Ren Lavoie dropped a couple of key re-signings on us tonight: Christopher Gibson and Seth Helgeson. Helgeson sticks around to be the stay-at-home anchor, veteran voice on the back end and a candidate to go up if needed. He also has a chance to keep his consecutive games streak going. Gibson was the man most of the year; he’ll be a good goalie for the organization and, when here, a veteran for whichever young’n tandems with him.
Two-year deals for both. The team hasn’t announced them, but did get confirmation.
If I count correctly, that’s 31 NHL contracts signed, 36 including the five restricted free agents. It’s also two veterans among those signed and likely for Bridgeport: Steve Bernier’s the other. (Helgeson is a full veteran this year after qualifying for that one sub-320-games spot last year.)
Wrote the other day on Yannick Rathgeb. Asked him about his game. “Ask the scouts,” he deadpanned before answering. Points for being funny in a second language, which is not always easy. Heck, some of us have trouble in our first.
The Big Club, meanwhile, waits on news from another sorta-big pending free agent.
New coach in Milwaukee.
Chris Langkow leaves Worcester for Hungary.
Neat honor for Kevin Poulin, Olympian.
Rand Pecknold re-ups with Quinnipiac through 2023.
Chris Avena, longtime local hockey coach who worked at the arena the past year, moves from Staples to North Haven. (Things are weird at Staples right now.)
RIP, Harlan Ellison.
And horrible news yesterday from Annapolis.
| TEAM | Old | New |
| SA-a | Eric Veilleux (4/17) | Drew Bannister (6/5) |
| LAV | Sylvain Lefebvre (4/17) | Joel Bouchard (5/17) |
| HER | Troy Mann (4/25) | Spencer Carbery (6/26) |
| BAK | Gerry Fleming (4/27) | Jay Woodcroft (4/27) |
| BEL | Kurt Kleinendorst (5/1) | Troy Mann (6/25) |
| TUC | Mike Van Ryn (5/30, STL ass’t) | — |
| GR | Todd Nelson (5/31, DAL ass’t) | Ben Simon (6/5) |
| STK | Ryan Huska (5/31, CAL ass’t) | Cail MacLean (6/4) |
| MIL | Dean Evason (6/6, MIN ass’t) | Karl Taylor (6/29) |
| COL-a | New franchise | — |
a-St. Louis takes over San Antonio, while the Colorado Eagles join the league.