Arizona Coyotes‘ 2nd year center Tyler Gaudet(32) has been enjoying some extended playing time with the parent club in his sophomore season.
After failing to record a point in two games during his rookie campaign, on two recalls he scored his first NHL goal plus added a couple of assists, while only skating roughly 10 minutes per contest in mostly an energy line role.
He has been doing pretty well in the face off circle and seen a good amount of time on the penalty kill, where his game seems to excel.
He’s a gritty, power forward-type presence on the ice and gets right in the face of opposing players without taking unnecessary penalty minutes, of which he has zero.
The still super-young undrafted 22-year old looks to be playing himself into a permanent spot up in the big league on the final year of his entry level contract.
He’ll definitely need to bring his all on a nightly basis to stay though.
Toronto Maple Leafs‘ recent acquisition in the Dion Phaneuf(4) deal, sixth year center Colin Greening(38) was buried in the minors on the second season of his three-year multi-million dollar extension.
Judging by his stats through the first 41 AHL games, scoring only 7 goals and 6 assists he did not appear to be happy.
No worries about that for now, as his new home team has been inserting him straight into the lineup on a nightly basis and he’s popped in a goal and an assist with a +2 rating averaging 17 minutes ice time per game.
The 6’2″ 211 lbs. power forward had his best production as a sophomore skater and his first full campaign up in the big league.
Through a complete 82 game schedule he had a pretty serious 17 goals and 20 assists and never quite matched those totals in the following years.
A new building to play in, wearing a different emblem on his chest may be the switch up what the now 29-year old needs to come back to life.
He’s on the hook for one more year for $3.2m so they are likely hoping this will happen.
Los Angeles Kings‘ goalie Peter Budaj(31) posted league leading numbers for affiliate Ontario Reign.
His 27 wins are first in the AHL as is his 39 games played, 1.56 GAA, .935 SV%, 8 shutouts and 2344:25 minutes in net.
The stellar work in between the pipes and an injury to their starter, plus pasting against the back-up net minder earned him his first NHL start in a couple seasons.
Although he didn’t have the best game, letting in 4 goals on 28 shots with a 3.87 GAA and .857 SV%, he still skated away with the overtime win through 62:18 minutes of work.
Recently reassigned back to the farm club, he’ll no doubt pick up where he left off until he gets another chance in the show.
17-year veteran (yeah!) and Alaskan native, center Scott Gomez(39) signed a minor league pto 14 days after opting out of his short time with St. Louis Blues, where his contract was at the league minimum for one-year of the two-way variety, interestingly enough. He made the team after a training camp invite.
One might think that heading to the AHL he may go to their affiliate but instead headed to Hershey Bears.
Through 13 games it seems to be a heck of a good fit as he has 4 goals and 17 assists with a +11 rating and genuinely seems to be enjoying his time on the ice as a 36-year old.
No doubt, he’s had a heck of a career: 1st round draft pick (#27 overall) and two Stanley Cups with New Jersey Devils 2000 and 2003, NHL rookie of the year 1999/2000, and even ECHL scoring leader during 2004/2005 lockout with hometown Alaska Aces.
His NHL totals are off the hook: 1o66 games, 181 goals, 574 assists for 755 points and 2,504 shots on net.
It would be insane to see him play another season but the way things are looking, he just may.
Hershey Bears‘ 11th year (that can’t be right) left wing Chris Bourque(17) has a wicked wrister.
The now 30-year old (that can’t be right) leads the AHL in scoring, is second in goals and assists and looks be on mark to have his first 30 goal season and will likely break the 50 assist mark for the third time in his pro career. He had 66 for the Bears in 2011/2012.
Washington Capitals signed him pretty quickly at free agency for a couple of years and it’s sort of a wonder why he wouldn’t be given another look up top with his offensive output where it is.
Springfield Falcons‘ veteran defenseman Cory Potter(6) puts the possibly first ever seen and widely under-utilized hockey sleeper move on Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ forward Mike Halmo(28) disorienting him from the play in the weeknight match-up at Mass Mutual Center.
Falcons won the game in the shootout 4-3.
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd year center Nick Cousins(52) is making the most of his second recall to the big league after leading affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms in points through the current season.
He also led the AHL team in the same category and in assists for 2014/2015 and was first (or tied for first) in both categories for 2013/2014 rookie scoring.
Through 10 games with the parent club he’s starting to click scoring his first NHL goal and adding a pair of assists (with one coming in the same game as his tally for his first multi-point effort) with a +2 rating.
The not exactly huge 5’10” 169 lbs. forward has been skating an average of 14 shifts per contest for roughly 10 minutes of ice time but those stats also seem to be on the increase with some power play looks being added to the mix.
The now 22-year old is in the final year of his entry level contract but it looks like a sure bet that he’ll be extended for another couple seasons to help him keep thriving in the system.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 9th year left wing Tom Sestito(25) has been playing with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins but was recently given a one-year two-way contract by the parent club to stay for the remainder of the year.
In 25 AHL games he has a modest 3 goals and 5 assists with 35 penalty minutes including 3 fighting majors.
He was initially an NHL training camp invite but cut and signed a pto to join the minor league club after battling to find a roster spot last season with Vancouver Canucks, which was a little ironic considering he skated in only full campaign in the show the year prior scoring 5 goals and 4 assists in 77 games with a league leading 213 penalty minutes.
At 28-years old it will be interesting to see if the sizable 6’5″ 228 lbs. tough guy and former 2007 OHL Champion with Plymouth Whalers follows his brother and splits for overseas next season.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#52 overall) rookie right wing Justin Bailey(56) has received his first NHL recall and skate his first pair of games.
He played an average of 17 shifts for close to 13 minutes of ice time, included 2:03 on the power play with 9 total shots on net, 4 hits, 2 break ups, 2 takeaways, 2 penalty minutes and a -2 rating in 1 win and 1 loss.
The Buffalo-born native skated in his hometown at the First Niagara Center for his 2nd appearance.
His dad Carlton Bailey played 9 seasons for Buffalo Bills in the NFL.
The very large 6’3″ 210 lbs. forward has good numbers in his first campaign with affiliate Rochester Americans, scoring 10 goals and 13 assists in 47 AHL games with a -1 plus/minus and a commanding 104 shots.
He was more than a point-per-game player in his 3rd and final year split between Kitchener Rangers and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL.
Signed to a 3-year entry level deal, getting his feet wet early on in the big league may be just what this 20-year old needs to elevate his game quickly to the next level, as the parent club could use even more big, powerful guys up front.
Ottawa Senators‘ 5th year right wing Matt Frattin(39) was just involved in a 9-player deal that moved him from the team he’s been with for most of his pro career, Toronto Maple Leafs but he’ll be staying put with Toronto Marlies, where he’s played the entire 2015/2016 season so far.
He was originally a 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#99 overall)
The thought is why move him from the first place team in the AHL to the dead last Binghamton Senators.
If the 6′ 200 lbs. forward needs to be recalled he’s basically within the same province less than a 5 hour drive away.
The one season he spent away, traded to Los Angeles Kings in the off season, then to Columbus Blue Jackets, he spent his first full year in the NHL before being returned to Toronto via another deal.
The former University Of Denver graduate was a 2011 Hobey Baker Award finalist and won consecutive NCAA/WCHA Championships in 2010 and 2011.
His one-way two-year contract also expires at the end of the current campaign, so it’s quite possible that the 28-year old really won’t be going anywhere as he heads into unrestricted free agency.
