Undrafted, Swedish-born rookie goaltender Niklas Svedberg(1) signed a 2-year entry level deal with Boston Bruins that takes him through 2014 with the organization.
He was inked to a contract to join the team after posting phenomenal numbers through successive seasons in his home country’s top league, SHL.
The 23-year old was invited to participate in the Boston’s prospect camp this past summer and excelled there as well.
At 6’1″ 176 lbs., he isn’t exactly the biggest guy between the pipes but moves very neatly and always seems to be in the right position to make the save when called upon.
He’s off to a heck of a start in Providence compiling a 12-5 record through 19 appearances with a 2.50 GAA and .919 SV%, which is helping keep his team in the running for top spot in the AHL Atlantic Division.
The Swede is definitely a bright light for the Bruins‘ future in net.
Original story: 1/2-13.
On June 23, 2014 he signed a one-year, one-way contract to become the backup net minder for the Bruins.
He filled that role through the 2014/2015 season but the 25-year old only played in 17 of a possible 82 game schedule on an unbalanced team that failed to make the playoffs.
His record of 7-5-1 with a 2.33 GAA and .918 SV% were decent marks but at the conclusion of the regular season it didn’t turn out as the restricted free agent expected so he’s decided to pursue his game elsewhere signing a deal with Salavat Yulaev UFA of the KHL.
Boston Bruins‘ undrafted rookie defenseman Frankie Simonelli(6) has put up 7 points: 2 goals and 5 assists, including the opening round game 1 double overtime winning tally, with a +4 rating in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff games to help South Carolina Stingrays to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2009. They won the title that year for a third time in team history.
He split his time with affiliate Providence Bruins for much of the 2014/2015 season, playing 36 AHL games scoring 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points and a +5 plus/minus but was released as the playoffs started.
The 5’10” 200 lbs. blue liner only skated in 19 ECHL games this season scoring a goal and 9 assists with a +11 rating.
He spent four years at University Of Wisconsin and one a NCAA/WCHA Championship in 2013 as an assistant captain. He was named captain for his senior campaign.
The 22-year old signed a one-year entry level deal and is set to become a restricted free agent.
His play suggests he will be qualified for another look, especially if he can continue to contribute to winning a championship, and will likely climb onto the next level for a full season.
Game 3 of the AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals is forced away from Hartford Wolf Pack‘s home rink XL Center and moved to Worcester Sharks‘ DCU Center home arena as the circus is in town.
It was a fairly even matched almost dull affair for the 60 minutes except for the two moments where goals were scored knotting it at 1 apiece.
Midway through the third frame Washington Capitals‘ 3rd year defenseman Cameron Schilling(5) breaks the tie with a short-handed laser shot from inside the slot.
Hershey Bears take the series lead 2-1.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#209 overall) rookie left wing Scott Wilson(23) has somewhat quietly put up some very good numbers on reassignment with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
In 55 AHL games he had 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points with a +14 rating.
The 5’11” 183 lbs. forward has elevated his game in the Calder Cup Playoffs as he’s managed to strike for a pair of goals and assists in 3 contests.
A proven goal scorer at the college level he began his first two seasons at UMass-Lowell with identical 38 point campaigns (16 goals, 22 assists) and won the 2013 NCAA/ECAC Championship.
He signed his 2-year entry level deal deciding to turn pro and leave his fourth year of college on the shelf.
Although he only appeared in one game, his NHL debut during 2014/2015, maybe due the fact he was around the team so much despite not playing on recall, he was called on to play minutes in 3 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
He skated an average of 10 shifts for 6 and a half minutes and had some shots on net. He usually unloaded at least three shots per game with the Baby Pens.
At 23-years old he could be a deep selection that materializes into a competent, hard working player in the show.
Manchester Monarchs and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins started their AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Semifinals best-of-seven game series with a triple overtime battle that went to the home team.
The Monarchs dominated a hard playing, fast skating game 2 but the Penguins managed to keep it even through 2 periods and then 5 minutes into the final frame Manchester broke it the tie, then added an insurance tally and an empty netter as the clock wound down.
