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Minor Transactions: 07/08/21

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The 2021 Stanley Cup champions have been crowned. The Tampa Bay Lightning are back on top of the mountain, sealing their victory with another Andrei Vasilevskiy shutout. With that now in the past, teams and leagues all around the world can continue their preparations for the next season. As always we will keep track of all the notable minor moves right here.

  • The Utica Comets have announced three contracts, their first signings affiliated with the New Jersey Devils. Mareks Mitens, Tyler Irvine and Patrick Grasso have all signed AHL deals for 2021-22. The first two already spent some time with the Devils’ previous AHL affiliate, but Grasso is fresh off a season with the University of New Hampshire. The 25-year-old was actually granted an extra year of NCAA eligibility thanks to a shoulder injury as a sophomore, meaning he spent five seasons with the program.
  • Chay Genoway, who was once a highly sought-after college free agent, has signed a new deal to continue his hockey career in Sweden. The 34-year-old defenseman has been overseas since the 2014-15 season and actually suited up for Canada at the 2018 Olympic Games. Genoway’s deal is for one year plus an option for 2022-23.
  • Former NHL goaltender Karri Ramo has signed a new contract with ERC Ingolstadt of the German DEL, after being the runner-up in Liiga last season. Ramo posted a .929 save percentage in seven postseason games for TPS, though his regular season numbers weren’t quite as strong. The 35-year-old last played in the NHL during the 2015-16 season.

Tampa Bay Lightning Win 2021 Stanley Cup Championship

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For just the second time since the turn of the century, the NHL champion reigns for a second consecutive season. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game Five at home on Wednesday night, cementing their back-to-back champion status after taking home the Stanley Cup in 2020 as well. Young Ross Colton scored the only goal of the game early in the second period and his teammates played tough defense to keep Montreal off the board for a shutout win to seal it.

The 2020-21 season was far different for the Lightning, though. In 2019-20, Tampa was a wire-to-wire favorite, leading the league in goals for and finishing second in goal differential, which earned them a share of the third-best record in the league. This year, the Lightning had their fair share of issues along the way, finishing only third in their own division and eighth overall in the league, falling to eighth in scoring and seventh in differential. Yet, in the postseason they were even better this time around than they were last year. In the 2020 playoffs, the Bolts recorded 3.08 goals for per game and 2.28 goals against per game, finished fifth in power play and penalty kill efficiency, and required extra time to win seven games. This year, Tampa Bay notched 3.26 goals for per game and led the postseason with 1.96 goals against per game, finished third and fourth respectively on the power play and penalty kill, and did not need overtime to win a single game.

Though it may not explain every difference between this season and last, it is hard to argue against the x-factor this season for the Lightning being Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov, the 2020 postseason scoring leader, missed the entire regular season after undergoing off-season hip surgery. While this cost Tampa one of the best players in the league, which could explain their regular season drop-off, the added salary cap space allowed the team to keep their championship roster together against all odds. Kucherov then returned to health in time for the playoff and again led the field in scoring – and by a wide margin. Having a fresh, energized Kucherov in the lineup was key to the Bolts’ success, especially as they faced several defensively skilled teams. While opinions differ on the integrity of how Tampa Bay managed Kucherov’s injury, the team stayed within the NHL’s rules and it led to a second consecutive title. While some may also argue that the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cups came in the 2020 “bubble” playoffs and following a shortened 2020-21 season, it is difficult to see this roster not finding success under normal circumstances as well. Kucherov was followed in the 2021 playoff scoring race by four teammates – Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and Alex Killorn – to round out the top five, while Conn Smythe Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy had the best goaltending numbers of the postseason and was clutch when it mattered most, including a shutout to clinch all four series. The likes of Ondrej Palat, Anthony Cirelli, and Ryan McDonagh were also phenomenal for Tampa.

As for the other Stanley Cup finalist, the efforts of the Montreal Canadiens were valiant and will not soon be forgotten. The team with the worst regular season record in the postseason stunned two top-five teams en route to a completely improbable and unforeseen trip to the championship round. They will get a chance at revenge soon – Tampa Bay and Montreal will be back together in the Atlantic Division again next season, alongside several other top teams.

