Category: NHL

12Sep

Matt Tassone(26) Las Vegas Wranglers

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Matt Tassone

4th year center Matt Tassone(26) bounced around lots last season and somehow ultimately ended up skating in 5 Kelly Cup Playoff games with Elmira Jackals scoring three points, a pair of goals and an assist.

Making sense of his movement through the 2012/2013 campaign is a whole other deal.

Initially the 6′ 200 lbs. forward was signed to an AHL contract by Lake Erie Monsters but was either released or reassigned and inked with Wichita Thunder before moving on within the Central Hockey League to Arizona Sundogs and then getting recalled by the Monsters and signed to a pto, where he appeared in 13 games scoring his first and thus far only league tally.

He was originally a Dallas Stars‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#176 overall) but never came to terms with them and eventually bounced down to their farm club, Texas Stars. This lasted no time though, as they sent him to their ECHL affiliate Idaho Steelheads.

As a rookie he played 32 games generating 10 points but also suffered injuries that sidelined him for a good chunk of the year.

For his sophomore season he signed with Ontario Reign but was once again was challenged to stay healthy and eventually released before the end of the regular season.

Once again, for 2013/2014 he commits to another ECHL team, Las Vegas Wranglers.

The 23-year old seems poised for a breakout on the score sheet and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him join the 20/20 club or better.

10Sep

Martin Jones(31) Los Angeles Kings

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martin-jones

Almost shockingly, undrafted 4th year net minder Martin Jones(31) has spent his entire pro career in Los Angeles KIngs‘ prospect system and will be riding with the organization for another two seasons as he just inked an extension through 2014/2015.

He was signed to an entry level deal with a couple of slide seasons as an 18-year old to lay claim to him though.

He’s coming off another campaign with affiliate Manchester Monarchs, where he set record highs in many categories including a phenomenal 56 games played (2nd most overall), wins with 27 but also 25 losses, 5 shutouts, 3347 minutes in the crease and 1601 saves to his credit.

The big 6’4″ but light 189 lbs. goaltender has yet to officially earned an NHL call-up in the juggernaut that was in net for the parent club until recently but was part of the team’s practice squad when they won the Stanley Cup in 2012.  He’s easily proving he is worth a look as he maintains a 2.46 GAA and .921 SV% in the minors through 136 AHL games.

He won a WHL Championship in his last season of junior hockey with Calgary Hitmen, plus was playoff MVP and top goaltender in the Memorial Cup and in the league for 2009/2010.

There is still that curtain of let’s see what this kid can do when he gets into a game with the “big boys” but the 23-year old seems to be on the right path.

See related: 2/10-11, 3/3-11, 4/29-12

31Aug

Nick Palmieri(44) EHC München

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Kyle Palmieri

After his first year of playing entirely in the minors and getting traded from Minnesota Wild/Houston Aeros to New York Rangers/Connecticut Whale, right wing Nick Palmieri(44) will lace up the skates in Germany’s DEL for EHC München in the upcoming season. 

He has skated in 87 NHL games, mostly with New Jersey Devils, who made him their 3rd round pick of the 2007 draft (#79 overall). For now he leaves with 13 goals and 12 assists to his credit.

The rangy 6’3″ 220 lbs. winger has played 221 AHL games, 3 seasons with Lowell/Albany Devils with 49 goals and 46 assists in the league, easily less than anticipated from a prospect his size and potential power forward abilities.

In four years of junior hockey in the OHL he always put up decent numbers but again seemed a bit underwhelming.

The 24-year old should be able to become a 1.5 point-per-game guy overseas but we shall see.

All said, we’re still pulling for the guy to break out of his proverbial shell.

29Aug

Chris Collins(21) Bakersfield Condors

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Chris Collin

8th year undrafted left wing Chris Collins(21) has bounced around a lot in his pro career.

He will don the jersey of his 10th team when the 2013/2014 campaign starts and he puts on a Bakersfield Condors‘ sweater.

The mini 5’8″ 186 lbs. forward finished up 2012/2013 with Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins appearing in 20 regular season and 13 playoff games. He scored a combined 3 goals and 6 assists but also left them with a -8 rating. It was his second stint with the organization. His AHL totals are 44-51 in 226 appearances.

He’s appeared in 144 contests overseas, mostly in the top German DEL and has really excelled on the bigger ice surfaces posting 51 markers and 66 helpers.

The 29-year old is also prolific in the ECHL, where he’ll once again skate in the upcoming season, so we expect him to help a team that has struggled the past couple of seasons as a leader in the locker room and on the score sheet. It’s possible that he could be selected as their captain.

He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist in his last year with Boston College Eagles, when he put up 1.5 points per game. His outstanding performance led to an NHL contract with Boston Bruins but skated only with their affiliates.

28Aug

Carl Sneep(4) Idaho Steelheads

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Carl Sneep

4th year, former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#32 overall), towering defenseman Carl Sneep(4) somewhat surprisingly signs a one-year deal with Idaho Steelheads for 2013/2014.

He was originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal in which he appeared in his only NHL game and even recorded his first big league point, an assist. He also suffered injuries that limited his play in his sophomore campaign.

The 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner was extended for another season but something seemed to go amiss as he was inserted into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ lineup for a mere one appearance and spent most of his time watching from the stands before being reassigned to Wheeling Nailers, where he skated in 29 games before being dished to Dallas Stars.

He played 25 games with Texas Stars and received one recall but did not skate with the parent club and was once again bounced on loan late in the season to Peoria Riverman.

Not surprising, his point totals suffered, probably from changing addresses so much but he was never really viewed as a big point-getter since high school hockey.

