Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Minor Transactions: 07/15/22

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With NHL free agency now underway, dozens of lower-level players are also trying to find work. Many of them will end up overseas or signing minor league deals. This is where we will keep track of notable signing around the world.

  • Ryan Stanton has inked a deal with Kolner Haie of the DEL for the upcoming season, after spending this season with the Rockford IceHogs. The 32-year-old defenseman has been playing professional hockey in North America for more than a decade, including two full seasons with the Vancouver Canucks.
  • John Quenneville, a first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2014, is staying overseas to play for Leksands IF of the SHL after appearing in 46 games for Zurich this year. The 26-year-old forward played just 42 games in the NHL over the years, last appearing with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019-20.
  • Anthony Louis, who put up 55 points in 64 games for the Texas Stars this season, has signed a deal with Barys Nur-Sultan for the upcoming season. The sixth-round pick has never played in the NHL.
  • Gage Quinney and Jake Bischoff have settled for minor league contracts with the Henderson Silver Knights, returning to the club they most recently played with. Bischoff, 27, actually missed the entire 2021-22 season with a lower-body injury and has played just seven games since the end of the 2019-20 season.
  • Michael Houser is back with the Rochester Americans on an AHL deal but if history is anything to go by, he’ll be signing an NHL contract at some point this season. Houser has signed mid-season contracts with the Buffalo Sabres in each of the last two years, when the team ran into goaltending injuries.
  • Mitch Reinke is heading back to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, signing a one-year AHL contract for the upcoming season. The 2-year-old had 27 points in 63 games for the team last season, his first in the Penguins organization.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Vegas Golden Knights Sign Several Players

at CDT | by 3 Comments

July 14: The team has officially announced Manninen’s signing, also announcing that he’ll be joined from the KHL by former Calgary Flames forward Spencer Foo. Both players signed one-year deals worth $750K.

July 13: The Vegas Golden Knights have officially announced a long list of depth signings, to go along with the Max Pacioretty trade and new contracts for Reilly Smith and Brett Howden. The team has also signed Jonas Rondbjerg to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $766,666, Sheldon Rempal to a two-year, two-way deal with an AAV of $762,500, Byron Froese to a two-year, two-way deal with an average annual value of $762,500, and Michael Hutchinson to a one-year, two-way contract with an AAV of $750K.

That’s not all, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the Golden Knights will sign KHL forward Sakari Manninen.

These deals are almost all ticketed for the Henderson Silver Knights, with Manninen and Rondbjerg as potential exceptions. The 30-year-old Manninen has spent the last four years playing in the KHL and recently won gold at both the Olympics and World Championship. In 38 games with Ufa Salavat Yulayev, he scored 19 goals and 32 games. Standing just 5’7″, it’s hard to see him making a huge impact at the NHL level, though perhaps his game will translate well even at his size.

Rondbjerg, on the other hand, stands 6’2″ and managed to get into 30 games for the Golden Knights this season, scoring his first six NHL points. The 2017 third-round pick was excellent in the minor leagues as well and at 23, stands a good chance at being part of the future in Vegas.

New Jersey Devils Sign Ondrej Palat

at CDT | by 15 Comments

3:43 pm: Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald has made the contract official, locking Palat in for five seasons at a cap hit of $6MM.

6:22 am: Late last night, once most of the league had gone to sleep, the New Jersey Devils were busy adding some Stanley Cup pedigree. Kevin Weekes of ESPN was first to report that Ondrej Palat would be signing a five-year deal with the Devils, and Chris Johnston of TSN added that it is expected to carry a cap hit of $6MM.

Palat, 31, has long been a swiss army knife for the Tampa Bay Lightning, able to move into any situation and excel. In 628 regular season games, all with the Lightning, he has 423 points. It has been the postseason where he shines the brightest, showing up at the biggest moments to score a game-winning goal, or deliver a game-saving shot block. This season, he had 21 points in 23 games as the Lightning tried to win their third consecutive championship.

In New Jersey, while he will still be asked to contribute at a high level, his addition will also give young players like Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier someone to lean on to find out “what it takes” to win in the NHL. As the Devils try to transition away from a rebuild and into a contention window, Palat should be able to help shepherd them along, filling in the gaps wherever necessary.

At a $6MM cap hit, a team like Tampa Bay would have had too much risk exposure, given their tight financial structure. In New Jersey, the team has plenty of space and should feel that same squeeze, though there will still likely be years at the end of the deal where he is not performing anywhere near a $6MM value. The focus is on his contributions in the short-term, and whether he can help the young Devils team reach the next level.

Simon Nemec Signs Entry-Level Contract

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The second-overall pick has inked his deal, as the New Jersey Devils announced a three-year entry-level contract with Simon Nemec. The contract comes with an average annual value of $950K. Per PuckPedia, Nemec’s three-year deal has the same structure every season, earning him the max entry-level salary of $855K, max signing bonus of $95K, and max Schedule A performance bonus of $1MM. It also includes a Schedule B performance bonus of $2.25MM and an AHL salary of $82.5K.

