Overseas Signings: LaDue, Brooks, Reinke
A few players with NHL games under their belt have headed overseas within the past 24 hours:
- After nearly breaking out as a roster regular with the Kings before the pandemic, Paul LaDue‘s days in the NHL appear to be over. MoDo of the Swedish Hockey League has signed the 31-year-old defenseman to a one-year deal. LaDue is coming off a two-year, two-way deal with the Islanders that was spent entirely on assignment to AHL Bridgeport. The North Dakota native was once a solid puck-mover at the AHL level during his days in the Los Angeles system, but his offense dried up with the Isles, going without a goal and registering only 16 assists combined over 93 games the past two years. LaDue last suited up in the NHL with the Islanders in 2021-22, his lone appearance in a New York sweater. The other 69 of his 70 career NHL games came in L.A., where he scored five times and added 13 assists for 18 points in parts of four seasons.
- Center/left winger Adam Brooks is heading to Germany on a one-year deal with EHC Munich of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Brooks, 28, heads to Europe for the first time after spending the first seven years of his professional career in North America, primarily in the AHL. Like Ladue, he hasn’t seen NHL ice since 2021-22, instead suiting up for the past two seasons with AHL Lehigh Valley while under contract with the Flyers. Brooks posted 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 43 NHL games for the Canadiens, Golden Knights, Jets and Maple Leafs from 2019-20 to 2021-22.
- Still in the DEL, Eisbären Berlin has inked right-shot defender Mitch Reinke to a one-year contract. Injuries limited Reinke to just 25 games with AHL Coachella Valley last season after he signed a two-way deal with the Kraken late in the offseason. The 28-year-old has just one NHL game to his name, coming with the Blues back in 2017-18 after they signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan Tech. Since then, the entirety of his pro career has been spent in the AHL, although he did also make one playoff appearance for the Blues in 2021 after spending a good chunk of the COVID-shortened season on the taxi squad. Reinke is a good puck-mover and strong skater and, if healthy, should be able to rehab his value in Germany and potentially earn another NHL contract next summer.
Sharks Re-Sign Brandon Coe To Two-Way Deal
The Sharks have re-signed right winger Brandon Coe to a one-year, two-way deal, according to a team release. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Coe, 22, was a fourth-round pick of San Jose in 2020 and was an RFA after completing his entry-level contract. He’s yet to make his NHL debut.
The 6’4″ winger had a quite unusual development path. Selected out of the OHL’s North Bay Battalion, he didn’t have a place to play in his post-draft season after the league paused operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That led to Coe making his professional debut ahead of schedule, recording five points in 17 games for AHL San Jose on a tryout as a teenager in the 2020-21 campaign.
Coe returned to North Bay for his final season of junior hockey the following year, exploding for 101 points in 62 games and earning a spot on the OHL’s First All-Star Team. He’s since served in a depth role for AHL San Jose since returning to the professional ranks in 2022, now totaling 18 goals and 38 points in 130 career games for the Baby Sharks. He set career highs with 12 goals and 17 points in 57 contests last season.
He isn’t close to seeing NHL ice, but he has shown slow yet steady development. It’s worth noting Coe hasn’t had a ton of help – San Jose’s farm team has finished at or below .500 in all three seasons he’s been there. He’ll look to take a step forward next year and ideally put himself in contention for a late-season call-up before becoming an RFA again next summer.
Brett Sutter Announces Retirement
After playing in parts of seven NHL seasons, Brett Sutter has officially retired. The forward made the announcement via a statement from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, whom he’d captained since 2022-23. He said he’d be staying with the Flames’ affiliate as an assistant coach.
“Following 17 seasons as a player, I’m very proud and excited to leave the game and have the opportunity to step directly into this role with the Flames organization,” Sutter said. “Saying goodbye to playing isn’t easy, the game has treated my family and I so well for so long but the opportunity to stay within the organization that my family loves, makes this transition easier. I’m grateful to the Flames for the opportunity.”
Calgary selected Sutter in the sixth round of the 2005 draft, during which his father, Darryl Sutter, was both the Flames’ general manager and head coach. He made his NHL debut in the 2008-09 campaign and played 18 games in a Flames uniform before being traded to the Hurricanes in November 2010. That kicked off a run of three and half seasons in Carolina that saw the minor-league fixture see the most NHL time of his career, scoring once and adding four assists in 36 games before reaching free agency in 2014. He landed with the Wild, and his six games in Minnesota during the following campaign ended up being the last of his career.
