NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

13May

Jake Schmidt(5) Washington Capitals

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Washington Capitals‘ undrafted defenseman Nate Schmidt(5) recently signed a 2-year entry level deal leaving his final year at University Of Minnesota behind and was reassigned to minor league affiliate Hershey Bears to start his pro career and hopefully help them into the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Objective achieved, as he jumped right in playing through virtually every situation, contributing a goal and 3 assists in 8 AHL regular season games. He added another pair of helpers in 5 postseason games before his team was eliminated in a fifth and decisive game of the Quarterfinals.

He was a heck of a set-up player through his last two seasons in college hockey, so no doubt the parent club will look for him to continue that trend.

The very solid 5’11” 199 lbs. blue liner was recalled to join the “black aces” practice squad as the Capitals begin their quest for the Stanley Cup.

At only 21-years old, he still has time and room to further fill out his frame and may get a long look in upcoming training camps.

His contract already kicked in for 2012/2013, so his official rookie campaign will actually be the second of his deal and he’ll become a restricted free agent at the end of next season.

11May

Tom Wilson(10) Washington Capitals

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Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#16 overall), right wing Tom Wilson(10) enjoyed his third and final season in juniors as assistant captain with Plymouth Whalers.

He scored highs in goals (23), assists (35) and points (58), more than doubling the numbers he put up the previous year and achieved a similar effect in the postseason striking for 9 goals and 8 assists in 13 games to help take his team to the OHL Western Conference Finals before falling.

The still only 19-year old 6’4″ 210 lbs. big body has no problem using his size advantage out there and bets are on that he’ll transition to the pro ranks with ease.

He was signed to a three-year entry level deal soon after he was drafted but without a season to start in the big league was reassigned back to juniors. He appeared in the Capitals brief training camp when the lockout thawed but was once again sent down.

He made his AHL debut with minor league affiliate Hershey Bears for the 2013 Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, where he broke the ice with his first goal. But the Bears‘ fortunes were ended when they lost in the deciding game 5 of the series.

It was a given that he would continue his 2012/2013 playing time to at the very least participate as a member of Washington’s practice squad for their Stanley Cup playoff push, but when injury sidelined one of their top forwards he was recalled to join the team and play his first NHL game.

He skated 8 shifts for 6:24 of total ice time, registering one shot, one takeaway and dishing out 4 hits in the 2-1 OT win.

With the appearance, the young forward appeared in three leagues in one season.

09May

Philipp Grubauer(31) & Niklas Svedberg(1)

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2nd year Hershey Bears‘ goalies Philipp Grubauer(31) congratulates opposing Providence Bruins‘ rookie net minder Niklas Svedberg(1) on their 3 games to 2 come from behind AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals‘ victory.

Both backstops were coming off great AHL seasons with Svedberg taking home the 2012/2013 Baz Bastien Outstanding Goaltender Award, while Grubauer had the rare distinction of tending net in three different leagues throughout the season, also suiting up for a pair of NHL games with the parent club Washington Capitals and 26 for ECHL affiliate Reading Royals.

08May

Brian Lee(25) Syracuse Crunch

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Former Ottawa Senators‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#9 overall), 6th year defenseman Brian Lee(25) was a 2012 trade deadline acquisition of Tampa Bay Lightning.

He played the rest of the regular season with the Lightning recording no goals but his 8 assists set a new career high mark for helpers (15) and points (16).

Not exactly ice shattering marks for such a high draft selection that was pegged to have an offensive upside.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner is signed through next season on a one-way contract but was recently reassigned to their minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch, when he was failing to put up the numbers in the lockout shortened campaign and the parent club wanted to have some longer looks at younger players in the system.

In 10 AHL games, his first appearance in the league in a few years, he had only one assist through the remainder of the regular season. In 3 Calder Cup Playoff games he has yet to put up any points but at the very least maintains a +2 rating.

The recently turned 26-year old may not be a shoe-in for a roster spot to start 2013/2014.

He’s played in 209 NHL games and will need to have a breakout year or might have a tough time finding future deal in the show.

No doubt, with his size, he has to keep a good attitude in place and put a lot more backbone into his game.

07May

Nicolas Deslauriers(4) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#84 overall), 2nd year defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers(4) had career bests in the 2012/2013 season scoring 4 goals and 19 assists with AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

His point production uptick carried over into the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, where he struck for a pair of goals and assists in 4 games; good enough to make him the team’s leading scorer after a first round postseason exit.

The 6’1″ 230 lbs. blue liner plays a rough and tumble, physical style that doesn’t always end him up with time in the penalty box, but he’s also unafraid to drop the mitts when call upon and also may have opened up a little extra room on the ice for his offensive game to flourish.

