AHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

23Jun

Marc Cheverie(30) Pittsburgh Penguins

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

2nd year goaltender Marc Cheverie(30) has split his first couple of seasons between ECHL and AHL teams with most of his appearances in the former.

In 2011/2012, he posted his best numbers yet with Gwinnett Gladiators winning 10 games, 4 losses and a 2.71 GAA and .910 SV% on a team that should have gone much further in the Kelly Cup Playoffs than their first round exit.

He was involved in a draft day Pittsburgh Penguins‘ trade with Phoenix Coyotes that could land him the job as a back-up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and/or maybe continue in AA hockey with their affiliate Wheeling Nailers.

The 25-year backstop is decently sized at 6’2″ 185 lbs. and should continue to improve his game, making him a nice pick-up for the Pens‘ system.

He was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 7th round pick in 2006 (#193 overall).

22Jun

Jean-Philippe Cote (24)

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Entering his 10th pro season, defenseman Jean-Phillipe Cote(24) becomes the first signing for Tampa Bay Lightning‘s brand new AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch after winning the Calder Cup, his second, with Norfolk Admirals last season.

He inked a two-year minor league deal that will keep him in the system through 2014.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. 30-year old started the year playing 10 games with Ontario Reign of the ECHL (his first appearance in the league) before signing a pto with the Admirals in mid-November that was bumped up to a standard player contract a month later.

Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 9th round pick in the 2000 draft (#265 overall), the big blue liner has appeared in 8 NHL games with Montreal Canadiens and won his first Calder Cup with Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007.

He spent his first 5 seasons with the team skating in 354 games with the team.

He may not be the most prolific scoring d-man but he’s accountable force out there and even put up career highs last season for assists (12), points (15) and plus/minus (+26) and postseason games played, so he’s a good guy to have on any team.

21Jun

Steven Tarasuk(27) Lausitzer Fuchse

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

After only a couple of seasons of North American hockey, undrafted defenseman Steven Tarasuk(27) signs with German Ice Hockey tier 2 team Lausitzer Fuchse for 2012/2013.

The 5’10” 165 lbs. blue liner split time in 70 ECHL games last season with Ontario Reign and Idaho Steelheads putting up career highs in goals (8), assists (30) and points (38).

He was signed to an AHL contract with Bridgeport Sound Tigers after attending rookie camp with New York Islanders in his rookie season.

From there he was reassigned to Kalamazoo Wings, where he represented the team at the ECHL All-Star Classic and received a 3 game recall near the end of regular season.

He notched one assist.

At only 21 years old, he should fill out to a heavier playing weight and if he continues to affect the scoresheet, as he did in juniors, look for him to move up into higher levels of pro hockey in Europe and maybe even take a run at a full-time roster spot in the AHL.

20Jun

Luke Glendening(33) Grand Rapids Griffins

Posted in AHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted forward Luke Glendening(27) signed a minor league contract with Detroit Red Wings, meaning he will be playing with their AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, which just so happens to be where he was born 23-years ago.

He becomes the first player in team history to play for Grand Rapids and have grown up right down the street from where the team plays. No doubt he’ll be getting lots of home-cooked meals during his first pro season.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. wing signed an ato with Providence Bruins to finish up the regular season after completing his college career at University Of Michigan.

He was team captain for his last two seasons there.

He failed to register a point in 3 games played but never looked out of place in the limited ice time.

19Jun

Patrick McNeill(2) Hershey Bears

Posted in AHL, ECHL | Leave a comment

Washington Capitals‘ 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#118 overall), soon-to-be 6th year defenseman Patrick McNeill(2) knew as last season ended where he’d be skating in 2012/2013.

He signed a 2-year extension in June 2011 taking him through 2012/2013, making it a half dozen years he’ll be skating with the same organization.

In 2011/2012 with Hershey Bears he had his most productive season yet with careers highs for games played (71), goals (10), assists (31), points (41) and even shots on goal (103). He was 1st for d-men on the team in points.

One thing missing though is an appearance in an NHL game. He’s was recalled and reassigned on a couple of occasions in late 2011 but nothing last season.

