AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

23Oct

Julien Brouillette (29)

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Undrafted 5th year defenseman Julien Brouillette(29) started his pro career in the ECHL but has played the last two seasons exclusively with AHL teams.

He had career highs for games played, goals, assists, points and penalty minutes (74-7-14-21-24) last season in the league with Hershey Bears, who he was signed with for the season.

The small-ish 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner re-upped with the club for 2012/2013 but was a healthy scratch for the first contest and reassigned to their new ECHL affiliate Reading Royals midweek for a game to get in some playing time.

He was inserted into the lineup for their second road contest and scored his first of the new campaign but sat for the home opener the next night.

The soon-to-be 26-year old will likely always be the type of player that needs to earn his spot.

22Oct

Adam Henrique(14) Albany Devils

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This one gets slotted in the “can you believe this is happening?” file. But regardless, is still too cool.

2nd year center Adam Henrique(14) is back skating with Albany Devils, the first pro emblem he wore on his chest, as the NHL, where he well-excelled in his rookie season, waits.

He’s picked up an assistant captain letter on his jersey since his last time with the A-Devils and a whole lot of gusto to his game. Despite going the first couple of dates without a point, he fixed that with a goal in the team’s first road contest, a 4-0 win.

On a side note, he now wears the same no. 14 that he does with the big club.

See related posts: 5/26-12, 10/24-11, 8/27-11

21Oct

Joe Morrow(6) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#23 overall) rookie defenseman Joe Morrow(6) has all the attributes to become one of the NHL‘s leading scorers for his position. He sees plays develop and moves the puck up to the forwards quickly, but is also a great stick handler with the ability to lead the rush into the offensive zone as well.

The not quite yet 20-year old showed these strengths in his final two season of juniors so it’s easy to see why he was selected so high in the draft.

He starts his pro career with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL as the NHL keeps a lock on its doors. He notched his first ever goal, a slapper from the point, the other night in Springfield.

He’s listed at 6’1″ 198 lbs. but honestly doesn’t seem to have that much size or weight. He appears smaller maybe because of the ease he moves through spaces out there whether they’re large or small.

Just looking at him, you know this is a kid that brings his A game every time.

20Oct

Micheal Haley(18) CT Whale

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Our favorite player movement of the 2012 offseason.

6th year undrafted fists of fury forward Micheal Haley(18) didn’t have to trade in his number when he to the drive up the street to join his new team.

After 5 straight seasons in New York Islanders‘ prospect system playing mostly for their affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL, the now veteran 26-year old calls Hartford home.

In the offseason the unrestricted free agent was signed to a 1-year 2-way deal with New York Rangers and is currently playing the same role and penalty killing for Connecticut Whale.

He had career highs in goals (15), assists tie (10), points (25) and even managed less penalty minutes, but not by much.

He’s the type of player we love to see out there. At only 5’11” 198 lbs. he’s all guts and glory.

The pic is post-first fight to bloody up the new uniform a bit with old teammate Blair Riley.

19Oct

Kael Mouillierat(20) Idaho Steelheads

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | 1 Comment

Undrafted 3rd year forward Kael Mouillierat(20) must have been holding out to see if any higher league offers trickled in after his best pro season yet in 2011/2012 on recall by Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He finished the year having played a career high 44 AHL games and achieved bests in scoring with 8 goals and 15 assists for 23 points and a mighty impressive +16 plus/minus.

With no takers, he once again signed with Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL for a third straight season. He’s an asset on the ice though as the 6′ 185 lbs. skater is basically a point per game guy with the team and in his first appearance of the 2012/2013 season he hit the scoresheet for both a goal and an assist.

Once the NHL shakes hands on a new CBA, the 25-year will almost certainly continue his playing time in the AHL.

This highlight reel goal is a thing of beauty.

18Oct

Josh Brittain(17) Fort Wayne Komets

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A few Anaheim Ducks‘ prospects are finding themselves doubly reassigned, when they start at AHL training camp but ultimately will play games in the ECHL to start 2012/2013.

