Category: Minor League Deal

8th year right wing Trevor Mingoia(11) has bounced through a pair of leagues he’d previously skated, but arrives in a new place for the remainder of 2023/2024 with Valerenga of EliteHockey Ligaen.

Judging by some off ice going ons, he may have been wooed by a good deal, but looks a bit settled back at his 1st team overseas Vasteras IK HockeyAllsvenskan.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward played only 2 years ECHL and AHL before leaving.

From Fairport, NY, the 32-year old started at Union College, but left for Providence College Friars as a sophomore.

He may be settling in Sweden quite nicely.

After 6 seasons lighting up the scoreboard overseas, he has decided to return and sign with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.

University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate defenseman Logan Britt(29) had a college career best 7 goals last season.

He came over to likely prove his game even further from a pair of years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers that followed 2 with Quinnipiac University Bobcats.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward played a full docket of games in each frame and had 18 assists as a junior, playing Atlantic Hockey.

From Crystal Lake, IL, he signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits and got 1 assist in 5 games and equaled his mark in the playoffs, as they push.

Sort of a no-brainer to bring him back for his rookie season, 2024/2025 in a Rabbits‘ jersey.

Just before the new season starts, he finds himself involved in a trade that sends him to Reading Royals, where he should continue to do ECHL well.

Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ graduate right wing Anthony Romano(29) leaves scoring 9 goals for a 3rd time and has now a twice best 13 assists.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. Arizona Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2019 draft (#176 overall) won the USHL Clark Cup Championship with Sioux Falls Stampede the year he was selected.

From Richmond Hill, ON, the 23-year old seems like an easy NHL entry level sign.

He actually signs with Texas Stars for his 1st pro contract, a pto, but could get reassigned as well.

Through 8 games, he scores no points, but is wanted to return for his rookie AHL year, 2024/2025 in a Stars‘ jersey.

Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2016 draft (#149 overall) left wing Graham McPhee(27) signed a minor league contract with affiliate Bakersfield Condors to start his rookie season.

He originally left to start overseas with Vienna Capitals of the ICEHL, where he played 21 games scoring 2 goals and 3 assists with a +1 rating.

The seems bigger than 6′ 189 lbs. forward started as the AHL 2021 began but was only able to break what was a tough lineup to crack in hunt of a playoff berth for 3 games (no points).

Although he has never been the biggest scorer through two years of juniors with the USNTDP and four years at Boston College Eagles, where his best effort was as a sophomore tallying 12 goals and 12 helpers in 36 NCAA Hockey East games.

It seems like the still super young 22-year old, kid of Vegas Golden Knights’ President Of Hockey Operations, George McPhee, is looking for a breakout moment that seems to be right on the edge of happening.

The recently turned 23-year old re-signs to stay in Southern California and in the system of the team he was selected by.

In a new best 5 games, he doesn’t have any points, but it really seems like once he can strike, he will continue to, but needs that breakthrough.

He would finish 2021/2022 with 5 goals and 6 assists in 33 games with a +5 rating to earn an invite to return to the CA team.

As we near the almost end point and trade deadline for 2023, he seem to just be floundering where he was, so gets dealt to Belleville Senators, where he will need a new deal at the end of the year, but looks to be wanted.

After 14 games, recording only 1 assist, the Senators think he can contribute, so bring him back for the full 2023/2024 session.

He isn’t exactly putting up points in the league, but when was assigned to the ECHL for 3 games, had 3 assists.

For 2024/2025, he signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates to see he can activate his game.

12th year defenseman Matt Donovan(46) will for a 3rd time take his game overseas, but this time signs for 2022/2023 with Adler Mannheim of DEL.

He twice played for SHL teams, Frölunda HC and HV71.

The former 2-year University Of Denver Pioneers‘ d-man was a New York Islanders‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#96 overall) and was in that system to start his pro career for 4 seasons.

At 6’1″ 205 lbs., he has skated 69 NHL games.

The 32-year old from of all places, Edmond, OK is likely happy to be still playing at a good level.

He actually does fairly well in German’s top league, scoring 8 goals and 15 assists with a +7 rating in 47 games, then added another 8 helpers in 12 playoff matchups.

For 2023/2024, he decides to come on and sign an AHL deal with Chicago Wolves, which makes a lot of sense.

He records 39 assists in 69 games and that will do it: 69 games in the big league, 524 in the lower league with 232 assists to his credit, 13 years of pro hockey and very quickly Nashville Predators sign him up to be an assistant coach with a team he spent 3 years with, affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.

Smart move.

Curry College Colonels‘ senior defenseman, captain Nicholas Favaro(3) took his game up in his final frame to grab a college best 8 goals 25 assists in 29 games with a +28 rating.

He turns pro and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner from Woodbridge, ON stayed close to play 4 OJHL junior seasons before heading to school.

At 25-years old, he’s likely ready for this next step.

12 games in with his new team, recording only 1 assist, another team wants him and Wichita Thunder have plans for him on their blue line.

He would only record another helper in 9 games with a -4, but they are seeing something and invite him back to wear a Thunder sweater for his rookie session, 2024/2025.

RPI Engineers‘ senior defenseman Mason Klee(7) will extend his college career for a graduate season at Ohio State University Buckeyes in 2023/2024.

He had a modest new college best 6 assists and 7 points last season, but it’s his 6’2″ 192 lbs. size that brings accountability into the zone.

2 years of USHL juniors did see him raise the 2019 Clark Cup Championship with Sioux Falls Stampede.

He takes 1 goal and 4 assists in a college best 38 games to a 1st ECHL contract with Worcester Railers and in 5 games has 1 assist and is a +1 rating to get himself loaned up to old “affiliate” pal San Jose Barracuda, where he has no points in 4 AHL games, as they fight for a playoff berth.

In 5 games in the upper league, he ultimately comes away with 1 goal and for 2024/2025, he re-signs for his rookie season with the Railers.

University Of Massachusetts‘ senior defenseman Colin Felix(26) signs with Lehigh Valley Phantoms to start his pro career at the AHL level.

He would leave school a 3-time Hockey East Champ and 2021 NCAA Division 1 title too.

The 6’1″ 203 lbs. blue liner was a +27 player in college, so has good accountability.

He played a pair of junior seasons, first in the NAHL, then was drafted, ended up with Madison Capitals and somehow exploded for 8 goals and 19 assists in 56 USHL games.

The 23-year old from nearby Camden, NJ will likely find success in the league and will score another look in Philadelphia Flyers‘ camp.

Unfortunately he wasn’t even given a look at the higher level and reassigned to affiliate Reading Royals, where he spent all of last season scoring 8 goals and 19 assists, putting up a mammoth +29 rating, then adding another 2 points in 11 playoff matchups.

For 2023/2024 Utica Comets saw something they like and step in to sign him.

He is mostly dispatched to affiliate Adirondack Thunder and does well enough to grab a 2024/2025 look with a 1-year contract from Rockford IceHogs.

Long Island University Sharks‘ senior right wing Nolan Welsh(17) signs a 1st pro deal after wrapping up the team’s independent schedule.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward inks with Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL.

He wasn’t exactly the biggest scorer through 4 college years, getting a best 12 assists as a junior and six goals his senior frame.

The Burnaby, BC native played 4 BCHL junior seasons before school.

At 24-years old, he is likely ready for that next step.

For his rookie season, he signs with Reading Royals 2024/2025 and should score much like he did in juniors.