CANTLON: NHL/AHL FREE AGENCY 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The roster wheels were churning on Monday. It was going so quickly that not a single hamster or a gerbil on a Habitrail wheel would have kept pace.

The New York Rangers led the parade of signings by inking the most sought after free agent, Artemi Panarin, away from the Columbus Blue Jackets to a seven-year contract that will pay the Russian winger $11.642 million per year.

Earlier, the Blueshirts sent winger Jimmy Vesey to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2021 third round draft pick.

The Rangers also began their rebuild of the Hartford Wolf Pack by signing two players, center Greg McKegg and forward Danny O’Regan.

McKegg, 27, split his season between the AHL Champion Charlotte Checkers and skated in 41 NHL games with the parent, Carolina Hurricanes in 2018-19. While with the big club, McKegg registered six goals and five assists for 11 points, along with eight penalty minutes. McKegg is a solid two-way player who’s particularly strong in taking draws. He has 146 faceoff wins in 286 (51%) taken this past season.

He also helped Carolina advance to the Eastern Conference Final in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he recorded two goals in 14 playoff games. McKegg recorded his first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal/point, which also was the game-winning goal, in Game 4 of the Second Round against the New York Islanders on May 3rd; the goal helped the Hurricanes complete a sweep of the Islanders and advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

While skating in 31 games in Charlotte in the 2018-19 season, the 6-0, 194-pounder registered six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, along with 18 penalty minutes. McKegg tallied at least one point in 17 of his 31 AHL games with the Checkers during the past season, and he recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his last 16 games with Charlotte prior to being recalled by the Hurricanes on Jan. 4, 2019.

McKegg has skated in 132 career NHL games over parts of six seasons (2013-14 – 2018-19) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, and in Carolina, where he’s amassed 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points, along with 40 penalty minutes.

During McKegg’s four-season career (2008-2012) in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he served as the Erie Otters’ captain for parts of two seasons, played in the OHL All-Star Game during the 2009-10 season, and helped the London Knights win the OHL Championship in 2011-12.

McKegg was originally selected by Toronto in the third round, (62nd overall), in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

McKegg’s great uncle is “Leapin” Lou Fontinato, who played parts of seven seasons with the Rangers (1954-1961) in 398 games he had 22 goals and 79 points and 939 PIM. He played his last two years of his 535 game NHL career in Montreal as he had 104 total career points and 1,274 PIM. Led the NHL with an unheard of then 202 PIM in 1955-56 again in 1957-58  for the Rangers and his first year in Montreal 1961-62.

O’Regan like Rangers Head Coach David Quinn and Hartford GM and Rangers assistant GM Chris Drury, are all products of the BU Terriers.

In 70 games with the AHL Rochester Americans, O’Regan, 25, this past season, registered 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points, along with a plus-four rating and 42 penalty minutes. O’Regan helped the Americans advance to the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs, and he skated in three playoff games.

The 5-10, 180-pounder right winger has 182 career AHL games over three seasons (2016-19) with the San Jose Barracuda and the Americans. He’s logged 56 goals and 90 assists for 146 points, along with a plus-eight rating and 68 penalty minutes. O’Regan received the Red Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2016-17, as he led all AHL rookies with 58 points (23 goals and 35 assists) in 63 games with San Jose. O’Regan was also named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team and played in the AHL All-Star Game in 2016-17. In addition, O’Regan has helped his team advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of his three seasons in the AHL; he has tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in 21 career Calder Cup Playoff games.

O’Regan has also skated in 25 career NHL games over parts of three seasons (2016-19) with the San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres, registering one goal and four assists for five points, along with two penalty minutes.

Prior to beginning his professional career, O’Regan played four seasons at Boston University (2012-16), registering 66 goals and 88 assists for 154 points, along with a plus-28 rating in 154 games. O’Regan was named to the NCAA (East) Second All-American Team and the Hockey East First All-Star Team as a senior in 2015-16, as he led Boston University in goals (17), assists (27), and points (44) during the season. He also was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team in 2014-15, as he helped Boston University win the Hockey East Regular Season Championship and Hockey East Championship and advance to the National Championship Game.

