Category: NHL

14Oct

David Savard(6) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#94 overall) defenseman David Savard(6) has scored himself some NHL playing time while James Wisniewski serves an 8-game suspension for the head shot he delivered in preseason play.

He had himself a good training camp in only his 2nd year pro. The proof is in last year’s stats for the fairly large (6’2″ 219 lbs.) d-man, who he put up some points (11 goals, 32 assists) in his rookie season while playing for their AHL affiliate, Springfield Falcons.

Look for him to earn a permanent spot on the Jackets’ blue line sooner than later.

 

11Oct

Tommy Wingels(17) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 2008 6th round pick (#177 overall) center Tommy Wingels(17) played in 5 games in his rookie season up with the big team but failed to connect for any points.

With Worcester in the AHL he put up 17 goals and 16 assists in 69 games.

After a strong showing in training camp, he found himself in in the lineup on opening night and got himself his first NHL point, an assist and looks to be on his way to solidifying a permanent spot.

He plays with a lot of grit and determination every shift out there and has no problem putting himself in the middle of any situation.

 

10Oct

Maksim Mayorov(16) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2007 4th round pick (#94 overall) Maksim Mayorov(16) has consistently played a few games each of his four seasons in the organization but had only managed one goal in 12 games.

He found himself on the 2011/2012 opening night roster but was a healthy scratch in the team’s first loss of the season. For their second game he had a spot in the lineup and potted a goal. The quick scoring start may help win the argument to keep him playing in the NHL.

In 214 AHL games with Syracuse Crunch and Springfield Falcons he has 53 goals and 43 assists for 96 points.

10Oct

Marc-Andre Cliche(22) Manchester Monarchs

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Manchester Monarchs‘ team captain, center Marc-Andre Cliche(22) makes an argument for an early season call-up to Los Angeles with a hat-trick in the AHL season opener.  Going into his 5th year pro, he’s only managed one NHL game with no points registered.

Originally New York Rangers‘ 2005 2nd round pick (#56 overall), he has played in the Kings‘ system since 2007 and been a character guy for Manchester each season. The biggest knock on him would be size. He’s listed at 6’0″ 203 lbs. but that’s as they say being generous.

 

09Oct

Chris Bourque(17) Hershey Bears

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Entering his 7th season pro, 2004 Washington Capitals 2nd round pick (#34 overall) Chris Bourque(17), son of Ray, returns to the “team” after a year abroad to play in the KHL and Swiss-A leagues. He’ll likely spend the majority of his playing time in the AHL with Hershey, where he’s played 319 of his games.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get more looks in the NHL to add to his 33 games with the Caps and Pittsburgh Penguins (1 goal, 3 assists). He has good hands and maybe it’s just taken more to grow into his game.

08Oct

Binghamton Senators 2011 Calder Cup Champions banner

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Binghamton Senators‘ players watch as the team’s 2011 Calder Cup Champions banner is raised into the rafters of their home arena, Broome County Veteran Memorial Arena in a pre-game ceremony before the 2011/2012 opening night game.

It was the 1st trophy for the city in 39 years of professional hockey that started in 1973 with the Broome Dusters.

The team also established an AHL record for road wins (1o) to win it. It was also the first playoff appearance for the team since 2005 and they did it crossing over into the Atlantic Division to start the postseason since they had a better record than the fourth place team to clinch the playoff berth.

 

06Oct

Matt Read(10)

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Undrafted rookie forward Matt Read(10) will be in the lineup when Philadelphia Flyers open their 2011/2012 season Thursday night vs. the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins at TD Garden and he will be one to watch. He’s odds on favorite to be the first Flyers player to put the puck in the net to start the season and without a doubt this 25-year old kid is a Calder Trophy favorite straight out of the gate.

Seems like the Flyers staff didn’t get the news because he’s on their roster list but there’s no photo on his page yet.

Last season after finishing up with his college team, he joined Adirondack Phantoms for 11 games and tossed in 7 goals to go along with 6 assists for 13 points.

He’s the real deal.

Game on.

03Oct

Mark Voakes(27) Rochester Americans

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Heading into his third pro season, winger Mark Voakes(27) signs himself an AHL contract for the 2011/2012 season with Rochester Americans after signing a pto late last year with Portland Pirates, the now former affiliate of Buffalo Sabres, and posting some impressive numbers (6 goals, 5 assists in 18 games and 3 goalsand 5 assists in 10 playoff games). He spent the entire early season in the ECHL with Greenville Road Warriors putting up good totals there too (60 games, 17 goals and 37 assists).

AHL News carried a good story about his pro career and him being a bit of a late bloomer.

One thing is for certain, in the games he skated that I was in attendance for, this guy’s got some skills. If he does get sent down again, it would be to Gwinnett Gladiators, where 2008 draft pick Corey Fienhage will likely start the year with a contract.

02Oct

Joe Loprieno(3) Bakersfield Condors

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After two seasons with Worcester Sharks, undrafted defenseman found himself looking for a new team for 2011/2012.

He recently signed a contract to play in the ECHL with the seemingly stacked Bakersfield Condors.

He was invited to Chicago Wolves‘ training camp but was cut when they received reinforcements from their new parent club, Vancouver Canucks.

Last year the big defenseman (6’3″ 220 lbs.) found himself playing a few games at the forward position and not too surprisingly it yielded his first professional hockey goals. The trend to put him up front will probably continue with the Condors. And it’s also likely that he’ll receive a call-up or two in the upcoming season.