Category: Minor League Deal

23Jul

Jeff Malott (39)

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We need to congratulate former Cornell University Big Red‘ captain Jeff Malott(39) on scoring a one-year two-way NHL deal from Winnipeg Jets for 2021/2022 after potting 14 goals and 6 assists, including 1 game-winner and 4 on the power-play in 34 AHL games with affiliate Manitoba Moose.

The big 6’3″ 204 lbs. left wing may just play his way onto the parents’ club radar as a sophomore skater and is easily headed in the right direction.

He’ll remember the date: 3/20-2022. He makes his big league debut skating a conservative 8 shifts for 4:06 ice time with 3 hits and 2 penalty minutes in a 6-4 victory.

Nice start.

After blowing out his rookie season scoring with 23 goals and 18 assists in 62 games with a +11 rating, then getting another tally in 5 playoff games, earns the 25-year old a new 2-year deal to stay.

He would score a career high 30 assists and 52 points in 70 games and signs a new 2-year deal with Los Angeles Kings, who could give him his 1st looks in the big league.

22Jul

Cody Haiskanen (3)

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Undrafted towering 6’4″ 198 lbs. defenseman Cody Haiskanen(3) takes 5 years at Cornell University Big Red to a rookie contract with Idaho Steelheads for 2022/2023.

The Fargo, ND native did only 1 USHL frame with hometown, Fargo Force before heading to school.

At 25-years old, we’re thinking he has a good ECHL rookie season.

In 61 games the big d-man scores 5 goals and 24 assists with an absolutely monster +53, then keeps things steady through to the Kelly Cup Finals.

There’s little doubt, he will be back donning a Steelheads‘ jersey for 2023/2024.

He’s actually loaned up 3 times during last frame, but eyes a new opportunity, signing for 1-year with Nurnberg Ice Tigers of DEL.

20Jul

Todd Burgess (48)

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Rookie center Todd Burgess(48) signs his first pro contract with Manitoba Moose for 2021/2022.

The big 6’2″ 195 lbs. power forward will likely step right into his game when he gets to the AHL.

He graduated from Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks after doing 4 years at RPI Engineers, connecting for 27 goals and 35 assists in 127 NCAA Division 1 games.

That was nothing compared to what the 25-year old, Phoenix, AZ native did in his last season of juniors for Fairbanks Ice Dogs, wracking up 95 points (38-57) in 60 NAHL games with a +25 ratings, then added another 5 goals and 9 assists in 12 playoff contests.

This output got him on the radar of Ottawa Senators, who drafted him in the 4th round of 2016 (#103 overall) but failed to get him under contract.

We think this could just be the start.

He maybe rounded out last season with some games down with Newfoundland Growlers, where he was very close to being a point-per-game player, but did also nab 7 goals and 6 assists as a rookie.

The big man stays in the league, but moves to a divisional foe for 2022/2023, Milwaukee Admirals.

Mostly reassigned to play with the not so good ECHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, he still busts out some numbers scoring.

He next looks at something a bit different to skate and signs in Slovak Extraliga with HK Spisska Nova Ves and ran up the scoresheet big with 19 goals and 18 assists in 45 games with a +13 rating.

Not sure why is not continuing, unless he eyes something better by heading to HockeyAllsvenskan for 2024/2025, agreeing to terms with Mora IK and we suspect he will do exceedingly well again.

19Jul

Joe Gatenby (4)

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2nd year defenseman Joe Gatenby(4) will somewhat oddly join his 4th ECHL team this season.

He started 2023/2024 skating 9 games for Fort Wayne Komets, but only 2 assists and a minus on-ice rating is traded Allen Americans.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner stays with them for 23 games, but again scores no goals with 6 assists and a -6 and gets moved a 2nd time.

Newfoundland Growlers see something in his game they think will work for the Kelowna, BC native and sign him.

Unfortunately something happens with the team’s league standing and it disintegrates, leaving him to find another place to play yet again.

Idaho Steelheads step in fairly quickly and move him closer to home to play his next hockey.

He wouldn’t come away with any points in 3 regular season and 2 playoff games, but was a +2.

For 2024/2025, he looks to sign with Storhamar of EliteHockey Ligaen and should fit in nicely there.

18Jul

Cooper Zech (68)

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4th year defenseman Cooper Zech(68) gets a little bit of a new lease on hockey life with a trade that sends him from a very decent season with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring a goal and 10 assists with a +3 rating and their parent club Philadelphia Flyers in an early season dish to Chicago Blackhawks, where he’s expected to report to Rockford Icehogs.

The 5’9″ 161 lbs. blue liner only spent 1 year at Ferris State University Bulldogs before turning pro on a 2-year entry level deal with Boston Bruins.

He put up a huge amount of assists in his one BCHL junior campaign for Wenatchee Wild, amassing 58 assists in 58 games.

The 23-year old from South Lyon, MI, who had a successful little swing on loan to Slovakia with HK Nitra during the pandemic, will likely always have to prove himself.

