Category: AHL

pascal-pelletier

Undrafted 10th year center Pascal Pelletier(23) returned to North American hockey signing a one-year two-way deal with Vancouver Canucks for 2013/2014.

He spent the last three seasons in the Swiss elite league NLA, skating games for SCL Tigers, putting up close to point-per-game numbers.

The strong skating, stocky 5’11” 196 lbs. forward was reassigned to expansion team Utica Comets and set a new career high assists with 40 in 69 AHL games.

His 62 points were also second highest of his pro career.

He appeared in 3 games with the parent club but failed to hit the score sheet.

He’s played 16 total NHL games but has not registered a point.

Josh Morrissey

Winnipeg Jets‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#13 overall) defenseman Josh Morrissey(6) is impressing up to expectations skating his first pro games with minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

He joined the farm club on an ato after his third season with Prince Albert Raiders. where he served as team captain.

The seemingly kind of small and skinny 6′ 185 lbs. d-man played in 8 regular season AHL games notching a single assist and has really come out swinging in the postseason with 2 goals and 4 helpers with a +5 rating in 9 Calder Cup contests.

Signed to a 3-year entry level deal before the start of the 2013/2014 season, he was on a slide due to his young age and reassigned to his WHL club.

He was a huge point-getter in three campaigns and won a pair of gold medals in recent junior competitions.

The 19-year old should compete in the upcoming training camp for an NHL job on the parent club’s roster in his official rookie year, but for now is enjoying the ride in a bid for a league championship.

Tyler Biggs

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#22 overall) right wing Tyler Biggs(22) must have been antsy to turn pro as he lasted only one season after his selection at Miami University before signing his 3-year entry level deal.

He started his ascent in US National development hockey programs, where he won back-to-back gold medals and was named team captain in his second year.

The 6’3″ 224 lbs. forward went on to skate one campaign in the OHL with Oshawa Generals, but was already under contract on a slide, so the wheels were in place for him to make the jump.

He joined minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies at the end of 2012/2013 and notched his first goal.

Reassigned out of training camp to start his rookie season in the AHL, he hasn’t exactly exploded on the score sheet with only 7 goals and 2 assists in 57 games.

The big, rugged winger seems to be experiencing some growing pains adjusting his game to the next level and has even found himself up in the stands watching for most of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

It’s a bit of a wonder if the parent club will continue to work with their prospect or if he’ll be packaged in an off-season trade to get some proven talent to help them make the 2014/2015 NHL playoffs.

 

svedbergforsberg

A pair of Swedish goaltenders, Niklas Svedberg(1) and Anton Forsberg(35), called in to put out the first period 7 goal explosion in the deciding game 5 of the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between visiting, winning Providence Bruins and home team Springfield Falcons, exchange some home country good will in the handshake line to conclude the series.

The two starters allowed 4 and 3 goals in the opening stanza and yanked. Each back-up net minder let in the first shot they faced but that was all she wrote for the eventual winner.

Kent Huskins

13-year veteran defenseman Kent Huskins(29) signed an AHL contract to join Utica Comets a month into the 2013/2014 season.

Possibly looking for a new NHL suitor after splitting less than 20 games the previous year with Detroit Red Wings then Philadelphia Flyers, it’s possible he saw a possible opening in the parent club to influence his decision to sign a minor league deal.

He appeared in 65 games with the expansion central New York club adding another 10 points to his league totals (473-33-101-134). He also owns a +33 rating.

The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has also skated in 318 contests in the show putting up just 13 goals and 55 assists, but his stay-at-home style and strong defense of his own zone gives him a highly accountable +46 plus/minus.

It took him 5 years of trolling with farm teams before he received his first opportunity to play at the highest level but from there he spent six straight seasons on top.

Not bad for a player that was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 1998 draft (#156 overall).

The almost 35-year old could either stay put or try his hand elsewhere but is probably happy earning a decent payday playing  pro hockey.

He won a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 as a member of Anaheim Ducks.

Ben Chiarot3

Unlikely hero, St. John’s IceCaps‘ defenseman Ben Chiarot(18) scores the overtime game-winner on a slapper from the point to take the 1-0 series lead in the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Albany Devils, who were at home.

It was his first playoff point in his first AHL playoff game.

He is in the final season of his 3-year entry level contract with Winnipeg Jets.

He’s made one NHL appearance with no points and went an unfortunate -3 plus/minus in a 5-1 shellacking.

The 6’3″ 215 lbs. d-man easily had a break out minor league career year in 2013/2014, recording a clearly better 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points with a +29 rating.

The soon-to-be 23 year old is probably on the likely list to be given a qualifying offer for another run in the system but will have to work that much harder to get another look for the show.

The series has since been tied at 1.

See related: 3/23-12

Stuart Percy

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#25 overall)  defenseman Stuart Percy(10) skated his first full season of pro hockey with minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies.

His 4 goals and 21 assists for 25 points in 71 AHL games were good enough for 2nd in scoring amongst blue liners.

He was always able to put up decent helper numbers through 4 seasons of junior hockey play with Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, which fortunately carried over nicely to his rookie campaign.

The 6’1″ 193 lbs. d-man signed a 3-year entry level deal, including two slide seasons that will keep him in the system through 2015/2016.

He played in regular season and postseason games with the farm team at the end of 2012 and 2013 and is currently looking to help the Marlies go deep in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The almost 21-year old already participated in three training camps with the parent club and will definitely be competing for an NHL roster spot for his sophomore season.

David Kolomatis3

5th year defenseman David Kolomatis(39) has put up virtually identical numbers, almost 30 points in each of his AHL pro seasons but in this campaign, under a new one-year two-way deal with Washington Capitals, had a slight uptick in assists and overall points to post career bests.

In only 61 games on a veteran heavy Hershey Bears‘ roster he pocketed 7 goals and 23 assists, giving him his first 30.

Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft *#126 overall), he spent the first four years skating in the minor league system with Manchester Monarchs.

He was a fairly dependable staple on their blue line.

The not incredibly huge 5’11” 195 lbs. d-man has yet to be given his shot at NHL playing time and it’s a wonder if his current team of contract will keep him around as the 25-year old is unrestricted free agent.

If given a shot, he may well be one of these guys that quietly steps it up and fits right in.

alan-quine

New York Islanders‘ 6th round pick in the 2013 draft (#166 overall) rookie left wing Alan Quine(22) was ready to sign his three-year entry level contract and turn pro immediately upon being selected a second time.

He was originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 3rd round pick in 2011 (#85 overall) but was left to go back into the pool.

He did however appear in training camp and skated three games at the end of 2012 with Grand Rapids Griffins but somewhere along the line they lost interest.

No worries, he put up some nifty rookie season numbers in the AHL with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 9 goals and 18 assists. On the downside, he was a -24 but matters deteriorated on a number of occasions through the 61 games he suited up for.

Reassigned near the end of his first season, he was sent down to join ECHL affiliate Stockton Thunder for 7 games, which was enough to keep him skating into the postseason.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward produced at a point-per-game clip in the lower league, getting 2 goals and half a dozen helpers in 7 games.

He only has one tally in 3 Kelly Cup Playoff games but he’s on a team that looks to go deep and will very likely add more points to that start.

2014/2015 will be an important season that should help better define the type of player the still young 21-year old will become.