The Milwaukee Admirals have signed defenseman Matt Donovan to a one-year AHL contract. The 28-year old defenseman played the last two seasons in Sweden with Frölunda HC. He has 67 games of NHL experience with the New York Islanders.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI—The Milwaukee Admirals announced today that the team has signed defenseman Matt Donovan to an American Hockey League contract for the 2018-19 season.

Donovan has spent the past two seasons with Frölunda of the Swedish Hockey League. During the 2017-18 campaign he led the team with a +11 rating and was second among club defenseman with 27 points on seven goals and 20 assists. During his time with Frölunda he totaled 42 points (8g-34a) and a +16 rating in 102 contests.

A native of Edmond, OK, Donovan played parts of six seasons in the AHL, most recently with the Rochester Americans in 2015-16 when he had eight goals and 23 assists in 73 games. He was originally drafted by the New York Islanders in the fourth round of the 2008 draft and was named to the AHL All-Rookie team in 2012 with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The following season he was selected for the AHL All-Star game and finished the year tied for the league lead among AHL blueliners with 48 points (14g-34a).

Donovan has 67 games of NHL experience, all with the Islanders, posting two goals and 17 assists for 29 points. He played two seasons at the University of Denver and was a member of TeamUSA’s gold-medal winning team at the World Junior Championships in 2010.

Donovan and the Admirals 2018-19 schedule will be released later this summer, the Admirals do know that they will play their home opener on Saturday, October 13 at 6 pm at Panther Arena.

Season tickets for the 2018-19 campaign are on sale and start for as little as $135. For more information on season tickets fans should call the Admirals office at 414-227-0550 or log on to http://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com.

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This is yet another move on defense. Earlier in the off-season the Nashville Predators signed Czech defenseman Filip Pyrochta to a two-year entry level contract. Both Pyrochta and Donovan are left side defenseman meaning, alongside Joonas Lyytinen, there is already a pretty good left-right balance established with Alex Carrier, Jack Dougherty, and Frédéric Allard all returning next season.

With the signing of Donovan the Admirals instantly get something they did not have from the start of last season: a veteran defensive presence.

Donovan returns to North America after time spent playing professionally in Sweden. The Oklahoma native provides the Admirals young defense with NHL experience but also 253 games of AHL experience. He was selected to the 2013 AHL All-Star Game while playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and is an all-around defenseman who can provide offense from the blueline.

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