Category: AHL

14Jun

Greger Hanson(15) Allen Americans

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Greger-Hanson

4th year undrafted Swedish-born left wing Greger Hanson(15) has received his first pair of AHL call-ups this season. From his impressive play, he looks like he could easily find a spot on a roster in the league.

Signed for a second year with Allen Americans of the ECHL, he won the last Central Hockey League President’s Cup with the team in 2014.

He was a point-per-game skater in the playoffs and throughout the regular season, continuing that scoring pace in the current campaign with a +26 rating.

The not huge 5’10” 185 lbs. forward scored his first higher league goal on loan to Worcester Sharks, adding three assists and got another one through 3 games with Oklahoma City Barons.

For his first pro season he would return home to skate with Sodertalje of the second tier Allsvenskan after four years at Northern Michigan University putting up stellar numbers in his junior campaign.

The already 27-year old proven goal scorer may be running short of time to prove his game in North America but he’s easily right on the cusp of jumping up a notch on the hockey ladder.

Original story 3/18-15

For a second straight season he wins a title, this time it’s Allen Americans‘ first year in the ECHL for the 2015 Kelly Cup.

His 12 goals and 17 assists in 25 games earned him the Most Valuable Player award.

Will he head overseas next to collect some earnings that he should get or stick around. We shall see.

13Jun

Colton Yellow Horn(17) Orli Znojmo

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5th year, undrafted left wing Colton Yellow Horn(17) took a good season and a half to settle where he was going to play to start his pro career after a highly successful run in the WHL with Tri-City Americans, which he left as the leading goal scorer in his final year.

He headed for Austria but lasted less than a dozen games before returning to North America, signing with Elmira Jackals. He finished out his rookie season and started his sophomore campaign with the team but was traded to Stockton Thunder after only two games.

His time with the Thunder only last a couple more games than he did overseas and he was off to the Central Hockey League to try his hands with Allen Americans.

The small 5’9″ but wide 190 lbs. forward played for the next two years with Allen leading them in scoring with 88 points in 2010/2011 and was a combined +24 plus/minus.

Having basically accomplished everything he could in the lower double A league, the 25-year old stepped up and signed a one year deal with Ontario Reign of the ECHL.

In 48 games, he currently sits atop the scoring leaders with 58 points (36 goals and 22 assists) but that will have to wait as he received his first AHL call-up and signed a pto with Manchester Monarchs.

In his debut, he notched an assist in a 3-2 losing effort but more importantly looks like he can play in the league and have an impact at this level.

He may be pint-sized in relation to other players but he’s wide like Sergei Samsonov was during his lengthy playing career.

Original story: 2/11-13

He managed to finish the season in the AHL skating in 28 games and he even appeared in four playoff contests scoring 6 goals 12 assists with a +5 rating and added a goal and an assist in the postseason.

After having a career year, he decided to head back to where it started signing a year deal in Erste Bank Liga Austria with Szekesfehervar.

No doubt he would hit the score sheet often to the tune of 20 goals and 23 assists in 43 games.

In another move that had folks wondering, for 2013/2014 he went to play for Nippon Paper Cranes of the Asia League.

The 28-year old continues to make interesting decisions where to lace up his skates as he returns to Austria once again to play for Orli Znojmo.

Colton Yellow Horn

13Jun

Fredrik Claesson(3) Binghamton Senators

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frederik-claesson2

Ottawa Senators‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#126 overall) Swedish-born defenseman Frederik Claesson(3) already had two seasons of professional play in the SHL with Djurgarden under his belt before committing to North American minor league hockey with affiliate Binghamton Senators.

The slightly bigger looking than 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner was never really a point producer throughout  short playing career but since coming over this way to skate has seen his numbers on the uptick.

In his rookie campaign he put up a modest 3 goals and 8 assists with a +4 rating in 70 AHL games but this season is blowing the lid of those marks.

Through 48 contests, he may have put up less goals with 2, but has new career highs in assists (20), points (22) and holds onto a massive +28 plus/minus, currently good for third overall.

The only 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that runs through 2014/2015 and look for him to get his shot at cracking the NHL lineup or possibly get moved as the club has good depth at defense.

Original story 2/11-14

As his initial contract is set to run its course, Ottawa Senators re-up for another year with the blue liner that played in a career high 76 AHL games for affiliate Binghamton Senators and scored a new best 4 goals but managed only 15 assists (down 11 from last season).

Although he has yet to realize his first NHL call-up and maybe struggled a bit in his third campaign, the still young 22-year old should still compete for a roster spot out of training camp with the big club.

