Category: Minor League Deal

04Aug

Jay O’Brien (18)

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Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Jay O’Brien(18) leaves college hockey scoring a new best 24 assists and 32 points to sign a 1st AHL pro contract for 2023/2024 with Toronto Marlies.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward had 10 goals in 24 games as a junior.

He transferred to the school from a freshman year at Providence College Friars that was maybe a little early for the Hingham, MA native to attend, as he had only a few games of junior experience coming out of 2 years at Thayer Academy USHS-Prep, where he would emerge as a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round pick in the 2018 draft (#19 overall)

They elected to not sign him, potentially due to an injury bug that has seemed to follow him through college hockey, despite scoring pretty effectively in each of those frames.

Next he would leave for a session in the BCHL with Penticton Vees that restored his scoring punch, setting him up to return to school.

No doubt, he will have to fight for room to score where he’s heading, but could very well find some light.

The 23-year old is likely just ready to get started and prove himself at the next level, pro, except suffers yet another unqualified injury and sits the entire frame.

For 2024/2025, Charlotte Checkers take the health gamble.

01Aug

Andrew Peski (2)

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Maine Mariners‘ 3rd year defenseman Andrew Peski(2) seems to be enjoying his 2nd season with the north New England club, scoring a new ECHL best 13 assists and tying 16 points.

The fairly large 6′ 220 lbs. blue liner did play under an AHL contract to Providence Bruins, coming out of 4 years at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for a couple of seasons before officially signing where he is currently.

From Orleans, ON, he played 3 years of junior hockey, 2 in the CCHL and 1 USHL with all successful in assist scoring.

He would finish up with those 13 assists and 3 goals with a +3 rating, then added another 2 points through 6 playoff matchups to finish out his 2nd frame in Maine.

The d-man will return for a 3rd session to see if they can push it further.

After 3 years in the northeast US, he decides to move on and heads to Metal Ligaen, signing with Rungsted Seier Capital for 2024/2025.

31Jul

Jesse Lansdell (34)

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University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior left wing Jesse Lansdell(34) will start a graduate year at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 187 lbs. forward has been an ok scorer through college thus far and was a bit uneven through 4 seasons of BCHL.

From Surrey, BC, the 24-year old probably won’t find the NCHC any easier to play in.

He records a new college high 12 assists with his new team in 39 games with a +1 rating and takes it to a 1st pro contract with Florida Everblades, where he is connecting decent for a 1st 2 ECHL goals in 6 games, then adding an assist through 5 in the playoffs, so far.

4 assists in 23 playoff games with a +6 rating to a 2024 Kelly Cup Championship and he will return for his official rookie season in 2024/2025.

31Jul

Alex Kile (23)

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Undrafted 5th year left wing Alex Kile(23) circles back to re-sign with Maine Mariners after a year away, when they had to make the decision not to play hockey for 2020/2021.

He signed with Florida Everblades and matched his ECHL career high from 2019/2020 with 31 points, but also managed to score a new best 25 goals.

The 6′ 201 lbs. forward’s best season was likely his 2nd, as he managed three loans to the AHL, including an extended 33 game look from Laval Rocket, scoring 5 goals and 2 assists.

He was a solid skater through 4 years at University Of Michigan Wolverines, where he served as team captain as a senior.

The Troy, MI native played a pair of seasons in juniors and won the 2012 Clark Cup in his first USHL year with Green Bay Gamblers.

At 27-years old, it would be little surprise to see him leave for better opportunities overseas, unless he’s already lining up things post-playing career closer to home.

He was loaned up to Lehigh Valley Phantoms mid-season and would skate 27 games, getting 4 goals and 3 assists and be called up and returned on a couple of occasions.

For 2022/2023, he’s played his way up and scores himself an AHL contract to continue in PA.

He plays more games with affiliate Maine Mariners, putting up point-per-game numbest in the ECHL and when recalled for 19 games he scored 2 goals and 2 assists.

The now 29-year old is still impressive enough and a heck of a great teammate in the room to score a new 1-year deal to stay.

For 2024/2025, he decides to head back to the Everblades, where certainly he was able to score quite nicely and maybe concedes a little to play his hockey at a lower level, for now.

