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Minor Transactions: 10/10/2025

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Although no NHL teams are set to play tonight, the wider hockey world isn’t without its fair share of games. Numerous junior hockey teams are set to play tonight, as well as NCAA hockey programs and clubs in European professional leagues. Even though the season is now fully underway almost everywhere in pro hockey, teams are still completing transactions and player movement remains as alive as ever. Here, we’ll rundown today’s player movement from around the hockey world:

  • After signing two PTO’s to start the season, 255-game NHL veteran Scott Harrington has found a full-time contract for the 2024-25 season. The 32-year-old defenseman signed a two-year AHL contract with the Belleville Senators, and as is customary for AHL contracts, the financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Harrington began this past preseason on a PTO with the Nashville Predators before he was released, and then signed a PTO in Belleville. Once a regular depth defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Harrington last played in the NHL in 2022-23, skating in 17 games for the Anaheim Ducks. He spent last season with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, scoring five points in 49 games. For the purposes of the AHL’s development rule, Harrington is considered a veteran player.
  • Former Buffalo Sabres forward Nicholas Baptiste has signed a contract with HK Dukla Trencin of the Slovak Extraliga. The 30-year-old is a former OHL star who has been on quite the pro hockey journey since leaving North America in 2021-22. Baptiste began with Liiga’s Ilves Tampere, scoring 35 points in 52 games en route for the league’s bronze medal. He spent the following year in Germany with the Cologne Sharks, before returning to Tampere to play with Tappara, where he would end up winning the Liiga title. Baptiste began last season in the KHL with Vityaz Moscow Region, but left to join the DEL’s Augsburg Panthers after scoring just three points in 11 games in Russia. Now he’ll continue his pro career in Slovakia, joining 277-game AHL veteran and fellow former CHL star Jordy Bellerive.
  • In what is the latest example of a player deciding to join an NCAA hockey program after already making his pro debut, New York Islanders draft pick Justin Gill has enrolled at Merrimack College and joined their ice hockey program. Gill is a 2023 fifth-rounder of the Islanders who signed an AHL contract last July. He spent 2024-25 in the Islanders’ minor-league system, scoring seven points in 35 games for the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders and 22 points in 23 games for the ECHL’s Worcester Railers. According to College Hockey Insider’s Mike McMahon, the NCAA cleared Gill’s eligibility to play this past week.
  • Seattle Kraken 2025 seventh-round pick Karl Annborn has been sent to HockeyAllsvenskan club Vasteras IK for a full-season loan. The 18-year-old right-shot blueliner is under contract with SHL side HV71, but split time this season between HV71’s senior team (where he received limited minutes in seven SHL games) and the club’s J20 Nationell squad. With this loan to Sweden’s second-tier league, Annborn will see a path to more consistent ice time against professional competition, and he skated in just over 14 minutes in his debut with Vasteras today. Although Annborn was a seventh-rounder at this year’s draft, he was ranked higher by some outlets, including 32nd among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting and 126th overall by EliteProspects.
  • Former Kamloops Blazers alternate captain Brodi Stewart began his professional career playing for four seasons in Austria, working his way up from the AlpsHL’s Steel Wings Linz to Linz’s most senior team, the ICEHL’s Black Wings. Now, he’s set to make his North American pro debut. Per the ECHL’s Transactions Wire, Stewart signed a standard player contract with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. The 5’11 forward wasn’t a big scorer in Linz, managing just 27 points across 105 ICEHL games. But Stewart did manage to help Linz make a run to Game 7 of the league’s semifinals, where they fell to EC-KAC.
  • The OHL’s Flint Firebirds announced the addition of Michigan native Darian Anderson, meaning the 18-year-old prospect will continue his junior hockey career in the OHL, rather than the USHL where he played in 2024-25. The 6’3 forward, who has made a verbal commitment to play college hockey at Clarkson University, played in 44 games for the USHL’s Lincoln Stars last season, scoring 16 points. Anderson was drafted by Flint in the fifth round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, and now that selection will pay dividends for the junior hockey franchise.
  • 23-year-old Frolunda HC forward Noah Hasa has signed a three-year contract extension to remain with his team for the foreseeable future. A product of Frolunda’s youth system, Hasa worked his way up their junior hockey ranks before ultimately serving as captain of their J20 Nationell team. He broke into Frolunda’s first team on a full-time basis in 2023-24, after spending one year on loan in HockeyAllsvenskan with Vasterviks IK. In his first two seasons in the SHL, Hasa scored 19 points in 95 games, though he is off to a faster start in 2025-26, scoring four points in 10 games.
  • Former Bemidji State University defenseman Ruslan Pedan has signed a one-year KHL contract to play 2025-26 with Admiral Vladivostok. The 30-year-old blueliner is set to play in his 300th career KHL game when he makes his debut for Admiral, and he spent the last two seasons playing for Vityaz Moscow Region. Pedan has bounced around Russia’s top pro league since leaving the NCAA at the end of the 2015-16 season, first splitting time between the KHL and second-tier VHL before breaking into the KHL on a full-time basis in 2020-21 with the since-rebranded Kunlun Red Star.

