Kent Hughes remained rather discreet at the opening of the free agent market. As the first take of his career on that always hectic day, he agreed with defenseman Madison Bowey to a one-year, two-way deal.
Posted at 1:56 p.m.
Updated at 2:30 p.m.
Rick Dhaliwal of The Athletic in Vancouver was the first to report the news. The Canadian has since confirmed it, in addition to adding the signing, for one year in two parts, of forwards Anthony Richard and Mitchell Stephens.
Bowey, 27, spent the majority of last season in the American League, and could therefore give the Laval Rocket a boost. The old choice of 2e round (53e in total) of the Capitals in 2013 had 8 goals and 20 assists in 53 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. He also played two games with the big club in Vancouver.
The Manitoban hasn’t played permanently in the NHL since the 2019-20 campaign, when he played 53 games with the Red Wings, amassing 17 points (3 goals, 14 assists).
The Rocket will need experience on the blue line, after losing veteran Xavier Ouellet to free agency on Wednesday.
PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
madison bowey
Richard, a 25-year-old center, played 71 American League games with the Syracuse Crunch and Milwaukee Admirals last season. He scored 17 goals and 21 assists. The Trois-Rivières native has played in two career NHL games with the Nashville Predators.
Stephens meanwhile played 27 games with the Red Wings in 2021-22, where he had six assists. The Ontarian has played 72 career NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Red Wings.