During the summer, AHL contracts often take a backseat to one-way and two-way NHL contracts in terms of news coverage. But they’re a valuable outlet for NHL clubs to keep veterans with solid leadership experience in the organization without using one of their 50 contract slots.
As such, many teams will retain UFAs coming off two-way deals by having their AHL affiliate ink them to a contract for the upcoming season. Those squeezed out of NHL roles may also look to land a minor-league deal to showcase their performance without binding themselves to an NHL contract, allowing them to keep their options open and sign anywhere as a free agent.
The following is a look at which players with NHL experience will be suiting up in the minors next season as technical UFAs. They are still free to sign with any NHL club should an offer present itself. But they’ll still play in an NHL organization alongside teams’ top prospects slated for AHL action in the fall.
This page will be updated as additional players are signed or released. It can be found at any time under the “Pro Hockey Rumors Features” right-hand sidebar on desktop and the Flame menu on mobile.
Updated 8/15/24
Anaheim Ducks (San Diego Gulls)
F Ryan Carpenter
D Dillon Heatherington
D Roland McKeown
Buffalo Sabres (Rochester Americans)
Carolina Hurricanes (Chicago Wolves)
Chicago Blackhawks (Rockford IceHogs)
F Jackson Cates
D Austin Strand
Colorado Avalanche (Colorado Eagles)
Columbus Blue Jackets (Cleveland Monsters)
Dallas Stars (Texas Stars)
Edmonton Oilers (Bakersfield Condors)
Florida Panthers (Charlotte Checkers)
F Kyle Criscuolo
F John Leonard
F Aidan McDonough
D Trevor Carrick
G Kenneth Appleby
Los Angeles Kings (Ontario Reign)
Montreal Canadiens (Laval Rocket)
F Laurent Dauphin
D Zack Hayes
D Joshua Jacobs
D Tyler Wotherspoon
Nashville Predators (Milwaukee Admirals)
New Jersey Devils (Utica Comets)
F Justin Dowling
F Joseph Gambardella
New York Islanders (Bridgeport Islanders)
Philadelphia Flyers (Lehigh Valley Phantoms)
F Cooper Marody
F Garrett Wilson
Pittsburgh Penguins (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)
San Jose Sharks (San Jose Barracuda)
St. Louis Blues (Springfield Thunderbirds)
F Matthew Peca
D Scott Harrington
Tampa Bay Lightning (Syracuse Crunch)
F Gabriel Dumont
F Daniel Walcott
Toronto Maple Leafs (Toronto Marlies)
F Kyle Clifford
F Alexander Nylander
F Logan Shaw
Utah Hockey Club (Tucson Roadrunners)
F Hunter Drew
F Austin Poganski
D Robbie Russo
G Dylan Wells
Vancouver Canucks (Abbotsford Canucks)
Vegas Golden Knights (Henderson Silver Knights)
Washington Capitals (Hershey Bears)
F Mike Vecchione
D Brad Hunt
D Aaron Ness
Winnipeg Jets (Manitoba Moose)
Information from Elite Prospects was used in the creation of this article.