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The beginning of free agency Monday saw 89 AHL-level free agents sign new contracts, as 24 different AHL teams saw new players enter their organizations on Day 1.

Overall, the AHL Free Agency Class of 2024 seemed to be limited when it came to high-end defensemen and it looks like teams took notice to that as seven of our top-10 defensemen came off the board on Day 1 compared to only three of our top-10 forwards.

The defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears went to work on re-signing several members of last year's team, bringing back defenseman Chase Priskie on a new one-year, two-way deal. The Bears also saw forward Ethen Frank re-signed to a two-year contract, while pending RFA goalie Mitchell Gibson inked a one-year, two-way pact for 2024-25 to return to the Chocolate and White.

For Coachella Valley, last year's runner-up for the second straight season, it was more of a re-tooling of sorts after goalie Chris Driedger, defensemen Connor Carrick and Jimmy Schuldt and forwards Cameron Hughes, Kole Lind, Devin Shore and Marian Studenice all found new homes on the free agent market.

The Firebirds did re-sign goalie Ales Stezka and forwards John Hayden, Luke Henman and captain Max McCormick to new deals for 2024-25, but Seattle was also sure to rebuild its orginational depth as the Firebirds will have plenty of new faces heading into the fall - including Day 1 signings D Nikolas Brouillard, D Max Lajoie, F Brandon Biro, F Ben Meyers and F Mitchell Stephens.

Under new management at the AHL level, the Minnesota Wild were active in rebuilding a new Iowa Wild roster for 2024-25, with a total of seven new signings on Day 1 Monday.

Perhaps the team with the best Day 1 is the Texas Stars, who added our #1-ranked free agent defenseman, Kyle Capobianco, #3-ranked forward, Kole Lind, and #11-ranked forward Cameron Hughes all on the opening day of free agency.

If you missed it yesterday, below are the initial free agent tracker and 'Big Board' ranking our top-100 AHL level free agents.

AHL Free Agent Tracker 2024 (Version 1.0) -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/insideahlhockeycoms-ahl-free-agent-tracker-2024-version-10

2024 AHL Free Agency 'The Big Board' (Version 1.0) -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/inside-ahl-hockey-2024-ahl-free-agency-the-big-board-version-10

We will have Version 2.0's for both the Free Agent Tracker and 'The Big Board', which will be updated daily to reflect the latest free agency signings.

Those will be exclusively for Inside AHL Hockey subscribers, so you'll need to sign up for a subscription to access them.

Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).

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Around The AHL

Below is a team-by-team run through of all the AHL-related signings from the beginning of the free agent frenzy on July 1:

Abbotsford Canucks (Vancouver)

#12-ranked free agent goaltenderG Jiri Patera (Henderson) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Vancouver.2023-24 AHL Stats: 25GP, 11-10-4, 2.99 GAA, .903 SV%, 0 SO

C Nathan Smith (Tucson) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Vancouver.2023-24 AHL Stats: 60GP, 12G-19A, -4, 38 PIM

Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton)

#8-ranked free agent defenseman RHD Connor Carrick (Coachella Valley) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Edmonton.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 70GP, 9G-25A, +12, 66 PIM

G Collin Delia (Manitoba) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Edmonton.2023-24 AHL Stats: 32GP, 11-19-1, 3.55 GAA, .872 SV, 0 SO

RFA Forward James Hamblin (Bakersfield)SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Edmonton.2023-24 AHL Stats: 13GP, 4G-4A, +5, 8 PIM

LHD Noel Hoefenmayer (Bakersfield)SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Edmonton.2023-24 AHL Stats: 47GP, 7G-11A, +6, 64 PIM

C Noah Philp (Year Away From Hockey)SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Edmonton.

LW Daniel D'Amato (Henderson) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Bakersfield2023-24 AHL Stats: 54GP, 6G-8A, -9 32 PIM

RHD Alex Kannok Leipert (Abbotsford) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Bakersfield.2023-24 AHL Stats: 38GP, 0G-3A, -9, 40 PIM

Belleville Senators (Ottawa)

#7-ranked free agent defenseman LHD Jeremy Davies (Rochester) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Ottawa.Veteran-Extra2023-24 AHL Stats: 66GP, 12G-23A, -5, 79 PIM

#37-ranked free agent forwardRW Garrett Pilon (Belleville) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Ottawa.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 62GP, 18G-29A, +10, 12 PIM

Bridgeport Islanders (NY Islanders)

