NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

06Apr

Kyle Flanagan(39) Adirondack Phantoms

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Undrafted, center Kyle Flanagan(39) signed a conservative one-year entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers upon completing is final season of college hockey at St. Lawrence University.

He was a Hobey Baker Award top ten finalist as top college player for 2012/2013 and finished the year as top scorer in the NCAA.

The diminutive 5’9″ 180 lbs. forward was more than a point-per-game skater in his final two seasons posting a career highs in goals, assists and points in his final campaign.

He picks up where he left off starting his pro career on an ato with minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms.

In his debut, the 24-year old notched an assist and scored his first pro tally a few games later, while adding to his helpers total for 5 points in 5 contests.

He’s quick and has a knack for the net but like any smaller sized player will have to find the open areas of the ice to continue his effectiveness.

Regardless, he’s off to a great start.

05Apr

Joey Diamond(32) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted left wing Joey Diamond(32) finishes up four years of college hockey and signs an ato joining Bridgeport Sound Tigers to start his pro career.

The very under-sized 5’7″ 170 lbs. player skates with all the grit and determination of a power forward but with roughly half a foot less in the height category.

He consistently put up triple digit penalty minutes in his final three seasons with Maine Black Bears and also had a knack for getting into the open areas for scoring chances.

He’s already proving he belongs. It took him little time to establish himself as he got his first point, an assist in his 2nd game and added another in the next contest. He followed that up with his first fight and then scored and is currently on a two-game goal streak, with the addition of another fisticuffs bout for 22 total pims.

Parent club New York Islanders is very likely taking notice. He’s been in prospect camp with the team and was born in the area, so it would be no surprise to see him sign an entry level deal this summer for 2013/2014.

04Apr

Alexander Fällström(15) Providence Bruins

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Originally a Minnesota Wild 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#116 overall), Swedish right wing Alexander Fallstrom(15) was involved in a trade that brought his rights to Boston Bruins before he would start his college career at Harvard University, right down the road from the team’s home arena, TD Garden.

The 21-year signed a 2-year entry level deal through 2015 and starts his pro career on an ato with minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

He notched his first pro point, an assist, in his debut and scored his first goal 5 games later.

At 6’2″ 203 lbs. he already has the physical attributes of a power forward, very much plays that style of game and has soft enough hands to connect with the back of the net consistently.

He may start his rookie season in the AHL but looks like he will become an NHL top six forward in short order.

03Apr

Ryan Strome(18) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#5 overall) center Ryan Strome(18) made his professional debut with minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers scoring his first goal, adding an assist and was selected as the game’s number one star in the 4-2 win.

The 6’1″ 183 lbs. power forward also looks like he will be making his first NHL appearance sooner than later based on his opening night performance on the scoresheet and overall play.

He signed his three-year entry level deal at the start of 2011, but was a slide for its initial year and could do that again for 2012/2013.

Although we see strong indications that he’ll be called up to help the parent club with their postseason push, allowing his contract to kick in.

The still only 19-year old struck for almost a pair of points per game in his second and last seasons of junior hockey and looks to continue on course to become a top 6 player in the show.

02Apr

Mark Cundari(15) Calgary Flames

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3rd year undrafted defenseman Mark Cundari(15) was a key component in a trade deadline deal that saw him move from St. Louis Blues‘ system to Calgary Flames.

He was chosen to appear in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game, where he had one assist to help the Western Conference to a 7-6 win, in what has been his breakout campaign.

He’s appeared in 172 minor league contests scoring 10 goals and 59 assists, all with Peoria Rivermen.

The under-sized 5’9″ but solid as a rock, 200 lbs. agitator defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut but could net a recall from farm team, Abbotsford Heat before the current season wraps up.

He won back-to-back OHL and Memorial Cup titles in juniors with Windsor Spitfires.

The soon-to-be 23 year old is in the final season of his 3-year entry level deal and scheduled to become a restricted free agent as the end of 2012/2013.

As the Flames are rebuilding a more youthful future, he will undoubtedly be qualified with a contract extension.

01Apr

Thomas Greiss(1) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 2004 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#94 overall) goaltender Thomas Greiss(1) was reassigned to minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks for conditioning.

After starting the lockout shortened season with a shutout win, he’s been shaky in his last three starts, all losses before going down to what is reported as being a neck injury.

In 42 NHL games the 6’1″ 215 lbs. German-born net minder owns a 17-15 record with a 2.55 GAA and a .910 SV%. His stats in the AHL are similar, although more games played at 141 with Worcester going 74-60 with 2.70 GAA and .904 SV%.