At the trade deadline, he finds himself moved as a pawn in the deal that sends Patrick Kane to New York Rangers.

He may was a bit under-utilized in suburban Chicago, but should get more efforts with Hartford Wolf Pack, if not reassigned further done for a bit.

Reassigned down to Indy Fuel, he played only 1 game with the team.

For 2023/2024, he returns for a full session, signing a 1-year deal with HC Kosice of Slovak Extraliga.

He does well here, scoring 3 goals and 15 assists in 32 games with a +13 rating in a very tough league, but has maybe been wooed to join the EIHL and signs with Nottingham Panthers for 2024/2025.

18Jul

Mathew Santos (16)

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Maine Mariners bring back last season’s leading scorer, 3rd year right wing Mathew Santos(16) after scoring a handy 26 goals and 33 assists with a +3 rating.

After 4 years in the OHL, the 6′ 183 lbs. forward played a single season for Toledo Walleye as a rookie, but then took a season off before departing for Ryerson University Rams, where he spent the next three years though only played his 1st two there and maybe got COVID knocked for his 3rd.

It will be zero surprise to see the 27-year old Etobicoke, ON native add to his ECHL totals.

For a 2nd straight season he blows the lid off scoring with 16 goals and 28 assists in 38 games, while getting loaned up to Milwaukee Admirals for 17 AHL games.

He will try to take his game up a notch, signing for 2023/2024 in Slovak Extraliga with HC Dukla Michalovce.

An amazing season, scoring 22 goals and 14 assists through 46 games, then adds another 8 points in 6 playoff matchups with a +7, but he oddly signs in DEL2 for 2024/2025 with Ravensburg Towerstars.

17Jul

Mike Gelatt (27)

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University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ graduate right wing Mike Gelatt(27) wastes little time signing a pto with Peoria Rivermen to get some pro playing time experience in.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward was good last season, but maybe not quite what he was able to put together as a senior for Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, when he got 11 goals and 12 assists in 25 games before getting eliminated in  the NEHC Tournament Final.

He has a 1st SPHL goal in his 6th sighting and 2 assists in 7 total matchups thus far.

The 25-year old from Middletown, NJ could easily play himself up a level.

He comes away with 11 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +14 rating, then adds 6 points in 7 playoff matchups.

For 2024/2025, he receives a 2-way ECHL contract with the new Bloomington Bison.

17Jul

Dryden McKay (45)

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3rd year net minder Dryden McKay(45) had his ECHL team of last season implode, cease to exist in Newfoundland Growlers, but signs with Ontario Reign for 2024/2025.

The 6′ 181 lbs. goalie was completely outstanding through 4 years at Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks and won basically any award he could, including the 2022 Hobey Baker.

We think he still needs clearance to come back into his game, but feel it is right there waiting.

17Jul

Greg Moro (3)

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Undrafted defenseman Greg Moro(3) takes a pair of seasons under AHL contract with Stockton Heat, but spending the majority of his time, 44 ECHL games with affiliate Kansas City Mavericks to a new adventure overseas, signing with SaiPa of Liiga for 2022/2023.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner did get a goal in each of his years up with the contract club and even connected with 6 assists in 13 games last frame to likely get him the look in Finland’s top league.

He spent a very productive and highly accountable four seasons at Clarkson University Golden Knights, leaving a +28 rating.

The 26-year old from Edmonton, AB will definitely need to continue to elevate his game in this tough hockey, but could easily blend in nicely as well.

He actually spends the better part of two seasons in Finland’s highest hockey before switching to Czech Extraliga late last season with HC Kometa Brno.

For 2024/2025, he spots probably the best decision for him moving forward and signs with Steinbach Black Wings Linz of IceHL.

16Jul

Brad Arvanitis (32)

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Undrafted, graduate goaltender Brad Arvanitis(32) takes a hot finish with D3 Babson College Beavers to a 1st pro contract with the very playoff ready Rapid City Rush.

In his ECHL debut, he scored a 5-1 victory.

The 6’2″ 180 lbs. net minder posted an 11-4-2 record with a 2.52 GA and .918 SV% in his final frame.

He’s definitely had an interesting little journey, first tending cage for EHLP team, Walpole Express before moving up to an NAHL season for Coulee Region Chill before heading to 2 seasons of limited use with UMass Minutemen.

The 24-year old will probably be able to excel in the league if he looks to stick around.

He only started one game his rookie frame before being dealt to Tulsa Oilers, where he played in 2 before being released and picked up by Pensacola Ice Flyers, which he stitched together an admirable 9-6-2 mark with a 2.71 GAA and .919 SV% in 20 SPHL games.

For 2023/2024, he picks up a deal with Maine Mariners, who likely saw him play in college some.

He runs an impressive regular season record of 20-10-1, but in the playoffs was stellar with a 1.69 GAA and .939 SV% to earn himself another contract to return to Maine.