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.
Brampton Beast‘s 7th year right wing Brandon Marino(22) has definitely been playing for few accolades through his pro career but he keeps on chugging and pushing the envelope open a little wider with each passing season.
The small 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward has been rewarded with an 8 game recall by Utica Comets and posted his first AHL goal.
He’s only ever had one other game in the higher league in early 2013 with Norfolk Admirals.
Otherwise, he’s spent the last few years except for 2014/2015, when he took off for Austria to skate with Szefkezfehervar doing ok scoring 11 goals and 28 assists in 50 games.
He has the ability to put up points at a more than one per game pace in the ECHL from 2012-2014 with Fort Wayne Komets and lead the league with 88 points and 58 assists in 2013/2014 and was 2nd with 54 the previous year.
Through his first three seasons he joined Quad City Mallards, first in the old IHL, then in Central Hockey League.
His 41 goals in 2011/2012 were tops in the league and his was voted MVP and All-Star Game MVP.
It’s almost a little odd why the 29-year old hasn’t been given more opportunities to produce on the next level.
Manchester Monarchs‘ undrafted rookie left wing Zac Larraza(15) has got to be enjoying his first year despite mostly playing hockey at a level that might be a bit below where he should be.
Originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#196 overall) the Scottsdale, AZ native got to realize the dream of being selected by his favorite team but was unfortunately left unsigned.
The nicely sized 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward plays with a lot of energy, intensity and accountability out there and definitely knows how to affect a score sheet.
In only 23 ECHL games he already has a hefty 13 goals and 7 assists with a +15 rating.
He’s also been loaned up on three occasions and had points with each club.
First, with Portland Pirates for a couple games notching 1 assist, then to Milwaukee Admirals for 10 contests scoring 2 goals and another assist and most recently with San Diego Gulls, where he had one tally and a helper in 7 appearances to bring his total to 3 goals and 3 assists in 19 AHL games.
He started with a couple seasons in the USHL skating for the US National Team Development Program, then stayed close home accepting entry to University Of Denver, putting together three 20-point campaigns.
The soon-to-be 23-year old seems to be just getting started.
Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Paul Carey(28) potted his first NHL goal with his new team on his 2nd recall.
He looks to eclipse the scoring mark he set as a rookie with Lake Erie Monsters, while under contract to Colorado Avalanche (19-22-41 in 72 games).
In 43 AHL games with affiliate Hershey Bears he already has 13 goals and 18 assists.
The decently sized forward spent close to three years playing for the team that drafted him but was traded late last season to hometown team Boston Bruins before being reassigned to Providence Bruins, where he stayed for the remainder of the season.
A week into his first unrestricted free agency he was signed to a one-year two-way deal.
The now 27-year old was recently sent back down to the minors but looks to be making a bid to stay put in the big league, adding to the 26 games he appeared in.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#77 overall) 3rd year center/right wing Daniel Catenacci(43) gets his first NHL game under his belt on recall from affiliate Rochester Americans.
For his debut he skated 11 shifts at sparing 7:42 minutes of ice time with 2 shots, 3 hits and one take away in a 2-1 overtime loss on a penalty shot tally.
The small 5’9″ but solid 191 lbs. forward was putting up some ok numbers in the minors and plays with a good amount of grit for his size, when he was summoned.
He looks to be on par with last seasons’ bests scoring 7 goals and 9 assists in 36 AHL games.
In his final three years of juniors, one with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and two skating for Owen Sound Attack he was a more than a point-per-game producer before turning pro at the end of 2012/2013 signing an ato.
In his first pair of contests with the Amerks he potted his first goal and added a two assists.
The soon-to-be 23 year old is at the final year of his entry level deal and set to become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the current campaign.
The parent club must like what they are seeing. It should be a no-brainer to keep him around.
