Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Blake Speers

Minor Transactions: 08/01/22

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

It’s been a long, slow grind since the craziness of free agency opening on July 13, with a good number of high-end free agents remaining unsigned. With many other leagues than just the NHL looking to get their rosters set for next season, though, that hasn’t been the case everywhere. Minor-league teams and overseas leagues are making moves and transactions to their squads every day, giving hockey fans something else to look at. We’ll keep track of today’s transactions right here.

  • Tim Schaller, a veteran of nearly 300 NHL games, has found a new AHL club for next season. Per a team announcement, the Milwaukee Admirals have signed Schaller to a one-year AHL contract. Schaller was, just a few years ago, a capable bottom-six center for the Boston Bruins. He scored 12 goals and 22 points in 82 games in 2017-18 and looked to have established himself in the NHL. But injury issues and underperformance relegated him to part-time duty with the Vancouver Canucks, and he’s spent the past two full seasons in the AHL. Last year with the Bakersfield Condors, Schaller posted 10 goals and 25 points in 67 games, playing in a similar defense-first bottom-six role to the one he played in the NHL. There is a leadership component to Schaller’s game, as he’s worn letters in both professional and collegiate hockey settings, and he should help an Admirals team looking to graduate its young talent and send them to Nashville.
  • Former QMJHL star, captain of the Quebec Ramparts, and longtime DEL fixture Brent Aubin is headed to France. After a disappointing 17-point season with the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL, Aubin has signed a contract with Grenoble of the French Ligue Magnus. Aubin is a capable forward who has a long resume of productive seasons in Europe. He should help Grenoble defend their Ligue Magnus title next season and chip in as they attempt to make a run in the Champions Hockey League.
  • 2015 third-round pick Blake Speers is headed overseas. The 25-year-old center, who was traded to the Arizona Coyotes as part of the Taylor Hall trade, has signed a one-year deal with Vasteras IK of Swedish second-tier league HockeyAllsvenskan. Speers was an accomplished scorer for the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, forming a deadly partnership with Boston Bruins 2015 first-rounder Zachary Senyshyn. But since he ended his OHL days, Speers has struggled to make much of an impact in the professional game. Speers has just 42 points in 203 NHL games and will look to help Vasteras achieve promotion to the SHL.
  • Swedish winger Jakob Lilja, who played 37 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2019-20, is changing KHL teams. The forward, who has spent the past two seasons with KHL side Nur-Sultan Barys, has signed a two-year, one-way contract with HC Dynamo Moscow. Lilja has been productive in his KHL career thus far, with 62 points in 106 games. He’ll join a Dynamo squad eager to return to the KHL playoffs after a run to the conference semifinals last season.
  • KHL club Amur Khabarovsk announced the signings of two North American pro players today: Cam Lee and Andrew Calof. Lee, 25, was a star defenseman for Western Michigan University and became a regular with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins after turning pro, playing as a bottom-pairing defenseman under coach J.D. Forrest. Calof, 31, was, like Lee, a star in the NCAA. Calof was a top scorer for Princeton University for four seasons, finishing his collegiate career with 123 points in 117 games. After graduating, Calof immediately signed a contract with SHL side Skelleftea AIK, and became an important contributor there. After a poor final season in Skelleftea and a bounce-back year for the Vaxjo Lakers, Calof left for the KHL, where he was similarly productive. He spent last season back with Vaxjo and now heads back to the KHL once again. Both Lee and Calof are capable professionals who should be able to help Amur recover from what was a difficult 2021-22 season that saw them languish near the bottom of the KHL standings.
  • Former NHL-er Brian Gibbons, a veteran of over 200 NHL games, is changing leagues once again. The two-way forward signed with Swiss club HC Lausanne after leaving North America and spent last season  SHL club HC Linkoping. Now, he’s heading to the DEL, signing with German club ERC Ingolstadt, per a team announcement. Gibbons has brought his reliable all-arond game to Europe, although while he was productive in Switzerland he struggled in the SHL. A move to the DEL should benefit him, and be a strong addition for Ingolstadt in their climb up the DEL.
  • Forward Benjamin Baumgartner, a 2020 sixth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils, is switching teams. The forward, who spent 2021-22 with HC Lausanne, has signed a two-year contract with fellow Swiss club HC Bern. Baumgartner has 71 points in 149 career games in the Swiss National League and is part of a growing movement of young Austrian hockey talent that boasts recently-drafted prospects in Minnesota Wild first-rounder Marco Rossi and Montreal Canadiens third-rounder Vinzenz Rohrer.
  • Matt Tugnutt, the son of longtime NHL goalie Ron Tugnutt, is headed for Europe. The 26-year-old spent last season in the ECHL, splitting time between the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and the Idaho Steelheads. The 26-year-old is a center and had 25 points in 53 ECHL games last season. He’s joining the Chamonix Pioneers of Ligue Magnus, with the goal of helping them secure their place in the top division of French hockey for another season.
  • After a long NCAA career, Seamus Donohue has chosen to continue his pro career overseas. The defenseman got seven games with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays last season, and now heads to Liiga club SaiPa. Donohue is a crease-clearing defenseman who lacks experience in professional hockey. He joins a SaiPa squad that has abundant opportunities to excel, seeking new faces to help them bounce back from a 2021-22 campaign that saw them finish second-to-last in Liiga. Per the team announcement, Donohue’s contract with SaiPa is a one-year deal with an option for 2023-24.
  • The AHL’s Utica Comets announced today that they’ve signed rough-and-tumble forward Noah Corson to a one-year, two-way AHL/ECHL deal. Corson turned pro in the Southern Professional Hockey League and parlayed that strong production (16 points in 19 games) into a shot with the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals. Corson’s ECHL debut was impressive, as he posted 24 goals and 55 points in 57 games to go along with 162 PIM’s. He got a brief call-up with the Chicago Wolves and heads to Utica hoping to make their AHL squad and continue his climb up the pro hockey ladder.
  • The Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, announced the signing of defenseman Matt Murphy to a one-year, two-way AHL/ECHL deal. Murphy spent time with three teams last season, getting into 21 games with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets and the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks and Providence Bruins. Murphy had 14 points in 21 ECHL games and should serve as dependable depth for the Iowa Wild.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Coyotes Re-Sign Dysin Mayo And Blake Speers