But Sutter was still in the early stages of one of the lengthier careers the AHL has ever seen. After being traded to the Kings in 2015-16, Sutter signed a series of minor-league contracts to stay on with their affiliate, the Ontario Reign. He stayed for parts of seven seasons before landing back where his professional career began in Calgary in 2022. He was the Reign’s captain from 2017-18 until his departure.
Sutter retires with 1,090 AHL games played under his belt in parts of 17 seasons, fourth-most in league history. He was never a truly premier offensive talent at that level, as his 463 career points don’t even rank in the top 100 among AHLers. But his run of captaining three different clubs, including serving as one for seven straight to end his career despite last being under NHL contract eight years ago, is telling of his impact. He was awarded the Fred T. Hunt Award for the player “who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey” while with Ontario in 2018-19.
Now nearly 20 years after he was drafted, Sutter will again attempt to work his way up the ladder to NHL ice, this time as a coach. He’ll look to follow in the footsteps of his father, who spent parts of six seasons behind the Calgary bench as a head coach across two separate stints, leading them to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. Darryl spent another five years with the Flames solely in a GM capacity from 2006 to 2011. All of us at Pro Hockey Rumors congratulate Sutter all the best as he embarks on his coaching career.
2024 NHL Draft Signing Tracker
Just a few weeks out from the 2024 NHL Draft, plenty of picks have already signed their entry-level contracts, paving the way for them to make their North American professional debuts at some point over the next few seasons. Below, you can find which prospects have inked their rookie deals, with our full write-ups linked with the date they signed. For those who haven’t signed, we’ve listed the date on which their exclusive signing rights will expire if not inked to an ELC.
This post can be found anytime under the Flame menu on our mobile site and the “Pro Hockey Rumors Features” sidebar on desktop.
Last updated 8/6/24, 1:19 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks
1-3: RW Beckett Sennecke / Oshawa Generals (OHL) – SIGNED (July 5, 2024)
1-23: D Stian Solberg / Vålerenga (Norway) – SIGNED (July 5, 2024)
2-35: C Lucas Pettersson / MoDo Hockey J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
3-66: RW Maxim Massé / Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-68: C Ethan Procyszyn / North Bay Battalion (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-79: D Tarin Smith / Everett Silvertips (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-100: C Alexandre Blais / Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-182: RW Austin Burnevik / Madison Capitols (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
7-214: D Darels Uļjanskis / AIK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Boston Bruins
1-25: C Dean Letourneau / St. Andrew’s College (U18 AAA) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
4-110: D Elliott Groenewold / Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
5-154: C Jonathan Morello / St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
6-186: D Loke Johansson / AIK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Buffalo Sabres
1-14: C Konsta Helenius / Jukurit (Liiga) – SIGNED (July 8, 2024)
2-42: D Adam Kleber / Lincoln Stars (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
3-71: RW Brodie Ziemer / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
4-108: D Luke Osburn / Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2030
4-123: D Simon-Pier Brunet / Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-172: D Patrick Geary / Michigan State (NCAA) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2027
7-204: RW Vasily Zelenov / RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
7-219: G Ryerson Leenders / Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
Calgary Flames
1-9: D Zayne Parekh / Saginaw Spirit (OHL) – SIGNED (July 5, 2024)
1-28: RW Matvei Gridin / Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – SIGNED (July 5, 2024)
2-41: LW Andrew Basha / Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
2-62: RW Jacob Battaglia / Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-74: D Henry Mews / Ottawa 67’s (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-84: G Kirill Zarubin / AKM Tula (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
4-106: RW Trevor Hoskin / Cobourg Cougars (OJHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
5-150: C Luke Misa / Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-170: C Hunter Laing / Prince George Cougars (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-177: D Eric Jamieson / Everett Silvertips (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes
2-34: D Dominik Badinka / Malmö Redhawks (SHL) – SIGNED (July 14, 2024)
2-50: LW Nikita Artamonov / Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
3-69: D Noel Fransén / Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
4-124: D Alexander Siryatsky / Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
5-133: LW Oskar Vuollet / Skellefteå AIK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-156: RW Justin Poirier / Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-168: D Timur Kol / Omskie Krylia (VHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
6-184: D Roman Shokhrin / Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
