Badgers in the NHL: Summer signing storm!
September 05, 2025 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
UW alums in NHL, AHL and ECHL switch teams, sign contracts
MADISON, Wis. – The NHL season may have ended in June, but it's been a busy summer for our Badgers in the Bigs as they switch teams and sign contracts at the NHL, AHL and ECHL levels.
To kick off the offseason, on June 17, Florida Panthers general manager and UW law school graduate Bill Zito won his second-straight Stanley Cup with the club.
STOP SCROLLING!!!!
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) July 27, 2025
Sea lion eating out of the cup 🥹 pic.twitter.com/GA6u9FNW1K
In a major NHL trade on July 1, the Carolina Hurricanes acquired defenseman K'Andre Miller from the New York Rangers and signed him to an eight-year contract. Miller concluded his fifth NHL season with the Rangers in 2024-25, tallying eight goals and 27 points in 74 games played.
Big moves for K'Andre Miller https://t.co/gmF1eLUutq
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) July 2, 2025
Also on July 1, forward Joseph LaBate agreed to terms with the Vancouver Canucks, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the club. LaBate split the 2024-25 season between the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and AHL's Cleveland Monsters, tallying an assist in six NHL games played and eight goals and 21 points in 51 AHL appearances.
The forward made his NHL debut with the Canucks on Nov. 23, 2016, skating in 13 games for Vancouver during the 2016-17 season after being drafted by the club in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (fourth round, 101st overall).
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with forward Mackenzie MacEachern, forward Joseph LaBate and defenceman Jimmy Schuldt.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) July 1, 2025
DETAILS | https://t.co/RMFCk2ncHL pic.twitter.com/vB4yjRuUQn
On August 19, defenseman Brendan Smith signed a professional tryout contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he'll play his 15th NHL season. Last year, Smith recorded one goal and six points in 32 games played for the Dallas Stars.
🚨 Team Update 🚨
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 19, 2025
We've signed veteran D Brendan Smith to a professional tryout contract.https://t.co/ky8vZ92LlF
On August 22, the reigning Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers signed Luke Kunin to a one-year contract. The forward split the 2024-25 season between the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets, totaling 11 goals and 18 points in 75 games played between the two teams.
We have agreed to terms with forward Luke Kunin on a one-year contract.
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) August 22, 2025
📝 » https://t.co/XifV5fmWy5 pic.twitter.com/ZZHUUvogX2
Forward Cameron Hughes signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Dallas Stars in June, which begins in the 2025-26 season and runs through 2026-27. Hughes tallied 57 points in 69 regular-season games played for the AHL's Texas Stars in 2024-25, tying his career-high in scoring and ranking third on the team in goals, assists and points.
HE'S BAAAACK! 🗣
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) June 20, 2025
The @DallasStars have signed forward Cameron Hughes to a two-year, two-way contract through the 2026-27 season.
More ⬇
Many Badgers have signed contracts at the AHL and ECHL levels as well.
In June, forward Roman Ahcan signed a two-year contract through the 2026-27 season with the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. Ahcan finished the 2024-25 season with single-season career highs in goals, assists and points, tallying 18, 11 and 29, respectively, in 67 games played.
Roman Ahcan still rockin' it in Cleveland https://t.co/IiOjyIuHcH
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) June 10, 2025
Former Badger defenseman Peter Tischke signed a one-year AHL contract through 2025-26 with the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. During the 2024-25 season, Tischke tallied three goals and 13 points in 54 games played for the ECHL's Jacksonville Iceman.
Former Badger defenseman Peter Tischke is back with the Rochester Americans https://t.co/a3lhvdi3ta
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) July 25, 2025
In ECHL news, after a record-setting season for the Rapid City Rush, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, forward Ryan Wagner is returning for his second season in South Dakota. Wagner, who acted as the Rush's captain in 2024-25, set a Rapid City single-season ECHL-era record with 50 assists. His 79 points were good for second-most across the league and tied the Rush ECHL-era record. He also led the ECHL in power-play points with 30, and earned All-ECHL Second Team honors.
The Heartland Health & Wellness Roster Adjustment you've all been waiting for...
— Rapid City Rush (@RapidCityRush) July 8, 2025
RYAN WAGNER IS BAAAAAAACK!
🗞️: https://t.co/UsgzhyA2Qf pic.twitter.com/4y1Cq3L3LT
Ty Pelton-Byce signed a one-year contract with the Idaho Steelheads, the ECHL affiliate for the Dallas Stars. The forward is set to enter his fifth professional season and fourth with Idaho. In 2024-25, he led the Steelheads roster with 61 points, finishing second with 24 goals and third with 37 assists in 59 games played.
Ty Pelton-Byce heading back to Idaho https://t.co/J3KrE0UWnU
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) July 30, 2025
Defenseman Tyler Inamoto re-signed with the Fort Wayne Komets, ECHL affiliate for the St. Louis Blues, for the 2025-26 season. Last year, Inamoto split time with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors and the Komets, tallying three assists in 32 ECHL games played and two assists in eight AHL appearances.
Tyler Inamoto signing with Fort Wayne
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) August 8, 2025
Split last season with Fort Wayne and Bakersfield https://t.co/EMHYsDYVQY
Forward Jack Gorniak will also be skating for the Komets in 2025-26, signing a one-year ECHL contract with the team to mark his third season in Fort Wayne. In 2024-25, Gorniak tallied a career-high 18 goals and 34 points in 70 games played.
🚨 PLAYER SIGNINGS 🚨
— Fort Wayne Komets (@FWKomets) June 30, 2025
Forwards Jack Gorniak and Josh Groll return for 2025-26!https://t.co/eM9vHt315h
In addition, 2025 Wisconsin graduate, forward Cody Laskosky, signed a one-year contract with the ECHL's Tahoe Knight Monsters, affiliate of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights. Laskosky tallied seven goals and 11 points as a Badger in 2024-25 after transferring to Wisconsin from RIT as a graduate student.
Cody Laskosky signs a pro contract with the ECHL's Tahoe Knight Monsters https://t.co/vImPwZpGn1
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) August 15, 2025
