New York, New York — New York Rangers President John Davidson announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent forwards Greg McKegg and Danny O’Regan.
McKegg, 27, split this past season between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). He skated in 41 NHL games with the Hurricanes in 2018-19, registering six goals and five assists for 11 points, along with eight penalty minutes. McKegg established NHL career-highs in goals, assists, points, faceoff wins (146), and faceoffs taken (286) this past season. In addition, his 51.0% faceoff win percentage in 2018-19 was the highest he has posted in one season in his NHL career (min. 100 faceoffs taken), and he ranked second on Carolina in faceoff win percentage (min. 100 faceoffs taken) during the season. McKegg’s 22.2% shooting percentage this past season (six goals on 27 shots on goal) was the highest among all Hurricanes players in 2018-19. He helped Carolina advance to the Eastern Conference Final in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he recorded two goals in 14 playoff games. McKegg recorded his first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal/point, which was also the game-winning goal, in Game 4 of the Second Round against the NY Islanders on May 3; the goal helped the Hurricanes complete a sweep of the Islanders and advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
The 6-0, 194-pounder also skated in 31 AHL games with Charlotte during the 2018-19 season, registering six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, along with 18 penalty minutes. McKegg tallied at least one point in 17 of his 31 AHL games with the Checkers during the past season, and he recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his last 16 games with Charlotte prior to being recalled by the Hurricanes on Jan. 4, 2019.
McKegg has skated in 132 career NHL games over parts of six seasons (2013-14 – 2018-19) with Toronto, Florida, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, and Carolina, registering 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points, along with 40 penalty minutes. He has posted a 49.4% faceoff win percentage in his NHL career (419-for-849), and he won at least 50.0% of faceoffs he took in 2016-17 and 2018-19. McKegg has also skated in 322 career AHL games, registering 82 goals and 111 assists for 193 points, along with a plus-21 rating and 148 penalty minutes. He has played in the Calder Cup Playoffs in five different AHL seasons throughout his career, and he has tallied 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in those 39 contests.
Internationally, the St. Thomas, Ontario native has represented Canada in several tournaments. McKegg recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) and a plus-two rating in six games while representing Canada at the 2010 IIHF U18 World Championship, and he led all skaters in faceoff win percentage (70.8%) in the tournament. He also helped Canada-Ontario win a gold medal at the 2009 World U17 Hockey Challenge. During McKegg’s four-season career (2008-09 – 2011-12) in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he served as the Erie Otters’ captain for parts of two seasons, played in the OHL All-Star Game during the 2009-10 season, and helped the London Knights win the OHL Championship in 2011-12.
McKegg was originally selected by Toronto in the third round, 62nd overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. McKegg’s great uncle is Lou Fontinato, who played parts of seven seasons with the Rangers (1954-55 – 1960-61).
O’Regan, 25, skated in 70 games with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season, registering 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points, along with a plus-four rating and 42 penalty minutes. He ranked third on Rochester in power play goals (eight), ranked fourth on the team in points, tied for fourth in game-winning goals (three), ranked fifth in goals, and ranked sixth in assists in 2018-19. O’Regan helped the Americans advance to the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs, and he skated in three playoff games. He also skated in one NHL game with the Buffalo Sabres in 2018-19.
The 5-10, 180-pounder has skated in 182 career AHL games over three seasons (2016-17 – 2018-19) with the San Jose Barracuda and Rochester Americans, registering 56 goals and 90 assists for 146 points, along with a plus-eight rating and 68 penalty minutes. O’Regan received the Red Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2016-17, as he led all AHL rookies with 58 points (23 goals and 35 assists) in 63 games with San Jose. O’Regan was also named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team and played in the AHL All-Star Game in 2016-17. He has recorded at least 40 points in each of his three seasons in the AHL. In addition, O’Regan has helped his team advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of his three seasons in the AHL; he has tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in 21 career Calder Cup Playoff games.
O’Regan has also skated in 25 career NHL games over parts of three seasons (2016-17 – 2018-19) with the San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres, registering one goal and four assists for five points, along with two penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut with San Jose on Nov. 21, 2016 vs. New Jersey, and he registered his first career NHL goal/point while skating in his third career NHL game on Apr. 8, 2017 vs. Calgary. O’Regan notched four assists in 21 games with San Jose and Buffalo in 2017-18, and he recorded his first career NHL assist on Nov. 18, 2017 vs. Boston.
Prior to beginning his professional career, O’Regan played four seasons of collegiate hockey at Boston University (2012-13 – 2015-16), registering 66 goals and 88 assists for 154 points, along with a plus-28 rating in 154 games. O’Regan was named to the NCAA (East) Second All-American Team and the Hockey East First All-Star Team as a senior in 2015-16, as he led Boston University in goals (17), assists (27), and points (44) during the season. He also was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team in 2014-15, as he helped Boston University win the Hockey East Regular Season Championship and Hockey East Championship and advance to the National Championship Game. O’Regan established collegiate career-highs in goals (23), assists (27), points (50), and plus/minus rating (plus-40) in 2014-15. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2012-13, as he became the first freshman to lead Boston University in points since Tony Amonte in 1989-90. O’Regan is tied for 15th on Boston University’s all-time points list.
O’Regan was born in Germany while his father, former NHL player Tom O’Regan, was playing professionally, but he has represented the United States in several international tournaments. He helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF U18 World Championship while playing alongside Brady Skjei and Jacob Trouba, and O’Regan also played alongside Skjei and Trouba with the U.S. National Team Development Program during the 2011-12 season. In addition, O’Regan and Skjei were teammates with the United States at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
O’Regan was originally selected by San Jose in the fifth round, 138th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
(NHL.com photo)
