NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

19Aug

Ben Smith (21)

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7th year right wing Ben Smith(21) didn’t have to wait too long before Colorado Avalanche picked up the unrestricted free agent’s option for 2016/2017, signing him to a one-year, two-way deal.

For the first time since being drafted by Chicago Blackhawks as a 6th round pick in 2008 (#169 overall), he’s set to join his third team since halfway through the 2014/2015 season.

Traded at the deadline to San Jose Sharks from the team he’d spent the previous 5+ years with and won the 2013 Stanley Cup, he skated 19 NHL games scoring 2 goals and 3 assists with a +3 rating but after 6 contests in the follow-up campaign with no points found himself reassigned to affiliate San Jose Barracuda.

After 14 games in the minors exploding the score sheet (8 goals, assists), he was once again dealt at the deadline to Toronto Maple Leafs.

They would keep him on the roster through 16 games registering 2 goals and 4 assists with another +3 rating but sent to farm club Toronto Marlies in their quest for a first Calder Cup trophy.

Despite their best efforts, they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The 28-year old, two-time NCAA Championship winner with Boston College Eagles will likely see more playing time in the big league with the young squad but also could be named captain of affiliate San Antonio Rampage to help guide the prospects.

18Aug

Brian Ferlin (19)

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Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#121 overall) right wing Brian Ferlin(19) was enjoying a good first season before getting sidelined for the Calder Cup Playoffs with a hit that unknowingly knocked him for a loop in the final game of the regular campaign.

As a rookie he potted 11 goals and 9 assists in 53 contests, while also grabbing a first recall for 7 appearances and his first NHL point, an assist.

The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward sat for the majority of his sophomore run, finally returning four months later.

In 23 AHL games with affiliate Providence Bruins he scored 6 goals and 8 assists and reversed his -9 rating from a year earlier to a +9, while continuing to impress the parent club.

He enjoyed a first offensive breakout in his 2nd year of play for Indiana Ice with 25 goals and 48 assists in 53 USHL games before leaving for Cornell University.

Through 3 years of college hockey he also showed good productivity and was ready to leave school for his chance to turn pro in 2014/2015.

The 24-year old was slated to compete for a spot on the big league roster last season but post-concussion syndrome derailed that opportunity for the moment.

A late training camp cut for his two seasons in the system, he should make waves in the upcoming run.

Not bad for a Jacksonville, FL native.

04Jul

Wade Megan (28)

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Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#138 overall) center Wade Megan(28) has played in the club’s system for the last three seasons on minor league contracts, first through two years with San Antonio Rampage, then last season with new affiliate Portland Pirates.

The seemingly graciously listed at 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward recorded new career highs in all categories through 2015/2016 getting 14 goals, 9 assists for 23 points with a +10 rating, 145 shots on net and even a new best 53 penalty minutes.

These totals were more in line with what he achieved in his last two years at Boston University, where he posted identical 29 point campaigns, serving as captain in his senior season.

Heading into his fourth season on an upward scoring trajectory, the soon-to-be 26-year old scores his first NHL contract signing a one-year two-way deal with St. Louis Blues that will likely see him spent most of his time with farm club Chicago Wolves.

11May

Jordan Martinook (48)

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Arizona Coyotes‘ 5th year left wing Jordan Martinook(48) must have enjoyed his first full NHL campaign after increasing his scoring output each season with affiliate Portland Pirates.

He played almost a full 82 game slate missing perfect attendance by only a single outing, connecting for a very decent 9 goals and 15 assists for 24 points.

The 23-year old will definitely be looking to add to those totals in the upcoming year with his two-year extension up at the end of next season.

08May

Brendan Gaunce (50)

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#26 overall) 2nd year center Brendan Gaunce(5o) has taken his game to the next level in his sophomore season with affiliate Utica Comets.

He’s already surpassed his goal mark with 15, tied his assist high at 18, has a new best 33 points and a +9 rating in just over half the AHL games since his rookie campaign.

The 6’2″ 207 lbs. power forward that also fires his fair share of pucks on the net received his big league debut early in the 2015/2016 for a couple of contests and was interestingly returned after his 1st NHL goal.

He stayed with the farm team for the next four months before recently receiving a second summons up to the show and looks like he’s fitting in pretty nicely.

Although he’s yet to add to his totals on the score sheet, he is 100% in the face off dot and adds spark plug energy depth in roughly 10 minutes of ice time, including short-handed situations.

The soon-to-be 22-year old former Belleville Bulls‘ point-per-OHL game player is signed to a 3-year entry level deal through 2016/2017.

You can expect him to compete for a permanent spot on the parent club next season.

02May

Magnus Hellberg (45)

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New York Rangers‘ 6th year goalie, Swedish-born Magnus Hellberg(45) played a career high 53 AHL games with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack posting an easy best 30 wins and 20 losses with a 2.40 GAA and .918 SV% including 4 shutouts.

