News staff and wire services
The University of Michigan added top 2026 NHL prospect Adam Valentini to the incoming freshmen class, introduced on Tuesday by coach Brandon Naurato.
Valentini, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward who led the Chicago Steel of the USHL in scoring with 39 points on 17 goals and 22 assists in 58 games last year, was scheduled to begin training camp with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL next week, but entered the transfer portal and committed to the Wolverines.
Valentini, projected to be a first-round pick in the NHL draft next year, just won a bronze medal representing Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He finished the tournament with two goals, two assists, and was plus-9 in five games. The other freshmen include:
Asher Barnett, defenseman, 6-1, 195, USNTDP
Jack Ivankovic, goalie, 6-0, 179, Brampton (OHL)
Cole McKinney, forward, 6-0, 199, USNTDP
Henry Mews, defenseman, 6-1, 183, Sudbury (OHL)
Julian Molinaro, goalie, 5-11, 179, Northern Michigan (NCAA)
Ben Robertson, defenseman, 5-11, 192, Cornell (NCAA)
Aidan Park, forward, 6-1, 187, Green Bay (USHL)
Stephen Peck, goalie, 6-3, 176, Muskegon (USHL)
Jayden Perron, forward, 5-9, 175, North Dakota (NCAA)
Drew Schock, defenseman, 6-0, 175, USNTDP
Malcolm Spence, forward, 6-2, 201, Erie (OHL)
Teddy Spitznagel, forward, 6-3, 187, Muskegon (USHL)
Ex-Wing Smith signs with Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets signed veteran defenceman Brendan Smith to a professional tryout contract.
The 36-year-old former Red Wings spent last season with the Dallas Stars, posting one goal and six points in 32 games while carrying a $1 million cap hit on a one-year deal.
“Brendan Smith is an experienced, physical blueliner that competes hard and is sound in the defensive zone,” Blue Jackets president and general manager Don Waddell said. “He is a veteran presence with great character and professionalism, and we are excited to have the opportunity to bring him to camp.”
Selected 27th overall by Detroit in the 2007 draft, Smith has 39 goals and 144 points over 726 career games with the Red Wings, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and Stars.
Blues take chance on veteran Lucic
The St. Louis Blues signed veteran forward Milan Lucic to a professional tryout on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old winger last played early in the 2023-24 season, appearing in four games with the Boston Bruins before taking an indefinite leave of absence.
He was charged with domestic violence shortly after the leave was announced, but prosecutors dropped the case four months later, saying the decision by his wife to invoke marital privilege made it impossible for them to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lucic has completed the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and has been reinstated by the league.
A second-round pick of the Bruins in the 2006 draft, Lucic has 233 goals and 586 points in 1,177 career games with Boston, the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
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