NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

09Aug

Eric Gryba(2) Ottawa Senators

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The big man that has been guarding the blue line for Binghamton Senators for the last couple of seasons, Eric Gryba(2) re-signed with the parent club, Ottawa Senators through 2014 on another two-way contract.

He was originally a 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft (#58 overall) but has yet to see any NHL action.

The 6’4″ 222 lbs. defenseman had AHL career highs in 2011/2012 with 73 games played, 5 goals, 15 assists and 20 points. His unfortunate -13 plus/minus was on the worst regular season team in the league.

Just one season prior and he was playing in his rookie campaign for the Cinderella B-Sens‘ squad that won the 2011 Calder Cup Championship.

At only 24 years old he could get a look in the show with continued good play and some injuries, but he’s going to need to elevate his overall game.

08Aug

Drew Schiestel (44)

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Buffalo Sabres said “I do” for a one-year, two-way contract with their 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall) defenseman Drew Schiestel(44) despite there being a can of worms still on the table throughout his first three seasons in the system.

In a low total of 156 AHL games with their Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans‘ affiliates, plus a weird 16 games with Texas Stars late last season in a shuffle him out of the conference Sabres‘ reassignment.

He was good for 8 goals and 39 assists in that stretch.

Not terrible, although there should be more upside.

And there is: he’s an effective +17 plus/minus over his first three years since turning pro playing in the minors. 2011/2012 was his first season in the minus column on the ice.

He did get hampered by a season ending knee injury a couple of years ago but he was also a healthy scratch from the Amerks at times last year.

Step up.

07Aug

Andrew Campbell(2) Los Angeles Kings

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#74 overall) defenseman Andrew Campbell(2) is rewarded with a two-year, two-way contract after posting career high assists, points and plus/minus last season with their top minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

In 76 2011/2012 regular season games he scored a pair of goals and added 17 assists with a +14 rating, good enough for 2nd on the team.

He has yet to make his NHL debut but with his consistent play over the last two years, the 24-year old has to be close to a recall.

The xl-sized 6’4″ 207 lbs. prospect has already skated in a hefty 298 AHL games. Although he plays a physical game defending the zone, the big blue liner could continue to add more muscle and a little extra weight for greater impact.

06Aug

Zach McKelvie(24) Abbotsford Heat

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Undrafted, 2nd year defenseman Zach McKelvie(24) took one of the more unlikely paths to turning pro.

After his college career finished, he went into a couple of years of military duty. He tried to defer it as he was signed an entry level deal with Boston Bruins but was told otherwise, although was still able to maintain a contract for the time he was away.

Upon finishing up his responsibilities with the army, he inked a one-year, two-way deal that would finally start his rookie season at age 26.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner played in 39 games with their AHL affiliate Providence Bruins scoring a goal and an assist, while going a rough -11 plus/minus. He also appeared in 7 games regular season and 5 postseason games towards the end of his debut campaign in the ECHL with Reading Royals.

For 2012/2013, the Minnesota native jumps up to Canada, where he has signed a one-year standard AHL contract to continue with Abbotsford Heat. Good story all around.

05Aug

Garrett Roe(13) Adirondack Phantoms

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2nd year left wing Garrett Roe(13) re-signed an AHL contract to skate with Adirondack Phantoms for 2012/2013. As a rookie he was fifth on the team in overall scoring with 8 goals and 32 assists in 70 games. He also ranked second in helpers.

Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 7th round pick in the 2008 draft (#183 overall), he never signed with them, although participated in a few of their development camps.

He’s not overly blessed with size standing only 5’9″ 180 lbs, but obviously has a knack for controlling the puck and dishing it to teammates that can put it in the back of the net.

He should get another look from the parent Philadelphia Flyers at their upcoming training camp and who knows the 24-year old may just impress enough to score himself a two-way contract.

04Aug

Alex Biega(4) Buffalo Sabres

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd year, 24-year old defenseman, Alex Biega(4) signed a one-year, two-way contract keeping him in their system for another season. He had restricted free agent status and was qualified an offer by the team but seemingly took a little bit to put his name above the line.

