AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

11Oct

Rob Schremp(10)

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10th year veteran center Rob Schremp(10) signs a 2015/2016 contract to play with his fifth team in five years in five different countries.

To his credit, in his travels he play in one league twice.

Currently inked for the new season with Portland Pirates after a successful training camp tryout, he returns to North American hockey for the first time since 2011/2012.

The former Edmonton Oilers‘ 1st round pick in the 2004 draft (#25 overall) had just finish a second full season in the NHL mostly with New York Islanders before being claimed from the waiver wire late season by Atlanta Thrashers.

The 5’11” 205 lbs. forward actually had decent numbers in the show with 20 goals and 34 assists for 54 points in 114 games but never quite caught on before he decided to go elsewhere.

His first stop was the SHL for a year skating for MODO.

Next he decided to try his stick in the KHL agreeing to terms with Dinamo Riga but he failed to catch on.

Mid-season he left to finish out his second year overseas in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga with EC Salzburg.

He had big success.

Continuing to move around he next landed in the Swiss NLA with EV Zug.

He had really good season scoring 9 goals and 27 assists with a +4 rating in 42 games, which was identical to what he just did in EBEL.

But once again he refused to sit still agreeing next to return to Sweden with Skelleftea AIK for 2014/2015.

The now 29-year old, who will turn 30 mid-season, starts strong in his first AHL season since 2008/2009 with a goal and an assist in his opening game.

There’s no reason to believe he once again won’t be a top 10 scorer in the league.

10Oct

Klas Dahlbeck(34)

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Arizona Coyotes‘ 6th year Swedish-born defenseman prospect Klas Dahlbeck(34) starts the new season with the big club after being traded late last year from Chicago Blackhawks.

The former 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#79 overall) played his first three seasons in North America with affiliate Rockford IceHogs having his best season 2013/2014, where he skated a career high 75 AHL games and had all bests scoring 10 goals, 25 assists for 35 points with a +21 rating and a not so terrible 175 shots on net.

He plays in his first 4 big league games with the Blackhawks and got his first NHL goal before being dealt.

After the transaction he joined the Coyotes immediately playing another 19 games with three assists to add to his totals before being reassigned to Portland Pirates to help them with their playoff push.

The fairly big 6’3″ 207 lbs. blue liner played the final three games of the regular season registering an assist and then helped the team push their first round playoff series to a deciding fifth game with the eventual Calder Cup winner Manchester Monarchs.

Returning with a new one-year deal, the restricted free agent made sure he staked his claim to a full-time spot in the show as the 24-year old is ready to fill a bigger role.

09Oct

Ville Pokka(29)

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd year, Finnish-born defenseman Ville Pokka(29) has yet to play his first NHL game but coming off a strong training camp he was on the opening night roster as the 2015/2016 season started.

The 5’11” 200 lbs. blue liner played his entire rookie season with affiliate Rockford IceHogs scoring a career high 8 goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 68 AHL games. He added 3 more helpers in 8 playoff contests.

Another outstanding stat on his score sheet was unloading a healthy 125 shots on net from the point.

Originally a New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#34 overall), he was dealt in the Nick Leddy trade before the start of his first North American campaign.

The 21-year old had already skated in three Liiga seasons for Karpat and was the league’s plus/minus leader (+32) at the end of 2013/2014.

He’s definitely already proven his abilities in the minors and ready to show what he can achieve in the show. He’ll very likely be given that opportunity soon.

07Oct

Devin Setoguchi(16)

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9th year, former San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#8 overall) signed a pto by Toronto Maple Leafs to attend their training camp in hopes of finding a spot with the team for the 2015/2016 season.

He’s a 3-time 20-goal scorer (all with the Sharks) and even struck for 31 in his sophomore campaign 2008/2009.

The 6′ 205 lbs. split last season with Calgary Flames (12 games, no points) and their affiliate Adirondack Flames (19 games, 3 goals, 7 assists) but found himself on the sidelines as a healthy scratch on far too many occasions.

He bounced around a bit in the three previous years skating two for Minnesota Wild and one with Winnipeg Jets performing decently but failed to live up to what he achieved earlier in his career.

The 28-year old was cut a couple of weeks before the start of the new season and is headed overseas signing a one-year deal to join HC Davos of Switzerland’s NLA.

05Oct

Jonas Gustavsson(89)

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12th year Swedish-born net minder Jonas Gustavsson(89) signed a training camp try-out agreement with Boston Bruins in hopes to secure a job for the 2015/2016 season.

He spent the last three campaigns with Detroit Red Wings but playing time was getting scarce for the back-up goalie as younger prospects started to come up and the unrestricted free agency was left to search for new employment.

The fairly large 6’3″ 212 lbs. back stop spent his first 5 years working his way up the ladder in his home country, first appearing in games for AIK Division 1 team.

He moved up to skate a pair of seasons with the team in tier two Allsvenskan before two runs for Farjestad BK, where he won the 2009 SHL Championship and owned the best save % and GAA honors along with being named the top player in the league.

Coming over to the NHL on a 1-year deal with Toronto Maple Leafs, he suffered a few medical setbacks due to a heart condition and missed some time but persevered and stayed with them for 3 seasons before being traded to Winnipeg Jets.

