Category: AHL

25Sep

Troy Bodie(20) Norfolk Admirals

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7th year left wing Troy Brodie(20) was part of a list of six players recently signed to an AHL contract by Norfolk Admirals, the new minor league affiliate of Anaheim Ducks.

He had a one-year, two-way deal with Anaheim last season but skated no NHL games.

In all, split half with the Ducks and one season picked up on waivers by Carolina Hurricanes, the 6’4″ 219 lbs. forward has skated in 107 games in the show registering 6 goals and 5 assists.  He should be a bigger, more intimidating upfront power forward than his style indicates.

The 27-year was originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 9th round pick in the 2003 draft (#278 overall).

He started his pro career with Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, put up some big numbers and that was his only stop there.

This will be an interesting year him. It’s his first without an NHL contract and he definitely has something to prove.

24Sep

Chris Cloud(39) Ontario Reign

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Undrafted 4th season right wing Chris Cloud(39) re-signs with Ontario Reign to return to the ECHL team for a second straight season, a first in his pro career that’s taken him in on what continues to be an interesting journey.

He began with Wheeling Nailers but after only three appearances was released and quickly jumped to join Central Hockey League‘s Amarillo Gorillas for the remainder of his rookie campaign.

The feisty 5’11” 186 lbs. forward started his sophomore year inking a deal with Tulsa Oilers but was again waived by the team he started the season with only to be quickly picked up by another suitor, Bloomington Prairie Thunder (r.i.p.).

It wasn’t until 2011/2012 that he found a more permanent hockey residence, signing a one-year contract with the Reign, where he arguably enjoyed his best season matching career highs in goals, assists and points; and eclipsed his former penalty minute high mark by 50.

The then 23-soon-to-be 24 year old also earned a pair of AHL call-up with Manchester Monarchs that he put to good use in 10 games and 19 pims in a limited fourth line role.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the Monarchs‘ forthcoming training camp.

 

 

23Sep

Sam Klassen(3) Connecticut Whale

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3rd year defenseman Sam Klassen(3) signs a one-year AHL deal with Connecticut Whale after spending most his first two seasons with the team while under an entry-level contract with their parent club, New York Rangers.

With all the depth on the Blueshirts‘ blue line, it was tough for the undrafted d-man to make an impression. He appeared in a career high 36 AHL games in 2011/2012 and put up his first pro point, an assist.

At 6’1 195 lbs. he doesn’t play an overly physical game but put up some offensive numbers in juniors, so the team must think the 23-year old still has the ability to become a puck-moving defenseman as a pro.

In 89 ECHL games with Greenville Road Warriors he’s scored 4 times and added 19 assists with most of those coming in his rookie campaign, when he got to spend more time with just one minor leage team.

He’ll need to step it up in training camp and early in the preseason to earn a roster spot.

22Sep

Ryley Grantham(16) Allen Americans

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4th year right wing Ryley Grantham(16) was not qualified by Calgary Flames when his 3-year entry level deal was up. He was originally their 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#168 overall).

In the final season of his contract, he was skating mostly with Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL before being reassigned in a minor swap with Chicago Express.

The 6’4″ 210 lbs. bruiser played 89 AHL games with Abbotsford Heat and put up a pretty hefty 163 penalty minutes in 67 games of his rookie season. He only minimally hit the scoresheet with a goal and 3 assists.

In an interesting lock out move, the 24-year old signed a contract to play in the Central Hockey League with Allen Americans for 2012/2013. While with them he should really look to pick up his offensive game; put more points than pims on the scoresheet.

 

 

20Sep

Josh Godfrey(3) Las Vegas Wranglers

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He was a high draft pick of Washington Capitals in 2007 (round 2, #34 overall), defenseman Josh Godfrey(3) never seemed to materialize much higher than their then ECHL affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, although he did play 18 games with Hershey Bears registering no goals and 6 assists.

