Category: Minor League Deal

Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate right wing Michael Gildon(18) takes a college best 5 goals in 34 games with a +3 rating last season to a 1st pro deal with Worcester Railers.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward from Plano, TX played 2 seasons USNTDP and wasn’t too bad on the scoresheet.

We think the decently-sized skater finds more room for scoring opportunities in the ECHL.

He signs with Jacksonville Icemen for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

Actually, he ends up with Fort Wayne Komets and things go pretty smoothly with 5 goals and 3 assists with a +2 rating in 23 games, but gets himself traded to Allen Americans, who bring him home.

University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate, captain defenseman Jake Flynn(18) is one of 2 players, who did 5 years at the school.

The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner played his 4th 30+ game set, and probably would have in 2020/2021, if his team played that many games.

From Weymouth, MA, the 22-year old played no junior hockey before committing.

He becomes a very interesting hockey watch when Hockey East playoffs are done.

We knew this entry wouldn’t wait long before an update: 2 weeks.

He signs a 1st deal with Greenville Swamp Rabbits that proves to be a good landing spot, as he has a 1st ECHL goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating in 6 games to start.

For 2024/2025, he was going to leave to play overseas, but re-signs for his rookie frame to stay a Swamp Rabbits.

In 36 games, he scores 3 goals and 5 assists with a -3 rating  and Bloomington Bison think they can use him, so trade for him.

Lindenwood University Lions‘ senior left wing Mitchell Allard(21) takes a college best 32 games played to signing a 1st pro contract with Kansas City Mavericks, where in 7 games already has an assist.

The 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward wasn’t exactly the biggest scorer through college hockey, since joining D1 hockey in his sophomore year.

From Shelby Township, MI, he did 2 years of juniors in the NAHL for the somewhat local Minnesota Wilderness.

The 25-year old may connect for points better as a pro.

4th year defenseman Christian Hausinger(11) is on the move and traded to Utah Grizzlies, who looked to pick him up from Atlanta Gladiators, where he had 0 goals and 7 assists with a -11 rating.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played last season in Germany 3, picking up a healthy 31 assists in 43 games after coming over from 1 year in the EIHL with Fife Flyers, where he also scored pretty well.

He was coming off a season for Norfolk Admirals with 17 assists to his credit.

The 4-year University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ d-man had a college best 10 goals and 26 assists in 27 games as a junior and his senior year was that COVID-bust affair.

From Anchorage, AK, the 28-year old has to be thinking things are going pretty good.

Plymouth State University Panthers‘ senior left wing, captain Ethan Stuckless(18) scores a college best 15 goals last season and signs a 1st pro contract with Fayettesville Markmen.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward has always scored well in school with a high 19 assists and 31 points as a sophomore.

From St. John’s, NL, the 24-year old played his junior hockey closer to home.

We look for him to do well in the SPHL.

Merrimack College Crusaders‘ portal transfer graduate student, left wing Steven Jandric(18) is off to a healthy start with his new club, scoring 3 goals and 7 assists in 15 games with a +3 rating.

The 6′ 201 lbs. power forward is a double transfer, heading from 3 solid scoring years University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks to 1 at University Of Denver Pioneers before arriving east.

The Prince George, BC native also did ok in a pair of BCHL junior seasons for Vernon Vipers.

It will be interesting to see what develops for him next.

He finished his graduate season tying his college career high 20 assists, while also netting 8 goals and the always gunning power forward signs an ato with Worcester Railers.

In his ECHL debut he gets a first point, an assist and follows it up the next night with a first goal.

He gets a 2nd goal to his credit in his 3rd game, so things are going swimmingly well.

For 2022/2023, he won’t go far as he re-ups to stay in central MA for his official rookie season, after scoring 4 goals and 4 assists in 15 games and getting a 2 game AHL loan up to Providence Bruins, where he potted 1.

After starting the season in the lower league, jumping on 6 goals and 7 assists in 11 games, he is loaned up to Springfield Thunderbirds, where he is given an spc recently to stay.

He ends his rookie season with 31 games played, 2 goals, 6 assists and a 0 rating.

