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Category: AHL

15Sep

Matthew Pistilli (36) Esjberg Energy

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Right wing Matthew Pistilli(36) would play just over the first 2 months of 2012/2013 with the South Carolina Stingrays before being traded back to Florida Everblades, where he exploded big on the score sheet.

His 25 goals and 49 assists for 74 points in 74 games between two teams set new ECHL high marks (tied for 5th overall), plus he notched 10 points in 13 Kelly Cup Playoff games.

He also managed to play in an additional 3 games on loan to Charlotte Checkers.

Going into 2013/2014, he signed an extension to stay in Florida but started with a scoring surge that got him more time with Charlotte and a 13-game run with Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

All-in-all he appeared in 34 AHL games scoring 5 goals and 10 assists, and 31 contests at the lower level for 17-23-40 totals.

Not sure why he decided the change of scenery but for 2014/2015 he inked for a year with Fort Wayne Komets and pretty much did what he’s always done in the league score a point-per-game. In 58 games he got 21 goals and 35 assists and tacked on 9 more points in 12 playoff games.

He also received more time in the higher league playing 10 contests with Norfolk Admirals getting a goal and 2 assists.

The soon-to-turn 27-year old heads into only his 7th pro season and decides to take his game over to Denmark under contract with Esbjerg Energy.

It’s very likely that he’ll be crowned scoring leader over there.

14Sep

Adam Payerl(28) Cincinnati Cyclones

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ undrafted rookie center Adam Payerl(28) had himself a pretty successful first year with AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins playing mostly a fourth line role of limited minutes, designed to consistently infuse energy into a game when it’s your call to hit the ice.

The 6’3″ 219 lbs. big frame forward successfully achieved that each and every time he jumped over those boards and managed to get even better with his first taste of postseason hockey as a pro.

In 44 games he scored 3 goals and 7 assists, then in 15 Calder Cup Playoff contests got another tally and a pair of helpers but mostly seemed to be that guy to turn the momentum of a game when it was necessary.

He was never a real prolific on the score sheet through 5 years of juniors, but in his last season with Belleville Bulls he did put up some decent numbers with career highs for goals, points and penalty minutes.

The 22-year old is signed through 2014/2015 on a three-year entry level deal that could heed a call-up to the show if they are in need of a big body to help create space for the parent club (and it’s looking like they could use that sort of player).

Original story: 6/8-13

In his sophomore season he once again found himself in and out of the farm club’s lineup playing 43 AHL contests but managed to score a career high 5 goals and 11 points with 5 fighting majors.

His hard-nosed play was enough to earn him a first NHL recall and in 2 games with the parent club he managed to skate an average of 14 shifts for 9 or so minutes of ice and had 4 shots on net, six hits, 2 penalty minutes and a -1 rating in two team wins.

That would be his only appearance in the show and he was an early training camp cut sending him back down to the minors for his contract year.

In 2014/2015 he doubled his fisticuffs total to 10 but played in less games and was absent from the roster in the playoffs for the first time.

He actually didn’t do half bad in the postseason with 3 goals, 2 assists in 28 games and an even plus/minus.

With no takers heading into his fourth season, the big 24-year old signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati Cyclones to continue his game in the ECHL, where he played only four games for Wheeling Nailers (1 goal, 1 fight) as a first year player.

If he can play with a take-no-prisoners type attitude, he easily could find his way back up the ladder with a recall.

13Sep

Collin Bowman(10) Colorado Eagles

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Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Collin Bowman(20) had a strong rookie season with home state team Colorado Eagles.

In 69 ECHL games he scored 11 goals and 23 assists (tied for first in points), while adding another pair of tallies and 3 helpers in 6 Kelly Cup Playoff contests. He also had over 100 penalty minutes in his first year.

Traded in the off-season to San Francisco Bulls, the 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner quickly signed a 2-way AHL contract with Worcester Sharks and appeared in their training camp before being reassigned back down to start his sophomore campaign.

He didn’t exactly put up the same kind of numbers with his offensively challenged new squad and recently had his playing rights swapped (with the blessing from the parent club) to Bakersfield Condors.

The younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes’ Drayson Bowman has skated 3 times with his new team and although he’s only bolstered his 2nd year totals by an assist, he has been a part of a pair of victories and one shootout loss on their current 4-game unbeaten streak.

Given the opportunity in the higher league, the 22-year old has all the qualities of becoming an impact player as he continues to develop.

