AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

27Mar

Dustin Gazley(10) Hershey Bears

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3rd year undrafted mini-right wing Dustin Gazley(10) is getting an opportunity with Hershey Bears, putting up some impressive numbers for a player that’s only 5’9″ and weighs in at a light 154 lbs.

He signed a one-year two-way deal in the off-season but started the season with affiliate Reading Royals, where he stayed through the first three months of 2013/2014 putting together 8 goals and 10 assists in 25 games.

These numbers were a bit off the mark from what he’d produced previously in a pair of ECHL campaigns under contract with Elmira Jackals.

As a rookie, he led the league in assists (60) and points (85), which easily earned him the Rookie Of The Year, John A. Daley Trophy.

Signed to rejoin Elmira for a 2nd run, he picked up where he left off, finding the back of the net 14 times and dishing out 35 more helpers in just 37 games.

He was loaned to Binghamton Senators and stuck through the remainder of the regular season, connecting for 4 goals and 5 assists in 29 contests.

The 25-year old forward received a bit of a late Christmas present when he was recalled but achieved basically the same feat from the previous year, staying put for what appears to be the rest of the season.

In an AHL career high 31 games, he’s notched an 8 best goals and will pass his assist total of 5 with one more.

He’s free to explore options for 2014/2015 but it seems like a good bet that he’ll be invited to return to Chocolatetown and help them regain the glory that’s been an integral part of the team history.

26Mar

Gabriel Beaupre(47) Lake Erie Monsters

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Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#153 overall), 2nd year defenseman Gabriel Beaupre(47) is mostly a rugged, stay-at-home player but has modestly elevated his point production in his sophomore campaign.

He has AHL career high games played (53), goals (3) and points (7), while being tied at his 4 assist mark from his rookie season with the farm team, Lake Erie Monsters.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner started his fifth year of juniors with Val-d’Or Foreurs returning as an assistant captain for a third season.

He left to attend pro training camps and was eventually passed along to Central Hockey League affiliate Denver Cutthroats to start his pro career.

Upon being recalled a couple of months later, he never looked back and with continued good, gritty play is eyeing an opportunity with the big club.

The still only 21-year old is only in the first year of his three-year entry level deal as he wasn’t actually signed by the parent club until near the end of 2012/2013.

He still has time to develop before he makes his NHL debut but that could happen sooner than later too.

25Mar

Dana Tyrell(14) Springfield Falcons

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5th year left wing Dana Tyrell(14) was recently involved in a mostly minor league player transaction that sent his playing rights to Columbus Blue Jackets‘ organization, where he was reassigned to their minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#47 overall), he signed a one-way, 2-year extension near the beginning of the final season of his entry level deal.

The not exactly big, generously listed at 5’11” 192 lbs. forward played the remainder of the campaign in the NHL but was in and out of the lineup, skating in only 26 games posting 5 assists.

He did slightly better in the first year of his new contract but seemed to slip on the club’s depth chart in the lockout shortened 2012/2013 and only played 7 big league contests this season.

At almost 25-years old, he is set to become a restricted free agent as the hockey calendar winds down, but he’s also putting up some of his best AHL totals with a career high 13 goals.

In 8 games for the Falcons he’s off to a hot start connecting 4 times with the back of the net and adding a pair of helpers on a Calder Cup Playoff bound squad.

He should be invited to return for another season on a 2-way contract.

See related: 11/26-11

24Mar

Justin Johnson(49) vs. Aaron Johson(44)

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19-years of veteran leadership collides in the form of a pair of 6’1″ 200+ lbs. Johnsons at a midweek clash of the AHL interstate Connecticut rivals, Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Hartford Wolf Pack.

Justin Johnson(49) and Aaron Johnson(44) exchange some pushes, jabs and many harsh words but don’t drop the gloves taking it any further before the linesmen step in to split the pair. No penalties were assessed.

The joke from the first row of the stands was the obvious one: who’s got the bigger Johnson?

See related: 3/5-14, 10/11-13

22Mar

Ryan Bourque(9) Hartford Wolf Pack

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New York Rangers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#80 overall) left wing Ryan Bourque(9) has taken his AHL scoring onto a whole new level.

In his third year with minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack he’s more than doubled his goals scored and is equal in points from his first two campaigns with the team. He’s also closely behind his 2-year assist total.

All good to see from an under-sized 5’9″ 178 lbs. forward who is in the final season of his entry level contract.

He started with a couple seasons of US junior hockey before moving on for another pair of years in the QMJHL with Quebec Remparts, where he proved in both developmental leagues that he could put up numbers.

The 23-year may be small but he’s a speedy skater and plays a tenacious, in-your-face style.

He’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign and is likely to be given a qualifying offer to stay in the Blueshirts‘ prospect system.

