Move continues as free agents rolls | theahl.com

Patrick Williamstheahl.com writer

NHL free agents continue, signatures in AHL names continue to scroll from the front desk.

A name from the past, top veterans, Calder Cup champions and several AHL All-Stars are all in progress. Organizational depth is crucial, and the NHL front office is working to increase roster versatility. Even for those who will start in the AHL at the start of October, free agents represent opportunities. Players who started a season in the AHL completed the game again and again on the NHL roster.

A full run list of this operation is available here. There are more ongoing storylines here.

Previous AHL MVP returns
when Daniel Carr His last skating in the AHL was the top scorer on the edge of work in the NHL. In just 52 games in the 2018-19 Chicago Wolves, he scored 71 points (30 goals, 41 assists), and he won the Les Cunningham Award to become the most valuable player in the AHL. The following year, he continued to pile up scores with the Milwaukee Admiral. However, after a brief tenure with the Washington Capitals, he traveled overseas to play with the Swiss National League HC Lugano.

Four seasons later, Carl returned to the AHL to sign a two-year AHL contract with Milwaukee. Last season, he still had enough offense in 39 games in one of the best European leagues, scoring 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) in 39 games. Admirals have a long tradition of attracting players from the past to top settings, and Carl is the latest player to attract their offer.

The captain is back
Change certainly hits the Texas star, which team reached the Western Conference Finals this spring.

Head coach Neil Graham Promoted to Dallas to become an assistant coach. forward MatějBlümel His league lead was 39 goals and scored to the Boston Bruins.

The remaining constant: Captain Curtis Mackenzie. The forward will maintain a new one-year AHL contract with Texas, which is his 13th professional season in 2025-26. He performed well in the Calder Cup playoffs with 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 14 games, represented the team as the Western Conference captain at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic and won the IOA/American American Americanaty Ahl Man with the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, working in his community to win the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award.

Like Milwaukee, Texas tradition is to stick to the pillars of the franchise. Celebrities have former players Max Fortunus and Travis Morin Behind the bench as assistant, welcome back on Monday Toby Peterson As their new head coach.

Charlotte remains active, Florida
Six players dressed as six games in the Calder Cup final of Charlotte players have found new homes, but they and Florida parents’ Panthers have found reinforcements in their abilities.

And signing goalkeeper Brandon Bussi (Providence Bruises) On the first day of free agent, the Panthers added forwards Nolan Foote (Comet Utica) and Jack Studnicka (Ontario Rule), there are two proven first six options at the AHL level. Florida management also keeps moving forward Mackenzie Entwistle There is a two-way contract for two years. Entwistle missed most of the past season with injuries before returning to checkers in the Eastern Conference finals and quickly regained his position as a key contributor to the head coach Geordie Kinnearlineup.

Charlotte also logged forward Brian Pinho A two-year AHL contract. Pinho ended his professional season with Bridgeport Islanders, who scored 25 goals and 49 points in 65 games and competed in the AHL All-Star Classic.

Rangers enter the mix
The New York Rangers went out to sign the veteran depth, bringing two AHL All-Stars into their organization.

Defensive players Derrick Pouliot Signed a two-year deal with Rangers Trey Fix-Wolansky A one-year offer was made. Last season, Pouliot finished second among the AHL defensive players with 53 points (7 goals, 46 assists) in 70 games with Syracuse Crunch, becoming the first All-Star member choice. This will be the first time that Wolansky has worked for professional professionals outside the Columbus organization. He scored another top season in another pre-season for the Cleveland Monsters, scoring 60 points (26 goals, 34 assists) in 65 games and representing the team in the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic.

Experienced goalkeeper
Two Calder Cup winners Hunter Shepard After signing the two-way deal, there is a new home in the Ottawa Senators organization. Shepard played a five-season part with the Bears, winning the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award from Hershey to become the AHL’s most outstanding goalkeeper in 2023-24, while the Jack Butterfield Trophy is the most valuable player in the 2023 playoffs.

Carl PetersonThe Iowa native, after playing 31 games last season with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, has a new year contract with Minnesota Wild. 23 years old Isaac PoulterWinnipeg Products, signed a one-year contract with the hometown Jets after three seasons with Utica.