Calgary Wranglers (Calgary)

G Devin Cooley (San Jose/Rochester) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Calgary.2023-24 AHL Stats: 14GP, 6-6-2, 3.77 GAA, .891 SV%, 0 SO

RW Martin Frk (Swiss-SC Bern) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Calgary.2023-24 NL Stats: 33GP, 7G-9A, -9, 10 PIM

Charlotte Checkers (Florida)

#1-ranked free agent goaltenderG Chris Driedger (Coachella Valley) SIGNED: One-year contract with Florida.2023-24 AHL Stats: 39GP, 24-7-7, 2.26 GAA, .917 SV%, 4 SO

#16-ranked free agent forward LW Jesper Boqvist (Providence) SIGNED: One-year, one-way contract with Florida.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 31GP, 10G-13A, +10, 10 PIM

RFA Forward Rasmus Asplund (Charlotte)SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract2023-24 AHL Stats: 67GP, 9G-35A, +7, 22 PIM

Chicago Wolves (Carolina)

Cleveland Monsters (Columbus)

RHD Cole Clayton (Cleveland) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Columbus2023-24 AHL Stats: 59GP, 5G-15A, +4, 31 PIM

LW Owen Sillinger (Cleveland) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Columbus.2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 11G-29A, Even, 66 PIM

Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle)

#17-ranked defensemanLHD Nikolas Brouillard (Hartford) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Seattle.2023-24 AHL Stats: 70GP, 5G-31A, -17, 137 PIM

#40-ranked free agent forwardC Brandon Biro (Rochester) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Seattle.2023-24 AHL Stats: 59GP, 16G-27A, +2, 28 PIM

#50-ranked free agent forwardC/RW Mitchell Stephens (Laval) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Seattle.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 49GP, 13G-22A, +8, 16 PIM

LHD Max Lajoie (Toronto) SIGNED: One-year, one-way contract with Seattle.2023-24 AHL Stats: 51GP, 4G-20A, +2, 31 PIM

LW/C Ben Meyers (Colorado) SIGNED: One-year, one-way contract with Seattle.2023-24 AHL Stats: 32GP, 11G-14A, +2, 2 PIM

Colorado Eagles (Colorado)

#5-ranked free agent forwardLW T.J. Tynan (Ontario) SIGNED: One-year contract with Colorado.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 71GP, 9G-57A, +9, 68 PIM

#14-ranked free agent defenseman LHD Calle Rosen (Springfield) SIGNED: One-year contract with Colorado.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 68GP, 2G-31A, -12, 14 PIM

LW Joel Kiviranta (Colorado) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Colorado.2023-24 AHL Stats: 10GP, 2G-4A, +7, 8 PIM

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

#10-ranked free agent forwardLW Joe Snively (Hershey) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Detroit.2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 14G-45A, +8, 26 PIM

#17-ranked free agent forwardC Sheldon Dries (Abbotsford)SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contractVeteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 55GP, 29G-23A, +6, 45 PIM

Hartford Wolf Pack (NY Rangers)

Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas)

#22-ranked free agent forwardC Tanner Laczynski (Lehigh Valley) SIGNED: Two-year, one-way contract with Vegas.2023-24 AHL Stats: 49GP, 17G-27A, +12, 20 PIM

LW Zach Aston-Reese (Grand Rapids) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Vegas.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 61GP, 14G-16A, +4, 53 PIM

Hershey Bears (Washington)

RFA Forward Ethen Frank (Hershey)SIGNED: Two-year, two-way/one-way contract with Washington.2023-24 AHL Stats: 64GP, 29G-18A, +2, 14 PIM

RFA Goalie Mitchell Gibson (Hershey/ECHL-South Carolina)SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Washington.2023-24 AHL Stats: 2GP, 2-0-0, 1.92 GAA, .915 SV%, 0 SO

Re-signed RHD Chase Priskie (Hershey)SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Washington.2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 8G-26A, +15, 40 PIM

Iowa Wild (Minnesota)

#3-ranked free agent goaltenderTroy Grosenick (Milwaukee) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Minnesota.2023-24 AHL Stats: 30GP, 17-8-2, 2.56 GAA, .907 SV%, 2 SO

#30-ranked free agent forwardC Brendan Gaunce (Cleveland) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Minnesota.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 46GP, 19G-20A, +7, 37 PIM

