NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

07Oct

Scott Sabourin (25)

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Sizable, undrafted rookie right wing Scott Sabourin(25) signs a 3-year entry level deal with Los Angeles Kings after a very impressive training camp.

He somewhat oddly signed a two-year deal with their minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs after completing three years in the OHL with Oshawa Generals last season.

He joined the team for 5 AHL regular season and all three playoff games to start his pro career.

At 6’3″ 208 lbs. he’s built like a true power forward and never shies away from getting right into the middle of the action.

He was never the biggest goal scorer in junior hockey, doing ok enough to contribute on the score sheet with decent frequency but with an average of over 100 penalty minutes he’ll definitely be keeping opponents honest out there.

At only 21-years old, he could easily find that scoring touch and add a whole other level to his game but the parent club likes their players with size, so he could easily fit right in as a fourth line energy guy and find a foothold in the NHL.

06Oct

Nolan Yonkman(3) Norfolk Admirals

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13th year veteran defenseman Nolan Yonkman(3) continues his streak of NHL contracts, signing a one-year two-way contract with Anaheim Ducks for 2013/2014.

He was originally a Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 1999 draft (#37 overall) and will start the season in the AHL with affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

The absolutely huge 6’6″ 247 lbs. blue liner has 601 minor league games to his credit scoring 16 goals and 63 assists. He also unfortunately also possesses a -31 rating. The -28 plus/minus last season didn’t help those numbers any.

His totals in the show of 74 games with a goal and 8 assists are modest but he’s skated in the big league a half dozen of his career years. 38 of those appearance were in one season, ’05/’06 with the Caps.

The 32-year old has been named team captain 5 times in the last six campaigns and it would be no surprise to see his “A” turn into a “C” because he definitely plays like a leader out there.

05Oct

Lucas Lessio(38) Phoenix Coyotes

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#56 overall) left wing Lucas Lessio(38) makes his NHL debut to start his rookie season.

He signed an ato to join their minor league affiliate Portland Pirates to start his pro career after three years in the OHL with Oshawa Generals.

In 5 AHL games he scored his first goal and assist and added another pair of helpers in 3 playoff contests.

The 6’1″ 206 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game player in juniors racking up 80 goals and 70 assists in 167 games.

He’s signed to a 3-year entry level deal that keeps him with the team through the 2015/2016 season.

At only 20-years old he’s projected to become a top six, power forward in the league.

04Oct

Reilly Smith (18)

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2nd year right wing Reilly Smith(18) makes his 2013/2014 season debut on the opening night roster of his new team, Boston Bruins.

He was originally a Dallas Stars‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#69 overall) and skated 38 NHL games in his rookie campaign on up and down recall with AHL affiliate Texas Stars. He put in 3 goals and 6 assists on the top level and added another 14 goals and 21 assists in 45 minor league games.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward also skated in 3 NHL games after finishing up his playing career at Miami University. He was a point-per-game guy in college pocketing 66 goals and 56 helpers in 121 contests.

He’s signed to a 3-year entry level deal through the end of the current season but will easily get qualified.

The 22-year old now just needs to prove he should stay with the parent club.

02Oct

Justin Weller(27) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#105 overall) defenseman Justin Weller(27) was assigned to the club’s double A affiliate Gwinnett Gladiators to start his second pro season.

He’s signed to a three year entry level deal, but failed to appear in the parent club’s training camp after prospect camp and reported to Portland Pirates‘ to skate in preseason games before recently getting cut. This is the final year of his contract.

At 6’2″ 205 lbs. he has fairly good size but has yet to crack even their AHL team’s roster.

In 65 ECHL games in his rookie season he scored a pair of goals and 9 assists with a +7 rating. He added another tally and a helper in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.

The 22-year old played 5 years of junior hockey in the WHL with Red Deer Rebels but was never a big point producer, favoring maybe a bit more of a stay-at-home defensive style.

If he can shine in his sophomore campaign, he may still be left unqualified going into 2014/2015, but could find himself a nice home for hockey overseas or look to continue to climb the ladder through the minors in North America.

23Sep

Marc-Andre Cliche(22) Colorado Avalanche

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Colorado Avalanche claimed 7th year center Marc-Andre Cliche(22) off waivers from Los Angeles Kings.

He’s on the 2nd year of his current contract which pays him a one-way salary regardless of getting reassigned to a minor league affiliate.

