Minor Transactions: 07/25/22
We’re now a few weeks into the offseason and some big-name free agents are still unsigned. While we wait on those players to choose their next team, there are plenty of minor moves happening around the hockey world. As always, we’ll keep track of those right here.
- The Syracuse Crunch have signed Jack LaFontaine to an AHL contract, following the Carolina Hurricanes cutting ties with the free agent goaltender. LaFontaine, who left the University of Minnesota midseason to join the Hurricanes, wasn’t issued a qualifying offer at the end of the year.
- Joey Keane has decided to head overseas following his Calder Cup championship, signing with Spartak Moscow in the KHL. The Hurricanes will retain his exclusive rights after issuing him a qualifying offer this summer. The 23-year-old had 45 points in 80 total games for the Chicago Wolves this season.
- The Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate, a team that haas yet to be named, has signed forward Mitch McLain to an AHL contract, confirms Ryan Pike of Flames Nation (link). McLain spent four years at Bowling Green State University before turning pro in the spring of 2018, signing with the Iowa Wild. The 28-year-old spent parts of four seasons in Iowa before heading to the Milwaukee Admirals for the 2021-22 season, where he scored 17 goals to go with six assists in 76 AHL contests.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Carolina Hurricanes Re-Sign Stelio Mattheos
Two-time Calder Cup champion Stelio Mattheos has re-signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, inking a new one-year, two-way contract. The deal carries an NHL salary of $750K, an AHL salary of $70K and includes a minor league guarantee of $85K. Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell released a short statement:
Stelio has played key roles on championship teams throughout his junior and professional career. He is incredibly resilient and hard-working both on and off the ice, and we are thrilled to keep him in our organization.
Mattheos, 23, was selected 73rd overall in 2017, and has had an interesting experience so far at the professional level. While he is kept almost completely off the board during the regular season, his postseason performances have been excellent so far.
With just 21 points in 92 AHL regular season games it might be easy to write him off as a player who isn’t able to translate his junior production to the pros. But then his energy, forechecking, and tenacity have given the Charlotte Checkers and now the Chicago Wolves a valuable piece as they chased the Calder Cup.
As a restricted free agent this summer with no arbitration rights, there was basically no leverage for Mattheos. But with this new contract in hand, he’ll get another chance to show that he can be a capable, reliable piece, and potentially put his name in the mix for bottom-six action in the NHL.
Mark Pysyk Undergoes Achilles Surgery
Perhaps helping to explain today’s signing of Robert Hagg, the Detroit Red Wings have announced that Mark Pysyk has undergone successful surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. He has been given a recovery timeline of four to six months.
Pysyk, 30, signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Red Wings worth $850K on July 14.
While a fourth-month recovery would still allow him to play a good chunk of the season with Detroit, Achilles injuries are notorious for long rehab times, meaning Pysyk’s year is completely up in the air at this point.
Since it happened this early in the offseason, there is a good chance he is able to return at some point, though the Red Wings are obviously preparing for life without him. Hagg, who actually paired with Pysyk for most of 2021-22, was signed earlier today for a very similar one-year deal, replacing the defensive depth the team lost.
St. Louis Blues Sign Nathan Todd
After an impressive performance in the Calder Cup playoffs, Nathan Todd is back with the St. Louis Blues organization on a one-year, two-way contract. Despite being 26, he did not qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency as his 2021-22 contract was the first of his NHL career, and thus was an RFA this summer.
When teams talk about how the ECHL offers a chance for long-term player development, helping those who slip through the cracks work on their game at the professional level, it’s players like Todd who are the positive examples.
When his draft year came around in 2014, he hadn’t even played in the OHL yet, playing junior with the Brockville Braves of the CCHL to that point instead. After two good years with the Ottawa 67’s he made the jump to pro hockey and eventually found his way to the Brampton Beast, where he became a difference-maker at center.
