Category: NHL

06Nov

Tom Kostopoulos (29)

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Tom-Kostopoulos

15th year, right wing Tom Kostopoulos(29) is another veteran player coming full circle in his pro career.

He signed a pto with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins late-ish last season, a team he is very familiar with from 369 regular season and playoff games and two seasons as captain, a position he currently holds for them again. He more than any other player is synonymous with this franchise and is their all-time leading scorer.

Six weeks before the end of the season, he was given a deal with Pittsburgh Penguins but grabbed from the waiver wire by New Jersey Devils. He skated in 15 games and scored one goal.

He appeared in 17 more AHL games before scoring another contract bringing his overall totals up to 465 games in the league, 136 goals and 233 assists to his credit.

Signed to a minor league contract for 2013/2014 through the Penguins‘ parent club, he’ already putting up point-per-game numbers with 3 goals and 5 assists in 7 games.

The former Pittsburgh 7th round pick in the 1999 draft (#204 overall) is mostly known for his tough to play against, agitating presence, which has kept the 6′ 200 lbs. forward at the highest level of hockey for 630 games.

His scoring proficiency might not be what it is in the lower league at 61 goals and 94 assists but he also plays a vastly different role as mostly a fourth line skater.

He’s also a -48 plus/minus in the NHL, whereas he has a great +30 in the A.

The 34-year old has always managed to find his place throughout his dozen plus seasons but he’s likely looking at an imminent transition into a great coaching career, as he’s been a mentor to his teammates for as long as anyone can even remember.

05Nov

Rickard Rakell(13) Anaheim Ducks

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Rickard Rakell1

Anaheim Ducks‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#30 overall), Swedish-born center Rickard Rakell(13) received his first recall to the parent club but was returned a few days later before he had the opportunity to appear in his first big league game.

He played another couple of AHL contests with affliate Norfolk Admirals, the team he started his rookie campaign with, before being reassigned up again and got the nod for his first NHL game in a close 2-1 win against New York Rangers.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. forward skated 16 shifts for 14:02 of total ice time, won more than half his face-off draws and registered three shots on net.

He was a point-per-game player in three seasons of junior hockey with Plymouth Whalers and even was on the Ducks‘ roster for 4 games to start after the lockout but was returned to the OHL to continue his development.

The 20-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016 and although he may split time between playing in the show and the minors in his first season, he will likely not be spending too much more time in Virginia.

 

04Nov

Jon Merrill(5) New Jersey Devils

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Jon Merrill

New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#38 overall) defenseman Jon Merrill(5) almost didn’t get to enjoy his chance to turn pro on an ato late last season with minor league affiliate Albany Devils.

But after his third year at University Of Michigan and a broken vertebrae suffered in college hockey exhibition play that left him almost paralyzed, he returned to his Wolverines for one more campaign, and when that was completed signed a three-year entry level deal realizing his dream.

He stepped in an scored a goal and 7 assists in 12 AHL games at the end of 2012/2013 and then picked up in his rookie season right where he left off.

In 11 contests, he already has 2 more tallies and another 5 assists to his totals.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner received his first NHL recall to join the parent club but suffered an early game-ending, when he was racing for a defensive zone puck, pursued by an opposing player and went face first into the boards, officially ending his big league debut.

The 21-year old was helped off the ice but should be ok to return to action and won’t be suffering any more setbacks.

03Nov

Bruno Gervais (37)

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Bruno-Gervais2

It’s been 7 seasons since 10th year, veteran defenseman Bruno Gervais(37) has skated in a game in the minor leagues but finds himself reassigned to Adirondack Phantoms under a one-way contract with Philadelphia Flyers through the end of 2013/2014.

In 10 AHL games he has a pair of goals and three assists with a +1 rating and looks to be highly affective moving the puck and playing smart with the team.

He has 134 other games, all with Bridgeport Sound Tigers played in the A scoring 76 overall points with a +4 plus/minus.

The 6’1″ 197 lbs. blue liner has made 419 NHL appearances, 6 seasons with New York Islanders, the team that selected him in 6th round of the 2003 draft (#182 overall) but also 1-year runs with Tampa Bay Lightning and in 2012/2013 with the Flyers.

16 goals and 71 assists isn’t exactly tons of offensive upside but his -82 rating is kind of unreal, although in some circumstances the teams he was suiting up for had GAA situations.

We assume big questions remained to be answered as to where he will sign to play next year but we’re sure it will be something pretty darn good for this well-proven d-man.

01Nov

Brett Skinner(24) Norfolk Admirals

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Brett Skinner

9th year veteran defenseman Brett Skinner(24) interestingly signed with the Central Hockey League Allen Americans, eventual President’s Cup winners, after returning from a couple of seasons overseas. Two years ago he ended up playing for teams in Germany, Finland and Sweden, but in the season before that one he played a full campaign in the KHL.

He put up some pretty impressive numbers in the lower league, skating 27 games, scoring 7 goals and 30 assists with a +4 rating.

Grand Rapids Griffins swooped in and signed him to a pto half way through 2012/2013. They upped that to a standard players contract in short order and their season culminated 100 games later as the 2013 Calder Cup Champs.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner was originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2002 draft (#68 overall) but only played a single year in their system before bouncing around with a few AHL teams until he signed in the off-season of 2008 with New York Islanders for a spell, played his only 11 NHL games with them. The next season he scored some fairly decent numbers reassigned to minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters while under contract with Colorado Avalanche.

