ECHL: Utah Grizzlies Announce 2025-26 Qualifying Offers Among Other Moves

The Utah Grizzlies had a busy Tuesday, as they made a trade, signed a player, and extended qualifying offers to seven different players.

Utah Grizzlies Qualifying Offers

Teams are allowed to protect a maximum of eight players; of those eight, no more than four can be Veterans (260 regular-season professional hockey games played prior to the 2025-26 season). Players who have signed contracts prior to July 7th don’t need qualifying offers. Anyone given a qualifying offer can’t be traded. Offers stay open until July 22nd.

Gianni Fairbrother (D)

Adam Berg (F)

Cooper Jones (D)

Craig Armstrong (F)

Luke Manning (F)

Reed Lebster (F)

Andrius Kulbis-Marino (D)

Grizzlies Sign Dryden McKay

The Utah Grizzlies have announced that they’ve signed goaltender Dryden McKay for the 2025-26 season. McKay, 27, played in 42 games last season with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Bloomington Bison, where he put up a 15-21-5 record with a 2.91 GAA, .912SV%, and two shutouts. He also played in one game with the Ontario Reign in the AHL. The Downers Grove, Illinois, native spent the first two years of his career with the Newfoundland Growlers. In 57 games with the Growlers, he put up a 27-20-5 record with a 3.18 GAA, .899SV%, and two shutouts. This is a strong signing for a Grizzlies team that finished the last season 28th in goals allowed per game (4.06).

“Solidifying our goaltending for the upcoming season was very important to us, and signing Dryden was a decision that came easy. His ability to win big games and provide consistency is exactly what a championship team needs. We look for big things to come from Dryden this season,” says General Manager Erik Hudson.
Utah Grizzlies General Manager Erik Hudson on the signing of McKay (Via Utah Grizzlies Press Release)

Prior to going pro, McKay spent four years at Minnesota State University (Mankato) where he would put up exceptional numbers. He would finish his NCAA career with a 113-20-4 record, a 1.46 GAA, a .932 SV%, and 34 shutouts. McKay was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award in each of his four years in the NCAA and finally won the award in his final season. He holds the NCAA record for wins (113) and shutouts (89), and the single-season wins (38).

Utah Grizzlies and Fort Wayne Komets Swap Defensemen

The Utah Grizzlies have announced that they’ve acquired defenseman Noah Ganske from the Fort Wayne Komets in exchange for Grant Gabriele. Ganske, 26, has spent his entire three-year career with the Komets, putting up eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points in 130 games. The Bloomington, Minnesota native has added three assists in 15 career Kelly Cup Playoff games. There’s no doubt that Ganske will add some size to the Grizzlies blueline, standing at 6’7, 209lbs.

“Noah is a large presence on the ice, and can play in any scenario. We will look heavily to him in key situations, and we could not be more excited to finalize this deal for Noah to come to Utah. Moving Grant was not an easy decision, we wish him the best in his playing future,” says GM Erik Hudson.
Utah Grizzlies GM Erik Hudson on the trade (Via Utah Grizzlies Press Release)

Gabriele, 28, played in 26 games last season with the Toledo Walleye and Utah Grizzlies, putting up three goals and six assists for nine points, all of which came in Toledo. He would also see action in 15 games with the Cleveland Monsters at the AHL level. Over the course of his five-year career, the Brighton, Michigan, native has played in 133 ECHL games while putting up 13 goals and 36 assists for 49 points while spending time with the Maine Mariners and Toledo Walleye. He’s seen 22 games at the AHL level with the Providence Bruins, Rochester Americans, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Cleveland Monsters.