Category: NHL

30Oct

Jason LaBarbera(1) Norfolk Admirals

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Jason Labarbera215 year veteran goaltender Jason LaBarbera(1) has always been a highly sought after NHL back up between the pipes.

Due to his role on a team he’s only play 182 games in the league with 45 of those coming in a single season as a starter, when he was property of Los Angeles Kings.

The big 6’3″ 232 lbs. net minder consistently puts up decent numbers when called upon.

He has similar stats through 282 AHL games, where he’ll likely play most of the time in 2014/2015.

He’s basically won best goalie in the league honors in three of his campaigns, twice early in his career with Hartford Wolf Pack and once during a lockout with Manchester Monarchs.

Signed to a 1-year, two-way contract with Anaheim Ducks, he’s on reassignment with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

The 34-year old will likely get the call to put his talents on display for a few games with the parent club but was essentially given a contract to serve as a valuable mentor for their stable of talented prospects.

He was originally a New York Rangers‘ 3rd round pick in the 1998 draft (#66 overall).

29Oct

David Pastrnak(32) Providence Bruins

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David-Pastrnak2

Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#24 overall) 18-year old Czech Republic-born right wing David Pastrnak(32) came within a whisker of making the opening night roster for the parent club and might have accomplish the feat, if he wasn’t sidelined by injury during training camp.

He was eventually reassigned on the day before the regular season opener but not where it was initially thought he would go.

Because of his young age, it was believed he would have to go back overseas and join an SHL club for 2014/2015, but through a clause he was sent to the much closer minor league affiliate Providence Bruins to start his North American pro career and for the brass to keep a closer eye on his play.

The 6′ 167 lbs. forward has very good hands and skillfully sees the ice well at a very young age.

Having already competed in Swedish tier 2 league Allsvenskan with Sodertalje for the last couple of seasons most certainly helped that development.

He’s certainly making his mark with the farm team already notching two goals, 7 assists and a league leading +8 rating in 7 AHL games.

As a rookie, he obviously leads the league in a few stat categories.

He signed his three-year entry level deal but it’s understood that if he fails to participate in 9 NHL games, 2014/2015 will be a slide.

27Oct

Scott Darling(33) Chicago Blackhawks

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Scott Dariling33Originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#153 overall) 5th year goaltender Scott Darling(33) took an unprecedented long journey to his first NHL game with Chicago Blackhawks, getting the 2-1 victory in the process.

The extra large 6’6″ 238 lbs. net minder was never signed after his selection from US junior hockey.

He advanced to play a couple of campaigns for University Of Maine Black Bears putting up decent stats but still found no takers.

Deciding to turn pro he signed his first contract with the now defunct Louisiana IceGators of the SPHL and continued in the league inking for his sophomore year with Mississippi Riverkings.

He received a couple of call-ups but didn’t fare too well, although he would get a one-year deal with Wheeling Nailers for the next season.

After a solid, short run in the ECHL, Milwaukee Admirals took a chance on the backstop for 2013/2014, where he put up outstanding numbers going 13-6 in 26 AHL games with a 2.00 GAA and .933 SV%.

The effort earned him his first NHL deal with the Blackhawks.

Coming off a strong training camp, he was reassigned to affiliate Rockford IceHogs.

In 2 contests he won both and 1.44 GAA and .948 SV%.

The close to Chicago native from Lemont, IL received a well-deserved nod to start between the pipes upon his first recall.

At just 25-years old, he has gone all the way from single A to the show.

26Oct

Scott Munroe(33) Springfield Falcons

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Scott Munroe39th year undrafted goaltender Scott Munroe(33) returned to North American hockey for a second time after tending net for Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL last season. He also spent an earlier year overseas in the KHL with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Although he put up pretty excellent numbers in Sweden (2.05 GAA, .913 SV% in 36 games) he was cut loose.

He decided to come back to this side of the pond signing a one-year, two-way deal with Springfield Falcons.

To start the new season the now 32-year old was for the first time in his pro career dispatched to ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings, where he appeared in one game, getting the win.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. backstop was immediately recalled and started his first AHL game in about a year and a half, winning his second straight of 2014/2015 in two different leagues.

His last stint was his second go-round with Adirondack (Philadelphia) Phantoms.

He’s had three NHL contracts and was invited to Columbus Blue Jackets’ training camp but never played an official big league game.

When he finally decides to hang up the skates, he’d be a great goaltending coach for a team.

See related: 8/28-12

25Oct

Spencer Asuchak(23) Allen Americans

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Spencer AsuchukExceptionally large undrafted center Spencer Asuchak(23) spent his rookie season with Allen Americans eclipsing all his high point marks from 4 years of juniors in the WHL and one year of college before helping the team to win the Ray Miron’s Presidents Cup in the final season of the Central Hockey League.

