Sometimes when a player decides to play overseas after spending time in the AHL, it’s terrible news. It usually means a prospect flamed out and will try to re-ignite their career in another country. If they do, they are usually a free agent if they return to North America. That’s not what happened with Bracken Kearns and the New Jersey Devils.
Kearns is unlike almost any player in the AHL, in that he’s still holding on to his hockey career at the age of 37. At this point, Kearns would likely never make the NHL again. Whether that was for the Devils or another team, he was a middle six forward that would play in the AHL until he eventually retires.