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Philadelphia Flyers Sign Morgan Frost

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The Philadelphia Flyers have completed a little more restricted free agent work, signing Morgan Frost to a one-year, one-way contract worth $800K. Frost was not yet eligible for arbitration and had little leverage in negotiations.

This is something of a “show me” deal for the 23-year-old forward, who hasn’t been able to find much consistency at the NHL level to this point. In 77 career games, he has 23 points, though those have been spread over three seasons and haven’t been noticeable enough to really cement him as a true building block for the future.

In fact, some would argue that his development has been so scarred by constant bouncing between the AHL and NHL that Frost will never become the cerebral offensive dynamo that the Flyers hoped for when they made him the 27th overall pick in 2017. He did have 19 points in 24 games at the AHL level this season but even there his game was marred with inconsistency.

Still, having only turned 23 in May, there is still time to turn it around. If given the opportunity this season Frost might still be able to turn into a full-time contributor, and since Philadelphia’s big moves in free agency have been more geared toward bottom-six help, there could be an opening higher in the lineup. If he wants to be an impact player in the NHL this is the season to prove it.

Nashville Predators Sign Zach Sanford

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The Nashville Predators are going to give Zach Sanford another chance, signing him to a one-year, $850K contract for the 2022-23 season.

It’s been nine years now since Sanford was selected 61st overall by the Washington Capitals, and despite short periods of success, appears to be at something of a crossroads in his career. Though he stands 6’4″ and is willing to engage physically, Sanford has never seemed like an ideal fit in the bottom-six, with obvious offensive talent that should push him higher in the lineup.

Unfortunately, that talent only comes out in inconsistent spurts, leading to Sanford being tossed around the league the last 12 months. After filing for arbitration last summer he agreed to a one-year, $2MM deal with the St. Louis Blues, only to be traded a few months later to the Ottawa Senators. He lasted 62 games in Ottawa before another trade took him to the Winnipeg Jets, a move that made little sense at the time, as a playoff run looked like a dream.

The Jets used a fifth-round pick on Sanford in March, only to watch him leave as a free agent this summer, following a goal-less 18 games in Winnipeg. Overall this season he had nine goals and 21 points in 80 games.

In recent years, the Predators have been able to carve out “identity” roles for players with limited skillsets, finding a place for them to do what they do best and not ask for more. Whether they can do the same for Sanford remains to be seen but with an $850K deal he likely figures into the mix at some point.

If he leans into his size and strength, simplifying his game, he might become a bottom-six weapon. If not, he could be approaching his last chance as an NHL regular.

Florida Panthers Sign Evan Nause, Gerry Mahyew

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The Florida Panthers have signed prospect Evan Nause to his three-year entry-level contract, a year after he was selected 56th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. General manager Bill Zito released a short statement:

Evan is a talented young defenseman who has flourished in his two seasons in junior hockey. We’re pleased to have him in our system and are looking forward to watching him continue to develop.

Nause, 19, was a huge part of the Quebec Remparts success this season, scoring 46 points in 59 games while using his long reach to control the game from the back end. When Scott Wheeler of The Athletic detailed the Panthers’ prospect pool earlier this year, he put the QMJHL defenseman seventh, noting that the team had been asking a lot of him in his own end.

That development at the defensive end of the rink will be the key for Neuse, as he likely won’t play a huge offensive role if he makes it to the NHL, even if he is performing well in junior at that end. It does beg the question of whether the Panthers would actually prefer him to be in the AHL this season but since he is still just 19, he isn’t eligible for that.

Luckily, this also means that his entry-level deal won’t kick in this season (unless he somehow makes the Panthers roster out of camp), sliding forward and starting in 2023-24.

A few minutes later, the team also announced a contract for minor league forward Gerald Mayhew. The two sides have agreed on a one-year, two-way contract for the 29-year-old.

Mayhew is one of the most consistent goal-scorers in the minor leagues and actually has a history of scoring at the NHL level as well. In 57 career games he has 13 goals, including five in just 15 contests this season with the Anaheim Ducks. While he shouldn’t be considered an impact player at this point, his addition certainly gives the Panthers a bit of extra scoring punch among their depth options.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Lawrence Pilut

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July 15: Pilut has sign a one-year, $750K contract to return to the Sabres.

July 8: When Lawrence Pilut decided to leave the Buffalo Sabres and take his talents to the KHL in 2020, the team still extended him a qualifying offer to retain his exclusive rights. That appears to have paid off, as Pilut’s contract in the KHL has been terminated and the Sabres are now “very interested” in bringing him back to North America, according to Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News.

Pilut, 26, was an undrafted free agent signing in 2018, following his offensive explosion at the SHL level. In his first season with the Sabres organization, he split time between the Sabres and Rochester Americans, making a huge impact at the AHL level with 26 points in 30 games. While his numbers haven’t been quite as good when deployed in the NHL, the 46 games he experienced were sporadic and inconsistent.

Now, after two years in the KHL, the puck-moving defenseman could be a nice addition to give the Sabres some additional depth at the position. Notably, if the Sabres wanted to bring him in and use him in Rochester, he would now have to clear waivers. That would give other teams a chance to claim him if they believed he can contribute in the NHL.

Washington Capitals Sign Alexander Suzdalev, Ludwig Persson

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The Washington Capitals have inked another two prospects, signing Alexander Suzdalev and Ludwig Persson, their third-round picks from this year. The young forwards have each signed three-year entry-level contracts.

