NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

19Jan

Mike Mottau(3) Toronto Marlies

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Heading into 2012/2013 13th year defenseman Mike Mottau(3) was an unrestricted free agent with 313 NHL games to his credit.

Originally a New York Rangers‘ 7th round draft pick in 1997 (#182 overall) he has skated with 5 different teams, his hometown Boston Bruins‘ being the most recent he skated with last season. He was acquired in a trade deadline deal and wore a spoked “B” for 8 games, including 2 in the playoffs.

With a lockout looming, the 34-year old blue liner had a decision to make: either sign a deal with an AHL team or risk not playing for a full year and potentially wrapping up a nice, long career.

He chose the former and inked a pto to join San Antonio Rampage, making his first appearances in the league since 2007. In 16 games, he put up 7 assists and was a +5 plus/minus helping stabilize the team to jump back into the playoff picture.

Offered a chance to fight for a spot on Toronto Maple Leafs‘ roster in a shortened training camp the 6’ 193 lbs., 2000 Hobey Baker Award winner as the best player in college hockey, took it.

He had a strong enough showing that he was signed to a 1-year, two-way contract for the shortened season. Reassigned to their minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies, he played his first game with his new team notched an assist in the loss.

17Jan

Tom Poti(33) Washington Capitals

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Washington Capitals‘ 15th year, veteran NHL defenseman Tom Poti(33) was reassigned to their minor league affiliate Hershey Bears on a conditioning stint. It was the 35-year old’s first AHL games of his career and he even netted a goal in a pair of wins before being returned to the big club to continue his road back to a full-time spot on the blue line.

The two contests were actually his first since a recurring groin injury and fractured pelvis had him sidelined for the full 2011/2012 campaign and the 2nd half of the prior season. He was at the point where it became doubtful that he would lace up the skates to play professionally ever again.

After lots of hard work, he finally passed the team physical and was cleared to play.

The towering 6’3″ 209 lbs. d-man was originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 3rd round pick in the 1996 draft (#59 overall) and has appeared in over 800 NHL contests scoring 69 goals and 256 assists.

His deal with the Capitals is through this season. If the Worcester, MA native and regain his scoring touch, there’s no reason to believe he won’t get another extension and likely retire with the team he’s been under contract with for 6 seasons.

15Jan

Bryce Lampman(27) Portland Pirates

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Originally a New York Rangers‘ 4th round pick in the 2001 draft (#113 overall) defenseman Bryce Lampman(27) is probably best known for his days with their then farm club, Hartford Wolf Pack. He played 287 AHL regular and postseason games with the team and had two 25 point seasons.

He spent the last couple of years skating with a pair of teams in the German Elite League (DEL) before returning to North America to play in 2012/2013 with the first year ECHL Orlando Solar Bears.

In 21 games, the 30-year old blue liner could be on a bit of a scoring tear with three goals and 9 assists. He could realize career highs on the scoresheet if he’s not careful.

He was recently signed to a pto by Portland Pirates as some of their regulars abandoned them for NHL training camps.

The last time the fairly steady 6’1″ 200 pounder played in the AHL was a cup of coffee a couple of years ago with Houston Aeros but the year prior he was on the ice for 54 games with Peoria Rivermen, where he had a 20 point season.

He has dressed for 10 NHL games (all with the Blueshirts, of course) with no points.

14Jan

Patrick Rissmiller(28) Worcester Sharks

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Heading into the 2012/2013, undrafted 11th year left wing Patrick Rissmiller(28) found himself in somewhat unchartered territory: without a contract to play.

He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado Avalanche for last season but for the first time in awhile failed to receive a big league call-up from their minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters.

The 6’4″ 220 lbs. power forward has skated in 192 NHL games scoring 18 goals and 28 assists including two full seasons with San Jose Sharks, where he also appeared in 30 postseason match-ups.

In the AHL, he has played a phenomenal 524 games, lit the lamp 125 times and dished out 227 helpers but a disturbing trend to his game is also a combined -40 plus/minus.

Signing a pto halfway through the season with Worcester Sharks, the 34-year old Massachusetts’ native comes full circle as he spent his college playing time at Holy Cross and started his pro career in 2002 with then San Jose farm team Cleveland Barons.

The hope is that he comes alive with some hometown cooking.

12Jan

Michael Wilson(36) Worcester Sharks

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5th year, undrafted defenseman Michael Wilson(36) has come full circle in his short pro hockey career.

Originally signed to an AHL contract with Worcester Sharks for his first two years, he split time in his rookie season with their then ECHL affiliate Phoenix Roadrunners before spending the next campaign fully in central MA.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. puck-moving d-man signed the following season with Victoria Salmon Kings for what would be the team’s final swim upstream, as they were disbanded in favor of a junior hockey franchise.

