NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

Category: NHL

05Oct

Will Weber(4)

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Comments Off

4th year defenseman Will Weber(4) was left unqualified by the only team he’s known for the past three season, Columbus Blue Jackets.

Signed to a one-year extension after his entry level deal was up, he suffered greatly in 2014/2015 with a hip injury that required surgery playing in a career low 30 AHL games with farm team Springfield Falcons.

Never one to put up numbers on the score sheet, he’s definitely considered a bruising stay-at-home style d-man.

He was known to drop the gloves when necessary but for a player with his size should have been tougher to play against.

Now approaching 27-years old, the former Miami University (Ohio) RedHawks’ 2011 NCAA (CCHA) Champion was in San Antonio Rampage training camp on a try-out but has been reassigned to start 2015/2016 in the ECHL with affiliate Fort Wayne Komets.

He could easily play his way back up the ladder but will need to work hard on his game to gain notice.

05Oct

Zdeno Chara(33)

Posted in AHL, Featured, NHL | Comments Off

Zdeno Chara(33) will be starting his 19th season of professional hockey and tenth as captain of Boston Bruins in 2015/2016.

His team is a little thin with new blood on the blue line so the 38-year old, who will turn 39 before the end of the season, has to be ready to log lots of minutes.

He got in a little extra workout after practice at a recent training camp session.

Push ups on ice were punishment for missing the net on a slap shot drill.

04Oct

David Ling(71)

Posted in AHL, ECHL, Featured, NHL | Comments Off

Heading into his 21st season, the mini might that is David Ling(71) has a back-up supply of Energizer batteries in his body as he’s returning to Nottingham Panthers for 2015/2016.

He was last with them a few years ago and put up a league leading and career high 95 points in the EIHL.

It was the second time he earned 60 assists in a campaign (last time was 2004/2005 with St. John’s Maple Leafs) and his 35 goals set a new best mark.

Unsure what made him decide to return to North American hockey least season under contract with the lowly Brampton Beast.

He had a decent 9 goals and 32 assists in 46 ECHL games but was a woeful -33. Despite that figure he still grab a recall for three more AHL games with Oklahoma City Barons, where he got an assist.

Set to turn 41-years old by mid-season, he would love to win another Championship with the team like they did in 2013 and pick up more player and forward of the year accolades.

03Oct

Corbin McPherson(33)

Posted in AHL, Featured, NHL | Comments Off

New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#87 overall) defenseman Corbin McPherson(33) signs his third AHL deal with affiliate Albany Devils for 2015/2016.

The 27-year old was under a one-year two-way entry level deal last season after a good sophomore campaign with the farm team in 2013/2014 but left unqualified heading into the new schedule making him an unrestricted free agent.

The big 6’5″ 220 lbs. blue liner has never been a big point producer, preferring a more stay at home, bruising style game but he does own a nifty +15 rating through 223 games.

The Californian-born d-man spent four years at Colgate University and was captain in his final season.

For such a towering presence, he doesn’t fight much (only two in 2014/2015) and doesn’t take many costly penalties.

He was still invited to training camp and with a little more grit he could easily be dangerous to play against and the parent club probably stills sees the potential.

29Sep

Jamie McBain(5) Los Angeles Kings

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

6th year defenseman Jamie McBain(5) signed a one-year two-way contract with Los Angeles Kings after agreeing to a pto with affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

He played 6 AHL games with the farm club scoring a goal and adding three assists with a +3 rating before the parent club came calling to fill in some spots that needed coverage on their blue line.

Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#36 overall), the 6’2″ 205 lbs. d-man spent the first four years of his career with the team but unfortunately as time passed started to show declining returns.

After the 2012 lockout it definitely appears that he’d lost some of his step.

He managed to pick it up slightly last season after a trade to Buffalo Sabres but not enough for them to revisit extending the unrestricted free agent.

A training camp invite of Arizona Coyotes, they only really had a peak before releasing him.

There was a bit of a murmur that he was set to leave for the KHL but shortly thereafter he signed his tryout deal.

