Hamilton Hammers Sign Defenseman Ryan Healey to AHL Deal

The Hamilton Hammers have made a significant addition to their roster, announcing the signing of right-shot defenseman Ryan Healey on Sunday afternoon. The Hammers, the American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, secured Healey’s rights from the Minnesota Wild earlier this summer, setting the stage for this one-year AHL contract.

Healey, a 22-year-old blueliner, was drafted by the Wild in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. He has spent the last four seasons honing his skills at Harvard University, where he tallied an impressive 55 points, including 19 goals and 36 assists, across 130 NCAA games. His transition to the professional level comes on the heels of the Islanders acquiring his rights on June 27 for future considerations, just ahead of the expiration of those rights on August 15.

In addition to Healey’s signing, the Hammers also announced the addition of goaltender Ryan Fanti to their roster, who will join Healey on a one-year AHL deal. This move was reported by The Hockey News on Saturday morning, highlighting the Hammers’ efforts to bolster their lineup ahead of the upcoming season.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.