The Chicago Wolves have signed forwards Kip Brennan, Ben Simon and J.P. Vigier, all of whom played with the Wolves’ National Hockey League affiliate, the Atlanta Thrashers, last season.
Simon registered his first three NHL goals in 52 games with Atlanta last season after being acquired from the Nashville Predators on Dec. 2. The Shaker Heights, Ohio, native also posted three assists and four points in 18 AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals.
The 26-year-old forward won the AHL’s 2002 Calder Cup Championship with the Wolves, and was a member of the final IHL championship team with Orlando in 2001.
Simon, who set a Wolves franchise record with seven shorthanded goals in 2002-03, has tallied 26 goals, 40 assists and 66 points in 143 games with Chicago.
Vigier recorded 10 goals, eight assists and 18 points in 70 games with the Thrashers last year, his first full NHL season. Overall, the 28-year-old forward has registered 14 goals, nine assists and 23 points in 100 career NHL games.
The Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Man., native posted 54 goals, 43 assists and 97 points in 125 career games with the Wolves. Vigier, who notched playoff career-highs with seven goals, seven assists and 14 points during the 2002 championship run, also won the 2001 Turner Cup with Orlando, and was an AHL All-Star in 2002.
Brennan racked up 96 penalty minutes in 23 games with Atlanta and the Los Angeles Kings last year. Overall, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound forward has accumulated one goal and 175 penalty minutes in 46 career NHL games with Los Angeles (2001-2004) and Atlanta (2003-04).
Brennan has also amassed nine goals, 15 points and 587 penalty minutes in 104 AHL games with the Lowell Lock Monsters (2000-01) and Manchester Monarchs (2001-2004).