Expansion Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

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Over the next few weeks, we will be breaking down each team’s situation as it pertains to the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. Which players are eligible, who will likely warrant protection, and which ones may be on the block to avoid the risk of losing them for nothing? Each team is required to submit their protection lists by 4:00 PM CDT on July 17th. The full eligibility rules can be found here, while CapFriendly has an expansion tool to make your own lists.

The Blue Jackets were one of the biggest victims of the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, trading a first-round and second-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the team selecting William Karlsson and taking on David Clarkson’s contract. Karlsson has blossomed into the best center in Vegas’ young franchise history, while the Blue Jackets now have a hole down the middle and could have used those high draft picks to help fill it.

The team has seemingly spent the past four years making sure that history would not repeat itself this year. The Blue Jackets can protect all of their core players, leaving next to nothing of value for Seattle, and the only deal that they will make with the Kraken would have to be mutually beneficial.

Eligible Players (Non-UFA)

Forwards: 

Cam Atkinson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Max Domi, Boone Jenner, Patrik Laine, Gustav Nyquist, Cliff Pu, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Kole Sherwood, Kevin Stenlund, Calvin Thurkauf

Defense:

Gabriel Carlsson, Vladislav Gavrikov, Scott Harrington, Seth Jones, Dean Kukan, Zach Werenski

Goalies:

Cam Johnson, Joonas Korpisalo

Notable Unrestricted Free Agents

D Michael Del Zotto

Notable Exemptions

F Emil Bemstrom, F Yegor Chinakhov, F Josh Dunne, F Liam Foudy, D Mikko Lehtonen, G Elvis Merzlikins, D Andrew Peeke, F Alexandre Texier

Key Decisions

Kudos to GM Jarmo Kekalainen, who has taken most of the decision-making out of his team’s expansion process. The Blue Jackets may have taken a step back this season and looking to re-tool in the off-season, but at least they will not lose any players of great value.

Well, that’s not entirely true. By all accounts, Columbus will lose star defenseman Jones, but it will be on their own terms. While it may seem like a waste, the Blue Jackets are very unlikely to deal Jones before the Expansion Draft and thus must protect him so that they can make a deal later on this off-season.

Fortunately, Jones is not exactly stealing a protection slot from a top player. Fellow blue line standout Werenski and the reliable Gavrikov can still be protected in the 7-3 scheme, while future starters Peeke and Lehtonen are exempt, leaving only the likes of depth defenders Kukan, Harrington, and Carlsson exposed.

The decision in goal is even easier. With one half of their top tandem exempt in Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets simply protect the other side in Korpisalo, leaving untested Johnson exposed.

At forward, things are a little trickier – but not by much. Career Blue Jackets and locker room leaders Atkinson, Jenner, and Bjorkstrand are most importantly all productive scorers and will be safe. Despite down seasons to begin their Columbus tenures, there is no way that the team exposes Laine or Domi. On the flip side, Roslovic’s first season with the team was perhaps the highlight of the campaign and he is also not going anywhere.

This leaves just one protection slot open up front with three realistic candidates: Nyquist, Robinson, and Stenlund. This may seem like an easy decision to the casual onlooker, as Nyquist is a well-known name whereas Robinson and Stenlund have only recently established themselves as NHL assets. However, Nyquist is far from a lock due to the fact that he missed the entire season following off-season shoulder surgery. He will be 32 before next season and is a year removed from game action. Can the Blue Jackets really commit to $11MM over the next two seasons for an aging player whose return to form is uncertain?

They can, and the going theory is that they will. It isn’t a knock on Robinson or Stenlund, who both proved themselves to be valuable to Columbus this season, but the upside of Nyquist is simply much higher. In 2019-20, his first season with Blue Jackets, Nyquist was second on the team in scoring a key piece on special teams, all areas that struggled this year in his absence. With 40+ points in each of his seven full NHL seasons, including a 60-point campaign just two years ago, Nyquist is nothing if not consistent and reliable and would be a difficult player for the Blue Jackets to lose as they look to right the ship.

Of course, Nyquist’s age and contract are still a concern, even if he is able to bounce back. However, the Blue Jackets are not in any salary cap trouble and could use the veteran presence as they look to push more young talent onto the roster. Seattle may not be in the same boat; the Expansion Draft could yield far more well-paid veterans of value than affordable youngsters and the Kraken may not be keen to take an older, expensive player like Nyquist given his injury concerns and uncertain future. If the Blue Jackets decide to bank on this possibility, Robinson or Stenlund could be protected. They each made a good case this season; Robinson played in all 56 games and recorded career highs in goals and points, while Stenlund has recorded ten points in 32 games in back-to-back seasons, a26-point full-season pace. Either bottom-six forward could continue to provide value to Columbus, but at least one must be exposed if not both.

