After spending most of last season in the minors, forward Quinton Howden is crossing the pond. The 25-year-old has signed with Dinamo Minsk, the KHL team announced (link in Russian).
The former first round pick (25th overall to Florida in 2010) spent 2016-17 with Winnipeg’s organization after the Panthers didn’t tender him a qualifying offer last summer. He suited up in 58 games with their AHL affiliate in Manitoba, collecting 24 points (13-11-24). Howden also got into five games with the Jets, being held off the scoresheet while averaging a career low 8:39 per night. He has a total of 97 NHL games under his belt in his career and if he rediscovers his scoring touch overseas, he might be one to watch for down the road to see if he takes another chance in North America.
More notes from the open market:
- The Islanders remain interested in signing defenseman Doyle Somerby who became an unrestricted free agent yesterday, agent Brent Peterson told Newsday’s Arthur Staple. Pederson noted that the interest is mutual although he is still soliciting interest from other teams as well. It was reported earlier this month that as many as five other teams were likely to show interest in the 23-year-old stay-at-home blueliner.
- Unrestricted free agent winger Mitchell Moroz has signed a one-year contract with Idaho of the ECHL, the minor league team announced. He became unrestricted after the Coyotes declined to tender him a qualifying offer in June. Moroz was a second round pick of the Oilers (32nd overall) but didn’t progress past the AHL level in any of his three professional seasons. Last year, the 23-year-old split the campaign between Bakersfield and Tuscon of the AHL, recording four goals, five assists, and 36 penalty minutes.
- Canadiens UFA winger Connor Crisp is also ECHL-bound after the Toledo Walleye announced that they signed him to a one-year deal. Crisp was a 2013 third round pick (71st overall) after being unpicked in his first trip through the draft. He dealt with concussion and other injury troubles on his entry-level pact, playing just over 100 regular season games in total. Last year, he spent most of the season with ECHL Brampton, tallying 14 goals and 19 assists along with 60 PIMS in 43 games and was also non-tendered in June.