AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

30Sep

Jeremy Welsh(15) Chicago Wolves

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Undrafted center Jeremy Welsh(15) has already been with his share of teams as he enters his third professional season.

An unrestricted free agent heading into 2014/2015, his former team Vancouver Canucks decided to not re-sign the fairly large 6’3″ 208 lbs. Ontario, Canada native.

He originally inked a 1-year entry level deal with Carolina Hurricanes and skated his first NHL game after winning an ECAC Championship at Union College in his third and final season before turning pro.

The physical presence up front split his time in his rookie year up with the big club on numerous recalls but mostly with affiliate Charlotte Checkers, where he notched some decent numbers (14+12-26 in 69 AHL games).

His potential abilities led him to receive a two-year extension with the 2nd year being a one-way contract.

He was traded to Vancouver before the start of 2013/2014 and split his time with Utica Comets.

The 26-year old joined St. Louis Blues early in free agency on a 1-year, 2-way contract and was recently reassigned to affiliate Chicago Wolves.

He’ll easily be on the short list for a recall to prove his mettle once again but will need to show up big.

29Sep

Kevin Gravel(57) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#148 overall) defenseman Kevin Gravel(57) will start his rookie season under a one-year minor league contract, executed by the parent club, with Manchester Monarchs.

He signed an ato to join the team at the conclusion of his four-year stint at St. Cloud University, where in 5 AHL games he registered no points but got some necessary early experience.

At 6’4″ 200 lbs. he’s a large presence on the blue line and plays a relatively sturdy, stay at home style, although he has shown an ability to move the puck around for scoring opportunities as he did in his final pair of college hockey campaigns.

The 22-year old could definitely add another dimension to his game with some coaching to fire the puck on net with more frequency.

It remains to be seen if that will develop but for now he’ll continue to work on his strong, shut down play.

26Sep

Robbie Czarnik (27)

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4th year center Robert Czarnik(27) was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#63 overall).

He played for 2.5 seasons with their minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs before being swapped to Montreal Canadiens, where he was mostly a healthy scratch with Hamilton Bulldogs.

The 6’1″ 188 lbs. was never able to get on the score sheet regularly putting up a sparing 13 goals and 21 assists in 135 AHL games.

He had better fortunes through a year and a half in college at University Of Michigan before deciding to leave for two seasons of junior hockey with Plymouth Whalers.

In his final campaign he made a big jump in point production hitting the back of the net 33 times and helping out on another 44 through only 61 OHL games. From there he decided to turn pro.

Left to fend for himself without a qualifying offer after his 3-year entry level contract was up, the free agent signed on to skate the inaugural season of Indy Fuel.

The 24-year old certainly is hoping that his game can have a resurgence in the ECHL to potentially climb back up the ladder or head overseas for a better opportunity.

25Sep

David Wohlberg(25) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#172 overall) center David Wohlberg(25) became a restricted free agent when his two-year entry level deal expired at the end of last season.

Instead of leaving him unqualified, the team offered him a minor league contract for 2014/2015 to stay in the prospect system.

He’s in training camp with the parent club again but will soon report to affiliate Albany Devils to start his third pro season.

The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward has yet to light the lamp through 104 AHL games scoring only 10 goals and 12 assists.

He seems to be struggling to find the scoring touch he possessed in four years at University Of Michigan, where he was good for 56 tallies and 55 helpers in 162 contests.

It will help the 24-year old to be used in more of a prominent role on the squad but he’ll certainly have to earn it using his size and skating ability from a mostly delegated third/fourth line spot on the roster.

24Sep

Nick Larson(17) HC Banska Bystrica

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2nd year right wing Nick Larson(17) has decided to take his game overseas, joining HC Banska Bystrica of the Slovakian league for 2014/2015.

He was originally a Calgary Flames‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#108 overall) but was never signed.

Instead he become an unrestricted free agent upon completion of four years at University Of Notre Dame. He signed an ato with Peoria Rivermen, where in 5 games he he went pointless.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward put up ok numbers in college but was much better at putting the puck in the net through a pair of campaigns in USHL junior hockey with Waterloo Blackhawks.

To start his rookie season he eventually signed a two-way deal with Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He was reassigned to ECHL affiliate Stockton Thunder to begin the year and was quickly recalled.

Through 17 AHL games he scored 4 goals and 2 assists with a +5 rating but to failed to stick on the young squad and was eventually sent back down a couple of months later.

He was later loaned to South Carolina Stingrays to play out the season and almost ironically started to regain his scoring touch, putting in 7 goals and 2 assists in 23 games.

