11th year left wing Matt Nieto(83) signs a new 2-year NHL deal with Pittsburgh Penguins through 2024/2025 for $900,000 AAV.
He was originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#47 overall), he skated almost 4 years for them before getting traded to Colorado Avalanche, where he spent close to the next 4 and then would return to the Sharks.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward did 3 years at Boston University Terriers after 2 campaigns with the USNTDP.
From Long Beach, CA, at 30-years old, he’s still ticking and could still be worth 10+ goals, 20+ assists.
11th year, Swedish-born left wing Carl Hagelin(62) decides to retire from the game after an eye injury, lacing up the skates in the NHL 713 times, scoring 110 goals and 186 assists with an absolutely off the hook for on-ice accountability +119 rating, plus back-to-back 2016 & 2017 Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 seasons of 30+ points and 4 at 20+.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward played all his junior hockey back home, but came over for 4 years at University Of Michigan Wolverines and served as senior captain.
He was originally a New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft pick (#168 overall).
No word if the 35-year old, who was with 5 different teams will stick around to find work someone, but that could easily happen.
New York Islanders‘ 11th year defenseman Scott Mayfield(24) signs a new 7-year deal to stay with the only team he’s played 428 NHL and 223 AHL games with.
Originally a 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#34 overall), he’s huge at 6’5″ 220 lbs.
He did 2 years at University Of Denver Pioneers after 2 USHL stints with Youngstown Phantoms.
The 30-year old, St. Louis, MO native is set to make $3.5M AAV for each year of his deal.
6th year center Brian Pinho(28) gets signed relatively quickly in unrestricted free agency by New York Islanders for 2023/2024.
He had a best 17 assists, but his 20 goals in his 2nd season with Hershey Bears, under contract to draft club Washington Capitals, 6th round 2013 (#174 overall) are tops in that category, which suggests he can score at this level.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward had 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 6 playoff games with Utica Comets last season.
He did 4 years at Providence College Friars, serving as senior captain, twice getting 12 goals and 20+ assists.
The 28-year old from Beverly, MA is in a good spot moving forward.
5th year right wing Anthony Angello(17) signs a 1-year NHL deal with St. Louis Blues, as an unrestricted free agent after spending the 1st 4 years of his pro career in Pittsburgh Penguins‘ organization.
The towering 6’5″ 209 lbs. forward twice scored 16 goals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has definitely shown a perchance for potential big numbers.
He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#145 overall).
The Albany, NY native did 3 years at Cornell University Big Red before leaving to sign his entry level contract.
At 26-years old, he could be just arriving.
He is acquired late season by Nashville Predators, who send him directly to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, where he helps their deep 2023 Calder Cup Playoff push.
It’s little doubt he is signed quickly to a 2-year 2-way deal though 2024/2025.
12th year center Alex Killorn(17) leaves 11 years and 2 Stanley Cups with 3rd round 2007 draft team (#77 overall) Tampa Bay Lightning for unrestricted free agency and a new 4-year deal with Anaheim Ducks worth $6.25M AAV, which he doesn’t even need, but takes one last big bite at the apple before he decides that Harvard University Crimson degree is worth pursuing.
The Halifax, NS native also won the 2012 AHL Calder Cup with Norfolk Admirals after graduating college.
He has 7 times scored 10+ goals and 3 times 20+ in a season and 6 time 20+ assists and 3 for 30+ helpers.
The 33-year old is the type of player that can elevate his team to become a playoff contender once again.
After spending the last 6 of his 7 NHL days in an Anaheim Ducks‘ uniform, 13th year right wing Derek Grant(38) will take his game overseas for a 1st time, signing a 1-year deal with ZSC Lions of NL, which should be a lot of fun for the 33-year old.
The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward tower has 3 times had 10+ goals and twice 10+ assists in a frame.
From Abbotsford, BC, he played 2 BCHL seasons before committing to Michigan State University Spartans, where he stayed for 2 years before turning pro.
Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in 2008 (#119 overall), he spent the 1st 4 years of his career in their system.
He takes 427 games in the big league and 320 in the AHL over to his new venture, which should keep him smiling out there.
Notre Dame University Fighting Irish senior captain Nick Leivermann(4) was originally selected by Colorado Avalanche in the 7th round of the 2017 draft (#178 overall), but went unsigned upon completing his graduate frame with a 3rd 10+ assist season (21 as a senior).
He turns pro and signs a 1-year AHL deal with last year’s Calder Cup Champion, Hershey Bears for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner from Eden Praire, MN did only 1 BCHL season with Penticton Vees before heading to school.
At 24-years old, he’s likely gunning to get going.
Former 2-year University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ rookie center Ross Colton(79) pocketed the only goal, the game-winner in game 5, to help Tampa Bay Lightning win their 2nd straight Stanley Cup Championship.
The 6′ 191 lbs. forward had 4 goals and 2 assists through 23 NHL Playoff contests with a +4 rating, while playing only an average of just over 10 minutes per appearance.
He also had 4 tallies to win games throughout the 2020/2021 season.
The 24-year old is set to become a restricted free agent for the first time in his pro career and will likely expect a nice, healthy increased pay day for his next likely long-term contract.
As his contract is set to expire, off a season where he scored 16 goals and 16 assists, he gets dished to Colorado Avalanche, as he’s set to make too much money for his original club to be able to afford and grabs a nifty 4 year $4M AAV deal to step it up with his new club.
Former Cornell University Big Red captain, center Morgan Barron(47) is steady as he goes with Hartford Wolf Pack.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward has points in 9 of 12 AHL appearances with a recent 2 goal effort.
He signed his 3-year entry level deal with draft club (6th round, 2017, #174) New York Rangers as he was likely becoming aware college hockey would be shutting down for 2020/2021 at his school and it looks to be a great decision.
The Canadian-born player already had 3 years of schooling at St. Andrews College in Ontario before committing to an American school to further his education and hockey goals.
Still only 22-years old we’d say he’s already lived a couple of lives and is on the radar to may even be pitched a look in the show this season.
Well, that most definitely happened, as late in 2020/2021, he was recalled, skated 5 games and even got a 1st NHL goal.
He was a point-per-game guy in the minors last session and did decently again this frame, but was again pulled back up for 13 games, getting an assist.
The deep selection is trade bait though, as is dished to Winnipeg Jets with one year left on his entry level contract.
After 70 games in a Jets‘ jersey, scoring 8 goals and 13 assists, he is offered up 2-years 1-way to stay through 2024/2025.
