Ex-Duck, Coyote, Canuck Signs Try-Out Contract In Germany

Canadian forward Brandon McMillan, 34, has signed a try-out contract with the Schwenninger Wild Wings, the German DEL club announced on Monday.

The Wild Wings’ forward depth has been challenged by injuries and Norwegian veteran Ken André Olimb’s return to the lineup apparently won’t happen any time soon, so the club stepped up its effort to find some short-term help and McMillan was a willing participant.

“Brandon signaled to us directly that he would like to play for us and his willingness to initially sign a tryout contract shows that he feels physically ready,” said Wild Wings GM Stefan Wagner.

Born and raised in Greater Vancouver, McMillan played junior hockey for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets and was drafted in the third round, 85th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

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Between 2010 and 2015, McMillan played 171 NHL regular-season games for the Ducks, Arizona Coyotes and hometown Vancouver Canucks, scoring 14 goals and adding 22 assists and 60 penalty minutes. He also played in eight playoff games with the Ducks and Canucks, recording three points.

McMillan played the 2015-16 in the DEL with ERC Ingolstadt but then played in the KHL from 2016 to 2021 with the Croatian-based KHL Medveščak Zagreb, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Latvian-based Dinamo Riga, Avangard Omsk and Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

After two seasons in Switzerland with HC Ambri-Priotta, McMillan was back in the KHL last season with Kunlun Red Star, which is nominally based in China but has not played there in almost five years. He had 20 points and 45 penalty minutes in 43 KHL games in 2023-24.

Internationally, McMillan won a gold medal with Canada at the 2008 IIHF U-18 World Championship and a silver at the 2010 World Junior Championship.

The club stated that it expects McMillan to arrive in Schwenning on Wednesday, with the team’s next game at home on Friday against Löwen Frankfurt. Schwenning currently sits 11th in the 14-team DEL with 30 points in 24 games.