AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

18Mar

Harri Pesonen(18) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ undrafted Finnish rookie left wing Harri Pesonen(18) made his NHL debut over the weekend, a 2-1 loss.

He skated 13 shifts for 8:32 total ice time and was credited for one hit.

In 53 AHL games with minor league affiliate Albany Devils, the 5’11” 198 lbs. forward has scored 11 times and added 15 assists, while maintaining a 0 plus/minus.

Folks are hot on him to succeed in the show. He’s already played four seasons of pro hockey in Finland’s elite league, SM-liiga for JYP and put up some decent numbers.

In a very interesting move, the Devils have only signed the 24-year old to a one-year two-way deal with a signing bonus, which makes this recall seem more like an audition for an extension.

There’s only upside for the organization to continue to pursue more time to him to develop.

16Mar

Nicolas Deschamps(9) Hershey Bears

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Originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#38 overall), center Nicolas Deschamps(9) is in the last season of his 3-year entry level deal.

He was skating with AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch, putting up good numbers (15 goals and 31 assists in 80 games) in his rookie campaign before his point production all but evaporated in the first half of his sophomore season.

The 6′ 173 lbs. forward was dished mid-year to Toronto Maple Leafs in a minor league transaction and was reassigned to the Marlies.

It was easily the change of scenery he needed because he finished the regular season with 7 goals and 23 assists in 40 games and added another 3 strikes and 9 helpers in a playoff run that went the distance to the Calder Cup Finals before falling.

The 23-year has been erratic at best in 2012/2013, barely marking up the scoresheet.

Realizing there’s still potential and really having nothing to lose, Washington Capitals become the latest suitors hoping he can kickstart that scoring touch and help Hershey Bears gain a more solid run in the postseason.

Chances are the low-risk gamble will put the fire back on his stick in the last 20 or so games that remain, but will it be enough?

15Mar

Marcel Noebels (29)

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#118 overall), German-born center Marcel Noebels(29) started his pro career in the ECHL with affiliate Trenton Titans.

He went to work right away scoring 11 goals and adding 19 assists in 31 games, was voted rookie of the month for December and picked to appear in the All-Star Game.

The 6’3″ 193 lbs. forward was unavailable to play though, as he was recalled to Adirondack Phantoms at the start of 2013 to continue scoring.

He’s not exactly there but has 7 goals and 6 assists in 25 games, which is still awfully good for your North American pro hockey debut.

His numbers in juniors were that of a point per game guy.

The 21-year old (as of March 14: Happy Birthday!) is signed to a 3-year entry level deal, keeping him in the system through 2015.

At the pace the Flyers are going this lockout shortened season, he may be worth a look in their lineup to see if he can give them some goal scoring punch over physical play, which they might have too much of on the current roster.

14Mar

Cameron Schilling (6)

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Washington Capitals‘ undrafted rookie defenseman Cameron Schilling(6) was recalled for his first NHL action.

He skated 11 shifts for a conservative 11:58 total ice time in the team’s 4-0 smack down.

In 54 AHL games with affiliate Hershey Bears, he has 6 goals and 8 assists with a +7 rating, playing in all types of game situations. He also appeared in 7 regular season (no points) and 4 Calder Cup Playoff games (2 goals) signed to an ato at the conclusion of his college playing career.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner is signed through 2014 on a two-year entry level deal.

Although not selected, the 24-year old came as a highly touted defensive specialist with the potential to contribute points on the scoresheet.

It’s unlikely that he’ll spend much more than this season in the minors.

13Mar

Darian Dziurzynski(26) Arizona Coyotes

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Phoenix Coyotes have officially signed their 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#141 overall), rookie left wing Darian Dziurzynski(26) to a two-year entry level contract after his feisty play for minor league affiliate Portland Pirates.

He was initially reassigned at the start of the season but signed to an AHL contract only.

In 43 games he has 6 goals and 4 assists with 69 penalty minutes and a -5 rating.

The 6’1″ 204 lbs. forward is a pesky presence on the ice. He seems smaller than that but that’s probably because he’s crouched, skating towards the play so much when he’s out there.

It would be easy to see the soon-to-be 22 year old score some NHL ice time as a fourth line energy skater.

His brother is David, who has appeared his first 10 big league games with Ottawa Senators this season.

12Mar

Kyle Wilson(25) Norfolk Admirals

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7th year center Kyle Wilson(25) joins his 5th NHL team as he was involved in a recent trade that sent him from Tampa Bay Lightning to Anaheim Ducks‘ organization.

He never suited up for the Lightning in his short time with the team after an offseason deal with Nashville Predators.

Signed in 2011 for two years (1-way in the 2nd year), he spent almost his entire first campaign with minor league affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, where the 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward had an AHL career high 32 assists in 68 games. He did suit up for 5 games with the Preds but registered no points.

As the lockout loomed to put off the start of 2012/2013 season, the 28-year old sat out until it was resolved, reporting to Tampa Bay training camp but reassigned to Syracuse Crunch, where he stumbled with only 5 goals in 22 games.

