AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

12Jul

Nick Ross(42) EC Red Bull Salzburg

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Former Phoenix Coyotes‘ 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#30 overall) defenseman Nick Ross(42) had his most productive season yet in the AHL (5 goals, 13 assists) despite playing only 35 games for Portland Pirates.

He was a healthy scratch for too many games in the final season of his 3-year entry level contract but obviously didn’t let that hinder his on-ice performance.

The 6’1″ 206 lbs. 23-year old blue liner was not issued a qualifying offer to return for 2012/2013 despite finally showing some signs of life and being more than accountable with a +16 plus/minus rating.

No worries, as he takes his pro game overseas to the Austrian Hockey League/Erste Bank Eishockey Liga signing with EC Red Bull Salzburg.

He’s still so young that we can easily see him continue to develop and impress enough to score another NHL contract down the road.

11Jul

Geoff Walker(17) Colorado Avalanche

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Undrafted, 5th year right wing Geoff Walker(17) had himself a career year with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season putting up career highs in goals, assists, points, penalty minutes and shots of goal (18 + 26 = 44, 114, 176).

It was his second campaign with the club that signed him to consecutive one-year AHL contracts after the 24-year old posted good numbers with Manchester Monarchs after being call-up from Ontario Reign the year before.

At 6’3″ 225 lbs. more than just being an imposing on-ice presence, his style of game is an unrelenting, digging attack that he puts on display every game.

For 2012/2013, he signed his first NHL contract (one-year, two-way) with Colorado Avalanche and could see an opportunity to get called up to the show.

We expect him to have a good training camp to make that decision to reassign him to their affiliate, Lake Erie Monsters a tough one.

10Jul

Patrick Mullen(14) Vancouver Canucks

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4th year, undrafted defenseman Patrick Mullen(14) tries his hand with a new team for 2012/2013, signing a one-year, two-way deal with Vancouver Canucks that will in all likelihood start him with their affiliate Chicago Wolves. He was an unrestricted free agent as of July 1.

He’s coming off his best AHL season yet with Manchester Monarchs that saw him put up more goals, assists and points in one year (13 + 28 – 41) than he did in his first two combined. Plus, he skated in 69 games, which eclipsed his previous high by a couple.

Initially signed to a 2-year entry level contract with Los Angeles Kings in 2009, the 5’10” 184 lbs. blue liner could still use some extra weight to throw around out there but has obviously spent some quality time improving his offensive capabilities.

It will be interesting to see what he does in a new conference and if he can score his first NHL call-up.

He is the son of three time Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall Of Fame defenseman, Joe Mullen.

09Jul

Mathieu Beaudoin(26) Hershey Bears

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6th year right wing Mathieu Beudoin(26) is set to join Hershey Bears for the 2012/2013 season. It will be his fifth AHL team in the last five years for the undrafted, 28-year old.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward is definitely capable of finding the back of the net with reasonable consistency but was injured for two months in the middle of last season with a dislocated thumb and couldn’t find the groove with Portland Pirates after reaching career highs in goals, assists and points in 2010/2011.

He was on the Texas Stars‘ team that went all the way to the Calder Cup Finals and lost to these very same Bears.

So, once again becoming an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season after his one-year two-way deal with Phoenix C oyotes was up, the Bears wasted no time signing him to an AHL contract to fill the roster with more veteran leadership.

For the first time in recent memory, Hershey‘s team seems to be full of intangibles. It’s a bit of a wonder what type of season they’re going to have, which never happens.

08Jul

Jason King(5) St. John’s IceCaps

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Heading into his 11th pro season, St. John’s IceCaps‘ assistant captain Jason King(5) re-signs for two more years with the hometown team.

He had a pretty solid 2011/2012 year playing in a career high 70 regular season games putting up a team leading 22 goals and 19 assists. The only downside was a miserable -14 plus/minus on the second best team in the AHL Eastern Conference.

Originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 7th round pick in the 2001 draft (#212 overall), the 6’1″ 192 lbs. forward was fairly legendary with their AHL affiliate Manitoba Moose.

He also appeared in 59 NHL games, almost all with the ‘Nucks skating on the “mattress” line with the Henrik and Daniel Sedin: two twins and a King. Now that’s humor right there but he got 12 goals and 9 assists that year. Unfortunately by the next season had fallen lower on the depth chart as was strictly playing in the AHL.