6-188: LW Fyodor Avramov / Kapitan Stupino (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
7-220: LW Andrei Krutov / Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
Chicago Blackhawks
1-2: D Artyom Levshunov / Michigan State (NCAA) – SIGNED (July 6, 2024)
1-18: C Sacha Boisvert / Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
1-27: LW Marek Vanacker / Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) – SIGNED (Aug. 5, 2024)
3-67: C John Mustard / Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
3-72: RW AJ Spellacy / Windsor Spitfires (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-92: RW Jack Pridham / West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
5-138: C Joel Svensson / Växjö Lakers HC J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-163: D Ty Henry / Erie Otters (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
Colorado Avalanche
2-38: G Ilya Nabokov / Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
3-76: LW William Zellers / Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep (USHS-Prep) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
4-121: C Jake Fisher / Fargo Force (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
5-132: G Louka Cloutier / Chicago Steel (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
5-137: G Ivan Yunin / Yastreby Omsk U18 (Russia U18) – signing rights held indefinitely
5-161: C Maxmilian Curran / Tri-City Americans (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-185: D Tory Pitner / Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
7-215: C Christian Humphreys / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
7-217: C Nikita Prishchepov / Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets
1-4: C Cayden Lindstrom / Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
2-36: D Charlie Elick / Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
2-60: G Evan Gardner / Saskatoon Blades (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-86: D Luca Marrelli / Oshawa Generals (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-101: D Tanner Henricks / Lincoln Stars (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
6-165: D Luke Ashton / Langley Rivermen (BCHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
Dallas Stars
1-29: RW Emil Hemming / TPS (Liiga) – SIGNED (July 15, 2024)
5-158: D Niilopekka Muhonen / KalPa U20 (U20 SM-sarja) – must sign by June 1, 2028
7-222: C William Samuelsson / Södertälje SK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Detroit Red Wings
1-15: RW Michael Brandsegg-Nygård / Mora IK (HockeyAllsvenskan) – SIGNED (July 11, 2024)
2-47: LW Max Plante / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
3-80: C Ondřej Becher / Prince George Cougars (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-126: G Landon Miller / Soo Greyhounds (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-144: D John Whipple / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
6-176: LW Charlie Forslund / Falu IF J18 (J18 Region) – must sign by June 1, 2028
7-203: LW Austin Baker / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
7-208: D Fisher Scott / Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
Edmonton Oilers
1-32: RW Sam O’Reilly / London Knights (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
2-64: G Eemil Vinni / JoKP (Mestis) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-160: LW Connor Clattenburg / Flint Firebirds (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-183: D Albin Sundin / Frölunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-192: C Dalyn Wakely / North Bay Battalion (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-196: C William Nicholl / London Knights (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-218: D Bauer Berry / Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
Florida Panthers
2-58: C Linus Eriksson / Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) – must sign by June 1, 2028
3-97: D Matvei Shuravin / Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
4-129: C Simon Zether / Rögle BK (SHL) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-169: C Stepan Gorbunov / Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
6-193: LW Hunter St. Martin / Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-201: G Denis Gabdrakhmanov / Tyumenski Legion (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
Los Angeles Kings
1-26: RW Liam Greentree / Windsor Spitfires (OHL) – SIGNED (July 20, 2024)
2-57: G Carter George / Owen Sound Attack (OHL) – SIGNED (July 25, 2024)
6-164: D Jared Woolley / London Knights (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-198: RW James Reeder / Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
Minnesota Wild
1-12: D Zeev Buium / University of Denver (NCAA) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2027
2-45: RW Ryder Ritchie / Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-122: D Aron Kiviharju / HIFK (Liiga) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-140: D Sebastian Soini / KOOVEE (Mestis) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-142: G Chase Wutzke / Red Deer Rebels (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-174: D Stevie Leskovar / Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
Montreal Canadiens
1-5: RW Ivan Demidov / SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
1-21: C Michael Hage / Chicago Steel (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
3-70: C Aatos Koivu / TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja) – must sign by June 1, 2028
3-78: C Logan Sawyer / Brooks Bandits (BCHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
