NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

01Dec

Eric O’Dell(14) St. John’s IceCaps

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St. John’s IceCaps‘ 2nd year center Eric O’Dell(14) is in the final season of his 3-year entry level deal he signed with parent club, Winnipeg Jets (technically Atlanta Thrashers, who picked him up in a trade at the end of 2010/2011, their curtain closer).

In 13 appearances this season he’s notched 4 goals and 4 assists but like last season he has also found himself on the wrong side of being a healthy scratch on too many occasions. Admittedly though, they did have an uncanny amount of depth on that 2011/2012 squad, which is probably why they went to the Conference Finals.

The one-time Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#39 overall) managed only 39 games but struck for 12 goals, which was 9th in scoring, and added 10 assists while skating a +6 game.

It’s a bit of a wonder why the 6’ 195 lbs. forward isn’t in the lineup on a regular basis. It will be interesting to see what the Jets have in mind after this season when he hits restricted free agent status.

30Nov

Mark Pysyk(13) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#23 overall), defenseman Mark Pysyk(13) is making a seamless transition from junior hockey into the pros. He’s participated in three prospect and two training camps already.

The 20-year old starts his rookie season with their AHL affiliate Rochester Americans and has 1 goal and 6 assists in 17 games and is a +2 plus/minus on a team that is still better on paper than they are on the ice.

He was captain of Edmonton Oil Kings taking his hometown team to a WHL championship last season.

At 6’1 193 lbs. it’s not like he’s an oversized blue liner but is considered a good play-maker and is also accountable in his own end.

He’s really the type of player that has leadership written all over him but we’ll see how his game and on-ice identity develop.

28Nov

Beau Bennett(13) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#20 overall), left wing Beau Bennett(13) decided to turn pro after only a couple of years of college hockey, signing a three year entry level deal that keeps him with the organization through 2015.

The 21-year old has on his first two levels shown to be prolific on the scoresheet and in 18 AHL games to start his rookie season, he’s already struck for 4 goals and 9 assists.

At 6’1″ 195 lbs. the forward already has size and works it to gain position for scoring chances.

He might just be the first player ever to be born in Gardena, CA to play in the NHL. We’re projected that obviously.

27Nov

Mark Visentin(29) Portland Pirates

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#27 overall), goalie Mark Visentin(29) was a force in net in his last two seasons in juniors. Of his many accomplishments: he posted a 2011/2012 league best 1.99 GAA in 42 games and had 10 shutouts, establishing a new OHL record. The netminder also helped his team to the playoff finals, which was the furthest Niagara IceDogs had ever been in the postseason and even scored a goal for himself. Ironically it was the previous season he was named goaltender of the year.

The 20-year old has appeared in a few Desert Dogs‘ prospect camps and was in-line to participate another NHL training camp until everything was put on hold.

He, along with every other eligible player, was reassigned to start his pro career in the AHL with their affiliate Portland Pirates.

The young 6’2″ 205 lbs. goaltender has struggled a bit out of the gate in the minors but seems like a very centered personality that should ultimately help the farm team excel as the season wears on.

26Nov

J.T. Brown(23) Syracuse Crunch

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Undrafted rookie right wing J.T. Brown(23) signed a 2-year entry level deal with Tampa Bay Lightning that runs through the current 2012/2013 season but started last year while he was still playing college hockey for Minnesota-Duluth.

Reason being is that upon finishing up his second stint at UMD, he decided to turn pro, inked a contract and immediately skated in five games with the Lightning to conclude the regular season. In those contests he managed an assist and was a nice +2 plus/minus playing an average of 13 minutes per game.

The 5’10” 177 lbs. forward had been literally a point per game guy in college and American junior hockey as he was coming up the ranks.

Over the weekend he just about doubled his point totals in the AHL (4 goals, 6 assists) with Syracuse Crunch, scoring his first hat trick and getting a helper in one contest.

Some had him pegged to start his first full season in the NHL but as we know….

