Undrafted 4th year defenseman Jesse Graham(2) became an unrestricted free agent when initial entry level contract team New York Islanders left him unqualified heading into 2017/2018.
Colorado Avalanche has stepped in to pick up his option signing him to a one-year two-way deal.
In all likelihood he’ll be reassigned to skate with affiliate San Antonio Rampage.
He had somewhat surprisingly yet to appear in a full AHL campaign but this may be his best chance.
The former Niagara IceDogs/Saginaw Spirit blue liner had a combined 43 assists in his fourth and final year of the OHL and had 37 and 35 in his third and second seasons of junior hockey.
His numbers for Bridgeport Sound Tigers were all pretty good and somewhat of a thinker as to why he was sent down further to Kansas City Mavericks on two occasions and Florida Everglades as a rookie.
The 6′ 185 lbs. d-man played a low 19 games with the farm club last season scoring two goals, 7 assists and a +11 rating but somehow was unable to stick.
In his last ECHL stint, he was a point-per-game guy pocketing 6 goals and 15 assists in 24 games.
The 23-year old will still have to prove himself but chances are good with the young squad he will.