Category: Minor League Deal

10Jul

Brady Keeper (25)

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Vancouver Canucks have picked up unrestricted free agent Brady Keeper(25) as his one-year extension to stay in Florida Panthers‘ system was up.

And even though the undrafted, 6’2″ 196 lbs. blue liner has only ever skated 2 NHL games, he is given a 2-year one-way deal to come play zone in the big league.

He originally came from three seasons of juniors in the MJHL for OCN Blizzard, serving as captain in his final session, before committing to University Of Maine Black Bears.

The Cross Lake, MB native played one full AHL campaign for affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, earning 6 goals and 18 assists in 61 games.

He was loaned last season to Syracuse Crunch, where he figured into 11 games, scoring a goal and 2 assists.

They must see something in the 25-year old that looks ready to step it up full-time and it just may work.

He wouldn’t actually figure into any games for 2021/2022 after breaking 2 major bones in his leg, but returned for the next frame, contributing 1 goal and 5 assists in 35 games.

For 2023/2024, he has options and signs with Montreal Canadiens, but really is on a high-priced minor league deal with affiliate  Laval Rocket.

He only figures into 22 games last season, but his accountability is good.

For 2024/2025, he signs with HK Poprad of Slovak Extraliga, which should provide the challenge the 28-year old needs.

Instead of reporting to his new, overseas team, he elected to sit last year out and returns in 2025/2026 to sign with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL.

Injuries continue to nag him, as he tries to move towards a comeback, but it turns out to be too much and he needs to hang up the skates, having 2 goals in 4 NHL games.

Something is nagging him and he signs for 2025/2026 with South Carolina Stingrays.

He actually heads to the semi-pro SaskEHL, but with 7 goals and 2 assists in 5 games, maybe thinks he should really play, gets a trade to and signs with Rapid City Rush.

In a very short stint, he does exceedingly well, but gets traded to Idaho Steelheads, where his leadership is going to be very nicely welcomed.

10Jul

Carson Musser (4)

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Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate portal transfer from 4 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons, defenseman Carson Musser(4) took a college best scoring 4 goals and 11 points in 31 NCAA games to a 1st contract with Norfolk Admirals.

In 7 ECHL games, he had an assist and left with no playoffs a +2 rating.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. blue liner has never really scored many goals, but did manage 10 assists in his 2nd USHL year with Fargo Force.

From Grand Rapids, MI, it’s seems likely the 25-year old could score a new contract for 2022/2023 in the league, if he wants.

As considered, the d-man decides to go for a full session in Virginia to see what’s possible.

He is able to connect for 4 goals and 9 assists, but needs to clean up a -19 rating and hopefully the team posts a better record, as he re-signs to stay.

Increasing his numbers as he goes is easily the way to keep attention, so he scores a new best 8 goals and 18 assists, while bringing up that horrible +/- to a +13 rating in 57 games, then in 11 playoff matchups adds another 7 points, +5.

He is easy to continue to bring back in an Admirals‘ jersey.

For a 4th straight season, he will return to Norfolk after scoring a new high 23 assists and 29 points.

He maybe lost a little production last season, which has caused him to looked elsewhere and signs for 2026/2027 with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL.

10Jul

Tyler Busch (13)

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Former Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ undrafted 2 year team captain Tyler Busch(13) quite possibly was waiting to see where North American pro hockey was going to settle before agreeing to leave the country for his next pursuit and decided to sign on with Sweden’s tier 3 league HockeyEttan joining Tranas AIF.

He did sign with Cincinnati Cyclones during the summer but then decided to forego the 2020/2021 due to COVID restrictions.

The 6’3″ 195 lb. power forward scored a healthy diet of four goals and 5 assists in 17 games before adding an assist in the playoffs.

He put up 21 points in two straight seasons before graduating with a career high 18 assists and +15 rating as a senior.

The Lloydminster, AB native played 3 years in the AJHL for Spruce Grove Saints and arrived at college after his best session as a more than point-per-game performer serving as captain.

What the 25-year old does next is up in the air but he could easily continue where he’s at and likely receive a look from the NL.

For 2021/2022, he was initially signed with the Cyclones return, but switched it up closer to the start of the frame and went with Fort Wayne Komets in 2021/2022, ending up getting 8 goals and 11 assists in 59 games, including a 4 game AHL loan to Henderson Silver Knights.

He re-signs to stay where he played as a rookie and we only see things improving for this young player.

Traded to Iowa Heartlanders early in the season, he managed to connect for 14 goals and 14 assists in 56 games.

He’ll take that ECHL experience to the EIHL next, signing for 2023/2024 with Cardiff Devils.

After 2 seasons, scoring decently, he will switch things up to sign with rivals, Guilford Flames for 2025/2026 and hopes to increase his play.

He would put up a new league best scoring 21 assists and 32 points to easily get another 1-year deal to stay a Flames for 2026/2027.

09Jul

Jake Witkowski (83)

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Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ transfer portal, graduate right wing Jake Witkowski(83) has made a good decision trading 4 seasons at Hockey East, Boston University Terriers for Atlantic Hockey.

in 6 games, he almost unbelievably has outpaced anything he did previously, as those became his first college tallies.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward played 4 years at Malden Catholic High, which was near to where he was born in Melrose, MA,

He would leave for a year at Avon Old Farms School, lighting it up for 13 goals and 27 assists in 27 games, then head off to the BCHL.

Signed for his only junior campaign with Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he continued to gain notice with 23 goals and 17 assists and agreed to head to his first school.

