While things are largely quiet on the NHL transaction front, some familiar faces have recently signed deals elsewhere. Here is a rundown of those moves and other minor transaction news.
- Oscar Fantenberg used a good showing in the KHL back in 2016-17 to secure his first NHL contract and when he opted to return there this season, it certainly felt like he was trying to have history repeat itself by using a strong 2020-21 campaign to land another opportunity in North America. However, that won’t be the case as SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL announced that they’ve inked Fantenberg to a two-year extension, taking one depth defender off the UFA market early in the process. The 29-year-old had seven assists in 37 games this season.
- The Kings have inked winger Devante Smith-Pelly to a minor league PTO, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 28-year-old has played in 395 career NHL games over parts of eight seasons but hasn’t suited up at the top level since the 2018-19 campaign with Washington. Smith-Pelly spent last season in the KHL with Kunlun Red Star and has yet to play at all in 2020-21.
- The Sharks have recalled winger Ivan Chekhovich from his KHL loan and assigned him to AHL San Jose, CapFriendly reports. The 22-year-old was quite productive with Torpedo this season, notching 17 goals and 17 assists in 43 games but his team was swept in the opening round of the postseason. Now, Chekhovich will be able to get a couple more months of playing time in with the Barracuda, resulting in close to a full year worth of games in a season where very few NHL prospects have had that opportunity. He will have to serve a quarantine period before he can suit up, however.
- The Coyotes have reassigned goaltender David Tendeck from ECHL Rapid City to AHL Tucson, per the ECHL’s transaction log. The 21-year-old is in the first season of his entry-level deal and has played in 13 games with the Rush this season, posting a 2.74 GAA along with a .913 SV% and two shutouts.
- The Wild have signed center Bryce Misley to an AHL ATO, reports Michael Russo of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 21-year-old was a fourth-round pick of Minnesota back in 2017 and recently wrapped up his college career with Vermont, picking up a goal and two assists in 13 games this season. Minnesota has until August 15 to sign him to an entry-level deal or lose his rights.