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The Coyotes have taken care of two more of their restricted free agents, announcing the re-signing of defenseman Dysin Mayo to a one-year, two-way contract and forward Blake Speers to a one-year, two-way deal.  Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.  The team also confirmed the previously reported re-signing of Cam Dineen.

The 24-year-old was a fifth-round pick of the Coyotes back in 2014 (133rd overall) but has spent the entirety of his professional career at the minor league level.  Last season, Mayo played in 35 games with AHL Tucson, collecting a goal and three assists along with 22 PIMS.  While those numbers don’t particularly stand out, he has done enough over his 256 career AHL contests to warrant being qualified last month.

Mayo is waiver-eligible but has cleared in training camp in each of the last two years so there’s a good chance he will pass through unclaimed once again in the fall.  He will serve as depth with the Roadrunners once again and unless he manages to become a regular with the Coyotes in short order, he will be eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency next summer.

As for Speers, he was acquired from New Jersey as part of the Taylor Hall trade but hasn’t seen any NHL action since his three-game stint in the 2016-17 campaign.  Injuries limited the 24-year-old to just four games with the Roadrunners last season.  He’s also waiver-eligible but a safe bet to clear and will be recallable injury depth for Arizona next season.  Like Mayo, Speers can also become a Group Six UFA next summer.

Arizona Coyotes Sign Blake Speers To One-Year Deal

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Arizona Coyotes have signed forward Blake Speers, a player they acquired along with Taylor Hall in the big December trade last year, to a one-year, two-way contract, according to AZ Sports’ Matt Layman. Speers’ extension is worth $735K if he makes the Coyotes squad or $70K if he plays with Tucson next season, according to PuckPedia.

Speers appeared to be the forgotten name in the trade that sent him and Hall to Arizona for a 2020 first-rounder, a 2021 conditional third-rounder, defensive prospect Kevin Bahl, and AHL prospects Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr. Many believe that Speers was included in the deal to give the Tucson Roadrunners an extra body to fill in the roster there. However, Speers had some success in Tucson, scoring four goals and nine points in nine games, his best performance since his rookie season in 2017-18 when he potted 12 goals in Binghamton.

Speers is likely to play another season in Tucson as he has already played in 145 AHL games compared to three games (played back in 2017) in the NHL.

Metropolitan Notes: Hayes, Zibanejad, Ho-Sang, Carlsson, Speers

at CDT | by 1 Comment

Many people took notice of the one-year deal that center Kevin Hayes signed this offseason as neither he nor the New York Rangers were able to agree upon a long-term contract. The 26-year-old scored a career-high 25 goals last season after posting 17 goals twice previously. With unrestricted free agency in front of him next offseason, many people wondered whether the rebuilding Rangers might opt to trade the center rather than risk losing him next season.

Hayes told MSG reporter John Giannone that he spoke to management and doesn’t feel worried about a trade.

“I had a great conversation with Dru (Chris Drury) and Gorts (GM Jeff Gorton) as soon as I signed my contract. I believe there’s no inclination of me being trade bait or me thinking that I’m going to be out of here. I did not sign a one-year deal to go to free agency. I love this organization, I love the city, what the city demands, the determination and hard work. This is where I want to be for my whole entire career. Obviously a long-term deal didn’t get done but I’m hopeful that come the right time, I think it’ll get done.”