Nemec, 18, was the top defenseman in this year’s draft after an excellent season with Nitra in the Slovakian league, including a playoff where he put up 17 points in 19 games. A member of the bronze medal-winning Olympic team, alongside top pick Juraj Slafkovsky, and Slovakia’s World Championship entry, he already has experience playing against NHL talent.

In fact, it was at the Worlds where he showed off his elite skating ability and range, scoring six points in eight games to lead all Slovakian defenders. Future New Jersey teammate Tomas Tatar was also on that team serving as captain and would have gotten a good look at the young defenseman.

After the draft, Nemec told reporters that he is ready to play in North America right away, even if that means the AHL. That will be decided at training camp but getting his entry-level deal done was the first step toward an NHL future, whenever that actually happens.

Latest On Jeff Petry

at CDT | by 12 Comments

The Montreal Canadiens have made some serious changes to the roster this summer but some of the high-priced talent is still in town. Jeff Petry in particular is an odd fit for the rebuilding club, given his age (34) and struggles last season. With his public desire for a different fit closer to home, pressure has continued to build in Montreal for general manager Kent Hughes to find a trade.

Well, perceived pressure at least.

Hughes met with the media today and explained that while it is a priority he will not rush into a decision on Petry that weakens the Canadiens’ moving forward. He reiterated that if a trade is to be made, Montreal will not be retaining any of the money left on the veteran defenseman’s contract. Petry carries a $6.25MM cap hit for the next three seasons.

At the end of the day it’s about finding that trade that makes sense for the Montreal Canadiens. If we’re able to find it, we’ll do it. If not, Jeff will have to return to Montreal and play here. We love him as a player, I think he loves everything about Montreal other than the complications from a family perspective. 

The key here is that the Canadiens aren’t considering a Petry trade a salary dump and are maintaining that they will keep him through the end of his contract if necessary. While some of that is likely just a negotiating tactic, if the Canadiens are truly unwilling to retain any salary, Petry’s market will likely shrivel considerably.

It’s hard for any team to absorb a $6.25MM cap hit and even more difficult to do it for a defenseman who is signed through his 37th birthday. Petry’s offensive production fell last season to just 27 points in 68 games as he appeared disinterested (or perhaps just distracted) at times, and there is no sure bet that it will return if he goes elsewhere.

Still, for teams that miss out on other right-shot puck-movers in free agency and other trades, Petry remains an option that is available for the right price. Hughes was asked directly whether John Klingberg’s availability was holding things up, he replied “not necessarily.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

St. Louis Blues Sign Perunovich, Five Others

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The St. Louis Blues have announced six contracts, including a new one for restricted free agent Scott Perunovich. The 23-year-old defenseman has agreed to a one-year, one-way contract for next season.

The team has also signed Josh Leivo to a one-year, one-way contract, while Anthony Angello, Matthew Highmore, and Dylan McLaughlin are all coming aboard on one-year, two-way contracts. Nathan Walker has agreed to a one-year contract extension for 2023-24.

Perunovich will be earning just $750K according to Andy Strickland of Bally Sports Midwest, a number that leaves a lot of room for surplus value. The young defenseman has shown top-four NHL ability but hasn’t been able to stay healthy long enough to establish himself as a full-time option. Since signing in 2020, he has just 43 games of professional experience. Seven of those came this spring in the playoffs for St. Louis, where he recorded four points despite averaging fewer than 11 minutes a game. That’s the kind of offensive upside he brings, able to contribute even in a limited role.

With no arbitration rights, there wasn’t much leverage that Perunovich had at this point. The fact that he is still waiver-exempt also likely played into the negotiation, as his qualifying offer would have come with a higher salary ($874K) but would have been two-way, giving him much less if he ends up in the AHL. Agreeing to the one-way deal guarantees him the $750K and likely helps him stay in the NHL, as he’ll carry a lower cap hit for the Blues to navigate.

Leivo, meanwhile is coming in on a $750K contract according to John Matisz of theScore, after leading the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup this year. The 29-year-old forward had seemingly established himself as an NHL regular before 2021-22 but ended up in the AHL and made the most of it. With 29 points in 18 playoff games, Leivo was named playoff MVP and now has another chance to show he is too good for the minor leagues. In 214 NHL games, he has 38 goals and 77 points.

Walker actually played in 30 games for the Blues this season, easily the longest NHL stint of his career. He even had eight goals and 12 points during that time and dressed in four playoff games. While he won’t be making a huge impact, extending him now suggests he’s a valued part of the organization that the team doesn’t want to see hit free agency next summer.

