Category: NHL

Daine Todd (3)

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ undrafted rookie defenseman Daine Todd(3) is another recent player to take a somewhat Jeffy, Family Circus route to turning pro.

He even sat out the entire 2008-2009 campaign and lost another pair of seasons to injuries before he ever signing a contract.

To make matters stranger he played an over-age year with Medicine Hat Tigers and won two WHL Championships before being sidelined and returned for four campaigns with University Of New Brunswick.

He also won a college title with them.

The small-ish looking 5’10” 185 lbs. former forward turned blue liner battles pretty hard but is a -14 plus/minus so far in his first season but is also on the ice for many different kinds of game situations because of his versatile play.

On the upside he has 2 goals and 21 assists in 44 games with Portland Pirates.

His helper total is first among rookies and third overall on the team.

He’s signed to an AHL contract under the watchful eye of the parent club .

At 27-years old he might become one of the oldest players to sign a one-year entry level deal.

Jesper Fast

New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#157 overall) fourth year, Swedish-born right wing Jesper Fast(27) had a career campaign in 2012/2013 on loan from the parent club back to HV71 of the SHL. He scored 18 goals and 17 assists in 46 games and added another tally and 4 helpers in the playoffs, while skating a combined +17 rating. It was his third year playing in the league.

The smart, speedy 6′ 185 lbs. forward started his rookie season in the NHL but was reassigned after 8 games with no points and a -5 plus/minus on a squad that was very slow out of the gate.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack he’s contributing in a big way in all situations on another team that has been struggling to win.

In 24 AHL games he has 9 goals and 9 assists with a +5.

The recently turned 22-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015 and will no doubt get another opportunity to show his stuff in the show.

Eric Hartzell

Pittsburgh Penguins‘ undrafted rookie goalie Eric Hartzell(31) is continuing his successes from an outstanding 4-year college career at Quinnipiac University, where he basically help set all kinds of team and individual records en route to the 2013 National Champion Title Game, into the pro ranks. To his credit, he was chosen as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

In 19 AHL games for farm club, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he’s posted a 9-5 record with 1.85 GAA and .925 SV%. His goals against average is currently tops in the league and already has 3 shutout efforts.

The fairly large-sized 6’4″ 205 lbs. net minder was selected CCM/AHL Goaltender Of The Month for January with his even more outstanding play in the time period.

He initially signed a one-year entry level deal to join the parent club fresh out of college and was quickly extended for two more years in the off-season, keeping him in the system through 2015.

Look for the 24-year old to get a look with the big club if injury sidelines one of their top two net minders.

Luke Judson

Underdrafted rookie right wing Luke Judson(7) first popped up on the radar with an invite to San Jose Sharks‘ 2013 development camp. The team had been scouting him for the last few seasons as he served as captain for OHL Belleville Bulls.

He next appeared in Worcester Sharks‘ training camp before being released.

He joined San Francisco Bulls of the ECHL, the team he signed his first pro contract with over the summer.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward took a bit of an odd route before inking his deal, deciding to first play a season of college hockey at Lakehead University.

Not the most prolific scorer, he did show an ability to connect with decent frequency through juniors and year at school.

The 23-year old only scored 4 goals through his first 31 games with a struggling SF squad and was probably relieved when they ceased operations.

He recently agreed to terms with Idaho Steelheads and the move will likely help him regain his scoring touch.

TJ Hensick

7th year veteran center T.J. Hensick(28) returns to North American hockey after a half season away in the SHL with MODO.

He was released by the team after under-producing on the score sheet.

Signed to an AHL contract by Abbotsford Heat but then claimed off waivers by Hartford Wolf Pack, his last two pro years were spent with Peoria Rivermen, under a 2-way contract with St. Louis Blues.

The 5’9″ 195 lbs. forward was originally a Colorado Avalanche 3rd round pick in the 2005 draft (#88 overall) and played three seasons with the team and in their system.

He’s played 112 NHL games scoring 12 goals and 24 assists, last appearing in the league in 2012 with the Blues.

The 28-year old has skated in 332 minor league games with impressive numbers: 103 goals and 246 assists, making him more than a point-per-game player.

He had impressive numbers through his college career at University Of Michigan, winning a national championship in 2005 and being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist in two of his four season.

