Here is where we’ll keep track of today’s minor transactions:
- The Toronto Marlies announced the signing of Marc-Andre Cliche to an AHL contract. A 2005 second round pick of the New York Rangers, Cliche has only played in 151 NHL games and totaled only 14 points. He did not make an NHL appearance during the 2015-2016 season after spending the prior two seasons as a full-time member of the Colorado Avalanche. The former Manchester Monarchs captain was back in the AHL last year, splitting the season between the San Antonio Rampage and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He’ll return to minors again this year, now playing for the Maple Leaf’s affiliate. In a separate move, the team also announced that they have brought back winger Rich Clune on a one year, AHL deal. The 29 year old put up 24 points in 49 games with the Marlies last season while adding four assists in 19 NHL contests.
- Jared Staal is set to join the Edinburgh Capitals of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom, the team announced today. The fourth Staal brother was a 2nd round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008, but to date has played in only two NHL games, with his brothers’ Carolina Hurricanes. He has spent the majority of his pro career with the Hurricane’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, but spent all of last season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. This will be his first season playing in the EIHL, and he will likely be expected to help the Capitals of Edinburgh, Scotland take the next step, as they have finished in last place two of the past three years.
- The Vancouver Canucks have hired Doug Jarvis as an assistant coach. Jarvis spent the last six years with the Boston Bruins. He is now set to join the Canucks after being hired by former Bruins Assistant GM and current Vancouver General Manager Jim Benning. In addition to the Bruins and now Canucks, Jarvis has also spent time as an assistant coach with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens, and was also head coach of the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. He is a six-time Stanley Cup champion, with two as a coach and four as a player, as well as a past Selke and Masterton winner.
- Boston has signed D Alex Grant to a one year, two-way deal, according to General Fanager. Grant spent most of last season with Arizona’s AHL affiliate in Springfield, scoring 11 goals and 31 assists in 69 games. He also got into five games with the Coyotes, being held pointless. Grant will earn $600K at the NHL level and $225K in the AHL.