According to AHL Insider Tony Androckitis, the Colorado Eagles, an affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, are signing netminder Hunter Miska to a one-year contract for the 2026-27 season. The contract signifies Miska’s return to an organization he once called home.
Miska, 31, began his professional career back in the 2017-18 season. He had recently finished his lone season with the NCAA’s University of Minnesota-Duluth, finishing with an impressive 27-5-5 record in 39 games with a .920 SV% and 2.20 GAA. Miska backstopped the Bulldogs to an NCHC championship and the National Championship before the University of Denver defeated them.
As an undrafted free agent, Miska was free to sign with any team, and he eventually landed with the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes on a two-year entry-level contract. Spending two years with Arizona, Miska largely played for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners throughout his tenure in the Coyotes organization. Still, he was allowed to make his NHL debut on November 13th, 2018, against the Detroit Red Wings. He gave up one goal on nine shots.
Miska did not receive a qualifying offer after his entry-level contract expired, and he quickly signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. After a solid season with AHL Colorado, the Avalanche gave him another two-year deal. Colorado is where Miska got his most playing time in the NHL, playing in five games during the 2020-21 season, earning a 1-1-2 record with a .838 SV% and 4.16 GAA.
After his final contract with Colorado concluded, Miska spent two years in the DEL with the Straubing Tigers and another half-season in the KHL with the Dynamo Moskva before returning to North America with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders. He spent last season with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies, managing a 7-5-3 record in 16 games with a .902 SV% and 2.98 GAA.