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Minor Transactions: 09/23/21

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NHL training camps are off and running, with young players trying to earn attention and playing time across the league. While many of them may end up back on minor league rosters, some will manage to break camp in the NHL. With those battles in mind, AHL teams are still figuring out how to fill their rosters and as always, we’ll keep track of all the notable transactions right here.

  • The Cleveland Monsters have signed Jake Slaker and Zach Jordan to AHL contracts for the upcoming season. Slaker, 25, spent last season with the Texas Stars after coming out of the University of Michigan and registered 12 points in 27 games. The undrafted center had 104 points in his 147-game NCAA career, but will be hard-pressed to keep up that kind of scoring pace at the professional level. Jordan meanwhile was. with the Monsters last season, scoring six points in 27 games. He’ll be back to try and improve on those numbers in his second season of pro hockey.
  • Xavier Bouchard, a sixth-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights who never signed, has inked an AHL deal with the Milwaukee Admirals for the upcoming season. The 21-year-old defenseman had 24 points in 39 games during his final year of junior, suiting up for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL.
  • The Hartford Wolf Pack have added Cristiano DiGiacinto and Mike O’Leary on AHL deals, the latter returning to the team after playing 16 games with them last season. O’Leary, 23, scored just three points in those games, but will get another chance to prove the skill he showcased at Notre Dame can be carried over to the AHL level. DiGiacinto meanwhile is coming from the Canadian college level, spending four years with Acadia University after winning a Memorial Cup in 2017 with the Windsor Spitfires. The 25-year-old does actually have some pro experience already, having played 12 games with the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL before deciding to go back to school.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets today added goalie Evan Moyse to their training camp roster on a try-out deal. Moyse will play his first full professional season of hockey this year with the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks after playing just six games over four years with Ohio State University.
  • After going undrafted in 2021, forward Lorenzo Canonica has signed an amateur try-out with the Los Angeles Kings. The newly 18-year-old native of Switzerland had 16 points in 24 games with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL last year, which is where he’ll be returning to in 2021-22.

This page will be updated as further transactions are reported

Logan O’Connor Signs Three-Year Extension With Avalanche

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Logan O’Connor’s ice time has slowly gone up the last couple of seasons and he has been rewarded for his improvement as the Avalanche announced that they’ve signed the winger to a three-year contract extension.  Peter Baugh of The Athletic adds (Twitter link) that the deal carries a $1.05MM AAV.  GM Joe Sakic released the following statement:

Logan is a high-energy player who works hard, competes and brings grit and depth to our lineup. He is a strong skater and penalty killer and has continued to improve his game every year as a professional.

O’Connor was frequently shuffled back and forth to and from the taxi squad last season while also dealing with a lower-body injury but still got into a career-best 22 games with Colorado last season where he picked up three goals and two assists in just under 11 minutes a game in playing time.  He also saw action in a pair of playoff contests where he was held off the scoresheet.  To this point in his career, the 25-year-old has primarily been used in a checking role over his 43 total NHL appearances but with the departures of Joonas Donskoi and Brandon Saad this summer, there will be an opportunity for O’Connor to have a bigger role on the depth chart.

The fact that Colorado has handed him this deal now suggests that they expect O’Connor to be more of a regular player this coming season and have opted to sign him now over potentially needing to pay him more had they waited until next offseason.  Either way, O’Connor picks up a nice raise as he is scheduled to make the league minimum of $750K in salary in 2021-22 while actually carrying a cap hit below that price tag at $725K.

Minor Transactions: 09/21/21

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Today certainly had a flurry of big-name news, a rarity for this time of year. But even through the Kirill Kaprizov contracts and the Elvis Merzlikins extensions of the world, NHL teams have made a flurry of minor transactions today in preparation for training camps. As camps begin and rosters are announced, players still without a confirmed home for next season will pop up across the league. Here are some of today’s minor transactions:

