The Atlanta Gladiators have submitted their 2024–25 Season-Ending Roster, narrowing their rights list to 20 players: 12 forwards, seven defensemen, and a goaltender. Every player listed signed an ECHL contract during the season, making them eligible for retention as the offseason unfolds.
Atlanta’s 2024–25 Season-Ending Roster
Forwards (12): Easton Armstrong, Mickey Burns, Joey Cipollone, Ryan Cranford, Carson Denomie, Ryan Francis, Connor Galloway, Eric Neiley, Jackson Pierson, Cody Sylvester, Nick Wong, Alex Young
Defensemen (7): Dylan Carabia, Brenden Datema, Anthony Firriolo, Andrew Jarvis, Jack Robilloti, Derek Topatigh, Zach Yoder
Goaltenders (1): Drew DeRidder
This year’s list includes many familiar faces from Atlanta’s earlier protected list—players who brought grit, energy, and production to the ice throughout the 2023–24 season.
What Changed Since the Protected List
One of the most notable changes from the protected list is the inclusion of Jackson Pierson, who has since signed overseas. After two full seasons with the Gladiators, Pierson will head to Herforder EV in Germany’s third-tier league. While he won’t return this fall, listing him preserves Atlanta’s rights if he returns to the ECHL.
Meanwhile, defenseman Jack Robilloti was added as part of a futures deal with the Bloomington Bison. The 6’2″ rookie defenseman brings a physical edge and upside to Atlanta’s blue line after appearing in 54 games last season. A full breakdown of the three futures trades completed ahead of the roster deadline is available here: Gladiators Complete Trio of Futures Deals
Eric Neiley, who announced his retirement at the end of the season, also appears on the list. Under ECHL rules, teams may include retired players on their Season-Ending Roster to retain their rights until all details are finalized. Even if a player announces retirement publicly, if they signed an ECHL contract during the season and were not traded or released, the team can still include them on the Season-Ending Roster.
With the foundation now set, the Gladiators now turn their attention to signings and roster construction for the 2025–26 season.
Possible Early Signings to Watch
As qualifying offers and re-signings roll out, a few names stand out as strong candidates to be announced early. Here’s one veteran and one newcomer who I think could headline the first wave of offseason moves:
Derek Topatigh led all Gladiators defensemen in scoring last season, finishing with 45 points across 71 games. Known for his smooth puck movement and calm presence under pressure, he’s been a key part of Atlanta’s defensive identity. If the team wants to lock down its blue line early, Topatigh’s return would be a strong signal of continuity and leadership.
Alex Young, despite joining the Atlanta team late in the year, quickly made an impact with his impressive scoring ability, netting 8 points in just 11 games. His offensive instincts and knack for creating scoring opportunities earned him a position in the top six. This makes him a strong candidate for an early re-signing and suggests he could be a breakout player next season.
What’s Next: Qualifying Offers on the Clock
The next key date is July 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET, when teams may issue qualifying offers to up to eight players from their Season-Ending Roster. Of those eight, no more than four can be veterans (260+ professional regular-season games as of the season start). (ECHL, 2025).
Players who re-sign before the deadline do not need to receive a qualifying offer. For those who do not re-sign, the qualifying offers must remain open until July 22. On this date, veterans and goaltenders with over 180 professional games become restricted free agents. After that, they may receive offers from other teams, but the original team has seven days to match any outside offer. (ECHL, 2025).
If no deal is in place by August 8, the player becomes unrestricted to sign with any ECHL team. (ECHL, 2025).
For a complete listing of the Season‑Ending Rosters from all 30 ECHL teams you may check out the league’s official release: ECHL Announces Season‑Ending Rosters
https://echl.com/news/2025/06/echl-announces-season-ending-rosters
ECHL. (2025, June 22). ECHL announces Season-Ending Rosters. https://echl.com/news/2025/06/echl-announces-season-ending-rosters
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