He was a member of the 2009 WHL Championship Kelowna Rockets.

Original story: 1/20-14

His sophomore season with Bakersfield would end with point totals slightly under his first campaign but in extended postseason play he scored a pair of goals and added 5 assists in 16 games through to the Western Conference Finals before an exit.

For 2014/2015, he decided to go back to a familiar place, returning to Colorado.

In 20 less regular season games (48) than his initial two seasons he achieved new high marks for goals with 15 goals and 38 points and for a blue liner had a monstrous +28 rating. He would also raise his fight total to 6 after no battles the previous year and 5 in 2012/2013.

The low game total was only because he was loaned to Iowa Wild for the last two months and would appear in 21 AHL games getting 2 tallies, 6 helpers and remarkably kept his game at a 0 plus/minus on the last place squad.

As the 24-year old enters his 4th season he’ll keep it close to home and skate his third year with Colorado Eagles.

It would be a surprise to see the All-Star d-man play the full tilt in the ECHL without another extended call-up.

11Sep

Tim Erixon(44) Pittsburgh Penguins

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New York Rangers‘ rookie defenseman Tim Erixon(44) is trying to make the most of his 3rd recall from Connecticut Whale this season.

He’s appeared in 16 NHL games but has yet to register a point.

He leads the AHL in assists by rookie defensemen with 30 in 43 games.

Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#23 overall), he refused to sign with the team and was traded to the Rangers on draft day 2011. He made their opening night roster out of training camp.

He was already playing professional hockey in Sweden before coming to North America as a 20-year old.

His life has come full circle, as his dad Jan Erixon played 10 seasons for the Blueshirts from 1983 – 1993.

Tim was born in the U.S. but grew up in Sweden when his family moved back home after his dad retired.

Original story: 3/22-12

He would finish his first season with 18 games and two assists for the Rangers and stick at that 30 assists mark in the AHL.

Maybe a little out of nowhere, he would get dished during the summer to Columbus Blue Jackets as part of the Rick Nash trade.

He started his sophomore campaign with affiliate Springfield Falcons but once he was called up near the start of the second half of the season, finished the season with the parent club.

2013/2014 was the lockout for the big league, so he went straight to the farm team and stayed there until the show was ready to start.

He started on the opening night roster but was on a yo-yo chain between teams for much of the short run and would rejoin the Falcons for their playoff push.

He ended up having a career year in the minors scoring 5 goals and 33 assists for 38 points in 40 games, then added another tally and helper in 5 postseason contests.

Given a one-year extension to continue he would once again make the roster out of training camp but after 19 games and his first NHL goal and new mark set for points at 6, he was traded to Chicago Blackhawks.

In and out of the lineup he lasted only 8 games before being reassigned back down but before that could happen was scooped off the waiver wire by his third team of 2014/2015 Toronto Maple Leafs, where he would finish the year but not before adding another goal to his totals.

He inked another extension but that only lasted a week and he found himself as another piece to a blockbuster deal that would send him to Pittsburgh Penguins with Phil Kessel.

Entering his 8th pro season (3 in Sweden with Skelleftea), the still super-young 24-year should find his place with the new squad as they are very thin on the blue line and will definitely be able to use him.

10Sep

Andy Bohmback(39) Nottingham Panthers

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Undrafted 3rd year left wing Andy Bohmback(39) has been a natural goal scorer in the ECHL registering above a point per game. In 159 contests, he’s tallied 172 points.

In his 2nd season with Trenton Titans he’s appeared in 37 games with 18 goals and 18 assists, good enough to lead the team in scoring. He lead the team in the category in his rookie season as well.

The 6’2″ 198 lbs. forward has received AHL call-ups in each of his pro campaigns but has only managed 3 assists in 17 contests.

His most recent recall had him sign a pto for one appearance with Worcester Sharks. He was only utilized in a limited fourth line role before being released.

In his first game back with the Titans he made a statement scoring once in the third and then sinking the overtime game-winner.

The 25-year old will likely either continue to be a sniper in the ECHL and maybe get lucky with signing a tryout contract that sticks or will split for Europe’s tax free pastures.

Original story: 1/18-13

A month after being returned he would be called up for a second time, joining Abbotsford Heat for 4 games and putting in his first AHL goal.

He would finish 2013/2014 skating 50 games for Trenton with 21 goals and 27 assists.

As theorized the winger decided to try his game overseas signing for his next year with SC Riessersee of DEL2.

