Category: AHL

01Nov

Frederick Roy(91) retired

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Frederick Roy91Undrafted 23-year old, would be third year left wing Frederick Roy(91), son of Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy, has decided it’s time to hang up the skates.

Having signed a pair of successive AHL contracts with Rochester Americans and being without a solid deal going into 2014/2015, he probably was unwilling to move down to the ECHL to see what could materialize.

Also, possible there were little offers from Europe as well.

Regardless, the somewhat small 5’10” 170 lbs. forward with a ton of well-documented feistines (he’s credited with 10 fighting majors last season) stops playing much too soon.

He showed much potential scoring and checking line promise, especially in his fourth season in the QMJHL with Quebec Ramparts.

The word on his wiki suggests he’s decided it’s time to go back to school.

We still wish him well and of course, he comes from good hockey stock so we probably haven’t heard the last of him.

31Oct

Tyler Kennedy(8) Worcester Sharks

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Tyler Kennedy9th year veteran right wing Tyler Kennedy(8) was reassigned by San Jose Sharks to their farm team Worcester Sharks on a long-term conditioning loan after suffering a nagging upper body injury early in training camp.

He last played in the AHL in 2007 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th round pick in the 2004 draft (#99 overall) he spent 7 years with the team posting career highs with 21 goals and 24 assists through 80 appearances in 2010-2011. He was a pretty nice playoff contributor, helping them to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2009.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward has skated 439 NHL games scoring 80 goals and 105 assists with a +22 rating.

His totals in the past pair of campaigns have faltered though and he was given a fairly lucrative two-year deal wooing him away quickly from his first turn as an unrestricted free agent.

He managed only 4 tallies and 13 helpers with a -10 plus/minus in 67 contests last season.

The 28-year old may be finding himself a bit on the cusp as to where he will fit in best unless he starts stepping it up quickly.

30Oct

Jason LaBarbera(1) Norfolk Admirals

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Jason Labarbera215 year veteran goaltender Jason LaBarbera(1) has always been a highly sought after NHL back up between the pipes.

Due to his role on a team he’s only play 182 games in the league with 45 of those coming in a single season as a starter, when he was property of Los Angeles Kings.

The big 6’3″ 232 lbs. net minder consistently puts up decent numbers when called upon.

He has similar stats through 282 AHL games, where he’ll likely play most of the time in 2014/2015.

He’s basically won best goalie in the league honors in three of his campaigns, twice early in his career with Hartford Wolf Pack and once during a lockout with Manchester Monarchs.

Signed to a 1-year, two-way contract with Anaheim Ducks, he’s on reassignment with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

The 34-year old will likely get the call to put his talents on display for a few games with the parent club but was essentially given a contract to serve as a valuable mentor for their stable of talented prospects.

He was originally a New York Rangers‘ 3rd round pick in the 1998 draft (#66 overall).

29Oct

David Pastrnak(32) Providence Bruins

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David-Pastrnak2

Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#24 overall) 18-year old Czech Republic-born right wing David Pastrnak(32) came within a whisker of making the opening night roster for the parent club and might have accomplish the feat, if he wasn’t sidelined by injury during training camp.

He was eventually reassigned on the day before the regular season opener but not where it was initially thought he would go.

Because of his young age, it was believed he would have to go back overseas and join an SHL club for 2014/2015, but through a clause he was sent to the much closer minor league affiliate Providence Bruins to start his North American pro career and for the brass to keep a closer eye on his play.

The 6′ 167 lbs. forward has very good hands and skillfully sees the ice well at a very young age.

Having already competed in Swedish tier 2 league Allsvenskan with Sodertalje for the last couple of seasons most certainly helped that development.

He’s certainly making his mark with the farm team already notching two goals, 7 assists and a league leading +8 rating in 7 AHL games.

As a rookie, he obviously leads the league in a few stat categories.

He signed his three-year entry level deal but it’s understood that if he fails to participate in 9 NHL games, 2014/2015 will be a slide.

27Oct

Scott Darling(33) Chicago Blackhawks

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Scott Dariling33Originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#153 overall) 5th year goaltender Scott Darling(33) took an unprecedented long journey to his first NHL game with Chicago Blackhawks, getting the 2-1 victory in the process.

The extra large 6’6″ 238 lbs. net minder was never signed after his selection from US junior hockey.

He advanced to play a couple of campaigns for University Of Maine Black Bears putting up decent stats but still found no takers.

Deciding to turn pro he signed his first contract with the now defunct Louisiana IceGators of the SPHL and continued in the league inking for his sophomore year with Mississippi Riverkings.

He received a couple of call-ups but didn’t fare too well, although he would get a one-year deal with Wheeling Nailers for the next season.