Injuries and a misfortune, along with a sliver of salary cap room, had him at the right place at the right now. Maybe it was a bit of mastery forsight too.

The still young-ish 26-year old will either have to step up his offensive numbers (25-67-92 in 276 NHL games) or start using some of that size to shut down the attackers.

It’s a coin flip to see how this one materializes. It really could become a great fit though.

Original story: 11/14-14

He appeared in 26 games with LA Kings scoring 3 goals and 6 assists with a +4 rating, making him accountable enough to keep around.

They wasted no time as free agency started re-signing him to a one-year, tw0-way extension.

Starting the season with a new contract, the 27-year old should be able to connect on the score sheet more often and continue to elevate his game.

27Sep

Trent Vogelhuber(38) Springfield Falcons

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in the 2007 draft (#211 overall), rookie right wing Trent Vogelhuber(38) has been mentioned as one of those later selection diamond in the rough, potential power forwards.

He was not signed to an NHL contract by the parent club (although he has a player page with a photo no less) but affiliate Springfield Falcons stepped in to offer him a one-year AHL deal. No doubt there was some kind of coordinated effort at work with the early free agency inking. He did appear in a couple of games with the team at the end of last season on an ato.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward participated in exhibition play with the Falcons but with the lockout, their opening roster was deep and tough to crack. He was reassigned to ECHL Evansville IceMen, where in 34 games he posted 6 goals and 10 assists with a +3 rating on a team that has struggled mightily to win.

In his 4th game on recall, he put his first in the net to break the ice as he hopes to stay in the lineup as the push towards an imminent first playoff berth in 10 seasons awaits the Cinderella squad. The 24-year old will have to put all of himself into every shift to make it happen but no doubt it is possible for the first year pro.

He also has the distinction of being the first player to be selected by the Ohio team that was born and played his college hockey in the state.

Original story: 3/5-13

He would split time almost evenly between the AHL and ECHL in his first season, doing decently in both leagues.

For his sophomore campaign, he re-signed with the Falcons but was all too often a healthy scratch and skated only 30 games with a goal and 8 assists.

In his third year, he would achieve career high totals for games played (64), goals (8) and points (16). His 8 assists tied the mark from the previous season.

The 27-year has decided to stay in Columbus Blue Jackets‘ system for his 4th pro year.

He once again started in the parent’s club training camp but signed a one-year deal over the summer with new affiliate Lake Erie Monsters and will continue to develop his game.

We do expect the tenacious checking style skater to increase his scoring output.

26Sep

Adam Brace(28) Heilbronn Falken

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Florida Everblades‘ 2nd year, undrafted right wing Adam Brace(28) is definitely a situation of what’s missing or wrong with this picture?

He’s a solid point-per-game guy on the very good ECHL squad with 33 goals and 35 assists in 68 games with a +27 rating.

This is his second tour with the southern team. He joined them out of 3 years at Robert Morris University, where he basically detonated the score sheet.

In 5 games before the postseason he put up three assists but when the playoffs hit he exploded for a team best 6 goals and 9 assists as a kid fresh out of college signed to an ato.

The small-ish 5’10” 186 lbs. forward signed a one year minor league deal with Charlotte Checkers for his rookie campaign and played 10 AHL games registering 2 goals and 4 assists before being traded to San Antonio Rampage, who sent him straight to Cincinnati Cyclones.

Once again though, he was dished to Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he played a couple of games scoring a goal and an assist before being sent to Stockton Thunder to finish out his first year.

So in his first year, he was signed, traded twice and skated for 5 teams in two leagues.

The now 26-year old has spent the entire 2014/2015 season in Florida with one team.

It’s a bit of a head scratcher as to why he hasn’t got a call up.

Original story: 4/5-15

For his sophomore campaign he would play a season high 71 ECHL games scoring 35 goals and 37 assists for 72 points with a crazy +28 rating.

Having pretty much accomplished everything he could ask for in the league, he decided to jump to Germany’s second tier DEL2 signing for a year with Heilbronn Falken.

The now 27-year jumped out of the gate quickly with his new team in a new land scoring 4 goals and 4 assists in just 6 games.