Projected Protection List

F Cam Atkinson
F Oliver Bjorkstrand
F Max Domi
F Boone Jenner
F Patrik Laine
F Gustav Nyquist
F Jack Roslovic

D Vladislav Gavrikov
D Seth Jones
D Zach Werenski

G Joonas Korpisalo

Skater Exposure Requirement Checklist

When Vegas had their expansion draft, a minimum of two forwards and one defenseman had to be exposed that were under contract and played either 40 games in the most recent season or 70 over the past two combined.  Due to the pandemic, those thresholds have been changed to 27 games played in 2020-21 or 54 in 2019/20 and 2020-21 combined.  In creating our expansion list for each team in this series, we will ensure that these criteria are met.

Forwards (2): Eric Robinson, Kevin Stenlund
Defensemen (1): Dean Kukan

Regardless of which players they choose to protect, the Blue Jackets will only expose the bare minimum required, likely by design. After all, Stenlund was just signed to a one-year extension last month with the Expansion Draft in mind. Barring an extension or outside addition, only the designated two forwards and one defenseman will be exposed among those meeting the requirements, as none of the other eligible players – Pu, Sherwood, Thurkauf, Carlsson, Harrington – are worth protecting.

Columbus leaves little for the Seattle Kraken if they protect Nyquist, which seems likely. It is a group of exposed players lacking in NHL experience or considerable upside. Robinson and Stenlund offer physical play and 25-point upside as bottom-six forwards, but at 26 and soon-to-be-25 respectively, there may not be much room for improvement. Kukan, 27, has had a hard time staying in the lineup in Columbus and looks to be best suited as a No. 7 defenseman on a good team. Harrington, also 27, was used even less, was less productive, and has more tread on his tires. Carlsson, though younger and bigger than Kukan and Harrington, was unable to unseat them with the Blue Jackets and would have much more competition with the Kraken. Unless Seattle GM Ron Francis has a special affinity for one of these players, Columbus seems like a prime team for a pick-and-trade, moving their selection to a contender seeking depth.

With all of that said, the Blue Jackets do still remain a fascinating candidate to make a side deal with the Kraken. With three first-round picks, including No. 5 overall, and a need at center that they would love to address with the top forward prospect in the draft, Columbus has the means and the desire to land the No. 2 pick from Seattle if they are open to moving it. The new franchise could certainly benefit from an extra first round pick if they move back and may even be able to change the Blue Jackets’ protection plan as part of the deal.

Snapshots: Blue Jackets, Sabres, Buyouts, DeAngelo

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Between new head coach Brad Larsen, promoted from his previous role as assistant, and newly hired assistants Pascal Vincent and Sylvain Lefebvre, the Blue Jackets will have a combined 15 seasons as NHL assistants, 13 seasons as AHL head coaches, 11 seasons as a junior head coaches, six seasons as AHL assistants, and over 1,200 NHL games played worth of experience behind the bench. The one thing they don’t have? Any experience as an NHL head coach. As Aaron Portzline writes for The Athletic, there is zero NHL head coach experience in the entire Columbus organization right now and while GM Jarmo Kekalainen isn’t worried, he also isn’t above addressing that issue. Kekalainen is at least considering adding an advisor to the coaching staff; a veteran NHL head coach to help guide Larsen and company through their first season with a the re-tooling Blue Jackets. Portzline believes that one name who could certainly be in the mix is Jacques Martin, as the 68-year-old with 16 seasons as an NHL head coach is believed to be looking for this type of role. Other candidates will also surely emerge if and when Columbus decides that they are officially looking to fill the position.

  • Did Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams tip his hand in a recent interview with Pierre LeBrun for The Athletic? Discussing his team’s rebuilding plans, Adams stated the following:

(Rasmus) Dahlin, (Dylan) Cozens, (Casey) Mittelstadt, these are very, very young players… And I’ve been energized about this young core of Sabres we have that are hungry and they want to be part of the solution. … These guys are proud to be Buffalo Sabres, they want to fix this and get this right, they want to move forward together. So that’s the young core that we’re working to build around.

