We’re now a week out from free agency and Nazem Kadri still hasn’t signed. NHL fans are patiently waiting on the decisions of several key free agents, though plenty of other moves are happening around the hockey world. As always at this time of year, we’ll keep track of all the notable minor moves right here.
- Jeremy Bracco, a former top prospect of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has signed a one-year contract with Barys Nur-Sultan of the KHL after putting up 54 points in 54 games this season in the DEL. The 25-year-old second-round pick has incredible playmaking ability, even leading to a 79-point season in the AHL a few years ago but never did make it to the NHL.
- He’ll actually be joined by another NHL draft pick, Jesse Graham, who is coming over from a different team in the DEL. The 28-year-old defenseman was a sixth-round pick of the New York Islanders in 2012 and last played in the AHL during the 2018-19 season.
- Another player that will be joining Barys is Kirill Maksimov, whose entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers was terminated last October. The 23-year-old was a fifth-round pick of the Oilers in 2017 and played just 53 games at the AHL level before going back home. He’ll be playing this season on loan from CSKA, who own his KHL rights.
- Fresh off winning the Kelly Cup with the Florida Everblades, goaltender Cam Johnson has signed a two-way AHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers. The 28-year-old had actually been on an NHL deal the past two seasons in order to provide some emergency depth for the Columbus Blue Jackets but never did enter a game.
More to come…