Probably helped him get some decent money in Russia.

At 30 years old with his new team Norfolk Admirals, he already has three assists in 7 games. His AHL stats are pretty amazing at 369 games (and counting) 28 goals and 151 assists.

It’s all about the break out pass.

31Oct

Danny Kristo(29) Hartford Wolf Pack

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Danny Kristo

Rookie right wing Danny Kristo(29) is off to a hot start with his pro career.

In 9 AHL games with Hartford Wolf Pack he already has 6 goals and 3 assists, which basically picks up where he left off at University Of North Dakota.

Through four years, he put up 68 goals and 93 assists in 157 games, good for just over a point-per-game.

He also was a part of three straight NCAA Championship teams, won a gold medal with USA at the World Juniors and on a personal level was a Hobey Baker Award finalist.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round draft pick and played 9 games signed to an ato with their minor league affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs at the end of last season. He tallied three helpers in the stint.

He inked to a two-year entry level deal but at the start of free agency he found himself switching jerseys and headed to New York Rangers.

The 23-year old definitely has smooth hands for scoring and play-making and also possesses a bit of a grinder mentality to his game despite his smaller size.

He should realize his first NHL recall sooner than later and will probably stick as soon as he gets a chance.

30Oct

John Muse (40)

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John Muse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3rd year, undrafted goaltender John Muse(40) was selected as the AHL player of the week after posting a pair of perfect games with Charlotte Checkers on loan from Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL.

Irony of ironies, he was signed to a contract with the Checkers for his rookie season after four years at Boston College, where he won 2008 and 2010 NCAA Championships.

The 5’11” 175 lbs. net minder also played more than half his first campaign with Florida Everblades, ultimately helping lead the team to a Kelly Cup Championship.

He was also named Playoff MVP for his outstanding 1.78 GAA and .939 SV% over 13 games to the title.

Carolina Hurricanes took notice and signed him to a 1-year entry level deal but the impending lockout basically derailed any promise of him guarding the cage in the show despite being recalled on one occasion.

In his sophomore season, he spent even more time in Charlotte and Florida but wasn’t retained before ultimately moving on.

Now coming full circle (albeit a small one) he is back where he started, but there could be too many stacked pads for him to steal the starter job or even ride the pine until his next opportunity.

Oh, did we mention the East Falmouth, MA-born native was in Providence Bruins‘ training camp on an invite?

We are still lead to believe that with continued good play the 25-year old with once again find himself signed to an NHL contract.

29Oct

Andrew Ebbett (25)

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andrew-ebbett

8th year undrafted left wing Andrew Ebbett(25) wasted no time in free agency signing a one-year, two-way deal to join Pittsburgh Penguins‘ system for a season.

In 8 AHL games with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he already has a tidy 2 goals and 5 assists. He’s pretty much a point per game guy in the league at 78 goals and 165 assists in 254 games, now skating with his 6th team. He also owns a remarkable +32 rating.

He’s less prolific in the NHL scoring 25 tallies and 39 helpers in 191 games under contracts with 7 different teams but also has an accountable +3 plus/minus.

The small 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward is looked to for bursts of energy he brings to the table and that kind of spark plug often results in wins.

It will be interesting to see where the 30-year old ends up next but he can almost assuredly expect a recall to the parent club before the seasons out, which would give him NHL appearances in his last 7 seasons.

26Oct

Jayson Megna(19) Pittsburgh Penguins

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jayson-megna-1

Undrafted 2nd year center Jayson Megna(19) didn’t spend long pursuing a degree in college hockey after a couple of seasons in US junior hockey before signing a 2-year entry level deal with Pittsburgh Penguins.

He put up virtually point-per-game numbers in his last pair of campaigns in the USHL with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, then one-year at University Of Nebraska-Omaha.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward spent his entire rookie season in the AHL with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins where he dropped in 5 goals and 7 assists with a -12 rating playing most limited duties in the lineup.

He somewhat broke out in the Calder Cup Playoffs with a pair of strikes and 3 assists in 12 games and that play has carried over into this the final year of his contract.

In 6 games he’s already put in another 3 goals and 2 assists with a +8 rating.

This play earned him his first NHL recall 10/25. In his debut he skated 13 even strength shifts with total ice time of 9:26 and an unfortunate -1 in the late third period defeat to the Islanders.

You can definitely see that this is a player with something to prove this season. He’s always easily spotted out there because he’s always squarely in the middle of the play.

10/28: In his second big league game he gets his first NHL goal and adds an assist in the win.

25Oct

Derek Grant (57)

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Derek Grant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#119 overall) center Derek Grant(57) scores his second NHL recall in as many years.

In a pair of appearances he has yet to hit the score sheet but does sport a +1 rating.

He spent 5 games with the parent club in 2012/2013 scoring no points while trying to assert his 6’3″ 206 lbs. presence.

In the final year of his three-year entry level contract with 140 AHL games with affiliate Binghamton Senators to his credit, he’s definitely looking to make an impact.

His 19 goals and 28 points in the minors last season established new career highs.

He already notched two tallies in three games with the B-Sens, which gained him enough notice to warrant a promotion to the parent club searching for more winning consistency.

The 23-year old could stand to add a bit more muscle on his frame and to his game to achieve true power forward status but has proven his effectiveness in the face-off circle, winning more than half his draws, which gives him some additional clout.

He changed his number this season so his “57” would be the same in both leagues.

See related: 4/19-11