#38-ranked free agent forwardC Ben Jones (Calgary) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Minnesota.Veteran-Extra2023-24 AHL Stats: 72GP, 21G-22A, +6, 59 PIM

#39-ranked free agent forwardC Devin Shore (Coachella Valley)SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Minnesota.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 39GP, 7G-18A, -1, 4 PIM

RHD Joseph Cecconi (Rochester)SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Minnesota.Veteran-Extra* 2023-24 AHL Stats: 58GP, 1G-12A, -3, 60 PIM

RHD Cameron Crotty (Tucson) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Minnesota.2023-24 AHL Stats: 55GP, 3G-10A, +6, 28 PIM

RW/C Reese Johnson (NHL-Chicago) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Minnesota.2023-24 NHL Stats: 42GP, 2G-3A, -20, 40 PIM

Laval Rocket (Montreal)

#14-ranked free agent forwardLW/C Alex Barre-Boulet (Syracuse) SIGNED: One-year, one-way contract with Montreal.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 23GP, 4G-15A, -4, 6 PIM

G Hunter Jones (Iowa) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Laval.2023-24 ECHL Stats: 18GP, 5-9-2, 3.61 GAA, .890 SV%, 0 SO

RHD Josh Jacobs (Springfield) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Laval.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: No Stats

LHD Vincent Sevigny (Bridgeport) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Laval.2023-24 AHL Stats: 33GP, 1G-4A, -10, 16 PIM

LHD Tyler Wotherspoon (Utica)SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Laval.Veteran* 2023-24 AHL Stats: 65GP, 4G-18A, +1, 20 PIM

LW Vincent Arseneau (Providence) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Laval.2023-24 AHL Stats: 44GP, 6G-3A, -1, 89 PIM

C Laurent Dauphin (NL-HC Ambri Piotta) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Laval.Veteran2023-24 NL Stats: 44GP, 16G-22A, +13, 70 PIM

LW Jakov Novak (Laval) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Laval.2023-24 AHL Stats: 2GP, 0G-0A, -2, 0 PIM

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia)

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg)

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville)

#14-ranked free agent goaltenderG Matt Murray (Texas) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Nashville.2023-24 AHL Stats: 31GP, 14-15-2, 3.02 GAA, .896 SV%, 1 SO

#10-ranked free agent defensemanRHD Nick Blankenburg (Cleveland) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Nashville.2023-24 AHL Stats: 24GP, 3G-10A, +7, 22 PIM

#24-ranked free agent forwardRW Vinnie Hinostroza (W-B/Scranton) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Nashville.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 42GP, 16G-19A, +1, 32 PIM

LW/C Jake Lucchini (Iowa) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Nashville.2023-24 AHL Stats: 30GP, 11G-12A, -4, 8 PIM

Ontario Reign (Los Angeles)

#20-ranked free agent defensemanRHD Reilly Walsh (Providence) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles.2023-24 AHL Stats: 60GP, 9G-19A, -17, 14 PIM

#19-ranked free agent forwardC Glenn Gawdin (San Diego) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles.2023-24 AHL Stats: 70GP, 22G-33A, -11, 53 PIM

#34-ranked free agent forward LW Jeff Malott (Manitoba) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles.2023-24 AHL Stats: 70GP, 22G-30A, +3, 66 PIM

C Jack Studnicka (San Jose/Abbotsford) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 36GP, 7G-14A, -6, 18 PIM

RW/C Tyler Madden (Ontario) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles.2023-24 AHL Stats: 71GP, 15G-19A, +4, 16 PIM

Providence Bruins (Boston)

#11-ranked defenseman LHD Jordan Oesterle (Calgary) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Boston.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 30GP, 2G-17A, -10, 4 PIM

#32-ranked free agent forward LW Riley Tufte (Colorado) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Boston.Veteran-Extra2023-24 AHL Stats: 67GP, 23G-22A, +5, 91 PIM

#35-ranked free agent forwardLW Cole Koepke (Syracuse) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Boston.2023-24 AHL Stats: 53GP, 20G-19A, +8, 14 PIM

RHD Billy Sweezey (Cleveland) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Boston.2023-24 AHL Stats: 57GP, 1G-3A, +4, 73 PIM

LW Jeffrey Viel (Manitoba) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Boston.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 17G-23A, -4, 142 PIM

Rochester Americans (Buffalo)

#19-ranked free agent defenseman LHD Jack Rathbone (W-B/Scranton/Abbotsford) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Buffalo.2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 9G-16A, +16, 23 PIM

