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Bruins Re-Sign Michael Callahan, Alec Regula To Two-Way Deals

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The Bruins announced today that they’ve re-signed defensemen Michael Callahan and Alec Regula to one-year, two-way contracts with $775K cap hits. Regula will earn $215K in the minors, PuckPedia reports. Both were RFAs after receiving qualifying offers last month.

Callahan, 24, has yet to make his NHL debut but solidified himself as a full-timer with AHL Providence in his second full professional season last year. He set career-highs across the board with three goals, 14 assists and 17 points in 70 appearances, posting a -14 rating while serving as an alternate captain.

He has good speed for his 6’2″, 201-lb frame and projected as a defensively sound two-way blue liner. However, it looks like he’ll be more of a stay-at-home type at the pro level, especially if he ever cracks the NHL. That’s far from a given and would be a solid return on the Bruins’ investment – they initially acquired Callahan’s signing rights from the Coyotes for a 2024 seventh-round pick (later traded to the Oilers, used to select D Bauer Berry) as he was wrapping up his collegiate career at Providence in 2022. He was initially a fifth-round pick of Arizona in 2018 out of the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms.

Meanwhile, Regula returns to Boston still in search of his first NHL games since being acquired from the Blackhawks in last summer’s Taylor Hall trade. The 6’4″ right-shot defenseman turns 24 in August and was dominant on assignment to Providence last season after clearing waivers, leading the AHL with a +36 rating despite only playing in 55 games. He added four goals and 22 assists for 26 points, displaying solid puck-moving ability and reiterating that he likely has a future as an everyday NHLer somewhere down the line.

After such a performance, the Regula clearing waivers next fall isn’t a given. The Sharks took a flier on a similarly cast defender with little to no NHL experience off the waiver wire in Ty Emberson last season, turning him into a full-time NHLer as one of their top matchup options. Their situations aren’t exactly congruent, though. Emberson, who had been playing in the Rangers organization, had no NHL experience at the time of his claim, while Regula has 22 appearances under his belt across parts of three seasons with Chicago, recording a goal and a -5 rating.

Nonetheless, both could return as reinforcements on a Providence blue line that’s looking rather crowded. Boston added some veteran help for their affiliate in the form of UFAs Jordan Oesterle and Billy Sweezey last week.

Jets Sign Dylan Coghlan

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July 12: Winnipeg confirmed Coghlan’s deal Friday morning.

July 10: The Jets wasted little time getting their newest defenseman under contract.  After acquiring Dylan Coghlan last weekend, PuckPedia reports (Twitter link) that Winnipeg has inked the blueliner to a one-year, two-way deal.  The contract will pay $775K in the NHL, $200K in the minors, and contains a guaranteed salary of $250K.  He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The 26-year-old was expected to be at least a depth option for Carolina last season but instead, he cleared waivers in training camp and spent most of the year with AHL Springfield.  With them, Coghlan had a productive year, leading all AHL blueliners with 16 goals while chipping in with 25 helpers, earning himself an All-Star appearance in the process.  While the Hurricanes tendered him a qualifying offer last month, they elected to move him for future considerations.

For his career, Coghlan has played in 106 career NHL appearances, most of which came with Vegas before they moved him to Carolina back in 2022.  He should have a chance to battle for a depth role on Winnipeg’s roster in training camp but with Ville Heinola now waiver-eligible, the re-signings of Colin Miller and Logan Stanley, and the addition of Haydn Fleury in free agency, there’s a good chance that Coghlan will have to start with AHL Manitoba and try to work his way up from there.

KHL’s Barys Astana Signs Wade Allison

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Former Flyers right winger Wade Allison is headed overseas. Barys Astana, the lone Kazakhstan-based club in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, announced today they’ve signed Allison to a one-year deal.

Allison, 26, is coming off a difficult 2023-24 season spent entirely in the minors after landing a full-time job in Philadelphia the year prior. The 2016 second-round pick failed to crack the team out of camp last fall and was placed on waivers, subsequently clearing and heading back to AHL Lehigh Valley, where he spent significant portions of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

The 6’2″, 205-lb power forward had previously put up good offensive production in the minors, tallying 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points in 38 games across his first two professional seasons. That, plus his physical acumen and good skating ability, landed him a job on the Flyers’ roster entering 2022-23, where he managed nine goals, six assists, 15 points and a -3 rating in 60 appearances in his lone full NHL season. He shouldered bottom-six minutes, averaging 12:54 per game, and had a negligible possession impact, with his CF% and xGF% both falling in line roughly with team averages.

