Category: Minor League Deal

30Jul

Josh McDougall (23)

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

Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ senior defenseman Josh McDougall(23) wasted little time signing a pro contract once his team was eliminated from tournament play and agreed to an ato with Wichita Thunder.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner took a college career best 3 goals and 15 points to 5 ECHL games with no points, but a +1 rating.

A Prince Albert, SK native, he skated two junior seasons with Nipiwin Hawks and had most points by a defenseman (74), was voted best defenseman and won the 2018 SJHL Championship before heading to school.

The 23-year old should be able to set himself up nicely with a new deal for 2022/2023.

He comes off his 1st pro experience, fresh out of college at the end of last season, and signs a new 1-year deal with Indy Fuel.

After 19 games and 3 assists with a +2 rating, he gets traded and then traded again to end up with Norfolk Admirals.

27 games into his stint with his new club, he gets a first goal in the league for a puck keeper.

Through 41 games, he would score 3 and pick up 7 assists, which is enough to invite him back to put on the Admirals‘ sweater for 2023/2024.

As a 3rd year d-man his scoring exploded to the tune of 6 goals and a monster 39 assists with a +24 rating to re-sign to return for a 4th year in Norfolk.

30Jul

Bobby Raymond (21)

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

14th year defenseman Bobby Raymond(21) is trying his hand at a new league for 2022/2023, signing for 1-year with Grenoble of Ligue Magnus.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner spent the last 3 seasons in DEL2 last winning the 2022 Championship with Loewen Franfort and DEL the previous two, as captain and assistant for Iserlohn Roosters, his 2nd stint with the team.

Almost oddly, his one title in Germany’s top league came during his one campaign for Adler Mannheim.

He also played 3 seasons for EC Salzburg in the old EBEL, where he ran his best point totals.

The RIT Tigers‘ graduate had a good run there, in his 2nd run with Florida Everblades and helped them capture the 2012 ECHL Kelly Cup trophy.

At 35-years old, he’s likely happy to be playing at the level his is and still contributing big.

He starts the new frame 2023/2024 playing in the OEHL, but gets wooed to enter the fray once again at 38-years old, signing with 2023 Erste Liga Champs, Gyergyoi HK.

In 8 games, he scores 1 goal and 3 assists, then through 10 playoff matchups, he adds another goal and 2 assists with a +3 rating to very much be wanted back in a Bears‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

A 40-year old, Raymond will return to the team he is still connecting with for 2025/2026.

30Jul

Reed Lebster (13)

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

UMass Minutemen senior right wing Reed Lebster(13) is going to extend college for another year and will attend Michigan State University Spartans for the start of a graduate program.

Last season the 6′ 187 lbs. forward had a college career best 14 assists and 22 points.

He was on the team, who won the 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship.

A Grand Rapids, MI native, he had a strong 2nd frame of USHL junior hockey with Des Moines Buccaneers.

The 24-year old will likely do pretty good in Big Ten Conference play.

He holds his own at his new school, scoring 6 goals and 13 assists with a +11 rating to signing a 1st pro contract with Florida Everblades, where he has only been able to figure in 1 playoff game on the reserved list.

Appearing in 5 playoff games for some experience en route to the team’s 3rd straight Kelly Cup Championship, he is liked enough for his contributions to sign up for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

As he is to get started on a pro career, a pitfall occurs almost immediately, as he is traded to Utah Grizzlies, where he will definitely be a valued team member.

After skating in 67 games as a rookie, scoring 17 goals and 27 assists on a non-playoff team, he is well-liked invite to score a return to the Grizzlies for 2025/2026.

29Jul

Matt Tugnutt (29)

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

Rookie right wing Matt Tugnutt(29) signs his first pro contract with Idaho Steelheads 2021/2022.

He played for Providence College Friars in 2020/2021 after transferring from 3 years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers, who did not skate last season.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward spent 5 campaigns in junior hockey all with Kemptville 73’s, , who happened to be coach by his dad of 537 NHL games, Ron Tugnutt, running up big points (83-127) in 261 CCHL games.

