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Category: AHL

03Sep

Joe Piskula(43) San Diego Gulls

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5th year, undrafted Calgary Flames‘ defenseman Joe Piskula(43) spent three seasons in the L.A. Kings‘ prospect system but skated only 5 NHL games with the team in the same year he completed his college hockey career.

He then played exclusively with the Kings‘ AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs on an entry level contract but failed to appear in another NHL game with them.

In the next season he signed a one-year AHL deal with Abbotsford Heat and played 71 games.

For the next couple seasons, he scored himself a bit of an unlikely contract with Calgary through 2013.

He’s was called up at the beginning of December and has played in 5 games but registered no points with a disappointing -5 plus/minus. More importantly though, they won 4 of the 5 games he skated in.

Original story: 12/29-11

He finished up the 2011/2012 setting new AHL career marks with 3 goals and 15 assists for 18 points with a +10 rating.

Starting the 2nd year of his deal in the minors, the former 2006 NCAA Champion at University Of Wisconsin was dealt to Nashville Predators right before the trade deadline and reassigned to finish the year.

A fairly steady presence on the blue line, he signed a one-year extension to stay with the organization.

He was only recalled for a pair of games but as assistant captain of affiliate Milwaukee Admirals he again matched his season best 3 goals and set new highs with 20 assists and was +20 on the ice.

Signed quickly to continue with the Preds, he was named team captain of the farm club for 2014/2015 and kept their defensive zone solid with another +20 rating.

Called up for a single game near the end of the season, it put his total games played in the NHL at 13.

Anaheim Ducks must have been spying on the 9th year veteran’s progress, because they stepped right in on the first day of free agency to offering him a one-year two-way contract.

Making the recently turned 31-year old the first captain of new minor league squad San Diego Gulls wouldn’t be the worst decision the club has ever made.

02Sep

Christian Thomas (20)

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Christian Thomas(20) would post all AHL career highs of games played (73), goals (19), assists (16) and points (35) in his first year that still have yet to be matched or surpassed.

On the second day of free agency though, he was dealt to Montreal Canadiens in a mostly minor exchange.

He would start his first season 2013/2014 with his new team on the injured reserve but was ultimately reassigned to Hamilton Bulldogs.

He spent most of his sophomore season with the farm club, matching his 16 assist mark from the previous year, while doubling his time in the show by a game but was still minus a point.

Going into his contract season he would be a late cut from training camp and stay in the minors until the new year but once up he stuck for 6 weeks with only a short trip back down near the beginning.

It also was time to finally strike the back of the net with a puck but that would also be his only point in 18 NHL games.

Montreal wasted zero time in making sure the recently turned 23-year old was going to stick in the system signing him to a one-year two-way extension.

He may start his fourth campaign with new affiliate St. John’s IceCaps but he’ll also very likely see increased playing time up with the big club.

It’s pretty important for him to show he can contribute on the score sheet the way he did in juniors.

01Sep

Andrew Carroll(13) Idaho Steelheads

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3rd year undrafted Hershey Bears‘ center Andrew Carroll(13) might consider changing his number next season.

He’s yet to blossom into a goal scorer in a couple of AHL seasons (3 goals in 52 games) but it took him until the final game of the 2011/2012 season to net his first, which may get him to think about a switch.

He did establish career highs this year with 68 games played, 5 assists, 6 points, 138 pims, and an ouch -5.

In 79 games in the ECHL he has 40 goals and 22 assists.

We think he’ll re-sign with the Bears for next season.

Original story: 4/17-12

Late, almost at the start of 2012/2013 he signed with Idaho Steelheads.

Halfway through the season he was loaned to Hartford Wolf Pack and even signed a deal before being returned for the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs, where he connected for 3 goals and 5 assists in 15 games.

He had basically similar totals from the previous season in half the games in the AHL but was almost a point-per-game producer in the ECHL with 12-19-31 in 36 totals.

Heading into 2013/2014 he didn’t have to wait long for a contract signing an extension to stay in Connecticut.

Almost ironically he would be a late cut from training camp reassigned to affiliate Greenville Road Warriors but after a couple months of unproductive skating with a horrid -20 rating he was moved along to Bakersfield Condors.

In 50 games, he didn’t completely restore himself but he got at least 8 goals and 8 assist before taking it up a notch in the postseason.

Post that performance, he fully disappeared. There’s very little as to why or where he went last season.

For his 6th pro season though, the just turned 30-year old is back and signed on to rejoin Idaho Steelheads for 2015/2016. He had his best offensive campaign with them and the chemistry may still be there.

31Aug

Joel Broda (19)

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4th year center Joel Broda(6) is playing his first season as an unrestricted free agent after his 3-year entry level contract with Minnesota Wild was not qualified.

He signed a one-year minor league deal with Bakersfield Condors for 2013/2014, returning to the team he skated with on reassignment from Houston Aeros during his rookie season.

He played 124 AHL games through three seasons with the Aeros scoring 21 goals and 17 assists.

The 6′ 203 lbs. forward was an Oklahoma City Barons‘ training camp invite and impressed enough to score a call-up for 8 games near the start of the season, potting a goal and an assist quickly but then cooled off before being returned a month later.