A former Minnesota Wild 9th round pick in the 2004 draft (#272 overall), he spent the first 4 seasons of his pro career with Washington Capitals but only appeared in 2 games (2 assists) with them.

He won back-to-back Calder Cup Championships in 2009 and 2010 with farm club Hershey Bears.

Looking for renewed opportunity, he reports to a streaking Norfolk Admirals to play out the remainder of his contract unless recalled by the equally hot Ducks.

Where the unrestricted free agent ends up from here is another puzzle piece but we’re guessing he heads to Europe to see what’s left in the tank.

11Mar

Sacha Guimond(39) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Undrafted rookie defenseman Sacha Guimond(39) received two AHL call-ups from ECHL teams (so far) this season for a total of 6 games; first a pair with Worcester Sharks and later he joined Norfolk Admirals in four appearances.

He failed to put up any points but at least for the Admirals he was pressed into all types of situations and looked pretty effective and comfortable in a 2-1 overtime loss we saw.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. blue liner did go a +1 plus/minus. The team had a 3-0 record and shootout loss with him in the lineup and he seemed to fit in with the team mix pretty well. Maybe no room for him on their roster now, so he returned to Gwinnett Gladiators, where he’s a point per game d-man with 5 goals and 13 assists in 18 games.

His first year pro numbers with San Francisco Bulls, where he started 2012/2013 were also good. In 33 games he put up 7 goals and 18 assists. He also currently leads all defensemen in league scoring by a considerable margin.

The soon-to-be 23-year old should at the very least be invited to an AHL camp next season, where he could easily stick and continue his upward progress.

10Mar

Victor Bartley(64) Nashville Predators

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Nashville Predators‘ undrafted 4th year defenseman Victor Bartley(64) signed a two-year, two-way contract to join the team after spending a successful season overseas with Rögle of Allsvenskan, the second tier Swedish pro league.

He started his career after his fifth season in juniors, playing as an overage skater, in the ECHL with Utah Grizzlies.

His numbers in the league were good enough to get him an All-Star Game nod and subsequent call-up to the AHL by Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He unfortunately suffered an injury that put a stop to his rookie campaign.

Returning to North American hockey he appeared in all 76 games in 2011/2012 with Milwaukee Admirals scoring 9 goals and 30 assists while going +12 plus/minus.

The 6′ 203 lbs. blue liner picked up pretty much where he left off on the scoresheet in the current season notching 7 goals and 19 assists in 54 contests. He also was chosen to represent at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game.

His consistent play has earned him a first recall and in his NHL debut.

He skated 23 shifts for 19:15 total ice time, third most on the team in a 6-0 blasting of Edmonton Oilers.

At the end of the season the 25-year old becomes a restricted free agent.

He’s likely a no-brainer to be signed for another one or two-year extension.

09Mar

Ian Schultz(21) San Francisco Bulls

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Montreal Canadiens‘ 3rd year right wing prospect Ian Schultz(21) has been shuffled around a bit more than he likely planned this season.

After two campaigns with AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs (6 goals and 17 assists in 60 games last season, all career highs), he failed to make the team out of training camp and was reassigned to ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers (13 games, 2 assists). He wasn’t alone either; it was a pretty big group of names. From there though he was moved again within the league to join Utah Grizzlies.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward had better luck with that squad putting up 7 goals and 8 assists in 27 games but is better known for his fisticuffs than goal scoring strength.

He earned a short-lived recall to the Bulldogs that lasted only a couple of games before being returned.

Recently he was shuffled again in a minor league deal that the parent club allowed him to be traded to San Francisco Bulls for the remainder of the year.

The 23-year old was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#87 overall) but was dished to the Canadiens as a minor piece of a bigger transaction before his skates ever hit officially hit the ice for the team.

His 3-year entry level deal expires at the end of the season and where he ends up from here is anyone’s guess.

08Mar

Mark Stone(16) Ottawa Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#178 overall) rookie right wing Mark Stone(16) received his first recall. He did appear in one playoff game, getting his first pro point, an assist, in last year’s surprise postseason berth and great first round for the team.

In his 2013 NHL season debut he skated 24 shifts for 15:14 total ice time in the 5-4 loss. He had a shot on net, two hits, a giveaway, a takeaway and finished a -1 plus/minus. Seems like the coach put a lot of confidence in the 6’2″ 188 lbs. forward to find a spot on what is a seriously injury depleted lineup that somehow survives and is a playoff threat once again.

He was doing well in the AHL with Binghamton Senators scoring 8 times with 13 assists in 38 games and a phenomenally accountable +15 rating on a team that is already surprising critics and opponents.

The 20-year old put up huge numbers in his last two seasons of junior hockey. In his final campaign he was this close to being a 2-point per game guy with 41 goals and 82 assists in 66 games and an unreal +45.

His skills are there. It’s just that question: is this his time?