He would see similar success in his new environment as he did in the ECHL with 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 contests, then adding 3 more helpers in 5 playoff match-ups.

For his next campaign though he decided for another change of scenery inking for a year with EC Dornbirner Bulldogs of Austria’s Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.

He would have a bit less success in this new territory but still did ok with 12 goals and 22 assists appearing in as many games as the prior season.

Going into his 6th pro year he’s decided to pick up his skates and plant them on new ice. This time he’s chosen the EIHL to dominate securing a deal with Nottingham Panthers for 2015/2016.

The now 28-year old should be able to explode on the score sheet as he’s done for most of his career, even through four years of college at University Of Wisconsin.

09Sep

Kyle MacKinnon(19) San Diego Gulls

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Undrafted, former Providence College Friars‘ forward Kyle MacKinnon(19) won’t have to go far from his former school to start his pro career. He signed a one-year AHL deal with Providence Bruins for the 2011/2012 season.

He was his team’s captain and top goal scorer the last two years and put up 3 points in 5 games with P-Bruins at the end of last season.

Original story: 8/1-11

In his rookie year he would put up an AHL career high 14 goals that has yet to be surpassed.

For his sophomore campaign he would wait until only a month before the new season started to re-sign with Providence Bruins.

He was able to increase his assist and point totals but it would be his first year with new team St. John’s IceCaps.

Again, he waited almost until the start of 2013/2014 to sign his deal, although the change of scenery popped his scoring to a new level as he struck for 12 goals but clear new best 27 assists and 39 points with a +17 rating.

He would add another modest 2 goals and 3 assists in 21 Calder Cup Playoff games that ended in a Finals round loss.

Quick to sign heading into 2014/2015 he was sidelined for a good half the year with injuries but still finished strong with 6 goals and 21 assists in only 47 appearances.

The soon-to-be 28-year old wasted little time inking on the dotted line as he was offered a two-year transaction to come across the country and join new Anaheim Ducks‘ affiliate San Diego Gulls.

If he can stay healthy it’s a good bet that he’ll continue to increase his level of play yet again.

08Sep

Tyler Gron(37) Ravensburg Towerstars

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Undrafted center Tyler Gron(37) signs his first pro hockey contract to skate with Reading Royals of the ECHL for his rookie season, 2012/2013.

He was signed late last season to an ato by Bridgeport Sound Tigers after his college playing career concluded. In three AHL games he had no goals and one helper with a -2 plus/minus.

If he can mark up the scoring sheet as consistently as he did in college, look for the 5’11” 201 lbs., almost 23-year old to receive a call up sooner than later.

Original story: 8/16-12

He would be ready to start his first year with Reading but was released from his contract at the start of the season.

One week later he signed with Bloomington Thunder of the now defunct Central Hockey League and after striking for 21 goals and 14 assists in 31 games was spotted by Idaho Steelheads, who got him under contract for the remainder of his initial pro campaign.

He basically went on to match his early season numbers scoring another 21 tallies with 11 assists in 34 ECHL games and a +8 rating.

Come 2013 Kelly Cup Playoff time he really popped as he struck for 8 goals and 5 assists in 17 contests.

It would take him a little bit to decide to head back to the great Pacific Northwest for continued time with the Steelheads but that’s where he started his sophomore year.

After 13 games with low scoring totals, he was traded to San Francisco Bulls, where once again he exploded on the score sheet with 14 goals and 10 assists with a +7 plus/minus in 18 games on a terrible team.

Just after the new year, he would get his first AHL recall and sign a contract on the next day with Worcester Sharks.

That marriage would last a little over a month for 14 games, hitting the back of the net twice and tossing in one helper.

On his whirlwind second season he found his way to a fourth squad being sent to new affiliate Ontario Reign to finish 2013/2014.

For 2014/2015 he decided to pick up his game and take it elsewhere signing with Milano Rossoblu of Italy’s top league, where he put in 24 goals and 21 assists in 32 games, easily outmatching opponents.

The 25-year old heads to Germany’s DEL2 and should be better challenged skating for Ravensburg Towerstars.

07Sep

Philippe Paradis(63) Syracuse Crunch

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Syracuse Crunch center Philippe Paradis(63) was held pointless in 12 Calder Cup Playoff games until he finally erupted with a hat trick in the team’s Eastern Conference Finals‘ clinching 7-0 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#29 overall) he was traded to Toronto Maple Leafs before he could ever take the ice for the team as a prospect.