O’Regan established collegiate career-highs in goals (23), assists (27), points (50), and plus/minus rating (plus-40) in 2014-15. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2012-13, as he became the first freshman to lead Boston University in points since ex-Ranger Tony Amonte in 1989-90. O’Regan is tied for 15th on Boston University’s all-time points list.

O’Regan was born in Germany while his father, former NHL player Tom O’Regan, was playing professionally.

O’Regan has represented the United States in several international tournaments including winning a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF U18 World Championship while playing alongside current Rangers Brady Skjei, and Jacob Trouba. O’Regan also played alongside Skjei, and Trouba, with the U.S. National Team Development Program during the 2011-12 season. In addition, O’Regan, and Skjei were teammates with the United States at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.

O’Regan was originally selected by San Jose in the fifth round, 138th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

The Rangers then continued their revamp of the Wolf Pack to make it a more competitive team that can win games, as well as create an environment for young players to grow and build some organizational depth by announcing the signing of three players who all have won titles, been team-leaders. They will join McKegg and O’Regan to combat the laissez-faire hockey that has plagued the Pack the past five years.

Defenseman Vincent LoVerde, a veteran of eight pro seasons, has spent the last two years with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. In 68 games with the Marlies in 2018-19, the right-handed shooting LoVerde scored three goals and added eight assists for 11 points, while serving 33 minutes in penalties.  In 13 playoff games with Toronto, LoVerde had six assists. In 2017-18, LoVerde helped the Marlies to a Calder Cup, the second of his career.

LoVerde, a 30-year-old native of Chicago, captained the LA Kings’ AHL affiliate’s for the previous three seasons, two with the Ontario Reign and one with the Manchester Monarchs.  In 2014-15 with Manchester, LoVerde won his first Calder Cup title, in the Monarchs’ last season in the AHL. In 432 career AHL games with the Marlies, Reign, and Monarchs, LoVerde has totaled 45 goals and 107 assists for 152 points and has registered 316 penalty minutes.  He played collegiately with Miami (OH) University when they were in the CCHA conference.

Thomas McCollum, a 29-year-old netminder, just completed his tenth season of pro hockey, playing 34 games with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. The 6-3, 215-pounder went 12-10-10, with a 2.72 goals-against average, a .899% save percentage and had two shutouts.  McCollum was a first-round draft choice (30th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in 2008.

McCollum has seen action in 315 total AHL games with the Admirals, Grand Rapids Griffins, Charlotte Checkers, and Stockton Heat.  His career AHL stats are 147-117-23, with a 2.72 GAA, a .907% save percentage and 11 shutouts.  McCollum won a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2012-13.

Prior to turning pro, McCollum played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, with the Guelph Storm and Brampton Battalion.

Harry Zolnierczyk enters his ninth pro campaign. He played last season up I-91 with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds as they tortured the Wolf Pack. The 5-11, 186-pound Toronto native had a pro-career-high 51 points, including a team-leading 36 assists (15-36-51), along with 38 penalty minutes, in 72 games.

The former Brown University (ECACH;) product has skated in 84 career NHL games, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, and Nashville Predators, totaling seven goals and six assists for 13 points, plus 93 penalty minutes.  Zolniercyczk has always been a fleet skater and has an agitating side as well has played in 426 career AHL contests with the Thunderbirds, Adirondack Phantoms, Norfolk Admirals, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, San Diego Gulls, and Milwaukee Admirals, the 31-year-old Zolnierczyk has amassed 106 goals and 137 assists for 243 points, along with 446 PIM.

Zolnierczyk was originally signed as a free agent by the Flyers March 8, 2011.

There were several signees with Wolf Pack and Connecticut connections.