Originally a Nashville Predators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#38 overall) he played his first two pro seasons in Allvenskan with Almtuna IS, then Frolunda HC of the SHL before coming to North America.

The big 6’5″ 200 lbs. net minder played most of his time with minor league team Milwaukee Admirals, but did get into his only NHL game in 2012 and also had a smattering of appearances in the ECHL for Cincinnati Cyclones.

As the just turned 25-year old was heading into his first restricted free agency at the end of 2014/2015, he was dealt to the Blueshirts and quickly signed to a two-year deal.

He was recalled on a couple of occasions but mostly for simple practice and back up purposes. He could easily slide into more big league time, especially if he keeps up the workload for the farm team.

13Apr

Frederik Gauthier (23)

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Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#21 overall) rookie center Frederik Gauthier(23) is another young player getting his chance with the big squad in a non-playoff berth season.

The huge 6’5″ 238 lbs. power forward has appeared in 7 games scoring his first NHL point, an assist while skating a lot of minutes short-handed time, delivering crushing hits and breaking up plays.

He’s having a good first year with league leading affiliate Toronto Marlies scoring 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 54 AHL contests with a +17 rating in a mostly checking line role.

This comes after three years of junior hockey with Rimouski Oceanic, where he was virtually a point-per-game player and won the 2015 QMJHL Championship.

The soon-to-be 21-year old, signed through 2017/2018 on an entry level deal, will compete hard at the upcoming training camp for a full-time roster spot but may just win the minor league’s highest award, the Calder Cup first.

05Apr

Sonny Milano (22)

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#26 overall) rookie left wing Sonny Milano(22) is having a pretty decent first year with affiliate Lake Erie Monsters.

The only 19-year old forward has 12 goals and 15 assists in 48 AHL games with a +10 rating on a league leading squad.

Taking a bit of a unique path before turning pro at such a young age, he played two seasons with the United States National Team Development Program in the USHL as a point-per-game performer, while also playing for the under 17 and 18 of the USDP recording even better numbers.

As a highly touted player, he would leave to skate the next season with Plymouth Whalers, once again exploding on the score sheet with 22 goals and 46 assists for 68 points in 50 OHL games.

He would sign his three-year entry level deal at the conclusion of that campaign and be reassigned to join then minor league team Springfield Falcons for the remainder of the calendar getting five assists in 10 games.

His impressive play and possibly that the parent club is out of the postseason picture, earns him a first recall.

In two games, utilized for an average 12 minutes of ice time, he recorded his first NHL point, an assist with 1 shot, 3 hits, 2 breakups and 1 giveaway with a +1 rating.

He’s easily impressed and if he comes into 2016 training camp in good shape, should get a serious look to start the season in the show.

05Mar

Garnet Hathaway (64)

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Calgary Flames‘ undrafted 2nd year right wing Garnet Hathaway(64) spent the majority of his first season signed to a minor league contract with then affiliate Adirondack Flames posting solid numbers (19 goals, 17 assists), which was good enough to get him a two-year entry level deal towards the end of 2014/2015.

The fairly sizable 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward spent training camp with the parent club and previously signed an ato with Abbotsford Heat after completing four years at Brown University.

His numbers were decent in college hockey but nothing too stellar and in his first 9 AHL games (including one postseason) he failed to record a point.

A late cut to be reassigned to new affiliate Stockton Heat, he didn’t exactly go crazy on the score sheet but continued to show steady progress connecting for a tidy 6 goals, 17 assists in 35 contests.

It was enough to get him a first late season recall.

The 24-year old has skated 4 games averaging 20 shifts for roughly 14 minutes of playing time with 3 shots, a battering ram 19 hits, 7 breakups, 1 takeaway, 6 penalty minutes, 2 assists (in one game) and even :42 short-handed time. He also has a nice +3 rating in only one victory and 3 losses.

Impressive stats that should keep in up in the big league for awhile longer.

He’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign but will definitely be qualified to continue his pro game right where he is.

01Mar

Zach Hyman (11)

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Toronto Maple Leafs‘ rookie center Zach Hyman(11) plays a hard checking, offensive-minded style of game that’s giving the deep selection a longer, early look from the parent club.

He was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#123 overall) but traded in the off season for an older prospect.

The speedy 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward put up exceptional numbers in junior A with Hamilton Red Wings, including 102 points in his final year before joining the ranks at University Of Michigan.

In his senior year, serving as assistant captain he popped for 22 goals and 32 assists in 37 games earning him a 2014/2015 Hobey Baker Finalist nod.

A late cut from training camp, he connected immediately with the scoring sheet on reassignment to affiliate Toronto Marlies.

In 54 AHL games in his first season he has a tidy 13 goals and 20 assists with a +28 rating and 121 shots on net.

The 23-year old’s hard play has earned him an NHL recall.

In his debut he skated a whopping 22 shifts for 15:58 of ice time with two shots, 1 hit and :32 of short-handed play.

He may be on a short leash between the big league and the farm club but before too long it’s almost an easy bet he’ll be permanently up in the show.