Category: AHL

29Aug

Jonathan Cheechoo(14) St. Louis Blues / Worcester Sharks

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After playing one season with Worcester Sharks (signed to successive pto’s with the team), former 2005-2006 NHL Rocket Richard Trophy winner with 56 goals while playing with San Jose, Jonathan Cheechoo(14) signed a one-year, two-way deal with St. Louis Blues that will likely see him report to their AHL affiliate Peoria Rivermen to start the ’11/’12 season.

The contract will earn him $600,000 if he plays with the Blues and $105,000 with the Rivermen. We wish the 31-year old best of luck at another crack in the NHL.  It is believed he signed with St. Louis because his chances are at least decent with the team.

28Aug

Mark Mancari(25) Vancouver Canucks / Buffalo Sabres / Portland Pirates

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After 6 years in the Buffalo system and a career year in NHL games played and points (20 games, 1 goal and 7 assists), Mark Mancari(25) gets cut loose by the Sabres.

Vancouver stepped in immediately and signed him to a 0ne-way deal for the league minimum $525,000. He’ll be fighting for an open spot in the Canucks lineup for opening night, but even if he gets sent down, it’s to play with Chicago Wolves, which isn’t exactly the worst AHL city to end up in.

It’s time for him to step up and become a full-time NHLer.

 

28Aug

Bobby Butler (12)

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Marlborough, MA born, UNH hockey spawned, Bobby Butler(12) just earned himself a 2-year one-way contract with Ottawa Senators.

The Sens have now done this with a few of their younger guys that helped Binghamton win the Calder Cup.

The money of the deal is said to be $2.15 million but more importantly it’s the beginning of establishing himself as an NHL caliber forward.

He doesn’t have much size; listed at 6’0″ 185lb and that’s stretching it.

He does however have an absolute howitzer of a wrist shot.

27Aug

Adam Henrique(17) New Jersey / Albany Devils

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Going into the 2nd year of his three-year entry level contract (2008 draft, round 3 #82 overall), Adam Henrique(17) skated his entire rookie season with Albany. That is until the last game of the season, when he was called up to New Jersey to see some action. He was called-up a couple of other times but was a healthy scratch.

The small sampling on ice has left him wanting more and word has it he is fully intent on making the Devils‘ NHL starting lineup out of camp this season.

He scored a healthy 25 goals to go along with 25 assists in the AHL and looks impressive enough to land a spot. The only problem is the team has a good amount of depth at the center position, although their is that lingering void that veteran Travis Zajac leaves open as he recovers from his very recent Achilles tendon surgery.

With the Windsor Spitfires, Henrique won two straight Memorial Cups in 2008 and 2009.

27Aug

Rob Hisey(26) Liwest Black Wings Linz / Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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7th year, undrafted center Rob Hisey(26) has played most of his career in Europe until the last couple of seasons when he returned to North America and skated with Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League and Springfield Falcons in ’09/’10 and last year he was the 2nd leading scorer on Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Well, time’s up again for pro hockey here, as he’s signed with Liwest Black Wings Linz of Austria’s Erst Bank Eishockey Liga (Austrian Hockey League with sponsorship).

The league is already almost finished with their preseason and the regular season starts the second week of September.

26Aug

Derek Couture(21) Ontario Reign / Connecticut Whale / Victoria Salmon Kings

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7th year veteran Derek Couture(21) recently signed a contract to play with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL for the upcoming season.

Throughout his pro career he’s spent most of his playing time in the AHL. But like last season with Victoria Salmon Kings he inked a deal to start the year in the ECHL until he was called-up to Connecticut Whale half way through the season. It was his 2nd straight campaign in Hartford, except in 2009/2010 he had an AHL contract.

He’ll probably experience the same scenario but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team that comes knocking with a pto will be Manchester Monarchs, the Reign‘s affiliate.

 

26Aug

Pier-Oliver Pelletier(31) Evansville IceMen / Connecticut Whale

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For a third straight season 2005 Phoenix Coyotes 2nd round pick (#59 overall), Pier-Oliver Pelletier(31) signed to tend net in the Central Hockey League. He’s under contract for 2011/2012 with Evansville IceMen soon after having his signing rights traded to them by Laredo Bucks, the team he’d spent his rookie and 2nd year with.

He played in one game in ’10/’11 with Connecticut Whale on call-up but didn’t fair too well. He still may get more AAA looks next season.

25Aug

Casey Borer(28) HC Pardubice

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Former Carolina Hurricanes 3rd round pick (#69 overall) in 2004, defenseman Casey Borer(28) flies the coop after 4 years in the prospect system including 16 NHL games.

Last season was the first he failed to appear in any big league contests playing in 67 games with their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers, so the writing had to be on the wall: fell off their depth chart.

For 2011/2012, he signs to play in the Czech Extraliga (Extra League) with HC Pardubice.

 

24Aug

Olivier Labelle(27) Rouen Dragons

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6th year pro Olivier Labelle(27) re-signs for 2011/2012 with Reading Royals, the ECHL team he spent 38 games with last season, plus 7 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

For the other half of the season he was signed to a pto with Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.

Throughout his career he’s been mostly a AA player with the exception of his rookie season, when he played 74 games with Syracuse Crunch, putting up 11 goals, 20 assists and 153 pims. In the following 4 seasons, he played almost exclusively in the ECHL, until last year’s run with Bridgeport.