Category: AHL

26Nov

Dana Tyrell(42) Tampa Bay Lightning

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Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#47 overall) center Dana Tyrell(42) spent the entire 2010/2011 season with the parent club after skating with their AHL affiliate, Norfolk Admirals in his rookie year.

In 78 games with the Lightning, he put up 6 goals and 9 assists. While playing for Norfolk in his first season, he 9 goals and 27 assists in 74 games.

At the start of 2011/2012 he was reassigned to the AHL after a poor training camp, getting beat out for a position on the opening night roster by Prince George Cougars‘ pick Brett Connolly.

He received his first call-up and will have to prove himself again. He’s said to be reuniting with his old playing partners, Nate Thompson and Adam Hall for what was dubbed the “DNA” line.

He is in the last year of his 3-year entry level contract.

11/28: Just like that Tyrell gets re-upped by the Lightning for two more years on a one-way contract through 2014.

26Nov

Dov Grumet-Morris(1) San Antonio Rampage

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It’s a bit of a wonder that 7th year pro goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris(1) didn’t sign with at least an AHL team in the offseason after posting solid numbers for Connecticut Whale in 22 games last season (13 wins against 5 losses, 2.12 GAA and .923 SV%).

But seemingly no one bit, until recently when the first team he tended net for in the league along his journeyman career would come calling once again.

San Antonio Rampage signed him to a standard player contract, a scenario he’s a bit unfamiliar with in his time spent with 10 different teams in North American hockey. Only his two seasons overseas had him on one team for the duration, but otherwise it’s been mostly pto’s for the former star goalie at Harvard University.

The Whale did eventually sign him to a contract last year but he was third wheel as soon as their starters were healthy. The Rampage are in a similar pickle.

He posted a 5-0 shutout in his first game. It’s a wonder that he has yet to appear in the NHL.

25Nov

Tim Sestito (12)

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tim-sestito

Center Tim Sestito(12) played 36 games with New Jersey Devils last season recording two assists, but to start 2011/2012 was assigned to AHL affiliate Albany Devils, where in 12 games he has 2 goals and an assist.

Goal scoring isn’t exactly what he’s relied on for though.

He’s one of those agitating players that it’s tough and no fun to play against and does it well without being cheap.

He recently did get the call and played in his first game, a 2-1 win vs. Columbus.

He has still yet to score his first NHL goal in 47 games played but I got to think one will come sooner than later for the 7th year veteran, his third in the Devils‘ system.

25Nov

Micheal Haley(18) New York Islanders

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Micheal Haley(18) has spent his entire 5 year pro career in the New York Islanders‘ system.

Last season he appeared in 27 games registering 2 goals and an assist to go along with 85 penalty minutes. Of those minutes, his most famous had to be when he took on Pittsburgh Penguins‘ goaltender Brent Johnson.

He was reassigned to start the season with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he’s been a terror in over 200 games; but last year his scoring touch came back to life for the first time since his final year in juniors and rookie season to start his pro career with ECHL Utah Grizzlies.

He was recalled and played his first game of the season with the badly slumping Isles. He’s no doubt been summoned to give the team a much needed infusion of energy.

Every picture I have of him, he looks like he wants to start a fight, which he showing some restraint, waited to do until his 2nd game back.

24Nov

T.J. Brennan(3) Buffalo Sabres

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In his 1st NHL game, Buffalo Sabres‘ 2007 2nd round draft pick (#31) overall, defenseman T.J. Brennan(3) gets a goal on Tim Thomas in the team’s 4-3 shootout loss vs. the Cup Champs’ Boston Bruins. It was one of those fortuitous bounces that landed right on his stick for him to bury.

He wears number 33 for the Sabres, doubling the number 3 on his AHL Rochester Americans‘ sweater.

Last season in 74 games with the Portland Pirates, the former Buffalo affiliate he connected for 15 goals and 24 assists.

 

 

23Nov

Kevin Marshall(4) Adirondack Phantoms

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kevin-marshall

3rd year Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2007 round 2 draft pick (#41 overall) defenseman Kevin Marshall(4) got his first call up and NHL action earlier this week.

In the team’s 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes, he logged 14+ minutes of ice time and was a -1 plus/minus.

That’s it for now though.

He was reassigned back to Adirondack Phantoms, where he has played some 168 games with in three AHL seasons.

Not really a big point getter he’s also mostly been on the minus side in yearly stats.

This is the last year of his entry level deal with the Flyers.

21Nov

Jordan Szwarz(12) Portland Pirates

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jordan-szwarz-1

Rookie forward Jordan Szwarz(12) got that first professional hockey goal monkey off his back last week.

Phoenix Coyotes picked him in the 4th round of the 2009 draft (#97 overall).

He has played in 11 games for their AHL affiliate, Portland Pirates and has 3 points.

In juniors, he put up some very respectable numbers in the OHL for Saginaw Spirit (including a fantastic +33 plus/minus rating in 65 games) and was named their 2010/2011 team captain.

21Nov

Blake Kessel(2) Adirondack Phantoms

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defenseman Blake Kessel(2), younger brother of NHL point leader and leading goal scorer Phil, was originally a 6th round pick of New York Islanders in the 2007 draft (#166 overall) but never signed with the team. Instead he was signed to an entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers, but was reassigned their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms to start the season.

He put in his first pro hockey goal last week to go along with a pair of assists giving him a 3 points in 14 games played.

20Nov

Anders Nilsson(45) New York Islanders

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Goaltender Anders Nilsson(45) gets the nod in net for New York Islanders in relief after a pitiful effort by starter, Rick DiPietro. It’s his 1st NHL appearance in what may not even turn out to be his rookie season.

With their current situation between the pipes (injury fever), he could see his first start in the team’s next game.

Only 21 years old, the Swedish-born goalie was a 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#62 overall) for the Isles. In 7 games with Bridgeport Sound Tigers he’s posted a 5-2 record with a 2.86 GAA and .908 SV%.

11/21: Nilsson gets his first NHL start. Just his luck, it’s vs. Pittsburgh Penguins with Sid “The Kid” Crosby back in the lineup.

11/23: He is returned to Bridgeport.