NHL.com: Ducks hope Ryan is ready to make impact

by John Kreiser || NHL.com Bobby Ryan wants this to be the season he becomes known for something more than being picked right behind Sidney Crosby in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. While Crosby was a star immediately after being drafted No. 1 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ryan, a 6-foot-1, 221-pound power forward, has been […]

Predators sign forward Joel Ward

The Nashville Predators, parent club of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free-agent forward Joel Ward. Ward posted AHL career highs in games played (79), goals (21), assists (20) and points (41) in 2007-08 with the Houston Aeros, Minnesota’s AHL affiliate. He led […]

Blue Jackets sign MacDonald, bring back MacKenzie

The Columbus Blue Jackets, parent club of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, announced today that they have signed free agent left wing Craig MacDonald to a one-year, two-way contract and re-signed center Derek MacKenzie to a two-year, two-way contract. MacDonald, 31 appeared in 65 games for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning last season, notching 11 points […]

Wild acquire Locke from Habs for Belle, sign Kolanos

The Minnesota Wild, parent club of the AHL’s Houston Aeros, announced today that they have acquired center Corey Locke from the Montreal Canadiens, parent club of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, in exchange for defenseman Shawn Belle. Locke, 24 (5/8/84), has spent the last four seasons with the Bulldogs, totaling 229 points (85-144-229) in 313 games. […]

Ottawa native Bell signs with Senators

The Ottawa Senators, parent club of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators, announced today the signing of defenseman Brendan Bell to a one-year, two-way contract. Bell spent most of last season with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. In 69 games with the Rampage, he scored seven goals and added 24 assists for 31 points – finishing second […]

NHL.com: Mink likes the fit in Hershey

by Lindsay Kramer || NHL.com Graham Mink wanted to anchor himself both personally and professionally this summer. He sealed both deals last week, in processes that seemed to fly by. On June 21, he got married. And on July 2, after just a few hours of negotiating, he agreed to a free-agent deal that brought […]

Konopka highlights Thursday signings

The Tampa Bay Lightning, parent club of the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals, today announced the signing of free agent center Zenon Konopka to a two-year contract. Konopka, 6-1, 213-pounds, played in 62 games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch last season. He scored a career-high 24 goals and matched his previous AHL high with 55 points. Konopka […]

Iowa Chops to hit the ice this fall

Team owner Schlegel Sports announced today the new name of Iowa’s American Hockey League team: the Iowa Chops. With announcements regarding new lower ticket prices, a new president and a new NHL affiliate — the Anaheim Ducks — all occurring within weeks of each other this summer, representatives of Iowa’s AHL hockey team decided the […]

Blue Jackets ink deals with three prospects

The Columbus Blue Jackets, parent club of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, announced today that they have signed left wing John Vigilante and defensemen Andrei Plekhanov and Clay Wilson to two-way contracts. Plekhanov received a two-year contract, while Vigilante and Wilson each agreed to one-year deals. Vigilante, 23, has spent his first two professional seasons as […]