The calendar has flipped to August where transaction activity (at least outside the KHL) will slow down even more. However, there have been some recent moves with an NHL connection; we’ll run those down here.
- Edmonton’s AHL affiliate was busy today, signing four players, goaltender Brett Brochu, defensemen Darren Brady and Tyler Inamoto, and forward Alex Swetlikoff. Brochu posted a .920 SV% in 20 ECHL games last season while Brady had 21 points in 50 ECHL contests. As for Inamoto, he was limited to just 16 games in 2023-24 between the AHL and ECHL due to injury, spending time in Los Angeles’ system. Swetlikoff spent the last two years in Vegas’ system, primarily in the ECHL but he did have three goals in 19 AHL contests last season.
- Vancouver’s AHL team in Abbotsford recently made a trio of signings, announcing that they’ve signed forward Cooper Walker to a one-year extension while adding forwards Lee Lapid and Ben Berard on one-year deals. Walker spent most of last season with ECHL Kalamazoo but did get into 13 AHL appearances, picking up a goal. Lapid also spent the bulk of last year in the ECHL but also spent time in Finland with SaiPa, collecting a pair of tallies in 14 games. Berard, meanwhile, had a limited role with AHL Texas last season, notching four points in 30 contests.
- Maple Leafs prospect Miroslav Holinka has committed to WHL Edmonton for the upcoming season, per an announcement from the Oil Kings. The 18-year-old was a fifth-round pick at the draft in June, going 151st overall while he was selected 14th overall in the CHL Import Draft a few days later. Holinka spent last season in Trinec in Czechia, splitting time between the Extraliga and junior levels. At the top level, he had three points in 16 games while adding 41 more in 29 junior contests.
- Originally expected to go to Providence College for the 2025-26 season, Canadiens prospect Logan Sawyer has had a change of heart and will play there next season, relays Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). The 18-year-old was the 78th overall pick in June after a good showing with Brooks of the AJHL and BCHL (the franchise changed leagues midseason), combining for 78 points in 59 games.