Poll: Which 2025 Draft Picks Will Make The NHL Out Of Camp?

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Over the course of NHL training camps, there are few more exciting things than watching which rookies break into the league out of camp. That’s especially true for players coming straight from the NHL Draft, who are often making the massive leap from junior leagues directly to competition on the world’s biggest stage at 18-years-old. As the end of this year’s camps approaches, it appears the 2025 class could offer up multiple stars capable of making that jump, and even sticking around for the full year.

The strongest bids for an NHL role sit, aptly, with the top two picks. Matthew Schaefer has seemed destined for an NHL role since he was drafted. He exudes confidence in both personality and performance, and has looked sharp from his first preseason game despite not playing a game since December 2024. Schaefer’s top-to-bottom playmaking and slick stickhandling has stayed effective against pro competition. Even with the growing pains of going from OHL injury to NHL minutes, it seems the Islanders would be foolish to not see what their star prospect can show when the season kicks off.

Michael Misa’s camp hasn’t burst in the same way as Schaefer’s – but his bright moments have surely looked as dominant. He has continued to show an impressive level of speed, deception, and highlight-reel goal-scoring. That could be enough to earn a spot on an already young and inexperienced Sharks roster – though Misa still looks a few steps back from NHL tempo and physicality. There could be merit to letting him work through those challenges next to other young, top-picks Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund. All three have found ways to make their offense work in the NHL, despite facing the same barrier that Misa is faced with now.

Fifth-overall pick Brady Martin could have the strongest chance for an NHL role behind the draft’s stars. He has fit right into an offense of heavy, smooth-moving forwards with the Nashville Predators – and even skated alongside Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg late in camp. That’s a strong spot to be with final cuts approaching, helped along by Martin being one of only three 2025 draftees with multiple preseason points. He has two in three games.

The other multi-point scorers are former Seattle Thunderbirds teammates Radim Mrtka (1 G, 1 A, 4 GP) and Braeden Cootes (2 G, 3 GP). Mrtka has flashed as a versatile puck-mover for the Buffalo Sabres. He looks like he’ll fit right in with the Sabres’ downhill style, but has also looked a bit too shaky in his moments away from the puck. He seems headed for a return to Seattle – while Cootes is making the Vancouver Canucks’ decision tough. He’s proven capable of holding his own against pros, with the smarts and the strength to keep making plays in the dangerous areas of the ice. He could be the jolt of effective depth that Vancouver’s been searching for, though that could be a lot to ask the 18-year-old centerman.

Benjamin Kindel has also been a standout, showing he has the skill to play above his size with the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s his ability to work around his experienced linemates that has helped Kindel shine. His snappy speed and smart paths around the offensive end have worked on a high-skilled Penguins offense, though Kindel has only one goal in five preseason appearances. Like many rookies, he faces an uphill battle in adjusting to NHL physicality, which could result in one more year in the WHL proving the best bet.