The seemingly under-sized 6′ 205 lbs. forward was Manchester Monarchs‘ captain for the last three seasons and has skated in 341 AHL games with the team scoring 68 goals and 83 assists. He also owns a highly accountable +19 rating.

In his last two years of junior hockey with Lewiston Maineiacs, he was also team captain leading them to the 2007 QMJHL Championship.

He’s only been recalled for a single NHL game but could find his way to becoming a regular in the parent club’s lineup like former teammate Richard Clune did once Nashville Predators pulled him out from the Kings‘ prospect system.

The 26-year old former New York Rangers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft (#56 overall) will definitely be looking to getting into his new training camp and prove he’s ready to become a full-time member in the big league. His tenacious, never-say-quit playing style and endless ability to stick up for teammates will definitely help his case.

See related: 10/11-11

21Sep

Nick Johnson(32) Boston Bruins

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Until someone tells 6th year right wing Nick Johnson(32) differently he’s making a case with Boston Bruins to be on their opening night roster to start the 2013/2014 season.

He’s scored 3 goals in 2 preseason games and the 27-year old is drawing praise from coaching and management.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward is signed to a 1-year two-way deal, but whether or not he is reassigned to minor league affiliate Providence Bruins, he’s easily put himself on the short list for an early recall once the action begins.

In 104 NHL games he has 14 goals and 23 assists and has spent parts of the last four seasons playing in the big league, including one full campaign with Minnesota Wild a couple of years ago.

His AHL stats are point towards a player that is on the cusp of a full-time job with a parent club. He has 53 goals and 70 assists in 183 games and holds a highly accountable +44 rating.

He was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#89 overall).

He even spent time in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers working his way up in his rookie season and even played 5 games for Idaho Steelheads during the last year’s lockout.

See related: 11/17-10

20Sep

Alex Hutchings(11) Gwinnett Gladiators

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4th year left wing Alex Hutchings(11) will put on the skates for Gwinnett Gladiators in 2013/2014.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in 2009 (#93 overall), he was signed to a 3-year entry level deal but spent most of his playing time in the ECHL with affiliate Florida Everblades than he did in the AHL with Syracuse Crunch or Norfolk Admirals.

In the last two campaigns in the league, the 5’10” 178 lbs. forward recorded almost a point-per-game with 26 goals and 32 assists in 63 games.

He set similar marks in four seasons of junior hockey in the OHL with Barrie Colts, where he exploded for 111 goals and 97 assists.

At only 22-years old, he’ll likely continue to occupy the score sheet in the lower league and will likely receive a call-up or two but will have to contribute more to stay put.

19Sep

Carl Soderberg(34) Boston Bruins

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11th year pro, Swedish-born center/left wing Carl Soderberg(34) appears to be poised to finally join Boston Bruins‘ lineup for a full season.

He signed a 3-year deal during the team’s playoff run last season and appeared in a pair of games (with no points) on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The big 6’3″ 218 lbs. forward was pretty much a point per game player in his last 8 seasons of action with Malmo of his home country’s 2nd tier league Allsvenskan and the last two in the SHL playing for Linköping.

Almost amazing, the Bruins maintained his playing rights in North America after making a trade for him in 2007. He was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 2nd round draft pick in 2004 (#49 overall).

He was always rumored to be suiting up with the team sooner than it ultimately happened but was under contract, which kept him overseas and still on the radar.

At 27-years old is expected to be an elite contributor Boston‘s continuing success.

13Sep

Andrew Rowe(6) Hartford Wolf Pack

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After virtually exploding on the score sheet in a full season of lower league play, undrafted 4th year winger Andrew Rowe(6) scores himself an AHL contract with Hartford Wolf Pack for 2013/2014.

In 66 ECHL games, he led Elmira Jackals in goals, assists and points (28-43-71) with a +5 rating. He even managed to put an exclamation mark on his stats in the postseason with 4 goals and 4 assists in 6 games.

The 6’2″ somewhat light 181 lbs. forward also received a two-week, 5 game recall to Norfolk Admirals.

He put up 15 goals and 8 assists over two seasons with Adirondack Phantoms as a part of Philadelphia Flyers‘ prospect system, where he was signed to a 2-year entry level deal.

The 25-year old also spent a few spells with Greenville Road Warriors in his first pair of pro seasons.

They just happen to be the affiliate of Hartford. No doubt, he’ll be looking to raise his game with his new team to avoid any more time down south.