Category: NHL

21Sep

Chuck Kobasew(12) Bern

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Chuck KobasewFor the first time in his 13-year pro career, former Calgary Flames‘ 1st round pick in the 2001 draft (#14 overall), right wing Chuck Kobasew(12) leaves North American hockey to skate with Bern of the NLA (National League A) through 2016.

He has appeared in 601 NHL games with 5 teams scoring 110 goals and 100 assists. He’s also appeared in 139 AHL contests with close to point-per-game production (70-51).

The not entirely huge 6′ 198 lbs. forward always skates a speedy, in-your-face style and has learned how to steer clear of the penalty box despite his aggressiveness.

He won an NCAA Championship with Boston College Eagles in his only year at school before heading off to play a season of juniors with Kelowna Rockets.

The 32-year old is off to a quick start with his new team overseas, putting up 3 goals and a helper in 5 games.

He could continue to jump around a bit leading up to retirement but could also find himself a good place in Switzerland.

19Sep

Simon Gagne(12) Boston Bruins

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Simon GagneOriginally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round pick in 1998 (#22 overall) 13-year veteran left wing Simon Gagne(12) was unable to find a team to skate with last season so decided to sit out.

Heading into the 2014/2015 season Boston Bruins are down one old school player with the ability to put the puck in the net and dish some tasty assists.

Enter the former 7-time 20+ goal scorer (a pair of those seasons were worth 40+) and 9 years with 20 or more assists, including 4 over 30 campaigns. He’s skated 799 NHL games, 11 seasons with the Broad Street Bullies and a two seasons astray before his return in 2013.

If he’s got even left in the tank and the line of thinking is the 34-year old can find a spot up front with the black & gold regulars becoming one of the team’s main contributors.

He was spotted on the ice at the first day of training camp and seemed to skate and mesh pretty well despite the full year off.

15Sep

Freddy Meyer(coach) East Coast Wizards

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Freddy MeyerAfter a pair of seasons as an assistant coach with Manchester Monarchs of the AHL, former 6-year NHL defenseman (281 games, 4 teams) Freddy Meyer potentially saw the writing on the wall as a coaching switch was imminent, jeopardizing his job.

He was proactive and made the move to take the top spot behind the bench for the newly activated Eastern (Junior) Hockey League, East Coast Wizards.

As an undrafted player he won a Calder Cup in his sophomore season 2005 with Philadelphia Phantoms, as the big league schedule was tossed due to a lockout; and was a standout through four years at Boston University, including being named team captain for his senior campaign.

He’s been fairly exemplary at every level of hockey he’s skated and this looks to be a next, natural progression for the 33-year old.

He even managed to decisively win his first game as coach 7-3 at the team’s home arena in Bedford, MA.

05Jul

Mattias Tedenby (21)

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Mattias Tedenby

New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2008 draft (#24 overall), Swedish-born 7th year wing Mattias Tedenby(21) will switch shores heading into his 8th pro season.

After three campaigns with HV71 of the SHL, post junior career he joined the Devils‘ system in 2010 and started with minor league affiliate Albany Devils before being recalled for his first NHL games.

He spent most of his time up with the big club in his rookie year, potting 8 goals and 14 assists but came up far under that mark in his sophomore season.

The mini 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward was more able to connect in the AHL scoring, where he was mostly a point-per-every-other-game performer.

Hoping for a new beginning the restricted free agent jumped to play in the KHL with HC Lev Praha.

Unfortunately the team soon after his signing ceased operations for the 2014/2015 season.

The 24-year decided to once again return to his home country team rejoining HV71 for the 2014/2015 campaign.

It seems a bit unlikely of a return to North American hockey but anything is possible in the world of hockey.

04Jun

Drew Olson(21) Lillihammer

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Drew Olson2nd year defenseman/left wing Drew Olson(21) leaves North American hockey to try his game in Norway’s GET-ligaen, signing a one-year deal with Lillehammer.

He played his rookie season under contract with Syracuse Crunch after being traded to Tampa Bay Lightning organization for future considerations before his first campaign started.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#118 overall), they seemed to cool on him as he played at University Of Minnesota-Duluth despite being part of the 2011 NCAA Championship team.

