Category: Minor League Deal

9th year right wing Danny Kristo(79) has not really lasted long with many teams after his 76 NL games spent with SC Rapperswill-Jona Lakers, scoring 46 points.

He’s definitely managed to score pretty well, whether he was in the KHL, DEL or SHL, but maybe has found a niche with Rytiri Kladno, where he has 3 goals and 7 assists in 34 Tipsport Extraliga games.

The 6′ 194 lbs. Montreal Canadiens‘ 2008 2nd round draft pick (#56 overall) forward is a three time 20+ goal scorer in the AHL.

You have to think the former two-time 26 assist, senior assistant captain at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 32-year is happy to still be playing for decent enough money.

He will head to his 7th country for pro hockey in 2022/2023, signing a 1-year deal with HK Dukla Michelovce, which should be some very decent games to jump into after finishing up in Sweden’s tier 2 last frame.

After starting the frame with 6 games in Slovakia, he decides to move on, signing with Sheffield Steelers for the remainder of the season.

He will strike well in the EIHL.

And he did, through 47 games, he posted 12 goals and 18 assists with a +7 rating, then came alive more in 4 playoff matchups, striking for 2 goals and 3 assists.

For 2023/2024, he pulls the traitor move and takes his numbers to a rival, Coventry Blaze.

He would have a similar scoring season and considers 11 years to be a good term, so decides it’s time to leave the ice to a yet named next step, but could easily transition into coaching in a second.

271 AHL games and 157 at NCAA Divison 1 were mosts.

8th year defenseman Kodie Curran(5) takes 2-years under contract to Anaheim Ducks, worth $1M per season and the only NHL contract he has ever signed to a new adventure with Metallurg Magnitogorsk for 2022/2023.

After starting his pro career with Hartford Wolf Pack following 4 years at University Of Calgary Dinos, he struck decently quickly for an assist in a pair of AHL games, but was only retained for 18 games as a rookie before being dispatched to affiliate Greensville Swamp Rabbits.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner would leave for his 1st away contract with Esbjerg Energy and helped them to win the 2016 Metal Ligaen Championship.

He next joined Storhamar as team captain and yet again saw his club ascend to the 2017 Norway Championship and he easily came away with MVP awards.

The Calgary, AB native would be awarded a new deal with Rogle BK and once again blow up a league with assists for the next 2 SHL sessions, which easily got him the look from the highest league.

At 32-years old, he has to be pretty happy to be still playing hockey at such a high level.

He plays a career high 65 games last season for Dinamo Minsk, scoring 20 assists.

For 2024/2025, he takes off for the easier to play NL and signs with HC Ambria-Piotta.

He may have been on a tryout and after 11 games with 1 goal and 3 assists, he becomes official.

Union College Dutchmen graduate left wing Chaz Smedsrud(26) finishes up and signs an ato with Allen Americans that may get switched quickly.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. gets a 1st ECHL goal and assist in his debut, a 6-3 losing effort, but somehow comes away with a +1 rating.

He scored a best (by a mile) in his final year at college with 14 goals, 8 assists and new high 22 points.

The Luverne, MN blew up scoring in his high school, then did the same in the AJHL for 2 seasons before coming back to life in the USHL for 1 frame before school.

At 25-years old, he is very much ready to get pro started.

Through 9 games, with 3 goals and 4 assists, he’s looking good for an invite to return for his rookie run in 2024/2025 in an Americans‘ sweater.

After just 3 games into his rookie frame with no points, Rapid City Rush are seeking his services and acquire him in a trade for future considerations.

Undrafted rookie center Nick Campoli(19) signs a 1st pro contract with Iowa Heartlanders for 2022/2023 after graduating 4 years at Clarkson University Golden Knights.

He was a solid scorer in his 3rd and final season of OJHL, where he was more than a point-per-game player, but also achieved 20+ assists in each of the frames.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward wasn’t as lucky in Atlantic Hockey, getting a best 5 goals as a senior.