Not sure what the regulations are overseas but if he stays this hot, he would definitely be a candidate to move up a step in the country.

25Sep

Zack Torquato (15)

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

4th year center Zack Torquato(15) re-signed for 2013/2014 with Wheeling Nailers for another chance to propel the ECHL club into the postseason after missing half of last season on the injured reserved list.

Originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#178 overall) he was never signed and became an unrestricted free agent but did play games in two seasons with minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.

He would later sign an AHL contract with Rockford IceHogs but spent most of his rookie season with their affiliate Toledo Walleye, where he put up some pretty good numbers scoring 11 goals and 33 assists in 54 games.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward is no stranger to posting record marks, as he did with 62 assists in his over-age junior hockey season with Erie Otters.

He got off to a super-hot start with the Nailers posting 9 goals and 22 assists and a crazy 100 shots on net in 25 games and was loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins just before Christmas.

In 7 games already chipping away at the score sheet with a pair of goals and assists.

The 24-year old could net a contract in the higher league or if he’s sent back down, it’s not likely to be for a long time.

Original story: 1/5-14

He would stay up with the Penguins for another month skating 18 games with 2 goals, 5 assists and a +1 rating before being returned.

For 2013/2014 he finished up his 4th season in the ECHL setting new scoring highs (14-38-52) and putting in another point-per-game in 6 playoff match-ups.

Just prior to 2014/2015 starting he re-signed for another year with Wheeling Nailers.

Once again he netted a couple of recalls to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton but evened out a bit with only a goal and an assists in 12 games.

In the lower league though, he once again struck for career bests of 19 goals, 40 assists and 59 points, then equal his postseason totals from a year ago.

The 26-year old has decided to stay put for a 5th campaign with the Nailers.

If he strikes on the score sheet quickly he will probably find himself recalled but could possibly go to a different AHL team to try his luck.

24Sep

Spencer Abbott(9) Frolunda Indians

Posted in NHL | Leave a comment

4th year right wing Spencer Abbott(9) started the new year with the Maple Leafs but went a -2 plus/minus with no points and quickly sent down.

2013/2014 would end up being his best season. He scored 17 goals with a whopping 52 assists, good enough for 2nd in the league and first on the Marlies.

These totals made keeping him around a no-brainer as he signed for another campaign but was left in the minors with diminishing scoring totals, then dealt to Chicago Blackhawks just before the trade deadline.

Reassigned to affiliate Rockford IceHogs, it took him little time to get situated as he popped in 12 goals and 9 assists in 19 AHL games, then added another 3 and 3 in 8 postseason match-ups.

Looking at his first unrestricted free agency, the 27-year old decided to head overseas to continue his game signing a one-year term with Frolunda Indians of the SHL.

He’s off to a speedy start with 2 goals in his first pair of appearances.

22Sep

Brandon Gormley(46)

Posted in NHL | Leave a comment

4th year defenseman Brandon Gormley(46) would go on to have a relatively good first year scoring 5 goals and 24 assists in 68 AHL games.

In his sophomore campaign he increased in all categories finishing with 7 goals, 29 assists and 38 points in less games at 54 played but did have a pretty bad -22 rating.

He did however receive his first pair of recalls and 5 games in the big league near the end of the 2013/2014 season. Although he didn’t managed to get any points he was a +4 plus/minus.

Heading into the final year of his entry level deal he would split time between leagues almost evenly with a slight edge towards minutes with the parent club.

In 27 games he produced his first 2 NHL goals and 2 assists. He had a -7 rating but that might be tough to blame on such a rebuilding team.

Recalled on three occasions he basically finished off the regular season with the team before being sent back to Portland Pirates to help them with their postseason push, and he did scoring one goal and 4 assists going to a deciding fifth game of the first round before their exit.

A restricted free agent heading into 2015/2016, the now 23-year old accepted his qualifying offer, a 2-way deal to prove he has what it takes to stick.

Later in the season, the fourth year d-man was traded in a swap of relatively high draft picks to Colorado Avalanche and just may find life on their blue line.

« Older posts

Newer posts »