They were solid enough contributions for someone who projected as an energy player regardless, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in the fold entering last year. The AHL demotion was evidently demoralizing for Allison, who lost his scoring touch and managed only 10 goals and 17 points in 46 games on the farm before being traded to the Predators for Denis Gurianov in a swap of reclamation projects at the trade deadline. Allison didn’t earn a call-up to Nashville after the trade and finished the season with three goals and two assists for five points in 14 games on assignment to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee.

Since he’d played less than 80 NHL games throughout his career and accumulated enough years of professional service, Allison became eligible for UFA status this summer via a Group VI exemption. Both he and Gurianov failed to stick with their new clubs, and the latter is expected to join him in the KHL next season.

Allison, a Manitoba native, hits pause on his North American professional career with 13 goals, nine assists, 22 points, a -3 rating and 40 PIMs in 75 games across parts of three seasons in Philly. A strong performance with Astana, whose roster for next season boasts former NHLers Nathan Beaulieu and C.J. Smith along with Avalanche center prospect Andrei Buyalsky, could guide him back to the NHL next summer.

Reunion Seems Far Off For Flames, Oliver Kylington

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The Calgary Flames have made a long list of additions to their defense since the calendar turned to 2024, bringing in each of Jake Bean, Daniil Miromanov, Kevin Bahl, Joel Hanley, and Brayden Pachal. The litany of defenders will compete for the holes left by Nikita Zadorov, Noah Hanifin, and Chris Tanev. That crowded competition leaves unsigned defenseman Oliver Kylington on the outside looking in, shares Sportsnet’s Eric Francis on the Big Show Podcast. Francis’ sentiment was seconded on Sportsnet 960’s Flames Talk, where host Pat Steinberg agreed he doesn’t think Calgary should add to their logjam.

Kylington has gone unsigned through the first 11 days of free agency, despite being one of the youngest UFA defensemen on the open market. That’s likely thanks to his recent extended absence, returning for 33 games this season after missing all of the 2022-23 season and the first half of this year. He began to bounce back before the end of the year, ultimately totaling eight points as he fought to find his footing in the lineup. This year marked Kylington’s first showing since a career year in 2021-22, when he managed nine goals and 31 points in 73 games – playing through his first full year in the NHL. He earned the spot after fighting his way up form the minor leagues, then out of the team’s seventh-defender role.

At his best, Kylington is a smooth-moving, two-way defender who does well at pushing the puck across the red line. He’s been able to hone that skill to NHL-sharpness, though he still seems to be missing a true breakout season; even despite flashes of potential. Now 27 and two years removed from a full season, Kylington is undeniably hard to gauge. That downfall isn’t helped along by the rumor of a long-term ask, with Steinberg adding that Kylington reportedly had talks of a four-year extension with the Flames at one point.

That would be a hefty extension, and likely ensure Kylington an NHL role – both difficult guarantees for the league’s other 31 teams to provide a defender yet to take advantage of his prime. Kylington is no stranger to having to climb his way up a depth chart on short-term deals, a role he seems much more likely set for next season. He’s totaled 91 points in 192 career AHL games, predominantly coming between 2015 and 2019. That strong minor-league track record will be a great safety net for Kylington, as he shops his lanky NHL resume around the rest of the league – with Calgary’s blue-line seemingly full.

Red Wings Sign First-Rounder Michael Brandsegg-Nygård

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The Detroit Red Wings have signed 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygård to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal will carry an annual average value of $975K. Detroit selected Brandsegg-Nygård with the 16th overall pick this year, making him the first Norwegian to ever be selected in the first round. He was quickly succeeded by defender Stian Solberg, who the Anaheim Ducks selected at 23rd overall.

Brandsegg-Nygård earns his first NHL contract on the back of a standout year in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier league. He spent 41 games with Mora IK, recording eight goals and 18 points. While meager scoring at a glance, Brandsegg-Nygård’s production actually marks the most any draft-year player has scored in the league since 2018 – and the ninth-most of all time. He earned his keep on the back of a very high-energy and responsible game.

He adheres closely to his position – but still shows impressive tempo and heft on the forecheck and quick processing when he fights his way onto the puck. He seems mature beyond his years, a sentiment stamped by his fantastic international performances. Brandsegg-Nygård recorded three goals and five points in five World Juniors games, defiantly leading an outmatched Norway squad. He matched the stat line in seven World Championship games with Norway’s men’s squad this summer, showing his ability to make an impact on any stage.

