NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

22Aug

Ray Kaunisto(24) St. John’s IceCaps

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Undrafted left wing Ray Kaunisto(24) needed to find a new hockey home for 2012/2013 after he was not tendered a qualifying offer by the team he had spent the first two years of his pro career with, Los Angeles Kings in their prospect system.

He skated only with their AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs putting up a marginal 15 goals and 21 assists in 131 regular season games. He did post bests in games played, assists and points last season (74 – 15 – 22).

At 6’4″ 193 lbs. much more offensive production would be expected of a player that has power forward size written all over him.

St. John’s IceCaps stepped up with a one-year AHL contract to see if the 25-year old is ready for his breakout year.

We’re sure a few extra pounds of muscle on his frame couldn’t hurt his chances of scoring, battling in front of the net. He’s a fun guy to follow on Twitter @rayk71.

21Aug

Jamie Arniel (12)

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After three years with Boston Bruins, signed to an entry level contract, center Jamie Arniel(12) was not qualified an offer to return for another season.

He had a really poor year with their AHL affiliate Providence Bruins (only 7 goals and 17 assists in 74 games combined with a terrible -17 plus/minus), which could have contributed to them giving up on his development.

The 23-year old was originally a 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#97 overall) and there was high hopes for the always seemingly small looking 5’11” 183 lbs. forward.

In 227 minor league games he posted 43 goals and 60 assists with career highs in 2010/2011, the season he skated in his one NHL game (also the year the Bruins won the Stanley Cup).

He is said to have received a ring for his time with their practice squad, the Black Aces.

For 2012/2013 he is off to continue his professional playing career in DEL with Eisbären Berlin.

He’s still so young that it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see him put up some big numbers overseas and return to another NHL team under a two-way contract.

20Aug

Tyler Eckford(7) Ottawa Senators

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5th year defenseman Tyler Eckford(7) will slide over to skate with his third team in three seasons signing a two-year, two-way deal with Ottawa Senators for the 2012/2013 season.

After spending his first three seasons with New Jersey Devils, mostly with their farm team in Albany/Lowell, he hooked up with Phoenix Coyotes on a one-year contract and skated in a career high 75 AHL games with Portland Pirates, scoring a personal best 10 goals.

He was never recalled last year, as he was for 7 games over 2 seasons with the Devils. He tallied one assist in 3 and 4 game stints.

Whether he earns an occasional spot on the Sens‘ blue line seems to lie for the upcoming season with the player, as there may be an opening for him to potentially fill. Regardless, he should help the team’s affiliate in Binghamton shore up their defense for the next couple of years.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. almost 27-year old plays a tough, aggressive game but seems to lack a bit of the knockout punch in his play he needs to use more of.

See related posts: 8/19-11 and 4/13-10

19Aug

Chris Terry(25) Carolina Hurricanes

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ 5th round pick in the 2007 draft (#132 overall) left wing Chris Terry(25) gets the nod for another two seasons to continue his development in the team’s prospect system.

In 2011/2012 he had an AHL career high in 43 assists with Charlotte Checkers.

His 59 points led the team in scoring; he was second by a point the year before.

Through 234 regular season games he has 67 goals and 103 assists, which is pretty good for the 5’10” 195 lbs. forward.

He was outstanding in the Checkers‘ surge to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011 with 6 goals and 3 assists in 15 contests.

The 23-year old has yet to appear in an NHL contest but an appearance should be right around the corner, especially if he continues on his scoring run in the minors.

17Aug

Maxime Legualt(29) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft (#194 overall) right wing Maxime Legault(29) is still without an NHL contract but has stuck around in their prospect system and re-signs his third AHL deal returning to Rochester Americans for 2012/2013.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forwards numbers went down from his rookie year to his second but he’s the type of player that never stops digging when he’s on the ice.

He started his pro career in the Sabres‘ 2010 training camp before getting reassigned to Portland Pirates without a contract but was eventually inked to an spc in December.

The 23-year old could pester his way into a 2-way NHL deal if he can become a necessary fourth line energy player and effective penalty kill specialist.

