but joins them immediately on an ato.

The 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward had 2 killer sessions with Penticton Vees, winning back-to-back 2022/2023 BCHL Championships.

From St. Francois-de-Madawaska, QC, the 22-year old may have seen an opportunity here to sign early and in 2 games to start, grabbed an assist.

23May

Jason Ahearn (10)

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Johnstown Tomahawks‘ strong scoring forward Jason Ahearn(10) choose Niagara University for his college hockey and further academic development.

He’s struck for 23 goals and 26 assists in 41 NAHL games with a +23 rating on a really good team.

The 5’11” 170 lbs. pivot should have equal success in NCAA Division 1 Atlantic Hockey, when he arrives later this year.

After 3 seasons, twice as captain with new college best numbers, 19 goals and 20 assists in 36 games with a +6 rating as a junior, but he will enter the transfer portal and next looks to skate Hockey East with UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks in 2025/2026.

He comes away with 13 goals and 6 assists in 35 games and it was likely a little harder than where he came from, but he managed to be a good contributor that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Indy Fuel.

In 8 games, he comes away with a 1st ECHL goal and 3 assists with a +2 rating, but will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

21May

Jimmy Lambert (7)

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Providence Bruins welcome in 2nd year right wing Jimmy Lambert(7) after scoring 11 goals and 13 assists in 27 games with a +6 rating on reassignment with Worcester Railers from contract club, Bridgeport Islanders.

He scored 1 goal and 6 assists in 33 games up with a +1.

The 6′ 176 lbs. former University Of Michigan Wolverines wasn’t a huge scorer at school.

Originally from Newcastle, GBR, the 26-year old could see time playing for rival Maine Mariners.

In 21 ECHL games this season, he’s tied his 13 assists, but will still need to add on tallies to his 4 to get him past those pretty amazing marks of 11 as a rookie.

He does well last season, tying his goals at 11 and 23 assists is a new career league best.

Though he appears in only 10 AHL games, he is wanted to return to continue and work on his game.

Mostly dispatched to Maine, he is scoring on a point-per-game pace and decides to branch out for some more difficult hockey in DEL and agrees to terms with Grizzlys Wolfsburg.

After 14 games with 2 goals and 4 assists, he is liked and asked to return for 2025/2026 as a Grizzlys.

He has a really good full frame with the team, scoring 11 goals and 14 assists in 38 games with a +7 rating, but decides to sign with rivals, Augsburger Panther for 2026/2027.

21May

Max Macchioni (30)

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Fitchburg State University Falcons‘ senior goalie Max Macchioni(30), as a junior helped his team in a big way win the 2025 MASCAC Championship, as best team in the hockey conference.

The 6′ 190 lbs. net minder after USHS-Prep bounced around a few junior teams before picking his school.

From North Kingstown, RI, the 26-year old signs a 1st pro deal with Blue Ridge Bobcats and tends net for 8 SPHL games, but somehow comes away with only a 2-0 record.

He will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

21May

Benjamin Lindberg (29)

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Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs‘ 2nd year defenseman Benjamin Lindberg(29) was twice loaned up to the ECHL and in 3 games to end the 2025/2026 with Tahoe Lake Monsters scored 1 assist in with a +3 rating.

The 6’3″ 194 lbs. blue liner turned pro, leaving 1 year on the table at Morrisville State College Mustangs, but was also not playing a full slate in any frame.

From East Aurora, NY, the 26-year old we feel will play himself up on a more permanent basis.

20May

Mike Connolly (22)

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12th year left wing Mike Connolly(22) will spend an 8th season in a Straubing Tigers‘ uniform.

The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward had his best year scoring 19 goals and 53 points in 2021/2022.

He has 5 times put up 30+ assists for this team.

The top scorer in his 3 campaigns at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, hitting 54 points in 42 NCAA Division 1 games as a senior.

He only played 2 sessions in the AHL and did appear in 2 NHL games with Colorado Avalanche after a rookie trade sent him away from San Jose Sharks‘ system.

At 33-years old, the Calgary, AB native has to be pretty happy about how his pro hockey life is still going.

He scores 16 goals and 22 assists in 50 DEL games last season and yup, will return for a 9th season in a Tigers‘ jersey.

2024/2025 will be his 10th season in a Straubing uniform, coming after a 34 assist, 45 point season.

Well, after 11 frames in the same uniform for the Tigers‘, he decides it’s time to stop playing pro hockey and should honestly be absorbed behind the bench where he is.

19May

Douglas McGuire (2)

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Franklin Pierce University Ravens‘ senior defenseman, captain Douglas McGuire(2) scores a college best 6 goals and 15 assists last season.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. blue liner did 1 season of juniors before school and won the 2022 EHL Championship.

From Elk Grove Village, IL, the 24-year old signs a 1st pro deal with Monroe Mocassins.

In 8 FPHL games, he has no points, but is a +1 rating and will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

18May

Mick Messner (10)

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Merrimack College Crusaders‘ senior left wing Mick Messner(10) is having a breakout campaign in his 2nd year with the team since being a portal transfer from 2 seasons at University Of Wisconsin Badgers.

In just 7 NCAA Division 1 games, he has a goal and 4 assists with a +4 rating.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward had mostly always connected for points through close to home high school in Madison, WI and 2 and a half USHL seasons for the Capitals.

At still just 22-years old looks poised to post Hockey East college career highs in 2021/2022, making him a nice unrestricted rookie pick up, if he decides to turn pro.

He spends a graduate season at the school and posts 5 goals and 4 assists in 35 games with a +6 rating on the way to a Hockey East Finals bout.

It takes him little time to agree to a pro deal, signing with Utah Grizzlies, where he has no points through 6 games with a +1 rating.

His efforts earn him an ECHL contract for 2023/2024 to wear that Grizzlies‘ jersey as a rookie.

He had a nice full frame, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists in a full slate of 72 games, gets him wanted back to continue wearing that Utah shirt.

As an assistant, he scores a new pro best 16 goals and 24 assists in another complete 72 game schedule and will return for his 3rd season as Grizzlies‘ team captain.

After 3 games, he has a change of attitude, sees an opportunity overseas to sign with HC Banska Bystrica for 2025/2026 in Slovak Extraliga and has an assist in his debut.

With 4 goals and 4 assists in 28 games, we don’t think it’s such a bad showing, but maybe he’s not as happy as he wants to be and shifts his game to sign with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL for the remainder of 2025/2026.

In 17 games, he scores a big 10 goals and 2 assists to gain an easy invite to return a Clan for 2026/2027.

17May

Daniel Russell (47)

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Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior center Daniel Russell(47) scored a college best 28 assists and 39 points last season.

He always been good for scoring, 30 points as a freshman, then 2 20+ seasons to follow.

The 5’10” 161 lbs. forward signed for 2026/2027 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and reports to the AHL team on an ato to start.

From Williamsburg, MI, he did 4 years juniors before college.

The 24 year old has 2 assists in 4 games to start.