24Nov

Gabe Guentzel(10) Fort Wayne Komets

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Undrafted defenseman Gabe Guentzel(10) started his rookie season 2012/2013 under contract with Norfolk Admirals of the AHL and has played in 6 of a dozen games so far. He has an assist but is also a dismal -8 plus/minus on a .500 record team.

He was recently reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Fort Wayne Komets, where in his first game on Thanksgiving night he potted his first and assisted on another in the win. Not a bad start in the lower league for the 6′ 187 lbs. d-man.

The 24-year old could stay in the midwest for awhile but look for him to get called back up if he keeps hitting the scoresheet.

He skated in 12 regular season games at the end of 2011/2012 with Syracuse Crunch, the old affiliate of Anaheim Ducks, on an ato after finishing his college career; and appeared in another 4 postseason contests.

So, even though he’s not signed with the Ducks officially, he’s fully on their radar and participated as a free agent in prospect camp with the team.

23Nov

Chris Bourque(17) Providence Bruins

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Fully ensconced in his 8th pro year, left wing Chris Bourque(17) now sports a spoked emblem on the front of his jersey similar to the one his dad wore for 21 seasons.

The first son wears a “P” for Providence on his sweater, whereas his dad proudly wore the “B” for Boston Bruins.

Temporarily with no place to move up the ladder, the AHL veteran forward is right at home playing his games at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, a building he skated many a contests for opposing teams, instead of up the highway at the TD Garden.

The still only 26-year old is off the scoring pace that made him the top point getter in the league last season with 93, but 14 games in he has a pair of goals and 8 assists, which is very respectable.

If things stayed stalled with the NHL talks, he may not be a league leader in 2012/2013 with the talent pool the way it is but he’ll almost certainly for a fourth start year end the campaign as a point per game performer.

22Nov

Shayne Wiebe(24) Connecticut Whale

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Undrafted rookie center Shayne Wiebe(24) signed an AHL contract last season with St. John’s IceCaps after participating in Winnipeg Jets‘ training camp.

12 games and 4 assists into the 2011/2012 season and he worked out a release to pursue his education and skated the rest of the year with University of New Brunswick. He was basically a point per game player.

2012 rolls in and he’s back at the pro level in training camp with Connecticut Whale, a team he played one game with signed to an ato after his career in junior hockey was up.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward started the season with the team but only under a pto.

After one game he was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Greenville Road Warriors and in 12 games has socked away 7 goals and 5 assists with a +7 plus/minus.

The performance earns the 22-year a recall and another pto with the Whale. Let’s see if the former captain of Brandon Wheat Kings can make it stick.

21Nov

Andrew Johnston (15)

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Undrafted rookie left wing Andrew Johnston(15) signed a three-year entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers that keeps him in the system through 2015.

He came out of the SJHL and lit the lamp regularly in the less dominant junior league that’s usually a buffer for college hockey as the next step for a player.

In 10 AHL games with Adirondack Phantoms he has his first pro goal but no helpers yet.

The 6’1″ 188 lbs. forward was bumped down to their ECHL affiliate Trenton Titans to see if he can reignite that scoring spark in the lower league.

Chances are good this will happen but then he’ll still have to fight to find an open spot in the lineup on what’s a pretty deep prospect pool for the Flyers.

20Nov

Stanislav Galiev(10) Hershey Bears

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Washington Capitals‘ 3rd round pick in the 2010 draft (#83 overall), Russian left wing Stanislav Galiev(10) has been put in a bit of a tight situation when he was reassigned to get a midweek game in with their new, now geographically nearby ECHL affiliate Reading Royals.

He was immediately recalled as planned after his one appearance in the league but now is having a tough time finding an open roster spot with Hershey Bears, the team he started his rookie season with through the first 9 regular season games.

The 20-year old 6’2″ 187 lbs. forward has only managed 1 assist but did also score the game-winner in his shootout debut.

He was basically a point per game guy in his junior career.

No doubt he’ll either get the nod to go again with the Bears soon or could get reassigned for a longer run.