AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

05Sep

Cory Kane (8)

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Undrafted 3rd year center Cory Kane(8) picks up his game after two seasons of AHL contracts and heads to Czech Extraliga signing a one-year deal with HC Ocelari Trinec.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. feisty forward started his pro career playing 4 regular season games then 12 Calder Cup Playoff match-ups on an ato with Providence Bruins after four years and a decently successful senior campaign at Ferris State University.

He would sign an extension just before his rookie season and played a career high 55 games scoring 7 goals and 12 assists with a +11 rating but was also reassigned down to South Carolina Stingrays for 6 ECHL games.

Although he wasn’t retained for a second run in Rhode Island, it didn’t take him long into free agency to secure a contract with Texas Stars.

The soon to be 26-year old should find the challenge of going overseas rewarding as he’ll probably be able to open up enough space to post some pretty good numbers.

01Sep

Gabriel Verpaelst (27)

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Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Gabriel Verplaest(27) had his most productive offensive season with Norfolk Admirals‘ in 2015/2016.

Through 57 ECHL games he scored a career high 6 goals and 28 big assists for 34 points, tripling his stats from his rookie campaign with Bakersfield Condors.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner never showed the kind of production he’s had since turning pro in four years in the QMJHL with Baie-Comeau Drakkar, where his best showing was 19 assists in his final run.

He was loaned to Stockton Heat late-ish into his sophomore season but failed to register a point in 8 AHL appearances.

He did get into one scrap, which mirrors the aggressive playing style he played in juniors and in the lower league, which was good for 15 fights in each of his first two years.

The still super-young 22-year old re-signs to stay put in Virginia for 2016/2o17, but should gain a training camp invite and could raise his game.

18Aug

Brian Ferlin (19)

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Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#121 overall) right wing Brian Ferlin(19) was enjoying a good first season before getting sidelined for the Calder Cup Playoffs with a hit that unknowingly knocked him for a loop in the final game of the regular campaign.

As a rookie he potted 11 goals and 9 assists in 53 contests, while also grabbing a first recall for 7 appearances and his first NHL point, an assist.

The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward sat for the majority of his sophomore run, finally returning four months later.

In 23 AHL games with affiliate Providence Bruins he scored 6 goals and 8 assists and reversed his -9 rating from a year earlier to a +9, while continuing to impress the parent club.

He enjoyed a first offensive breakout in his 2nd year of play for Indiana Ice with 25 goals and 48 assists in 53 USHL games before leaving for Cornell University.

Through 3 years of college hockey he also showed good productivity and was ready to leave school for his chance to turn pro in 2014/2015.

The 24-year old was slated to compete for a spot on the big league roster last season but post-concussion syndrome derailed that opportunity for the moment.

A late training camp cut for his two seasons in the system, he should make waves in the upcoming run.

Not bad for a Jacksonville, FL native.

04Jul

Wade Megan (28)

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Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#138 overall) center Wade Megan(28) has played in the club’s system for the last three seasons on minor league contracts, first through two years with San Antonio Rampage, then last season with new affiliate Portland Pirates.

The seemingly graciously listed at 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward recorded new career highs in all categories through 2015/2016 getting 14 goals, 9 assists for 23 points with a +10 rating, 145 shots on net and even a new best 53 penalty minutes.

These totals were more in line with what he achieved in his last two years at Boston University, where he posted identical 29 point campaigns, serving as captain in his senior season.

Heading into his fourth season on an upward scoring trajectory, the soon-to-be 26-year old scores his first NHL contract signing a one-year two-way deal with St. Louis Blues that will likely see him spent most of his time with farm club Chicago Wolves.

16May

Jared Nightingale (18)

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Finishing up his 10th pro season having only been signed to minor league contracts, undrafted defenseman Jared Nightingale(18) filled in the role of captain in his second year with Toledo Walleye quite nicely.

That is, until he was loaned to Chicago Wolves for two weeks, returned and quickly recalled for a couple months before joining them for the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

It would be little surprise to see the 34-year old score an invite a farm team’s camp in the forthcoming year and earn a deal.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner plays a consistently punishing style that shows little signs of slowing down.

Known to drop the mitts on many occasions, his fighting majors were only down slightly to 11 playing in the two leagues.

He also could own the record for most AHL clubs a single player has put on a uniform for at 10.