Suzdalev, 18, was the 70th overall pick, after lighting up the scoresheet in Sweden this season. Originally born in Russia, he is a product of the Swedish hockey system and even competes for that country internationally. This season, playing for the junior HV71 team, he scored 51 points in 45 games, and eventually found himself rising up draft boards. By the end of the year he was considered the 26th best international skater by NHL Central Scouting.

Persson, 18, was taken just 15 picks later at 85th overall out of the same league. While he got a handful of games with Frolunda’s SHL team, it was the organization’s junior program where he really excelled, scoring 61 points in 41 games. The winger is expected to play in the Swedish second tier next season for BIK Kalskoga.

Interestingly enough, Suzdalev was actually picked by the Regina Pats in the 2021 CHL Import Draft, meaning he could potentially come to North America to play next season, should the Capitals believe that’s best for his development. Either way, both players will not burn the first year of these deals if they play anywhere but the NHL.

Brad Hunt Signs With Colorado Avalanche

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11:55am: The team has officially announced the signing of Hunt.

9:55am: The Colorado Avalanche could be adding some veteran presence on the blueline, as Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV tweets that Brad Hunt will sign a two-year contract with them.

Hunt, 33, has probably played more in the NHL over the last several years than you remember, including 50 games with the Vancouver Canucks this season. The undersized puck-mover has shown himself to be a strong seventh option that can come into the lineup and contribute when necessary, though he won’t be logging big minutes when he does.

In his 241-game career, which includes stops with the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, and Canucks, Hunt is averaging just over 15 minutes a night and has 76 points. In Colorado, he will be behind such a deep group that even when he does get into the lineup, he might not see the ice that much.

Still, for a club looking to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, inexpensive experience is key in free agency. Hunt can replace someone like the outgoing Ryan Murray, who played 37 games during the regular season and then was not dressed in the playoffs.

Seattle Kraken Sign John Hayden

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Last night, PuckPedia reported that John Hayden had signed a one-year two-way contract with the Seattle Kraken, and today the team confirmed the deal. Hayden will earn $750K at the NHL level and $325K in the AHL.

Now 27, Hayden played this season with the Buffalo Sabres, racking up 84 penalty minutes in 55 games. The 6’3″ forward has morphed into something of an enforcer type, after finding it difficult to contribute much offense in the NHL. A star for Yale University, he has just 15 goals and 35 points in 240 NHL games.

Still, it’s not like he’s been toiling in the minor leagues during that time. Hayden has just 24 games played in the AHL, all of them coming during his 2017-18 rookie season. Since then, he has been bouncing around the league but staying in the NHL, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, and Sabres over the last four seasons.

In Seattle, it’s hard to see him landing a full-time role but he might be able to stick around as a 13th or 14th forward, moving in and out of the lineup when necessary. No longer waiver-exempt, he would have to clear to be assigned to the minor leagues.

St. Louis Blues Sign Martin Frk

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The hardest shot in the minor leagues is coming to St. Louis. Martin Frk has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Frk, 28, is one of the most feared goal-scorers in the AHL, with a shot that once registered at 109.2 mph during an AHL All-Star competition. While he can’t always control it, the Czech forward managed to find the back of the net 40 times in 58 games this season for the Ontario Reign, and even added two goals in six games for the Los Angeles Kings.

His game isn’t well-rounded, which has kept him from making more of an impact at the NHL level over the years but if the goal is to strengthen your minor league club, there aren’t many better options. He will likely get into a handful of games with the Blues but don’t expect a full-time NHL player on this deal.

Unless, of course, the team decided to implement a powerplay specialist, the way teams sometimes use players on the penalty kill. On the fourth line, Frk could play limited minutes until setting up his huge blast with the man-advantage, adding a lethal weapon to any powerplay unit.

New York Rangers Sign Adam Sykora

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The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with second-round pick, Adam Sykora, on a three-year, entry-level contract, getting him into the organization right away.

It’s a bright future for the 63rd overall pick, who is one of the youngest players in the entire draft class. Sykora won’t turn 18 until September 7, just a few days before the cutoff, and yet is already taking part in an NHL development camp–and impressing in the process.

Another member of the historic Slovakian draft class, Sykora had ten goals and 17 points in 46 games with Nitra MHC this season and compared himself to Brad Marchand at the draft, calling the Boston Bruins forward a “rat” and hoping to follow in that playstyle. There is absolutely no half-speed for Sykora, who is extremely hard-working and willing to battle for pucks all over the rink.

Notably, he was the first-overall pick at this year’s CHL Import Draft, suggesting that he’ll be playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers at some point. Whether that is this season or not will be up to the Rangers, as Sykora noted to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today at the draft. At the very least, Rangers fans will get to see him up close when he undoubtedly makes it into a World Junior tournament–he already suited for Slovakia at this year’s World Championship against NHL players.

Winnipeg Jets Sign Ashton Sautner

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The Winnipeg Jets have added another defenseman, this time signing Manitoba kid Ashton Sautner to a one-year, two-way contract. The Flin Flon native will have an NHL salary of $750K this season.

Sautner, 28,  has been in the Vancouver Canucks system for his entire career, though did play two games for the Manitoba Moose during the 2020-21 season. For the Jets, he’ll now provide some depth at the position but is very likely headed back to the minor leagues, given he hasn’t appeared in the NHL since 2019-20. In fact, Sautner has just 23 appearances at the NHL level overall, most of which came in the 2018-19 season.

Still, every team needs minor league depth and the undrafted defenseman provides solid play at that level. In 41 games for the Abbotsford Canucks this season he recorded 13 points, matching a career-high. Given how many options are already in the Jets system, even the prospect of a handful of games at the NHL level seems like a stretch for Sautner at this point.

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