The 27-year old is in the final year of his 2-year extension (one-way deal for 2012/2013) and set to become an unrestricted free agent.

It seems highly improbable that they will keep him around. He’ll see little playing time as the season heads down the stretch to prove any uncertainty the organization might have after 7 years in the prospect system.

31Mar

Oliver Lauridsen (7)

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft (#196 overall) Danish defenseman Oliver Lauridsen(7) made his NHL debut over the weekend, a 3-1 upset victory over Boston.

The XL 6’6″ 220 lbs. blue liner skated 22 shifts for 17:12 total ice time, had 1 shot on net, 3 hits, 3 blocked shots, 2 giveaways, 2 penalty minutes and was an even plus/minus in what was a very solid, active game for his debut.

In 126 AHL games with affiliate Adirondack Phantoms he has 4 goals, 9 assists and a healthy amount of pims.

At his size, he’s obviously unafraid to drop the mitts.

His 2-year entry level deal expires at the end of the current campaign.

He’s set to become a restricted free agent but it’s almost a no-brainer to re-up for at least another season with the 24-year old European prospect.

With a bit more grit in his game, he could become a diamond-in-the-rough, tough to play against, punishing d-man.

28Mar

Brian Boucher(1) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 16-year veteran goalie and former 1st round pick in the 1995 draft (#22 overall), Brian Boucher(1) has circled back to tend net for the team three times since leaving the fold after his fifth season in the organization.

He’s only suited up for 4 games in the current campaign and has been shuffled to AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms on a few occasions. In 10 starts he owns a 2.50 GAA and .906 SV%. His numbers with the big club in 4 contests are similar.

His most recent venture back to Philly came as the lockout ended and Carolina Hurricanes was already set with their goaltending situation.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. backstop has worn the pads for seven different NHL squads, amassing an absolute eye-popping 371 regular and postseason games.

The 36-year old is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but we’re betting he still has something left in the tank and wants to continue his playing career.

Where he will go is an absolute mystery though.

27Mar

Derek Joslin(36) Worcester Sharks

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6th year defenseman Derek Joslin(36) has just seen his pro career come full circle.

He is back with the team he started with, Worcester Sharks, when the parent clubs swapped minor league defensemen in a late season move that saw Vancouver Canucks return him to the AHL Eastern Conference from Chicago Wolves.

He is still signed with the Canucks but set to become a restricted free agent.

The 26-year old inked a one-year, two-way deal early in free agency with the team after Carolina Hurricanes bought out the final season of his 1-way contract.

He has 114 NHL contests to his credit with 4 goals and 12 assists and spent the entire last two seasons in the league, skating games in the show since 2008-2009 season.

The solid as a rock blue liner has yet to score a recall in the lockout shortened 2013 campaign but now that appears doubtful.

In 262 career AHL games, he’s scored 29 times and added 84 assists but currently sitting at a sort of dismal overall -16 plus/minus.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. d-man was originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2005 draft (#149 overall).

26Mar

Shane Harper(11) Trenton Titans

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ undrafted 3rd year right wing, Shane Harper(11) has definitely had his ups and downs in the final season of his three-year entry level deal.

He started the season on AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms‘ roster after spending his entire sophomore campaign with the team, scoring a tidy 13 goals and 14 assists in 70 games.

The small-ish 5’10” 187 lbs. forward once again was in the plans for 2012/2013, but stumbled out of the gate and was utilized less in game situations due the overload of NHL players in the fold as the lockout dragged on.

Just after the new year, he was reassigned to ECHL affiliate Trenton Titans to see if he could regain that scoring touch. He spent only a week in the lower league with little to show, when summoned back up as the stalemate in the show thawed and the Phantoms lost a few key contributors.

He was still snake-bitten though, as he has only had 4 goals and 4 assists in 42 games to his credit, along with a -13 plus/minus on a squad that has been struggling to win.

The 24-year was once again sent back to the Titans, but this time flourished in a big way. He put up back-to-back hat tricks in a pair of big wins for a team out of the playoff hunt and was looking to tie a piece of ECHL history with a 3-in-3 performance.

He fell slightly short of the mark in his third attempt, scoring only one goal but adding three assists in another resounding effort. In 12 games, he has an opponent shattering 11 goals and 11 assists. He was a point-per-game guy in his rookie season with Greenville Road Warriors.

If recalled for another crack at keeping his spot through the remainder of the season, he will have to at least come close to duplicating his output.

Heading into restricted free agent status, it would seem likely that the Flyers would qualify him for another year.