Former Connecticut Whale and Ranger, Mats Zuccarello. He left the Dallas Stars to lay roots in Minnesota with the Wild where he signed a five-year/$30 million deal with former New Haven Nighthawk, now Wild GM, Paul Fenton.

Bolton, CT native Ron Hainsey signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators for $3.5 million.

Former Kent Prep player, Noel Acciari, leaves the Boston Bruins and signs with the Florida Panthers earning a nice pay increase from $750K a year to $1.6M per year for four years totaling $5 million.

Ex-Pack/Whale goalie, Cam Talbot, heads back out West and signs with the Calgary Flames for $2.75M on a one year deal.

Former Yale Bulldog, Ken Agostino, departs the Devils and the swamps of New Jersey for the Maple Leafs on a two-year deal for a very cap friendly, $700K per year.

Now ex-Pack, John Gilmour, as expected, left the Connecticut capital and choose to sign with the Buffalo Sabres who were among 13 suitors for the offensive-minded defenseman. He signs a one-year, one-way NHL deal at $700K.

Former assistant captain Rob O’Gara, the other Wolf Pack Group 6 free agent remains unsigned at this writing.

Gilmour’s now former teammate, Chris Bigras, landed a similarly sweet deal signing a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. He will play with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms on a two-year, one-way deal paying him $700K per year.

Another ex-Pack, Chris Mueller, signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning / Syracuse Crunch earning the same $700K for one year.

Ex-Sound Tiger, Aaron Ness, scored the same $700K deal with the Arizona Coyotes / Tucson Roadrunners for two years.

Connor Clifton, the former Quinnipiac University Bobcat, signed a three-year extension at a million per year with Boston. He has one year left at $725K.

Other players who have been made UFA’s and could be signed over the next few days include:

Anaheim: Ex-Pack, Adam Cracknell

Columbus: former Sound Tiger, J.F. Berube, signed with Philadelphia.

Detroit: Wade Megan (Salisbury Prep)

Edmonton: Ex-Pack, Al Montoya

Minnesota: Landon Ferraro, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Ray

Nashville: Ex-Pack, Cole Schneider

Ottawa: Ex-Pack players Oscar Lindberg, Brian Gibbons, and Adam Tambellini

Pittsburgh: Ex-Pack, Chris Summers

Tampa Bay: Ex-Pack’s Dan Girardi, and Marek Mazanec

Toronto: Ex-Sound Tiger, Steve Olesky.

Washington: Ex-Pack, Jayson Megna, and goalie, Parker Milner (Avon Old Farms).

The Calder Cup champion Checkers watched as two more players depart. Pat Brown went to the Las Vegas Golden Knights / Chicago Wolves (AHL)  on a $700K – NHL / $450K – AHL next year. His contract pays him $700K on a one-way in the second year. Andrew Poturlarski departs for California signing with the Anaheim Ducks / San Diego Gulls.

Riley Barber of the Hershey Bears signs with Montreal/Laval for $700K-NHL/$400K-AHL.

Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep) leaves Cleveland and signs a one year $700K deal with the Florida Panthers / Springfield Thunderbirds.

Daniel Carr, the AHL’s regular season MVP, leaves Chicago (AHL) and signs with the Nashville Predators / Milwaukee Admirals for $700K.

Tomas Jurco rescued from Springfield by Charlotte, signs with the Edmonton Oilers on a one-year, one-way $750K contract.

Former Whaler, John Stevens Sr., signs as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars.

Nick Lukko (Salisbury Prep), the son of NHL power executive, Peter Lukko (Florida) has retired to become the assistant coach with Reading (ECHL) next year as he was their captain last season.

In a very lesser note, the Wolf Pack’s secondary affiliate, the Maine Mariners, tendered qualifying offers to five players including two ex-Pack’s in Greg Chase, the nephew of former Whaler, Kelly  Chase, and Alex Kile.

(NOTE: Some parts of a Hartford Wolf Pack press release were used in the formation of this story)