Former Cleveland Monsters forward Rocco Grimaldi has signed a two-year contract with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg, the team announced Wednesday [https://x.com/hcSKA/status/1955596218001932503]. Grimaldi recorded 17 goals and 58 points in 66 games with the Monsters last season. Gerard Gallant Joins Shanghai Dragons The 32-year-old is a two-time AHL All-Star and was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team in 2023-24 after putting up 36 goals and 73 points in 72 games with the Chicago Wolves. Originally a second round selection of the Florida Panthers in 2011 Grimaldi notched 30 goals and 67 points in 203 career NHL games with the Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and Nashville Predators. Grimaldi has been one of the top forwards in the the AHL over the past four seasons. He sits 187th on the AHL all-time scoring list with 428 points in 499 games. The Rossmore, CA., native led the 2023 World Hockey Championship in scoring with Team USA and was named to the tournament All-Star Team after posting 14 points in 10 games. We have mentioned this in every free agent article but Grimaldi is another high profile AHL player who is departing for the KHL as the AHL continues to become a younger league. He joins Joseph Blandisi who signed with St. Petersburg earlier this week. [https://thehockeynews.com/ahl/latest-news/former-toronto-marlies-forward-joseph-blandisi-signs-in-khl] Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here [https://thehockeynews.com/ahl/latest-news/ahl-free-agency-2025-tracker-and-analysis].
