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Category: NHL

03Jul

Chris Breen (8)

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Undrafted 6th year defenseman Chris Breen(8) re-signed to stay on for another stint on a two-way contract with Boston Bruins.

The mammoth 6’7″ 224 lbs. blue liner played the entire season, 52 AHL games with affiliate Providence Bruins getting a career high 8 assists with a pair of goals and a best +8 rating.

With the parent club being thin on manpower in their own zone, he is being looked to contribute as a depth player and will almost certainly see his first NHL action since 2013/2014 as a Calgary Flames‘ prospect.

He started that season on the opening night roster and appeared in 2 games before being reassigned to farm team Abbotsford Heat but would rejoin them on three other occasions and get his first points in the league, a pair of assists before being returned for a Calder Cup Playoff run.

In four postseason contests he notched two helpers.

Heading into his first unrestricted free agency status, he was targeted and signed immediately by Boston and although he stayed in the minors his ability to be a shutdown presence obviously didn’t go unnoticed.

02Jul

Jeremy Smith(30) Providence Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 6th year goalie Jeremy Smith(30) is definitely a good guy to be counted on in net as their affiliate Providence Bruins readies for a playoff run.

The one-time Nashville Predators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#54 overall) played through 4 seasons in their prospect system mostly winning games for the farm team Milwaukee Admirals.

In his rookie season he was further reassigned playing the whole season minus one game in ECHL with Cincinnati Cyclones He won the 2010 Kelly Cup Championship and was named c0-MVP.

He was also a member of the 2006/2007 Plymouth Whalers‘ team that won the OHL Championship.

The not exactly huge 6′ 178 lbs. net minder is having a career year. In 39 AHL games he posted a 22-11-5 record with a 2.05 GAA and .933 SV%. and three shutouts putting him at 5th on the league’s top goaltender list.

Signed only to a one-year deal, if the 26-year old pushes his team deep into the Calder Cup playoffs, it would be almost a no-brainer to re-sign him for at least another.

And who knows, maybe one of these call-ups will actually turn into his first NHL appearance.

Original story: 4/17-15

In 3 postseason contests he went 1-2 with a once again stellar 1.96 GAA and .931 SV%, which was good enough to get Providence Bruins to a deciding game 5 before bowing out in the first round.

Boston Bruins made sure he wasn’t going anywhere after his deal expired re-upping quickly in free agency with the net minder for a second year on another two-way deal.

He could easily find himself with the back-up job for the big club in the forthcoming season, as for the at least the time being there is a spot wide open and up for grabs.

He has easily earned the opportunity.

30Jun

Tom Kuhnhackl (14)

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#110 overall) German-born right wing Tom Kuhnhackl(14) signs on for another season after his 3-year entry deal was up.

He experienced his most productive scoring marks in 2014/2015 playing for affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins reaching 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points with a +10 rating in 72 AHL games.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward would add another pair of assists in 8 Calder Cup Playoff games.

He took an interesting route to pro hockey in North America.

Following two seasons for hometown team EV Landshut of DEL2 as a 16 and 17-year old scoring 23 goals and 19 assists, he would go on to play a pair of seasons in the OHL after being a first round selection of Windsor Spitfires.

He would leave to ink his first contract after putting up a point-per-game production in juniors.

His rookie campaign 2012/2013 didn’t last long as he separated a shoulder that required season ending surgery.

It seemed like it took him a bit to get restarted in his second year.

After spending the first half of 2013/2014 with the Baby Pens (8-2-10) he found himself on a short string headed back and forth to Wheeling Nailers.

He proved his game was easily above the lower league’s level connecting for 7 goals and 7 assists with a +10 plus/minus in 16 ECHL games and then uncorked another 6 tallies in 10 Kelly Cup postseason match-ups.

2015/2016 will be the his 6th year and the 23-year old power forward will likely see increased point production as he fires the puck on the net with good frequency and plays a crash and bang style that should get him continued results.

29Jun

Melker Karlsson(68) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted, Swedish-born rookie center Melker Karlsson(68) signed a one-year entry level deal after playing in 4 seasons of SHL pro hockey in his homeland.

He was obviously on their radar after winning two straight league championships with Skelleftea AIK and was runner-up the previous pair of years.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward is a complete spark plug style player with really quick hands and smart hockey sense.

He was reassigned to affiliate Worcester Sharks to start his first year on this side of the river and has scored 5 goals and 5 assists in 20 AHL games, while totaling a gatling gun 49 shots on net.

His tenacious play with the farm team has got the brass above wondering if he can replicate what he’s down overseas and in the minors in the show.