4-102: D Owen Protz / Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-130: RW Tyler Thorpe / Vancouver Giants (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-134: G Mikus Vecvanags / Tukums (Latvia2) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-166: C Ben Merrill / St. Sebastian’s School (USHS-Prep) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
7-210: RW Makar Khanin / Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
7-224: D Rasmus Bergqvist / Skellefteå AIK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Nashville Predators
1-22: C Yegor Surin / Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
2-55: C Teddy Stiga / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
3-77: D Viggo Gustafsson / HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
3-87: RW Miguel Marques / Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-94: RW Hiroki Gojsic / Kelowna Rockets (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-99: G Jakub Milota / Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-127: LW Viktor Nörringer / Frölunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
7-213: C Erik Påhlsson / Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
New Jersey Devils
1-10: D Anton Silayev / Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
2-49: G Mikhail Yegorov / Omaha Lancers (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
3-85: RW Kasper Pikkarainen / TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja) – must sign by June 1, 2028
3-91: RW Herman Träff / HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-139: C Max Graham / Kelowna Rockets (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-146: G Veeti Louhivaara / JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-171: C Matyáš Melovský / Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
New York Islanders
1-20: LW Cole Eiserman / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
2-54: D Jesse Pulkkinen / JYP (Liiga) – SIGNED (July 15, 2024)
2-61: C Kamil Bednarik / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
4-115: G Dmitry Gamzin / Zvezda Moskva (VHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
5-147: G Marcus Gidlöf / Leksands IF J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-179: D Xavier Veilleux / Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
New York Rangers
1-30: D EJ Emery / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
4-119: C Raoul Boilard / Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-159: LW Nathan Aspinall / Flint Firebirds (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-191: LW Rico Gredig / HC Davos (NL) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Ottawa Senators
1-7: D Carter Yakemchuk / Calgary Hitmen (WHL) – SIGNED (Aug. 6, 2024)
2-39: D Gabriel Eliasson / HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
4-104: LW Lucas Ellinas / Kitchener Rangers (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-112: LW Javon Moore / Minnetonka High (USHS-MN) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
4-117: LW Blake Montgomery / Lincoln Stars (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
5-136: D Eerik Wallenius / HPK U18 (U18 SM-sarja) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Philadelphia Flyers
1-13: C Jett Luchanko / Guelph Storm (OHL) – SIGNED (July 8, 2024)
2-51: C Jack Berglund / Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
2-59: D Spencer Gill / Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-107: C Heikki Ruohonen / Kiekko-Espoo U20 (U20 SM-sarja) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-148: RW Noah Powell / Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
6-173: RW Ilya Pautov / Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
7-205: D Austin Moline / Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 Prep (USHS-Prep) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
Pittsburgh Penguins
2-44: D Harrison Brunicke / Kamloops Blazers (WHL) – SIGNED (July 18, 2024)
2-46: LW Tanner Howe / Regina Pats (WHL) – SIGNED (July 10, 2024)
4-111: D Chase Pietila / Michigan Tech (NCAA) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2027
6-175: D Joona Väisänen / Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-207: C Mac Swanson / Fargo Force (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
7-223: D Finn Harding / Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
San Jose Sharks
1-1: C Macklin Celebrini / Boston University (NCAA) – SIGNED (July 6, 2024)
1-11: D Sam Dickinson / London Knights (OHL) – SIGNED (July 10, 2024)
2-33: LW Igor Chernyshov / Dynamo Moskva (KHL) – SIGNED (Aug. 1, 2024)
2-53: D Leo Sahlin Wallenius / Växjö Lakers HC J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
3-82: RW Carson Wetsch / Calgary Hitmen (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-116: G Christian Kirsch / Zug U20 (U20-Elit) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-131: D Colton Roberts / Vancouver Giants (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-143: D Nate Misskey / Victoria Royals (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-194: G Yaroslav Korostelyov / SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
Seattle Kraken
1-8: C Berkly Catton / Spokane Chiefs (WHL) – SIGNED (July 5, 2024)
2-40: C Julius Miettinen / Everett Silvertips (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
2-63: C Nathan Villeneuve / Sudbury Wolves (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-73: D Alexis Bernier / Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-88: G Kim Saarinen / HPK U20 (U20 SM-sarja) – SIGNED (July 14, 2024)