In 47 AHL games he scored 3 goals and 1 assists with a -10 rating on squad that struggled to put together wins.

The 24-year old skated the blue line for his college career but was switched to a forward spot when he arrived at the pro level.

It looks like he’ll be back on defense when he starts overseas.

03Jun

Seth Helgeson(2) Albany Devils

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Seth Helgeson

New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#114 overall) defenseman Seth Helgeson(2) has towering size at 6’5″ 215 lbs. and plays a punishing, stay-at-home style.

He was selected after a pair of seasons as a teenager in the USHL with Sioux City Musketeers.

Deciding to head to school as his next move helped him grow his game in four years at home state University Of Minnesota.

He finished his NCAA career with a +16 rating, completely reversing his numbers from American junior hockey but only put up modest scoring totals.

Once he turned pro, joining minor league affiliate Albany Devils for 75 AHL games in his rookie campaign, he scored only a single goal and credited with 9 assists, while running up 100 penalty minutes including 8 fighting majors. He was also a +12 plus/minus, helping the team to its first Calder Cup Playoff berth in a long while.

The 23-year old was recalled on a couple of occasions by the parent club but has yet to appear in an NHL game.

With a strong training camp heading into the final season of his 2-year entry level deal he could find himself spending some quality time in the show during the 2014/2015 season.

31May

Josh Leivo(14) Toronto Marlies

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josh-leivo

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#86 overall) rookie right wing Josh Leivo(14) has put together a fantastic first year, mostly on reassignment with minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies.

In 59 AHL games he posted 23 goals (good enough for 2nd on the team) and 19 assists with a +6 rating.

He was also recalled to the parent club, skating in 7 NHL games with one tally and one helper to his credit.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. power forward plays an aggressive but smart style, hard and honest without taking unnecessary penalties. His time in the sin bin is minimal.

Through three years of junior hockey in the OHL, he was virtually a point-per-game guy that showed an uptick of performance come playoff time, putting up 28 points in 22 games.

In the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs, the 21-year old is back at it. In 11 games he has 3 goals and 5 assists.

With continued hard work in the off-season, he could easily make a strong bid for a more permanent roster spot with the Leafs.

30May

Conor Sheary(43) WBS Penguins

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Conor Sheary2

Undrafted left wing Conor Sheary(43) signed an ato with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after finishing up his fourth-year at UMass-Amherst.

He put up some decent numbers at college but wasn’t really on anyone’s radar at the next level.

The small 5’8″ forward put on some significant weight bumping him up to 175 lbs. as he joined the AHL for the remainder of the regular season but didn’t connect.

Inserted into the lineup for the third game of the Calder Cup Playoffs first round, he notched an overtime game-winning assist to help solidify his spot in the lineup and tallied his first marker in game 2 of the semi-finals and then started dotting the score sheet to the tune of 6 goals and 4 assists in 13 postseason contests.

His consistent contributions have caught the attention of the parent club, Pittsburgh Penguins, who are now likely to sign him to an entry level contract.

The soon-to-be 22-year old had an agreement for a one-year deal to join WBS Pens for his rookie season as outlined in Elite Prospects and may start here but a player that has always stepped up his compete level may get his shot at the ultimate hockey prize, the NHL.

27May

Nic Kerdiles(8) Norfolk Admirals

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Nic Kerdiles

Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#36 overall) left wing Nic Kerdiles(8) leaves two years of college on the shelf after a pair of successful seasons to sign his entry level deal that runs through 2016.

He was a more than a point-per-game player at University Of Wisconsin and won an NCAA/WCHA Championship as a freshman. He was named MVP after a 10-point tournament effort.

The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward joined minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals on an ato to finish off 2013/2014, where he notched his first pro goal and three assists, helping the team to a Calder Cup Playoff berth.

In 10 postseason contests through the first two rounds he added another 3 tallies and another helper to help solidify his standing as he heads into his rookie year.

The only 20-year old born in the heart of hockey, Lewisville, TX, skates an aggressive game, always digging for the puck and getting himself into the open spots for scoring chances.

He should make an impact going into training camp and make it difficult to send him down to start his first full season in the AHL.