Category: Minor League Deal

28Jul

Sam Malinski (70)

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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)

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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.

28Jul

Robert Mastrosimone (18)

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Boston University Terriers‘ junior center Robert Mastrosimone(18) has decided to jump ship, enter the transfer portal and will skate for Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ as a senior.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward had a college career high 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 34 NCAA Division 1 games last season.

He was also a sniper for Chicago Steel in a pair of USHL sessions.

The 21-year old from Eslip, NY will likely find more open room for scoring in the current club’s schedule.

After 11 goals and 31 assists in 38 games of their independent schedule with a +4 rating, the senior finishes up and signs a 1st pro AHL deal with Toronto Marlies for 2023/2024.

In 45 games as a rookie he comes away with 4 goals and 11 assists with a +2 rating that easily gets him to re-sign back in a Marlies‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

Through 50 games last season, he scored a new best 10 goals that he takes to a new deal with Charlotte Checkers for 2025/2026.

27Jul

Colton Saucerman (23)

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7th year defenseman Colton Saucerman(23) returns from a couple successful seasons overseas, 1st in IceHL, then Slovakia Extraliga to sign with Allen Americans for 2022/2023.

He’s a veteran of 191 ECHL games and 41 in the AHL with + numbers in both leagues.

The 5’9″ 194 lbs. blue liner played his college hockey at Northeastern University Huskies, coming over from his home in Colorado Springs, CO.

At 30-years old, it’s a bit of a wonder if he’ll stick around or split for different experiences.

He puts up a 2nd career best 33 assists last frame, but now at 31-years old, eyes another new experience across the board, signing for 2023/2024 with Sheffield Steelers to play in the EIHL.

For a 2nd straight season he will stay put in Sheffield for his 9th campaign of play and signs for 2024/2025.

After 2 seasons of performing well for 1 team, he makes a rival switch for 2025/2026, signing with Coventry Blaze.

27Jul

Connor Welsh (59)

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Trois Rivières Lions‘ rookie defenseman Connor Welsh(59) managed to do pretty well for himself despite playing on a non-playoff team with 2 goals and 18 assists.

The 5’11” 164 lbs. blue liner skated 2 years of BCHL junior hockey before heading off to 4 seasons at Dalhousie University Tigers, where he twice amassed 15 assists.

From Halifax, NS, the 25-year old is still getting his legs under him as a pro.

Worcester Railers see something they can use in the small-ish d-man and sign him up for 2023/2024.

He takes a 2nd ECHL season scoring 7 goals and 22 assists and will be back in a Railers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

As a d-man, he explodes for 49 assists last season, which he is going to take to a new challenge in Slovak Extraliga, signing a 1-year deal with HK Dukla Michalovce for 2025/2026.

27Jul

Brendon Michaelian (11)

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Undrafted defenseman Brendon Michaelian(11) finishes up at his 3rd school, Mercyhurst University Lakers and signs a 1st pro contract with Fort Wayne Komets for 2023/2024.

The 6′ 172 lbs. blue liner 1st went to Robert Morris University Pioneers after a decent enough 2-year NAHL run with Amarillo Bulls, but they stopped fielding a team after his sophomore year, so switched to Ferris State University Bulldogs.

From Wixom, MI, the 25-year old is likely ready to get started in one place after his college hockey journey.

He in all eventuality, actually signs with Fayetteville Marksmen for his rookie season and did pretty well to get loaned up to Toledo Walleye, where he played a very steady, accountable game.

For 2024/2025, he re-signs to stay in the ECHL.

He plays a full 72 games, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists with a +9 rating, then adds 1 assist in 19 playoff matchups.

For 2025/2026, he is liked and will return for another season as a Walleye.

26Jul

A.J. White (18)

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7th year left wing A.J. White(18) re-signs with Idaho Steelheads for a 5th season, 4th as team captain.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward scored a career high 25 goals and 44 assists for 69 points in 72 ECHL games with a +15 rating last season.

He 4 times had 10+ assists at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks and served as captain of that club as a senior.

The 30-year old has to be pretty happy to be still playing hockey at a fairly high level.

He’s still scoring at a very regular clip, so it’s a complete no-brainer to invite him to return in a Steelheads‘ jersey  for 2023/2024.

After his 4th season as captain, 7th overall and 596 games in the league under his belt, he is set to retire a Steelheads and almost can’t imagine him not staying with the team in some role.

26Jul

Kyle Haskins (8)

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Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate left wing Kyle Haskins(8) put up college career best numbers, 11 goals and 12 assists in 37 games last season.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward transferred as a senior from Michigan State University Spartans.

He did 2 USHL sessions of juniors for Waterloo Blackhawks before college.

From Huntington, VT, the 25-year old initially signed with Orlando Solar Bears, but was traded with no points to Greenville Swamp Rabbits and grabbed 3 goals and 4 assists in 9 games.

We think he picks up a contract for 2025/2026.

Almost a little hard to believe, he gets picked up in free agency by Reading Royals for his rookie season, 2025/2026.

25Jul

Justin Danforth (17)

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Undrafted fourth year right wing Justin Danforth(17) played with three teams after completing his studies at Sacred Heart University Pioneers on ato’s before signing his first contract with the last club he skated for, Rochester Americans.

The small-ish 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward played most of his rookie campaign for affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones putting up a pile of points (28-31-59 in 44 ECHL games) with a +26 rating and taking home 2017/2018 Rookie Of The Year honors.

He was smart to take these outstanding numbers overseas agreeing with Luuko of Finland’s Liiga for his first trip outside of North American hockey and was able to put up a best 34 assists in a season, then following it up with another campaign as assistant captain for a career and league high 60 points and another +26.

The Oshawa, ON native took that experience to a new venture, heading to the KHL to skate for Vityaz Podolsk and he would go on to score a blazing 23 goals and 32 assists with a +3 rating, which has caught the attention of Columbus Blue Jackets.

They sign the 28-year old to his first NHL deal, a one-way contract for 2021/2022 and he is fully expected to make the opening night roster.

He was actually sent to affiliate Cleveland Monsters to open 2021/2022 and has gone right to work, grabbing 2 goals and 3 assists in 8 AHL games, earning him a first recall from the parent club.

In his debut, he skated a conservative 11 shifts for 7:23 ice time with 2 shots on net in a 5-3 win.

He has found himself some space and is scoring decently for 5 goals and 2 assists in 22 games and a +2 rating to earn himself a nice two-year extension to continue.

In the 1st year of his new deal, he tears his labrum and is reduced to just 6 games in the frame, but he did manage 2 goals and 1 assists with a +4 rating.

His tenacity earns him another year for 2024/2025 in a Blue Jackets‘ sweater worth a tidy $1.1M AAV to add to the kitty.

After 2 seasons of 20+ points scoring, the unrestricted free agent gets a 2-year add at $1.8M AAV with Buffalo Sabres and his head must be spinning a little.

25Jul

Zack Nazzarett (11)

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Long Island University Sharks‘ senior transfer from his freshman year at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves , left wing Zack Nazzarett(11) turns pro after graduating the independent college schedule the team plays with Fayetteville Marksmen.

The small 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward had a new college best 9 assists and tied his freshman points mark at 11.

In 2 SPHL games, he has his 1st assist.

The Cheektowaga, NY 23-year old native will likely do well in this league and could very well play himself up, if he sticks with it.

He is on a bit of a scoring tear with his rookie season club, Peoria Rivermen and is signed by Worcester Railers for the remainder of 2024/2025 to an spc.

With no points in 3 ECHL games, he is on the hunt for his next pro stop and eyes Germany3, signing with EHF Passau BlackHawks for 2025/2026.