The annual migration of talent has started in full this week.

While the Tampa Bay Lightning organization snagged Brynäs defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astou on a one-year contract to begin this week, a number of AHL names are moving in the opposite direction for European opportunities as well.

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Leading the way is Bakersfield Condors forward Roby Järventie, who is heading back to his hometown of Tampere, Finland on a new three-year deal with Tappara.

The 22-year-old Järventie, who was on the other side of the Tampere rivalry with Ilves before coming to North America late in the 2020-21 season, missed all but two games this season with a knee injury. The parent Edmonton Oilers had acquired him from the Ottawa Senators last July in a swap for prospects Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson. Ottawa had selected him in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, but he had largely spent these past four seasons in the AHL, mainly with the Belleville Senators. He had 38-50-88 in 138 career AHL games between Belleville and Bakersfield and also played seven games with Ottawa.

Also on his way back to Europe next season is Laval Rocket goaltender Connor Hughes, who took a five-year contract to return to NLA club HC Lausanne. A standout performance last season with Lausanne had earned Hughes a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens, and he teamed up with both Jakub Dobeš and Cayden Primeau to give the Rocket elite goaltending. Laval finished first in the AHL in goals-against; for his part, the 28-year-old Hughes went 15-12-2 | 2.58 | .905 with two shutouts in 29 appearances.

But while Primeau’s future status with the Montreal organization is still to be sorted out, the decision by top prospect Jacob Fowler to leave Boston College and turn pro means that net time with Laval could be severely limited next season. Fowler, who has gotten off to an excellent start with the Rocket, is only 20 years old and a prime candidate to get ample development time with the Rocket. With potentially little playing time available in Laval as well as the lure of a five-year deal in one of Europe’s top leagues, Hughes will keep his time in the AHL to just this one season.

Like Hughes, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Filip Král is returning to a former European club. The 25-year-old has a new three-year agreement with Czech club HC Kometa Brno. That organization is where Král came up through its development ranks and also spent parts of three pro seasons. He had also played parts of three seasons with the Toronto Marlies, went to Finland in 2023-24, and then signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins last May. But after being a Liiga All-Star, he did not get into a game with Pittsburgh and finished 7-22-29 in 61 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Chicago Wolves forward Nick Swaney is going to Austria, where he will play for the Graz 99ers. Swaney had an 18-goal season with the Iowa Wild in 2022-23, but missed most of the following campaign. After parts of four seasons with Iowa, he moved on to the Wolves on an AHL contract last season. In 48 games, the 27-year-old produced 9-12-21.

Other European departures are Utica Comets forward Filip Engaras (Södertälje – Allsvenskan) and Calgary Wranglers netminder Waltteri Ignatjew (Linköping – SHL).

Brown Stays With Bruins

The Providence Bruins could have their captain back next season after forward Patrick Brown signed a one-year extension with the Boston Bruins.

The 2019 Calder Cup champion signed a two-way deal for next season after playing 56 games with the P-Bruins and finishing with 17-29-46. Brown's Providence club will continue its best-of-five series against the Charlotte Checkers this Friday. After losing back-to-back games at home, the P-Bruins rallied for a 3-2 win in Game 3 at Charlotte.

The Boston organization has become a stable port for Brown, who turns 33 on May 29. The Boston College product departing the Carolina Hurricanes organization following that Calder Cup championship, Brown found himself cycling through several NHL organizations. He landed on waivers in 2021 and ended up with the Philadelphia Flyers. He then went to the Ottawa Senators for the end of the 2022-23 season before signing with Boston that summer. Since coming to the Boston organization, he has also dressed for 26 NHL games, including one Stanley Cup Playoff contest last year.

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