Each of the six draftees – all former CHL players – have done well to prove their case to stick in the NHL. At the least, it seems all five could be headed for a nine-game trial period before returning to their junior clubs. But with final cuts yet to come, it remains to be seen who will break camp with their new team.

Who do you think will make the NHL, and who needs another year of honing?

Mobile users click here to vote.

Islanders Return Kashawn Aitcheson To OHL Barrie

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As expected, the New York Islanders are returning one of their recent first-round picks to his respective junior program. According to a team announcement, the Islanders have returned defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson to the OHL’s Barrie Colts.

The Toronto, ON native was selected with the 17th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft, a draft pick New York acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in the Noah Dobson trade. Aitcheson skated in 64 games for OHL Barrie last season, scoring 26 goals and 59 points, with another six goals and 12 points in 16 postseason contests. He was the 9th-ranked North American skater entering the 2025 NHL Draft by NHL Central Scouting.

Before being returned to the Colts, Aitcheson skated in both preseason games for the Islanders up to this point. In the first game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Aitcheson went scoreless in 18:09 of action, while taking a minor penalty for holding in the second period and putting four shots on net. Unfortunately, due to a collision with Flyers defenseman Noah Juulsen, Aitcheson suffered a minor lower-body injury, although it was mild enough to return to game action last night.

In yesterday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, Aitcheson had a much quieter night on the scoresheet, skating in 17:48 of the contest while registering one takeaway and one giveaway. He’ll return to a Colts team that has already begun its 2025-26 season, securing a win against the Guelph Storm on Saturday.

Given that he’s a recent first-round selection by the Islanders’ new front office regime, they’ll keep a close eye on Aitcheson throughout the season. Assuming his development continues in a positive direction, it’s more than likely Aitcheson will represent Team Canada at the 2025-26 U20 World Junior Championships.

Canucks Sign Riley Patterson, Gabe Chiarot To Entry-Level Contracts

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The Vancouver Canucks have signed wingers Riley Patterson and Gabe Chiarot to their entry-level contracts. Patterson was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2024 NHL Draft, while Chiarot was drafted in the sixth-round of the 2025 Draft. Both players were loaned back to the OHL as part of Vancouver’s round of training camp cuts on Sunday. Patterson will head to the Niagara IceDogs, while Chiarot joins the Brampton Steelheads.

Patterson’s contract will carry a $923K cap hit at the NHL level, and pay an $85K salary in the AHL. It also features $85K in signing bonuses awarded annually, per PuckPedia. Chiarot’s deal will carry a $917K cap hit in the NHL and a $85K salary in the minors. He received a $75K signing bonus each season, also per PuckPedia.

Patterson spent the last two seasons filling a top-six role for the Barrie Colts. His play hit a peak in the 2023-24 season, when he notched 29 goals and 62 points in 68 games with Barrie. That was both Patterson’s first year of draft eligibility, and his first year in the OHL, after playing his age-17 season in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). His scoring dipped last to 25 goals and 59 points in 64 games with Barrie last season. Despite that, Patterson’s snappy playmaking and ability to quickly jump into fast-moving plays both shined clear all year long. He made noticeable improvements to his two-way game, and will now offer stout veteran presence to a Niagara lineup that’s turned over much of their forward group. Patterson could struggle to earn a top-line role alongside centers Ryerson Edgar, Alexander Hage, and Ryan Roobroeck – though the Canucks draftee will be sure to find hot impact among that level of talent.

Chiarot should have a clearer path to minutes for the Steelheads. He’s gradually risen through their ranks over the last two seasons, netting 10 points in 48 games at age-16 and 35 points in 66 games of his draft season last year. To boot, Chiarot became known for his snappy shot and the heft he uses to drive deep into the offensive end. Those attributes, complimented by a summer of NHL guidance, should pave a path to top-six minutes as Chiarot returns to the junior flight. The cousin of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot, Gabe will look to prove he can play above his com petition enough to jump to the minor-league ranks next season. He notably finished last season with 10 points and 34 shots in his final 14 games, a spark he’ll look to keep up as he returns.

