2024 Offseason Cleveland Monsters Player Tracker
Photo Credit: Cleveland Monsters/Jonathan DeMuth
The Cleveland Monsters started the 2023-24 season off with a bang winning four of their six games in October. By the time the first of January rolled around, the Monsters were first in the North Division and had earned four representatives at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic; Head Coach Trent Vogelhuber, Forward Trey Fix-Wolansky, Defender Jake Christiansen, and Goaltender Jet Greaves.
As the back half of the season rolled along, injuries and recalls began to pile up for Cleveland giving them a bumpier path than expected towards the end of the season. However, due to their resilient nature, the Monsters were able to finish the regular season first in the North Division. They then went on to cause a ruckus in the playoffs pushing the reigning Calder Cup Champions, the Hershey Bears, to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals losing in overtime.
Despite losing in the ECF, all eyes were on the Monsters, especially their leadership. When free agency opened on July 1, three of the four captains signed NHL deals with other organizations; Josh Dunne (Buffalo), Brendan Gaunce (Minnesota), and Billy Sweezey (Boston). Two days later, alternate captain Carson Meyer signed with the Anaheim Ducks leaving Cleveland with no returning captains for the 2024-25 season.
It will be interesting to see how the roster takes shape and who embraces a leadership role when the AHL opens the season on October 11.
Below is a tracker of player signings and how the roster might look on opening night. It’s important to note that holding a contract with the Monsters or the Columbus Blue Jackets does not guarantee a roster spot in Cleveland. They could end up in Columbus, the ECHL, or traded to another team (very small chance of a trade happening).
UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS
Forwards
Cameron Butler - Last year of Entry-Level Contract
Hunter McKown - Last year of Entry-Level Contract
James Malatesta - Second-to-last years of Entry-Level Contract
Justin Pearson - Last year of AHL SPC
Luca Del Bel Belluz - First year of Entry-Level Contract. 2023-24 season was an Entry-Level slide year
Mikael Pyyhtia - Last year of Entry-Level Contract
Owen Sillinger - Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with Columbus on 07/01/2024
Stefan Matteau - Signed a one-year AHL contract with Cleveland on 07/08/2024
Trey Fix-Wolansky - Last year of two-year, two-way NHL contract
Defensemen
Cole Clayton - Signed one-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on 07/01/2024
Corson Ceulemans - Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
David Jiricek - Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
Denton Mateychuk - First year of entry-level contract
Jake Christiansen - Received qualifiying offer on 07/01/2024. Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on 07/10/2024 with Columbus.
Ole Julian Bjorgvik Holm - Last year of entry-level contract
Samuel Knazko - Last year of entry-level contract
Stanislav Svozil - Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
Goaltenders
Jet Greaves - Received qualifying offer on 07/01/2024. Signed a two-year NHL contract with Columbus on 07/13/2024. Two-way in 2024-25, One-way NHL in 2025-26.
Pavel Cajan - Signed one-year AHL SPC with Cleveland on 07/02/2024
NEW ADDITIONS
Forwards
Curtis Hall - Signed a one-year AHL SPC on 07/15/2024
Dylan Gambrell - Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with Columbus on 07/02/2024. Played for the Toronto Marlies during the 2023-24 season.
Jordan Dumais - Signed a three-year entry level contract with Columbus on 11/25/2022. Played for Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) in 2023-24.
Max McCue - Signed a three-year entry level contract beginning with the 2024-25 season with Columbus on 03/01/2024. Played for London Knights (OHL) in 2023-24.
Goaltenders
Zach Sawchenko - Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with Columbus on 07/06/2024. Played with the Abbotsford Canucks during 2023-24 season.
DEPARTURES
Any players that have made it official that they won’t be playing with this team next season.
Forwards
Alex Whelan - Announced retirement on 08/27/2024
Brendan Gaunce - Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract with the Minnesota Wild on 07/01/2024
Carson Meyer - Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the Anaheim Ducks on 07/03/2024
Josh Dunne - Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract with the Buffalo Sabres on 07/01/2024
Tyler Angle - Did not receive a qualifying offer. Became a UFA on 07/01/2024. Signed a one-year contract with Dusseldorfer EG of the DEL on 08/23/2024
Defensemen
Billy Sweezey -Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract with the Boston Bruins on 07/01/2024
Nick Blankeburg - Signed a NHL contract with the Nashville Predators on 07/01/2024. Two-way in 2024-25 and one-way in 2025-26
FREE AGENTS
Resources on helping understand Unrestricted Free Agents, Restricted Free Agents, and Arbitration.
Forwards
Jake Gaudet - UFA
Roman Ahcan - UFA
Defensemen
Jakub Zboril - UFA
Marcus Bjork - Did not receive a qualifying offer. Became a UFA on 07/01/2024
Goaltenders
Malcolm Subban - UFA
