The NHL taxi shuffle chugs along while several other prominent names change addresses overseas. There were plenty of other minor transactions today too, the notable ones we will include here:
- Matt Donovan, who played the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, has signed with HV71 in Sweden. The 30-year-old defenseman is no stranger to the SHL, having spent two seasons with Frolunda a few years ago, even winning the Champions League in 2017. A veteran of just 69 NHL contests, he’s another example of the roster squeeze happening across professional hockey.
- The Hershey Bears have added Rob O’Gara and Reece Willcox on professional tryouts as they prepare for the regular season in the AHL. O’Gara, 27, played 30 games in the NHL during the 2017-18 season but has spent the last two seasons entirely in the minor leagues. The 6’4″ defenseman had six points in 25 games last season.
- Three Chicago Blackhawks draft picks have signed tryout contracts with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL as they continue to wait for their junior seasons to resume. Cole Moberg, the only one of the three that is old enough to be eligible to play in the AHL, has signed a professional tryout, while Michael Krutil and Isaak Phillips have both agreed to amateur tryout agreements. None of the three have entry-level NHL contracts yet, but could certainly help their case with a strong performance in Rockford.
- Donovan Sebrango, who was selected in the third round by the Detroit Red Wings a few months ago, has signed an amateur tryout with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 19-year-old defenseman played four games earlier this season in Slovakia, but will now join the AHL club as he waits for an OHL season that still is not confirmed.