12Jun

Jeff May(11) Ducs d’Angers

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Jeff-May4

8th year veteran defenseman Jeff May(11) returns to Ducs d’Angers of France’s Ligue Magnus, a team he skated with in the 2012/2013 season.

Originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 5th round pick in the 2005 draft (#151 overall) he was never signed.

Instead he bounced around from signing an ato with Norfolk Admirals to start his rookie season 2008/2009, played three games, was released, got added to Las Vegas Wranglers‘ roster for 23 ECHL games, before being grabbed by Providence Bruins on a pto for another 11 AHL games but was again released before San Antonio Rampage would ink him to a minor league contract and to finish it off Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes stepped in at the end of his first year to offer him a 3-year entry level deal.

Not too shabby.

He would be reassigned to start his sophomore campaign in southern Texas and played 102 games with the Rampage over the next two seasons scoring 3 goals and 12 assists with a hurting -25 rating.

To start his fourth year he was immediately reassigned down the ladder back to Las Vegas, where he had a career year skating in 50 games, netting 7 goals, 20 assists and a +14 plus/minus on a team that made in all the way to the Kelly Cup Finals.

He even had a pair of goals, 5 helpers and a +2 rating in 19 postseason contests.

After his big league contract was up, he decided to head for his first journey of French pro hockey but would return to Nevada for a third time, where he was able to post a career high 11 goals, 14 assists and 25 points while serving as the team’s assistant captain.

For his strong showing he received a pair of call-ups to Texas Stars, then Hershey Bears.

He averaged 30 assists in four of his five WHL years with Prince Albert Raiders and Lethbridge Hurricanes.

For 2014/2015 he signed with Ontario Reign and had another strong season but seemed to once again excel nicely in the postseason with 7 assists in 19 games.

With his departure for the upcoming campaign it could be the last of North American hockey the 28-year old has seen.

12Jun

Louie Caporusso(11) Iserlohn Roosters

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Louie Caporusso

3rd year left wing Louie Caporusso(11) signs a one-year contract with 2013 Kelly Cup Champions‘ Reading Royals for 2013/2014.

He was originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#90 overall) and played a couple of seasons with minor league affiliates Binghamton Senators and Elmira Jackals.

In 36 AHL games he scored a single goal with 5 assists, which isn’t that amazing but in 70 ECHL match-ups he’s a point-per-game guy at 35 goals and 42 assists with a +20 rating. He continued on that scoring tear in 6 playoff games, getting a pair of tallies and 6 helpers.

The small looking 5’10” 200 lbs. forward was also a sniper in four years of NCAA hockey at University Of Michigan posting 68 goals and 76 assists in 160 games with an outstanding +48 plus/minus.

At still only 24 years old the former Hobey Baker Award finalist will be added to an already deep talent pool and definitely help the Royals defend their title in the upcoming campaign.

Original story: 8/16-13

After attending a week of Worcester Sharks‘ training camp, he reported back to Reading to start the season and once again was putting up lots of points (7-21-28 in 24 games) before deciding halfway through to split overseas and skate the remainder of the campaign with Augsburger Panther of DEL, where he continued on a similar tear.

He resigned with the team for another year and although his production slipped slightly he was still connecting with the net on a regular basis finishing 2014/2015 with 15 goals, 23 assists in 47 games.

For his 5th pro season, he signs on with the enemy, agreeing to play for Iserlohn Roosters and at only 25-years old he’s probably still just getting started.

11Jun

Dan Sexton (23)

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Dan-Sexton2

In the 2nd year of his deal, Dan Sexton(42) was swapped out in minor trade with Tampa Bay Lightning that sent him right back to their new affiliate Syracuse Crunch, where he helped them go all the way to the 2013 AHL Calder Cup Finals.

He was offered a qualifying offer for 2013/2014 but decided it was time to move on signing a one-year deal with TPS of Finland’s SM-liiga.

After contributing almost a point-per-game production he sought to be released and received an offer to skate for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in the KHL for the remainder of the season.

He would re-sign to stay on for a complete campaign and led the team in all scoring categories for 2014/2015 with 19 goals and 28 assists, 47 points in 49 games.

The now 28-year old will continue where he is for 2015/2016 and could really be finding his scoring stride overseas and potentially pursue a return home to North American pro hockey.

11Jun

Blake Parlett(7) Medvescak Zagreb

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Coming off a career year, which also saw him get traded from New York Rangers‘ prospect system with Connecticut Whale to Columbus Blue Jackets and their affiliate Springfield Falcons, 4th year, undrafted defenseman Blake Parlett(7) signs his qualifying offer as a restricted free agent to stay where he is for a full season within the ranks.