Once again in what has become familiar terrority: unrestricted free agent status, he inked a deal that would land him overseas skating for Starbulls Rosenheim in the German tier 2 league. That move lasted less than 20 games as he returned to North America to play the second half of the season in the Central Hockey League with another team that was en route to exit from existence, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. They also decided to rebrand under a junior hockey flag.

The 25-year old signed his most current contract with the newly introduced ECHL Orlando Solar Bears near the start of 2012/2013. In 36 games, he has a pair of goals and 21 assists, which puts him on pace to have personal bests in assists and scoring for a single season.

Signed to a pto with Worcester, in his first game back he had the helper on the overtime game-winning goal.

11Jan

Mark Mitera(17) Reading Royals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ former 1st round pick in the 2006 draft (#19 overall) defenseman Mark Mitera(17) must have been doing his own workouts with a wait and see attitude before finally signing with ECHL Reading Royals for the remainder of the 2012/2013. He did have a tryout agreement with St. John’s IceCaps that fizzled.

His three year entry level deal was up at the end of last season. He finished with 75 games for Hamilton Bulldogs after being traded to parent club Montreal Canadiens early at the start of free agency in 2011.

At 6’3″ 213 lbs. he figured to be a bruising blue liner that simply beat his opponents into submission once he turned pro after four big years playing college hockey but that has yet to be realized.

Signing with the affiliate of AHL Hershey Bears could be a smart move for the 25-year old as chances are reasonable that he’ll receive a call-up with them, or he’ll sign a pto elsewhere as soon as post-lockout hockey begins to unfold and settle.

07Jan

J.T. Miller (10)

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New York Rangers‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#15 overall) center J.T. Miller(10) started his pro career with their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale after only a single season in OHL but could bump up to the NHL now that a new CBA is on the horizon.

In 26 games, he has 5 goals and 9 assists.

He also skated with the Whale for 8 games in last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs.

The 19-year old was reassigned for the period over the holidays to compete with Team USA for the World Junior Championship, which they did in fact win with a victory over last year’s top country, Sweden.

He was an alternate captain.

Now back in North America, the young 6’1″ 200 lbs. burgeoning power forward has been once again reassigned back to Connecticut but will likely first be making a stop at the Rangers‘ brief training camp before finding out where his next home address will settle (at least for the time being).

His three-year entry level deal extends through 2015.

06Jan

Sami Vatanen(9) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#106 overall), Finnish defenseman Sami Vatanen(9) isn’t the biggest of the blue liners playing pro hockey measuring in at 5’9″ 163 lbs. but he competes hard and definitely has a huge potential offensive upside.

In 30 games with AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, the rookie has 4 goals and 14 assists and isn’t exactly easily beaten in his own zone at a -3 plus/minus on a team that is challenged to win games more than they should be.

The 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that carries him through 2014 in the Ducks‘ prospect pool.

Tough to say if he makes it stick in the NHL but he’s definitely worth a few looks.

03Jan

Frederik Andersen(30) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 3rd round pick in last year’s draft (#87 overall), Danish goalie phenom Frederick Andersen(30) signed a two-year entry level deal mostly tending the cage with affiliate, Norfolk Admirals, but he did receive a first recall.

In 17 AHL games he’s posted a so-so 7-7 record on a team that is barely living up to expectations but his 2.42 GAA and .925 SV% is pretty convincing. He’s currently 2nd among rookie net minders in the league.

The 23-year old is a towering 6’4″ 230 lbs. frame in net but moves very well and could become the first goaltender from his country to play in the NHL.

Chances are likely that will happen.

01Jan

Kevin Porter(12) Rochester Americans

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5th year, unrestricted free agent center Kevin Porter(12) signed a two-year deal with Buffalo Sabres in early July. In its first season, the deal is a two-way contract but for the second year it pays him NHL money even if he’s put on waivers and reassigned to their AHL affiliate, Rochester Americans.

Due to the lockout in the big league, the 6″ 190 lbs. forward was loaned to the Amerks to start his first campaign with the organization, his first time playing in the league since late-ish 2010. He was named team captain at the beginning of the season.

The 26-year old won the Hobey Baker Award in 2008 for being the best player in college hockey and was originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 4th round in the 2004 draft (#119 overall).

He spent his rookie season splitting time between the Coyotes and San Antonio Rampage before being dished at the trade deadline to Colorado Avalanche, where he had a career 2010/2011 run before seeing his ice time all but evaporate, limiting his games played to just 35 the following year.

In the AHL, he’s always been a nearly point-per-game player and this season is no different, as he’s scored 9 times with 14 assists in 31 games.

He’ll have to find a role with a team to step up permanently and could very well do it.