They are liking what they see and sign him to a 1-year deal to continue.

His league rights were sold to Orlando Solar Bears, where he strikes for 10 goals and 6 assists in 19 games, but he spies something new, better and signs for the remainder of 2023/2024 with Lukko and will play his hockey in Liiga.

This is a pretty exciting move for a player of this caliber.

In his 1st season overseas, he grabs 12 goals and 10 assists in 31 games with a +10 rating to want him back, so he re-signs to stay with the Rauman club.

There is little doubt he has found a place to very well play his game with 18 goals and 22 assists in 55 games with a 0 rating, he is invited to return for a 3rd time in a Lukko jersey.

Almost unreal, 18th year center Jon Matsumoto(11) will do a 2nd DEL2 season with Krefeld Pinguine after scoring 10 goals and 13 assists in 30 games last season.

He had previously played 9 years in the upper German league, DEL and twice won the Championship back-to-back with EHC Munchen.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2006 NHL draft (#79 overall) and spent his 1st 3 years with the team after leaving Bowling Green University Falcons with a year on the table.

From Ottawa, ON, the 37-year old may hit 20 years as a pro barely blinking.

Exploding for point-per-game numbers in the current frame (20-30-50), he is signed to stay a 3rd year to hopefully build a new championship for the Pinguine,.

12th year right wing Steve Moses(12) returned to the 1st place he skated after graduating University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, Liiga to play for HPK last season.

He skated 2 seasons with long-time club Jokerit in the league, then moved onto the KHL with them, offering up mostly good results in 6 different campaigns with the team.

The 33-year old from Leominster, MA is headed to a new place for 2023/2024, signing a 1-year deal with HC Kometa Brno of Czechia Extraliga, which should work out well for him.

He gets himself 20 goals and 13 assists in 52 games, so does pretty well in the league, but instead of returning, opts to sign to a rival, inking with BK Mlada Boleslav for 2024/2025.

After 21 games with 9 goals and 3 assists, he is asked to return for 2025/2026 and accepts.

Massive 6’5″ 216 lbs. center Patrick Giles(39) took 4 years, 2 as assistant captain at Boston College Eagles to a 1st pro contract upon elimination from the NCAA Division 1 tournament.

He signs an ato with Charlotte Checkers under the watchful eye of parent club Florida Panthers dictating moves and will skate under an AHL deal for 2022/2023.

In 10 games, he has only an assist, but is likely adjusting to the new style game.

Although playing Hockey East for 4 sessions definitely had to help and in his senior year he scored a college career best 15 goals and 22 points.

The 22-year old from Chevy Chase, MD, who came up through the USNTDP program should be able to find his game, but will have to work for it and look for his spots.

After 10 pro games to end the 2021/2022 session, he had 1 assist, but the big team see something in the towering frame moving forward and sign him up for a 2-year NHL entry level deal through 2023/2024.

He’s had 2 good seasons in the minors without a recall, but is looking closer to ready to earn a 2-year extension to stay with the affiliate, Checkers.

Signed to another 2-year extension, he looks set to make the big club and just a few games in, earns a spot due to the injury bug hitting early and he makes an NHL debut, skates 11 shifts for 7:34 of ice time with 2 shots, 1 block, 2 giveaways and went 75% in the face off dot in a 5-2 loss.

After 9 games with no points, but still lighting it up nicely in the minors, he is traded to San Jose Sharks, where they may have better room to slot the big player.

RPI Engineers‘ sophomore left wing Henri Schreifels(20) heads into the transfer portal and comes out for 2023/2024 at Stonehill College Skyhawks.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward has exactly been a stellar scorer with 1 goal last season in 21 games, but we’re thinking his new school’s schedule will likely see that open up for him.

He was a dominant scorer in his 2nd BCHL frame for Victoria Grizzlies, connecting for 24 goals and 21 assists.

We see the 23-year old from Agoura Hills, CA settling in nicely at his new college home.

After a senior year with a new college best 12 assists and 18 points, he signs a 1st pro deal with Wheeling Nailers, that should turn out pretty well for the two.