AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

15Jan

Bryce Lampman(27) Portland Pirates

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Originally a New York Rangers‘ 4th round pick in the 2001 draft (#113 overall) defenseman Bryce Lampman(27) is probably best known for his days with their then farm club, Hartford Wolf Pack. He played 287 AHL regular and postseason games with the team and had two 25 point seasons.

He spent the last couple of years skating with a pair of teams in the German Elite League (DEL) before returning to North America to play in 2012/2013 with the first year ECHL Orlando Solar Bears.

In 21 games, the 30-year old blue liner could be on a bit of a scoring tear with three goals and 9 assists. He could realize career highs on the scoresheet if he’s not careful.

He was recently signed to a pto by Portland Pirates as some of their regulars abandoned them for NHL training camps.

The last time the fairly steady 6’1″ 200 pounder played in the AHL was a cup of coffee a couple of years ago with Houston Aeros but the year prior he was on the ice for 54 games with Peoria Rivermen, where he had a 20 point season.

He has dressed for 10 NHL games (all with the Blueshirts, of course) with no points.

14Jan

Patrick Rissmiller(28) Worcester Sharks

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Heading into the 2012/2013, undrafted 11th year left wing Patrick Rissmiller(28) found himself in somewhat unchartered territory: without a contract to play.

He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado Avalanche for last season but for the first time in awhile failed to receive a big league call-up from their minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters.

The 6’4″ 220 lbs. power forward has skated in 192 NHL games scoring 18 goals and 28 assists including two full seasons with San Jose Sharks, where he also appeared in 30 postseason match-ups.

In the AHL, he has played a phenomenal 524 games, lit the lamp 125 times and dished out 227 helpers but a disturbing trend to his game is also a combined -40 plus/minus.

Signing a pto halfway through the season with Worcester Sharks, the 34-year old Massachusetts’ native comes full circle as he spent his college playing time at Holy Cross and started his pro career in 2002 with then San Jose farm team Cleveland Barons.

The hope is that he comes alive with some hometown cooking.

13Jan

Eric Baier(6) Providence Bruins

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

Trenton Titans‘ 2nd year, undrafted defenseman Eric Baier(6) was recently called up to Providence Bruins for his first AHL stint of 2012/2013.

He’s played 23 games in the league with four different teams since finishing up his college career at nearby Providence College.

Although he only has an assist to his credit, the 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner has never light up the scoresheet and seems to be look at as more of a defensive zone specialist, although seems to be on the wrong end of plus/minus for the most part.

In 85 games with the Titans, the 24-year old has 6 goals and 17 assists on a team that has struggled to win games and keep pucks out of their net in the last couple of seasons, but as he continues to play and gain opportunities he will likely continue to settle his game.

Getting himself on a winning team couldn’t hurt either.

12Jan

Michael Wilson(36) Worcester Sharks

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

5th year, undrafted defenseman Michael Wilson(36) has come full circle in his short pro hockey career.

Originally signed to an AHL contract with Worcester Sharks for his first two years, he split time in his rookie season with their then ECHL affiliate Phoenix Roadrunners before spending the next campaign fully in central MA.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. puck-moving d-man signed the following season with Victoria Salmon Kings for what would be the team’s final swim upstream, as they were disbanded in favor of a junior hockey franchise.

Once again in what has become familiar terrority: unrestricted free agent status, he inked a deal that would land him overseas skating for Starbulls Rosenheim in the German tier 2 league. That move lasted less than 20 games as he returned to North America to play the second half of the season in the Central Hockey League with another team that was en route to exit from existence, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. They also decided to rebrand under a junior hockey flag.

The 25-year old signed his most current contract with the newly introduced ECHL Orlando Solar Bears near the start of 2012/2013. In 36 games, he has a pair of goals and 21 assists, which puts him on pace to have personal bests in assists and scoring for a single season.

Signed to a pto with Worcester, in his first game back he had the helper on the overtime game-winning goal.

11Jan

Mark Mitera(17) Reading Royals

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Anaheim Ducks‘ former 1st round pick in the 2006 draft (#19 overall) defenseman Mark Mitera(17) must have been doing his own workouts with a wait and see attitude before finally signing with ECHL Reading Royals for the remainder of the 2012/2013. He did have a tryout agreement with St. John’s IceCaps that fizzled.