Sure, these are all key pieces for the Sabres in their rebuild. However, Adams did not mention the likes of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, or Victor Olofsson, who are only marginally older than that group. His use of the words “proud to be Buffalo Sabres” and “want to be part of the solution” also feels purposeful, as if there are others on the team who are not and possibly that is why they are no longer part of the rebuild plans. While rumors have been swirling around Eichel and to some extent Reinhart as well, perhaps this is a real indication that Buffalo will be making major changes this summer.

  • The NHL’s buyout window opens 24 hours after the Stanley Cup is awarded, which could be as early as later tonight. In anticipation, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli lists ten names (and some honorable mentions) who could be buyout candidates. While much of this is educated speculation, Seravalli does have a scoop on his No. 1 name on the list, New York Rangers defenseman Anthony DeAngelo. Seravalli reports that the Rangers officially finalized a plan to buyout DeAngelo last week, a move that has been a long time coming since he was placed on leave in January for off-ice conduct. What remains to be seen is when exactly the buyout will be executed. The Rangers don’t need DeAngelo for the upcoming Expansion Draft, with Anthony Bitetto meeting exposure criteria and not expected to be protected, however New York may want to leave him in case they are able to tempt the Seattle. Even if the Kraken don’t bite, DeAngelo’s skill is enough to make him an intriguing free agent this summer following his buyout, even after a year off and some character concerns.

Boston Bruins Sign Cameron Hughes, Joona Koppanen

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The Boston Bruins have reached one-year extensions with both Cameron Hughes and Joona Koppanen for the 2021-22 season. Both contracts will be two-way and carry an NHL salary of $750K.

Hughes, 24, was outstanding for the Providence Bruins this season, scoring 21 points in 25 games. He only got into one NHL game (taking his career total to two) but should get a chance to compete for a bottom-six spot in 2021-22. The Bruins have been trying for years to get some additional offense out of the bottom of the lineup, and though Hughes doesn’t scream difference-maker, he may be a useful piece to move in and out.

Even if he does get that NHL opportunity, this is likely the last season before unrestricted free agency for Hughes. Unless he plays in 78 games with Boston, he’ll qualify as a Group VI UFA next summer as a 25-year-old. That means this is an important year for the former Wisconsin star, and could lead to a potential one-way deal next time he hits the open market.

In Koppanen’s case, things are a little different. A fifth-round pick in 2016, he split this season between two levels in Finland and Providence, recording just six points in his 21 AHL games. A depth piece at this point, he does bring some size and upside, but more likely for a minor league role. He will be a restricted free agent again next summer.

Anaheim Ducks Bring Back Newell Brown

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The Anaheim Ducks have brought back a familiar face, hiring Newell Brown as an assistant coach for the 2021-22 season. This will be Brown’s third tenure with the organization, going back to when they were still the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

It’s hard to find an assistant with more NHL experience than Brown, who has been behind a bench somewhere in the league since 1996. Most recently, he served as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks for four seasons, but will go back to the place where he won the Stanley Cup in 2007. That was as part of Randy Carlyle’s staff, but this time Brown will be joining Dallas Eakins’ group as they try to get the rebuild turned in the right direction.

The Canucks moved in a different direction this year, bringing in Brad Shaw after he parted ways with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brown had been responsible for the powerplay in Vancouver, which at times was among the best in the league; in 2019-20, Vancouver ranked fourth in the league with the man advantage, cashing in 24.2% of the time.

It’s not yet clear what role he will serve with the Ducks, but is certainly a welcome addition to a group that has missed the playoffs for three straight years. In those three seasons, the powerplay has ranked 31st, 30th, and 24th, suggesting that Brown could have an immediate effect if he can simply get the team to the middle of the pack.

Jay Varady Returns To Tucson Roadrunners

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After spending the 2020-21 season on the Arizona Coyotes bench, Jay Varady will return to the AHL. The organization announced today that Varady has signed a new three-year contract as head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners. Bill Armstrong, GM of the Coyotes, released a short statement:

Jay is an excellent coach who led the Roadrunners to a Pacific Division title. Over the past three years, he has done a tremendous job developing our prospects and we are thrilled to have him back as our head coach in Tucson.