Ottawa Senators Sign Antoine Bibeau, Jacob Larsson

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Ottawa Senators may not be done adding to the NHL roster but at least part of the front office is also focused on improving the organizational depth. The team has signed Antoine Bibeau and Jacob Larsson to one-year, two-way contacts that carry cap hits of $750K at the NHL level. Bibeau will earn $100K and Larsson will earn $300K while in the AHL.

Bibeau, 28, actually found himself way down in the ECHL for part of this season, after signing a one-year contract with the Seattle Kraken. Because the Kraken were sharing an AHL affiliate, there wasn’t always room for him with the Charlotte Checkers, despite playing well whenever there.

The veteran netminder has four games of NHL experience but is a strong AHL option with a long history of success at that level. Given the recent departures from the Ottawa crease, he’ll slide into the depth chart as a reliable call-up option that isn’t focused on developing any longer.

Larsson meanwhile comes to the Senators as an interesting defensive option, after failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Anaheim Ducks. The 25-year-old was selected 27th overall in 2015 and has 165 games of experience at the NHL level, including a full season as recently as 2020-21.

While Senators general manager Pierre Dorion may have bigger fish on his mind when targeting defensive upgrades, Larsson’s presence is certainly notable as they try to change the look of their group. Though he’s on a two-way deal, there’s a realistic scenario that sees him outplay some of the team’s other options in camp and earn his way onto the roster.

San Jose Sharks Sign Aaron Dell, C.J. Suess

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Along with announcing the reported contract for Andrew Agozzino, the San Jose Sharks have inked two more depth players today. Aaron Dell and C.J. Suess are both coming aboard on one-year contracts.

Dell will be the headliner here, given his history with the organization. The 33-year-old netminder spent four years in the NHL with the Sharks between 2016-2020, appearing in 107 games over that span. He never has been able to recapture the form he showed as a rookie (a 27-year-old rookie) that first year, when he posted a .931 save percentage in 20 games.

Over the last few seasons, Dell has bounced around and struggled not only at the NHL level but the AHL level as well, making this signing a bit of a head-scratcher. The Sharks already have five goaltenders under contract for this season plus Kaapo Kahkonen to sign, meaning there isn’t much room for Dell anywhere. Perhaps this points to the team moving one (or more) of their more veteran options out of town.

James Reimer and Adin Hill, the two goaltenders on one-way deals, are both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next summer and don’t appear to have long futures with the Sharks. With Dell’s addition, giving the organization another option for the minor league club, perhaps someone else is on his way out.

Anaheim Ducks Announce Five Contracts

at CDT | by 5 Comments

While Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano may take most of the headlines, the Anaheim Ducks have signed a number of other free agents for organizational depth. The team has announced contracts for Chase De Leo (two years, two-way), Glenn Gawdin (two years, one-way in 2023-24), Justin Kirkland (one year, two-way), Austin Strand (one year, two-way), and Colton White (two years, two-way).

Ducks fans will remember De Leo, who played several seasons in their minor league system and even appeared in three NHL games a few years ago. The 26-year-old forward stands just 5’9″ but is an excellent AHL scorer, who put up 56 points in 55 games for the Utica Comets this year.

Kirkland meanwhile broke out in the minors this year, scoring 25 goals to nearly double his career total. The 25-year-old was the 62nd overall pick in 2014 but never has made it to the NHL, instead spending his entire career with the Milwaukee Admirals and Stockton Heat to this point.

Strand, 25, played eight games with the Los Angeles Kings this year, lending his huge frame to the defensive end of the rink. The 6’3″ undrafted defenseman became a Group VI unrestricted free agent this summer because he has only played in 21 games so far but offers a potential injury replacement for the Ducks if needed.

White is the same, as he actually played in 27 games for the Devils this season but still didn’t reach the Group VI cutoff. A fourth-round pick in 2015, he has just 38 games to his name and is likely headed back to the minor leagues.

As we profiled yesterday, Gawdin is perhaps the most interesting of the bunch, given his strong play in the minor leagues, ability to play center, and partial one-way contract. The 25-year-old might get a look with the Ducks at some point in the bottom six, something he rarely was given in Calgary.

Dallas Stars Sign Riley Barber

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The Dallas Stars have added some more minor league depth, signing Riley Barber to a one-year, two-way contract.

Barber, 28, has been one of the most consistent offensive players in the AHL for years now, including this season when he had 28 goals and 53 points in 49 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. While that has only resulted in 16 appearances in the NHL (and zero points), he’ll be a huge help to the Texas Stars, where he can continue his outstanding minor league play.

There may be a handful of opportunities with Dallas but given how many other young players are in the pipeline, Barber’s addition is mostly about AHL success. Every team in the league now is committed to building a winning program in the minor leagues, seeing the impact it can have on the development of their young players. A veteran like Barber will help the program, even if he doesn’t move the needle very much for Dallas.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top