Category: AHL

11Sep

Andrew Bodnarchuk (2)

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andrew-bonardchuk

Boston Bruins‘ 2006 5th round pick (#128 overall) defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk(2) re-signed for a fourth season with the organization.

He played 5 NHL games in the 2009/2010 season registering no points, but mostly fallen too far down the depth chart to return unless he shows some surprises in training camp.

The small-ish (graciously listed at 5’11”) has thus far really only shown little with affiliate Providence Bruins in over 200 games played in three years.

He’ll likely skate the full season in the AHL again and with some work will continue to chip in more points.

Last year he had a career high of 16 (1 goal, 15 assists).

10Sep

Tim Kennedy(13) Florida Panthers / Hartford Wolf Pack

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Tim Kennedy(13) starts a new season in his 4th year after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Florida Panthers, the team he was traded to by New York Rangers at the tail end of the 2010/2011.

He played a full season in the NHL with Buffalo the year before that but has skated mostly in the AHL with Connecticut Whale and Rochester Americans (with the exception of 6 games with the Panthers) since the Sabres walked away from his arbitration away.

Maybe 2011/2012 is the season for the 2005 6th round Washington Capitals draft pick (#181 overall) to reignite his NHL career.

09Sep

Gustaf Wesslau(40) Djurgardens IF / Springfield Falcons

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The single season North American pro hockey experiment is over for Swedish netminder Gustaf Wesslau as he returns to Elitserien (Swedish Elite League) to play for Djurgardens IF in 2011/2012.

He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract by Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2010 but failed to impress enough at the AHL level with Springfield Falcons to earn himself a call-up.

He packed his bags quickly at the end of the season and agreed to a new deal with the team he’d spent from 2008-2010 with.

09Sep

Colin Stuart(10) Buffalo Sabres / Rochester Americans / Portland Pirates

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7th year pro Colin Stuart(10) re-ups with Buffalo for another season but will probably see most of his playing time switch from the AHL city of Portland to Rochester with the Sabres‘ purchase the past off-season of the Amerks.

He’s skated 54 games in the NHL (3 last season, 0 points), but the re-signing is more likely to help guide the younger players in the AHL and get the team back into the hunt for the Calder Cup. Something Rochester has struggled to do consistently in the last 5 seasons.

Colin‘s brother is Mark Stuart of the Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers, the team that drafted him in 2001 (5th round, #135 overall).

09Sep

Darryl Boyce(9) Toronto Maple Leafs / Marlies

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Undrafted forward Daryl Boyce(9) heads into his 5th season with Toronto Maple Leafs/Marlies, the only two pro teams he’s skated pro with. In 47 games (46 of them last season) with the Maples Leafs he’s scored 5 goals to go along with 8 assists. With the Marlies in the AHL he’s got 28 goals, 53 assists in 169 games.

He signed another one-year two-way contract that could see him spend his first full season in the NHL. At age 27, he’s could be a bit of a late bloomer.

08Sep

Dane Byers(34) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Dane Byers(34) had a busy AHL season last year getting traded from New York Rangers (Hartford Wolf Pack) to Columbus Blue Jackets (Springfield Falcons) early in the season and then Phoenix Coyotes (San Antonio) at the trade deadline.

Not being signed by Phoenix at the start of unrestricted free agency, Columbus came right back to the table and offered him a one-year, two-way contract for 2011/2012.

In 5 years, he’s played 6 NHL games scoring 1 goal but we expect to see him in Springfield to help them into the Calder Cup for the first time in forever.

 

07Sep

Colton Gillies(18) Minnesota Wild / Houston Aeros

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Minnesota Wild expects Colton Gillies(18) to finally fully mature in his 4th and 5th years pro as they handed him a two-year, one-way contract that will pay him $1.25 million for the next couple of seasons regardless of where he plays in their system.

There’s no doubt it’s time for him to make use of that 6’4″ 208 lbs. frame in the NHL and prove to folks why he was a 1st round pick (#16 overall) in the 2007 draft.

06Sep

Paul Byron(12) Calgary Flames / Portland Pirates

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3rd year center Paul Byron(12), Buffalo‘s 6th round pick in 2007 (#179 overall), was traded to Calgary Flames at the NHL draft in late June.

He played in his first 8 NHL games last season registering a goal and an assist. He’s small at only 5’9″ 170 lbs but he moves quick out there and some see him potentially making the Flames starting lineup on opening night 2011.

I think he should get up to a playing weight of 185-190 before he can really be an impact player.

Enjoyed watching him play in Portland for his 1st two pro seasons.