The Coyotes of course have a new head coach in Andre Tourigny, who replaces the outgoing Rick Tocchet who parted ways with the team at the end of the season. Tourigny will be able to bring in his staff but the team will not lose Varady as an asset, moving him back to the AHL to continue working with the team’s prospects.

Now 43, Varady has had plenty of success as a head coach, starting in France where he led the Ducs d’Angers to a 21-2-3 record in 2012-13. He then joined the Sioux City Musketeers, eventually taking the USHL program to the finals. One year in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs finished with a third-round berth, while the Roadrunners have a 70-45-11 record under Varady’s watch.

Slowly, it seems, the Coyotes are sorting out their organizational structure under Armstrong. Just yesterday they brought in a new director of pro scouting and have made several other hires over the last few months.

Free Agent Focus: Nashville Predators

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Free agency is now just under a month away and many teams are already looking ahead to when it opens up.  There will be several prominent players set to hit the open market in late July while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign as well. A Predators legend is a UFA, but there are other, perhaps more important names for the Nashville front office to focus on.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Eeli Tolvanen – After dominating the KHL in 2017-18, many expected Tolvanen to step into the NHL as a superstar. That wasn’t even close to the case as the young sniper failed to even make the team the following season, spending two full years at the minor league level. In 2020-21 though, the Predators started to see a return on their investment, with Tolvanen eventually taking over a spot in the top-six. His development made Viktor Arvidsson expendable and should mean he is in line for even more responsibility next season. Now comes a negotiation and if GM David Poile is known for anything, it’s locking up players he believes are core pieces to long-term deals right away. Ineligible for arbitration, the only real leverage Tolvanen has is the threat of the KHL, meaning he should come back for a reasonable price unless the team starts buying out UFA time on a max-term deal.

D Dante Fabbro – Will Fabbro even be negotiating a contract with the Predators? Nashville will need to go the eight-skater protection route in the expansion draft in order to keep him away from Seattle, unless another deal is worked out in the next few weeks. If they do find a way to keep the 23-year-old defenseman, he’ll need a new contract this summer as an arbitration-eligible RFA. Fabbro is only coming off his entry-level deal, but since he signed as a 21-year-old and played ten games in his first season (including his six playoff games) he has already completed the three professional years that arbitration required.

G Juuse Saros – Don’t forget about Saros, who is also an RFA after taking complete control of the starting role this season. The 26-year-old netminder posted a .927 save percentage and finished sixth in Vezina Trophy voting, truly establishing himself among the league’s elite goaltenders. That kind of performance certainly came in a timely fashion for Saros, who is scheduled for unrestricted free agency next summer and could be in for a huge payday this year. If the Predators want to lock him up long-term, he’ll be getting much more than the $1.5MM he has earned in each of the last three years. If he decides to go to arbitration, a one-year deal would walk him right to the open market.

Other RFAs: F Mathieu Olivier, F Michael McCarron, F Anthony Richard, F Rem Pitlick, F Josh Wilkins, F Tanner Jeannot, F Lukas Craggs, F Cole Smith, D Ben Harpur,  D Frederic Allard, D Jeremy Davies, D Josh Healey

Key Unrestricted Free Agents:

F Mikael Granlund – The veteran forward entered the UFA market last offseason as a top name, but ended up settling for just a one-year deal in Nashville after seeing the limited flat-cap market. He still earned a solid paycheck at $3.75MM, but is now another year older and enters free agency with more question marks. Granlund has never seemed to fit perfectly in Nashville, unable to reach the offensive heights that he found in Minnesota, and now has just 62 points in 130 games since arriving in 2019–he scored 47 goals and 136 points over his best two-year period with the Wild. Is his time as a play-driving top-six talent gone? Can he still play center on a full-time basis? It will be tough for a team to offer a long-term deal without knowing the answers to those questions, but it doesn’t really make sense for Nashville to bring him back unless it’s on another reasonable short-term contract.

D Pekka Rinne – 683 regular season games. 19,225 shots faced. 369 wins. 60 shutouts. These are all franchise records that Rinne holds for the Predators after 15 years with the organization, but a tough decision will be coming for Poile and the Nashville front office. Rinne is now 38 and has a .900 save percentage over his past two seasons. He had a losing record this year and isn’t the Vezina-winning goaltender he once was. Some would expect that means it’s the Predators or retirement, but when their season ended Rinne explained that he didn’t “want to close any doors.” Seeing the veteran netminder in any other colors would certainly be shocking, but at some point, the Predators are going to have to move on, whether he’s ready to call it quits or not.