29Jul

Will Gavin (37)

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Air Force Academy Falcons‘ senior left wing Will Gavin(37) takes some very decent 10+ goals and 10+ assists through his 3 finals seasons and bests in his final frame to a 1-year AHL deal with Tuscon Roadrunners for his rookie year, 2024/2025.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward was also a big scorer through 2 junior USPHL NCDC runs, 2nd as captain with Northern Cyclones.

From Durham, CT, the 24-year old will do well as a pro is how we are seeing it.

27Jul

Casey DeSmith (1)

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Undrafted 8th year goaltender Casey DeSmith(1) gets a new 2-year deal to stick with the only team he has ever known, Pittsburgh Penguins, signing a new 2-year NHL deal.

The 6′ 181 lbs. net minder has consistently held his GAA to around 2 and SV% in the .900 range either up with the big club or tending for affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, so has some skill in the crease.

His actual 1st contract after graduating University Of New Hampshire Wildcats was with Wheeling Nailers and he played 13 ECHL games with very good numbers to get loaned up in the system, where he did outstanding in 6 AHL games to earn his entry level contract in the next frame.

The 31-year old from Rochester, NH has worked very hard, but also has had some very good luck riding on his shoulders.

For the 1st time in his pro career, he gets moved to a new team, Montreal Canadiens, who pick up his contract.

He barely suits up for his new club and gets a promo photo shot before he is moved to Vancouver Canucks, who may have more of a need for a new kind of #1.

It’s here where his game comes back together, as he gets 29 starts and does pretty well, but it’s his playoff look that really gets him some action.

Dallas Stars step in and offers the unrestricted free agent a 3-year deal.

27Jul

Kobe Roth (11)

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Undrafted left wing, Kobe Roth(11) finishes up a graduate season as captain of University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs to sign a 1st pro deal for 2022/2023 with Florida Everblades.

The 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward posted a college career best 16 goals and 13 assists last season and was a 3-time 10+ tally-getter.

We think the 25-year old from Mason City, IA is going to find some room in the ECHL to get on the scoreboard lots.

After spending most of his rookie season putting up formidable numbers with the eventual 2023 Kelly Cup Champs before getting traded to Kalamazoo Wings to finish out the frame, he has decided to look onwards.

For 2023/2024, he signs with Coventry Blaze and should see quite the uptick in his scoring in the EIHL.

And he definitely did, scoring 25 goals and 16 assists in 54 games, but will next take his game to Germany3 and signs with Tilburg Trappers for 2024/2025.

26Jul

Markuss Komuls (23)

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Trois-Rivières Lions‘ rookie defenseman, Latvian-born defenseman Markuss Komuls(23) will take his pro game closer to home in 2024/2025, signing with HC Nove Zamky of the tough to play Slovak Extraliga.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner came over early for junior hockey and played his way up from an EHL season to the NAHL for 3, earning a commit to University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, where he skated 4 seasons.

We think the 26-year old does well there to continue to gain recognition.

26Jul

Zach Vinnell (6)

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Undrafted defenseman Zach Vinnell(6) will take his game to Bowling Green University Falcons for his senior year, leaving behind 3 seasons and a college career junior season at Merrimack College Warriors, scoring 4 goals and 12 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Cochrane, AB played 3 years of junior hockey in the close by AJHL.

We think the 24-year old scored himself a nice invite to Edmonton Oilers‘ development camp and will likely see some mature ice time in the CCHA.

Although he only scored 1 goal with his new college team, he did manage a best 19 assists.

He will take his recent fortunes to a 1st pro deal with Indy Fuel to finish out the season.

In 16 games to debut his pro game, he scores 1 goal and 9 assists with a 0 rating, then added 1 assist in 2 playoff matchups.

He’s taking his game elsewhere for 2023/2024, as he signs on to strengthen the blue line for 1-year with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL.

After 15 games, 1 goal 4 assists, he seemingly leaves and signs with Sheffield Steelers, who seem very happy to have him in their lineup.

He would do pretty well with 1 goal and 4 assists through 15 games with a +12 rating.

Something isn’t gelling on ice though and the 26-year old decides to retire and as soon as 2024/2025 will take up ranks as an assistant coach with rivals, Coventry Blaze.

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.