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21Aug

Patrick Cullity(3) Missouri Mavericks

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2nd year undrafted defenseman Patrick Cullity(22) scored his 1st AHL goal (to go along with a pair of assists) in his 27th career game, 17th this season with Springfield Falcons, who he signed a pto contract with in December. That’s either up for renewal soon or an upgrade to an spc.

He also skated in 5 games this season with Abbotsford Heat registering one assist. Two years ago he got his AHL debut with Syracuse Crunch right after he completed his college career at UVM. He’s under contract for 2011/2012 with Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL but may not be going back.

In his rookie season he played 71 games with South Carolina Stingrays, where he had a pair of goals and 15 assists while going a +14 plus/minus.

He was born in Tewksbury, MA.

9/21-12: The 25-year old signed a one-year deal with the ECHL Idaho Steelheads for 2012/2013. He ended last season scoring 1 goal and 9 assists in 49 AHL games for Springfield Falcons and Abbotsford Heat.

Original story: 2/6-12

He would start the new campaign with Idaho but upon his first recall to old friend Springfield he was offered an AHL contract. It didn’t end his time in the lower league as he was sent down and back on a few occasions.

Near the end of the season he was acquired by St. John’s IceCaps for the remainder of the schedule, playing 14 games with 2 assists to his credit. He was returned for the Kelly Cup Playoffs and he had a great showing notching 2 goals and 3 helpers in 9 match-ups.

As the 2013/2014 approached he was re-signed to a one-year deal with the IceCaps but was reassigned back to the Steelheads at the beginning of the season and stayed there.

He would play a career high 70 ECHL games scoring a best 4 goals and 28 assists for 32 points. He led the team in assists and points for d-men.

After what had to be a year of mixed emotions it didn’t take him long to realize he would be most served to stay put in the Great Pacific Northwest for a third stint.

The Falcons once again summoned him for a short term but once again the majority of his time was with Idaho, where he was an impressive +20 plus/minus.

Entering his 6th season, the now 28-year old leaves the nest and joins Missouri Mavericks for 2015/2016.

19Aug

Alexander Urbom (6)

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6th year defenseman Alexander Urbom(6) would finish out his second campaign in the minors and by his third season had seemingly slipped off New Jersey‘s depth chart, appearing in only one game to finish the year.

As training camp was winding down for the start of 2013/2014, he would be a late cut having to clear waivers before reassignment but was claimed by Washington Capitals and start the season on their opening night roster.

He stayed with the big club for 20 games scoring a goal and an assist while skating a good 20 shifts for an average of 15 minutes per game but something happened near the end and his ice time was cut significantly, then sat on the sidelines for a month before being set to be sent down.

The Devils was paying attention though and reclaimed him but he was immediately sent to Albany, where he would unhappily conclude his time in North America.

Entering restricted free agency, he would reportedly sign a two-year agreement with Severstal Cherepovots of the KHL but must have had an out clause because for his 7th year, the 24-year old returned home to the SHL signing with Skelleftea AIK.

19Aug

Stefan Chaput(21) Olimpija Ljubljana

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5th year center Stefan Chaput(21) hooks up with Hamilton Bulldogs for the 2012/2013 season on a one-year AHL contract.

He missed all but 11 games with Providence Bruins last year due to hip surgery, groin, upper body, you name it. Apparently healthy once again, he’ll look to regain some of that scoring spark he had when he first came to the P-Bruins in 2010 and from his “rookie” season in the Carolina Hurricanes‘ system with Albany River Rats.

The 6′ 192 lbs. forward was originally a Canes‘ 5th round pick in 2006 (#153 overall). He’s not an overly big player and doesn’t really play that style of game but given some room he can make things happen and the Bulldogs are counting on some of that magic to reappear. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

Original story: 9/19-12

He would start his new season on reassignment down to Wheeling Nailers, where in 15 ECHL games he scored 3 goals and 6 assists before being recalled to spend the rest of the campaign with Hamilton.

Although not what he was able to achieve in his earlier career, he still was able to do ok with 5 goals and 12 assists in 48 games but was a woeful -12 plus/minus.

It was good enough to get him another contract for 2013/2014, but when he was once again to start the new year in the lower league he decided to split signing briefly with Cornwall River Kings of the LNAH.

He received another AHL look on a pto with Utica Comets but failed to connect in three games and was released.

His next step may have been one of his most important, as he agreed to terms halfway through the season to head overseas joining Ravensburg Towerstars of DEL2.

Seemed like the right move as he found that scoring touch connecting for 9 goals and 11 assists in 16 games and added another tally and 4 more helpers in 5 playoff match-ups.

For 2014/2015 he decided to stay put in Germany but switch allegiances inking a deal with rivals Dresdner Eislowen.

He would post career highs for his new squad notching 20 goals and 34 assists for 54 points in 43 games but came up a bit empty in a short postseason.

Heading into his 8th year, the now 27-year old has decided to move on to Austria’s Erste Bank Eishockey Liga to skate with Olimpija Ljubljana, where he may be a bit more challenged to keep up those scoring stats from last season but will be a good challenge.

