AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

14Mar

Travis Oleksuk(21) Worcester Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd year undrafted center Travis Oleksuk(21) is catching heat in his pro game at just the right time.

He’s in the 2nd and final season of his entry level deal and has increased his goal totals by four times what he produced in his rookie campaign and his assist mark is already on par with what he passed along for helpers.

In 56 AHL games with farm club Worcester Sharks he has 12 goals, 10 assists and is a dynamo in the face off circle.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward may not be the most obvious guy on the ice with his somewhat mild-mannered temperament but most definitely has proven the ability to get the job done and keep himself out of the penalty box.

He won a pair of college hockey championships while at University Of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA in 2009 and the 2011 NCAA title) and excelled on the score sheet in his last two seasons.

The 25-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign and seems like a low-risk player to receive a qualifying offer for at least another year, with potentially more upside.

11Mar

Luke Adam(72) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#44 overall) center Luke Adam(72) is playing in his 4th season in the team’s prospect system.

Initially signed to a three-year entry level deal, he was qualified for another season and will become a restricted free agent once again at the end of the current campaign.

He’s played in 85 NHL games with the parent club (only 10 so far this season with 1 goal) but will likely surpass a career high 30-goal mark in the AHL with minor league affiliate Rochester Americans.

The 6’2″ 206 lbs. power forward put up 29 in his first year, when he was voted Rookie Of The Year.

Maybe a bit surprising he wasn’t moved before the trade deadline, the still super-young 23 year-old will probably receive another one-year extension but needs to step it up.

See related: 10/13-11, 9/14-11, 4/16-11

10Mar

Charles Sarault(17) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ undrafted rookie center Charles Sarault(17) is having himself a decent first year on a Norfolk Admirals‘ team that’s stocked with talent both young and old.

In 40 AHL games he has 6 goals and 7 assists with a -5 rating on a team that’s 13 games over .500 but only has a +10 goals for/against differential.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward played in 11 contests with the team after his overage junior season was completed, notching 6 assists.

He led the OHL in assists for his last two campaigns with the Sarnia Sting, putting up a phenomenal 67 then 86 helpers.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal that keeps him in the system through 2015/2016, the 22-year old has plenty of time to develop but there’s no time like the present to start impressing.

The only knock on his play that can easily be spotted is the number of shots he puts on the cage, which should easily be double what he has.

09Mar

David Warsofsky(5) Providence Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 3rd year defenseman David Warsofsky(5) is in the final campaign of his entry level contract, putting up career high point marks and has a +10 rating in the AHL with minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

The mini-sized 5’9″ 170 lbs. blue liner is also on the short list of d-men recalled for action with the parent club. For his lack of physical presence out there, he plays a smart, minimum risk style with an offensive upside. He’s been summoned up 3 times to date this season.

In 6 NHL games he scored his first big league goal and added an assist.

He was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 4th round pick in 2008 (#95 overall) and rights traded in 2010 and signed in 2011 in time to finish the regular season with the farm team.

The still super-young 23-year old, having played three seasons at Boston University and basically grew up skating the Massachusetts hockey route to a pro career.

He’s a restricted free agent at the end of 2013/2014 but it would be like zero surprise to see Boston offer him a 2-year extension.

See related: 3/29-11

08Mar

Nathan Walker(12) Hershey Bears

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After attending training camp on an invite from parent club Washington Capitals, where he impressed, Hershey Bears‘ undrafted rookie left wing Nathan Walker(12) becomes the first Australian player to skate in an AHL game

It’s well documented that this is a guy that wants to debut for his country in the NHL.

At 5’11” 185 lbs. he’s not exactly the biggest power forward out there, but knows how to get into those open spaces for scoring chances and plays a hustle style.

In 35 games he’s potted 5 goals and 6 assists with a -1 rating and almost 2 shots on net per contest.

He’s most definitely had an interesting path to take him to Chocolatetown, first appearing in 4.5 years of junior level hockey in of all places the Czech Republic.

He also played two years of pro Czech Extraliga (another first) before joining USHL junior hockey Youngstown Phantoms for the last third of the regular season.

He was pretty much a point-per-game guy as you’d expect.

The only 20-year old forward also had a couple of super-young visits in the Australian pro AIHL.

By all means, the player originally born in the United Kingdom just might achieve his goal.

07Mar

Mathieu Brisebois(25) Rockford IceHogs

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Undrafted rookie defenseman Mathieu Brisebois(25) undergoes an address change in his first pro season.

He was traded from Phoenix Coyotes‘ prospect system on reassignment to affiliate Portland Pirates to Chicago Blackhawks‘ farm club Rockford IceHogs.

The somewhat undersized 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner played in 28 AHL games picking up a goal and three assists with a -5 on a cellar dwelling team but was also a healthy scratch on more than a few occasions.

In his fourth year of QMJHL with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies he led the league in goals, assists and points by a d-man and continued on a similar tear in the playoffs.

