Logan Day was granted a mutual release by the AHL’s Hershey Bears to pursue an overseas opportunity, Sunday afternoon. The 30-year-old blueliner was part of both Bears teams that lifted the Calder Cup the last two seasons.
Day is set to join the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk. Traktor announced the one-year contract hours before the Bears made the release official. Per Metaratings’s Dmitry Levin, Day will earn 16 million rubles (~$155,000) playing in Russia until the end of this season.
“Traktor has reached an agreement on a contract with Logan Day,” the KHL team wrote per an Instagram translation. “The NCAA champion (2015) and two-time Calder Cup winner (2023, 2024) is going to conquer the KHL.”
Day, who played in 15 of Hershey’s playoff games in their run to the Cup last year, had yet to dress for a game this season after having offseason surgery. He leaves the Bears after playing 90 games with the club over the past two years, recording 37 points (6g, 31a).
He also posted 21 points (5g, 16a) in 34 postseason games. Day led all Hershey defensemen in scoring (14 points) on their way to the 2023 Calder Cup.
“Logan Day is an experienced hockey player, who has won the last two Calder Cup tournaments,” Trakor general manager Alexey Volkov said. “This right-handed defenseman has good dimensions and fighting qualities, he has a high level of game thinking, which allows him to make a difference on the ice. Logan missed the beginning of the AHL season, but is already completely healthy and will join Traktor after all the paperwork is completed.”
Day joins a Traktor team that already includes former Bears teammate Zach Fucale. However, recent reporting indicates that Fucale wants to return to North America. Traktor currently sits first in the Kharlamov Division with a 22-9-4 record.
Hershey still has nine defensemen left on their roster after Day’s departure.
We have granted defenseman Logan Day a mutual release from his AHL contract, allowing Day to pursue an opportunity overseas.
We wish Logan all the best going forward and thank him for his memorable time in Hershey! https://t.co/50htmVaKxs pic.twitter.com/JEAbOoc1vm
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 15, 2024
Here’s the press release from the Hershey Bears:
Bears Grant Logan Day Mutual Release from AHL Contract
(Hershey, PA– Dec. 15, 2024) – The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has granted defenseman Logan Day a mutual release from his American Hockey League contract, effective immediately, allowing Day to pursue a playing opportunity overseas.
Day, 30, played two seasons with Hershey, collecting 37 points (6g, 31a) in 90 regular season games. The Florida native enjoyed a standout 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, scoring 14 points (3g, 11a) as Hershey won its 12th Calder Cup, and in the 2024 postseason, Day added seven points (2g, 5a) as the Bears claimed a second straight title.
Day had not appeared in a game with Hershey this season as he recovered from an upper-body injury.