  • The expansion Seattle Kraken have added a good bit of depth on try-out deals. The team’s invited Tye Kartye and Cole Mackay of the Soo Greyhounds to camp, as well as Francis Marotte of the ECHL’s Allen Americans. Kartye and Mackay, both forwards, have been teammates with the Soo since 2018. Both haven’t played hockey since the 2019-20 season due to the OHL’s shutdown in 2020-21. They were both on the path to success, however, potting over 50 points individually. They’ll gain some valuable experience at an NHL camp. Marotte, a 26-year-old netminder, comes in after just one season of professional hockey. He impressed in the ECHL this year, boasting an 8-3-1 record and .917 save percentage.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights have added a trio of their own on tryouts, headlined by defenseman Ian McCoshen. Now 26, the former second-round pick by Florida now hasn’t seen NHL action since 2018-19. He’s unlikely to see NHL ice within the Vegas organization, one of the deepest defenses in the league, but could be a solid AHL body if he ends up signing with the team. They’ve also brought in OHLers Kaleb Pearson and Daniel D’Amato. Pearson scored 52 points in 62 games in 2019-20 with the Owen Sound Attack, and he’s headed to Prince Edward Island to play collegiate hockey this season. D’Amato will suit up for his Erie Otters again this year after scoring 32 points in 63 games back in 2019-20.

Minnesota Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov For Five Years

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The Minnesota Wild have re-signed winger Kirill Kaprizov to a five-year, $45MM contract. The deal carries a $9MM average annual value and takes him through the 2025-26 season. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that the deal carries a no-movement clause for the final two years. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports the full salary breakdown:

  • 2021-22: $5.0MM
  • 2022-23: $10.0MM
  • 2023-24: $12.5MM
  • 2024-25: $10.0MM
  • 2025-26: $7.5MM

Minnesota had to wait five years after they drafted Kaprizov to see him in NHL action, but all can agree that he was worth the wait. This year’s Calder Trophy winner, Kaprizov was nearly a point-per-game talent. Playing over 18 minutes a night, the 23-year-old Russian led the Wild with 27 goals and 51 points, only missing one game all year. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that he’s due to arrive in Minnesota tomorrow and will deliver an in-person press conference pending vaccination status.

A full training camp and another year of acclimation to North America are both good omens for Kaprizov’s performance in 2021-22. A dominant scorer and a lethal power-play presence, Kaprizov aims to not only lead the Wild but to be one of the best talents in the Western Conference. Kaprizov put together a remarkable two-way performance for a rookie last season as well, posting a 51.2% Corsi for at even strength and boasted impressive advanced analytics as well. Steps forward in any regard will solidify his status as an elite talent and quickly make this deal worth its price tag.

The move comes after months of negotiations and nervousness on the part of Wild fans. The term and the dollar amount aren’t necessarily a surprise to anyone who’s been closely following the situation, however. A $9MM cap hit was reported as the likely value by The Athletic’s Michael Russo weeks beforehand.

Despite all the fanfare made about Minnesota’s salary cap situation this offseason following the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Wild still remain in decent shape for 2021-22. Kaprizov was the only remaining restricted free agent on the roster, and they’re still left with $3.2MM in space considering a 22-man roster. The true crunch comes next season, where the cap penalty due to the buyouts increases by a full $8MM.

Regardless, it’s an immediate relief for Wild fans, who’ll have five more years (in all likelihood) of a player who captured the eyes and hearts of many this season. Expected to be a franchise cornerstone moving forward, the Wild now look to push even further towards contention.

All salary cap figures courtesy of CapFriendly.com.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Images.

Minor Transactions: 09/20/21

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Training camps open in just a few days, and though there are still several restricted free agents to sign, the focus for many organizations is filling out their minor league depth charts. With that in mind, we’ll keep track of all the notable minor moves right here.

  • The Hartford Wolf Pack have signed a pair of players, inking Zach Berzolla and Zach Giuttari to one-year AHL contracts. Giuttari is returning to the Wolf Pack after playing 22 games for the club in 2020-21. The 25-year-old defenseman registered six points in his first season of professional hockey. Berzolla, 23, played his senior season with Colorado College before suiting up for the Florida Everblades down the stretch. A Howell, New Jersey native, he’s back on the east coast.
  • Luke Moncada, who played last season with the Cleveland Monsters, is on his way overseas to play for the Vienna Capitals. The former North Bay Battalion star had just three points in 17 games for Cleveland, but will add a powerful presence to the ICEHL team as he continues his hockey career in Europe.