He’ll have to work for it, but the 25-year old could run up some good numbers in the ECHL.

Traded after 49 games, he winds up with Greenville Swamp Rabbits heading down the stretch, and in 4 games managed to put up 5 assists with a +4 rating, but was unable to find space on the playoff roster before the season came to an end.

The Portland, ME native should easily sign where he wants for 2022/2023.

He decides to head off to see how hockey life will be on the other side of the ocean as a pro and signs a 1-year deal with Chamonix Mont-Blanc Pionneers of Ligue Magnus and should do extremely well in France’s top league.

Through 37 games, he grabs 13 goals and 16 assists with a +5 rating, but will return home to sign a 1-year deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2023/2024.

After 12 games, recording 2 goals and 1 assist, he decides to head back across the pond and signs in the EIHL with Guildford Flames for the remainder of the season.

In 32 games, he scores 6 goals and 8 assists, but it’s the 3 helpers in 4 playoff matchups with a +3 rating that we were mostly eyeing.

For 2024/2025, he will take his game back to France’s highest Ligue Magnus and it’s an easy choice, who to sign with as he returns to the Pionneers for more.

He is having fun, skating well for this team and will come back for a 3rd season, 2025/2026 in Chamonix.

29Jul

Jayden Lee (6)

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

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman Jayden Lee(6) signs a 1st pro deal with Hershey Bears for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner scored a college best 23 assists and 26 points last season.

He leaves the program a remarkable +74 player.

From North Vancouver, BC, the 23-year old did 2 sessions of BCHL before committing to school.

Reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, he basically explodes scoring with 8 goals and 24 assists in 48 ECHL games with a +36 rating, then does pretty well in the playoffs too.

For his efforts, hometown team Abbotsford Canucks were keeping track and sign him for 2025/2026.

29Jul

Hunter Shepard (30)

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

Hershey Bears jumped fairly quickly to sign undrafted, former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ 2-time NCAA Champion, captain, goaltender Hunter Shepard(30) to a deal for 2020/2021.

The fairly large 6’1″ 210 lbs. net minder was reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he has played 14 ECHL games, recording a 6’5-2 record with a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% on a club headed to the postseason, as there was little room in the crease above for the young goalie.

He has gotten his opportunity to shine though in 2 AHL appearances delivering a pair of wins, including a debut shut out for a .50 GAA and .983 SV%.

The one-time NAHL Goaltender Of The Year in 2016, right before committing to college, the 25-year old has always seemed to work hard for any credit but has to have Washington Capitals step in and offer him an NHL entry level deal, as he is firmly on their radar.

For his efforts backstopping the Bears to a 12th Calder Cup Championship, he is rewarded with a 2-year, 2-way deal that is worth some handsome money wherever he throws on those pads.

He gets to start a 1st game, as the big club is out to a bit of a wobbly start and gets the W in a 6-4 contest, stopping 18 of 22 shots to potentially get a 2nd nod in another night.

His 2-1-1 record wasn’t bad, although maybe his numbers could have improved, but for a 2nd straight season with the affiliate, he posts a 27-4-3 record with a 1.76 GAA and .929 SV% to earn himself the Baz Bastien Award as the AHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender and will once again look to push his club deep in the playoffs.

He’s all set with a 2-year contract through 2024/2025, so can continue to concentrate on winning.

Very successful in his time, as an unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Ottawa Senators.

29Jul

Oliver Chau (20)

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

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ center Oliver Chau(20) is definitely glad he added another year to his college hockey playing days with the portal transfer from 2021 NCAA Division 1 champs University Of Massachusetts Minutemen.

The plays bigger than 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward has a new best 13 goals and 33 points, with his 20 assists just 2 behind the mark he set last season and has a +19 rating.

Undrafted, the 24-year old Oakville, ON native is definitely setting himself up for some looks with another potential title winner.

Soon after his team was eliminated from tournament competition, he signed on for the remainder of 2021/2022 with Tuscon Roadrunners and in 3 AHL games already has 2 assists.