Last season on pto’s with a poor Binghamton Senators‘ team is where he has mostly come alive, scoring a couple of goals and adding 6 assists in 38 games, all AHL career highs.

In the ECHL he’s skated in 120 games and netted 26 goals and 45 assists for a modest 71 points. He also holds the league’s hardest slap shot at 102.7 mph as clocked at the 2011 All-Star Classic.

For 2011/2012 he returns to the league signing a one-year deal to join Las Vegas Wranglers, while the AHL pool is fairly well stocked.

 

18Sep

Brent Regner(28) Peoria Rivermen

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brent-regner

Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#137 overall), defenseman Brent Regner(28) found himself without a team heading into his fourth pro season, despite putting up career high games played, assists and points (75 – 29 – 31) with Springfield Falcons in 2011/2012.

Turns out the Jackets weren’t interested in qualifying him for another campaign and cut ties with the 23-year old, who also displayed better on-ice accountability with a +4 plus/minus.

No worries as Peoria Rivermen stepped in an offered the 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner a one-year AHL contract for 2012/2013.

In 181 AHL games he has 12 goals and 58 assists. With the NHL lockout looming, he may be in a dog fight for a spot on his new team’s roster.

He also was a part of the fabled 2007 Vancouver Giants‘ squad that captured the Memorial Cup.

17Sep

Radko Gudas(3) Syracuse Crunch

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Czech Republic born defenseman Radko Gudas(3) will be entering the final season of his 3-year entry level deal he signed with Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010.

He was originally a 3rd round draft pick in 2010 (#66 overall) but has yet to receive a call up on a team that stocked fairly well with blue liners.

In 2011/2012 he won the Calder Cup with the Admirals in a fairytale run to capture the title. He also grew the most enormous playoff beard pro hockey has seen.

At 6′ 201 lbs he doesn’t seem like the biggest of guys out on the ice but he plays a much bigger game than his size stats may point towards and is not afraid to drop the mitts, ending last season with 195 penalty minutes and 11 fighting majors to his credit.

Although his offensive numbers ticked up slightly last year in a few less games, he’s not what you’d deem as an offensive powerhouse.  Still at a two season combined +33 there is plenty of accountable upside to his game.

He along with just about every other eligible player was recently reassigned to their new affiliate Syracuse Crunch.

16Sep

Tye McGinn(16) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#119 overall) left wing Tye McGinn(16) is in the second season of this three-year entry level contract.

In his rookie season with their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, the 6’2″ 205 lbs. played a big game, unafraid to get into those situations on ice that some other players would shy away from.

The 22-year may not quite be ready for his first NHL call-up (not that it’s going to matter this season) but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him cut his existence into a strong 4th line guy and effect special teams, pk specialist when he has a few more seasons to his credit.

In 63 regular season games he scored a healthy 12 goals but somehow only feed another scorer for 6 assists (dish that thing) and was a strong -1 plus/minus. He put up impressive numbers in his last two years of juniors.

Not surprising his older brother is Jamie McGinn. They play a similar game of pro hockey.

15Sep

Theo Ruth(25) Springfield Falcons

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As the NHL prepares for another lockout, the big club’s are stocking the minor league ponds with all the two-way contracts they’ve got.

One such player is Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd year defenseman, Theo Ruth(25). He’ll be in the final year of his entry level deal.

The 6’1″ 207 lbs. blue liner looks bigger than his stats might indicate. So far in his pro career he’s skated 106 AHL games with their affiliate Springfield Falcons and had identical scoring of 1 goal and 5 assists each year. One stat he’s probably not bragging about though is the cumulative -38 plus/minus he’s run up in just two campaigns.

He was originally a Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#46 overall) but “Ted” found himself dished in a trade for Sergei Federov before he ever skated a game with the team. That will always be something for him to brag about.

He’s still fairly young at 23-years old but he’ll need to step up his game big in what will be a difficult AHL season to gain some notice.