Category: Minor League Deal

12Mar

Steven Jandric (18)

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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.

11Mar

Jon Matsumoto (11)

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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,.

09Mar

Steve Moses (12)

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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.

07Mar

Patrick Giles (39)

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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.

06Mar

Henri Schreifels (20)

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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.

04Mar

Bennett Stockdale (26)

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University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers‘ freshman right wing Bennett Stockdale(26) was able to score a pair of goals in only 15 NCAA Division 1 WCHA games.

The Ottawa, ON native skated a couple of seasons in the close by CCHL for Kanata Lasers before taking it to America and up a level in two seasons with Johnstown Tomahawks, where he struck for a total of 29 goals and 52 assists in 110 NAHL games before committing.

We think the 5’11” 185 lbs. forward is probably just getting himself situated before he starts affecting the score sheet.

He moves on and is a big scorer at SUNY-Plattsburgh Cardinals before turning pro with Maine Mariners, which yields good results in 3 goals and 7 assists in 18 games to earn himself a return visit for 2024/2025.

In his 2nd season, he comes away with 1 goal and 3 assists in 14 games, but is traded off to Indy Fuel.

Through 23 games, he gets no goals and 3 assists with a -3 rating and is traded to Worcester Railers to see if they can get him scoring again.

02Mar

Logan Neaton (31)

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Winnipeg Jets‘ 5th round pick in the 2019 draft (#144 overall) goaltender Logan Neaton(31) isn’t finding enough space in the cage for UMass Lowell Riverhawks, so after two tries goes through the transfer portal to commit to Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks for 2021/2022.

The large 6’4″ 205 lbs. net minder maybe wasn’t able to settle in Hockey East play after putting up stellar numbers, first for Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL, then even better with Prince George Spruce Kings going 32-8-5 with a league best 1.92 GAA, then posting a 16-1 mark with a 1.46 GAA and .940 SV% en route to a 2019 BCHL Championship.

He also had shutdown numbers at his local Brighton High USHS-MI.

The 22-year old may just need the belief he can play the minutes and backstop wins.

For his rookie season, he bounces around some ECHL teams to arrive at Kalamazoo Wings with a deal for 2024/2025.

Allen Americans are struggling some, so trade to bring him in to hopefully solidify the starter’s role with the team.

He continued to move and ended up with Kansas City Mavericks, where in 1 start he didn’t post the win, but had a 2.08 GAA and .938 SV%.

4 times moved with little starts and he goes to Indy Fuel, who hopefully look to use him a bit more.

01Mar

Seth Helgeson (2)

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9th year, veteran defenseman Seth Helgeson(2) recently appeared in his 500th AHL game with 5th year club, Bridgeport Islanders.

The 6’4″ 216 lbs. blue liner was originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#114 overall) and played in their system for his first 4 seasons.

He skated his only games in the big league with the team and even got a 1st NHL goal in his 44th appearance, where he also had 3 assists and almost oddly a +1 rating.

The former 4-year University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ d-man has never been a big point scorer, but does have 2 goals in the current frame.

If he adds another one, he will have a career high 3.

He’s 3 times had 10+ assists in the league and twice close.

The 31-year old has done well for himself and it’s a bit of wonder if he doesn’t go exploring for his next contract, just for some different kind of fun in the game.

For 2022/2023, he re-signs to stay in Connecticut another season.

He will return to captain the little Islanders for a 7th straight run.

It took him a minute, but he will return on a pto for a 8th season in a little Islanders‘ jersey, but you got to figure, unless he decides not to, he will sign.

And 7 games in, he officially re-signs.

24Feb

Tanner Fritz (11)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Undrafted 7th year right wing Tanner Fritz(11) signs a 2nd straight AHL contract, but will skate for heated CT opponents from where he’s played 198 games, Bridgeport (Sound Tigers) Islanders to Hartford Wolf Pack for 2021/2022.

The 5’11” 192 lbs. forward originally signed a minor league deal after 4 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes , including captain as a senior and junior assistant, to the only team he’s thus far appeared with, but was up to a 2-way NHL contract after his sophomore season in which he popped 19 goals and 23 assists.

He played all of his youth hockey and 4 years of junior hockey close to home with Grand Prairie Storm and won the 2009 AJHL Championship, then was voted most valuable player, scoring 70 points in 60 games, before heading off to college.

The 30-year old signed a pair of contracts with parent club New York Islanders, including a single 1-way deal, and played in 42 games with 3 goals and 5 assists.

It’s likely this could be his last time in the minors, as we’re predicting he leave for some hockey overseas before retirement.

After 2 years of playing up the road in Connecticut, he returns on a 1-year minor league deal with Bridgeport for 2023/2204.

After 20 games, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists, he may be getting a little bored as he closes in on 350 games played in the league.

He decides to leave and signs with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL, which should definitely bring some challenge and excitement back into his game.

Not surprisingly he does ok with 2 goals and 9 assists in 18 games, but decides not to try and return.

He waits a little and signs with SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of NL and with 5 goals and 7 assists in 15 games with a +3 rating, there’s little doubt he gets asked to return for 2025/2026.

22Feb

Matt Cairns (22)

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Undrafted rookie defenseman Matt Cairns(22) signs a one-year AHL contract with Rochester Americans for 2021/2022 after completing his senior year at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

The big 6’3″ 213 lbs. blue liner skated three seasons at Cornell University Big Red, but we think saw the writing on the wall of a suspended 2020/2021, so entered the transfer portal to continue playing college hockey.

He won an OJHL Championship in his 2nd year of juniors in the league with Georgetown Raiders, scoring all bests 9 goals and 24 assists for 33 points, then added another 3 goals and 16 assists in 21 playoff games to the title.

The Mississauga, ON native would next try his hand at American junior hockey, signing on with Fargo Force, but leaving after 17 USHL games to join Powell River Kings and would keep scoring 2 goals and 14 assists in 18 BCHL games.

We’re not sure how much the 23-year old will be able to connect with points in his new top notch pro league, but do think he’ll be able to shut down offense as necessary.

He was mostly reassigned down to Cincinnati Cyclones for his 1st season, scoring 2 goals and 14 assists with a +21 rating.

For 2022/2023, he re-signs to stay in Ohio and should have another good ECHL year.

1 goal and 5 assists in 45 games with a +17 rating, then 11 playoff match ups, and he is invited to return again for 2023/2024.

Splitting his time between affiliates, his league rights get traded to Maine Mariners, but things get confusing and before you can blink he is going to Indy Fuel for some future rights considerations, so was wanted in the midwest.

He actually sticks through 49 games, 3 goals and 13 assists with a +13 rating, so does pretty well for himself, but is heading to the IceHL, signing for 2024/2025 with Asiago.

We think he does really well in this top Austria league.

He scores pretty decently, but is off on the +/-, so figures he will do better in Sweden’s tier 2 HockeyAllsvenskan and signs with IF Bjorkloven.