He finished up his ato with 4 assists in 10 games, which definitely was a nice start to a pro career.

For 2022/2023, he signs a nice 1st deal with last year’s champions, Florida Everblades, which should be a great place to play his rookie frame.

He is able to put together 13 goals and 24 assists with a +32 rating in 42 ECHL games, then 7 goals and 10 assists in 19 playoff match ups en route to a 2nd 2023 Kelly Cup Championship.

It’s an absolute no brainer for him to return for his sophomore frame, 2023/2024.

After another career scoring season, then point-per-game playoffs to be MVP and win a 2nd straight 2024 Kelly Cup, he gets an offer to ascend and sign a 1-year AHL deal with Springfield Thunderbirds for 2024/2025.

He spent his 3rd season in Florida and would be named captain with once again very good scoring.

For 2025/2026, he returns for a 4th season and will likely continue in his role.

29Jul

Jake Stevens (44)

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

Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate defenseman Jake Stevens(44) has college career high 4 goals, tied his 13 assists as a freshman and a new best 17 points in 29 games.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. committed after his first BCHL season for Victoria Grizzlies, then in his follow-up went on to score junior best 8 goals and 45 assists in 58 games.

He transferred for 2021/2022 from 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints.

The undrafted, 25 year old is definitely a good player to see what develops.

Upon completing his 5th year, the native of Naperville, IL signs a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders and has a 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists in 6 games with a +1 rating on a team that has been losing.

He would conclude his short spell with 1 goal and 7 assists in 11 games with a +1 rating.

For 2023/2024, he signs with Orlando Solar Bears and should be able to help their blue line not give up goals and score points.

He gets released after 2 goals and 2 assists in 24 games and quickly picked up by Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who think they can add to those totals.

In 10 games, he records 1 goal and 4 assists with a +5 rating, but decides to sign with Maine Mariners to start 2024/2025.

9 game played without any points, Tahoe Knight Monsters want him to join their team.

In 3 games with his new club has 2 assists with a +4 rating, so things are looking up.

Worcester Railers see something in him they can you and sign him up for 2025/2026, where his size should fit in nicely with the team’s game style.

28Jul

Sam Malinski (70)

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

Cornell University Big Red senior captain, defenseman Sam Walinski(70) signs an pto with Colorado Eagles and in 2 games already has a 1st AHL goal and an assist with a +3 rating on a playoff bound club.

Undrafted, parent club Colorado Avalanche inked him to a 2-year NHL deal after he posted a college career best 8 goals, junior season tying 18 assists and new high 26 points with a +10 rating, which was a +20 in his junior session.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner put up some magical points in his 2nd NAHL junior frame with Bismarck Bobcats, striking for 14 goals and 31 assists in 59 games with another +20 rating.

From Lakeville, MN, the 24-year old gets lucky, but could just be the right unrestricted pick up.

He will remember November 13 going forward, as that is the date of his NHL debut.

In a 5-1 win, he skated 17 shifts for 12:02 worth of ice time, had 1 shot, 1 hit and was a +1, when it was all done.

Last season he appears in 76 games, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists with a +8 rating and earns another season as an unrestricted free agent, keeping him an Avalanche.

28Jul

Joey Abate (47)

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

Providence Bruins‘ 2nd year AHL left wing Joey Abate(47) signs a 1-year 2-way deal with parent club Boston Bruins for the current season 2023/2024, maybe to give them a little insurance as they head to the postseason.

The 6’2″ 187 lbs. forward is tied at his rookie season 3 goal mark, but 9 assists is greatly improved.

He spent 3 years at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks before deciding to turn pro.

From Bloomingdale, IL, he spent 3 campaigns of junior hockey, probably most notably late for Youngstown Phantoms.

The 25-year old may be getting a good indicator of what’s in his future with the organization, as he was on a 2-year minor league deal through 2024/2025.

Last year, he scores a new best 8 goals and his consistent play earns him a 4th look in a Bruins‘ jersey for 2025/2026.