Local trio sign contracts with two NHL teams
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Staff Report - Published: July 8, 2008
The National Hockey League crowned a new champion this spring and last week, three local hockey players got in on the off-season signing spree.
The trio is Norwich grads Keith Aucoin and Kurtis McLean and Stowe's Graham Mink, all of whom signed new contracts with NHL teams last week, though Aucoin, based on his success in the NHL last season would seem to be the most likely to have a shot at the bigs.
Aucoin and Mink both signed contracts with the Washington Capitals with Aucoin, off a 2007-2008 season in which he played 38 games with the Carolina Hurricanes and scored five goals with eight assists, inking a two-year deal.
The length of Mink's deal was not announced, but the 6-foot, 3-inch forward returns to the Capitals organization after two years with San Jose (playing his games with the minor league Worcester Sharks).
During that period Mink played in 132 games and scored 53 goals with 63 assists. Mink has been activated for five NHL games and has not scored an NHL point.
Both Aucoin and Mink have been playing professional hockey since the 2001-2002 season.
McLean signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders after playing the past two seasons in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
Going into his fifth professional hockey season McLean has yet to appear in an NHL game, but played 131 games over the past two years in minor league Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and scored 38 goals with 48 assists.
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