Category: Minor League Deal

Way to be on the lookout, Detroit Red Wings sign now 2nd year defenseman Wyatt Newpower(38) to a two-year NHL entry level deal.

The fairly sizable 6’3″ 194 lbs. d-man was initially signed by Cleveland Monsters to a minor league deal and as a rookie scored 3 goals and 7 assists in 24 AHL games with a fairly phenomenal +10 rating.

He finished 2019/2020 COVID playoff cut season, finishing up 4 as captain for UConn Huskies, scoring a college career tying 3 goals and best 19 assists for 22 points with a +23 rating.

The 23-year old Hugo, MN native has to be smiling nicely how he played his way into this signing.

As his deal expires, he isn’t qualified to stay, so signs a minor league deal with Bridgeport Islanders for 2024/2025.

He scores a new high 8 assists and ties his twice best 10 points, which he takes to a new deal with Iowa Wild for 2025/2026, which should see him show increases.

In 23 games, he records only 3 assists with a -9 rating and Syracuse Crunch see something they can work with, so trade future considerations for him

He elevates his scoring by a bit and is a +5 in 21 games, but is dealt at the deadline to Springfield Thunderbirds, who believe they can get him ticking.

Elmira College Soaring Eagles‘ senior center Tyler Schwindt(44) realized some scoring last season with a college high (by a mile) 12 goals and 3 assists.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro deal with Binghamton Black Bears, as tournament play winds down.

In 4 FPHL games, he has 3 assists for a nice start.

From New Hamburg, ON, he did 3 years NOJHL before school.

The 25-year old definitely looks to play himself up a level quickly.

Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ junior defenseman Evan Orr(26) transferred back to where he had success in his 2nd year of junior hockey with Northeast Generals from 2 years at Michigan Tech University Broncos.

That season, the 5’11” 185 scored 5 goals and 22 assists in 25 games with a +11 rating.

From Shelby Township, MI, the 23-year old we think is in his happy place and should do well playing the independent schedule.

The senior captain scores a new college best 13 assists and 18 points, while helping pace his team to a new best record in 2025/2026.

He takes his game to a 1st pro contract with Atlanta Gladiators that should be quite a good view.

6th year right wing Matt Berry(19) decided to take the COVID season off last year and only skated one ECHL game for Kalamazoo Wings in 2019/2020, so must have been anxious to sign a contract and elected to go with the high powered offense of Toledo Walleye for 2021/2022.

He’s off to a blazing hot start, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists in 7 games with a +9 rating.

The 5’10” 176 lbs. forward started his pro career after 4 years at Michigan State University Spartans, where he averaged around 20+ points, 31 as a sophomore, in the AHL with 5 games for Norfolk Admirals.

He didn’t get any points, but for his rookie season, San Diego Gulls gave him a contract.

Through 15 games, he had 3 goals and an assist, but was mostly reassigned to affiliate Utah Grizzlies, where he was putting up point-per-game numbers.

He would head off for a couple of campaigns with Florida Everblades, putting up a best 24 goals and 44 assists for 68 points in his first year there.

The Canton, MI native once again moved west to Utah, but was quickly scooped to head back to Southern California, only to put up 4 goals and 14 assists with a +6 rating, but can’t seem to garner any real respect from the league.

At 29-years old, he’s likely just accepted his path.

He was loaned up to Grand Rapids Griffins for 19 games, grabbing 2 goals and 4 assists with a +1, but really lit it up big in the lower league with 24 goals and 37 assists in 44 games with a +30, then added another 14 (5-9) points in 21 playoff matchups.

For 2022/2023, he signs a 1-year deal with Cincinnati Cyclones and could be on the move for his best session yet.

After basically point-per-game numbers last season, matching his exact output in the previous frame 61 points, he has decided to go exploring.

For 2023/2024, he is heading to the tougher to play Slovak Extraliga and signs a 1-year deal with HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas.

He does pretty well in Slovakia, scoring 15 goals and 19 assists in 48 games with a +3 rating and 4 points in 5 playoff matchups, but wants something different and ultimately signs with Glasgow Clan, where he must have been given some good incentives.

For 2025/2026, he switches allegiances and signs with rivals Dundee Stars, where he scores pretty well, but decides to head back and signs with Fort Wayne Komets.

He is scoring ok, but gets dished and returns to Kalamazoo Wings, who maybe need him to score a little more for them in the 2nd half.

Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior left wing Caden Pattison(21) takes college best scoring 11 assists and 15 points to a 1st pro contract with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.

The big 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward has played 3 SPHL with no points, but is a +1 rating.

He did most of 3 NAHL seasons with Maine Nordiques.

From Lake Stevens, WA, the 24-year old should show signs of life scoring points as a pro.

Newfoundland Growlers‘ rookie center Grant Cruikshank(19) has really ignited his scoring when he was reassigned by AHL contract club, Toronto Marlies.

In 35 ECHL games, he has 21 goals and 22 assists with a +9 rating.

Undrafted, he cycled through 3 colleges, his 1st 3 years at Colorado College Tigers, then 1 apiece with University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers and a graduate frame for St. Cloud State University Huskies.

He twice had 10+ goals, but exploded for 23 in his final year.

From Delafield, WI, the 25-year old won a BCHL Championship in his 1st junior season and is turning out to be quite the pro.

With his team going belly up, he went back to his contract club, but didn’t figure in any playoff games.

For 2024/2025, he signs with Calder Cup Champions, Hershey Bears, where he should find himself a nice home to play some hockey.

In his 1st full season in the league 2025/2026, he posts a high 9 goals and 5 assists in 52 games to secure a spot on the Bears‘ roster for 2026/2027.

Colgate University Raiders‘ senior left wing Alex DiPaolo(11) signs a 1st pro deal with Maine Mariners, as tournament play is up.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. forward puts up 10 ECHL games, gaining 4 assists with a +4 rating.

He was coming off a college best 15 assists and 26 points.

It was his 3rd straight season of 10+ goals and assists.

From Oakville, ON, the 24-year old did 3 BCHL seasons with 3 different teams before college.

He looks like a good skater to stick around for his rookie frame, 2025/2026 and stays a Mariners.

In 37 games, he has 3 goals and 4 assists and Indy Fuel see something they need for their lineup, so trade up some cash to gain his rights.

Keene State College Owls‘ senior left wing Payton Jones(88) signs a 1st pro deal with Biloxi Breakers after his 2025/2026 college season came to a close.

The 6′ 205 lbs. forward has skated 2 FPHL without any points yet.

He only played 8 games in his final frame.

As a junior, he had a college best 6 assists and 8 points after he came over to the new D3 program from 2 years at Franklin Pierce University Ravens.

From Cedar Park, TX, the 24-year old came up through the junior ranks, ending with 2 New Jersey 87’s EHL sessions before college.