Category: The Future

Penguins Re-Sign Forward Jonathan Gruden to a One-Year Contract

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PITTSBURGH, PA – The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Jonathan Gruden to a one-year contract, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas.

The two-way deal will run through the 2023-24 campaign and carries an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level.

Gruden, 23, spent 54 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League in 2022-23. He recorded career highs in goals (16) and points (31), and his 31 points were sixth most on the team. He also appeared in three games with Pittsburgh, making his NHL debut on January 16, 2023 against the Anaheim Ducks.

Connor Mackey Agrees to One-Year Contract with New York Rangers

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NEW YORK, NY – The New York Rangers have signed defenceman Connor Mackey to a one-year deal, the club announced Saturday.

The 26-year-old blue-liner split the 2022-23 season between the Arizona Coyotes and Calgary Flames, averaging just over 14 minutes of ice time and collecting seven points through 30 games.

He spent the past two seasons with Calgary, appearing in nine games for the big club, while spending the majority of that span with the Flames’ AHL affiliate in Stockton.

Mackey has represented Team USA on the international stage on multiple occasions as well, suiting up for the Americans at the 2021 and 2023 IIHF World Championship.

Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Will Lockwood on Two-Year, Two-Way Contract

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SUNRISE, FL – Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito announced that the club has signed free agent forward Will Lockwood to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.5 million. According to CapFriendly, the contract will have an average annual value (AAV) of $775,000 USD.

Carter Sotheran celebrates NHL Draft success ahead of Flyers development camp

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PORTLAND, OR – Carter Sotheran spent Thursday morning surrounded by friends and family at his local rink just outside in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was the party of a lifetime; an NHL Draft party.

Fifty of his closest family members and friends huddled inside Sanford Arena to watch the Sportsnet broadcast of the NHL Draft, anxiously awaiting to hear his name called.

The party erupted a little after 10:00 a.m. PT when the Philadelphia Flyers nabbed Sotheran with the 135th overall selection.

“We had a projector and everything up watching the draft and then my agent Kevin Magnuson mentioned that he’d call me when I got selected,” Sotheran said. “He was at the draft so he’d know a little before me that I was selected so when it came time, he called me about two minutes before I found out (on the stream). I watched it while I was on the phone with him and the reaction was pretty priceless and kind of surreal so it was a pretty good day.”

It was fitting that the Sotherans hosted the viewing party in the local rink Carter skated in throughout his youth to prepare him for his career in Portland and beyond.

Flyers Acquire Sean Walker and Helge Grans in three-team trade with Columbus and Los Angeles

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere today announced the club has acquired goaltender Cal Petersen, defensemen Sean Walker and Helge Grans and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Los Angeles Kings. The Flyers also acquired a first-round pick (22nd overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft and a conditional second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Ivan Provorov. Los Angeles will retain 30 percent of Provorov’s salary and receive defenseman Kevin Connauton and forward Hayden Hodgson from the Flyers. Columbus must inform Philadelphia which year they elect to trade (2024 or 2025) immediately following the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft for the conditional second-round pick.

 

Jet Greaves Sets Bluejackets Record Saves in First NHL Game As Goalie

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COLUMBUS, OH – Jet Greaves made 46 saves in his NHL debut. Only six other goaltenders in NHL history had as many in their first career appearance (since 1955-56 when shots on goal began being tracked): Laurent Brossoit (49 on April 9, 2015 w/ EDM), Manny Legace (49 on Oct. 21, 1998 w/ LAK), Ken Wregget (48 on Dec. 8, 1983 w/ TOR), Bill Oleschuk (48 on Jan. 23, 1976 w/ KCS), Kevin Mandolese (46 on Feb. 14 w/ OTT), and Marc-Andre Fleury (46 on Oct. 10, 2003 w/ PIT). Of that cohort, only Mandolese and Wregget earned wins.

Wright Place, Right Time For Seattle Kraken’s Shane Wright

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WINDSOR, ONT – To borrow a line from the legendary Johnny Cash, Shane Wright has been everywhere this season, man. And while no one could have predicted all the locations the talented young center ended up, it feels like the Seattle Kraken prospect is getting precisely the reps he needs after a first half filled with different and challenging experiences.

The tale of Wright’s draft day is well-worn at this point. Seen as the potential No. 1 overall pick, he instead slid to fourth when the Montreal Canadiens opted for a winger in Juraj Slafkovsky. New Jersey didn’t need a center, so they took defenseman Simon Nemec second overall, while Arizona preferred Logan Cooley down the middle. And all of that was just fine with the Kraken, who were more than happy to snap up Wright for their new pipeline.

 

Shawn Hunwick, Established NHL Agent, Joins KO Sports, Inc.

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DENVER, CO – KO Sports, Inc. announced today that established NHLPA Certified Agent, Shawn Hunwick, has joined the agency.

A former goaltender, Shawn had an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Michigan where he earned numerous team and individual accolades including being named a Hobey Baker Finalist in 2012. Shawn continued on to professional hockey, making stops in the NHL, ECHL and DEL before retiring in 2013 to pursue a career as a player agent. Over the course of the past ten years, Shawn has built his client base organically and represents some of the top young talent in the game.

“It is an honor for me and my clients to be joining the group at KO Sports,” said Hunwick. “I have long admired their approach to recruiting and representing hockey players and I am proud to embark on this new chapter together.”

“Shawn is a perfect fit with our agency based on his professionalism, high standard of care for his clients and integrity,” said Founder and CEO, Kurt Overhardt. “On behalf of our entire group, we are thrilled to welcome Shawn and his clients to KO Sports.”

KO Sports, Inc. is the Top Boutique Hockey Agency in the World representing some of the best players and people in the National Hockey League.

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