It will be interesting to see what the 25-year old ends up with and where he looks to take his hockey next.

He scores a college career best 5 goals and 6 assists in 32 games with a +6 rating and signs a rookie contract with Pensacola Ice Flyers just as the season starts.

In 2 SPHL games, he has an assist.

He will likely find room in this league to put the puck in the back of the net.

After 9 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist, he leaves for the 2nd tier league NIHL, signing with Leeds Knights and putting up a bundle of points, 46 (16-30) in 26 games.

He waits a tiny bit, but re-signs to head back to the small English town team for 2023/2024.

For 2024/2025, he left for the lower NIHL 1 league and signed with Deeside Dragons.

He’s absolutely blown up scoring and is having a lot of fun to continue for a 3rd & 4th frame through 2027/2028.

09Jul

Chase Yoder (48)

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Providence College Friars‘ senior center Chase Yoder(48) scored what turned out to be the game-winner for the 2023 Mayor’s Cup, Battle of Providence vs. Brown University Bears, 3-0.

The 5’10” 176 lbs. forward is easily threatening college bests with 6 goals and 6 assists in 17 games.

A Pittsburg Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#170 overall), the Fairview, TX native did 2 years in the USNTDP system before school.

We think this is the season to see an uptick in the 21 year old’s game, getting him ready to sign an NHL entry level deal.

He goes unsigned by his draft club, but somehow picks up the radar of Winnipeg Jets, who get him signed to an AHL contract with affiliate Manitoba Moose for 2025/2026.

Splitting time with affiliate Norfolk Admirals, where he was close to a point-per-game player and even got 2 goals and 2 assists in 23 games up, he gets another look in a Moose jersey for 2026/2027.

09Jul

Eamon Powell (11)

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Boston College Eagles‘ senior captain defenseman Eamon Powell(11) maybe a little quietly this season amassed a college best 26 assists to go with his 5 goals that match those junior totals in 34 games with a +19 rating.

The 6′ 177 lbs. blue liner had a team high 2 assists in the Hockey East quarterfinals’ win over the weekend to advance to the next round.

A Marcellus, NY native, the young 21-year old is a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#116 overall) and will be a watch to sign an NHL entry level deal.

The rights to ink are left to expire, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

He signs a 1-year AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers to start 2025/2026, but will jump in for the playoffs on an ato, and already has a 1st goal and assist in 5 games.

In 23 games, he scores 1 goal and 5 assists, but is an unrestricted free agent and signs with Utica Comets for 2026/2027.

07Jul

Josh Atkinson (22)

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Josh-Atkinson

Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Josh Atkinson(22) had himself quite a rookie season with Atlanta Gladiators.

The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner scored 10 goals and had a team leading 40 assists in 66 ECHL games, which was equal to all his helper marks through 4 years at University of Alaska-Fairbanks and his single season tallies were slightly better than he achieve in all of college hockey.

He received a 1-game loan up to Chicago Wolves of the AHL but was unable to connect for any points.

Moving along, he signs with Iowa Wild for the next 2 seasons before heading overseas for 3 campaigns in the IceHL with Fehervar AV19.

He returned with success, but decides to move back, joining Les Ducs d’Angers for 2026/2027.

07Jul

Carter Wilkie (16)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior center Carter Wilkie(16) signs a 1st pro deal, an ato with Calgary Wranglers and goes on to score 2 goals and 1 assist in 9 AHL games with a +3 rating.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward did 3 high scoring seasons at RIT Tigers.

From Calgary, AB, the 21-year old did 3 years of BCHL juniors before heading to school.

He splits his rookie frame with ECHL affiliate Rapid City Rush, where he puts up point-per-game numbers and the team feels he can still ignite up top to sign him up to continue with the hometown Wranglers in 2026/2027.

06Jul

Bryan Yoon (71)

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3rd year defenseman Bryan Yoon(71) has been loaned up to the AHL twice, last year even playing in 7 playoff games, worth 3 assists and a +2 rating.

For 2025/2026, he is set to start with Savannah Ghost Pirates, but has been signed by his team of 22 regular season games for 5 assists and another +2 rating, Colorado Eagles.

The 6’1″ 187 lbs. blue liner was graduate captain with Colorado College Tigers, where he once scored 20+ points, but was good for 10+ for 3 seasons.

From Parker, CO, the 27-year old looks to be playing himself up on a permanent basis

He split time between his contract club and the ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies, but when up was a successful 5 assists in 22 games with a +2 rating, then in 7 from playoffs, scored 3 assists with another +2.

For 2025/2026, he starts in the upper league and through 11 games has 2 assists with a 0 rating to look like he’s staying with the Eagles for 2025/2026.

In 42 games, he scores 3 goals and 5 assists with a +6 rating, then gets another tally in the playoffs that end in the Western Conference Finals.

For 2026/2027, he looks to try something new and signs in Allsvenskan with MoDo Hockey, which should provide him room to grow his game further.

06Jul

Jack Pascucci (28)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior defenseman Jack Pascucci(28) enters the transfer portal after maybe a slack 10 games played to skate at Canisius College Golden Griffins as a senior.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner from Andover, MA skated Boston Jr. Bruins before 1 USHL junior season prior to college.

He will likely excel much better in Atlantic Hockey.

After a college career high 6 assists scoring, he turns pro as tournament play concludes and signs a deal with Norfolk Admirals to bring his frame to them.

He would score 3 goals and 4 assists in 20 ECHL games to get started and earns a new deal with the Admirals for his rookie frame in 2026/2027.