Cents add Geraci to their blueline for 2022-23
The Merritt Centennials announced the signing of 2003-born defender Jake Geraci for the upcoming 2022-23 BC Hockey League season.
Geraci hails from Old Tappan, NJ, and had seven goals and 15 points in 47 games with the P.A.L. Junior Islanders of the National Collegiate Development Conference in 2021-22.
He also added a pair of assists in two NCDC playoff games with the Junior Islanders.
Schultz moves from Washington, DC to Washington State
The Seattle Kraken brought in defender Justin Schultz (25 goals, 66 assists in 108 games with Westside from 2007-09) as an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, signing the Kelowna, BC product to a two-year contract worth six million dollars.
The 32-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Washington Capitals and has 57 goals and 264 points in 602 career NHL games with the Caps, Pittsburgh, and Edmonton. Schultz notched four goals and 23 points in 74 games for Washington in 2021-22.
Stecher moves east from Los Angeles to Arizona
Defender Troy Stecher (18 goals, 91 assists in 159 games with Penticton from 2010-13) has signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes as an unrestricted free agent.
The contract is worth $1.25 million for the 2022-23 NHL season. Stecher, 28, split last season between the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. The Richmond, BC product finished 2021-22 with a goal and two assists in 29 games.
Rempal takes his game to the Entertainment Capital of the World
Forward Sheldon Rempal (110 goals, 103 assists in 167 games with Nanaimo from 2013-16) signed a two-year, two-way contract as an unrestricted free agent with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Rempal, a 26-year-old Calgary, AB native, played one game with the Vancouver Canucks this past season but didn’t register any points. He did score 33 goals and 69 nice points in 55 games with the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate in Abbotsford.
Priskie jumps from Florida to Buffalo as a free agent
26-year-old defender Chase Priskie (six goals, 14 assists in 57 games with Salmon Arm in 2014-15) has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres as an unrestricted free agent.
Priskie, who’s from Pembroke Pines, FL, had eight goals and 31 points in 54 games with Charlotte of the AHL this past season and no points in four appearances with the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
Lucchini signs a two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators
Unrestricted free agent forward Jake Lucchini (48 goals, 69 assists in 168 games with Trail from 2012-15) signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators for 2022-23.
The 27-year-old Trail, BC product had 20 goals and 51 points in 72 AHL games with the Belleville Senators this past season after being acquired from the Laval Rocket last October. Lucchini added an assist in two playoff games for the Baby Sens.
Fogarty leaves Beantown for the Minnesota Wild
Forward Steven Fogarty (33 goals, 48 assists in 60 games for Penticton in 2011-12) has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $762,500 with the Minnesota Wild.
Fogarty, a 29-year-old from Chambersburg, PA, tallied 12 goals and 42 points in 62 games with the Providence Bruins of the AHL last season. He was also scoreless in two NHL games with the Boston Bruins.
Coghlan dealt to Carolina as part of Pacioretty mega-trade
Defender Dylan Coghlan (no points in two games with Nanaimo in 2013-14) and forward Max Pacioretty were traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations in a big NHL trade on Wednesday.
Coghlan, a 24-year-old from Duncan, BC, spent the 2021-22 season in Vegas and finished with three goals and 13 points in 59 games. It was his second full season in the NHL with the Golden Knights.
Manson is back with Stanley Cup champion Avalanche
Veteran defender Josh Manson (22 goals, 49 assists in 111 games with Salmon Arm from 2009-11) has signed a four-year contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche worth $18 million. He became an unrestricted free agent as of 11:59 pm on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old from Hinsdale, IL, was acquired by the Avs from Anaheim at the trade deadline. He finished 2021-22 with six goals and 16 points in 67 games split between Colorado and the Ducks. He added eight points in 20 games during the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup-winning run.
Poolman returns to the Calgary Flames organization
Defender Colton Poolman (three goals, 37 assists in 57 games with Penticton in 2015-16) has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Calgary Flames worth $750,000 million per season. It’s a duplicate of the deal he signed with the Flames during the last offseason.
Poolman, 26, had 13 assists in 62 games with the Stockton Heat of the AHL in 2021-22. It was the East Grand Forks, MN product’s second pro season after four years at the University of North Dakota.
Cooley inks an extension with the Nashville Predators
Goaltender Devin Cooley (7-3-0, 2.45 goals-against average, .887 save percentage, three shutouts in 14 games with Wenatchee in 2016-17) has accepted his qualifying offer and signed a one-year contract with the Nashville Predators. It’s worth $787,500 at the NHL level.
The 25-year-old from Los Gatos, CA spent most of 2021-22 with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, compiling a 9-10-4 record, 3.06 GAA, and .898 SV%. He also appeared in three games with Florida of the ECHL, going 2-1-0. He also had a 1.36 GAA and .954 SV% with the Everblades.
Mercer on the move in the AJHL
2002-born forward Ethan Mercer (two assists in 18 games with Vernon from 2020-21) was traded in the Alberta Junior Hockey League from Brooks to Olds on Wednesday. His rights were moved as part of the future considerations from an earlier trade between the Bandits and Grizzlys.
Mercer, who’s from Slave Lake, AB, had five goals and 11 points in 34 games with Brooks this past season. He added one assist in six playoff games but was part of the Bandits’ AJHL championship.