He’s more of a big shutdown d-man that is tough to play against and holds a highly accountable +28 rating in 133 AHL games; and added another +12 in 29 ECHL games, but also was able to put up some marks on the score sheet (3 goals, 12 assists).

With his big frame though, he could easily put a bit more punishing grit into his style of play.

In four years with Boston College Eagles he was a part of two national championship teams.

Joining Idaho may be a strategic move for the 25-year old, as it would be no surprise to see him attend affiliate Texas Stars‘ training camp, rejoining the team and log some miles between the two western states.

See related: 12/18-11.

25Aug

Jeff Frazee(31) Valpellice Bulldogs

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Jeff Frazee

New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft (#38 overall) goaltender Jeff Frazee(31) became an unrestricted free agent at the end 2012/2013.

He was originally signed to a 3-year entry level deal and extended for another couple of seasons but despite being recalled, practicing and serving as back-up, had only played in one NHL game with the parent club last season.

His time in the cage was brief at 19 minutes of playing time, only facing three shots but at the very least he blocked each one of them.

The 6′ 195 lbs. net minder has appeared in 187 AHL games with their minor league affiliates Lowell and Albany Devils posting a 3.02 GAA and .906 SV%. Almost ironically he had one of his best seasons in 2012/2013.

Entering his 6th pro season, the 26-year old signed a one-year deal to join the Italian Elite A League Valpellice Bulldogs.

He should be able to slam the door shut on his opponents, which will either potentially open the door to better league play overseas or another opportunity with a different club in North America.

See related: 10/20/10

21Aug

Joel Chouinard(2) Hamilton Bulldogs

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joel-chouinard

4th year defenseman Joel Chouinard(2) signs a one-year AHL contract to skate with Hamilton Bulldogs or ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers in the 2012/2013.

Originally a Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#187 overall), he was left unqualified after three seasons in the their prospect system, where he played in 98 games with minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters but only 10 last year.

Instead he was reassigned for most of the campaign to the Central Hockey League appearing in 42 contests with Denver Cutthroats.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner posted career highs in assists and points in the lower league.

He had similar strong marks in his rookie season, putting up a team leading 8 goals and 9 assists in only 35 AHL games.

This first year pro performance extended what he was able to accomplish in his final run of junior hockey with Victoriaville Tigres. He struck for phenomenal 23 tallies, good for first in the league and 35 helpers, which made him a more than point per game guy as a d-man.

The 23-year old will need to step it up again to spend the full season with the Bulldogs.

18Aug

Max MacKay(17) Wheeling Nailers

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Max MacKay

It was a very trying rookie season for undrafted right wing Max MacKay(17) due to a series of injuries and a reported terrible bout with the flu that sidelined him for all but 16 games in 2012/2013.

Signed to an AHL contract with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he was limited to only 8 appearances notching 3 assists.

Loaned to Wheeling Nailers to gets his wheels working the 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward was still bugged skating in only 8 ECHL games but struck for a pair of goals and 4 assists.

Taking an odd route through the Atlantic Junior Hockey program before turning pro, he was a 2-point-per-game player in the tier III league, leading the team in scoring and to a pair of championships.

The 22-year old inked a one-year deal to re-join Wheeling for the upcoming season and get back on the radar in hopes to continue his climb up the pro hockey ladder.

He was an invite to the 2012 New York Islanders‘ development camp. His uncle is in fact, coach Jack Capuano.

17Aug

Thomas Heemskerk(33) Quad City Mallards

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Thomas Heemskerk

3rd year undrafted goalie Thomas Heemskerk(33) was left unqualified by San Jose Sharks and became an unrestricted free agent after his three-year entry level contract was up.

He spent two years in their prospect system skating mostly for their ECHL affiliates Stockton Thunder and San Francisco Bulls with some sprinkles of ice time with Worcester Sharks. In 6 AHL games he posted a 1.97 GAA and .926 SV%.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder also received one recall to the NHL to serve as a back-up and practice with the team.

Although only appearing in a fraction of the games, his SV% was better than his junior hockey league best in 2009/2010 with Everett Silvertips.  had a 91-58-19 record in four years of WHL with a 2.81 GAA and .910 SV%.

His marks in the ECHL were less good. In 63 contests his GAA was 3.19 and had a .899 SV%.

For 2013/2014, he almost surprisingly signs a one-year deal with Quad City Mallards of Central Hockey League.

The still very young 23-year old goaltender should score a recall or two in the upcoming season that might elevate him back up into a higher level of pro hockey.

 

13Aug

Simon Gysbers(24) Ilves

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Simon Gysbers After three years in Toronto Maple Leafs‘ prospect system, first a 2-year entry level deal and then a one-year extension, undrafted defenseman Simon Gysbers(24) was unrestricted but quickly grabbed a deal overseas in the Finnish elite league SM-liiga with Ilves for the 2013/2014 season.

He had good but declining numbers with minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies through 196 AHL games (16 goals, 65 assists, +7 rating). It just seemed that the clock on the parent club’s waiting game for him to develop had run its course though.

At 6’4″ 200 lbs. he’s a big frame although doesn’t necessarily play an overtly physical style. He’s more of a shooter and a set-up guy as indicated by his consecutive 20+ assist seasons to start his pro career. He also threw at least a shot (and more) on net in each game played.

The 26-year old is likely another soon-to-be former North American player that should do well on the bigger sheets of ice and different talent pool and we expect him to move up to some higher leagues. He could even potentially come back. We shall see. 10 more pounds of muscle probably wouldn’t hurt either.