It’s almost surprising that the 24-year old decided to take his game to another country but maybe a fresh start is what he needs to move up the ranks.

He was rumored to have inked a deal with Orlando Solar Bears but decided to jump ship.

23Sep

Tyler Brown(18) Greenville Road Warriors

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After his three year entry level contract was up, Philadelphia Flyers‘ undrafted center Tyler Brown(18) became an unrestricted free agent as he wasn’t qualified with an offer.

With his fourth season was approaching the 6’2″ 198 lbs. forward signed a one-year deal for 2014/2015 to skate for Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL.

He was never really able to connect on a regular basis in his three campaigns with minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms putting up only 14 goals and 18 assists in 182 AHL games.

Totals from his final year of junior hockey with OHL Plymouth Whalers were almost double what he was able to put up as a pro and likely earned him his big league deal.

The still young 24-year old could blow up again as a scoring threat in the lower league and will probably be on the radar for a recall as he has the experience.

He’s been invited to Hartford Wolf Pack training camp.

21Sep

Chuck Kobasew(12) Bern

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For the first time in his 13-year pro career, former Calgary Flames‘ 1st round pick in the 2001 draft (#14 overall), right wing Chuck Kobasew(12) leaves North American hockey to skate with Bern of the NLA (National League A) through 2016.

He has appeared in 601 NHL games with 5 teams scoring 110 goals and 100 assists. He’s also appeared in 139 AHL contests with close to point-per-game production (70-51).

The not entirely huge 6′ 198 lbs. forward always skates a speedy, in-your-face style and has learned how to steer clear of the penalty box despite his aggressiveness.

He won an NCAA Championship with Boston College Eagles in his only year at school before heading off to play a season of juniors with Kelowna Rockets.

The 32-year old is off to a quick start with his new team overseas, putting up 3 goals and a helper in 5 games.

He could continue to jump around a bit leading up to retirement but could also find himself a good place in Switzerland.

15Sep

Freddy Meyer(coach) East Coast Wizards

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After a pair of seasons as an assistant coach with Manchester Monarchs of the AHL, former 6-year NHL defenseman (281 games, 4 teams) Freddy Meyer potentially saw the writing on the wall as a coaching switch was imminent, jeopardizing his job.

He was proactive and made the move to take the top spot behind the bench for the newly activated Eastern (Junior) Hockey League, East Coast Wizards.

As an undrafted player he won a Calder Cup in his sophomore season 2005 with Philadelphia Phantoms, as the big league schedule was tossed due to a lockout; and was a standout through four years at Boston University, including being named team captain for his senior campaign.

He’s been fairly exemplary at every level of hockey he’s skated and this looks to be a next, natural progression for the 33-year old.

He even managed to decisively win his first game as coach 7-3 at the team’s home arena in Bedford, MA.

05Jul

Mattias Tedenby (21)

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New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2008 draft (#24 overall), Swedish-born 7th year wing Mattias Tedenby(21) will switch shores heading into his 8th pro season.

After three campaigns with HV71 of the SHL, post junior career he joined the Devils‘ system in 2010 and started with minor league affiliate Albany Devils before being recalled for his first NHL games.

He spent most of his time up with the big club in his rookie year, potting 8 goals and 14 assists but came up far under that mark in his sophomore season.

The mini 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward was more able to connect in the AHL scoring, where he was mostly a point-per-every-other-game performer.

Hoping for a new beginning the restricted free agent jumped to play in the KHL with HC Lev Praha.

Unfortunately the team soon after his signing ceased operations for the 2014/2015 season.

The 24-year decided to once again return to his home country team rejoining HV71 for the 2014/2015 campaign.

It seems a bit unlikely of a return to North American hockey but anything is possible in the world of hockey.

04Jun

Drew Olson(21) Lillihammer

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2nd year defenseman/left wing Drew Olson(21) leaves North American hockey to try his game in Norway’s GET-ligaen, signing a one-year deal with Lillehammer.

He played his rookie season under contract with Syracuse Crunch after being traded to Tampa Bay Lightning organization for future considerations before his first campaign started.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#118 overall), they seemed to cool on him as he played at University Of Minnesota-Duluth despite being part of the 2011 NCAA Championship team.

In 47 AHL games he scored 3 goals and 1 assists with a -10 rating on squad that struggled to put together wins.

The 24-year old skated the blue line for his college career but was switched to a forward spot when he arrived at the pro level.

It looks like he’ll be back on defense when he starts overseas.