  • The New York Rangers might have to worry about another center as Mika Zibanejad left practice early Sunday, according to The Athletic’s Rick Carpiniello, after taking a hit to the head in a one-on-one drill from rookie defenseman Joey Keane. The bigger concern is Zibanejad’s history of concussions, including one last season. According to the New York Post’s Bree Cyrgalis, head coach David Quinn said Zibanejad is “fine,” and he just had the wind knocked out of him and might be eligible to play Monday night in Newark.
  • New York Islander fans were surprised when prospect Joshua Ho-Sang, who has said he’s turning the page on his past mistakes, missed training camp Saturday with what coach Barry Trotz said was a “personal day.” The Athletic’s Arthur Staple writes (subscription required) that neither Trotz or Ho-Sang elaborated on why he missed a key day of camp, Trotz’s first significant teaching day. “I don’t have any level of concern,” said Trotz.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have five defenseman guaranteed to be making their roster, but with the losses of Ian Cole and Jack Johnson this offseason, the team needs to find their sixth defenseman. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline (subscription required) suggests that player might be Gabriel Carlsson, who has been highly touted since being taken in the first-round in 2015. However, back issues hampered him throughout his first full season in North America. Now after an offseason of conditioning on his back, the 6-foot-5 Carlsson may be ready to make the leap to Columbus.
  • The Athletic’s Corey Masisak reports that New Jersey Devils forward Blake Speers broke his nose yesterday when he took an elbow to the face yesterday. He is back at it again today, however, with a face shield. The 21-year-old scored 12 goals with the AHL’s Binghamton Devils and is looking to crack New Jersey’s lineup this year.

CHL Notes: Speers, Fiore, Constantine

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The New Jersey Devils have re-assigned Blake Speers from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to the Albany Devils for their playoff run, reports Andrew Gross of The Record. The 20-year old forward played three games with New Jersey to start the year before heading back to the OHL and suiting up for Canada at the World Juniors. After tallying just a single goal in the OHL playoffs, he’ll try to help Albany get past the second round for the first time in their history.

Last year, the Devils were the second best team heading into the postseason but were dethroned by an devastating Toronto Marlies team that was carrying half the current Maple Leafs team. Speers will try to fit in alongside John Quenneville and the rest of the young Devils this time around.

  • The Anaheim Ducks have signed Giovanni Fiore to a three-year entry-level contract, though no financial details were released. Fiore played this season Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and easily led with 52 goals and 90 points in 61 games. The 20-year old undrafted forward led the entire QMJHL in goals, making him an easy target for teams looking at overagers in the CHL. He’ll try to keep that scoring touch at the next level, where time and space are reduced. Unlike many overlooked talents, he actually has the size 6’1″ 195-lbs to make it in the NHL should he ever develop his game that far.
  • The Everett Silvertips of the WHL have declined to extend Kevin Constantine past this season, a very unexpected move after going 44-16-12. Constantine was a head coach of the San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils for a time, but never could get past the second round of the playoffs. Perhaps that’s the same thing that has haunted him here in Everett, as the Silvertips were knocked out—swept in fact—in the second round for the third consecutive year. Constantine shouldn’t have trouble finding work as an assistant in the NHL should he desire, and will be an interesting name to keep an eye on with the other vacancies around the league.

Devils Assign Blake Speers Back To Junior; Recall Steven Santini

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

While we’re still a week or two away from a lot of teams having to make decisions on their junior-aged players, the New Jersey Devils didn’t want for the nine game mark when it comes to right winger Blake Speers as the team announced that they have sent him back to Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL.

Teams can play junior-aged players up to nine NHL games before the first year of their entry-level contract officially kicks in.  This allows teams to give some of their top young prospects an extended tryout beyond training camp to determine if they are ready for a full-time roster spot or not.  There are 20 remaining junior-aged players league-wide that teams will have to make a decision on in the coming weeks.

Speers has suited up in three games with the Devils this year, being held off the scoresheet with three shots on goal while averaging 9:29 of ice time per game.  Last season with the OHL Greyhounds, the 2015 third round pick (67th overall) had 26 goals and 48 assists in 68 games.

The team also announced that defenseman Steven Santini has been recalled and will take Speers’ spot on the roster.  The team recently sent him down to give him a game in the AHL over the weekend.

[Related: Devils Depth Chart]

Two Prospects Sign Their Deals With The Devils

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The New Jersey Devils have inked two of their prospects to entry-level contracts, according to GM and Executive Vice President Ray Shero.

Forward Blake Speers and defenseman Colton White were both selected in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft from the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Speers was selected 67th overall, while White was chosen 97th.

Speers scored 74 points in 68 games last season, and added another 10 points in 12 playoff games. Elite Prospects describes him as such:

Has slick hands and good overall puckhandling skills. Great passing ability and a very accurate shot. Plays a puck possession game; not diminutive in size, per say, but does need to get stronger. Not afraid to battle along the boards, but his size does show through against bigger opponents. Has all the tools to be a successful contributor when played in the right role.

White posted 35 points in 68 games, and another 3 in the playoffs.

Speers was named captain of the Greyhounds last season, and White serves as an assistant captain. Both men are expected to return to Sault Ste. Marie for one more season of junior before making their professional debuts in the 2017-18 season.

Provided neither player makes the Devils this season, the three-year contracts will not count against the 50-contract limit and will expire following the 2019-20 season.

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

scroll to top