An entry-level deal will open the possibility of Brandsegg-Nygård joining the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and maybe even vying for an NHL role next season, though he’s currently expected to join the SHL’s Skellefteå AIK. That should prove a plenty viable sparring ground for the high-tempo Brandsegg-Nygård as he looks to add next-level offensive traits to what is a very responsible toolset.

Snapshots: Johnson, Clowe, Jiricek, Karpovich

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Veteran NHL defenseman Erik Johnson is gearing up for his 18th season in the NHL, continuing his streak of playing in every season since his first-overall selection in 2007. And despite a career accoladed by a Stanley Cup win and medals at both the Olympic Games and World Championship, the 36-year-old Johnson told Jonathan Bailey of Philly Hockey Now that he hasn’t considered retirement. Johnson emphasized that he’s ready to fill any role that’d benefit the Philadelphia Flyers, even if it means limited appearances in the lineup. He said, “I’m here to help these guys on and off the ice, whether it’s 20, 30, 40, 50 games, or whatever it is. My days of 25, 26 minutes a night are behind me, and I know that, and I’m comfortable with it.”

Johnson will continue on with the Flyers, after joining the team at the 2023 Trade Deadline and re-signing to a one-year, $1MM contract this summer. He managed three points in 16 appearances with Philadelphia after the move, bringing his season totals to six points in 67 games. Those measly totals might have pushed Johnson out of a routine lineup spot, but his veteran leadership is keeping him around the league. He’ll enter next season competing with fellow vets Nick Seeler and Rasmus Ristolainen for ice time, and mentoring top young defenders Jamie Drysdale and Cameron York.

Other quick notes from around the hockey world:

  • Former NHL forward Ryane Clowe made a big step in his managerial career this summer, stepping into the San Jose Sharks’ assistant general manager role and moving up from a special advisory role with the New York Rangers. Clowe detailed the move to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now, sharing that he wasn’t eager to leave New York but was allured by the daily role San Jose promised. Clowe will now return to the club he spent eight years of his decade-long playing career with – serving as the gritty, high-event punch behind legendary Sharks like Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton – who now both support San Jose’s front office as advisors.
  • Top St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jiricek is expected to move to the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs next season, per Andy Strickland of Bally Sports Midwest. It will be a make-or-break year for Jiricek, who missed the majority of the 2023-24 season with a lower-body injury suffered in December. He was among the most acclaimed defenders in the 2024 class during his age-17 season – a value vindicated by his 17th-overall selection in this year’s draft. His long-term outlook should become clearer as he looks to adjust to both a return from injury and North American hockey next season.
  • New Jersey Devils defense prospect Daniil Karpovich has signed a one-year contract with Avtomobilist of the KHL, shares James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now. Nichols adds that Karpovich will report to the VHL, Russia’s second-tier league. This news returns Karpovich to Russia, after spending last season in his home country of Belarus. Karpovich spent one year of juniors hockey in Russia, recording 35 points in 47 MHL games with Avto during the 2022-23 season. That scoring dipped to just 11 points in 49 games in Belarus’ top league last season – a trend he’ll look to buck with a return east.

Minnesota Wild Re-Sign Sammy Walker

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The Minnesota Wild organization has brought back a depth player from the past two years as they announced a one-year contract for forward Samuel Walker. Walker will earn a salary of $775K in the NHL and $125K in the AHL for the 2024-25 season.

Although Walker started as a seventh-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 NHL Draft, he decided to forego his entry-level contract with the Lightning to spend the next four years in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota. Walker spent three years as the team captain for the Gophers and helped his team make it as far as the Frozen Four during his tenure with the school. Overall, Walker played in 144 games for the Gophers and scored a total of 48 goals and 112 points.

Walker became a collegiate free agent after his NCAA career ended and he quickly signed on with the Wild organization to a two-year, $1.85MM agreement. Since then, Walker has only played in 13 games for the Wild in the last two years where he has scored one goal and two points.

He has been a solid player in the minor leagues as he’s spent most of his time in the AHL with the Iowa Wild. Over the past two seasons, Walker has suited up in 126 games for AHL Iowa and has scored 41 goals and 93 points. With decent depth on the NHL roster, it may be tough for Walker to challenge for a spot on the opening night roster out of training camp. However, if there are injuries to the NHL-squad, Walker should serve as one of the first call-ups to fill in.

AHL Approves 23-Team Playoff Format For 2025

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According to Tony Androckitis of Inside AHL Hockey, the American Hockey League’s Board of Governors has approved a 23-team playoff format for the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs. The league has run the format for the past two seasons and will be revisited after the current AHL Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on August 31st, 2025.

