Kyle Garcia 
With free agency right around the corner, we will look at potential free agents that could be a fit for the Ontario Reign.
Player profile:
Name: Brogan Rafferty
Age: 28
Date of Birth: 5/28/1995
Height: 6’1
Weight: 203 lbs
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Team: Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken)
Status: UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent)
Stats: 72 games, 9 goals, 42 assists, 51 points, +28 rating
No better time for Brogan Rafferty to score his first #CalderCup Playoffs goal than last night. @Firebirds | #CVvsMIL pic.twitter.com/NVrjXSnZWO
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 4, 2023
Who is Brogan Rafferty?
Last offseason, Brogan Rafferty signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Seattle Kraken. He has had a spectacular season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the club’s inaugural season, posting 51 points, good enough for 4th in the AHL among defensemen and first on the team among Firebirds defensemen. In the previous season, with the San Diego Gulls, he finished third on the team for points by a defenseman with 24. The Firebirds’ style is about the transition game, where he excels by jumping in the play. While his offensive game gets the attention, he is a good skater and a capable defender in his zone. He may not be the fastest player on the ice, but he knows how to be in the right position to make good plays on both ends of the ice.
Tonight is sponsored by Brogan Rafferty. @Firebirds | #SJvsCV pic.twitter.com/cy5i87Tpqv
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) January 8, 2023
Why should the organization sign him?
I like the player, and I think he could be a good fit for the Ontario Reign, which features a young group of defensemen on the back end. He can provide veteran leadership back there, as well as his offense. While every player’s dream is to make an NHL roster, it hasn’t been the case for Rafferty since becoming a professional in 2019 after three seasons at Quinnipiac. With only three career NHL games, Rafferty has spent plenty of time in the AHL during his brief career. Unless the Kraken gives him an NHL spot next season, I like to see the Ontario Reign kick the tires at signing him.
His 51 points would’ve led all Reign defensemen this season; that’s more than Jordan Spence’s 45 points, which led the team. Two issues for the Reign last year, despite having scoring troubles 5-on-5, were not having enough right-handed defensemen and not enough scoring from the defensemen. Rafferty can solve both problems as Helge Grans was involved in the Cal Petersen salary dump trade, and one of Brandt Clarke or Jordan Spence may start the year in Ontario, leaving a slot open on the right side of the defense. He can also be used on the power play as well.
What do you think? Should the organization target Brogan Rafferty as a free agent for the Ontario Reign?
Featured image credit: Coachella Valley Firebirds