Rochester Americans defenseman Erik Brannstrom has signed a three-year contract with Lausanne HC of the Swiss National League (NL) the club announced on Monday.

Brannstrom split his playing time between the Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford Canucks, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Rochester Americans. He recorded eight points in 23 NHL games and 23 points in 27 AHL games. 

The 25-year-old had a turbulent season where he was traded from Colorado to Vancouver in October, placed on waivers, traded from Vancouver to New York in the J.T. Miller deal in January, and traded from New York to Buffalo in March. 

The Eksjo, Swe., native was an AHL All-Star in the 2018-19 season while a member of the Chicago Wolves and Belleville Senators. 

Abbotsford Canucks Eliminate Colorado Eagles, Advance To Western Conference Finals After a

Brannstrom was a consistent point producer in the AHL but could not quite replicate the results at the NHL level. In 117 career AHL games with the Chicago Wolves, Belleville Senators, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Rochester Americans he recorded 19 goals and 86 points. 

Originally a first round selection of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, Brannstrom has 10 goals and 77 points in his 294 game NHL career split between the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks. 

The Hockey News' Derek O'Brien also covered this move here.

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Former Toronto Marlies defenseman Rinat Valiev has signed a one-year deal with in Russia with HK Chelny, it was reported late last week. 

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Valiyev spent this past season playing in Kazakhstan with HK Almaty, scoring four goals and adding 13 assists for 17 points in 28 regular season games. In a further seven playoff games, he added two assists. 

Having returned overseas following the 2019-20 season, Valiyev did appear in 12 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens during his time in North America, never collecting a point. Throughout 260 career AHL regular season games with the Marlies, Laval Rocket and the Stockton Heat, Valiyev put up a respectable stat line of 19 goals and 66 assists for 85 points. 

With Valiyev signing in the VHL (Russia's second tier pro league), he will return to his home country following parts of two seasons away. While he has not been able to stick full time in the KHL, Valiyev has been solid throughout his short VHL career and should bolster HK Chelny's blueline. 

Hershey Bears forward Mike Sgarbossa has signed a two-year deal with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League. 

An AHL veteran who has been a consistent point producer over his career, Sgarbossa notched seven goals and 31 points in 35 games with Hershey and two points in three games with the Washington Capitals this season. 

The 32-year-old recorded 165 goals and 467 points in 605 games over parts of 13 AHL seasons with the Lake Erie Monsters, Norfolk Admirals, San Diego Gulls, Springfield Thunderbirds, and Hershey Bears.

"I've been going up and down quite a bit, so you tend to miss a lot of things when it comes to the kids... it's a good opportunity for me, personally."

Mike Sgarbossa explains his decision to leave the Capitals organization as he's set to sign overseas.https://t.co/P3KL3Y7xBR

— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) May 23, 2025

The Campbellville, Ont., native was a two-time AHL All-Star and won the 2023 Calder Cup with Hershey. He remained on the Washington Capitals roster and did not play in Hershey's 2024 Calder Cup run. 

Sgarbossa originally signed an entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks in 2010 after going undrafted and became a regular NHL call-up over his career.

In 92 career NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and Washington Capitals Sgarbossa had nine goals and 25 points.  

The Hockey News' Washington reporter Sammi Silber spoke with Sgarbossa regarding his decision here.

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  

The Washington Capitals have recalled goaltender Clay Stevenson from the Hershey Bears, it was announced Thursday. 

Stevenson, a product of Drayton Valley, Alta., has split time this season between the Capitals and the Bears. In his lone NHL appearance, he collected the loss while putting up a 5.00 GAA and a .868 SP. In 33 appearances with Hershey, Stevenson put together a record of 18-8-5 along with a 2.94 GAA and a .888 SP. Stevenson has also seen one game for the Bears in the Calder Cup playoffs, putting up a 4.00 GAA and a .875 SP. 

With this being his third full season of pro hockey, Stevenson has made a name for himself throughout his time in the Capitals organization. Across 72 regular season appearances with Hershey, where he has spent the majority of his time, Stevenson has put up a respectable 2.44 GAA and a .907 SP while going 45-18-7. 

Although this season may not have been his best when it comes to stats, Stevenson got the opportunity to make his NHL debut and provides solid depth for the organization. Signed for two more years, Stevenson should see more NHL games next year and is a candidate to have a solid bounce back season in 2025-26.

The Washington Capitals have recalled goaltender Clay Stevenson from the Hershey Bears, it was announced Thursday. 

Stevenson, a product of Drayton Valley, Alta., has split time this season between the Capitals and the Bears. In his lone NHL appearance, he collected the loss while putting up a 5.00 GAA and a .868 SP. In 33 appearances with Hershey, Stevenson put together a record of 18-8-5 along with a 2.94 GAA and a .888 SP. Stevenson has also seen one game for the Bears in the Calder Cup playoffs, putting up a 4.00 GAA and a .875 SP. 

With this being his third full season of pro hockey, Stevenson has made a name for himself throughout his time in the Capitals organization. Across 72 regular season appearances with Hershey, where he has spent the majority of his time, Stevenson has put up a respectable 2.44 GAA and a .907 SP while going 45-18-7. 

Although this season may not have been his best when it comes to stats, Stevenson got the opportunity to make his NHL debut and provides solid depth for the organization. Signed for two more years, Stevenson should see more NHL games next year and is a candidate to have a solid bounce back season in 2025-26.

Cleveland Monsters forward Stefan Matteau has announced his retirement from professional hockey, it was announced earlier this week. 

Hailing from Chicago, Ill., Matteau spent this entire season serving as the captain of the Monsters, scoring two goals and adding five assists for seven points in 15 games. 

Drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Matteau appeared in 92 career NHL games with the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Colorado Avalanche. Over that time, he collected six goals and five assists for 11 points. 

Throughout his 13-year pro career, Matteau spent the majority of his time in the AHL, playing in 411 regular season games, putting up 76 goals and 93 assists for 169 points. Matteau also spent one year playing overseas, splitting time between the SHL (Linkoping HC) and the DEL (ERC Ingolstadt) in 2022-23.

With Matteau officially having up the skates, he can sit back and reflect on what was a solid playing career. Although he never stuck at the NHL level, Matteau always provided solid depth for the teams he played for.

Farjestad BK of the SHL announced they have signed Belleville Senators defenseman Filip Roos to a two-year contract beginning in the 2025-26 season. 

Roos recorded 17 assists in 68 games for Belleville this season. 

Originally an undrafted free agent, Roos signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in May 2022.

The 26-year-old appeared in 21 career NHL games for Chicago and picked up one goal and two assists. 

🌹 Tillbaka i SHL!

✍️ Efter tre år i Nordamerika och 21 matcher i NHL så är Filip Roos, 26, tillbaka i Sverige. Backen har skrivit på ett tvåårskontrakt med @farjestad_bk.

🔗 https://t.co/KNty2G19czpic.twitter.com/fqXCOgouHr

— SHL.se (@SHLse) May 12, 2025

A native of Goteborg, Swe., Roos played in 166 career AHL games with Belleville and the Rockford IceHogs, he scored five goals and added 39 assists.

Roos spent the 2021-22 season with the SHL's Skelleftea AIK, he will join a solid Farjestad team that lost in the Quarterfinals of the SHL Playoffs this season. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.