Evening Notes: Evangelista, Canadiens Rookies, Cootes

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Negotiations between winger Luke Evangelista and the Nashville Predators have begun to stall per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, who reports that yearly salary is what’s created the wedge. Evangelista is one of the top unsigned restricted free agents after players like Connor Zary and Marco Rossi both found new deals. The 23-year-old Evangelista posted an impressive 10 goals and 32 points in 68 games last season. It was a suitable encore to the 16 goals and 39 points he posted in 80 games of the 2023-24 season.

A pair of successful scoring seasons would surely make the player’s camp confident in earning a hardy salary. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger recently signed a two-year, $4.5MM contract extension, while New Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer recently signed a three-year, $12MM contract. Those could be the boundaries for a short-term, bridge contract for Evangelista, who has certainly proved he can stick in Nashville’s top nine. Should contract talks continue to stall, the Predators could opt for a one-year, sub-$1MM contract and kick negotiations back to next summer.

Other notes from around the league:

  • The Montreal Canadiens have assigned a group of rookies back to their respective leagues after rookie camp came to a close. In turn, Montreal assigned defensemen Carlos Handel to the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, Andrew MacNiel to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, and Bryce Pickford to the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. Goaltenders Arseny Radkov and Mikus Vecvanags will return to Russia and Latvia, respectively. The team has also returned a handful of rookie camp invites. All of the moves come as expected, though it rings as exciting news for fans of Medicine Hat and Halifax, as their top defenders return for another season.
  • Top Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes was absent from the team’s final rookie camp scrimmage on Sunday, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic. Drance later added that Cootes was held out for precautionary reasons and will still attend training camp next week. That will keep the reigning 15th overall pick on track to take his first crack at breaking into the NHL. Cootes had a strong season with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds last year. He dominated the middle of the ice with quick plays all year long, working up to 63 points and 60 games in total. Cootes seems most likely set for a return to Seattle next season, though a strong training camp could earn him the chance at sticking in the pros for nine games.

Jussi Ahokas Drew Interest For NHL Coaching Roles

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OHL Kitchener head coach Jussi Ahokas has now generated interest from NHL clubs for assistant roles in each of the past two summers, he told Josh Brown of the Waterloo Region Record.

The 44-year-old Ahokas has been on the radar for quite some time now, and there’s a fair chance he becomes only the third full-time European head coach in league history at some point in the coming years. He’s already cemented himself as the first European bench boss in OHL history and is coming off a spectacular second season with the Kitchener Rangers in 2024-25. He helped the team along to a 47-15-6 record and a conference final loss despite his roster not having any uber-notable NHL prospects outside of defenseman Cameron Reid, who was a first-round selection by the Predators this year.

That got him named OHL Coach of the Year, and he was also named the honorary coach of the league’s First All-Star Team. It was the second time this decade he’s taken home such honors in a high-profile league. In his native Finland, he was named Liiga’s Coach of the Year with KooKoo in 2019-20 – his first year behind the bench of a professional club in any capacity.

Ahokas has also coached Finland’s national junior team to gold at the U18 World Juniors in 2016 and the U20 World Juniors in 2019.

One thing working against Ahokas in interviews as he tries to land an assistant gig in the NHL is his lack of experience in assistant roles. He’s only ever been a head coach in league play and has limited experience in assistant roles at international tournaments. He was an assistant for Finland’s women’s team at the World Championship from 2007 to 2009 and was their video coach at the 2010 Olympics, though.

It’s likely he’ll make a bigger push for an NHL bench job in 2027. His deal with Kitchener still has two years left on it. “My goal is to be here for those two years and win a Memorial Cup here,” Ahokas said, a goal that might be made easier if the Rangers are successful in their bid to host the tournament in 2027. They’re one of the finalists alongside the Guelph Storm, the CHL announced today.

