Featured | CollegeHockeyPlayers

26Jul

Kael Mouillierat (21)

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After scoring 40+ points over 4 seasons (50+ in two of those campaigns), 7th year center Kael Mouillierat(21) takes his game overseas for 2016/2017 joining Lulea HF of the SHL.

He spent last year under contract with Pittsburgh Penguins but only had a single big league appearance skating 67 AHL games with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The speedy forward that sees the complete sheet of ice when he plays appeared in his first 6 NHL games in the previous season while under contract with New York Islanders.

He scored his first goal and assist before being reassigned back to Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

The 28-year old may have been sensing it would be tough to pick up another contract has decided it’s probably best to move his game overseas to continue.

He should absolutely tear up the score sheet in Sweden.

25Jul

Brett Bellemore (37)

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8th year defenseman Brett Bellemore(37) signs with the new KHL team based in China, HC Redstar Kunlun for 2016/2017.

It’s his first pro hockey outside of North American since turning pro in 2009/2010 as a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#162 overall).

The big 6’4″ 210 lbs. blue liner was in the team’s system for 6 years with his last pair of campaigns played exclusively in the NHL.

He would tally a career high 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points in his final season 2014/2015 with them but was left unqualified.

As an unrestricted free agent he attended New York Rangers‘ training camp on an invite and eventually sign a one-year minor league contract with Providence Bruins for 2015/2016.

The 28-year old should do well in his new situation.

24Jul

Dylan Reese (42)

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Veteran defenseman Dylan Reese(42) heads into his 10th pro season joining HV71 of the SHL.

It’s the blue liner’s 2nd foray into overseas play.

Signed to a pair of one-year contracts with Arizona Coyotes, (quickly inked after the first year) he had his best season in 2014/2015 with Portland Pirates scoring a career high 10 goals and 30 assists in 72 AHL games with a +12 rating and 152 shots on net.

He would suffer an Achilles tendon injury in the off-season leading into 2015/2016 that sidelined him for most of the campaign with new farm club Springfield Falcons but responded nicely when he returned assuming leadership duties with the team, pocketing one goal and 7 assists through 23 games.

The soon-to-be 32-year old should do nicely in the top Swedish league but may return on a minor league deal to bridge into coaching as his playing time winds down.

23Jul

Caleb Herbert (40)

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3rd year right wing Caleb Herbert(40) signs a one-year contract with Texas Stars for 2016/2017.

With his two-year entry level deal expiring, he was left unqualified by draft team Washington Capitals after being largely unproductive with affiliate Hershey Bears.

He scored three points on an ato fresh out of college, where he posted three straight seasons of 19 assist totals but has only been able to produce 4 assists through 38 AHL games over the last pair of campaigns.

The big power forward has done much better on reassignment to South Carolina Stingrays.

Through 57 ECHL regular season contests he’s connected for 29 goals and 13 assists for 42 points with a +15 rating, then was able to keep up that pace with 13 goals and 17 assists in 40 Kelly Cup Playoffs games.

He was tied for team first in 2016 postseason goal scoring.

The 24-year old will need to continue to put up numbers in the higher league or will once again find himself sent down.

It’s probably already crossed his mind to head overseas to see if his fortunes can improve.

23Jul

Caleb Herbert (40)

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3rd year right wing Caleb Herbert(40) signs a one-year contract with Texas Stars for 2016/2017.

With his two-year entry level deal expiring, he was left unqualified by draft team Washington Capitals after being largely unproductive with affiliate Hershey Bears.

He scored three points on an ato fresh out of college, where he posted three straight seasons of 19 assist totals but has only been able to produce 4 assists through 38 AHL games over the last pair of campaigns.

The big power forward has done much better on reassignment to South Carolina Stingrays.

Through 57 ECHL regular season contests he’s connected for 29 goals and 13 assists for 42 points with a +15 rating, then was able to keep up that pace with 13 goals and 17 assists in 40 Kelly Cup Playoffs games.

He was tied for team first in 2016 postseason goal scoring.

The 24-year old will need to continue to put up numbers in the higher league or will once again find himself sent down.

It’s probably already crossed his mind to head overseas to see if his fortunes can improve.

22Jul

Rylan Schwartz (13)

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Undrafted 4th year center Rylan Schwartz(13) will take his game over to Germany second tier DEL2 joining Heilbronner Falken for 2016/2017 after playing most of last season with Orlando Solar Bears, scoring at over a point-per-game pace.

The 5’11” 200 lbs. forward that always skates with a lot of grit and fire put in a career high 23 goals and 42 points in 40 ECHL games.

These totals closely matched what he was able to do in the prior campaign on reassignment to Allen Americans, where he was a member of the 2015 Kelly Cup Championship squad.

He scored an NCAA most overall points in his final year 2012/2013 at Colorado College at 53 before signing a two-year entry level deal with San Jose Sharks.