He would get right to it in the ECHL, where he struck for 19 goals and 16 assists in 35 games.

His explosion on the score sheet gained him notice from Bridgeport Sound Tigers, who signed him to a pto and out of the gate he’s fitting right in with team chemistry.

Again, he scored early in his recall netting a pair of tallies and a helper in his first three contests.

Originally a Washington Capitals‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#144 overall), he had a notable junior hockey career scoring a league leading 53 goals in 2008/2009 and winning the WHL Championship with Calgary Hitmen in the following campaign.

The 24-year plays a speedy skating style, knows how to get himself into the open spaces on the ice for scoring chances and generally unloads a ton of shots on net.

Original story: 2/26-14

His time with Bridgeport Sound Tigers would finish with the 2 goals and 4 assists in 17 games.

Released from his pto near the end of the regular season, he rejoined Bakersfield Condors as team captain for their playoff run, which last 16 games through the Kelly Cup Western Conference Finals.

Once again, he exploded on the score sheet potting 8 goals and 4 assists with a +5 rating in 16 playoff games.

His 2013/2014 performance was enough to put him on the radar of Hershey Bears, who signed him to an AHL contract roughly a month before training camps started.

Through 53 contests, he would have a somewhat rough campaign in Chocolatetown falling out of favor as he was mostly a healthy scratch down the stretch and throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs.

It was obvious his 7 goals and 3 assists fell far short of the mark.

For his 6th pro season he’s decided to take his game elsewhere, signing a one-year deal with HC Bolzano Foxes of Erte Banke Eishockey Liga.

The now 25-year old that will turn 26 a month into the new season should easily be able to duplicate the kind of numbers he put in the ECHL overseas.

30Aug

Colin McDonald(13) Philadelphia Flyers

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New York Islanders‘ 8th year veteran right wing Colin McDonald(13) started the current campaign on the roster but was having a tough time finding an open spot.

After only a couple of NHL games with no points, he was put on waivers and reassigned to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the first time in a long while.

Over the last 4 years in the AHL the 6’2″ 205 lbs. power forward averaged over 40 points, while in his time spent up with 3 teams in his pro career he has a none too shabby 16 goals and 20 assists in 124 games but is a sort of abysmal -22 plus/minus.

In 40 games this year he’s helping out with 14 goals and 21 assists and definitely provides needed leadership on a still young squad.

Signed only through the end of 2015, it will be interesting to see where the 30-year old will take his game next.

The former Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#51 overall) definitely has the ability to help out a checking line but may be looking at a trip overseas is probably a better bet.

Original story: 2/7-15

He would get recalled the very next day and started contributing immediately earning that spot on the roster and not looking back.

Although he would level off and was a healthy scratch for games down the stretch he did appear in a pair of playoff games.

Turning 31-years old as the new season approaches it’s probably a good time to switch up the scenery and he’s signed a one-year two-way deal with Philadelphia Flyers for 2015/2016, but I would not put it by him to make the big club out of training camp and fit in just nicely.

See related: 4/22-12

28Aug

Jesse Blacker(4) Texas Stars

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3rd year defenseman Jesse Blacker(4) was swapped to Anaheim Ducks‘ organization earlier this season in what amounted to a mostly minor league transaction.

He was originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#58 overall) and spent a couple of good campaigns with their farm team, Toronto Marlies.

The change of scenery to the Ducks‘ AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals has done him lots of good, as he’s already surpassed his career high with 5 goals and 17 points and is well on his way to recording more helpers than he’s put up in one season.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner received a pair of late call-ups in 2012/2013 but was never inserted into the lineup.

The 22-year old’s entry level deal is up at the end of the current campaign and he’s set to become a restricted free agent but with his consistent play it would be easy to see him finally make his NHL debut and extended at least another season.

He was also on 2009 Memorial Cup and OHL Champion junior hockey team, Windsor Spitfires.

Original story: 1/9-14

Finishing the 2013/2014 with an AHL career high 6 goals, 19 assists and 24 points, he would also own an abysmal -16 plus/minus on a team that squeaked into the postseason.

He played another 10 Calder Cup Playoff games contributing a goal.

With his initial deal expiring he was extended for another year and finally made his first NHL appearance.

He skated 9 shifts for 6:03 with one hit and one break-up but was a -2 in the loss.

The recall was in all likelihood to display him for a trade option, which happened as he was dished to Florida Panthers just days later.

He was immediately sent to affiliate San Antonio Rampage, where he finished out the season but the parent club with another rough -15 rating chose not to qualify him, rendering the 24-year old an unrestricted free agent.

For his 5th pro campaign he signed a one-year minor league contract with Texas Stars for 2015/2016.

He may see better results going forward with the pressure from above to excel and may just re-find his footing.

27Aug

Chad Nehring(16) Hartford Wolf Pack

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Chad Nehring(16) would finish up the 2014/2015 season still under the pto with Hartford Wolf Pack and had a respectful first full year skating 53 games, scoring 4 goals, 8 assists with a +2 rating and then added another two tallies and a helper in 15 Calder Cup Playoff contests.