It would be a bit surprising if the 6’1″ 200 lbs. 25-year old doesn’t get that opportunity in the final year of his current deal.

18Jun

Brian Willsie(24) Hamilton Bulldogs

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

14-year veteran right wing, Hamilton Bulldogs‘ assistant captain Brian Willsie(24) maybe didn’t have the most productive point totals of his career, but his 18 goals and 26 assists were first in team scoring for 2011/2012.

As of July 1 he becomes an unrestricted free agent and could potentially sign with his fourth different team in the last 4 seasons.

With 381 games of NHL experience (52 goals, 57 assists and 5 full years with teams), no doubt the leadership quality he brings to any team he plays for is worth the price of his contract.

He played in his last big league contest as recently as two seasons ago with Washington Capitals (a team he’s skated 132 of his career league games with) and even got an assist in the one game he appeared in.

He was originally a Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 1996 draft (#146 overall).

It’s a bit of a wonder why the Canadiens didn’t call him up, when they brought a few of the younger guys in the system up and down on a number of occasions.

What’s next for the 34-year old? We wait.

17Jun

Philip Varone(22) Rochester Americans

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Rochester Americans‘ rookie center Phil Varone(22) is another 1st year player that has to have a smile on his face looking back at the results of his pro debut.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in 2007 (#147 overall), the 21-year old signed an AHL deal to start 2011/2012 with the Amerks after attending Buffalo Sabres‘ training camp.

In 76 regular season games he posted 11 goals and 41 assists, which sat him at number 10 in the league for rookie scoring and his helpers total was good enough to tie him for first overall. His 52 points led all Rochester players in points as well and he had a team 2nd best +17 plus/minus.

Near the end of the season, the Sabres stepped back into the picture and signed him to a 3-year entry level deal that will keep the 5’10 186 lbs. forward with the organization through 2015.

Good work!

16Jun

Jason DeSantis (6)

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Entering into his 5th pro season, undrafted defenseman Jason DeSantis(6) signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida Panthers for the 2012/2013 season, which will see him skating for their AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage.

He signed a minor league deal last season with Winnipeg Jets that saw him appear in 76 games during the regular and postseason with St. John’s IceCaps, where he established career highs in games played (66), goals, assists and points (11-35-46).

His totals were good enough for second on the team for d-men and third overall.

He even spent more time in the sin bin that he had in any previous years with 66 penalty minutes.

Most importantly, the 5’11” 185 lbs. 26-year old established himself as a dependable presence on the blue line that has the ability to help out on the scoring sheet.

We’ll miss seeing him play in the Eastern Conference, but are happy to see him ink an NHL
deal and if he continues to play well it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Panthers‘ recall him for a look in the show.

15Jun

Jason Akeson(38) Philadelphia Phantoms

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted Adirondack Phantoms‘ rookie right wing, Jason Akeson(38) had just about the kind of season a first year player could want.

He appeared in all 76 AHL regular season games and scored 14 goals to go along with 41 helpers that was first on the team by a pretty wide margin. His 55 points put him at 8th for rookie scoring in the league and his assists had him in a three-way tie for first.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward signed a 3-year entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers through 2014.

If he has a strong training camp there’s every reason to believe the 22-year old will be playing more than a handful of games in the NHL next season. Maybe they’ll finally even get his picture posted on either league’s site to go along with his stats.

14Jun

Ryan Duncan(32) Portland Pirates

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Undrafted, former Hobey Baker Award winner in 2007 for best collegiate player (as a sophomore), right wing Ryan Duncan(32) had a decent enough first season, playing with Portland Pirates scoring 14 goals and adding 22 assists in 64 games played.

The 26-year old signed a one-year AHL contract with Phoenix Coyotes a month before the start of 2011/2012, after spending his first two pro seasons in the Austrian Elite League skating for EC Red Bull Salzburg.

At only 5’7″ 170 lbs. the forward definitely looks very undersized out there but has the ability to get into the open areas and isn’t timid about getting involved to create a scoring opportunity.

A pre-Memorial Day tweet from him @rduncan16 suggests he’s going right back to Salzburg for 2012/2013.