3rd year, 2008 3rd round pick (#71 overall) left wing Josh Brittain(17) is familiar with the process already as he’s skated in 47 games with Elmira Jackals over his first two seasons, so joining Fort Wayne Komets will actually be a step up at least in terms of fans in the stands.

The big 6’4″ 210 lbs., that doesn’t really look like he takes up that much space out there as his size might indicate, spent more time up in the AHL in 2011/2012 with Syracuse Crunch and recorded career highs games played (38), goals (2) and assists (4).

He was in training camp with the Ducks‘ new affiliate Norfolk Admirals and was one of the last cuts before opening night.

The 22-year old definitely needs to open up more room on the ice for himself to increase his scoring chances.

18Oct

Francois Bouchard(61) Cincinnati Cyclones

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5th year Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#35 overall), center Francois Bouchard(27) found himself at the start of the season without a contract in what’s maybe been a bit of a tricky year for more than a few players to get work playing pro hockey.

After his initial 3-year entry level deal was up, he signed on for one more campaign in the Capitals‘ prospect system but was bounced from his time with Hershey Bears (where he won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2009 & 2010) to New York Rangers‘ AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale and uneventfully finished out the term of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent.

For the first time in his career he signs a minor league deal to play in the ECHL with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2012/2013.

It just maybe a smart move as he needs to reenergize that scoring touch he showed in his second year, when he popped in 21 and assisted on another 31 in 74 games played and was a crazy good +21 plus/minus.

If he starts to ignite and the NHL unfreezes the lockout, expect him to move back up the ladder.

17Oct

Sean Couturier(14) Adirondack Phantoms

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After putting up a fairly sturdy 13 goals and 14 assists to go along with a phenomenal +18 plus/minus, Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#8 overall), 2nd year center Sean Couturier(14) finds himself fine tuning his game in the AHL with their affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, as everyone in the higher league stomps their feet and continues to not play pro hockey.

The still not quite yet 20-year old is a tall kid at 6’4″ but his 191 lbs. frame is pretty lanky ala an early Joe Thornton. It’s almost a bit surprising he hits the scoresheet as much as he does, but he looks to skate a fairly committed game and always seems to be engaged right where the play is happening.

In two AHL regular season games, he’s already a point per game guy with a goal and an assist. It’s a pretty certain bet that he’ll be able to continue this pace in the league.

He also appeared in 11 playoff games for the Flyers last season and connected for 3 goals and an assist.

The bet is he hits the scoresheet like he did in his last two seasons of juniors, where he was basically a 1.5 points per game forward and had an unheard of +117 plus/minus.

16Oct

Ryan Johansen(9) Springfield Falcons

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Columbus Blues Jackets‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#4 overall), center Ryan Johansen(9) is spending time playing in the AHL with their affiliate Springfield Falcons as the big club sits on the sidelines.

In a pair of home games over opening weekend he tallied his first ever goal in the league.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. player scored a handy 9 goals and 12 assists in 67 NHL games in his rookie season with the Jackets.

At 20-years old playing games in the minors will only give him more playing and scoring confidence.

He already shows he has the skill set to achieve power forward status as he continues to grow into his game.

His entry level contract is a three-year deal through 2013/2014.

He tore up the scoring sheet in his only two seasons in juniors before deciding to turn pro.

Obviously being such a high draft pick, a lot will be expected of him but the future looks bright…

15Oct

Todd McLellan(coach) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks “5th year” bench boss Todd McLellan is probably going to be taking in a lot more of the team’s AHL affiliate in Worcester‘s games this season than he would have a chance to if this were a normal NHL season.

He was already spotted during their only preseason home game at Holy Cross recently keeping an eye on potential prospects.

In his four years as head coach he has always maintained a winning record, ended regular season as Pacific Division champs 3 times and taken the team to the Western Conference Finals on a pair of occasions.

He won a Stanley Cup with Detroit Red Wings in 2008 as an assistant coach before being hired the next season by San Jose. The 45-year old also won a Calder Cup Championship with Houston Aeros in 2003.

As a player he only skated pro for two years in the late 80’s. He was drafted by New York Islanders and played 5 games (1 goal, 1 assists) but appeared in over 100 games with Springfield Indians of the AHL.