01Jan
Category: Featured
A pair of NHL tough guys Richard Clune(17) and Tanner Glass(51), both on reassignment to their minor league clubs, Toronto Marlies and Hartford Wolf Pack decided to have a go at the XL Center as the two teams met for a first time in the 2016/2017 season.
It was basically a fair, even battle despite how it may have looked in photos.
30Dec
Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft (#55 overall), 2nd year defenseman Brandon Montour(71) scores his NHL debut after a hugely successful rookie season and quick start to the current campaign with affiliate San Diego Gulls.
The 6′ 192 lbs. blue liner has always been able to connect for big assist numbers going back to a year and a half of American junior hockey with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL, then agreed to head to UMass-Amherst, where he spent barely a full year before signing his 3-year entry level deal and joining then minor league farm squad Norfolk Admirals for the remainder of 2014/2015.
In his first foray of pro hockey he would score his first goal and add 9 assists with a +10 rating on a non-playoff team in 14 AHL games.
It’s also important to note he had 5 assists in only 3 Calder Cup contests last season.
He was also one of the last players to be reassigned from training camp.
For his first big league game he skated 21 shifts for 17:54 of total ice time with 2 penalty minutes, 1 play break up and 1 shot on net.
The 22-year old is known for consistently firing lots of pucks on goal, which is likely why he nets so many helpers.
29Dec
Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#207 overall) 2nd year center Matthew Peca(63) earns his first NHL recall after a good start to his sophomore season with AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch and a solid rookie showing, where he led all first year players in assists (35) and points (43).
The only downside was his -11 rating for a skater that plays bigger than his listed 5’8″ 178 frame.
In his big league debut he was on the ice 16 shifts for 13:03 with 1 shot on net, 2 hits and went 50% on the face off dot, which happened to be a 4-3 OT win.
He signed a two-year entry level deal after four seasons at Quinnipiac University, where he was always a 30+ point guy and in two campaigns had very close to 40.
The 23-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of 2016/2017 but will likely be kept around for at least one more spin to see if he can ignite that scoring touch from the minors and college.
28Dec
Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#14 overall) Czech Republic-born left wing Jakub Vrana(13) first came over after playing two years in the SHL for Linkoping HC as a 17 and 18 year old skater.
His first games late last season were on reassignment to affiliate Hershey Bears as they were pushing for a playoff berth.
In three AHL games he struck for 5 assists then added another 6 points int he postseason.
Through only 38 minor league games (the other half lost to injury) as a rookie he was able to produce a healthy balance of 16 goals and 18 assists and then on the way to the Calder Cup Finals added another 14 more points with a +8 rating in 21 contests.
The now 20-year old started what is considered his rookie campaign (and only the first of his three year entry level deal due to a pair of under-age slides) in the minors as almost a point per game skater but has since been recalled.
At 6′ 195 lbs. he isn’t exactly a big guy on the ice but skates a very strong style and has a first NHL goal and two assists with a +2 in 12 games so far.
The future looks bright for the player but he’s going to need to play at a top level.
27Dec
After a bit of a disappointing year with Lehigh Valley Phantoms (11-17-28 in 57 AHL games and a -18 rating), 8th year right wing Aaron Palushaj(21) signed a one-year minor league deal with 2016 Calder Cup Champions Cleveland Monsters one week before the current campaign was set to begin.
In 28 games he has 3 goals and 9 assists with a +3 on what is a contending squad but has decided to return to the KHL agreeing on a contract for the remainder of the season with Dinamo Minsk.
It will be interesting to see if the 27-year old can find his footing to close out the 2016/2017 calendar with a bang.
26Dec
Minnesota Wild 6th year center Pat Cannone(12) finally makes his NHL debut at age 30.
In 3 wins, he had no points but 2 shots on net, dished out a pair of hits, had 1 play break up, 1 take away and 2 give aways, while going over 50% on the face off dot skating an average of 10 shifts per game for roughly 8 minutes total ice.
He was returned to AHL affiliate Iowa Wild, where he’s tied for team lead with 12 assists.
In 2015/2016, his third season under contract with St. Louis Blues, he had a career high 20 goals and 53 points for Chicago Wolves, which was good enough for best on the farm squad.
It’s tough to say if he scores another recall while under his one-year contract signed on the opening day of free agency but if he continues to affect the back of the net in the minors, he deserves another shot.
25Dec
24Dec
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ sophomore center Frederik Gauthier(33) had a pretty nice rookie run with 7 games up in the big league, 18 points for affiliate Toronto Marlies and a +18 rating but failed to connect in 9 postseason contests.
The towering, wide forward was one of the last training camp cuts before being reassigned.
He’s off to a nice start scoring a goal and three assists in 16 AHL games with an accountable +6 but still seems to be lacking that offensive touch he had through juniors.
His good play has earned him an early recall up to the parent club.
In 3 games he scored his first NHL goal and added an assist to his totals with 4 shots on net, 6 play breakups, 5 hits, 1 takeaway and was above 50% in the face off dot skating just over 20 shifts for an average of around 11:30 minutes of total ice per appearance.
23Dec
St. Louis Blues‘ 4th year center Wade Megan(12) scores a 1st recall with his new parent club after already posting a career high 24 points and tied for league leading 13 goals in only 28 AHL games.
In his big league debut he scored his first NHL goal on his only shot, threw one hit, went 55.6% on the face off dot through 9:40 total ice time and miraculously went a +2 rating in a 5-2 loss.
The 26–year old was reassigned back to affiliate Chicago Wolves, as they do have a game right after Christmas but could be recalled quickly for a second visit to the top level.