Minor Transactions: 07/15/21

With next week’s Seattle Expansion Draft putting a wrench in an already compressed offseason for NHL general managers, teams are gearing up to prepare for every possible eventuality. This means that personnel at all levels of organizations are being shuffled. AHL teams and teams in other leagues have all been dealing with the effects of transactions at other levels, leading to a very eventful month in the non-NHL world. Here are today’s minor transactions:

• The AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins today announced that they’ve re-signed forward Dominik Shine to a one-year AHL contract. The 28-year-old forward has never seen NHL action, but has remained with the Detroit Red Wings organization since turning pro at the end of the 2016-17 campaign. A Michigan-born product, Shine played his junior hockey with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars before playing four seasons of college hockey with Northern Michigan University. Shine hasn’t exactly blown away with his production, scoring just two goals and four points in 29 contests this past season, but was extended for his leadership and professional experience. He’ll help mentor a group in Grand Rapids in 2021-22 that could contain some of Detroit’s future superstars.
• Defenseman Nikolas Brouillard was extended by the San Diego Gulls today, giving him a home for the 2021-22 season. The 26-year-old impressed in his first full season of AHL hockey, posting a respectable 14 points in 29 games. Despite never being drafted, Brouillard’s put up consistently solid point totals across all leagues during his career, but his undersized 5′ 10″, 150-pound frame has left him off the radar of NHL teams. Brouillard will look to continue to impress the Ducks internally and work his way up the depth chart.
• The Iowa Wild announced the extension of defenseman Keaton Thompson to a one-year AHL deal. Thompson, a third-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2013, failed to build on a solid rookies season in the USHL and has yet to play an NHL game. Thompson remained in the Ducks organization through 2018-19, but wasn’t given a qualifying offer after tallying just seven assists in 53 games. Thompson’s since spent two seasons with the Wild on AHL contracts, totaling 20 points in 78 contests. He’ll get another chance to play with their defense core this season, but the days of NHL upside for Thompson are over.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed goalie Cam Johnson to a one-year, two-way deal today. Per PuckPedia, the contract carries a $750,000 cap hit with $75,000 in minor-league salary. Johnson has yet to make an NHL appearance, but the 27-year-old netminder was impressive in the ECHL this season, earning a 6-1-0 record and .941 save percentage in seven appearances. Johnson could report for AHL duty next season, and the NHL deal gives Columbus the flexibility to use him as an emergency call-up.

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