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Wednesday Caterwaul: Florida Panthers Open Forum

Florida Panthers prospect Stepan Zvyagin set up a goal in Dinamo Minsk’s 6-3 victory over Metallurg Magnitogorsk in preseason action from the KHL.

Zvyagin drew the lone assist on Sergei Kuznetsov’s insurance marker 8:49 into the third period that made the score 5-3.

The 19-year-old Zvyagin was taken by the Panthers in seventh round (198th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. He is looking to establish himself as a regular with Dinamo after playing 15 games for the club last season.

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The Charlotte Checkers have signed defeneman Will Reilly and center Patrick Khodorenko to one-year, two-way AHL contracts.

Reilly, 26, posted five points (1G/4A) in 30 games for the Tucson Roadrunners last season – his third professional campaign. A seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017, Reilly has totaled 16 points (5G/11A) in 96 AHL games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Tucson, as well as six points (2G/4A) in 3 career ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers. Prior to turning pro, the Ontario native spent four years at RPI where he notched 22 goals and 68 points in 139 NCAA games and earned a spot on the ECAC Second All-Star Team in 2019-20.

Khodorenko, 24, appeared in just four games (no points) for the Hartford Wolf Pack last season due to injuries. Over his professional career, he has produced 13 goals and 37 points in 93 games for the Wolf Pack. The California native spent four years at Michigan State before turning pro – playing alongside current Checker Dennis Cesana. Khodorenko racked up 120 points (54G/66A) in 143 NCAA games, leading the Spartans in scoring in 2019-20 and earning a spot on the Big-10 First All-Star Team in 2019-20 and Second All-Star Team in 2018-19

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Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo has put in a letter of intent to purchase 41 acres in Mesa for the team’s new arena, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. This would the first step in yet another go at building a permanent home for the beleaguered franchise after the Coyotes lost a vote in spring to build a new facility in Tempe. The Desert Dogs are currently sharing Mullett Arena with the Arizona State Sun Devils.

For more on this story visit our sister site Five For Howling

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Unrestricted free agent goaltender Alex Stalock signed a one-year contract worth $800K with the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Last season, Stalock went 9-15-2 with two shutouts with the Chicago Blackhawks, posting a 3.01 goals against average and .908 save percentage.