Category: AHL

18Sep

Brian McGrattan(38) Anaheim Ducks

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Mammoth-sized (6’4″ 235 lbs) 10th year vet, Brian McGrattan(38) signed a one-year, two-way deal to stay in the Anaheim Ducks‘ system after he was traded late last season by Boston in what amounted to a 4-player minor league swap.

He had played mostly in the NHL for the prior five seasons but last year failed to catch on with a club in the big league. The Ducks already have a guy named George Parros to do their dirty work, so he’ll likely find most, if not all of his playing time with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch.

18Sep

Justin Faulk(3) Carolina Hurricanes / Charlotte Checkers

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2010 2nd round draft pick (#37 overall) defenseman Justin Faulk(3) joined their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers for the Calder Cup Playoff run after his college team won the NCAA title. He played 13 games registered a couple of assists and went a bit lowly -7.

He reportedly played well in the recently held Traverse City Rookies Tournament and may develop quicker than the ‘Canes figured he would. He’s all of 19-years old, turning pro after only a single season of playing college.

 

17Sep

Mike Vernace(7) Tampa Bay Lightning / Norfolk Admirals

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I love stories like this one.  6th year pro, defenseman Mike Vernace(7) was a San Jose Sharks 7th round draft pick in 2004 (#201 overall) but never signed with the team. He eventually signed a one-year two-way deal with Colorado Avalanche and started his rookie season with Central Hockey League‘s Arizona Sundogs before moving up to the AHL with Albany River Rats.

He spent another couple of seasons in the Avalanche system and even got his first 12 NHL games under his belt in 2008-2009.

He wasn’t resigned for at the end of 2009 and signed with Atlanta Thrashers but didn’t appear in the NHL, although he played for two different AHL teams, first Chicago Wolves, then Hamilton Bulldogs, where he got his first playoff experience

Last year he signed a free agent deal with Tampa Bay Lightning, played 10 more games in the NHL and got an assist, his first point in the show.

In 2011/2012 he’ll be back for his second season in the Lightning system.

 

 

16Sep

Mark Borowiecki(5) Ottawa / Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 2008 5th round draft pick (#139 overall), defenseman Mark Borowiecki(5) will be a rookie at the start of this season but has already experienced much playing pro.

He appeared in 9 games at the end of last season and 21 games of Calder Cup action, helping Binghamton Senators win the AHL championship trophy.

Word has it that this somewhat deep pick is impressing folks in camp and what was almost a certain start for a full year with the B-Sens, may grab him some playing time in the show. He barely shows up on the Ottawa team website at this point.

We’ll see but he didn’t look out of place in the 8 games I watched him play in the post-season.

15Sep

Chad Wiseman(19) New Jersey / Albany Devils

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Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 8th round draft pick in 2000 (#246 overall), wing Chad Wiseman(19) enters his 11th pro season and third with New Jersey Devils‘ organization (2nd go round). He played 23 games in 2008/2009 with Lowell Devils.

Signing another one-year, two-way deal, this will his 2nd season with Albany. Last year he had 44 points (16 goals and 28 assists) in 48 games.

He’s played 9 games in the NHL (4 with the Sharks and 5 with New York Rangers) scoring 1 goal to go along with 1 assist.

If the Devils suck again this season, I could see him getting in a few games at the Pru.

14Sep

Luke Adam(39) Buffalo Sabres / Portland Pirates

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Entering his 2nd season, Buffalo Sabres‘ 2008 2nd round draft pick (#44 overall), left wing Luke Adam(39) is looking to put the AHL in his rearview mirror after skating 19 games in the NHL in his rookie year. The results were a bit mixed as he registered only 4 points (3 goals and an assist).

He fared really well with Portland Pirates scoring 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points, good enough for 2nd on the team a couple of points behind Mark Mancari. He was also voted 2010/2011 AHL Rookie Of The Year.

I would be surprised he spent much more time in the minors.

 

13Sep

Kaspars Daugavins(26) Ottawa / Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 2006 3rd round draft pick (#91 overall) Latvian Kaspars Daugavins(26) will spend his 4th season in the team’s prospect system in 2011/2012.

He’s only skated 1 game in the NHL a couple of seasons ago but he’s still pretty young at 23 years old.

Last season, his third with Binghamton, he had career highs in games and points (73: 19 goals, 35 assists) but the crowning moment was the almost fantasy-like Calder Cup Playoff run by the B-Sens to win it.

Daugavins added 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 games to his point totals and he was one player that came to play each shift out there.

10/24: With 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 games this season, Daugavins gets the early season call to help the struggling Ottawa Senators put some offense up on the board, while veteran Daniel Alfredsson rests his hip.

12Sep

Joel Martin(49) Herlev Hornets

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9th year pro goalie Joel Martin(49) has bounced around many different North American leagues and teams in his career but for the first time he’s looking elsewhere, overseas to continue.

For the 2011/2012 season he signed with Herlev Hornets of AL-Bank Ligaen (Danish Pro Hockey League).

Last season, the 28-year old netminder appeared in a career high AHL games (18 with Bridgeport Sound Tigers).

He also played in 29 games with Odessa Jackalopes of the Central Hockey League and was called-up as an emergency back-up for one game with New York Islanders.

11Sep

Zack Fitzgerald (14)

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Hamilton Bulldogs inked grizzly 7th year veteran defenseman Zack Fitzgerald(14) to an AHL contract for 2011/2012.

He led the league in penalty minutes with 311 in ’09/’10.

He’ll no doubt be called upon to protect some of the younger prospects in the Canadiens‘ system.

In the 2007/2008 season he did get a 1 game wink in an NHL game when he was signed by the Canucks for a couple of seasons.

The last two years he’s been signed with Carolina Hurricanes.

Fitzgerald was a 3rd round pick in 2003 (#88 overall) by St. Louis and played for two years with their minor league affiliates in Peoria and Alaska.