The 21-year old signed a three-year entry level deal that keeps him under contract through 2015/2016.

It will be interesting to see if he can parlay his junior hockey finish into producing on the score sheet at the next level.

06Mar

Rob Bordson(9) Adirondack Phantoms

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Adirondack Phantoms‘ 4th year, undrafted left wing Rob Bordson(9) looks to be on his way to AHL career highs for goals, assists, points and penalty minutes.

To start his pro career he signed a two-year entry level deal, which included his final season of college hockey at University Of Minnesota-Duluth, with Anaheim Ducks and was reassigned to then minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch, but was traded only a couple months into his rookie campaign to Philadelphia Flyers‘ system.

This represented his first tour of duty with the Phantoms, where he put up decent numbers (7-14-21) with a +13 rating.

Heading into the off season he was part of his second trade in less than a year that sent him to Los Angeles Kings‘ organization but never laced up the skates, as he was left unqualified heading into his sophomore season.

With big league suitors lining up, the 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward inked his next contract with Trenton Titans of the ECHL.

He was with the club putting up better than a point-per-game numbers and recalled to Rochester Americans for a short stint before being returned at the start of the new year.

Six weeks later Adirondack came back around hoping to re-employ the battler with an spc for the balance of the regular season.

Heading into his third year, he signed with the team again, playing in all 76 games.

He was extended once again and earned an invite to the Flyers‘ training camp before being sent back down to start the current campaign.

The 25-year old plays a hard-skating, battler style of game that should either lead him to continue where he is or get adopted elsewhere.

05Mar

Justin Johnson(49) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ right wing Justin Johson(49) 8-year minor league journeyman’s career finally got some vindication as he scored a two-way NHL contract with parent club New York Islanders for the remainder of the 2013/2014 season.

He may not play any big league games but can now be easily recalled to help protect some of their skilled, younger prospects as they look to be spoilers.

After four years of college hockey at University Of Alaska, his hometown school of higher education, he went undrafted and signed a deal with the local club, Alaska Aces but was cut only 4 games into his rookie season.

He would tour the ECHL suiting up for 3 other teams before circling back to play another campaign with the Aces.

The somewhat stocky looking 6’1″ 220 lbs. has never been one to produce on the score sheet much but NEVER backs down from mixing it up with the opposing team’s biggest bruiser.

He would get a recall from Manchester Monarchs at the beginning of 2010/2011, signing a pto and stayed with them for the duration.

Heading into the next session he scored himself a 2-year extension to stay in New Hampshire.

The 32-year old would finally move on when he had interest from Bridgeport to sign for a season and become the enforcer for their young squad. He was even invited to join the Islanders‘ training camp and play in exhibition games.

Regardless of where he goes next, a stick-to-it attitude and perseverance pays off.

See related: 2/11-11, 9/4-11, 9/1-12

04Mar

Carter Camper(11) Springfield Falcons

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3rd year undrafted center Carter Camper(11) was recently involved in a minor league deal that sent him from Boston Bruins‘ prospect system to Columbus Blue Jackets.

He’s skated most of his games in the AHL with affiliate Providence Bruins and has displayed a slight down tick in point production but could start to ignite in his new environment.

The very small, generously listed at 5’9″ 173 lbs. forward played in 3 NHL contests in his rookie season scoring one goal but somehow seemed to slip on the depth chart.

He was initially signed to a 2-year entry level deal and qualified for another.

His contract expires at the end of 2013/2014.

The 25-year old will become an unrestricted free agent and free to sign anywhere.

He was injured at the time of the trade and just started playing again with Blue Jackets‘ farm squad Springfield Falcons.

A real bright spot in last season’s Calder Cup Playoff run, he struck for 8 goals and 5 assists in 12 games with a +6 rating before bowing out late in the second round.

He’s always been a more than a point-per-game guy through American junior hockey and four years at Miami University, where he was captain in his final season at the school.

Depending upon how he produces for his new team, he could be signed to stick around pretty quickly or might decide to see if the overseas ice is any better for his game.

01Mar

Andrew Hammond(30) Ottawa Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ undrafted rookie goaltender Andrew Hammond(30) received his first call-up on an emergency basis but was probably a bit surprised when he got the nod to ready himself for some relief action.

He’s been pretty impressive for their farm club Binghamton Senators playing the greater balance of games for the AHL Atlantic Division leading team, posting a 17-12 record with a 3.02 GAA, .903 SV% and played a monstrous 1869 minutes, good for fourth among first year net minders.

The 6’1″ 196 lbs. backstop posted almost identical numbers in his four years at Bowling Green State University.

He was voted both MVP and Best Defensive Player in his final pair of campaigns before turning pro.

The unrestricted free agent was signed by Ottawa to a 2-year entry level contract.

In his NHL debut he played for 34:31 minutes stopping 11 or 11 shots, which may just net him another look in the current season but he’ll definitely be counted on to help the B-Sens’ Calder Cup Playoff push.