Category: Minor League Deal

24Jul

Ethan Prow (12)

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After a super strong showing for EHC Munchen, scoring 4 goals and 16 assists in only 26 DEL games with a +18 rating, 6th year defenseman Ethan Prow(12) nets a 1-year NHL deal from Buffalo Sabres for 2021/2022.

It’s the 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner’s first big league deal after 220 AHL games, with his best season coming in his 3rd for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring a crazy 18 goals and 32 assists.

He originally left for Germany’s top league with a +32 plus/minus.

The former St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ d-man scored 30 assists to go along with 8 goals and a +29 as a senior.

It’s likely he’s destined for reasignment to affiliate Rochester Americans, but the 28-year old could be ready for a look in the show.

And he does some scoring business in the minors to merit a first game in the show, in which the now 29-year old scores a 1st NHL goal on a 1st shot.

For his 9th season, he simply returns to where he’s been playing his hockey for a 1-year deal with the Amerks.

After 4 years playing hockey in the same place, he for a 1st time jumps to an overseas opportunity, signing with Grizzlys Wolfsburg in DEL for 2025/2026.

23Jul

Austin Magera (5)

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Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate center Austin Magera(5) leaves his long-standing program with a college career best 20 assists and 28 points before signing a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward is off to a nice start, in 7 ECHL games he has 2 goals and 3 assists with one multi-point outing.

He appeared in only 1 USHL session previous to heading to college, coming off a successful high school run at Lawrence Academy for the Suwanee, GA native.

The 24-year old appears to impress at the next level.

He is voted “rookie of the year” for his efforts scoring 29 goals and 45 assist for 74 in 70 games with a +21 rating.

After being top scorer (74 points in 70 games), the parent club says hey, come up here and Hershey Bears sign him for a 1st AHL contract in 2024/2025.

Another strong season with the affiliate, twice scoring 40+ assists, he leaves to sign with Fort Wayne Komets for 2025/2026.

23Jul

Brandon Hawkins (7)

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2nd year pro, undrafted right wing Brandon Hawkins(7) has another outstanding ECHL season with contract club Fort Wayne Komets, scoring a new best 23 goals and 39 points in 37 games.

He seemingly really burst the bubble en route to a 2021 Kelly Cup Championship, striking for 6 goals and 5 assists in 13 games, including a hat trick and a 4 point effort.

The former Northeastern University Huskies‘ graduate, transfer from Bowling Green State University Falcons, signed his first deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins upon completing school and grabbed a 1st pair of goals in 5 AHL games to earn himself another contract for the next frame.

He was mostly reassigned as a rookie to affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he began to establish he could score for big numbers in the lower league.

The 5’10” 198 lbs. forward was definitely able to put up points through college hockey, credited with 46 goals and 62 assists in 142 NCAA Division 1 games.

He did receive a loan up in 2020/2021 to Rochester Americans for 10 games, where he got a goal and 3 assists.

We do believe the 27-year old, Michigan native is maybe a bit of a late bloomer and will continue to climb.

He signs for his 2nd season with Toledo Walleye and posts career bests 35 goals and 29 assists for 64 points with a +11 rating in 52 games, but then in the playoffs explodes with a most 15 goals and 18 assists, 33 points.

The now 28-year old likes where he sits and signs on to stay for 2022/2023.

He finished last season with a new career highs 39 goals and 42 assists with a +16 rating, then added another 17 points in 13 playoff matchups.

His efforts are rewarded with an invite to spend a 3rd season in Ohio’s very decent-sized community.

In his 3rd season with the same club, he comes away with a league best 40 goals and 93 points to win himself the ECHL Most Valuable Player Award for 2023/2024.

Easily he signs on to stay a fish, Walleye for a 4th frame, 2024/2025.

He scores only 89 points, his 2nd highest totals in his 2nd year as assistant captain and will return a fish in Toledo for a 5th season without question.

23Jul

Matt Quercia (22)

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Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie left wing Matt Quercia(22) arrived from almost finishing up college hockey as a senior at Michigan Tech University Huskies.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward left after playing 14 NCAA Division 1 games, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists.

He was a portal transfer from three seasons at Boston University Terriers.

His best campaign was as a sophomore, scoring 6 goals and 7 assists.

The 24-year old, Andover, MA native has skated 4 ECHL games with no points yet, but that seems imminent to happen.

After suffering an injury during training camp that knocked him out of the upcoming frame, he gets a new deal to stay in West Virginia for what will actually be his rookie season and show everyone what they know he can do in this league.

He does just that, coming away with 11 goals and 22 assists in 64 games with +13 rating, then another 6 points including a huge goal in 7 playoff matchups.

Parent club, WBS Penguins also ask him to loan up for 6 AHL games.

It’s the biggest no brainer that he will be back in a Nailers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

After playing a new best 68 games, scoring new high 20 goals and tied his 33 points of his rookie frame, he re-signs to stay in Wheeling for a 3rd season.

23Jul

Michael Karow (26)

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Texas Stars‘ rookie defenseman Michael Karow(26) re-signs for 2022/2023 following playing 13 AHL games (1 goal, 3 assists with a +3 rating) with the team upon finishing up a year of eligibility, graduate at Michigan Tech Huskies.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner has good on ice accountability, leaving 4 years with Boston College Eagles as a +15 player.

