Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
The opening week of free agency saw some of the top names in the American Hockey League put pen to paper.
Now many of them will compete for NHL jobs come training camp in September.
After leading the Calder Cup Playoffs in beating the champion Toronto Marlies, forward Vinnie Lettieri he remains available thanks to a new one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The veteran forward is part of a revamped Toronto depth chart that includes new signings at goaltender Samuel Hlavaj (Iowa), defender Cole McWard (Bridgeport), and beyond Henrik Rybinski (Hershey).
The AHL’s top three leaders in points by defensemen will all have new homes. Zac Jones received a two-year, two-way contract with the Utah Mammoth after winning the Eddie Shore Award in 2025-26 with Rochester. Jack Ahcan received a two-year, two-way contract from the Nashville Predators after a 50-point season (11 goals, 39 assists) with the Colorado Eagles. And in Tucson Scott Perunovich signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings after scoring a career-best 49 points for the Roadrunners.
I’m with the former general manager of the Colorado Avalanche Chris MacFarland now the president of hockey operations and GM in Nashville, the former Eagles found a new home with the Predators Nashville added goal. Isaac Posch from the Avs in a trade on June 15 and I got the Eagles forward Chase Bradley signed on Friday after signing him to a multi-player contract on June 24.
The general managers clearly noticed the Eagles, who won the Western Conference championship in 2025-26. Forward Alex Barré-Boulet again Tye Felhaber they are joined by the goalkeeper Kyle Keyser en route from Colorado to the San Jose Sharks; Barré-Boulet finished second in the AHL in scoring with 70 points (26 goals, 44 assists) in 70 games last season. The Eagles also lost the two-time AHL MVP TJ Tynanwho signed a one-year AHL contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds, and a defenseman Jacob MacDonald (Washington) and beyond Jason Polin (Buffalo).
The Avalanche also stocked their roster by signing All-Star defensemen Christian Wolanin (Providence) and Domenick Fensore (Chicago), and a 30-goal scorer Adam Beckman (Bridgeport).
The Vegas Golden Knights held on to some of their top offensive talent, re-signing a Second Team AHL All-Star forward. Tanner Laczynski and a 30-goal scorer Raphael Lavoie. Vegas also signed three established AHL defensemen Adam Ginning (Lehigh Valley), Places to stay in Heinola (Manitoba) and Aunt Tuomisto (Grand Rapids) and forward Marc Gatcomb (Bridgeport).
Many other proven players have found new homes. Trey Fix-Wolansky (Hartford) joined the Vancouver Canucks once Riley Tufte (Providence) signed with the New Jersey Devils. Glenn Gawdin heading to the New York Rangers after two seasons in Ontario, Boston included Brian Halonen (Utica) and Brendan Gaunce (Cleveland), and James Hamblin (Bakersfield) headed to Anaheim. Matthew Peca (Syracuse) signed an AHL deal with Rochester, as well Hugh McGing (Springfield) joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Goaltending, so important to an NHL organization’s depth, is also on the way.
Laurent Brossoit (San Jose) went to the Anaheim Ducks organization. Pheonix Copley signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets following four seasons with Los Angeles. Brandon Halverson from the Dallas Stars after a solid run with the Syracuse Crunch. The Tampa Bay Lightning signed Mads Søgaard (Belleville) and Olivier Rodrigue (Rockford) while trading Dennis Hildebywho split this past season between the Leafs and Marlies. Jiří Patera (Abbotsford) went to the Boston Bruins, too Matthew Villalta signed with Buffalo.
Those are some of the steps that are already in place. More than 75 players found new jobs in the opening two days of free agency. There are many more acts to come.
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
