AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

14Oct

Kirill Kabanov(77) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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20-year old Moscow-born, rookie left wing Kirill Kabanov(77) comes into the pro ranks with a lot of promise riding on his shoulders.

He was a 3rd round New York Islanders‘ pick in the 2010 draft (#65 overall) that has size (6’3″ 194 lbs.) and shown on every level thus far that he can definitely put the puck in the net or dish a sweet set up for a goal. And he’s even better in the playoffs. His contract is a three-year entry level deal without many bells or whistles, so this is a player that’s got something to prove.

We won’t know until the lockout gets settled if he starts the season in the NHL or stays where he’s already contributing now, with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He had a pair of assists in the team’s opening game 6-4 win on the road and looks to be a strong skater that personifies power forward. He’ll just have to keep his head in the game.

13Oct

Kyle Jean(7) Connecticut Whale

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Undrafted New York Rangers‘ rookie prospect, center Kyle Jean(7) got his pro career off to a good start.

He scored his first goal on a penalty shot and added an assist in what was unfortunately a losing 6-4 effort by his team, Connecticut Whale on opening night of the 2012/2013 AHL season.

The 22-year old is signed to a 2-year entry level deal and with his 6’4″ 203 lbs. frame has the muscle to step right into plays and push opposing players around in pursuit of the puck.

He showed enough tenacity and grit to get the job done in preseason, so it was no surprise seeing him on the ice for the Whale’s first game of the year.

12Oct

Bobby Farnham (37)

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Undrafted left wing Bobby Farnham(37) has been on a little trip in search of a contract.

Upon completing his college career with Brown University Bears last season he signed on with the team down the street, Providence Bruins.

He skated in three games with the “hometown” team before being released and inked another ato with another local team just up the highway, Worcester Sharks.

He also lasted a few contests with them, concluding the regular season registering no points on the scoresheet.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward was offered a training camp tryout look by Hamilton Bulldogs but was cut a week before the start of 2012/2013.

From their he made the 6 hour drive to West Virginia and has agreed to a contract with the ECHL Wheeling Nailers and is on the opening night roster ready to officially start his pro career.

11Oct

Brett MacLean(39) Phoenix Coyotes

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This one is a real heartbreaker.

Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#32 overall) left wing Brett MacLean(39) is forced to retire from pro hockey at 23-years old after sudden cardiac arrest that occurred during an offseason pick up game with friends in Owen Sound.

He was nothing short of a force on the AHL scoring sheet (264 games, 99 goals and 104 assists) and setting himself up for more of a permanent spot in the NHL.

The 6’2″ 197 lbs. forward skated in 13 games with the Coyotes a couple of seasons ago, scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist, and had 5 appearances when he was briefly picked up on waivers by Winnipeg Jets before being re-scooped by Phoenix and reassigned to their new AHL affiliate Portland Pirates last season, where he notched his fourth straight 20+ goal season with 25.

Great story announcing the news on the AHL site. Ironically this is a player that played the game with all heart and was starting to realize the dream after a lot of hard work in the minors.

10Oct

Mikael Tam(52) San Francisco Bulls

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Undrafted rookie defenseman Mikael Tam(52) earned himself an AHL contract with Worcester Sharks after a sharp training camp and lots of smart play in exhibition games.

He’ll start his pro career with ECHL affiliate San Francisco Bulls but look for him to put up numbers quickly as he did in his last couple of seasons at juniors.

The 5’10” 193 lbs. blue liner plays like a young Andrew Ference and definitely has much offensive upside, while maintaining accountability in the defensive zone.

The now 21-year old was the player on the receiving end of the cheapest hit in (juniors) hockey history in 2010 as given by Patrice Cormier. He was out for the remainder of that season, but came back strong and never refuses an invite to mix it up.

We see an NHL deal in his future.

09Oct

David Civitarese(7) Reading Royals

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Rookie forward David Civitarese(7) will start the first full season of his pro career with ECHL’s Reading Royals.

He appeared in 10 games at the end of last season with Hershey Bears, signed to an ato after finishing up his college playing career. The 6’2″ 211 pounder ended up scoring his first professional hockey goal, his only point in the run.

Entering 2012/2013 as an undrafted free agent, he signs a one-year AHL deal to return to Hershey Bears for his first campaign.

The 23-year old attended their training camp but was recently reassigned after one exhibition game.

He was never much of a scorer in college but that could change.

09Oct

Tyler Hotstetter(27) Trenton Titans

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Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Tyler Hotstetter(27) finds himself back with Trenton Titans of the ECHL to start the 2012/2013 with a lot of players he saw only in the AHL last season when he was on recall by Adirondack Phantoms.

The 21-year is actually property of Philadelphia Flyers signed to another couple of seasons on a 3-year entry level deal.

In 34 ECHL games last year he had 7 goals and 7 assists in 34 games. Through 10 contests in the AHL he didn’t register a point.

The 5’11” 182 lbs. d-man could very likely see a complete season with the Titans. It will be interesting to see how many points he will be able to put up.

08Oct

Anton Blomqvist(29) Evansville IceMen

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#167 overall) giant Swedish defenseman Anton Blomqvist(29) is a thinker of a project for the team.

He’s huge at 6’6″ but only weighs 206 lbs., which seems awfully light in pro hockey for a guy that big.

Problem is he just doesn’t seem as engaged and attached to the play as he should be and rightfully needs to add way more muscle to his style.

In his rookie season with Springfield Falcons he skated in only 24 games due to suffering an early season concussion but also found himself to be a healthy scratch probably more often than he would have liked.

His entry level contract is only in its’ second season of a 3-year deal.

As the 2012/2013 season approaches the 22-year old was a training camp trim and gets reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Evansville IceMen.

This is big move (literally) because this guy needs playing time and some in-game coaching to develop into the type of player he could easily become. He has to put some points up too, as he managed a goose egg on the scoresheet last season.

08Oct

Jordie Johnston(25) Greenville Road Warriors

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Undrafted rookie center signed a one-year AHL deal with Connecticut Whale to start his first full season of pro hockey.

He skated in 3 games with interstate rival Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the end of his college career late last season. The 5’11” 185 forward didn’t hit the scoresheet in his first bid.

He participated in Whale training camp and appeared one preseason contest before being reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Greenville Road Warriors to play his first official games of the 2012/2013 season.

The 25-year old lit it up in his last college season and hopes he can carry it over into the pro ranks.

07Oct

Paul Crowder(11) Wheeling Nailers

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4th year undrafted center Paul Crowder(11) started the season in Austria’s Erste Band Eishockey Liga with Znojmo Ovli HC but got injured half a dozen games into the season and was put on waivers.

No problem as the 27-year old returns for a third ECHL season with Wheeling Nailers, where he has found a home and a good deal of success in addition to being named team captain last season.

In 94 regular and postseason games, he struck for 31 goals and 50 assists and had just joined the team when they made their Kelly Cup run that took them to the Eastern Conference Final.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward started his career signed to a one-year entry level deal with New York Rangers but played his entire rookie season in the AHL with Hartford Wolf Pack.

He failed to get a call-up in his sophomore year but was recalled by Manchester Monarchs for 5 games in last season.

He definitely has size to his advantage but even if he’s playing on an energy line should show more of a flare for scoring like he does in the lower league.