4-105: C Ollie Josephson / Red Deer Rebels (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-141: LW Clarke Caswell / Swift Current Broncos (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-202: D Jakub Fibigr / Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
St. Louis Blues
1-16: D Adam Jiříček / HC Plzeň (Czechia) – SIGNED (July 2, 2024)
2-48: D Colin Ralph / Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep (USHS-Prep) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
2-56: D Lukas Fischer / Sarnia Sting (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-81: LW Ondrej Kos / KOOVEE (Mestis) – must sign by June 1, 2028
3-95: C Adam Jecho / Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-113: C Tomas Mrsic / Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-145: D William McIsaac / Spokane Chiefs (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-209: C Antoine Dorion / Québec Remparts (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-211: C Matvei Korotky / SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
Tampa Bay Lightning
4-118: D Jan Goličič / Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-128: RW Hagen Burrows / Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
5-149: C Joona Saarelainen / KalPa U20 (U20 SM-sarja) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-181: C Kaden Pitre / Flint Firebirds (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-195: LW Joe Connor / Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
7-199: LW Noah Steen / Mora IK (HockeyAllsvenskan) – must sign by June 1, 2028
7-206: G Harrison Meneghin / Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs
1-31: D Ben Danford / Oshawa Generals (OHL) – SIGNED (Aug. 2, 2024)
4-120: D Victor Johansson / Leksands IF J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-151: C Miroslav Holinka / HC Oceláři Třinec U20 (Czechia U20) – must sign by June 1, 2028
5-152: LW Alexander Plesovskikh / Mamonty Yugry (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
5-157: G Timofei Obvintsev / Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
7-200: D Matthew Leahy / Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
7-216: LW Sam McCue / Owen Sound Attack (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-225: D Nathan Mayes / Spokane Chiefs (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
Utah Hockey Club
1-6: C Tij Iginla / Kelowna Rockets (WHL) – SIGNED (July 11, 2024)
1-24: C Cole Beaudoin / Barrie Colts (OHL) – SIGNED (July 22, 2024)
2-65: D Will Skahan / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
3-89: D Tomas Lavoie / Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
3-96: D Veeti Väisänen / KooKoo (Liiga) – must sign by June 1, 2028
4-98: D Gregor Biber / Rögle BK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
4-103: C Gabe Smith / Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-135: C Owen Allard / Soo Greyhounds (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-153: D Aleš Čech / BK Mladá Boleslav (Czechia) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-167: C Vojtěch Hradec / BK Mladá Boleslav (Czechia) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-190: D Ludvig Lafton / Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Vancouver Canucks
3-93: RW Melvin Fernström / Örebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
4-125: C Riley Patterson / Barrie Colts (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-162: RW Anthony Romani / North Bay Battalion (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
6-189: D Parker Alcos / Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-221: D Basile Sansonnens / Gottéron U20 (U20-Elit) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Vegas Golden Knights
1-19: LW Trevor Connelly / Tri-City Storm (USHL) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
3-83: G Pavel Moysevich / SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL) – signing rights held indefinitely
6-180: LW Trent Swick / Kitchener Rangers (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
7-197: C Lucas Van Vliet / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
Washington Capitals
1-17: RW Terik Parascak / Prince George Cougars (WHL) – SIGNED (July 5, 2024)
2-43: D Cole Hutson / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2028
2-52: D Leon Muggli / EV Zug (NL) – SIGNED (July 10, 2024)
3-75: LW Ilya Protas / Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) – SIGNED (July 6, 2024)
3-90: LW Ēriks Mateiko / Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
4-114: G Nicholas Kempf / U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP) – must sign by Aug. 15, 2029
6-178: C Petr Sikora / HC Oceláři Třinec U20 (Czechia U20) – must sign by June 1, 2028
7-212: C Miroslav Šatan / HC Slovan Bratislava U20 (Slovakia U20) – must sign by June 1, 2028
Winnipeg Jets
2-37: D Alfons Freij / Växjö Lakers HC J20 (J20 Nationell) – must sign by June 1, 2028
4-109: LW Kevin He / Niagara IceDogs (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
5-155: C Markus Loponen / Kärpät U20 (U20 SM-sarja) – must sign by June 1, 2028
6-187: C Kieron Walton / Sudbury Wolves (OHL) – must sign by June 1, 2026
Oilers, Senators Swap Xavier Bourgault, Roby Jarventie
The Senators have already completed one transaction today, signing goaltender Mads Søgaard to a two-year deal, and they’ve now completed a second. They’ve sent left winger Roby Jarventie and their 2025 fourth-round pick to the Oilers in exchange for forward prospects Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson, per announcements from both teams.