02May

Magnus Hellberg (45)

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New York Rangers‘ 6th year goalie, Swedish-born Magnus Hellberg(45) played a career high 53 AHL games with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack posting an easy best 30 wins and 20 losses with a 2.40 GAA and .918 SV% including 4 shutouts.

Originally a Nashville Predators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#38 overall) he played his first two pro seasons in Allvenskan with Almtuna IS, then Frolunda HC of the SHL before coming to North America.

The big 6’5″ 200 lbs. net minder played most of his time with minor league team Milwaukee Admirals, but did get into his only NHL game in 2012 and also had a smattering of appearances in the ECHL for Cincinnati Cyclones.

As the just turned 25-year old was heading into his first restricted free agency at the end of 2014/2015, he was dealt to the Blueshirts and quickly signed to a two-year deal.

He was recalled on a couple of occasions but mostly for simple practice and back up purposes. He could easily slide into more big league time, especially if he keeps up the workload for the farm team.

13Apr

Frederik Gauthier (23)

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Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#21 overall) rookie center Frederik Gauthier(23) is another young player getting his chance with the big squad in a non-playoff berth season.

The huge 6’5″ 238 lbs. power forward has appeared in 7 games scoring his first NHL point, an assist while skating a lot of minutes short-handed time, delivering crushing hits and breaking up plays.

He’s having a good first year with league leading affiliate Toronto Marlies scoring 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 54 AHL contests with a +17 rating in a mostly checking line role.

This comes after three years of junior hockey with Rimouski Oceanic, where he was virtually a point-per-game player and won the 2015 QMJHL Championship.

The soon-to-be 21-year old, signed through 2017/2018 on an entry level deal, will compete hard at the upcoming training camp for a full-time roster spot but may just win the minor league’s highest award, the Calder Cup first.

06Apr

Ashton Rome (44)

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Veteran right wing Ashton Rome(44) lasted just five ECHL games with Greenville in 2012/2013 before jumping ship for Dusseldorfer EG of DEL.

He would spend two seasons with the team, then jump allegiances to Schwenninger Wild Wings for his next two campaigns, reaching almost point-per-game totals in 2015/2016 scoring 17 goals and 15 assists in 39 contests.

The 11th year pro switches it up once again but stays for a 5th run in the German league joining Iserlohn Roosters.

He did briefly return on a pto with Norfolk Admirals but was released after only a couple of AHL appearances and returned overseas to resume his career.

The 30-year old he still seems to have plenty left in the tank and seems to be simply enjoying the ride.

05Apr

Sonny Milano (22)

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#26 overall) rookie left wing Sonny Milano(22) is having a pretty decent first year with affiliate Lake Erie Monsters.

The only 19-year old forward has 12 goals and 15 assists in 48 AHL games with a +10 rating on a league leading squad.

Taking a bit of a unique path before turning pro at such a young age, he played two seasons with the United States National Team Development Program in the USHL as a point-per-game performer, while also playing for the under 17 and 18 of the USDP recording even better numbers.

As a highly touted player, he would leave to skate the next season with Plymouth Whalers, once again exploding on the score sheet with 22 goals and 46 assists for 68 points in 50 OHL games.

He would sign his three-year entry level deal at the conclusion of that campaign and be reassigned to join then minor league team Springfield Falcons for the remainder of the calendar getting five assists in 10 games.

His impressive play and possibly that the parent club is out of the postseason picture, earns him a first recall.

In two games, utilized for an average 12 minutes of ice time, he recorded his first NHL point, an assist with 1 shot, 3 hits, 2 breakups and 1 giveaway with a +1 rating.

He’s easily impressed and if he comes into 2016 training camp in good shape, should get a serious look to start the season in the show.

18Mar

Mike Sislo (46)

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New Jersey Devils‘ 5th year right wing Mike Sislo(46) has been recalled twice in the current season and not only did he get an assist in his first game back up, but notched his first NHL goal in his 4th game on the most recent visit to the big league and then he got a second one in a decisive 7-4 win.

He had previously only recorded one assist in 10 contests while up in 2014/2015 and no points in his 14 appearances a year earlier but has been an effective energy line player.

In the AHL this season with affiliate Albany Devils he’s blowing the roof off his previous scoring totals.

His 27 goals leads the league with 25 assists and 52 points shattering what he was able to put up through his first four campaigns in the prospect system.

The 28-year old is set to become an unrestricted free agent and will likely be looking for his first one-way contract and can maybe expect that from the only team he’s ever suited up for.