In his rookie season, he skated a best 73 AHL games scoring 5 goals and 13 assists on reassignment to affiliate Worcester Sharks playing mostly limited minutes on the 4th line and as a penalty killer.

The 26-year old should take his scoring to another level in the upcoming season and work himself up the hockey ladder overseas.

21Jul

John Negrin (11)

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8th year defenseman John Negrin(11) seems to be just starting to find his game.

He played a career high 58 AHL games under contract with Utica Comets recording a best 11 assists and 12 points in 2015/2016.

It was his third season with the team and the 6’2″ 202 lbs. blue liner was just signed for a fourth term.

Originally a Calgary Flames 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#70 overall), he played most of three campaigns with affiliate Abbotsford Heat before being dealt to Winnipeg Jets nearing the end of his entry level deal.

He was left unqualified heading into 2012/2013 and signed with Chicago Wolves.

Reassigned for most of the year down to Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL he was recalled and sent to Lake Erie Monsters, where he finished out the season.

He’s shown quite the ability to head man the puck in the WHL, where he had 41 assists in each of his last pair of years with Kootenay Ice, then Swift Current Broncos before turning pro at the end of 2008/2009.

Set to play his first games in the minors he was recalled and ended up finishing out the calendar with his first 3 and only NHL games, getting an assist.

At 27-years old, he may decide that this is his last skate in North America and head overseas at the conclusion of 2016/2017, especially if he can continue to add to his point totals.

20Jul

Stefan Fournier (26)

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Undrafted 4th year right wing Stefan Fournier has found a nice landing spot with Arizona Coyotes after a trade from Montreal Canadiens, where he was signed to a three-year entry level deal but spent most of his time either on the sidelines or playing few games with affiliates Hamilton Bulldogs or in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers/Brampton Beast.

The big 6’3″ 223 lbs. forward played 32 AHL games after the transaction brought him on reassignment to a struggling Springfield Falcons, where he would score 2 goals, 2 assists and fit right in.

These would be added to his 5 goals and 2 assists with St. John’s IceCaps earlier in the campaign, bringing his season totals to a career high 7 goals and 4 assists for 11 points, including 13 fighting majors.

The former 2012 QMJHL Champion and eventual Memorial Cup Champ scored a crazy 16 goals and 13 assists in 17 playoff games en route to the first title, as captain of Halifax Mooseheads.

The 24-year old is a player that leaves it all out there every shift and it would surprise us none, now that he’s signed a one-year extension, to see him get his NHL shot this season.

19Jul

Pierre-Cedric Labrie (22)

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ 10th year (that’s amazing) left wing Pierre-Cedric Labrie(22) went from signing a minor league deal to scoring a major one the following season now twice.

It first occurred after he was traded from his initial contract team Vancouver Canucks to St. Louis Blues, sent down and left unqualified.

The big 6’3″ 223 lbs. player signed a 2-year deal with Norfolk Admirals in 2010/2011 and started to click on the score sheet.

Parent club Tampa Bay Lightning noticed but waited for a hot start to begin the next season before inking the burgeoning power forward to a 2-year contract.

He even scored his first NHL appearances, skating 14 games and getting his first two points, assists.

In the 2nd year of his deal he would produce his best numbers for the farm club scoring 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points through 56 AHL games, then tack on another 9 points on the way to winning the 2012 Calder Cup Championship.

He would also appear in a season high 19 games with the parent club scoring his first two goals and an assist.

These efforts would earn him a first one-way contract for 2012/2013, but unfortunately he fizzles and the unrestricted free agent was on the hunt for a new squad.

The Blackhawks were the next suitors agreeing to one year term, but the big, powerful skater continued to sputter offensively.

It would leave him yet again looking to secure a next stop.

He wouldn’t need to go far as affiliate Rockford IceHogs was quick to invite him to return despite limited output.

Working under pressure seems to suit this player well.

He notched a career best 20 goals, dwarfing his previous high from 4 years earlier and got himself another big transaction, re-signing with Chicago.

It’s also been that long since he played a big league game but the 30-year old could get that opportunity in the upcoming campaign.

18Jul

Ryan Carpenter (40)

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San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted 3rd year right wing Ryan Carpenter(40) had a breakout season in 2015/2016.

He exploded for career highs in all scoring categories, pocketing 18 goals, 37 assists and 55 points with a +20 rating in 66 AHL games with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, then got another goal and assist in 4 Calder Cup Playoff contests.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward always plays a tenacious, hard skating style game that keeps opposing players on their toes and opens himself up for scoring chances.

His efforts grabbed him a first NHL recall but unfortunately it only lasted a single outing for 13 shifts and 7:21 total ice with 1 hit in a 2-0 loss before being reassigned back to the farm team.

The Florida-born prospect has always shown the ability to affect the score sheet, initially through two years in the USHL with Sioux City Musketeers before joining Bowling Green University, where he spent three campaigns, serving as team captain as a sophomore and junior.

We expect the 25-year old to compete hard for a spot on the big league club out of the upcoming training camp.