Category: NHL

19Nov

Emerson Etem(26) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#29 overall), center Emerson Etem(26) is a rare example of a local kid signing with the hometown team and seeing how it’s a California story makes it even more like Twilight Zone.

After three pretty outrageously successful years in juniors, where last year he put up 107 points (61 goals and 46 assists) in 65 regular season games, the 20-year is ready for the next step. He signed a three-year entry level deal that keeps him with the Ducks through 2015.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward probably didn’t expect to see as much time with the team’s farm team, Norfolk Admirals but with no NHL in site he’s skated 14 AHL games to start 2012/2013.

He’s recorded three goals and no assists. Last season on an ato with then Anaheim affiliate Syracuse Crunch he potted a goal in two games to get things started.

No doubt he seems to have the skill set but in the one game we saw him play, his team was eaten alive in a shutout so no one looked too good.

18Nov

Alexander Avtsin(67) Hamilton Bulldogs

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Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#109 overall), Russian right wing Alexander Avtsin(67) has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons playing with their AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs.

The 6’3″ 193 lbs. forward is signed to a three-year entry level deal, which will keep him in the organization through 2014, but has yet  to exhibit the signs of becoming the power forward the Habs thought they were getting.

He’s a bit light for his size and needs to show a willingness to get into the mix for scoring chances. Maybe at the young age of 21-years old he’s still struggling with the North American style of hockey but needs to snap to it quickly or may face reassignment to the ECHL this season to get him up to speed.

Through the first 11 games of the 2012/2013 season he was a healthy scratch from the lineup, finally getting his opportunity to play in game 12.

He must have gotten the message loud and clear because he struck for a goal and an assist in a big win for the Bulldogs but will have to keep up the pace to stay on the big club’s radar.

16Nov

Ben Bishop(30) Binghamton Senators

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5th year goaltender Ben Bishop(30) may be suffering from a bit of a letdown playing in the AHL again this season after all but solidifying a spot to tend net in the NHL with Ottawa Senators.

Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 3rd round pick in the 2005 draft (#85 overall), he played a lucky 13 games for them but spent most of his time with their AHL affiliate Peoria Rivermen consistently improving his numbers.

The 25-year goalie was swapped out late last season to the Sens, when the Blues had sort of a logjam in the crease with talent and thought they might lose him to free agency.

He’s absolutely giant-sized at 6’7″ 205 lbs and will definitely compete for a big league job once they stop bickering and work out a deal to play hockey, but with no NHL negotiating thaw in sight he signed a contract with Binghamton Senators for 2012/2013.

In 10 games with Ottawa, he posted a 3-3-2 record with a 2.48 GAA and .902 SV%.

15Nov

Will Weber(8) Springfield Falcons

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#53 overall), defenseman Will Weber(8) earns his first call-up to the AHL Springfield Falcons.

The extra-large 6’4″ 231 lbs. blue liner is certainly filled out enough to tackle offensive threats but spent the first couple weeks of his rookie season in the stands until he was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Evansville IceMen to get some ice time and game action in.

In 8 games he failed to connect on the scoresheet and went a -5 plus/minus on a team that has had its’ struggles in the early going of 2012/2013.

The 24-year old is not really known as a puck-moving d-man but with his size has the ability to move any attackers out from in front his own net. He is signed for the next two seasons on an entry level contract.

14Nov

Brock Nelson (29)

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#30 overall), center Brock Nelson(29) is lighting the lamp with frequency with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 11 games, he’s already tallied 7 goals and 6 assists with a +4 plus/minus.

The sizable 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward knows how to get into position and execute scoring chances.

He left college after only a couple of years (and his last one as more than a point per game player), signing a 3-years entry level deal with the Isles.

If the NHL was in session, the 21-year old would definitely be competing for a roster spot in the show; but for now he’s doing just fine proving what he’s worth with the farm team in his rookie season.

 

12Nov

Ryan Parent(3) Norfolk Admirals

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6th year, former 1st round draft pick of Nashville Predators in 2005 (#18 overall) defenseman Ryan Parent(3) has over 100 games of NHL experience but none since a couple of seasons ago, 4 games with Vancouver Canucks despite signing a two-year one-way contract with the team.