His three year entry level deal was up at the end of last season. He finished with 75 games for Hamilton Bulldogs after being traded to parent club Montreal Canadiens early at the start of free agency in 2011.

At 6’3″ 213 lbs. he figured to be a bruising blue liner that simply beat his opponents into submission once he turned pro after four big years playing college hockey but that has yet to be realized.

Signing with the affiliate of AHL Hershey Bears could be a smart move for the 25-year old as chances are reasonable that he’ll receive a call-up with them, or he’ll sign a pto elsewhere as soon as post-lockout hockey begins to unfold and settle.

10Jan

Dalton Smith (33)

Posted in AHL | Leave a comment

Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#34 overall) left wing Dalton Smith(33) is the type of player that is at this point mostly flying under the radar but continually gives 110% of himself with every shift.

It’s this tenacity that is bound to get him noticed.

In 25 AHL games, the 6’2″ 206 lbs. built like a power forward rookie has 3 goals and 2 assists, which isn’t a lot but his game is more suited at this point as a pk specialist, 4th line energy skater.

Even in juniors he didn’t always show up on the scoresheet.

The 20-year old signed a three-year entry level deal that will give him plenty of room to develop.

When he gets his first call-up, he definitely could stay, because he’s got pro hockey written all over him.

08Jan

Johan Sundstrom (28)

Posted in AHL | Leave a comment

New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#50 overall), Swedish-born center Johan Sundstrom(28) starts his pro career like so many other first year players in the AHL due to the lockout.

Now that it’s settled, the 6’3″ 195 lbs. rookie forward will likely attend the big guys training camp but could find himself back on the farm with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for more seasoning.

He’s currently second in team scoring with 9 goals and 14 assists in 34 games and is a +7 plus/minus on what is on most nights a team that’s tough to beat.

The 20-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that if it’s not this season, there’s even a better chance in his sophomore pro campaign that he’s going to be an NHL regular. He’s already played two seasons in the Swedish Elite League.

07Jan

J.T. Miller (10)

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

New York Rangers‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#15 overall) center J.T. Miller(10) started his pro career with their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale after only a single season in OHL but could bump up to the NHL now that a new CBA is on the horizon.

In 26 games, he has 5 goals and 9 assists.

He also skated with the Whale for 8 games in last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs.

The 19-year old was reassigned for the period over the holidays to compete with Team USA for the World Junior Championship, which they did in fact win with a victory over last year’s top country, Sweden.

He was an alternate captain.

Now back in North America, the young 6’1″ 200 lbs. burgeoning power forward has been once again reassigned back to Connecticut but will likely first be making a stop at the Rangers‘ brief training camp before finding out where his next home address will settle (at least for the time being).

His three-year entry level deal extends through 2015.

06Jan

Sami Vatanen(9) Norfolk Admirals

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#106 overall), Finnish defenseman Sami Vatanen(9) isn’t the biggest of the blue liners playing pro hockey measuring in at 5’9″ 163 lbs. but he competes hard and definitely has a huge potential offensive upside.

In 30 games with AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, the rookie has 4 goals and 14 assists and isn’t exactly easily beaten in his own zone at a -3 plus/minus on a team that is challenged to win games more than they should be.

The 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that carries him through 2014 in the Ducks‘ prospect pool.

Tough to say if he makes it stick in the NHL but he’s definitely worth a few looks.

04Jan

Garrett Mitchell (36)

Posted in AHL | Leave a comment

Washington Capitals‘ 2nd year right wing Garrett Mitchell(36) looks to be blowing out his rookie season AHL totals as he already has a career high 7 goals and is well on his way in the assists department with 6. He’s also a +7 plus/minus.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. forward was a 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#175 overall) and looks to be on a bit of a tear, looking to prove his game.

He signed a three-year entry level deal that keeps him in the system through 2014 but it would be little surprise to see his contract extended early.

Obviously leadership is a quality coaches and management believe the 21-year old brings to the table as he wears the assistant captain letter on his Hershey Bears‘ sweater.