See related: 12/1-11

21Mar

Jesse Root(36) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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In his pro debut undrafted center Jesse Root(36) signed to an ato with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, fresh off four years at Yale University, scores his first and only goal of the eventual 4-1 loss to AHL interstate rival Hartford Wolf Pack.

The seemingly smaller than listed at 5’11” 185 lbs. forward may have had it go in off the bottom of his skate as he was charging the net for the scoring chance but it was credited and a goal is a goal.

In his final two campaigns of college hockey he was a point-per-game guy and won the 2013 NCAA Championship. He was also team captain for 2013/2014.

The Pittsburgh, PA native also played one season as a 19-year old in the EHL US Junior league before heading off to school.

Where the now 24-year old will sign for 2014/2015 will probably be influenced how well he does in the last 10 or so games left in the regular season; but he’s off to a good start.

20Mar

Cody Sylvester(12) Wheeling Nailers

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ undrafted rookie center Cody Sylvester(12) netted ECHL Player Of The Week for March 10-16, his second time being selected this season.

In 43 games with Wheeling Nailers he has a solid 22 tallies and 16 assists with a +14 rating. He’s also unloaded a team third high total of 134 shots on goal.

The 5’11” 191 lbs. forward played 5 campaigns of junior hockey with Calgary Hitmen. He won the 2010 WHL Championship with them and took his scoring touch up a notch in the playoffs, which set up 2 years of more than point-per-game production in his final pair of seasons before turning pro. He also served as team captain as an over-age player.

He’s mostly been on reassignment since attending the first part of Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on an invite, then with the WBS.

He was recalled for almost a couple months of action in the higher league and played 17 AHL games, getting a pair of goals before being sent back down.

The 21-year old will likely be a key contributor to any potential Kelly Cup Playoff quest or rejoin the Baby Pens in their postseason run, but however his first year ends up, should return for another look next season or will find a new home to continue strengthen his overall game.

18Mar

Tanner Richard(71) Syracuse Crunch

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Tampa Bay Lightning‘ 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft (#71 overall) Canadian/Swiss center Tanner Richard(71) is off to a decent start in his rookie season with a team that knows they’re under-performing in 2013/2014.

In 57 AHL games with minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch he only has a couple of markers but a decent 15 assists and plays a gritty tough to play against style, which on the downside often ends him up doing time in the penalty box.

When the 6′ 187 lbs. finds his spots on the ice he is going to add potentially dangerous offensive threat to his game like he did in two years of juniors in the OHL with Guelph Storm. He was a better than point-per-game player before he signed a contract to turn pro a season after he was selected.

He also had four years of elite hockey experience as a youngster in Switzerland, where he grew up as his father Mike Richard was playing hockey for Rapperswil of the NLA.

As a 17-year old he got to play 4 games with his dad’s former team and played world juniors competition for the country.

Currently almost a 21-year old, he is signed to a 3-year entry level deal through 2016.

16Mar

Jordan Martinook(18) Portland Pirates

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#58 overall) left wing Jordan Martinook(18) surpassed his rookie year high marks with minor league affiliate Portland Pirates for goals, assists and points in one less AHL game than he played in all of his first season.

He reached the new mark in 52 contests after appearing in 53 during his first campaign.

He currently sits at 11 goals, 12 assists for 23 points, which eclipsed last year totals (9-10-19).

Almost ironically he set the new totals in that 52nd game, where he notched a tally and a pair of helpers.

The 6′ 202 lbs. forward wasted little time turning pro after being selected as a 20-year old (currently 22), skating in his second season with Vancouver Giants of the WHL.

He managed to put up a nifty 40 goals in 2011/2012.

His entry level deal runs through 2014/2015 and his play definitely looks to be reaching that next level, which could score him an NHL recall before the end of this season depending where the parent club’s playoff push is at in the next couple of weeks.

15Mar

Tyson Strachan(5) Hershey Bears

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Big 6’3″ 225 lbs. 7th year defenseman Tyson Strachan(5) has been signed to an NHL contract and played in big league games since his sophomore campaign.

He is currently under a one-year two-way deal with Washington Capitals and has one assist but has mostly been on reassignment with farm club Hershey Bears, where he serves as an assistant captain.

He’s never been exactly the biggest point production d-man scoring only one goal and 13 helpers in 132 big league contests.

His point totals are better in the minors.

This season in 49 AHL games he has a pair of markers with 15 assists, which could easily ascend to a career high by the end of 2013/2014.

He also has a remarkable +13 rating.

Through 264 games he’s potted 15 goals and 70 assists.

Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 5th round pick in the 2003 draft (#137 overall).

He signed his first entry level deal with St. Louis Blues after attending Ohio State University and played in their organization for 4 years before moving on to Florida Panthers for a couple of seasons.

No doubt the 29-year old is an asset to any team he joins and will likely continue where he is or score another big league contract elsewhere, unless he decides to move his game overseas for more money.