Category: NHL

svedbergforsberg

A pair of Swedish goaltenders, Niklas Svedberg(1) and Anton Forsberg(35), called in to put out the first period 7 goal explosion in the deciding game 5 of the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between visiting, winning Providence Bruins and home team Springfield Falcons, exchange some home country good will in the handshake line to conclude the series.

The two starters allowed 4 and 3 goals in the opening stanza and yanked. Each back-up net minder let in the first shot they faced but that was all she wrote for the eventual winner.

Kent Huskins

13-year veteran defenseman Kent Huskins(29) signed an AHL contract to join Utica Comets a month into the 2013/2014 season.

Possibly looking for a new NHL suitor after splitting less than 20 games the previous year with Detroit Red Wings then Philadelphia Flyers, it’s possible he saw a possible opening in the parent club to influence his decision to sign a minor league deal.

He appeared in 65 games with the expansion central New York club adding another 10 points to his league totals (473-33-101-134). He also owns a +33 rating.

The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has also skated in 318 contests in the show putting up just 13 goals and 55 assists, but his stay-at-home style and strong defense of his own zone gives him a highly accountable +46 plus/minus.

It took him 5 years of trolling with farm teams before he received his first opportunity to play at the highest level but from there he spent six straight seasons on top.

Not bad for a player that was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 1998 draft (#156 overall).

The almost 35-year old could either stay put or try his hand elsewhere but is probably happy earning a decent payday playing  pro hockey.

He won a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 as a member of Anaheim Ducks.

BosMon

There is just an ass-load of hockey talent on ice for this Game 1 NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Round 2 face-off: Boston Bruins at home, TD Garden, vs. Montreal Canadiens.

From left to right: (Bruins) captain Zdeno Chara(33), Reilly Smith(18), Patrice Bergeron(37), Brad Marchand(63)

same direction: (Montreal) Max Pacioretty(67), Josh Gorges(26), David Desharnais(51), PK Subban(76), Thomas Vanek(20)

The Canadiens took the double overtime win 4-3 on Subban‘s 2nd of the night to take the 1-0 series lead.

Ben Chiarot3

Unlikely hero, St. John’s IceCaps‘ defenseman Ben Chiarot(18) scores the overtime game-winner on a slapper from the point to take the 1-0 series lead in the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Albany Devils, who were at home.

It was his first playoff point in his first AHL playoff game.

He is in the final season of his 3-year entry level contract with Winnipeg Jets.

He’s made one NHL appearance with no points and went an unfortunate -3 plus/minus in a 5-1 shellacking.

The 6’3″ 215 lbs. d-man easily had a break out minor league career year in 2013/2014, recording a clearly better 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points with a +29 rating.

The soon-to-be 23 year old is probably on the likely list to be given a qualifying offer for another run in the system but will have to work that much harder to get another look for the show.

The series has since been tied at 1.

See related: 3/23-12

 

andrew-bodnarchuk-1

Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th year defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk(7) was the AHL plus/minus leader at the end of the 2013/2014 regular season with a mighty +43 rating.

He also posted career high numbers with 8 goals and 24 assists for 32 points and had a new record mark of 129 shots on net.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. d-man is considered somewhat small but plays with plenty of snarl and a gritty edge that’s fully effective in all three zones.

He signed a two-year extension heading into the current campaign after coming off a successful first season with affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

Previously he spent his initial four campaigns in the Boston Bruins‘ organization, mostly with Providence Bruins.

He’d only played in 5 NHL games with no points and a -2 rating.

The 25-year old has already appeared in an eye-popping 412 minor league contests and with plenty of determination seems like he could find his way into a bottom six role at some point.

Stuart Percy

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#25 overall)  defenseman Stuart Percy(10) skated his first full season of pro hockey with minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies.

His 4 goals and 21 assists for 25 points in 71 AHL games were good enough for 2nd in scoring amongst blue liners.

He was always able to put up decent helper numbers through 4 seasons of junior hockey play with Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, which fortunately carried over nicely to his rookie campaign.

The 6’1″ 193 lbs. d-man signed a 3-year entry level deal, including two slide seasons that will keep him in the system through 2015/2016.

He played in regular season and postseason games with the farm team at the end of 2012 and 2013 and is currently looking to help the Marlies go deep in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The almost 21-year old already participated in three training camps with the parent club and will definitely be competing for an NHL roster spot for his sophomore season.

David Kolomatis3

5th year defenseman David Kolomatis(39) has put up virtually identical numbers, almost 30 points in each of his AHL pro seasons but in this campaign, under a new one-year two-way deal with Washington Capitals, had a slight uptick in assists and overall points to post career bests.

In only 61 games on a veteran heavy Hershey Bears‘ roster he pocketed 7 goals and 23 assists, giving him his first 30.

Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2009 draft *#126 overall), he spent the first four years skating in the minor league system with Manchester Monarchs.

He was a fairly dependable staple on their blue line.

The not incredibly huge 5’11” 195 lbs. d-man has yet to be given his shot at NHL playing time and it’s a wonder if his current team of contract will keep him around as the 25-year old is unrestricted free agent.

If given a shot, he may well be one of these guys that quietly steps it up and fits right in.

alan-quine

New York Islanders‘ 6th round pick in the 2013 draft (#166 overall) rookie left wing Alan Quine(22) was ready to sign his three-year entry level contract and turn pro immediately upon being selected a second time.

He was originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 3rd round pick in 2011 (#85 overall) but was left to go back into the pool.

He did however appear in training camp and skated three games at the end of 2012 with Grand Rapids Griffins but somewhere along the line they lost interest.

No worries, he put up some nifty rookie season numbers in the AHL with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 9 goals and 18 assists. On the downside, he was a -24 but matters deteriorated on a number of occasions through the 61 games he suited up for.

Reassigned near the end of his first season, he was sent down to join ECHL affiliate Stockton Thunder for 7 games, which was enough to keep him skating into the postseason.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward produced at a point-per-game clip in the lower league, getting 2 goals and half a dozen helpers in 7 games.

He only has one tally in 3 Kelly Cup Playoff games but he’s on a team that looks to go deep and will very likely add more points to that start.

2014/2015 will be an important season that should help better define the type of player the still young 21-year old will become.

nicklas-jensen-1

Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#29 overall) Danish-born rookie right wing Nicklas Jensen(17) is off and flying start in his first full season of North American pro hockey.

He suited up for 17 NHL games with the parent club, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists with a -1 rating on a team that struggled to find chemistry through most of 2013/2014.

In 54 AHL contests with affiliate Utica Comets, the sizable 6’3″ but skinny 186 lbs. forward produced a tidy 15 goals and 6 assists in his first season in the minors.

He started was signed as an 18-year old to a 3-year entry level contract but in the first of two-entry level slides went back to his junior club, Oshawa Generals and then started the next season in the SHL with AIK before joining their minor league team Chicago Wolves for the remainder of 2012/2013.

It’s unlikely he’ll return to the farm team for any more extended periods of time but if his numbers or play slips up in the show, he may find himself on reassignment as a wake-up call.

Odds are that he’ll stick and will be contributing big-time in his sophomore campaign.