This production was obviously good enough for the aggressive checking forward to land another year in Connecticut as he’s signed on to his first AHL contract in entering his fifth pro outing.

We fully expect the recently turned 28-year old’s offense to jump up another step.

26Aug

Mathieu Carle(27) Adler Mannheim

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After 5 seasons of towing the blue line in the AHL 25-year old Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#53 overall), Mathieu Carle(27) reportedly will leave North American hockey for some Russian action with Dinamo Riga in the KHL in 2012/2013. He would have been a restricted agent with Anaheim Ducks in line for a qualifying offer.

He’s appeared in 296 AHL games with Hamilton Bulldogs before he was traded and reassigned last season to Syracuse Crunch.

The 6’0 206 lbs. d-man is almost always an effective plus player on the ice, this season notching a +7. He also had career highs in games played (72), assists (31) and points (37).

He’s only ever appeared in 3 NHL games with the Canadiens but you know what? He went a +1. Good luck to him.

Original story: 5/6-12

He would play most of the 2012/2013 season in the KHL but very close to the end of his first visit overseas signed to play the remainder of the year in the Swiss’ NLA with Geneve Survette HC and even skated 7 postseason games helping out on three assists.

For the next pair of years he had pretty good success heading back to Russia under contract with Medvescak Zagreb. In 81 games he had 5 goals and 31 assists.

As he enters his 9th pro season he trades in one country for another on a third occasion and will try his hand in DEL with Adler Mannheim.

The pretty tough guy defensive styled game the 28-year old plays should do quite well here.

25Aug

Marek Hrivik (15)

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This one lands in the out of left field category: undrafted, Slovakian-born forward Marek Hrivik(15) signed an ato with Connecticut Whale and joined the team for their last 8 regular season games of the 2011/2012 season after his junior squad finished up their year.

He managed to score one goal.

At 6’1″ 197 lbs. the 20-year old is already built like a power forward and from his short time in the AHL looks to have all the necessary assets to excel in this league (or higher).

He played in all three opening series Calder Cup Playoff games vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the 3-0 win and helped the team with four goals.

That’s all well and good but of course, his goals came in pairs like two other players in the playoffs’ tallies did, which is getting to be a weird 2012 AHL playoff stat.

He also has no assists.

Didn’t I see a video where he said he was a play maker?

To his credit, he is in juniors.

He could still play one more season in the QMJHL and score 2 points per game probably, but we think he’s ready for the show (or just below).

Original story: 4/23-12

To finish up his late season pro debut he appeared in 9 2012 Calder Cup Playoff games and went on to score a leading 5 goals and 4 assists for a team high tie of 9 points.

He would start his rookie year skating 40 AHL games for the Whale getting a tidy 7 goals and 19 assists.

In his second season, he played a still career best 74 contests setting new marks of 13 goals and 27 points.

Entering his contract campaign he reached new levels of scoring with 21 assists and 33 points in 72 games with a +8 rating.

He added another 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 15 postseason match-ups for the re-adopted affiliate named Hartford Wolf Pack that ended solidly in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Set to become a restricted free agent, the 24-year old inked an extension quickly to stay on with New York Rangers‘ prospect system.

If he can connect regularly on the score sheet in his fourth season the parent club would be well-served to call-up him to see how effective the power forward could be in the show.

23Aug

Frank Corrado(26) Vancouver Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#150 overall) defenseman Frank Corrado(26) has been under contract with the club for a couple of years now but only played a full slate of pro games this past season.

He first appeared in a few AHL games (2 assists) with then affiliate Chicago Wolves and from there jumped up to play his first 3 NHL contests with the parent club and was impressive enough to appear 4 times in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 6’1″ 191 lbs. blue liner started his official rookie season on reassignment with the expansion farm team Utica Comets but just before the new year was recalled and that set a path for 3 more trips to the show.

He ended his first campaign with 15 games in the big league. In this time he connected with his first goal.

Through 59 games with the Comets, he had 6 goals and 11 assists.

In four years of junior hockey in the OHL he was a pretty good set up guy that with continued digging could become a regular contributor to the score sheet.

The 21-year old’s entry level contract runs through 2015 and could very well spend most of his time in his sophomore season in the NHL.

Original story: 6/2-14

He started the final year of his initial deal on the parent club but it was only because he sustained an injury. As soon as he was healthy enough he was reassigned to Utica Comets.

That lasted only a few appearances as he was recalled, but it took him two more trips to the big club before he would see any action.

Upon being inserted into the lineup he stayed in for 7 games and connected with another NHL goal before waiting another month or so on the sidelines to get back on the ice.

He would finish skating about 15 shifts for roughly an average of 15 minutes per contest but was a bit of a shabby -7 on a team that didn’t qualify for the postseason.

Only 10 days into restricted free agency the soon-to-be 4th year forward signed for another one-year two-way extension to continue the progress.

At only 22-years old he’s pegged to make the ‘Nucks out of training camp and would have to clear waivers at this point, so it may be now or never and they are looking now.

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