“This trade provides us with additional competition and depth at forward,” Senators general manager Steve Staios said in a press release. “Both Xavier and Jake are trending in the right direction with their respective development. With the potential for greater playing opportunity next season, they should both benefit considerably.”
Bourgault, 21, is the big fish in this trade. He was the Oilers’ first-round pick in 2021, taken 22nd overall, a pick acquired from the Wild in a pick swap on draft day that resulted in Minnesota selecting top goaltending prospect Jesper Wallstedt at 20. Unfortunately, Bourgault hasn’t progressed as hoped and is yet to make his NHL debut.
After wrapping up his junior career with the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes, Bourgault signed his entry-level contract in March 2022 and turned pro the subsequent season. He did okay in his first season on assignment to AHL Bakersfield, finishing 2022-23 with a solid 13 goals, 21 assists and 34 points in 62 games and finishing fourth on the team in scoring. But this past season was unkind to the Quebec native, whose offense was limited to only eight goals and 20 points in 55 games with Bakersfield. He was also held without a point in two playoff games.
Edmonton recently rejuvenated their forward prospect pool in a big way, acquiring 2022 ninth-overall pick Matthew Savoie in a trade with the Sabres earlier this month. That made Bourgault somewhat expendable for a team in the middle of a championship contention window, especially one with their forward corps set for the immediate future.
But with Ottawa, Bourgault should have a much clearer path to his NHL debut. He can play center and right-wing, both of which are positions of need for the Sens – at least in depth roles. He joins a group that includes veterans Noah Gregor and Zack MacEwen as well as up-and-comers Jan Jeník and Zack Ostapchuk that will be competing for roster spots out of camp.
The Sens also added Chiasson in this deal, but he’s far off from seeing NHL ice. The 21-year-old was selected three rounds after Bourgault in 2021 but stayed in juniors for his overage season, meaning he didn’t turn pro until last year. After signing his ELC with Edmonton, Chiasson played just one game with AHL Bakersfield and was instead sent to ECHL Fort Wayne for most of the campaign, where he had nine goals and 20 points in 68 games with a -12 rating.
In exchange for parting ways with a pair of prospects, the Oilers recoup Jarventie, a player that the team’s Bob Stauffer reports they’ve liked for quite some time. Selected 33rd overall by Ottawa in 2020, the 6’2″, 214-lb Finnish winger made his NHL debut last season, recording an assist and a -5 rating in seven games while averaging a paltry 7:31 per night. The 21-year-old has one season remaining on his entry-level contract, which will presumably be spent with Bakersfield.
While he doesn’t have Bourgault’s billing as a first-round pick, Jarventie does have a much better recent track record in the minors. Injuries and roster moves limited him to 22 games with AHL Belleville last season, but he clicked at nearly a point per game with nine goals and 11 assists in 22 contests. He has 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 136 career games with Belleville since arriving in North America in 2021.
Rangers, Matthew Robertson Agree To Two-Way Deal
The Rangers have come to terms on a new one-year deal for RFA defender Matthew Robertson, the team announced Monday. It’s a two-way deal, per Mollie Walker of the New York Post.
Robertson, 23, was coming off the final season of his entry-level contract. He’ll stick around in the Big Apple for at least another season while he tries to get what was once a promising development path back on track.
The 2019 second-round pick carries appealing size at 6’4″ and 201 lbs, but the left-shot defender hasn’t yet been able to work his way up to making his NHL debut. He received a handful of call-ups last season as injury insurance but didn’t get into any game action. He’s displayed solid puck-moving ability while on assignment to AHL Hartford, totaling 55 points over 190 games during his three professional campaigns. But like most of his teammates over the past few years, he hasn’t had a standout impact defensively, posting a cumulative -25 rating and never logging anything better than a -7.
With Erik Gustafsson out of the picture from last season’s defense group, there’s a little bit of increased opportunity for depth defenders in the Rangers organization. Robertson will hope to take advantage of that, but he’ll need to jockey for positioning with some more experienced names slated for minor-league action to start the year, such as Connor Mackey and UFA addition Casey Fitzgerald.
Robertson will be an RFA again next summer upon expiry.
Senators Sign Mads Søgaard To Two-Year Deal
The Senators have agreed with RFA goalie Mads Søgaard on a two-year contract, per a team announcement. It’s a two-way deal in 2024-25 before upgrading to a one-way in 2025-26. It comes in with a $775K cap hit and will pay him $225K in the AHL next season.
