AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

Category: AHL

07Jun

Tomas Kubalik(19) HC Lev Praha

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

3rd year, Czech Republic-born right wing Tomas Kubalik(19) was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#135 overall), signed to a three-year entry level deal.

He was playing in his third season with their AHL team, Springfield Falcons, where in the last couple seasons his point production had slipped to a level that was equal to the totals of his rookie campaign.

Although part of that story can be attributed to the injury bug that seemed to follow him.

Reports suggested the 6’3″ 220 lbs. skater with all the attributes of a power forward wanted out of town, because he wasn’t get a fair shot with the parent club.

In 12 NHL games over a couple of seasons he had one goal and three assists with a -6 rating.

He was involved in a late season trade of minor league players with Winnipeg Jets that had him reassigned to their affiliate St. John’s IceCaps for the remainder of his contract.

He only connected for 3 assists in 10 games, which resulted in at least a couple of games as a healthy scratch.

The 23-year old, who has been playing pro hockey since he was 16, was set to become a restricted free agent but decided it’s time to take his game back overseas, signing a 1-year deal to join HC Lev Praha of the KHL.

One has to think if he is able to connect there, he may be invited back for another go at the North American style game.

05Jun

Riley Gill(30) Reading Royals

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

3rd year undrafted goaltender Riley Gill(30) is likely used to being bounced around from team-to-team in his thus far short pro career.

By our count, he’s worn a minor league sweater for 8 different teams and played in games for 7.

He started with Kalamazoo Wings right after finishing up four years at University Of Michigan. He played a few regular season games and then appeared in four more in the playoffs, almost getting them past the opening round.

After that impressive performance, he was given a one-year deal.

The 6’1″ 211 lbs. net minder was recalled twice to the AHL and got in between the pipes for one game with Worcester Sharks and a pair with Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Both outings were less than impressive.

He signed an extension to continue with the K-Wings and spent virtually the entire year with the team, helping them all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, but found himself without a contract for 2012/2013 as the NHL lockout was trickling down talent and few doors were open for the 28-year old.

Utah Grizzlies invited him to their training camp but he failed to catch on and ultimately dropped down, signing on to play with Louisiana IceGators of the SPHL.

As just about anyone would have predicted, he excelled in the lower league with most wins and shutouts before leaving the team a month prior to the end of the season. His play earned him Goaltender Of The Year honors.

He was recalled to join Reading Royals, where he stepped right into action, posting a 10-3-1 record with a 1.28 GAA and .952 SV% to go along with three shutouts in 14 games played.

He would continue the stellar play into the playoffs, where he would snatch the starting goalie spot in short order as he showed no signs of slowing down putting up a 13-3 record with a 1.91 GAA and .930 SV%, while adding another 4 shutouts.

For his efforts, he was named Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP as winning goaltender for the 2013 Championship team.

There’s a push to have him under contract for the 2013/2014 with parent club Washington Capitals but it remains to be seen if what materializes next for the journeyman backstop.

See related: 12/4-10

03Jun

Olivier Roy(38) Oklahoma City Barons

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Edmonton Oilers‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#133 overall), goaltender Olivier Roy(38) had himself a pretty sparkling sophomore season spending most of his time in the AHL with Oklahoma City Barons.

He started to get reassigned to the ECHL Stockton Thunder with more frequency towards the back third of the season and played in 22 Kelly Cup Playoff games backstopping them all the way to the Finals.

Injured during game 4, he had to sit on the sidelines for the last contest before his team bowed out but put up a very impressive streak 0f 7-2 with a 1.21 GAA and .961 SV% to propel his squad into the postseason.

Then his 12-7 mark helped push the team to the last round of the playoffs, beating a pair of teams with better regular season records.

Almost ironically the 6′ 180 lbs. backstop also played in 22 AHL games. He ended with a 9-9-1 mark and a 2.77 GAA and .902 SV%.

He turns 22-years old this summer and be on the final season of his 3-year entry level deal. His pretty impressive performance should net him a look between the pipes for the parent club in the upcoming campaign.

In the meantime though, he was reassigned back up to join the Barons‘ practice squad to continue to gain experience in their playoff push.

31May

Curtis McElhinney(30) Columbus Blue Jackets

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Entering his ninth pro season, 30-year old goaltender Curtis McElhinney(30) doesn’t have to worry about where he will play, as he signed a one-year, one-way extension to stay in Columbus Blue Jackets‘ system.

He had an outstanding regular season in 2012/2013 with an AHL record 9 shutouts and was named to the All-Star Game.

He also set a team and career best .923 SV% and was named MVP, while also posting his most saves in a season at 1349 and a 29-16-2-3 record in 49 games to help the Falcons win the Northeast Division title by 20 points.

Although the 6’2″ 209 lbs. net minder failed to score a recall, he could be in line for one next season, if he game continues to excel.

He has appeared in 69 NHL games with Phoenix, Ottawa, Anaheim and Calgary. He was originally a 6th round pick in 2002 (#176 overall) by the latter team. He made his most appearances in the show, 21 games with the Ducks just a couple of seasons ago.

He’s always seemed to fall under the radar for a real shot as a starting goalie in the show but also seems to have a stick-to-it-ive-ness that just won’t quit.

See related: 7/4-12

30May

Alex Aleardi(32) Springfield Falcons

Posted in AHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted right wing Alex Aleardi(32) signed an ato with Springfield Falcons at the end of his 5-year junior career with three different OHL teams.

The under-sized 5’9″ 167 lbs. put up career high assists and points last season with Plymouth Whalers and finished out the year with Windsor Spitfires before turning pro.