He spent all of 2011/2012 that he was healthy enough to play for with their new AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves but only managed to be 22 of a 76-game season.

Ironically he finished the season with a goal and 5 assists, which would have put him on pace for career highs on the scoresheet.

He also have a goal and 6 assists in the NHL.

As an unrestricted free agent approaching 2012/2013, he signed a pto with Norfolk Admirals a couple of weeks into the season.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. d-man has one assist in 6 games but is a -5 plus/minus.

Admirals must like having the 25-year old on their team though, because they inked him to an spc. Still, it looks to be a smart move on their part.

 

 

11Nov

Adam Larsson(5) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#4 overall), Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson(5) started his rookie season with the team as an 18-year and scored his first NHL goal one day before his 19th birthday. He would finish the 2011/2012 campaign with a pair of goals and 16 assists in 65 games but went a lowly -7 plus/minus.  He also appeared in 5 postseason contests and scored his only goal in his first Stanley Cup Playoff game. At age 16 and 17 he already played two years in the Swedish Elite League (SEL).

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the d-man was reassigned to start his sophomore season with their AHL affiliate Albany Devils, as the big club waits for word on whether they will play at all.

In 9 games he’s put up four helpers.

At 6’3″ 200 lbs. the youngster definitely has good size in his favor and will likely only continue to fill out that frame and has the ability to help the team put some points up on the board but has to push for more accountability in his zone.

10Nov

Cody Hodgson(19) Rochester Americans

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3rd year Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#10 overall) center Cody Hodgson(19) is back in the AHL after his first successful full season in the NHL that ended with Buffalo Sabres after a late season trade sent him eastward.

In 83 totals regular season games he picked up 19 goals and another 22 assists between the two squads.

The 6′ 185 lbs. gritty forward would have almost assuredly continued to pick up the pace in the big league this year had they not hit the roadblock called a lockout.

Everyone seems to agree though that some more playing time in the AHL (his first since being a Manitoba Moose rookie standout ) with the Sabres‘ affiliate Rochester Americans will continue to help his game reach that next level and becoming a consistent 20-goal scorer is where he looks to be headed.

Unfortunately he was recently derailed for at least a few weeks with a broken hand suffered in the third week of the season. In 9 games he’s been quick to notch a goal and 9 assists.

08Nov

Ryan Stoa (21)

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ryan-stoa

4th year center Ryan Stoa(21) was originally a Colorado Avalanche 2nd round draft pick in 2005 (#34 overall) and stayed in their system for 3 seasons, first under a 2-year entry level deal and one-year extension.

He’s played in 37 NHL games over his first two years scoring 4 goals and 3 assists but skated the full 2011/2012 season with their affiliate Lake Erie Monsters.

The rugged 6’3″ 200 lbs. forward has played in 177 AHL regular season contests connecting for 55 goals and 54 assists.

He leads the young team in overall tallies.

Going into the offseason, the 25-year old faced his first unrestricted free agent status but was quickly scooped by Washington Capitals and signed to a one-year, two-way contract.

Reporting to Hershey Bears, he has struck for 3 goals and an assist in 9 games with a -2 rating.

That does seem to be the one hindrance to his play as he’s on the ice for more goals against than he probably should be and does seem to eat up a lot of minutes.

06Nov

Keven Veilleux(44) Wheeling Nailers

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Few players have been bitten by the injury bug more than Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#51 overall), right wing Keven Vellieux(44).

He’s only skated almost one complete season over the course of a 3-year pro career in 2010/2011 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. But even then, skating in 66 games he missed over a dozen contests.

The 6’5″ 218 lbs. forward did put up some decently impressive numbers potting 12 goals and 24 assists, while going a +17 plus/minus on what was a very good team that year, and added another 4 points in the postseason.

2011/2012 however got scrapped entirely due to a blown out knee in preseason play that required surgery setting him back yet another full campaign, when he was diligently looking to continue to prove himself.

Penguins‘ brass still have hopes for the 23-year old though as they qualified him for another go in 2012/2013.

Still not full recovered from his injury 9 match-ups into the new season, he has been reassigned to ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers for the first time to get his game on. He should light the lamp and pound some fists consistently in the lower league quickly leading him back up to the AHL.