He lasted only four games with Toronto Marlies, scoring a pair of assists before he changed hands quickly a second time, becoming property of Chicago Blackhawks.

He started with their minor league affiliate Rockford IceHogs much like he did the previous season on an ato after finishing up his last junior campaign in the QMJHL with PEI Rocket.

The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward was signed to a three-year entry level contract and spent his rookie season in the AHL.

He continued to ply his trade in the league to start his sophomore run but when he was either playing too diminished a role or failing to put up the numbers found himself reassigned to Toledo Walleye of the ECHL for a short, five-game run tallying no points before being returned.

Once again trade bait and shuffled off to Tampa Bay Lightning‘s organization just before the deadline, he started up right away with their minor league affiliate and in 8 games leading up to the postseason contributed only an assist.

He’s still not seeing a lot of minutes on the ice but has been pretty much consistently in the lineup. Nothing like answering the bell at the right time to keep the parent club interested.

The 22-year year old has one year left on his deal after which he becomes an restricted free agent at the end of next season.

Original story: 6/2-13

He would post AHL career 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points in 56 games but that’s still far short of the marks he put up in his last three years of juniors.

Although maybe still short of what is expected it was enough to earn him another one-year look.

For 2014/2015 he increased goals scored to a still modest 8 and tied those 15 points from the previous campaign but was also a surprising nice +10 rating in just 34 games due to a late season injury that shortened his progress.

Entering his second restricted free agency, Tampa Bay has decided to continue watching the 24-year old possibly thinking he’s late to develop.

06Sep

Jeff Hoggan(10) Grand Rapid Griffins

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12th year undrafted left wing Jeff Hoggan(10) had a nice welcome home campaign after two years abroad in Germany playing in DEL.

He joined Grand Rapid Griffins on a training camp tryout agreement but as of a few days before the start of the regular season had himself a one-year AHL contract and was named team captain from the get-go.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward guided the Griffins to the 2013 Calder Cup Championship, a distinction he previously won as a rookie with Houston Aeros in 2003.

The veteran of 488 regular season AHL games with 5 different teams has scored 131 goals, 125 assists and an overall +19 rating. He lead the league in that category in the 2007-2008 season with a remarkable +39.

He has 107 NHL games to his credit playing two full seasons with St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins and a couple of cups of coffee as a member of Phoenix Coyotes‘ system.

The 35-year unrestricted free agent signed a two-year deal to continue with Detroit Red Wings‘ minor league affiliate through 2015.

Original story: 7/10-13

After winning the whole she-bang and scoring another pair of years under contract the team captain, steady veteran presence posted identical stats in the next two seasons (14-17-31) although he played a full schedule in 2013/2014 and 59 games last campaign but did also post a huge +23 rating.

He even added another 6 goals and 8 assists in 26 postseason contests.

At 37-years old he wasted zero time signing another one-year extension, his fourth with Grand Rapids Griffins to forge ahead with the team and his 14-year career.

04Sep

Jay Rosehill(37) Lehigh Valley Phantoms

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6th year pro Jay Rosehill(37) looks to be on his way to grinding out his first full season in the NHL with the lowly Maple Leafs.

Still, he’s making himself valuable enough to keep around and help the team out of the cellar for the first time in a couple years, which has to be worth something.

Original story: 2/20-11

He would split time between affiliates in the 2011/2012 season almost equally scoring an AHL career high 7 goals, 6 assists and 13 points with Toronto Marlies.

In the following campaign his time was mostly spent up in the show aside from 4 contests with the farm team and he would skate a new high 31 games but also spent much time as a healthy scratch.

The one-time Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the 2003 draft (#227 overall) would return to Norfolk Admirals for 2012/2013, where he played for much of his 2nd and 3rd years on a pto as the big league squabbled with a lockout.

When the dust finally settled the parent club Anaheim Ducks signed him to a one-year deal but he stayed put in the minors until the trade deadline, when he was traded to Philadelphia Flyers.

He was with them until the end of the season, appearing in 11 games with a goal and 4 fights to his credit and ended up signing a 2-year extension a couple of weeks after coming to the team.

During the 2013/2014 it was his first complete run in the NHL but once again he spent more time on the sidelines than he did on the ice but did reach another new level for games played with 34 and struck for a new record 2 goals.

He wouldn’t get so lucky in the second year of his deal as he would stay with affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the entirety of 2014/2015.

Almost a bit ironically the 11th year pro has decided to continue along with the Phantoms signing an AHL contract for 2015/2016.

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