He certainly picked up right where he left off in the scoring department as he connected in his first AHL appearance, had a mighty midget fight in his second and added another assist in his 3rd and final game played before being released prior to the start of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The 20-year old will turn 21 over the summer and wasted no time in deciding to return to Springfield to start his rookie season on an one-year deal.

29May

Tyler Bunz(30) Stockton Thunder

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Edmonton Oilers‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#121 overall) rookie goaltender Tyler Bunz(30) stepped in for ECHL affiliate Stockton Thunder in the Kelly Cup Finals,when an injury took out the starter and helped extend the series to at least a fifth game before bowing out to the eventual winners, Reading Royals.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal he started his first season in AHL training camp with Oklahoma City Barons before being sent down to gain playing time with the glut of backstop prospects in the system. He also appeared in a couple Oilers‘ camps.

He appeared in 37 games posting a 16-16-2-2 record with a 3.35 GAA and .886 SV%. He also had one shutout. In one AHL game with OKC he didn’t fair nearly as well.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. net minder was very impressive in his last two campaigns in junior hockey with Medicine Hat Tigers. He won more games than any other goalie in his team’s history and was named WHL best in his final year.

Even with the accolades, he may be assigned for another season in Stockton to continue bringing up his game.

The 21-year old may be off to a bit of a slow start in his pro career but that could all change in a hurry.

27May

Dmitry Korobov(44) Syracuse Crunch

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Tampa Bay Lightning‘s extra large undrafted defensemen, 6’3″ 239 lbs. Belarus-born rookie Dmitry Korobov(44) scored his first ever playoff goal, the game-winner for minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch in game two of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals to help tie the series vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 1 apiece.

He also has one assist in 8 playoff contests.

In 65 AHL games in 2012/2013, he scored 3 goals and 19 assists with a +20 rating on what was a very good team.

He signed a 2-year entry level deal after spending the last couple of seasons in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk.

The 24-year old was left off the long list of call-ups in the NHL lockout shortened season but has to be on the short list for 2013/2014.

He’s a big, powerful blue liner with seemingly limited offensive upside but easily keeps the offense at bay in front of his own cage.

26May

Christiaan Minella(14) WBS Penguins

Posted in AHL | Leave a comment

Third year, undrafted right wing Christiaan Minella(14) signed a pto with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and appeared in his first 8 AHL games after spending all of his first three seasons in the ECHL.

Most of his time was with affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he has scored 17 goals and 22 assists in 114 regular and postseason games. He did, however, start his career with hometown team Cincinnati Cyclones and appeared in 41 games (10 goals, 8 assists) before getting traded.

Almost ironically he wasn’t exactly doing especially well connecting for points in the 2012/2013 campaign before his recall, but at 6’2″ 220 lbs. he’s got big power forward size and quite possibly they saw something that would translate into higher league play.

He’s so far only appeared in three Calder Cup Playoff contests but got his first AHL goal, the game-winner to start the Eastern Conference Finals.

This could be the type of confidence builder he needs to run up his scoring totals.

At the end of this run, he’ll once again become an unrestricted free agent, but if he can continue marking up the score sheet may not have to look too far for a new contract.

25May

Eric Hunter(15) Stockton Thunder

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Double draft pick, 2nd year center Eric Hunter(15) was the hero in game 4 with 2 tallies, including the game-winning goal, giving Stockton Thunder a heartbeat in the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals.

Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 8th round pick in 2004 (#229 overall) he was never signed and went back into the pool only be selected again a couple of years later by New York Rangers in the 6th round (#174 overall). They also didn’t sign him.

After five seasons of junior hockey with Prince George Cougars, he elected to attend college in Canada and played for another four years with University Of Alberta.

He maintained a close to or more than a point per game production since his second campaign in juniors and upon completion of his higher education inked his first pro contract, a 1-year AHL deal with Lake Erie Monsters.

The very decently sized 6’1″ 194 lbs. center skated 75 games in 2011/2012 scoring 6 goals and 10 assists, although wasn’t retained by the team for another season.

Looking at a crowded hockey landscape due to the impending NHL lockout, he signed another one-year agreement to join Stockton. In 60 games, he was regaining that scoring touch with 17 goals and 22 assists.

He continues the pace in the postseason with 5 goals and 7 assists in 21 games, while holding a +4 rating.

He was also recalled by Oklahoma City Barons on 4 occasions putting up a goal in 11 contests. After attending training camp with the team, he was sent back to start the regular season but later added to the roster on an spc.

The 26-year old is likely in line for another AHL tour of duty for 2013/2014.

24May

Warren Peters(43) WBS Penguins

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted 10th year center Warren Peters(43) is the type of veteran skater you want on your team come playoff time for his on ice determination and game leadership he brings.

An unrestricted free agent after two seasons in the Minnesota Wild system, he signed a one-year two-way contract with Pittsburgh Penguins that’s seen him contribute with all the aforementioned qualities during the regular season, but in the postseason with AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins it’s on a whole other level. It’s also good reason for him to wear an assistant captain “A” on his sweater.

The 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward has made it to Calder Cup Finals in two of the last three seasons, first with Texas Stars and followed it up with Houston Aeros.

He’s appeared in 96 NHL with 3 different teams in each of the last four seasons (4 goals, 4 assists) and only likely didn’t receive a recall this season due to the shortened campaign.

As a player that started his career in the ECHL and even spent his entire sophomore season in the league during the other most recent lockout, we can appreciate the fact that he’s worked his way up to the show with lots of hard play and persistence.

The 30-year old is back on the market this summer but chances are the Penguins will offer him a one-year extension.

« Older posts

Newer posts »