Other UFAs: F Brad Richardson, F Erik Haula, F Sean Malone, F Michael Carcone, D Erik Gudbranson, D Luca Sbisa, D Tyler Lewington

Projected Cap Space

After moving Arvidsson’s contract the Predators have nearly $23MM in cap space to work with this summer, but a lot of that could be eaten up just by their restricted free agents. The expansion draft could provide some additional cap relief depending on who the Kraken decide to take, but it will be tough to really dole out a ton of money on the open market.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.  Contract information courtesy of CapFriendly.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Jack Drury

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The Carolina Hurricanes have added another top prospect to the organization, signing Jack Drury to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal will carry an average annual value of 925K. Hurricanes GM Don Waddell released a short statement:

Jack is an outstanding two-way forward who perfectly fits our system and plays the right way. We expect him to be an important piece for the Hurricanes in the very near future.

Drury, 21, was the 42nd overall pick in 2018 and spent two seasons at Harvard, becoming a star for the school in 2019-20 with a 39-point season. This year though, Drury followed an unusual path to the professional ranks. He left Harvard but didn’t sign with Carolina, taking his talents to Sweden to play for Vaxjo HC instead. It guaranteed him a full season of development after the Ivy League school announced they wouldn’t play and the AHL was still in flux.

That decision turned out to be a good one, as Drury scored 30 points in 41 regular season games, 11 more in 14 playoff matches en route to a league championship and finished second in the SHL Rookie of the Year voting. That performance landed him a spot on the U.S. World Championship squad, where he took home a bronze and got his first taste of playing against NHL competition.

Now, he signs his entry-level deal with the potential to step directly into the Carolina lineup next season. The nephew of New York Rangers GM Chris Drury, he isn’t quite the same player as his uncle but still has a commitment to the defensive end that is sometimes difficult to find from such talented offensive players. His ceiling may not be quite as high as some of the other young players already on the Hurricanes roster, but he should quickly become a valuable piece to plug into a lineup that continues to improve.

Minor Transactions: 07/07/21

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The Montreal Canadiens lived to fight another day, but they’ll need that same level of desperation to win game five and continue the series tonight. While all eyes are on Tampa to see what happens, the rest of the hockey world prepares for next season. As always, we’ll keep track of any notable minor moves right here.

  • Phil Varone has signed a one-year contract with Lausanne HC in Switzerland, continuing his overseas career after playing with Barys Nur-Sultan of the KHL last season. The 30-year-old forward suited up 97 times in the NHL and won the AHL MVP in 2018. In 42 games last season, he scored 25 points.
  • Martin Gernat, once a fifth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers, will also be heading to Lausanne, after spending the last few seasons in the Czech Republic. The 28-year-old defenseman hasn’t played in North America since the 2015-16 season, but did impress for Slovakia at this year’s World Championship.
  • Michael Krutil will sign another AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs after spending the 2020-21 season with them. The 19-year-old defenseman was a fourth-round pick last fall, but ended up going straight to the AHL where he recorded three points in 21 games. He has still not signed his entry-level contract but there is no rush, as the Blackhawks will hold his rights until 2024.
  • The AHL’s Iowa Wild have lost a pair of players to Europe. Forwards Tyler Sheehy and Jarrett Burton are each leaving North America behind for the first time in their careers after combining for just 14 AHL points this season. Sheehy, 25, has signed with the Nurnberg Ice Tigers of Germany’s DEL on a one-year deal with an option for second year. Burton, 30, will join Norway’s Stavanger Oilers on a one-year deal.
  • Cole Schneider will spend another season without an NHL contract despite strong returns in the minors. The former Buffalo Sabre, who has also spent time under contract with the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers, was impressive again this season in the AHL, recording 28 points in 36 games with the Texas Stars and earning the club’s captaincy. It was Schneider’s second consecutive season on an AHL deal even after recording 46 points in 54 games with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2019-20. Schneider will not wait for the NHL market to open later this month and has instead opted to return to Milwaukee, as the team announced a one-year-deal for the 30-year-old forward.

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