Søgaard, 23, made his NHL debut with Ottawa in 2021-22 and has served primarily as their third-string netminder since. The 2019 second-round pick brings his gargantuan 6’7″ frame to the crease, yielding some rather strong numbers on the farm with AHL Belleville last season. He posted a .916 SV% and 2.45 GAA with an 18-9-3 record in 32 appearances, all setting or hovering around career highs.
But while the Dane has shown solid development at the minor league level, he’s yet to succeed with any consistency in his NHL time. Over 24 starts and three relief appearances over the past three seasons, he’s struggled with a .884 SV% and 3.44 GAA, although he’s managed to help keep the Sens in float in front of him nonetheless with a 10-10-3 record. His advanced metrics aren’t pretty, though, as he’s conceded 15.2 goals above the average netminder during his limited run in the Ottawa crease, per Hockey Reference. He particularly struggled in his call-up action this season, limping to a .859 SV% and 4.05 GAA in six appearances with a 1-3-0 record. Søgaard allowed 10.3 goals above expected in just 282 minutes of action, per MoneyPuck, more than backup Anton Forsberg allowed over the course of 30 games.
Sens general manager Steve Staios called this season an “important stepping stone” for Søgaard in the team’s press release, and it’s easy to see why. He won’t start the season on the NHL roster with Forsberg still under contract and Linus Ullmark set to be their new starter after being acquired from the Bruins last month. But he will remain their top call-up option from Belleville should injuries affect either of the two, and they’ll look for him to at least get closer to a league-average save percentage when given a chance.
Søgaard is still under team control for another four seasons. He’ll be an RFA once again when his deal expires in 2026.
AHL Signings: 7/12/24
With the major dust settled in NHL free agency, teams’ AHL affiliates are looking to fill out their roster to complement the many two-way additions made around the league so far this summer. Expect many minor-league-only contracts signed as the month progresses. Here are today’s:
- The Springfield Thunderbirds announced they’ve signed veteran defenseman Scott Harrington to a one-year contract. Harrington, 31, has 255 games of NHL experience and last suited up in 2022-23 for the Ducks and Sharks. He spent last season in Switzerland with the ZSC Lions of the National League, where injuries limited him to four assists, 2 PIMs and a +4 rating in 14 games. He’ll look to get back on track in North America and will take part in his eighth AHL season, now with the Blues’ affiliate. In addition to Anaheim and San Jose, Harrington has also spent time in the Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs and Penguins organizations.
- The Milwaukee Admirals have signed forward Kale Howarth to a one-year deal and center Kyle Marino to a two-year pact, per a team announcement. Neither brings NHL experience to the club, which serves as the Predators’ primary affiliate. Howarth, 27, was a 2017 fifth-round pick of the Blue Jackets but wasn’t signed to an entry-level contract upon finishing up his collegiate career at UConn in 2021. He’s spent the last three seasons in the Blackhawks organization on AHL contracts, splitting his time between the Rockford IceHogs and their ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel. Injuries cost him a solid chunk of last season, limiting him to 20 total games. He had six points in 50 games with the IceHogs since turning pro. Marino, 29, will fill out an enforcer role and can play defense if necessary as well. The 6’3″, 220-lb aggressor spent last season with the Chicago Wolves, where he had four points and a career-high 114 PIMs in 65 games. Like Howarth, he’s entering his fourth AHL season.
- The Kings organization has added some goalie depth in the form of Dryden McKay, who inked a one-year contract with the Ontario Reign today. The 26-year-old has spent most of the last two seasons with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers, the second-tier affiliate of the Maple Leafs, which ceased operations shortly before the end of the 2023-24 campaign. McKay, who was an intriguing addition to the Toronto pipeline after winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey with Minnesota State in 2021-22, has been unimpressive. He posted a .899 SV% and 3.18 GAA with a 27-20-5 record for Newfoundland the past two years. He has two AHL games to his name, both in 2022-23, recording a .885 SV% and 3.38 GAA for the Toronto Marlies.
- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed defenseman Mats Lindgren to a one-year deal, the club announced. Lindgren, 20 in August, lands with the Pittsburgh organization after finishing his junior career with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. The smooth-skating left-shot defender was drafted 106th overall in 2022 by the Sabres but wasn’t offered an ELC before the June 1 deadline, thus becoming a UFA. He’ll try to work his way up toward earning an NHL deal with Pittsburgh after recording 41 points and a -4 rating in 63 games for Red Deer last season.