This page will be updated with further transactions as they are reported.

Senators Re-Sign Logan Brown

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The Senators have taken care of one of their remaining restricted free agents, announcing the signing of center Logan Brown to a one-year, two-way deal.  The contract pays the league minimum of $750K in the NHL and $100K in the AHL.  GM Pierre Dorion released the following statement about the move:

Logan is among the most talented prospects in our organization. He possesses many of the tools that could ultimately help him find success in the NHL. We’re hopeful that a productive summer translates into a good training camp for him here beginning next week.

The 23-year-old has shown flashes of upside since being the 11th-overall pick in 2016 but it hasn’t translated to any consistent success in the NHL.  While he has been productive in the minors (including nine points in 13 games in 2020-21), he has just a goal and eight assists in 30 career NHL contests; just one of those NHL appearances came last season.  Brown’s camp hasn’t hidden a desire for a trade and Ottawa has made him available but clearly, the right return hasn’t come around yet which has led to this deal.

Brown is eligible for waivers this season which makes the fact that he took less than his $874K qualifying offer a bit interesting.  While it guaranteed him a bit more money if he cleared and was sent to the minors but at the league minimum price tag, he will be easier for other teams to fit in should a trade or waiver placement materialize.  In the meantime, Brown should get a long look at camp where he’ll battle for a spot at the end of the roster.  Knowing the waiver eligibility is there now, he’ll be one to keep an eye on in the preseason.

Minor Transactions: 09/18/21

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Crunch time has arrived for unsigned free agents as training camps begin to open across the league. Time has likely run out to earn an NHL contract outright and the PTO run has already begun. For some, there is even the risk that AHL roster spots will begin to dry up. Decisions must be made to sign in the minors before it is too late, or else make the jump to Europe. Follow along with these transactions right here:

  • The AHL’s Colorado Eagles have announced a trio of signings, two of whom come from their ECHL affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies. Forward Trey Bradley, who spent all of last season in Utah, recorded 47 points in 65 games and led the team with 37 assists. His ties to Colorado extend beyond familiarity with the Avalanche organization, as Bradley starred at Colorado College prior to his pro career. Defenseman Luke Martin, a former top prospect of the Carolina Hurricanes, failed to impress in his first pro season last year, but clearly the team organization saw enough to not only acquire his ECHL contract but then elevate him to the AHL before he stepped on the ice. The third new addition is in fact the most experienced, as defenseman Andrew Nielsen has played parts of six seasons in the AHL, collecting 79 points in 232 games, and also performed well in a brief stint in Austria early last season. Nielsen was a third-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015 and played three years with the organization on his entry-level contract.
  • Not to be outdone, the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms have announced four signings of their own, including a one-year extension for Ralph Cuddemi. After four years in the ECHL, Cuddemi earned an AHL deal last season and recorded two points in eight games as a bottom-six depth option. The newcomers are veteran goaltender Pat Nagle, recent NCAA standout forward Charlie Gerard, and defenseman Ryan MacKinnon. Nagle should be a familiar name to hockey fans; the 33-year-old has spent a decade playing professionally in North America and has suited up for a dozen different farm teams. Nagle has had an up-and-down career in the minors, but is still a nice depth pickup for a Philadelphia Flyers organization with a number of young names in net in need of veteran guidance. Gerard, who recorded 30 points in back-to-back seasons to complete his college career at Minnesota State, kept it going in his first pro season last year by notching 34 points for the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. The skilled right wing looks ready for the AHL. MacKinnon, a hard-working defenseman with experience in the QMJHL, USports, ECHL, and some in the AHL, is a depth option for the Phantoms.
  • Dylan Blujus will be back in the AHL for an eighth straight year, inking a contract for 2021-22 with the Milwaukee Admirals. Although Blujus hasn’t been on an NHL contract since his entry-level deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning expired in 2017, he has managed to be a starting defenseman in the AHL every year all the same. A big, balanced, right-handed defender, Blujus has the makings of a player who could have value as an NHL depth asset and at 27 still has time to prove as much.

This page will be updated throughout the day

Minor Transactions: 09/17/21

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Hockey is coming. The NHL season is coming quickly, with real preseason action just around the corner. As we keep an eye on those RFA contract negotiations, there is still more happening in the minor and European leagues. As always, this is where you’ll find information on all the notable minor moves of the day.

  • The Grand Rapids Griffins have signed Dennis Yan to a one-year contract after he spent last season with the Black Wings 1992 of the ICEHL. Yan, 24, was a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning when Steve Yzerman was running that organization, and a valuable contributor at the AHL level. In 13 games overseas last season he scored just five points, but will get a chance to resume his professional career in North America this year.
  • CapFriendly reports that Ryan Lohin has signed a professional tryout with the Seattle Kraken after failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Lightning this summer. Lohin, a seventh-round pick in 2016, split last season between the AHL and ECHL, scoring seven goals and 15 points in 25 games with the Syracuse Crunch.
  • Stuart Percy, a first-round pick in 2015, has signed with Motor Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic for the season that has already started. Now 28, Percy actually played 12 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but never did live up to his billing as a future top-four NHL defenseman. He spent last season in Finland, where he recorded 17 points in 50 games with Vaasan Sport.
  • The Laval Rocket have agreed to terms with Kevin Roy on an AHL contract for the upcoming season, bringing him over from the Tucson Roadrunners where he scored 11 goals and 30 points in 35 games. The 28-year-old winger hasn’t seen the NHL since the 2018-19 season but does have a pretty lengthy history in the minor leagues now, suiting up for the San Diego Gulls, Springfield Thunderbirds, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Roadrunners and soon the Rocket.

This page will be further updated as transactions are reported

Minor Transactions: 09/16/21

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Prospect tournaments are underway and NHL training camp is right around the corner. Though there won’t be huge changes to the rosters at the highest level for a few weeks, minor league teams are still working to find the right mix. As always, we’ll keep track of all the notable minor moves right here.

  • Cameron Gaunce will be in Los Angeles Kings camp on a professional tryout according to John Hoven of SiriusXM NHL, though that’s more of a showcase for the Ontario Reign than anything else. Gaunce, 31, has just 37 NHL games under his belt and just five since the end of the 2016-17 season. He is however one of the best defensemen in the minor leagues, meaning he could very well land another two-way NHL contract but spend the majority of the season in the AHL.
  • Greg Meireles, who played three games for the Syracuse Crunch last season but spent most of his time in the ECHL, has signed a one-year deal with the Manitoba Moose. The 22-year-old forward was a sixth-round pick by the Florida Panthers in 2019 but became a free agent earlier this year when he failed to sign his entry-level contract. He’ll now take his talents back to Canada to play for the Moose and try to establish himself as an AHL player.

This page will be updated as further transactions are reported

Vladislav Kotkov Signs In KHL

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September 16: After seeing his contract terminated, Kotkov is headed back to the KHL as expected. The young forward has signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL. An unrestricted free agent, if he ever wants to return to North America he will not be limited to the Sharks.

September 11: The Sharks are parting ways with one of their prospects as Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports (Twitter link) that they have placed winger Vladislav Kotkov on unconditional waivers for the purposes of contract termination.

The 21-year-old went undrafted in 2018 but did well enough as an invite to San Jose’s development camp to earn an entry-level deal just two weeks after the draft.  He spent last season playing his final year in the QMJHL, notching nine goals and ten assists in 16 games with Saint John while chipping in with four assists in five playoff contests.  Kotkov also got into one AHL playoff game with the Barracuda.

With two years remaining on his contract, this news is a little surprising as Kotkov is still young enough to be considered a viable NHL prospect and with just two career AHL contests under his belt, it’s not as if he has played enough for San Jose to give up on him.  Speculatively, there may be an offer waiting for him back home and if San Jose, who is fairly tight to the 50-contract limit once expected slides are factored in, didn’t want to loan him to play overseas where he’d still count against the limit, then this course of action makes sense.  If Kotkov passes through unclaimed, the Sharks will be able to terminate his contract on Sunday.

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