For his sophomore campaign he got a surprise phone call offering him to join Boston Bruins‘ rookie camp and eventual training camps with the club and it’s minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

The 6’5″ 220 lbs. forward scored a goal in preseason action but was released as they have a logjam of players signed.

He decided to return to Allen for another round as they moved up the hockey ladder merging with the ECHL for 2014/2015.

This isn’t his first experience in the league as he signed an ato with Ontario Reign and skated three games at the end of his time with Prince George Cougars. He recorded no points.

The still super-young 22-year old will very likely get another chance to show his might with a recall to P-Bruins or another AHL squad.

23Oct

Jonathan Drouin(27) Tampa Bay Lightning

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Jonathan DruinTampa Bay Lightning 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#3 overall) left wing Jonathan Drouin(27) played a pair of AHL games for minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch after breaking his thumb early in training camp workouts and getting reassigned to start his pro career.

He scored the game-winning goal in his debut and added a pair of assists the next night. He also had a +4 rating.

That was all the parent club needed to see before he was recalled to the NHL.

He was scheduled to be a healthy scratch after a long day of travel but was inserted into the lineup and skating 22 shifts for 16:01 of total ice time with a -1 in a 3-2 loss.

The next night he added to his totals, recorded his first big league point, an assist and came away with a +1 in an overtime victory.

At only 5’11” 186 lbs. he is thought of as the whole package.

He recorded over 100 points in his last two seasons of the QMJHL with Halifax Mooseheads, where he won a Memorial Cup and league championship in his second season.

The 19-year is poised to have an outstanding rookie campaign on a team stacked with offensive talent.

22Oct

Matt Taormina(20) Worcester Sharks

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Matt Taormina2Undrafted 6th year defenseman Matt Taormina(20) has definitely bounced around from team-to-team in the last few seasons.

For 2014/2015 he signs his first AHL contract joining Worcester Sharks, since turning pro with Lowell Devils in 2009.

As a rookie, coming of four seasons at Providence College, he had a hefty 40 helpers and 10 goals in 75 games.

The effort earned the small but accountable in his own end 5’10” 185 lbs. a two-year entry level deal with New Jersey Devils, where he spent the majority of the next two seasons.

An unrestricted free agent he tested the waters and signed for a year with Tampa Bay Lightning but found himself playing mostly with their minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch. He was re-signed but once again was unable to crack the parent club’s roster, skating in only 7 NHL games with no points.

Then close to the trade deadline he was dealt in a farm team deal to Columbus Blue Jackets and reassigned to Springfield Falcons.

If the just turned 28-year old can find the scoring sheet like he did at the beginning of his career, he may find himself signing another big league contract.

See related: 12/17-11

18Oct

Chris Wagner (21)

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Chris-Wagner

Anaheim Ducks‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#122 overall), third year center Chris Wagner(21) is enjoying a quick start to his 2014/2015 campaign.

He notched his first career hat trick (including a pair of short-handed tallies and the game-winning goal) in minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals‘ season opener and added another strike in his next game.

The 6’ 195 lbs. forward was named CCM Player Of The Week for his strong offensive outburst and recalled for his NHL debut.

He only skated 9 shifts for 4:10 of total ice time and 2 penalty minutes but is still up with the parent club so will get another crack at the ice.

In 148 AHL games he has 26 goals and 27 assists, setting high point marks in 2013/2014 (14-14-28 in a complete 76 game effort) but seemed to be waiting for the kind of point production he enjoyed in a pair of years at Colgate University and two seasons of American juniors in the EJHL.

The 23-year old is in the final season of his three-year entry level deal and trying to make it a no-brainer for an extension.

13Oct

Eric Knodel (40)

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Eric Knodel

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#128 overall), the absolutely huge 6’6″ 225 lbs. defenseman Eric Knodel(40) will start the first full season of his pro career on double reassignment to Orlando Solar Bears.

He signed an ato after completing his fourth year at University Of New Hampshire, where as a senior he was named team captain.

Skating in 10 AHL games with minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies he recorded his first two points, assists and was a +1 plus/minus.

He’s definitely shown flares for putting up points, especially helpers but might need a little more coaching and practice on the next level to give him the confidence to produce.

He attended a pair of Leafs’ prospect camps and this year’s training camp but was cut early.

At 24-years old he’s a bit of a late starter but easily has the size to blossom into a powerhouse on the blue line.

He’ll need to do it quickly though, as he’s only signed to a one-year entry level deal.