In four years of junior hockey he was able to put up points on the score sheet on a fairly regular basis, especially in his last two seasons.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal that extends through 2013/2014, the 22-year old has found his footing at the right time and could be on track for his first NHL call-up next season if he continues on this pace, but for now would be happy to join the “black aces” practice squad as the parent club competes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

06May

Derek Nesbitt(16) WBS Penguins

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8th year undrafted right wing Derek Nesbitt(16) is one of those players that has consistently worked hard for every break he’s ever received playing pro hockey.

He joined his ninth team, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to help them with their AHL Calder Cup playoffs push. He was traded from Peoria Rivermen, who was out of postseason contention.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward started his career in the ECHL for a couple of seasons and won a Kelly Cup Championship in his sophomore campaign with Idaho Steelheads. He also put up 81 points in 66 games and another 6 goals and 12 assists in 22 playoff contests that breakout year.

It also set him up to move up to the higher league on a more permanent basis. In 211 ECHL games he has 86 goals and 154 assists.

He signed his only NHL deal with Phoenix Coyotes, a one-year two-way deal, a couple of seasons later.

He has spent most of his playing time in the AHL for the past 6 seasons, where he also has some pretty impressive numbers with 92 goals and 111 assists in 320 games.

The 31-year old is an unrestricted free agent pretty much like he’s always been, heading in 2013/2014 and is coming off his third straight 40+ point year and one where he tallied a career best 26 goals.

05May

Chad Billins(14) Grand Rapid Griffins

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Undrafted, rookie defenseman Chad Billins(14) is a full-on Michigan hockey product.

He was born in Marysville, played his college game with Ferris State University and signed a one-year AHL contract with Grand Rapids Griffins.

The somewhat under-sized 5’10” 182 lbs. blue liner had a good first year campaign playing the complete 76-game regular season schedule scoring 10 goals and 27 assists with a +4 rating.

He was selected as one of three players on his team to represent at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game.

He is participating in his first pro postseason action and has a pair of assists in 5 games as the Griffins advanced to the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

It would be little surprise to see parent club Detroit Red Wings step in, complete the hometown story and sign the soon-to-be 24 year old to an entry level deal.

04May

Dylan Demelo(15) Worcester Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#179 overall) defenseman Dylan Demelo(15) has been summoned to join the team as one of the “black aces” practice squad as they continue to prepare for Western Conference Quarterfinals‘ games. It will be second postseason workout with the big club.

He was reassigned to minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks upon finishing up his fourth year of junior hockey with Mississauga Steelheads, where he had highs in goals (15) and points (50).

The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner skated in 10 AHL games recording 4 assists. He appeared in 4 games with Worcester the previous season and recorded his first pro point, a helper.

He signed a three-year entry level deal at the end of the 2012 regular season and is set to be in the prospect system through 2015.

At just 20 years old, he still looks to be developing his game but is right in the thick of things at a young age, so hopefully will turn into a gem of a deep draft selection.

03May

Chad Johnson(30) & Cedrick Desjardins(30)

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A pair of number 30 goaltenders meet at center ice for the traditional handshake at the end of the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals best-of-five.

Portland Pirates‘ Chad Johnson(30) congratulates Syracuse Crunch Cedrick Desjardins(30) 0n the 3-0 series victory.

Both net minders will be unrestricted free agents as of July 1.

Chances have to be highly likely 4th year, 26-year old Johnson signs a one-year extension to stay in Phoenix Coyotes‘ system. He appeared in 4 NHL games this lockout shortened season and had a 1.21 GAA and .954 SV%.

He could easily score the back up job in 2013/2014.

27-year old Desjardins was reacquired by Tampa Bay Lightning on Valentine’s Day in a goalie swap with Montreal Canadiens. It’s his second time with the only team he’s played NHL games with, 5 total including three this past season.

He’s basically won everything at the junior and ECHL levels and is still waiting for a real opportunity in the show but for now will be concentrating on climbing that next rung with an AHL Championship.

02May

NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 1: Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maples Leafs – TD Garden

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NHL Eastern Conference number 4 seed goes against number 5 in the Quarterfinals: Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden.

The Black & Gold won the regular season series 3-1 but the Leafs are a much better team coming down the stretch.

After letting up the opening tally, the Bruins absolutely blew the doors off game 1 with a 4-1 win.

Did the start of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs awaken a sleeping giant?

They do boast 19 players that have won the ultimate prize and one who won a Calder Cup Championship.

Nice to see Wade Redden and Kaspers Daugavins make the postseason roster. Redden scored the first B’s goal of the 2013 playoffs.