Coachella Valley Firebirds free agent tracker: Who's staying and who's going?

The life of an American Hockey League team comes with a lot of player movement in the offseason.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds have several key players who are free agents this year, and we've be tracking their comings and goings as the Seattle Kraken organization makes decisions on their futures.

There was a ton of player movement on Monday, the first day of free agency and here is a roundup of the major moves including which beloved Firebirds are leaving, and what new talent has been brought in.

Andrew Poturalski lands with San Jose

The last of the two-year Firebirds who were free agents had to wait until Wednesday, but Andrew Poturalski was scooped up by the San Jose Sharks organization. Poturalski, who has been in the last four Calder Cup Finals, will remain in the Pacific Division, and if he is playing at the AHL level next season will play against the Firebirds at least eight times.

Poturalski only played in the first half of Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals before being injured by a hit along the boards. He did not return to the series and his absence was detrimental as the Firebirds lost the series to the Hershey Bears in 6.

Chris Driedger signed by Stanley Cup champion Panthers

Firebirds goalie Chris Driedger joined the exodus on Monday as he was signed by the Florida Panthers organization, a franchise he had played with before. The Panthers, fresh off a Stanley Cup title, added Driedger who emerged as the Firebirds' No. 1 goalie this season, playing every single minute of the playoffs for the Firebirds. The deal was a one-year deal for the 30-year-old goalie.

Kraken sign five veteran free agents to deals to beef up Firebirds roster

While fans may focus on the ones that got away, the Kraken organization was busy bringing new players in as well, signing five veteran free agents of their own, many of whom will be with the Firebirds this upcoming season.

That group includes:

Mitchell Stephens (two-year, two-way, $775K AAV): The 27-year-old comes over from the Montreal Canadiens organization. He's played in 95 NHL games in his career including 23 with the Canadiens last year, while spending the rest of the year in the AHL with Laval.

Brandon Biro (one-year, two-way, $775K AAV): A 26-year-old forward who played for Rochester of the AHL last year and in five games for the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL.

Nikolas Brouillard (one-year, two-way, $775K AAV): A 29-year-old defenseman played for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL last year.

Maxime Lajoie (one-year, two-way, $775K AAV): The 26-year-old defenseman played most of last year with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and won a Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves in 2022.

Ben Meyers (one-year, one-way, $775K AAV): The 25-year-old Forward was with the Colorado Eagles to start last season in the AHL and then played for the Colorado Avalanche and Anaheim Ducks of the NHL.

Original Firebirds, Kole Lind and Cameron Hughes join Dallas Stars

Two fan favorites are leaving after two amazing years with the Firebirds, but they'll be staying together.

Cameron Hughes, who famously scored the first-ever goal at Acrisure Arena, and his fellow two-year teammate Kole Lind both signed with the Dallas Stars organization on Monday.

Hughes led the Firebirds with 16 points this postseason and Lind is one of the all-time Firebirds leaders in scoring. Lind led the Firebirds in points this regular season and was second the previous year. He is tied with Max McCormick for the most points in Firebirds history.

Jimmy Schuldt scooped up by San Jose Sharks organization

Schuldt, a reliable defenseman for the last two years for the Firebirds, is moving on to the San Jose Sharks organization. The Sharks signed a one-year, two-way deal with Schuldt, who will likely spend time at Acrisure Arena next year as a visitor as a member of the San Jose Barracuda.

Connor Carrick signs with Edmonton Oilers organization

Talented defenseman Connor Carrick will be leaving the Firebirds after just one year as he signed on Monday as an undrafted free agent with the Edmonton Oilers organization. It's a one-year, two-way contract for $775,000. There's a good chance Firebirds will get to see Carrick next year if he is a member of the Oilers AHL team the Bakersfield Condors which are also in the Pacific Division.

Devin Shore signed by Minnesota Wild

One of the most reliable Firebirds in the past season was signed as an unrestricted free agent Monday by the Minnesota Wild. It's a one-year, two-way contract at $775,000. Shore upped his game in the playoffs for the Firebirds and was the scorer of probably the most important goal of the postseason, the OT winner against Calgary in Game 2 of that series.

Four Firebirds players re-signed with Seattle on Sunday

Free agency begins Monday, but the Kraken shored up four notable Firebirds on Sunday avoiding the free-agency period.

Max McCormick: The captain will remain in the organization. Max McCormick who has been the Firebirds' captain each of the first two years, will remain in the organization as the Kraken signed him to a two-way contract on Sunday. The team signed him to a two-year, two-way contract for $775,000 average annual value. The two-way contract also allows the team to move a player up and down without having to sign a new deal or restructure the contract every time the player switches teams. 

John Hayden: Playoff hero and two-year Firebirds mainstay Hayden also re-signed with the Kraken organization Sunday before hitting free agency. Unlike McCormick, Hayden signed a one-year, one-way contract for $775,000. The fact that it's a one-way contract indicateds the Kraken might be expecting to have Hayden on the roster in Seattle.

Luke Henman: The first-ever member of the Seattle Kraken organization, Henman will stick around. He was a restricted free agent, meaning the Kraken had to send him an offer sheet today, and he accepted the terms. Henman's contract is a one-year, two-way deal for $775,000. It's fair to expect him to be on the Firebirds next season.

Ales Stezka: The Firebirds' goalie who served in a back-up role last season appears to be next in line to be the No. 1 guy with the Firebirds. The Kraken avoided free agency with Stezka, signing him Sunday to a one-year, two-way contract for $775,000.

Studenic off to Sweden

Ultra-fast Firebirds forward Marian Studenic has chosen to skip free agency altogether and play in the Swedish Hockey League next season instead of the AHL. He signed a deal Sunday with the team Farjestad. Studenic is from Slovakia.

Restricted free agent updates

The Kraken did not give a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Ville Petman on Sunday, meaning he is now an unrestricted free agent and his tenure with the Firebirds is likely over. The Kraken did give a qualifying offer to Peetro Seppala, which means he remains a restricted free agent and the Kraken can counter an offer given to him by another team.