Jets, Wild, Golden Knight finds extra help
Minnesota and Winnipeg both saw their AHL branches miss the Calder Cup playoffs last season. Work this week can help the Iowa wild and Manitoba moose avoid fate next April.

Winnipeg moves forward Mason ShawManitoba’s leading scorer, a one-year contract. The jets also brought Phil Di GiuseppeHe just won the Calder Cup title with Abbotsford Canucks, going with the elite scorer in Ontario Samuel Fagemohe scored 43 goals in 50 games in 2023-24 and made it to the AHL All-Star Classic last season. Power forward Walker Duehr Winnipeg was also killed after breaking up with the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks last season; he eliminated 16 goals in 36 games between the Calgary Wrangler and San Jose Barracuda. Also a defender Kale Crag After 39 points with the Rochester American.

Minnesota’s depth has also improved greatly as it progresses Nicolas Aube-Kubel (Forest Ranger) and Tyler Pitlick (Providence) arrived on the boat. They added new signature Blueliners Ben Gleason (Lehigh Valley) and Minnesota-born Matt Kiersteda Calder Cup finalist who joined Charlotte last season. Iowa also picked up Wyatt’s new power (Bridgeport) signed a one-year AHL contract.

While Las Vegas’ Golden Knights often make headlines with their high-profile NHL signings, they have also been busy getting established AHL help. The Henderson Silver Knights missed the Calder Cup playoffs for three consecutive seasons, but the organization should have more options when building its AHL roster. Las Vegas from Senator Belleville is moving forward Cole Reinhardt And the defender Jeremy DaviesAHL All-Star Classic Selection in February this year Jaycob Megna (Charlotte). All three players have two years of deals Dylan Coghlan (Manitoba) returned to the organization and received a one-year contract.

Supplementary Level
After losing people like Fagemo and Studnicka, the Los Angeles King was busy on Wednesday. They signed forward Cole GutmanAfter playing with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings during his 57-point season with Rockford Icehogs, he was after a 23-target, 57-point season. He has a two-year deal. Logan Brown (Syracuse) and the defenders Samuel Bolduc (Bridgeport) signed a one-year contract.

In Hershey’s bid for a third straight Galder Cup title, the change is all. Shepard is gone. Head coach Todd Nelson Stay and join the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach. However, the capital is working to keep its depth chart stable. Defensive players Louis Belpediothe Bears met from their rival Phantom days to a two-year deal with Washington. Defensive players Calle Rosén (Colorado) and Forward Graeme Clarke (Iowa) is also the new year signer.

Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Penguins sign up for defense Phil Kemp (Bakersfield’s Condor) and Forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (Laval Rocket).

Ottawa adds scoring help forward Olle Lycksell (Lehigh Valley) and Arthur Kaliyev (Ranker) Toronto Maple Leaf Adds Long-Term AHL Point Producer Vinni Lettieri (Providence). forward Alex Barré-Boulet One season later, joined Colorado. They are replenishing their organization rankings as the Buffalo Saber continues to rebuild. forward Carson Meyer (San Diego Seagull) joins the contract for two years, and the defender Zach Metsa and move forward Riley Fiddler-SchultzHe once signed an AHL contract with Rochester and now has a two-year NHL deal. Defensive players Zach Jones Come from the ranger too.

There are more AHL transactions too
forward Chris Wagner His native Massachusetts returned home thanks to a two-year AHL contract with Springfield Thunderbirds. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton also took the Massachusetts route Aidan McDonoughthere is a year’s AHL protocol. He scored 10 goals in 16 games with Charlotte before being injured at the end of the season.

Calgary Wrangler brings back long-term AHL scorer Martin Frk and move forward Alex Gallant When trading in AHL Matthew Phillips (Colorado) and defensemen Nikolas Brouillard (Coachella Valley) Going to San Diego.

During the fifty years in the American Hockey League, Theahl.com writer Patrick Williams currently covers NHL.com and Flosports leagues and is a regular contributor to Siriusxm NHL New Network Radio. He won the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding league coverage in 2016.