In 78 AHL games in 2012/2013, he scored 8 goals and 24 assists with a combined +9 rating.

The seemingly bigger looking than 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner started his pro career on a minor league contract with Connecticut but spent most of his rookie season in the ECHL with Greenville Road Warriors.

After a good showing in first campaign, he was signed to a two-year entry level deal by the Rangers.

The 24-year old has yet to receive his first NHL call-up but he’s likely in line for a skate up in the big league if he continues to make a difference, connect for point in the upcoming season.

See related: 3/21-11

Original story: 7/22-13

Just like that the d-man gets dished from the Blue Jackets‘ system to Boston Bruins‘ minor league team Providence Bruins but left unsigned and was quick to pick up a contract as an unrestricted free agent with Florida Panthers for 2014/2015.

He played exclusively for their farm club San Antonio Rampage recording a career high 9 AHL goals and plus 9 rating with second best 26 points and tied for 67 games.

The 26-year old picks up his game and will move it to Russian for at least a season in the KHL with Medvescak Zagreb.

Blake Parlett

10Jun

Barry Goers(41) WBS Penguins

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Barry-Goers

Wheeling Nailers‘ 4th year undrafted mini-defenseman Barry Goers(41) was recalled by affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on seven occasions, putting in an accountable effort when called upon.

The 5’9″ 175 lbs. (minimum weight any player is 9/10 times given) was finally given an AHL contract within the last month of the regular season and with one more appearance in the postseason will outplay his previous high from his rookie year with Las Vegas Wranglers.

Almost ironically he’s scored as many points in the current Calder Cup Playoffs, a pair of assists, as he did in the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 27-year old veteran blue liner could easily sign another ECHL contract for 2014/2015 and follow a similar path of call-ups but he may also grab a roster spot out of training camp or earlier in the off-season.

He’s easily earned it.

Original story: 6/1-14

Not wanting to wait until someone else could sign him Wilkes Barre/Scranton stepped back in offering a one-year contract.

Playing in his first full AHL season he recorded modest career highs with 2 goals, 7 assists and 9 points in 51 games, then added another 2 helpers in 8 Calder Cup Playoff contests.

The soon-to-be 29-year old was definitely consistent enough to score the extension with the Penguins.

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09Jun

Brock Montpetit(72) Leksand IF

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Brock Montpetit2

Undrafted center Brock Montpetit(72) has decided to start his pro career overseas with Vasteras in Sweden’s tier two league Allsvenskan.

After four productive seasons at University Of Nebraska-Omaha, which followed three years of equally great play in US junior hockey with Waterloo Black Hawks, he signed an ato joining Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the end of 2013/2014.

He only appeared in a pair of AHL games scoring no points.

It will be interesting to see how the 5’10” 195 lbs. forward develops and if he can find his scoring touch on the next level.

At 24-years old, he’s getting a bit of a late start but could find big success playing on the bigger ice surfaces across the pond.

Original story: 5/14-14:

After a decently successful rookie campaign (7 goals, 9 assists with a -6 rating), for his sophomore season he decides to switch squads in the same league signing for a year with opponents Leksand IF.

Now still only 25-years old, he’s the type of player that needs to keep working hard and reaching, points will come.

09Jun

Trevor van Riemsdyk(57) Chicago Blackhawks

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Trevor-van-Riemsdyk

Chicago Blackhawks‘ undrafted rookie defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk(57) started his pro career in the NHL but was sidelined a month into it when a puck was shot off his knee cap sending him to the side lines for 3 months.

In 18 games he only notched one assist but had an even rating skating an average of 14 minutes a night.

He can definitely put up points, especially assists as he did in three years at University Of New Hampshire but looks like he needs to find his offensive game first on the next level.

The 6’2″ 188 lbs. first year blue liner took an interesting road pre-college hockey skating for two seasons as 18/19-year old in third tier juniors EHL with New Hampshire Junior Monarchs, where he won back-to-back championships and tallied more than a point per game.

When returning from injure reserved, he was sent to minor league affiliate Rockford IceHogs to get his game on, but late in the campaign hurt his wrist once again forcing him to the sidelines for their Calder Cup Playoff run.

He scored three assists in 8 AHL games with a +2 rating before going down for a second time.

Working hard on his recovery, he was finally ready to be recalled to possibly be inserted into the lineup for the Stanley Cup Finals.

The soon-to-be 24-year old has played a pair of games with no points and a -1 plus/minus skating limited shifts/minutes.

He’s signed for a 2-year entry level deal and you can pretty much bet on him spending his first full season in the show (unless he gets injured yet again).