AHL Trade Deadline Day Recap, College/Juniors Free Agents

Photo: Nina Weiss/Highland Park Hockey

Sometimes, it's the move that you don't make

Written by: Tony Androckitis - Twitter/Facebook

The AHL's trading deadline came and went at 3 p.m. ET this afternoon, and outside of the North Division there weren't many major moves made at the AHL-level to change the landscape of the playoff races.

The deal of the day came right up near the 3 p.m. deadline, with Rochester Americans forward Cal O'Reilly asking out of the Sabres organization and loaned to Toronto, who is in Rochester tonight for a game this evening.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms did not make any trade deadline deals, but the Flyers did sign leading goal scorer Greg Carey to a contract extension.

In fact, the Hershey Bears were the only team in the Atlantic Division to execute any trades today. More on the AHL trades and some free agent additions from the collegiate and junior ranks after the jump.



AHL Trades

Wednesday, March 8th

The Toronto Marlies (Toronto) acquired forward Cal O'Reilly on loan from Rochester Americans (Buffalo) in exchange for future considerations.

AHL Take: Incidentally enough, the Marlies are in Rochester tonight for a 7:05 p.m. ET face-off so all O'Reilly has to do is walk down the hall and join his new team. The four-time AHL All-Star has over 500 AHL games played and almost 450 career AHL points and makes Toronto that much better heading down the stretch in the North Division.

The Hershey Bears (Washington) acquired defenseman Mattias Backman on loan from Texas (Dallas) in exchange for defenseman Darren Dietz.

AHL Take: The Bears get Backman, who is one year removed from an eight-goal, 30 plus point season with the Texas Stars and is also a former teammate of current Bears forward Jakub Vrana when the two played in the SHL with Linkoping.

The Charlotte Checkers acquired goaltender Tom McCollum on loan from the Stockton Heat in exchange for future considerations.

AHL Take: The Checkers get a veteran goaltender of 227 AHL games to help during Michael Leighton's injury absence. McCollum only saw one AHL game in Stockton and five ECHL games this season, so there's likely some rust due to lack of game action.

Utica Comets acquire forward Emerson Clark on loan from Chicago Wolves in exchange for future considerations.

AHL Take: The Comets add some forward depth for a potential playoff run in the North Division. Clark was mainly an ECHL-level player and adds a gritty, physical and energy-bringing kind of game to Utica's bottom-six forward rotation.

Tuesday, March 7th

Tucson (Arizona) acquired defenseman David Musil on loan from Bakersfield (Edmonton) in exchange for forward Mark Olver.

AHL Take: A swap for positional depth for both teams with Musil joining the Roadrunners blue line while Olver heads to Bakersfield.

Monday, March 6th

Binghamton (Ottawa) acquired defenseman Brandon Gormley on loan from Albany (New Jersey) in exchange for future considerations.

AHL Take: The BSens get an offensive puck-moving defenseman that has appeared in only 35 games in the AHL this season with Albany. Be sure Gormley is at least looking forward to the opportunity to get to play regular minutes. 

Free Agent Additions

Wednesday, March 8th

New York Rangers sign defenseman Sean Day to an entry-level contract.

AHL Take: With the Hartford Wolf Pack out of the playoff race, it's a chance for Day to come into the AHL on an amateur tryout contract and get some pro-level game experience this spring. The 6-3, 231 pound defenseman tallied 14 goals and 17 assists in his fourth full year at the OHL level split between Windsor and Mississauga.

Tuesday, March 7th

Binghamton Senators sign forward Chris LeBlanc to an amateur tryout

AHL Take: The BSens bring in Ottawa's 6th round pick from 2013 in LeBlanc out of Merrimack University.

Washington Capitals 9Hershey) sign defenseman Kris Bindulis to a three-year entry level contract and forward Hampus Gustafsson to a two-year entry level contract.

AHL Take: More bodies on their way to AHL Hershey Bears with Bindulis coming out of Lake Superior State and Gustafsson a standout of Merrimack University.

Thursday, March 2nd

Washington Capitals (Hershey) sign Alaska-Anchorage University forward Mason Mitchell to a two-year entry level contract.

AHL Take: The Hershey Bears will see several collegiate players join their team in the coming days and Mitchell is an undrafted free agent addition that will be coming to Hershey this spring.