Minor Transactions: 8/30/25

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With international and junior leagues starting to get their preseasons underway, there have been a lot of minor moves in recent days.  Here’s a rundown of those with some NHL ties.

  • Capitals prospect Miroslav Satan has changed teams as OHL Saginaw recently announced that they’ve signed him for the upcoming season. The 19-year-old forward was a seventh-round pick by Washington in 2024, going 204th overall but struggled considerably at the USHL level last season in his first taste of playing in North America.  In 45 games combined between Sioux Falls and Omaha, Satan managed just three goals and one assist while he also suited up in three games for the Slovaks at the World Juniors.  Washington has until June 1st, 2028, to sign him so there’s still lots of time for Satan to turn things around; he’ll hope a different league will help make that happen.
  • After spending the last decade in Tampa Bay’s organization (primarily in the minors), UFA winger/defenseman Daniel Walcott announced (Twitter link) that he will not be returning to Syracuse. The 31-year-old played in 494 games for the Crunch over 10 seasons while also getting into one game with the Lightning.  The AHL has a restriction on how many veterans a team can dress and that is likely playing a role in Walcott not returning for an 11th year with the team.
  • While the Sabres non-tendered forward Bennett MacArthur in June, he’ll technically remain affiliated with the organization as their ECHL affiliate in Jacksonville announced that they’ve signed him to a one-year deal. The 24-year-old split last season between the ECHL affiliates of Pittsburgh and Buffalo, notching 10 goals and 20 assists in 64 games.
  • Meanwhile, another non-tendered Sabres UFA this summer has also secured a place to play for the upcoming year as Dynamo Moscow of the KHL announced that winger Alexander Kisakov’s tryout was successful and that he has been given a one-year deal. The 22-year-old was a second-round pick in 2021 but struggled in the AHL, notching just 25 points in 93 games over the course of his three-year, entry-level contract.

Pacific Notes: McDavid, Patterson, Papirny

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As Canada’s Olympic orientation camp got underway today, plenty of the focus was on Connor McDavid’s contract situation with the Oilers, namely that an extension hasn’t been completed yet.  Speaking with reporters today including Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, the center indicated that he has every intention to win with Edmonton and that is his only focus.  However, when asked if he’d be okay opening the season without a deal, McDavid indicated that all options are on the table.

At this point, it doesn’t appear as if there have been any substantive conversations between the two sides.  TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports (Twitter link) that there hasn’t been a back-and-forth between the Oilers and McDavid’s camp regarding either salary or term.  Given that McDavid could plausibly sign a short-term or a long-term deal, it’s not a situation as simple as focusing on an eight-year deal and only worrying about the money.  He’ll carry a $12.5MM AAV for the upcoming season and is expected to beat that by several million per season whenever he puts pen to paper on a new deal.

Elsewhere in the Pacific:

  • A day after his trade request was made public, Canucks prospect Riley Patterson is on the move in the OHL. Niagara announced that they’ve acquired the center from Barrie in exchange for five draft picks.  The 19-year-old was a fourth-round pick in 2024 and has averaged just under a point per game in the past two seasons with the Colts, including a 25-goal, 59-point effort last season.  Vancouver has until June 1st to sign Patterson to an entry-level deal or lose his rights so there will be a lot riding on the upcoming season for him.
  • The Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate announced that they have brought back goaltender Jordan Papirny on a one-year minor-league deal. The 29-year-old has spent the last three seasons in their system but he hasn’t been able to secure an NHL deal.  Last season, Papirny played in 28 games with ECHL Tahoe, putting up a 2.50 GAA and a .920 SV% along with four shutouts while getting into a pair of games with AHL Henderson.

Prospect Notes: Behrens, Wassilyn, Bourque

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The Colorado Avalanche have received a bit of good news in the quietest days of summer. Defense prospect Sean Behrens shared that he’s been fully cleared to participate in the team’s rookie tournament with Meghan Angley of Guerilla Sports. Behrens missed all but two games of last season after sustaining a knee injury in an October practice scrimmage. The first-year pro only suited up for the very first, and very final, game of the Colorado Eagles’ season.

