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Offseason Central

Although it's only four months long, the hockey offseason is one of the busiest times of the year, and it's hard to keep track of where everyone's favorite player has signed. We're going to take as much confusion and searching out of the game for you as possible, and make Offseason Central your one-stop shop for player movement this summer.

The first thing to cover is significant dates, so get your calendars out.
 
Protected List: Due June 8th at 3:00 p.m.
Only ECHL contracts can be on this list. There is no limit to how many players can be listed, and even players who were suspended or extended a qualifying offer last summer may be included.

Future Considerations Trade Deadline: June 20th at 3:00 p.m.
Trades that have future considerations components must be completed by this date.

Season-Ending Roster: Due June 22nd at 3:00 p.m.
Maximum 20 players. Only ECHL contracts can be on this list. If a team names a player to its season-ending roster, that team has exclusive rights to negotiate with and sign that player until qualifying offers are due.

FIRST DAY TO SIGN CONTRACTS: June 23rd
Get excited! This is when pen can start getting put to paper, and you begin to find out who will be taking the ice for the upcoming season!

Qualifying Offers Due: July 7th at 11:59 p.m.
Maximum 8 players. If a team hasn't signed a player prior to this date, they may extend that player a qualifying offer. That offer ensures that the player's ECHL rights stay with that team for a full season.
NEW THIS SEASON: Any player who has played in more than 190 professional regular season games is ineligible to receive a qualifying offer.

Below, you will see various lists of players who played with the Nailers in 2025-26, or had their ECHL rights with Wheeling in 2025-26, and what their statuses are for the 2026-27 season.

ECHL Contracts

Player
Name		Protected
List		Season-
Ending
Roster		Qualifying
Offer		Status
for
2026-27
Craig Armstrong✓   
Owen Cole✓   
Randy Hernández✓   
Alexander Kuqali✓ Ineligible 
Connor Lockhart
(Signed 1-year AHL
contract in-season)		✓   
Ryan Mahshie✓   
Logan Pietila✓   
Mike Posma✓   
Matthew Quercia✓ Ineligible 
Aidan Sutter✓   
Tristan Thompson✓ Ineligible 
Jack Works✓   
Gabriel D'Aigle✓  Signed by
Pittsburgh
Tiernan Shoudy✓  Signed by
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Tanner Andrew✓  Signed by
Cholet (France)
     
Bogdans Hodass
(Suspended - Europe)		✓  Signed by
Jukurit (Finland)
Nick Hutchison
(2025 Qualifying Offer)		✓  Signed by
Villacher (Austria)
Eli Lieffers
(2025 Qualifying Offer)		✓   
Jordan Martel
(2025 Qualifying Offer)		✓  Signed by
Mladá Boleslav (Czechia)
Louie Roehl
(2025 Qualifying Offer)		✓  Signed by
Frederikshavn (Denmark)
Jake Smith
(Suspended - Europe)		✓   
Evan Stella
(2025 Qualifying Offer)		✓  Signed by
Olomouc (Czechia)

AHL Contracts

Player
Name		2025-26
Status		Status
for
2026-27
Raivis Ansons1-year AHL contract 
Blake Bennett1-year AHL contract 
David Breazeale1st of 2-year AHL contractSigned by
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Scooter Brickey1-year AHL contract 
Tommy Budnick1-year AHL contract 
Matty De St. Phalle2nd of 2-year AHL contract 
Brayden Edwards1st of 2-year AHL contractSigned by
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Zach Gallant2nd of 2-year AHL contract 
Max Graham1st of 2-year AHL contractSigned by
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Brent Johnson1-year AHL contract 
Ryan McAllister1-year AHL contract 
Maxim Pavlenko1-year AHL contract 
Nolan Renwick1-year AHL contract 
Zach Urdahl1-year AHL contract 

NHL Contracts

Player
Name		2025-26
Status		Status
for
2026-27
Taylor Gauthier1-year NHL contract 
Finn Harding1st of 3-year NHL contractSigned by
Pittsburgh
Daniel Laatsch1st of 2-year NHL contractSigned by
Pittsburgh
Emil Pieniniemi1st of 3-year NHL contractSigned by
Pittsburgh