We think that the ECHL could be a different story for the 23-year old Toronto, ON native’s scoring fortune.

1 goal and 2 assists in 12 games to start him off and they want another look to return to the new Iowa team for 2023/2024.

Through 30 games, he scores a decent 9 goals and 4 assists, but decides he wants a little more, so splits for AlpsHL and signs with Sterzing/Vipiteno Broncos, 2024/2025.

Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate net minder Justin Robbins(31) takes 17 games played with a 2.95 GAA and .895 SV% and 6-91 record to a 1st pro contract with Tahoe Knight Monsters for his rookie frame, 2024/2025.

The 5’10” 161 lbs. goalie earlier played 28 games as a junior transfer from Arizona State University Sun Devils.

From Alpine, NJ, the 24-year old did 44 USHL games as part of Chicago Steel, his thus far high water mark.

UMass Minutemen senior center Joshua Nodler(20) will take on a 3rd school, heading to Bowling Green State University Falcons for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward started his college career with 3 seasons at close by Michigan State University Spartans, where he scored his best 7 goals and 8 assists as a junior.

From Oak Park, MI, the Calgary Flames‘ 5th round pick in the 2019 draft (#150 overall) first played the Honeybaked system before ultimately doing 1 USHL season at Fargo Force.

The 22-year old will likely doing ok for his graduate year in the CCHA.

He plays a college tying best 36 games, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists and unsigned by the team that selected him.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a nice 1-year deal with Toledo Walleye to get started as a rookie, 2024/2025.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ senior center Joey Cipollone(12) helps his team win a 2023 NCAA Division 1 Championship and signs a 1-year AHL deal to join Bridgeport Islanders for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward put together 19 goals and 19 assists 107 games at the ECAC college.

He originally committed to University Of Vermont Catamounts, but left half way through his 2nd year to return to his USHL junior team Tri City Storm.

The 23-year old from Purchase, NY looks to be in a good position to start his pro career.

7 goals and 15 assists in 63 ECHL games and he will re-sign with affiliate Worcester Railers for 2024/2025.

He is actually released, but quickly inks with Atlanta Gladiators and will suit up for them this season.

Undrafted center Kyle Betts(61) signs a 1st pro deal with Utah Grizzlies after 5 years at Cornell University Big Red, where he took advantage of the year of eligibility to put up new bests 6 goals and 12 assists in 32 NCAA Division 1 games with a +6 rating.

In his ECHL debut, he pots a 1st goal.

The Flesherton, ON native spent two years in the BCHL, scoring 20+ goals and assists for Powell River Kings.

At 6’1″ 181 lbs., the 24-year old is definitely well-suited to do well in this league.

And just like that, he gets loaned up to the parent club, Colorado Eagles.

He signs for 2022/2023, but after 2 games is called by Belleville Senators and stays for 40 AHL games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists with a +1 rating before heading back to Maverick Center, where he hammers 6 assists in 5 games, then another 6 points (3-3) in 6 playoff match ups.

It’s a little surprising he signs for a 2nd season in Utah, but we think the same result will occur.

He maybe wakes up one morning with a bit of a surprise, as he’s traded for 2024/2025 to Florida Everblades, which should actually yield good results.

Anna Maria College Amcats‘ sole graduate student on the 2023/2024 roster is defenseman Cam Tobey(10), as seen in preseason play at the home arena, Horgan.

He had college career highs 8 goals and 10 assists as a senior.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner played 1 year junior hockey for Walpole Express, recording 10 goals and 13 assists in 38 EHL games after heading to Westfield State University Owls straight out of strong play at hometown Falmouth High School USHS-MA.

At 24-years old, he’s likely fully settled into his D3 hockey game and we look for him to help the team win.

Visiting him last season as he enters a year of eligibility, which he finishes 23 games with 12 points and a +8 rating, for his next move signs a 1-year deal with Knoxville Ice Bears and in his SPHL debut, he comes away with a goal.