#27-ranked free agent forwardC Mason Jobst (Rochester) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Buffalo.2023-24 AHL Stats: 64GP, 22G-28A, -9, 49 PIM

#49-ranked free agent forwardLW Brett Murray (Rochester) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Buffalo.Veteran-Extra2023-24 AHL Stats: 54GP, 17G-15A, -9, 36 PIM

G Felix Sandstrom (Lehigh Valley) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Buffalo.2023-24 AHL Stats: 24GP, 13-7-3, 3.15 GAA, .884 SV%, 0 SO

LHD Jacob Bryson (Rochester) SIGNED: One-year, one-way contract with Buffalo.2023-24 AHL Stats: 10GP, 0G-3A, +5, 2 PIM

C Josh Dunne (Cleveland) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Buffalo.2023-24 AHL Stats: 25GP, 2G-5A, +5, 24 PIM

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

#15-ranked free agent forwardRW Joey Anderson (Rockford) SIGNED: Two-year, one-way contract with Chicago.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 14GP, 7G-9A, -3, 2 PIM

G Ben Gaudreau (OHL-Erie) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Rockford2023-24 OHL Stats: 34GP, 20-11-2, 3.29 GAA, .890 SV%, 0 SO

San Diego Gulls (Anaheim)

San Jose Barracuda (San Jose)

#2-ranked free agent defensemanLHD Lucas Carlsson (Charlotte) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with San Jose.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 52GP, 15G-24A, -1 54 PIM

#22-ranked free agent defensemanLHD Jimmy Schuldt (Coachella Valley) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with San Jose.Veteran-Extra2023-24 AHL Stats: 68GP, 5G-19A, +22, 42 PIM

Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis)

Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay)

#3-ranked free agent defensemanLHD Derrick Pouliot (Texas) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 64GP, 9G-37A, +4, 59 PIM

#21-ranked free agent defensemanLHD Tobie Bisson (Laval) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay.2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 9G-18A, +21, 59 PIM

#32-ranked free agent defensemanRHD Steven Santini (Ontario) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 64GP, 5G-15A, +9, 24 PIM

RW Jesse Ylonen (NHL-Montreal) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay.2023-24 NHL Stats: 59GP, 4G-4A, +2, 12 PIM

Texas Stars (Dallas)

#1-ranked free agent defenseman LHD Kyle Capobianco (Manitoba) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Dallas.Veteran-Extra2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 12G-42A, +29, 46 PIM

#3-ranked free agent forwardRW Kole Lind (Coachella Valley) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Dallas.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 17G-48A, +15, 65 PIM

#11-ranked free agent forwardLW Cameron Hughes (Coachella Valley) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Dallas.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 69GP, 25G-32A, +25, 56 PIM

Toronto Marlies (Toronto)

Tucson Roadrunners (Utah)

LHD Kevin Connauton (Ontario) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with Utah.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 61GP, 3G-15A, +18, 77 PIM

Utica Comets (New Jersey)

LHD Colton White (San Diego) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with New Jersey.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 53GP, 1G-7A, -17, 28 PIM

LW Mike Hardman (Rockford) SIGNED: Two-year, two-way contract with New Jersey.2023-24 AHL Stats: 63GP, 22G-15A, -4, 23 PIM

RW Andre Ghantous (NCAA-Northern Michigan) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Utica.2023-24 NCAA Stats: 34GP, 9G-23A, -3, 48 PIM

LHD Jackson van de Leest (Utica) SIGNED: One-year AHL contract with Utica.2023-24 AHL Stats: 6GP, 0G-1A, +4, 0 PIM

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh)

#5-ranked free agent defensemanRHD Mac Hollowell (Hartford) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh.2023-24 AHL Stats: 64GP, 3G-41A, -3, 63 PIM

#28-ranked free agent defenseman LHD Ryan Shea (W-B/Scranton) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh.2023-24 AHL Stats: 23GP, 2G-4A, Even, 8 PIM

#46-ranked free agent forwardC Jimmy Huntington (Hershey) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh.2023-24 AHL Stats: 67GP, 16G-17A, +25, 39 PIM

RHD Nate Clurman (Colorado) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh.2023-24 AHL Stats: 37GP, 1G-4A, +5, 21 PIM

LW Bokondji Imama (Belleville) SIGNED: One-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh.Veteran2023-24 AHL Stats: 53GP, 3G-7A, -4, 115 PIM