As the calendar turns to August, some players who were on NHL deals last season have been forced to seek minor league deals this summer. Here’s a rundown of today’s minor moves.
- The Avalanche have signed UFA winger Tim McGauley to a one-year, minor league contract, their AHL team announced. McGauley signed with the Capitals as an undrafted free agent in October of 2015 and finished third in the WHL in scoring that season. However, that failed to translate to much success at the professional level as he has spent the majority of his pro career at the ECHL level. Last season, he recorded 36 points in 48 games with Washington’s ECHL affiliate, recording 36 points but that wasn’t enough to garner a qualifying offer from the team back in June.
- From that same announcement, the Avs also inked winger Cole Ully to a one-year, minor league pact. After spending all of 2016-17 in the AHL, the 23-year-old was dropped down to Idaho of the ECHL for most of last year where he picked up 39 points in 40 games. He was non-tendered by Dallas in June.
- Boston has inked winger Chase Balisy to a one-year AHL deal, reports Mark Divver of the Providence Journal (Twitter link). The 26-year-old got into eight games with the Panthers last season but spent the majority of the year at the AHL level, collecting 35 points in 67 games in Springfield. As he had more than three professional years under his belt with less than 80 career NHL games, Balisy was eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency.