Starting at noon on July 1, the NHL free agency will open, and teams will begin to make moves in order to bolster their roster for the 2025-26 season.
In the 2024-25 season, Michigan State had five players playing in the NHL, but that number will continue to grow as Adam Nightingale begins to bolster his program. Pushing more and more draft picks and NHL signings from the Spartans program to the NHL.
Before fresh Spartans enter into the NHL, there are current NHLers from the Spartans program that are looking to continue their careers at hockey’s highest level.
With free agency on the horizon, there are four former Spartans that are looking to gain a contract in the NHL, whether it be a straight NHL one-way deal or a two-way deal between the NHL and AHL.
Jeff Petry
The 38-year-old Petry has been in the NHL since 2010, and most recently, has spent his last two seasons with the hometown Detroit Red Wings. Petry’s career has been spent with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadians, Pittsburgh Penguins and Red Wings.
With his contract expired in Detroit, he is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is looking for one of the final NHL contracts of his NHL career.
Mason Appleton
Appleton has spent seven years in the NHL, with six and a half of those years being with the Winnipeg Jets, although he did spend half a season with the Seattle Kraken. His successful run with the Jets has come to a close after his three year contract extension expired this offseason.
Now, the 29-year old forward is going to the open market, and as a bottom six forward, he has value to a lot of teams for the depth role he provides.
Mackenzie MacEachern
Mackenzie MacEachern was a solid role player that spent five different regular seasons with the St. Louis Blues, and also got to be a part of a deep playoff stint with the Carolina Hurricanes.
After spending a year in the AHL, the former Spartan could provide teams with a veteran presence on a fourth line, and is looking to get his chance back in the NHL.
Taro Hirose
One of the most prolific scorers in Michigan State history, and one of the few bright spots to the Danton Cole era, Hirose is looking to get his name back on NHL radars. The winger got to spend parts of five different seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and the Grand Rapids Griffins, he spent the past season with EHC München in the German DEL.
Hirose will be eyeing a two-way contract to get himself back into an NHL franchises eye sight.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Four former Michigan State hockey players eyeing NHL contracts