Final score 5-2 giving the New Hampshire team a 2-0 series advantage as both teams head to Pennsylvania for games 3-5.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#12 overall) left wing Brendan Perlini(9) signed his three-year entry level deal but it’s not officially suppose to kick in for the 19-year old until the 2016/2017 season.
The big 6’3″ 205 lbs. was in the Coyotes‘ training camp to start 2014, but was one of the last cuts and available to be sent back to his junior club Niagara IceDogs, so the parent club decided to have him skate his third year in the OHL.
At the conclusion the season, he was reassigned to join affiliate Portland Pirates for their Calder Cup Playoff run, playing in four AHL games and he got his first pro hockey goal.
In his last two seasons of juniors, he was near the top of team scoring and led the team in goals for the 2013/2014 campaign.
He’ll definitely be back at both camps looking for a roster spot with the big club but is also eligible to be returned for his final year in the OHL, where he’d likely blow the lid off the score sheet.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#26 overall) 2nd year center Phillip Danault(18) is showing steady points increase in his sophomore season with affiliate Rockford IceHogs much like he did through four campaigns in the QMJHL while mostly serving as captain for hometown team Victoriaville Tigres.
In his rookie season he had a respectable 6 goals and 20 assists as a youngster.
In 2014/2015 he recorded a career high 13 goals, 25 assists for 38 points and a +20 rating in 70 AHL games.
He played 72 in his first year but was also recalled to make his NHL debut for a couple of contests before being reassigned back to the farm club.
The 6′ 195 lbs. forward currently leads his team in Calder Cup Playoff scoring with 2 goals and 2 assists as they dispatched their first round opponent in three straight to advance.
As just a 22-year old the forward skates has already been in four training camps and appeared in 12 minor league games in 2012 and 2013.
He skates with a lot of gusto and is considered a hard worker on and off ice leader that should show continued growth and may even help his squad to a championship.
Manchester Monarchs pulled out with a quick 2-0 lead then added another one early in the next frame in the deciding game 5 of the AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, but Portland Pirates didn’t let it bother them as they answered with three quick tallies including the game-tying goal with .05 seconds left before the final 20 minutes of regulation.
The Monarchs struck twice more to start the third period and never looked back holding off the pesky, never-say-die Pirates to advance into the next round.
Rookie forward Michael Mersch(27) was named the 1st star with a pair of goals, including the game-winner and an assist.
Washington Capitals‘ undrafted rookie left wing Liam O’Brien(20) was a training camp invite that scored himself a three-year entry level deal through hard-nosed, persistent play and found himself on the opening night roster.
He stayed with the parent club for the first couple of months of the 2014/2015 season, skating 13 games, earning his first NHL goal and an assist to go along with 3 fighting majors before he was reassigned to affiliate Hershey Bears.
The 6’1″ 211 lbs. unassuming tough guy makes his living as a fourth line energy forward and although he only notched 4 goals and 4 assists through 45 AHL games, he is credited for dropping the gloves on 13 occasions for 121 penalty minutes.
He took a similar stance through his final three years of QMJHL mostly with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, where he average a good 150 minutes each season in the box.
Never quite a player that put up huge points in juniors, he was able to connect for 20 goals and 15 assists in 66 games in his final year of junior hockey and although he’s mostly a pugilist as a pro something has awoken a scoring touch now that the postseason has started.
The 20-year old has struck for a pair of goals and assists in 4 first round Calder Cup Playoffs games and has a nice 4-game point streak building.
Arizona Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft (#58 overall) center Christian Dvorak(18) wasted little time signing his three-year entry level deal after one full season of juniors with London Knights.
It was his second campaign but he was sidelined for the latter half of his first year after tearing an ACL.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward returned ready to go, was named assistant captain and managed to connect for 41 goals and 68 assists for 109 points in 66 OHL games with a +33 rating.
After inking his contract, he was reassigned to start his pro career with affiliate Portland Pirates.
He got right to work scoring his first AHL goal and added an assist in his second game before readying for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The 19-year old has lots of speed and abilities to find the open spots on the ice for scoring chances and isn’t afraid to crash the net and mix it up in the corners.
He has a good chance of making the parent club out of training camp for his official 2015/2016 rookie season.
