Minor Transactions: 07/17/19

Arbitration hearings start in just a few days and we’re still waiting on new deals for many of the league’s top restricted free agents. In the meantime, teams continue to fill out their organizational depth charts. We’ll keep track right here:

• Chris Conner has signed a one-year AHL contract with the Binghamton Devils, ending a four-year run with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Conner is an excellent offensive player at the minor league level and does actually have 180 games of NHL experience under his belt. The 35-year old winger will give Binghamton another veteran to help their attack and mentor their young forwards.
• Brandon Saigeon has signed a one-year AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles, giving him a chance to start his professional journey with the organization that drafted him. A fifth-round pick in 2018, Saigeon’s exclusive rights with the Colorado Avalanche will actually expire next June, at which point they would need to decide whether he’s worth an NHL entry-level deal. Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now reports that deal is already expected to be signed in March, 2020.
• The Bakersfield Condors have signed Anthony Peluso and Vincent Desharnais to AHL contracts, adding some depth to the minor league organization. Peluso has played 148 NHL games over his career, most recently with the Calgary Flames. The 30-year old forward has never been much of an offensive threat though, and scored just eight points with the Stockton Heat last season.