Rangers Re-Sign Chad Ruhwedel To Two-Way Deal
The Rangers have signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a one-year contract, the team announced Friday. The right-shot blue liner lands a two-way deal with a $775K cap hit, reports Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today Sports. He’ll earn $400K in the minors with a $450K guarantee, PuckPedia adds.
Ruhwedel, 34, had a challenging season in 2023-24. He made 47 appearances for the Penguins, where he’s suited up since signing as a free agent in 2016, scoring once and adding three assists for four points. While he’s never been relied upon for offense, he’s normally had serviceable possession metrics in a fringe bottom-pairing role. That wasn’t the case last season, though, as his 48.0 CF% and 46.9 xGF% were his worst as a Penguin. With Pittsburgh out of the playoff race, the Rangers picked Ruhwedel up at the trade deadline for some added blue-line insurance in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. He played in just five regular season games down the stretch and didn’t see any playoff action for the Blueshirts, though.
But Ruhwedel does have a longer track record of serving as an above-average seventh defender, a form New York could be banking on him returning to. Since making his debut for the Sabres back in 2012-13, Ruhwedel has amassed 13 goals, 36 assists, 49 points and a -9 rating in 364 contests while averaging 15:08 per game. He’s historically managed average possession metrics and is a fine two-way talent to deploy in a third-pairing role, although he doesn’t have any upside on special teams.
The Rangers being able to bring Ruhwedel back on a two-way deal is a tad intriguing, considering he hasn’t seen AHL ice since a five-game stint in 2018-19. For now, he still projects to win a roster spot out of camp as an extra defenseman, although his path to regular minutes is disadvantageous with Adam Fox, Braden Schneider and Jacob Trouba ahead of him on their RD depth chart. He’d have a shot at competing with Zachary Jones for a steady third-pairing role if he were a lefty, but that isn’t the case. They have a vacancy there after Erik Gustafsson departed for the Red Wings in free agency.
With parts of 12 NHL seasons under his belt, Ruhwedel would be an attractive claim candidate if he hits waivers in the fall or during the season.
NL’s HC Lugano Signs Radim Zohorna
HC Lugano of the Swiss National League has signed forward Radim Zohorna to a one-year deal, per a team announcement.
Zohorna, 28, has been a fringe NHLer for the past four years, mostly with the Penguins. He made a combined 25 appearances for them in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, 10 appearances split between the Flames and Maple Leafs in 2022-23, and returned to Pittsburgh for a career-high 33 games played in 2023-24. He accumulated 18 points in that total 68-game sample. He reached UFA status last week after wrapping up his one-year, two-way deal with the Pens.
A few years ago, Zohorna was a relative unknown, spending all of his professional career in his native Czechia until the Pens took a swing on the 6’6″, 230-lb forward as an undrafted free agent signing in 2020. In the preceding season with the Extraliga’s BK Mladá Boleslav, Zohorna hit career highs with 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 46 games. After beginning his entry-level contract with Pittsburgh back on loan to Mladá Boleslav during COVID, he erupted for 22 points and a +19 rating in just 21 games before the 2020-21 NHL season began in January, at which point he joined AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Pens briefly lost Zohorna for the 2022-23 season after Calgary claimed him on waivers and later traded him to Toronto at the deadline, but he was brought back as a free agent last summer. His AHL results since coming to North America have been strong, posting 32 goals and 92 points in 132 games. But he was never able to convert that appealing blend of size and scoring ability into consistent NHL minutes, serving primarily as a fourth-line fixture during his various call-ups. He only averaged more than 10 minutes per game in a single season once.
He’ll now look for more opportunity in Switzerland, joining a Lugano forward core rife with former NHLers (Mark Arcobello, Daniel Carr, Jiří Sekáč, Calvin Thurkauf). To open up a roster spot for Zohorna, Lugano released undersized forward Arttu Ruotsalainen, who was disappointing with 14 points in 43 games last year. Ruotsalainen’s NHL rights are still held by the Sabres, who signed him as a UDFA in 2019, but he won’t be coming back to Buffalo – he already found a new home on a one-year deal with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League today.