Category: Minor League Deal

Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior defenseman Jeremie Bucheler(4) will head north to Hockey East rival, University Of Vermont Catamounts to start a graduate year.

The impressively big, undrafted 6’4″ 200 lbs. blue liner had solid junior and senior campaigns with a goal and 10 then 9 assists, but a combined +28 rating.

With a good graduate frame, the 23-year old, Montreal, QC native could easily jump on an NHL teams radar.

He takes a fully breakout season, scoring new bests 6 goals, 12 assists and 18 points in 33 games to signing a 1st pro deal, an ato to join San Jose Barracuda.

In 52 ECHL games on reassignment to Wichita Thunder, he pots 6 goals and 26 assists in 52 games with a +7 rating.

He almost magically takes that to a new deal with Rockford Icehogs, who must have been eyeing him as he was playing close by.

Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate defenseman Colby Enns(55) already has 1 assist in 1 game with his new team.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. 4-year Northern Michigan University Wildcats also did 1 year at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks after a single season each in the NAHL and USHL for junior hockey.

He left his 1st school after 1 game to skate for Lincoln Stars.

From Minot, ND, he played the local USHS-ND high school.

The 25-year old is in a good position as he continues to play.

In his transfer to Hockey East, he picks up 4 assists in scoring.

Upon completion of tournament play, he signs a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders.

He plays 1 ECHL game to get his feet wet, but decides to sign with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ senior transfer from 3 years at Boston University Terriers‘ goaltender Vinny Duplessis(37) may have made the right decision, as he’s already started more games at 11 than he’s played in a single frame previous and has maybe equaled his other stats with 2.15 GAA and .910 SV%.

The 6’1″ 170 lbs. net minder from Quebec, QC had his best junior year in the AJHL for Whitecourt Wolverines, right before committing to college.

We think the 24-year old will have some eyes on him as an unrestricted free agent, if he decides to turn pro next.

After a huge overtime playoff loss for his new team in which he was spectacular, he maybe a bit oddly signs with Utah Grizzlies, who are fighting for a playoff spot and have only 2 ECHL games remaining.

He plays the pair of games, with a 0-1-1 count and 3.07 GAA and .905 SV% to secure him a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025, guarding in a Grizzlies‘ jersey.

After an uneven season with a struggling team, he finds an amazing path, as Trois Rivieres Lions look to add him after winning the 2025 Kelly Cup, so he joins a strong club.

Yale University Bulldogs‘ senior left wing Cole Donhauser(23) takes a new, modest college best scoring 6 goals and 7 assists in 27 games with a +1 rating on a terrible team to a 1st pro contract with Coventry Blaze for 2023/2024.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward should find room in the EIHL to score more than he has in school.

From Kenmore, NY, he played only 1 BCHL season for Chilliwack Chiefs.

The 23-year old is likely ready to get started.

Through 7 games, he nets 2 assists, but may be yearning for hockey a little closer to home, so signs for the remainder of 2024 with Idaho Steelheads.

He lasts just 2 games there and is traded to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

After a not so amazing 2023/2024, he signs on for what he hopes is his rookie season with Worcester Railers, 2024/2025.

He does come to play with his new club, scoring 10 goals and 19 assists in 71 games and is easily invited to return a Railers for 2025/2026.