In his first NHL game his stat sheet was littered with goodness, skating a total of 18 shifts for 11:53 ice time, won 67% of the face offs, 1 shot on net, 1 takeaway, 1 giveaway, 1 break up, 2 hits and his first point, an assist and a +2 rating in a 5-2 win.

If injury keeps some of the regulars on reserves, the 24-year old could easily find a permanent roster spot in California and may even play himself into a full-time role regardless.

Original story: 12/9-14

After his debut performance he went pointless for the next pair of appearances but rebounded with his first multi-point effort (2 assists), followed it up with another helper and potted his first NHL goal in his 6th game giving him 1 tally and 4 assists for a hot start.

He easily never looked in the rear view mirror finishing the regular season potting 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points with a -3 rating in 53 games.

San Jose sees the quickly emerging talent of the soon-to-be 25-year old and doesn’t want to take any chances with restricted free agency approaching.

They wasted little time signing him to a 2-year one-way extension.

He will be an impressive talent in the top league for a long time to come.

28Jun

Joacim Eriksson(30) Dinamo Riga

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Heading into his 7th pro season, former Vancouver Canucks‘ Swedish-born goaltender prospect Joakim Eriksson(30) has decided to not stick around for restricted free agency to start signing a year contract with Dinamo Riga of the KHL for 2015/2016.

Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2008 draft (#196 overall), he agreed to a two-year entry level deal with Vancouver in 2013 after 4 seasons of playing mostly in the SHL for Skelleftea posting extraordinarily good numbers and winning the 2013 Championship with a 1.06 GAA and .956 SV%.

In two campaigns on reassignment with affiliate Utica Comets he amassed a crazy 93 games between the pipes with 46-34 record and a 2.57 GAA and .909 SV%.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. net minder also had 5 shutouts, all in his North American rookie season, and appeared in two Calder Cup Playoff games in relief that ended in the Final round.

The 25-year old very likely saw the logjam that is the parent club’s situation in net moving forward and has decided to move on instead of staying in the minors.

28Jun

Jeremy Langlois(20) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted rookie right wing Jeremy Langlois(20) signed a one-year two-way minor league contract with Springfield Falcons and started the season with the team, but had been mostly skating on reassignment with affiliate Evansville IceMen, where he put up some big numbers.

In 49 ECHL games he retains the team’s leading scorer stats with 16 goals and 36 assists, while taking a second most shots on net at 174 before a recent trade relocated him to Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He’s obviously enjoying his time with his new squad. In 7 AHL games he’s struck for a pair of goals and assists, whereas in 5 contests on recall with his previous club he was unable to find the score sheet skating mostly fourth line minutes.

The 6′ 173 lbs. forward put together some good numbers in 4 years at Quinnipiac University and went to the NCAA Finals losing to the geographically nearby, eventual winners Yale.

As an 18-year old he won a Championship, leading scorer title and was named league MVP with New Jersey Hitmen of the EJHL before heading off to college.

Now 23, he was invited to attend Columbus Blue Jackets‘ training camps to begin his first pro season and from his continued solid play he looks like a shoe-in to score another tryout, quite possibly with the parent club where he’ll finish out the year, New York Islanders.

Original story: 3/30-14

After 7 games with Bridgeport (2-2-4) he was reassigned to affiliate Stockton Thunder.

He finished out the regular season scoring 8 points in 7 ECHL games to solidify his spot on the league’s all rookie team, but really took it to the next level in the 3 Kelly Cup Playoff games the team played. He would get an astounding 4 goals and 5 assists with a +4 rating.

His effective play in the upper system caught the attention of rival Worcester Sharks, who inked him to a standard player contract for 2014/2015.

He set career highs in his first full AHL season skating 42 regular season games with 16 goals (tied for 2nd on the team) and 10 assists.

If hadn’t broken his foot, he would have done even better but missed the second half of the season not returning until the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Impressed with what they saw and the effectiveness of his play, San Jose Sharks stepped in offering the 25-year old a 1-year entry level contract for 2015/2016.

He may start with new affiliate San Jose Barracuda but if he comes out of the gate quickly could see his first NHL action.

27Jun

Carl Hagelin (62)

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Swedish-born New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#168 overall), rookie wing Carl Hagelin(26) received his first call-up from their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale and in his debut recorded his first NHL point, an assist on the game-winning goal.

He’s tied for the team lead in goals with the Whale. He has 7 and 6 assists in 17 games.

On the Rangers he wears the number 62, reversing the digits on his sweater with the Whale.

11/26: In his second NHL game, Hagelin pots his first goal.