The almost 31-year old is a good fit for the IceCaps.

07Jul

Mark Dekanich(1) St. John’s IceCaps

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5th year goalie Mark Dekanich(1) has always posted a winning record since turning pro in 2008.

He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2006 draft (#146 overall) by Nashville Predators and tended net in their system, mostly with AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals for his first three seasons.

In 2011/2012, his first and only season with Columbus Blue Jackets, a series of high ankle sprains and a groin injury limited his availability to only 5 regular season games with Springfield Falcons.

The 6’2″ 192 lbs. 26-year goaltender is still looked at as a potential NHL backstop (he’s appeared in one game) and Winnipeg Jets think that could be the case as they signed him to a one-year, two-way contract for the upcoming year.

Most likely he’ll compete for the St. John’s IceCaps‘ starting job.

06Jul

J.F. Jacques(14) Florida Panthers

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8th year left wing giant J.F. Jacques(14) heads to his third team in three seasons. Florida Panthers signed him to a one-year, two-way deal for 2012/2013.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#63 overall), the 6’3″ 231 lbs. forward played his first 6 years pro in the organization with their ever-changing list of AHL affiliates but has always appeared in NHL games each season from the get-go.

The 27-year old has played in 160 big league games with the Oilers scoring 9 goals and 8 assists. He’s mostly out there as a fourth line energy player but doesn’t exactly rack up a crazy amount of penalty minutes (188 pims) while protecting his teammates.

Still, he’s a useful presence on the ice and no doubt the Panthers will utilize his talents for at least a few games in the upcoming season, but will most likely help San Antonio Rampage get back into the playoffs. He had his best scoring totals in 2011/2012 with Syracuse Crunch since his rookie year in 2oo5.

He’s also faced a few NHL games’ suspension for nasty hits on a couple of occasions, most recently last year in preseason.

05Jul

Evan Rankin(15) Rochester Americans

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Undrafted, 5th year pro, right winger Evan Rankin(15) spent more time in the AHL this season with Rochester Americans than he did in a lower league.

He spent his most of his first three campaigns almost entirely in the ECHL or the CHL, where he played in his rookie year.

Called up in late November, he signed to a pto and never looked back.

By early March, the 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward inked an spc to finish out 2011/2012 with the team.

He arguably ended up having a career year scoring 15 goals and adding 14 assists in 35 games.

His time in the penalty box much was limited as well with 12 pims and he’s accountable +9 plus/minus.

For 2012/2013, he was rewarded with an AHL contract to return to the Amerks.

This 26-year old could be a late bloomer.

We love this moment from his personal life that’s made it’s way to youtube. masterful.

04Jul

Curtis McElhinney(31) Columbus Blue Jackets

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8th year goaltender Curtis McElhinney(31) bounces to his third club in three seasons signing a one-year, two-way deal with Columbus Blue Jackets that may give him the starters nod with their AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons, but until training camp comes and goes no one really knows.

He was traded late last year to the Blue Jackets, so the signing comes as little surprise.

In each of his last six seasons he’s played net for at least a couple of games in the NHL, most recently with Phoenix Coyotes where he went 1-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .944 SV%.

He had 25 appearances with Portland Pirates posting a 10-13 record with a 3.04 GAA and a .907 SV%.

The 6’2″ 197 lbs. 29-year old was originally a 6th round pick by Calgary Flames in the 2002 draft (#176 overall).

03Jul

Ryan Hamilton(12) Toronto Maple Leafs

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Undrafted, 7th year center Ryan Hamilton(12) captained the AHL Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup Championship Final. They were beaten in 4 straight but to come as far as the team did and to get within four wins of lifting that trophy was a pretty outstanding accomplishment for the team.

Maple Leafs‘ brass likes this 27-year old vet because they re-signed him to another one-year, two way contract for a fourth season in the system. He even received his first NHL recall in 2012 and notched an assist.

He’s played a total of 365 regular season games in the minors scoring 99 goals and 85 assists (puck hog). He had career bests in 2011/2012 in goals, assists, points, games played.

He’s a fairly big frame at 6’2″ 219 lbs. and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fill the slot on the Leafs last occupied by Joey Crabb.