His point production came somewhat to life last season with a college best 2 goals and 8 assists.

The 23-year old from Green Bay, WI should have a pretty great 1st season.

He finishes his 1st frame with 1 goal and 8 assists in 36 games with a +8 rating to earn himself another 2-years to stay in Cedar Park.

Playing well, he scores 1 goal and 10 assists through 71 games with a +5 rating, then adds 5 points in 14 playoff matchups and he is set to return a Stars in 2025/2026 for a 4th season, post college.

23Jul

Nick Rheaume (25)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ junior left wing Nick Rheaume(25) transferred from UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, where he had a college best 9 goals and 4 assists last season and has 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 games in the current frame.

The 6’3″ 195 lbs. forward did 2 BCHL seasons, scoring really well in his 2nd after attending Cushing Academy USHS-Prep.

From Sherbrooke, QC, the 22-year old continues to play Hockey East.

Undrafted, he decides to leave a year on the table to sign with Toronto Marlies for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.

23Jul

Ben Sokay (24)

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After taking 2020/2021 off, post graduating from Niagara University Purple Eagles, rookie center Ben Sokay(24) becomes one of the initial signings for new club, Iowa Heartlanders.

He finished up school on a high note, scoring 11 goals and 11 assists in 33 Atlantic Hockey games.

The 6′ 170 lbs. forward committed to college after a decent first frame with Wellington Dukes, which he followed up posting blow away junior numbers 30 goals and 34 assists in 52 OJHL games.

At just 24 years old, he should be able to step it up in the ECHL.

In his 1st season he potted 12 goals and 12 assists in 58 games, but was also a bit of a downside -12 rating.

He will take his game overseas next, joining Dundee Stars for 2022/2023.

Doing very well scoring, despite a bad +/-, he took his game to the Polish Hockey League, signing with GKS Katowice, where he stayed for 2 10+ goals and assists years.

For 2025/2026, he will take leave to Ligue Magnus and comes to terms with Les Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise.

22Jul

Eamon McAdam (37)

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6th year net minder Eamon McAdam(37) finds a good deal to split for Metal Ligaen, joining Esbjerg Energy in 2021/2022.

Originally a New York Islanders‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#70 overall), he signed a three-year entry level deal after completing his 3rd year at Penn State University Nittany Lions and mostly languished through equal time between affiliates Bridgeport Sound Tigers and their ECHL partner putting together ok numbers.

He was traded to Toronto Maple Leafs in the final campaign of his contract and once again did equal time in the pair of minor leagues.

The sturdy 6’3″ 198 lbs. goalie was left unqualified and signed an AHL deal with Binghamton Devils, but was sent for the duration of the session to Adirondack Thunder, starting a career high 40 games.

He almost seemed to come to life more last season with Jacksonville Icemen, going 4-2-2 with a best 2.53 GAA and .915 SV%.

The 27-year old should find more new life in Denmark’s top hockey.

He takes some conservatively good numbers to his next opportunity, signing for 2022/2023 with Guilford Flames of the EIHL.

After 3 seasons with one team in the league, he branches out to join rivals Sheffield Steelers for 2025/2026.

22Jul

Tristan De Jong (5)

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University Of Guelph Gryphons‘ senior defenseman, captain Tristan De Jong(5) scored a college tying 3 goals and by far best 14 assists for 17 points last season and signs a 1st pro contract with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

In 7 ECHL games, he has 1 assist.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner did 3 years QMJHL and 2 GOJHL before heading to school.

From Breslau, ON, the 24-year old is looking .

He plays 18 games with 2 assists and is liked by what they see to sign him up for his rookie frame, 2025/2026 as a Swamp Rabbits.

22Jul

J.D. Dudek (18)

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

3rd year center J.D. Dudek(18) returned to these shores after spending 2020/2021 overseas with Bodens HF doing quite well with 7 goals and 4 assists in 16 HockeyEttan games with a +7 rating and re-signed to Worcester Railers, who he spent 27 ECHL games with as a rookie (2-10-12).

Originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#152 overall), he signed an ato with affiliate Binghamton Devils upon graduating 4 years at Boston College Eagles, but that’s about how far it went.

The Auburn, NH native was quickly dished to Allen Americans after 1 game back in central MA.

Soon to be turning 26, he has to have his eye on what might be more possible for his playing career overseas.

He would get 6 goals and 10 assists with a +4 rating in 62 games last season and decides maybe return as thought, signing for 2022/2023 with Tranas AIF, where once again he should put up strong numbers in Sweden’s tier 3 league.

After 14 games, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating, he decides to head elsewhere, joining Coventry Blaze for the remainder of 2022/2023.

He walks away from last season with 9 goals and 8 assists in 29 games with a +5, which is favorable enough to score 2023/2024 to once again play in the EIHL.

After almost 2 seasons with the English team, he decides to head back home and signs with the Railers once again for a hopeful improved outcome.

He does decently in his time back close to home, but maybe misses the overseas action more and is a better payday for him to join Manchester Storm for 2025/2026.