Hopes were high for Behrens prior to his season-ending injury. He seemed well set for a strong push into pros after finishing a three-year stay at the University of Denver with 31 points in 44 games, and a National Championship win, in the 2023-24 season. Behrens was a core part of the title-winning Pioneers, where he often found himself playing alongside or directly behind top prospect Zeev Buium. He showed off all of the sharp stickhandling and quick skating needed to keep the Pioneers offense running with Buium off the ice, and earned the NCHC’s ’Defenseman Of The Year’ award as a result. Behrens now faces an uphill battle adjusting his slight, 5-foot-10 frame to the pro level. He’s made strong impacts in both junior and college hockey, and could earn a top role with the Eagles with a quick return.. He’ll be a name for fans to watch – though likely one that the Avalanche take their time with – as he looks forward to a healthy season.

Other notes from around the prospect world:

  • Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Braidy Wassilyn will indeed return to the OHL’s Niagara Ice Dogs next season, then attend Boston University in the 2026-27 season, shares Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News. Kennedy mentions that Wassilyn’s return to juniors wasn’t previously guaranteed. This news puts the cherry on top of a productive summer for Niagara. Wassilyn scored 39 points in 62 games of his rookie OHL season last year. He rivaled the team’s top-six by the end of the season, profiling as a sharp and mobile playmaker with a heavy, 200-pound frame. He’ll return to great company in Niagara – set to play alongside fellow top 2026 draft prospect Ryan Roobroeck, Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He, and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Ethan Czata.
  • Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque will now be represented by agent Olivier Fortier, Vice President of Wasserman Hockey, per PuckPedia. Borque just wrapped up his rookie season in the NHL with 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games. It was a relatively calm performance, after Bourque won the AHL’s MVP award with 77 points in 71 games of the 2023-24 season. He did maintain a positive plus-minus and consistent lineup role through his first NHL season, even playing second-line minutes through certain points in the year. He’ll face the task of now cementing a spot up the lineup, and discovering his scoring prowess, ahead of restricted-free agency next summer.

Oilers Notes: Berezkin, Gregor, Nicholl

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Winger Maxim Berezkin is one of the more intriguing players in Edmonton’s prospect pool.  The 23-year-old was a fifth-round pick back in 2020, going 138th overall but has become somewhat of a later bloomer after becoming a full-time KHL player three years ago.  He’s coming off his best season at that level, one that saw him produce 15 goals and 27 assists in 66 regular season games while adding 14 points in 21 playoff contests with KHL Lokomotiv Yaroslavl as they won the Gagarin Cup.

Berezkin signed a new one-year to remain in the KHL back in May but that shouldn’t be viewed as a sign that he doesn’t want to come to North America.  In an interview with Daria Tuboltseva for Vseprosport, he indicated that he still intends to sign with Edmonton but that he felt it would be best for his development to spend this season back home over potentially spending this year in the minors with AHL Bakersfield.  Now, whenever he ultimately signs, Berezkin will be capped at a one-year entry-level deal.

More from Edmonton:

  • There has been some speculation that the Oilers will be looking at some tryouts heading into training camp. One player who hasn’t had discussions with Edmonton on that front yet is winger Noah Gregor, according to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.  An Alberta native, Gregor has had to go the PTO route to secure a full contract before and after putting up just four goals and three assists in 52 games last season between Ottawa and San Jose, there’s a good chance he’ll have to settle for a tryout in the coming weeks.
  • Prospect Will Nicholl won’t be starting his 2025-26 for quite a while. His junior team, the London Knights of the OHL, announced (Twitter link) that the forward underwent successful upper-body surgery earlier this summer and will miss four to six months.  The 19-year-old was a seventh-round pick back in 2024 and had a solid showing last season, picking up 21 goals and 36 assists in 66 games.  Edmonton must sign Nicholl by June 1st or relinquish his rights so it’s fair to say the few months he does play this season will be crucial.

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