15Aug

Zach Miskovic(25) Chicago Wolves

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After 3-seasons of one-year two-way deals with Washington Capitals, spent entirely with their farm team Hershey Bears, undrafted defenseman Zach Miskovic(25) signs an AHL contract to join his close to home team, Chicago Wolves for the 2012/2013 season. He was born 27 years ago just 19 minutes (with traffic) down the street.

The 6′ 192 lbs. blue liner has played in 166 regular and postseason AHL games scoring 14 goals and 32 assists with a three year +28 plus/minus to his credit. It was only last season that he trailed off and found himself to be a healthy scratch probably a whole lot more than he would have liked. He only had three assists in 35 games and went a -2.

No time like now for a new start with maybe a home-cooked pre-game meal every now and then.

14Aug

David Meckler(55) Los Angeles Kings

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Los Angeles Kings‘ soon-to-be 6th year left wing David Meckler(55) originally signed an AHL only contract with Manchester Monarchs in 2007, his rookie season to stay in the system of the team he was drafted by in the 5th round of 2006 (#134 overall).

From there he scored an NHL 3-year, two-way entry level contract that still kept him fighting for a recall from the triple A minor league team.

The 25-year old signed a one-year, two-way deal last season after putting up a good season, which followed a couple years of deteriorating numbers. He had a weird hand injury that kept him from more than 44 regular season games and 4 postseason contests in 2011/2012 but did alright with 10 goals, 7 assists and a +10 plus/minus.

The 6′ 213 lbs. forward will see if he can rebound in 2012/2013 and earn his first recall to the show. In 342 AHL games, he has 74 goals and 61 assists. He should be 20/20 on the scoring sheet.

13Aug

Jake Muzzin(3) Los Angeles Kings

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3rd year defenseman Jake Muzzin(3) was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick in the 2007 draft (#141 overall) but never signed with them and instead inked a 3-year entry level deal with Los Angeles Kings that saw him on the team’s opening night roster in his rookie season, 2010.

He was ultimately reassigned and recalled a few times that year but managed to skate in 11 games notching a single assist, while averaging some 12-13 minutes of ice per contest.

That has basically been it though as he enters his third season, having accepted the Kings‘ qualifying offer to stick around.

In 116 regular season AHL games with their affiliate Manchester Monarchs he netted 10 goals and assisted on 39 more.

The 6’2″ 216 lbs. 23-year old blue liner put up career bests: goals (7), assists (24), points (31) and penalty minutes (40) in also a high, 71 games.

He’ll probably need an outstanding training camp to get another look in the show. “I get knocked down…”

12Aug

Ryan Craig(22) Springfield Falcons

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Heading into his 10th season, center Ryan Craig(22) is back with Springfield Falcons under an AHL contract. He was originally reassigned to the team in his second pro year by Tampa Bay Lightning. He was their 8th round pick in the 2002 draft (#255 overall).

The 6’2″ 202 lbs. forward was team captain from 2004 until mid-way through 2005 before being recalled to the NHL, where he stayed for the next four seasons although was unable to shake the injury bug limiting his effectiveness and games to 61 games in 2007-2009.

By the start of 2009 – 2010, he was basically relegated to their AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

He was an unrestricted free agent as the start of 2010 and signed a one-year, two-way deal with Pittsburgh Penguins. He played 6 games with them without hitting the scoresheet, spending most of his time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Re-signing for 2011/2012, he skated the full year in the AHL.

The now 30-year forward is a welcome asset and proven leader for a young Falcons‘ squad, and may just lift them back into the playoff picture.

In 190 career NHL games he’s scored 32 goals and 31 assists.

11Aug

Lee Baldwin(77) Greenville Road Warriors

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Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Lee Baldwin(77) signed a 2-year entry level deal with New York Rangers to start his pro career. But that didn’t necessarily mean if he failed to make the NHL roster he was automatically going to end up with their AHL affiliate. In fact, he played in more ECHL games over the last two seasons with Greenville Road Warriors (85 total, 8 goals and 21 assists with a +16 rating) than he did with Connecticut Whale (38 for 0 points).

Heading into 2012/2013 as an unrestricted free agent, the 24-year old, 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner, signed a one-year deal to play again with the Road Warriors. No doubt, if Connecticut needs a defenseman, he’ll be the first called up, signed to a pto.