Where he goes next year is up for grabs but his contributions with his new team are already being noticed.

mike-hoffman

Ottawa Senators‘ center Mike Hoffman(27) is blowing up the score sheet in his 4th season with minor league affiliate Binghamton Senators.

Through 44 AHL games he has career highs with 23 goals, 35 assists and 55 points and currently sits second overall in scoring.

The former 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#150 overall) notch 4 tallies and a helper in a big midweek 6-3 win that has to have him wondering when his next NHL call-up is.

He skated in 3 games with the parent club this season and 7 overall but has yet to come up with his first mark.

The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward was well over a point-per-game player in three years of juniors in the QMJHL and looks to be ready to contribute at the highest level of hockey as he continues showing his potential in the prospective system.

Signed in the off-season to a one-year extension he’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign.

Look for the current captain to continue with the farm club, while he waits for another opportunity.

Of little surprise, the 24-year old was named AHL Player Of The Week on February 3.

see related: 7/15-11

 

john-kurtz2-1

Norfolk Admirals‘ undrafted 4th year, tough left wing John Kurtz(12) was rewarded last season with his first NHL contract from parent club Anaheim Ducks for his consistently edgy play in the minors with their affiliate clubs.

The 6’2″ 206 lbs. forward was further endorsed by the parent club as he received a one-year extension for 2014/2015.

He’s on pace this season to set AHL career highs in all categories, which may not put him tops on the team in scoring, but for a player that is looked to as protection for their more gifted scoring prospects it’s a nice increase.

Although he will likely spend the entire current campaign with the farm club, it appears he’s being readied for a recall to flex some muscle in the big league.

At only 24-years old he wears an “A” on his jersey serving as one of the alternate captains.

He was captain for his final pair of seasons in junior hockey with Sudbury Wolves, so proven leadership is an important part of his game.

James Melindy

Phoenix Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft (#88 overall) defenseman James Melindy(4) spent the start of his rookie season on the injured reserve list with minor league affiliate Portland Pirates.

Finally healthy enough at the turn of the new year he made it back into the lineup and through 14 AHL games he has his first pro marker but a -8 rating on a team that struggles at times.

At 6’3″ 187 lbs. he’s a pretty big, mostly stay-at-home style blue liner but he did show some offensive upside in his last couple campaigns of junior hockey with Moncton Wildcats before deciding to turn pro after his third year.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016, the recently just turned 20-year old is probably viewed by the parent club as a work in progress despite his pretty high selection but looks to have the ability to break out sooner than later and could get an NHL look as soon as next season.

Kristers Gudlevskis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tampa Bay Lightning 5th round pick in the 2013 draft (#124 overall) Latvian goalie Kristers Gudlevskis(35) was reassigned to start his rookie season with ECHL affiliate Florida Everblades.

He was quickly recalled and has made the north-south trips already a few times in his first half year pro.

The still somewhat lanky 6’3″ 189 lbs. net minder had pretty stellar numbers in 11 games with the ‘Blades, where he went 7-4 with a 1.83 GAA and .928 SV%.

Currently up with Syracuse Crunch, he’s already appeared in 18 AHL games posting another winning mark of 10-5-2-2 with a 2.48 GAA and .910 SV%.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016, he played in a pair of KHL games last season with Dinamo Riga.

The 21-year was named CCM/AHL Player Of The Week for January 6-12 recording back-to-back weekend shutouts and a midweek victory.

He was also chosen to represent his country in the upcoming Sochi Olympics.

He’ll likely need to continue to prove himself on the way up.

Cedric Paquette

Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#101 overall) rookie center Cedric Paquette(17) has to be loving life since being a surprise selection and deciding to turn pro after only two seasons in juniors with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

On reassignment to minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch, he’s being used in every possible game situation: 5-on-5, power plays and penalty kills.

The ice time is definitely paying off as he has 11 goals and 13 assists in 36 games with a +5 rating.

In his pair of campaigns in the QMJHL, he was easily a point-per-game player but also never shies away from the rough stuff as his penalty minutes indicate.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through the 2016 season, the 20-year old is already paying dividends for the parent club that chose him on a hunch, and his future is looking quite bright.