In his first two seasons, he put up admirable numbers with AHL career highs in goals, assists and points (5 – 18 -23) for 2011/2012. He’s also played on a pair of affiliates (Portland Pirates / Rochester Americans) that made it to the postseason; and is more than accountable in his zone with a combined +18 plus/minus.

He plays hard and definitely shows some skills but listed at 5’10” 191 lbs. it seems like they’re stretching it a bit. Maybe it’s just time for him to start living at the gym. He could be doing that as he heads into another season having set career highs in the previous one.

02Aug

Brett Festerling(5) Nürnberg Ice Tigers

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Heading into his 6th pro season, undrafted defenseman Brett Festerling(5) figures trying out hockey in a different country for right now is the route to take, as he signs with Nurnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL for the 2012/2013 season.

The 6’1″ 208 lbs. blue liner has appeared in 88 NHL games in each of his last 4 years, mostly with Anaheim Ducks, who he was initially under contract with from 2007-2011. He registered no goals and 8 assists.

In 2010/2011, he found himself on the trading block three times, finally ending up with Atlanta Thrashers‘ farm team Chicago Wolves.

From there the now 26-year old re-signed with Winnipeg Jets for 2011/2012 and put up some AHL career highs with their affiliate St. John’s IceCaps scoring 15 assists, 18 points and a +8 plus/minus, while making it to the Eastern Conference Finals with the team in its’ inaugural season. He also appeared in 5 NHL games with the Jets.

An interesting bloodline fact to him picking Germany as his next place to play professionally in, his twin brother Garrett plays there and his grandfather is a native of the country.

He was also captain of the Vancouver Giants team that captured the Memorial Cup in 2007.

01Aug

Nathan McIver(8) New York Islanders

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Long-shot 8th round pick by Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 draft (#254 overall) defenseman Nathan McIver(8) has made the most of his pro career playing 4.5 years in their system on a couple of different occasions, appearing in his first 18 NHL games with the team as well.

He’s played 36 overall, registering only a single assist but scoring isn’t exactly 6’3″ 195 lbs. blue liner’s strong point.

A couple of seasons ago with the Providence Bruins he was assessed a team and career high 178 penalty minutes. Injuries last season hampered his willingness to drop the gloves.

Free to sign with any team of his choosing for 2012/2013, his eighth year pro, the 27-year old inked a one-year, two-way deal with New York Islanders that will probably see him handing out punishment with their affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He is a veteran of 345 AHL regular season games.

31Jul

Matt Corrente(8) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#30 overall) defenseman Matt Corrente(8) signs on for his 5th season with the organization on a one-year, two-way contract.

He has always seemed to be hampered by the injury bug throughout his pro career but keeps on getting right back in there competing as soon as he’s cleared to play.

The 6′ 200 lbs. d-man has skated in 34 NHL games and hit the stat sheet for 6 assists.

In the AHL he’s appeared in a remarkably low 153 regular season games with Lowell/Albany scoring 13 goals and 24 assists. Last year two or more incidents kept him to only about half a season worth of appearances.

If the 24-year old can shake the black cat from keeping him out of games, he has the ability to be an effective blue liner. He may not put up great offensive numbers and look a bit smaller than his stats indicate but he’s got an edge that is an integral part of his game.

31Jul

Stephane Da Costa(24) Ottawa Senators

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Undrafted mini-might, 2nd year center Stephane Da Costa(24) re-signed for 2012/2013 on a two-way contract with Ottawa Senators.

He made the NHL team out of training camp but lasted only 22 games (3 goals, 2 assists isn’t too bad) before being reassigned to their AHL affiliate Binghamton Senators.

In 42 games, he was able to strike for 13 goals and 23 assists, which was good enough for 5th on team scoring.

The 23-year old is listed at 5’11” 180 lbs. but looks a lot smaller on the ice than that.

Still, he has the ability to put up some numbers and with a little muscle and grit should be able to hang in the show (for at least a bit).

He is Paris, France born, which is an odd little player fact.