12/1: In 4 games, he has 1 goal and three assists.

Original story: 11/26-11

After being called up to the Rangers in his rookie season he would never return to the minors.

He skated 64 NHL games in 2011/2012 scoring 14 goals and 24 assists while boasting a +21 rating and would add another three assists in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

In his next three seasons he was unable to replicate his initial point total of 38 but would get close and score a career high 17 goals in each of his last two campaigns.

He also skated a full 82-game schedule in last year and in all the team’s postseason appearances going to the 2014 Finals and 2015 Eastern Conference Finals.

Set to become a restricted free agent and looking for a good, long-term deal he was moved to Anaheim Ducks on the second day of the 2015 draft.

27Jun

Antti Raanta(31) Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd year undrafted Finnish-born goaltender Antti Raanta(31) is doing very well as back-up but may have a tough time getting the number one job where he is.

He’s posted a nifty 7-4-1 record in 14 NHL appearances with a 1.89 GAA, .936 SV% and two shutouts.

The 6′ 193 lbs. net minder played more games with the parent club in his rookie campaign but had some good, veteran competition for the spot this year.

Initially signed to a one-year entry level deal, he was given an extension through 2015/2016 but has split his time with minor league affiliate Rockford IceHogs. where he’s posted an 8-1-1 mark in 11 AHL games to help secure a top spot for a Calder Cup run.

Before trying his hand at North American pro hockey he started his career with 4 seasons in the top Finnish league SM-liiga winning the 2013 Championship and playoff MVP with a ridiculous 1.33 GAA and .955 SV% through 16 postseason contests, and also grabbed top honors for his regular season performance with Assat.

The 25-year old will turn 27 and be an unrestricted free agent by the time his current deal expires.

It seems likely that he’ll be looking to further increase his profile, unless he’s offered a sweet deal to continue where he’s at.

Original story: 4/15-15

New York Rangers pick themselves up a formidable back up for King Henrik.

He may only be a short term fix as he’s only signed through the end of the upcoming season.

Picked up in a trade on day two of the 2015 draft he should be able to spell the starter for a good 20+ NHL games and likely will stay up with his new team for the entire upcoming campaign.

27Jun

Kyle Bigos(4) Edinburgh Capitals

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Extra large 6’5″ 240 lbs. 3rd year defenseman Kyle Bigos(4) will jump ship to sign for a season with Edinburgh Capitals of the EIHL.

The former San Jose Sharks‘ prospect is coming off a hard fought ECHL Kelly Cup Playoff battle skating for Ontario Reign that ended in the West Conference Finals.

He had a strong showing of two assists in 19 games with a +7 rating after completing his first full season scoring a goal and career high 12 assists for his second total of 13 points in two years pro.

He was originally an Edmonton Oilers 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#99 overall) but only signed his first contract in 2013 with Worcester Sharks of the AHL after 4 years of Merrimack College hockey.

Most of his games have been played in the lower league, first on reassignment to one time affiliate San Francisco Bulls and then when they closed up shop off to Ontario for the second half of the Upland, CA native’s rookie year.

Never a player to put up big numbers the 26-year old gets an average of a two shots on net per game and you got to think that when he arrives overseas the points could start coming.

27Jun

Griffin Reinhart(8) Edmonton Oilers

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#4 overall) rookie defenseman Griffin Reinhart(8) was likely chosen after his stock had risen by winning the WHL Championship with Edmonton Oil Kings.

He put up some impressive numbers in the postseason through 20 games, 2 goals and 6 assists with a +14 rating.

The quite sizable 6’4″ 217 lbs. d-man is highly regarded to blossom on the blue line.

He managed to impress enough at training camp in his first try to land a spot on the 2014/2015 opening night roster and stick around for three games, all wins, but management decided to move forward with some older prospects in the system rewarding them with the playing time but also the first year skater is a no risk to reassign.

The 20-year old would continue his development with minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He lands into a pretty similar playing situation, as the farm club is also a young, hungry to win team.

He seems to have acquainted himself nicely with 2 goals and 6 assists in 15 AHL games but will definitely need to work on that -8 plus/minus.

It’s pretty likely this will be the former Memorial Cup and 2 time junior hockey championship winner’s only season in the lower league but he’s signed through 2017 so there is time.

Original story: 11/26-14

After 59 AHL games scoring 7 goals, 15 assists, 8 NHL games with one assist and 1 Stanley Cup Playoff contest with a -2 plus/minus, he becomes a draft day casualty being traded to Edmonton Oilers to move up in the selection process.

The now still super-young 21-year old is expected to grab a spot on the big club’s roster for his sophomore season.

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