Now established as a full-time AHLer, he had 11 points in 18 games for the Thunderbirds in their long playoff run and will return as a key part of the group next season. A contract like this means he could potentially even get an NHL call-up, which would be quite the impressive climb for the 26-year-old.
Detroit Red Wings Sign Robert Hagg
The Detroit Red Wings have added a little more defensive depth, signing Robert Hagg to a one-year, one-way contract. Hagg will earn $800K in the 2022-23 season.
Hagg, 27, was swapped twice in the last year, first as part of the Buffalo Sabres’ return from the Philadelphia Flyers for Rasmus Ristolainen, and then to the Florida Panthers at the deadline for a sixth-round pick. He’ll see his salary cut in half after carrying a $1.6MM cap hit the last two seasons, and joins an organization where it is not immediately clear how much playing time is available.
The Red Wings have already added Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, Mark Pysyk, and Steven Kampfer this offseason, and have several prospects pushing for NHL playing time. No matter how it shakes out, Hagg offers 300 games of NHL experience, an intimidating physical presence, and a propensity for blocking shots. That kind of versatility could be of use on the bottom pair, though it’s hard to imagine him playing big minutes on the upstart Red Wings, who appear ready to start challenging for a postseason position once again.
In his 300-game career, Hagg has racked up nearly 900 hits and 500 blocked shots, while contributing just 56 points. He won’t contribute much offensively, but he and Chiarot could form quite the intimidating shorthanded pair, making life miserable for players in front of the net.
Ottawa Senators Sign Jayce Hawryluk
3:00 PM: The Senators have officially announced the signing. Senators GM Pierre Dorion gave the following short statement on Hawryluk:
Jayce is someone with whom the organization has familiarity. He has a strong work ethic, is tenacious and is someone who will fit in seamlessly with our group. Given his near 100 games of NHL experience, his addition provides a nice depth element to our roster.
11:02 AM After spending last season in Sweden, Jayce Hawryluk is coming home. The Ottawa Senators have signed the free agent forward to a one-year, two-way contract according to PuckPedia. The deal will pay him $750K in the NHL and $170K in the minor leagues.
Hawryluk, 26, will be familiar to Senators fans not only for the 11 games he played for the franchise in 2019-20 but also for his fight with Erik Brannstrom during the end of the 2020-21 season. It was a surprising sight for both players, and now they’ll get some time to discuss it at training camp.
In 39 games for Skelleftea AIK this season, Hawryluk managed eight goals and 19 points, probably not quite what he imagined from his international sojourn. He’ll now come back to play in North America where he has been quite effective in the minor leagues. The last time he spent more than a few matches in the AHL, Hawryluk scored 32 points in 31 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds.
There’s no guarantee that the AHL is where he’s headed though, as the Senators do need a couple of players for the bottom six. Even once they sign restricted free agents Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph, they’ll have just nine forwards on one-way contracts. There are plenty of young options in the system, but a player like Hawryluk could have an inside track for a fourth-line spot given his experience.
Even if he doesn’t make the team out of camp, it’s likely that you’ll see him in the lineup at some point this year. For the league minimum, he’s a nice depth piece to add to the organization.
Seattle Kraken Sign Michal Kempny
July 25: Seattle has officially announced the contract, adding Kempny to the organization.
July 24: The Seattle Kraken have added another player, signing defenseman Michal Kempny to a one-year, one-way $750K deal, according to CapFriendly.
Kempny, 31, won the Stanley Cup in 2018 with the Washington Capitals, playing a decently-sized role on their veteran defense. Since that point, Kempny has struggled in larger roles and fallen down the depth chart in Washington, to the point where he split time between the Capitals and their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, in 2021-22.
The 31-year-old native of Czechia is an undrafted player who once looked like a potential middle-of-the-lineup NHL defenseman. Nowadays, though, he’s more of a depth player, and he’ll likely battle with Cale Fleury and Gustav Olofsson for the seventh defenseman slot in Kraken training camp. In Washington this year, Kempny skated in 15 games and notched two points, playing just under 16 minutes of ice time per game and just over a minute on the penalty kill. In the AHL, Kempny was able to handle a larger role and acted as the Bears’ number-one defenseman in the games he played. In Hershey, Kempny led the Bears in time-on-ice per game and saw significant minutes on their penalty kill.