After a solid, short run in the ECHL, Milwaukee Admirals took a chance on the backstop for 2013/2014, where he put up outstanding numbers going 13-6 in 26 AHL games with a 2.00 GAA and .933 SV%.

The effort earned him his first NHL deal with the Blackhawks.

Coming off a strong training camp, he was reassigned to affiliate Rockford IceHogs.

In 2 contests he won both and 1.44 GAA and .948 SV%.

The close to Chicago native from Lemont, IL received a well-deserved nod to start between the pipes upon his first recall.

At just 25-years old, he has gone all the way from single A to the show.

26Oct

Scott Munroe(33) Springfield Falcons

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Scott Munroe39th year undrafted goaltender Scott Munroe(33) returned to North American hockey for a second time after tending net for Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL last season. He also spent an earlier year overseas in the KHL with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Although he put up pretty excellent numbers in Sweden (2.05 GAA, .913 SV% in 36 games) he was cut loose.

He decided to come back to this side of the pond signing a one-year, two-way deal with Springfield Falcons.

To start the new season the now 32-year old was for the first time in his pro career dispatched to ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings, where he appeared in one game, getting the win.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. backstop was immediately recalled and started his first AHL game in about a year and a half, winning his second straight of 2014/2015 in two different leagues.

His last stint was his second go-round with Adirondack (Philadelphia) Phantoms.

He’s had three NHL contracts and was invited to Columbus Blue Jackets’ training camp but never played an official big league game.

When he finally decides to hang up the skates, he’d be a great goaltending coach for a team.

See related: 8/28-12

25Oct

Spencer Asuchak(23) Allen Americans

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Spencer AsuchukExceptionally large undrafted center Spencer Asuchak(23) spent his rookie season with Allen Americans eclipsing all his high point marks from 4 years of juniors in the WHL and one year of college before helping the team to win the Ray Miron’s Presidents Cup in the final season of the Central Hockey League.

For his sophomore campaign he got a surprise phone call offering him to join Boston Bruins‘ rookie camp and eventual training camps with the club and it’s minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

The 6’5″ 220 lbs. forward scored a goal in preseason action but was released as they have a logjam of players signed.

He decided to return to Allen for another round as they moved up the hockey ladder merging with the ECHL for 2014/2015.

This isn’t his first experience in the league as he signed an ato with Ontario Reign and skated three games at the end of his time with Prince George Cougars. He recorded no points.

The still super-young 22-year old will very likely get another chance to show his might with a recall to P-Bruins or another AHL squad.

23Oct

Jonathan Drouin(27) Tampa Bay Lightning

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Jonathan DruinTampa Bay Lightning 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#3 overall) left wing Jonathan Drouin(27) played a pair of AHL games for minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch after breaking his thumb early in training camp workouts and getting reassigned to start his pro career.

He scored the game-winning goal in his debut and added a pair of assists the next night. He also had a +4 rating.

That was all the parent club needed to see before he was recalled to the NHL.

He was scheduled to be a healthy scratch after a long day of travel but was inserted into the lineup and skating 22 shifts for 16:01 of total ice time with a -1 in a 3-2 loss.

The next night he added to his totals, recorded his first big league point, an assist and came away with a +1 in an overtime victory.

At only 5’11” 186 lbs. he is thought of as the whole package.

He recorded over 100 points in his last two seasons of the QMJHL with Halifax Mooseheads, where he won a Memorial Cup and league championship in his second season.

The 19-year is poised to have an outstanding rookie campaign on a team stacked with offensive talent.

22Oct

Matt Taormina(20) Worcester Sharks

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Matt Taormina2Undrafted 6th year defenseman Matt Taormina(20) has definitely bounced around from team-to-team in the last few seasons.

For 2014/2015 he signs his first AHL contract joining Worcester Sharks, since turning pro with Lowell Devils in 2009.

As a rookie, coming of four seasons at Providence College, he had a hefty 40 helpers and 10 goals in 75 games.

The effort earned the small but accountable in his own end 5’10” 185 lbs. a two-year entry level deal with New Jersey Devils, where he spent the majority of the next two seasons.

An unrestricted free agent he tested the waters and signed for a year with Tampa Bay Lightning but found himself playing mostly with their minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch. He was re-signed but once again was unable to crack the parent club’s roster, skating in only 7 NHL games with no points.

Then close to the trade deadline he was dealt in a farm team deal to Columbus Blue Jackets and reassigned to Springfield Falcons.

If the just turned 28-year old can find the scoring sheet like he did at the beginning of his career, he may find himself signing another big league contract.

See related: 12/17-11