He was never signed though and the free agent went on to strike up a deal with Detroit from 2012/2015.

The almost 31-year old has worked hard throughout his career and it’s paid off for him to snag another contract as the Bruins ink him on a one-way to be their new back up goaltender.

05Oct

Will Weber(4)

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4th year defenseman Will Weber(4) was left unqualified by the only team he’s known for the past three season, Columbus Blue Jackets.

Signed to a one-year extension after his entry level deal was up, he suffered greatly in 2014/2015 with a hip injury that required surgery playing in a career low 30 AHL games with farm team Springfield Falcons.

Never one to put up numbers on the score sheet, he’s definitely considered a bruising stay-at-home style d-man.

He was known to drop the gloves when necessary but for a player with his size should have been tougher to play against.

Now approaching 27-years old, the former Miami University (Ohio) RedHawks’ 2011 NCAA (CCHA) Champion was in San Antonio Rampage training camp on a try-out but has been reassigned to start 2015/2016 in the ECHL with affiliate Fort Wayne Komets.

He could easily play his way back up the ladder but will need to work hard on his game to gain notice.

05Oct

Zdeno Chara(33)

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Zdeno Chara(33) will be starting his 19th season of professional hockey and tenth as captain of Boston Bruins in 2015/2016.

His team is a little thin with new blood on the blue line so the 38-year old, who will turn 39 before the end of the season, has to be ready to log lots of minutes.

He got in a little extra workout after practice at a recent training camp session.

Push ups on ice were punishment for missing the net on a slap shot drill.

04Oct

David Ling(71)

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Heading into his 21st season, the mini might that is David Ling(71) has a back-up supply of Energizer batteries in his body as he’s returning to Nottingham Panthers for 2015/2016.

He was last with them a few years ago and put up a league leading and career high 95 points in the EIHL.

It was the second time he earned 60 assists in a campaign (last time was 2004/2005 with St. John’s Maple Leafs) and his 35 goals set a new best mark.

Unsure what made him decide to return to North American hockey least season under contract with the lowly Brampton Beast.

He had a decent 9 goals and 32 assists in 46 ECHL games but was a woeful -33. Despite that figure he still grab a recall for three more AHL games with Oklahoma City Barons, where he got an assist.

Set to turn 41-years old by mid-season, he would love to win another Championship with the team like they did in 2013 and pick up more player and forward of the year accolades.

03Oct

Corbin McPherson(33)

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New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#87 overall) defenseman Corbin McPherson(33) signs his third AHL deal with affiliate Albany Devils for 2015/2016.

The 27-year old was under a one-year two-way entry level deal last season after a good sophomore campaign with the farm team in 2013/2014 but left unqualified heading into the new schedule making him an unrestricted free agent.

The big 6’5″ 220 lbs. blue liner has never been a big point producer, preferring a more stay at home, bruising style game but he does own a nifty +15 rating through 223 games.

The Californian-born d-man spent four years at Colgate University and was captain in his final season.

For such a towering presence, he doesn’t fight much (only two in 2014/2015) and doesn’t take many costly penalties.

He was still invited to training camp and with a little more grit he could easily be dangerous to play against and the parent club probably stills sees the potential.

01Oct

Matt Register(22)

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Undrafted 4th year defenseman Matt Register(22) has easily worked for every inch he’s gained in pro hockey.

Starting a little late as an 18-year old in the AJHL (Alberta Junior Hockey League), which is a rung lower than say the WHL, then transferring out after three years to the local senior ice hockey Chinook HL before half way through what could be looked at as his really strange rookie season signed a deal with Allen Americans of the old Central Hockey League.

The decently-sized 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner must have been comfortable, because quickly in the off-season he signed his first deal with Tulsa Oilers.

He spent 2 months with them, then left for Arizona Sundogs. He lasted another two months there then we’re going to need someone to explain this one to us, as he was signed to an AHL deal with Manchester Monarchs and reassigned to affiliate Ontario Reign for the remainder of 2012/2013.

In 17 ECHL games his offensive completely sprung to life scoring 4 goals and 9 assists with a +6 rating. He also appeared in all 10 playoff games putting up three assists with a +5 plus/minus.

It’s almost like he was waiting for his chance and someone had it under their radar.

For 2013/2014 he signed a one-year contract to return to Ontario Reign.

It was his third season and his game seemed to be stepping up to the challenges and was named CCM Defenseman Of The Year.

He skated 67 contests putting up a career high 14 goals and 30 assists with a +21 rating, which is crazy for a kid that literally popped out of nowhere.

Last year he had probably his best showing yet, tying his goal mark at 14, adding 36 assists for 50 points in his third year skating for Ontario Reign.

He was even loaned up to Chicago Wolves for a couple of weeks and played his first 6 AHL games and even throwing out 4 helpers.

The 26-year old recently signed on for 2015/2016 with Atlanta Gladiators but has been given a try-out with new affiliate Providence Bruins.

In preseason action he may have been on the 4-2 losing end of a preseason game but he certainly didn’t seem out of place out there.

On 10/5 he was reassigned to start the season with his team of contract, Atlanta Gladiators.