The last time the AHL has run a 16-team playoff format in the Calder Cup playoffs came back in the 2018-19 season. After the Calder Cup playoffs were canceled in 2020 and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the playoffs returned in 2022 to an adjusted format. The only teams in the league who did not qualify for the playoffs were the bottom two teams in each division.

The expanded playoff format did not do much for increased competition during the 2022 Calder Cup playoffs as the Calder Cup Finals was comprised of the Springfield Thunderbirds and the Chicago Wolves who earned a bye into the Division semifinals after the regular season. Since then, only the Rochester Americans and Hartford Wolf Pack have made it as far as the Division Finals for teams that would not have made it into the playoffs in a 16-team format.

It will be interesting to see the arguments for and against continuing the 23-team playoff format in the next collective bargaining agreement for the AHL. Some organizations that otherwise wouldn’t have made it into the playoffs are now guaranteed two games of postseason revenue while the players also earn a spot to play for the league’s highest trophy. However, since there has been no evidence to suggest that the new format leads to increased parity or competition in the Calder Cup playoffs, it would not be a surprise to see the league return to the traditional 16-team format.

Utah Signs Tij Iginla To Entry-Level Contract

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The Utah Hockey Club has signed its first-ever selection in franchise history as the organization announced an entry-level contract for forward Tij Iginla. According to PuckPedia, Iginla will earn $877.5K at the NHL level with a signing bonus of $97.5K each season and $1MM worth of ’A’ Performance Bonuses included in each year of the deal.

The son of Hall of Fame forward Jarome Iginla officially joins the new Utah franchise after being selected with the sixth overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft. Iginla has spent the last two years in the Western Hockey League playing for the Seattle Thunderbirds and Kelowna Rockets and may very well end up back in Kelowna for the 2024-25 WHL season. During his rookie campaign in Seattle, Iginla scored six goals and 18 points in 48 games while playing with fellow Utah forward, Dylan Guenther. The Thunderbirds would eventually win the WHL playoffs but Iginla only factored into three games in the first round.

The Thunderbirds traded Iginla to his hometown Kelowna team and he was not viewed as a top draft prospect heading into the 2023-24 campaign. However, Iginla became one of the highest risers in the 2024 NHL Draft after scoring 13 goals and 21 points in the first 12 games of the season. He finished the year with 47 goals and 84 points in 64 games while posting another nine goals and 15 points through 11 postseason contests. Iginla also suited up for Team Canada in the 2024 under-18 World Junior Championship where he collected six goals and 12 points in seven tournament games en route to a gold medal.

Due to the depth up front possessed by Utah entering the 2024-25 season, it is highly unlikely that Iginla will crack the roster. However, after a near 50-goal campaign in the WHL last year, Iginla has little else to prove in major junior. It will be interesting to see where Utah places Iginla for the upcoming season as his development will surely be top of mind as the organization’s new top forward prospect.

San Jose Sharks Sign Ty Emberson To One-Year Deal

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11:03 AM: The Sharks have confirmed the one-year agreement with Emberson per a team announcement.

10:22 AM: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that defenseman Ty Emberson and the San Jose Sharks have avoided arbitration. The Sharks organization will sign the young defenseman to a one-year, $950K contract for the 2024-25 NHL season, and will become a Group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of the deal if he doesn’t play more than 50 games next year.

Emberson was originally drafted with the 73rd overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes before he spent three years at the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA. Emberson turned pro after his junior season with the Badgers and scored one goal in five games with Arizona’s AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. He did not perform well during his first professional campaign with the Roadrunners as he scored four goals and 11 points in 58 games while posting a -25 rating.

The Coyotes organization parted ways with Emberson the following summer by trading him to the New York Rangers in exchange for Patrik Nemeth, a second-round pick in 2025, and a conditional second-round pick in 2026. Emberson performed much better with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate as he scored seven goals and 27 points in 69 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack while posting a +17 rating. He also performed markedly well for the team in the postseason as he scored two goals and five points in only nine Calder Cup playoff contests.

After signing a one-year league minimum contract with New York during the following offseason, the team placed him on waivers shortly before the 2023-24 NHL season; eventually being claimed by the Sharks. With a middling defensive core, Emberson had access to NHL minutes in San Jose and scored one goal and 10 points over 30 games in his rookie season. Emberson showed effectiveness as a physical defensive defenseman with the Sharks as he posted 94 hits on the year while also achieving a 91.7% on-ice save percentage in all situations.

San Jose has made a few moves this offseason to improve their defensive core but it should not prohibit Emberson from reaching the 50-game mark. As a right-handed shot, Emberson should compete for top-four minutes as one of the best shutdown defensemen on the Sharks’ roster.

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