Laval signs Samuel Vigneault and Corey Schueneman
While NHL free agency is on hold until November, AHL free agency is now underway. Laval has made a couple of moves to add some depth, announcing the signings of Samuel Vigneault and Corey Schueneman to one-year, one-way AHL contracts.
Vigneault, 24, signed with Columbus as an undrafted college free agent in 2017 after three years with Clarkson University. However, the centre was non-tendered by the Blue Jackets following the completion of his entry-level deal last year but Columbus opted to bring him back on a minor league contract for this past season. He suited up in 57 games with AHL Cleveland in 2019-20, picking up 11 goals and six assists.
As for Schueneman, the 24-year-old played in his first full professional year this season after playing at Western Michigan for a four-year NCAA career. He spent the majority of the season with AHL Stockton (Calgary’s affiliate), picking up three goals and 18 assists in 44 games while chipping in with two goals and an assist in four games with Kansas City of the ECHL.
Both players are unlikely to play big roles with the Rocket next season although Schueneman is interesting given his rookie success with the Heat. That said, he’s still likely to be relatively low on the depth chart depending on what happens with Xavier Ouellet, Karl Alzner, and Gustav Olofsson for next season. Meanwhile, Vigneault looks like a possible fit on the fourth line or a reserve role and could replace someone like William Pelletier whose season was riddled with injury trouble but was earmarked for a similar spot on the depth chart had he been healthy.
Vigneault’s Stats:
Schuenemann’s Stats: