Category: NHL

Steve Qualier

Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#86 overall) right wing Steve Quailer(13) was involved in a mostly minor league that sent him to Los Angeles Kings, who are notorious for developing size up front.

At 6’4″ 209 lbs. he’s certainly a big frame and has been using it in his time with AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs. In 19 games he’s posted 3 goals and 3 assists pushing him to modest yet new career highs for helpers and points.

He played for a season and a half with Hamilton Bulldogs.

In the final season of his 2-year entry level deal, he signed after he finished four years at Northeastern University, where he served as assistant captain.

Already 24-years old, he’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign, but should be retained for one more shot in the prospect system to see if he’ll turn the corner the way they think he might by picking him up.

He’ll be playing in his first forthcoming postseason games.

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins‘ celebrate the 4-1 win over Detroit Red Wings in game 2 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to even the series at one game apiece.

Providence Bruins‘ forward Justin Florek(57) on recall to the parent club had the opening tally and 2nd year defenseman Torey Krug(47) had a pair of assists.

Both teams have three tough wins to punch their ticket into the 2nd round.

Comets Marlies

A site never seen to conclude a regular season game: both squads line up to shake hands at the conclusion of the second to last game of the regular season, a 3-2 battle in which the home team Utica Comets won a contest over AHL Western Conference rivals Toronto Marlies that had little meaning in the standings.

Tough to recall what started this gentlemanly gesture, but it’s believed two opposing friends came together to exchange some good will and it escalated into plenty of fuzzy feelings to go around.

 

lukas-sedlak3

Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#158 overall), Czech Republic-born rookie center Lukas Sedlak(28) had himself a decent first year with minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons.

He appeared in 54 AHL games scoring 8 goals and 6 assists with a -1 rating.

The 6′ 209 lbs. skater played like a power forward and got his share of dings throughout the regular season.

He’s been in a few training camps with the parent club since he was selected and was grabbed in the 1st round of the CHL import draft by Chicoutimi Sangueneens to put his game on display in North America.

He already had four seasons of junior hockey in his home country and arrived somewhat late to these shores as an 18-year old and would turn pro after only two campaigns putting up 32 goals and 47 assists in 98 games in the QMJHL.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015/2016, he should compete for an NHL roster spot in his sophomore campaign.

A strong showing for the now 21-year old in the Calder Cup Playoffs will definitely help his chances.

william-karlsson2

Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#53 overall), Swedish-born center William Karlsson(22) already has 4 seasons of pro hockey in his home country, including the last pair in the SHL with HV71.

He scored 19 goals with 46 assists in 105 games and previously played 60 contests as a teenager in the tier 2 league, Allsvenskan.

The 6′ 180 lbs. forward was a point-per-game guy with a +25 rating in 2011/2012 for Västerås.

Signing his 3-year entry level deal for the current campaign, he was loaned by the parent club to skate one more season in Sweden.

With their playoff elimination, he was recalled to join minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

In 6 AHL games he has his first North American pro hockey goal and a 3 assists, while playing a hard-working, highly skilled style.

At 21-years old he’ll most definitely be competing for a NHL roster spot for his official rookie year, 2014/2015.

Roy Sommer2

Worcester Sharks‘ coach Roy Sommers stood behind the bench for his now league leading 1,257th AHL game.

He started his journey 16 years ago in 1998 with then San Jose Sharks‘ farm club Kentucky Thoroughblades, then moved with the team to 5 minor league famed seasons at the helm for Cleveland Barons.

Continuing his move with affiliates east, he achieves the record feat in his 8th year in Central Massachusetts.

The 56-year old former played only three NHL games but managed to score his only goal in the show in his debut.

He also won a Calder Cup trophy with Maine Mariners in 1984 and skated in 147 AHL and 195 IHL games.

He hung up his skates after 8 seasons, just after his 30th birthday.

Straight after retirement, he started as an assistant coach for a pair of seasons before moving on to 5 winning campaigns in the ECHL and two more as an assistant in the NHL.

 

Derek Whitmore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undrafted 6th year left wing Derek Whitmore(11) was having problems fitting in to a veteran laden Hershey Bears‘ lineup after signing a one-year minor league contract with the team upon his return from a short, half season stint in Germany’s DEL skating for Augsburger Panther.

He did reasonably well overseas connecting for 9 goals and 14 assists in 26 games.

Loaned in a player swap at the trade deadline to Adirondack Phantoms, the 5’11” 185 lbs. forward has benefited, scoring almost as many points with his new squad in half the time.

He’s well off his 40+ point pace from 2010-2012 in Buffalo Sabres‘ affiliate system but given another full season workload could find the mark again.

michael-hutchinson-1

Goaltender Michael Hutchinson(33) has been on quite the ride through the hockey ranks this season since being left unqualified by the team that drafted him, Boston Bruins.

Originally a 3rd round pick in 2008 (#77 overall), he spent the first three years in their prospect system tending net mostly with Providence Bruins.

He was reassigned on a couple of occasions to ECHL affiliate Reading Royals through his first two campaigns.

None of it compares to the roller coaster ride he’s still on this season backstopping cages in three different leagues.

The almost unassumingly large 6’3″ 192 lbs. free agent net minder signed fairly quickly with Winnipeg Jets for a 1-year 2-way contract.

He was in training camp but quickly reassigned to AHL farm team St. John’s IceCaps and it didn’t stop there as he was sent along to Ontario Reign to start his fourth pro season.

This was where he stepped it up because in 28 starts he won 22, good enough for third in the league, lost a lowest 4 contests and posted a 2.08 GAA and .921 SV%.

He would receive an early Christmas gift on recall but it didn’t last as he was sent back down again. In early 2014 though, he was summoned once again and due to injuries ended up splitting starting duties.

Earning his time in net, he managed a 15-5 record, helping to solidify the IceCaps‘ postseason berth.

The stellar play of the 24-year old also earned him his first NHL games, making him a rare case of a player to skate games in three different leagues in a single frame.

In three appearances he won 2 and lost 1.

One of his wins was against his former team in a shootout and his 1.64 GAA and .943 SV% should almost assuredly score the future restricted free agent an extension.

First up though, he could be on his way to help bring the Calder Cup to the Rock.

Maxim Kitsyn

Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#158 overall) Russian-born left wing Maxim Kitsyn(48) had a bit of a struggling first half of his rookie season, finding himself in an out of the lineup with AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

His 3 goals and 1 assist in 20 contests wasn’t enough to crack a tough roster of skaters that have mostly been together in the prospect system for awhile.

The sturdy 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward already has five seasons, 110 games of KHL experience to his credit. He put together 10 goals and 9 assists, playing in the league since he was 16-years old.

He also spent the latter half of 2010/2011 playing in the OHL with Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors and parts of seasons in the Russian tier two league and juniors in his home country.

He was almost routinely a point-per-game guy in these levels of hockey.

Reassigned to double A affiliate Ontario Reign, he has managed to produce at a similar clip.

In 31 ECHL games he’s potted a handy 13 goals and 15 assists with an amazing +15 rating and has unloaded 100 shots on the net.

The 22-year old signed a three-year entry level contract and is definitely the exact kind of big frame offensive-minded player they call up to the NHL and sticks.

He can easily bring his game up to another level but will have to want it bad to get the look.

Caleb Herbert3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washington Capitals‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#142 overall) right wing Caleb Herbert(40) signed a two-year entry level deal, leaving University Of Minnesota-Duluth after leading the team in scoring and penalty minutes in his third season at the school.

His contract kicks in starting in 2014/2015 but no time has been wasted to get his legs wet as they send him to minor league affiliate Hershey Bears on an ato.

In his first game he connected for his first pro goal and assist.

For his encore he got the opening tally but in his third contest he received two minutes for holding and no points. There’s goes that average.

In three AHL games the totals rest (for the moment) at 2 goals, 1 assist for 3 points and a +3 rating.

All games were also important wins for the team.

The 6′ 194 lbs. 22-year old forward has been in the parent club’s training camps since his selection and will no doubt be fighting for a slot on the NHL roster in a fifth camp to officially start his rookie season.