In Seattle, Kempny will either win a training-camp battle and make the opening night roster, or the Kraken will hope he clears waivers and is able to be sent to their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. If the latter scenario comes about, Kempny will likely play as a top-pairing defenseman in the AHL and be one of the team’s first call-ups if injuries hit their blueline. At a $750k cap hit, Kempny is a wise signing for a Kraken team looking to improve upon a dismal first season.
Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Trevor Carrick
One of the most consistent defensemen in the AHL has found his way to Tampa Bay, as the Lightning have signed Trevor Carrick to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2022-23 season. CapFriendly reports the deal is worth $750K in the NHL, $250K in the AHL and includes a $350K minor league guarantee.
Carrick, 28, has spent the last two seasons with the San Diego Gulls, racking up 42 points in 100 games. A Calder Cup champion with the Charlotte Checkers in 2019, the veteran minor league defenseman is a mix of skill and physicality that can help any organization.
In nearly 500 regular season AHL contests, he has scored 61 goals and 246 points, while racking up 514 penalty minutes. That includes 26 fighting majors, as the 6’2″ defenseman is not one to shy away from dropping his gloves when needed.
For Tampa Bay, Carrick likely represents nothing more than minor league depth, given he has just seven NHL games in his career, though the team has shown a willingness to give defensemen that have been otherwise overlooked a bit of ice time. Perhaps he’ll get into a handful of games this season but more likely he’s headed to the Syracuse Crunch, where he can add some veteran presence to the group.
Buddy Robinson Signs With Chicago Blackhawks
July 25: A week later, the Blackhawks officially announced the contract for Robinson.
July 18: If you’re a minor league veteran looking for a chance to play at the NHL level, there might be no better place than the Chicago Blackhawks. It makes sense then why Buddy Robinson has, according to PuckPedia, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the club for the 2022-23 season. The deal will carry an NHL salary of $750K and an AHL salary of $475K.
Robinson, 30, actually played more this season with the Anaheim Ducks than the rest of his career combined, suiting up 32 times and scoring six points. The 6’6″ forward has been a consistent offensive presence in the minor leagues for years, but rarely had the opportunity to show what he could do at the highest level. In 490 games in the AHL, playing for the Binghamton Senators, San Jose Barracuda, Manitoba Moose, Stockton Heat, and San Diego Gulls, Robinson has scored 120 goals and 259 points, while also racking up 461 penalty minutes.
The Blackhawks have made it very clear through their offseason moves that while they aren’t likely to be competitive at the NHL level, the Rockford IceHogs should be a force to be reckoned with in the AHL. Robinson should only add to that minor league strength–unless of course, he lands himself an NHL job in training camp.
That’s certainly possible, given the way things are shaking out in Chicago. There are lots of players competing for spots, but few real difference-makers or proven commodities. Especially after the trade deadline, when several pieces are expected to be moved, there will likely be playing time available for players like Robinson.
Washington Capitals Hire Scott Allen
The Washington Capitals have hired Scott Allen as an assistant coach to replace Scott Arniel, after the latter moved to the Winnipeg Jets this offseason.
Allen, 56, has plenty of experience with the organization, having served as an assistant and then head coach of the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate. He’ll now move up the chain to join Peter Laviolette‘s NHL squad, joining assistants Kevin McCarthy and Blaine Forsythe.
This isn’t his first time at this level. The veteran coach has been on the bench with the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, and Arizona Coyotes in the past, and has a long history in the ECHL and AHL.
In his new role, he will be responsible for coaching the forwards in Washington and running the penalty kill, two things that haven’t really been a problem for the team recently. The Capitals ranked 12th in the league last season on the penalty kill and scored the tenth most goals in the league.