Busy start to free agency for Sea Dogs alumni

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It was a busy start to NHL free agency for several former Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday. Here's a quick rundown of the moves.

• Joe Veleno signed a one-year contract – with a cap hit of $1.2 million – with the New York Rangers for the 2026-27 season. The 26-year-old spent last season with the Montreal Canadiens where he posted two goals and three assists in 61 games. He also saw his first career Stanley Cup Playoff action, posting an assist in nine games. Veleno has now played for four of the NHL's Original Six franchises: Detroit, Chicago, Montreal and now New York.
• Mathieu Joseph signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers worth an AAV of $1 million. The 29-year-old split last season between the St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings, posting two goals and nine assists in 51 games. He also appeared in two playoff games with the Kings. This will be Joseph's fifth NHL team (Tampa Bay, Ottawa, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Edmonton).
• Riley Bezeau has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 24-year-old spent all of last season with Columbus' AHL affiliate in Cleveland where he recorded five goals, two assists and 74 penalty minutes in 24 regular season games. He added a goal in eight playoff games. “Riley is a physical and hard-working forward that competes every shift,” said Blue Jackets' president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell. “He has earned his opportunity and we look forward to see his further growth in the Blue Jackets organization.”
• Philippe Daoust has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators. The 24-year-old just completed his fourth season with the AHL's Belleville Senators. In 63 games last season, Daoust recorded 14 goals and 36 assists – by far the most productive of his professional career, one that has had some injury troubles along the way.
• Boko Imama is heading south, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers. The 29-year-old has spent the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Last season, Imama recorded six goals, five assists and 137 penalty minutes in 66 regular season AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He added an assist and 18 penalty minutes in six playoff games. He also appeared in two NHL games with Pittsburgh. Florida's AHL affiliate is the Charlotte Checkers.
• A few days ago, Joshua Roy signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Utah Mammoth that's worth $850,000 at the NHL level. The 22-year-old spent most of last season with the AHL's Laval Rocket where he had 23 goals and 22 assists in 57 regular season games and another two goals in five playoff matches. He also appeared in three NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens.

Other former Sea Dogs to play in the NHL last season: Charlie Coyle (Columbus), Thomas Chabot (Ottawa), Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida), Yan Kuznetsov (Calgary) and William Villeneuve (Toronto).