19Aug

Cody Kunyk (20)

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Undrafted 2nd year center Cody Kunyk(20) experienced quite the ride in his first season of pro hockey.

After 4 years at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks setting all sort of records including 2013/2014 NCAA/WCHA Player Of The Year and led the WHCA in scoring and did the same for his team in many key offensive categories.

He would be immediately signed to a one-year deal by Tampa Bay Lightning upon the completion of his college hockey career and skated 15 shifts for 10:12 total ice time with 2 shots on net, 1 hit, 1 breakup with only 20% effectiveness in the face off dot in the final game of the 2013/2014 regular season.

The not exactly huge looking 5’11” 200 lbs. forward would need to be re-signed quickly in the off-season, which he was to another one-year, two-way contract.

Things looked to go amiss from here though as he was a quick exit from training camp and in 69 AHL games with affiliate Syracuse Crunch scored 10 goals and 16 assists with a -12 rating.

He also did not connect for a point in 3 Calder Cup Playoff match-ups in a quick first round exit.

He was not offered a qualifying offer to stay in the prospect system rendering him an unrestricted free agent.

At already 25-years old he probably surveyed possible scenarios for his sophomore season and came away with the best possibility being to take his hockey elsewhere, signing with Grizzlys Wolfsburg of DEL for 2015/2016.

Before ever suiting up in Germany he was released and put under contract a week later for Genofte Stars of Denmark’s Metal Ligaen.

18Aug

Steven Whitney(23) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ undrafted right wing Steven Whitney(23) signed an ato with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals after finishing his four-year college hockey career at Boston College. The 22-year old was considered the best unselected player available.

He scored his first pro goal in his AHL debut and has added 3 more assists in 5 games played.

The 5’7″ 165 lbs. forward is a ball of energy out there and has no problem dishing the puck for scoring chances or getting himself into the open areas of the ice to bury it despite being one of the smallest skaters.

In his final two seasons with the Eagles he was a point-per-game guy, won a pair of NCAA Championships and continues on that tear.

He signed a two-year NHL entry level deal through 2015 and has to be making the parent club smile about their new prospect.

Original story: 4/17-13

In 8 games on the ato he would get 3 goals and an assist but had a -2 rating.

To start his sophomore campaign he was basically reassigned back to the Admirals and stayed there for 65 games. He would only connect for 10 goals and 13 assists with a -7 plus/minus.

He wasn’t extended a qualifying offer to continue in the Ducks‘ prospect system and basically took the first half of his third season off.

When he decided it was time to start playing hockey again, he made a smart signing with Florida Everblades.

In 23 games he would net 8 goals and 8 assists with a +7 rating but came up a bit empty in the postseason with only one tally and 2 helpers.

The now 24-year old isn’t mulling a decision heading into 2015/2106, maybe a little ironically signing a one-year deal back with Norfolk Admirals but since dropped down a rung to the ECHL.

17Aug

Cam Janssen(22) Nottingham Panthers

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Originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2002 draft (#117 overall), 9th year right wing Cam Janssen(22) makes an appearance in an AHL game for the first time in 5 years.

Ironically it’s once again with a Devils‘ minor league affiliate and he comes full circle from where he started his career in the last lockout season 2004-2005, Albany. Then it was the River Rats and later became Lowell Devils before changing back to upper state NY with the horned moniker in tow.

In that rookie season, the 6′ 215 lbs. pugilist wrapped up an amazing 337 penalty minutes. He owned stock in that penalty box.

He continued that role and it landed him in the NHL full-time by 2008 with St. Louis Blues, although he did play 95 games with New Jersey.

The 28-year has been signed to a series of 1-year two-way deals on his second go round with the Devils and with this lockout history, he will have a hard time finding a spot on a lineup that has the elements he brings to the table but also can put some points up on the score sheet.

Regardless, he’s a fun player to watch and in his first minor league game in half a decade looked to be more interested in making plays and scoring goals in what turned into a blow out loss.

He’s skated 311 NHL in his pro career and honestly we doubt he’s done.

Original story: 2/3-13

Once the lockout thawed he would start the shortened 2013 season with 3 games for the parent club out of training camp playing very limited minutes before being sent to Albany.

For 2013/2014 he signed another short term deal with New Jersey Devils and begin the new year in the AHL but was quickly recalled and managed to split time between the two affiliated teams and even ended up scoring a career high 3 NHL goals before being returned down.

He must have made a good impression because he inked quickly at the conclusion of the season for his 8th campaign with the Devils and although he failed to skate in a big league game, when he was inserted into the lineup with the farm team he kept opponents honest with 9 fighting majors to his credit.

The recently turned 31-year old is entering his 12th pro season and has decided to try something new as he agrees for 2015/2016 with Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL.

With the announcement he’s already creating quite the stir overseas.

16Aug

Scott Harrington (6)

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#54 overall) defenseman Scott Harrington(6) is having exactly the kind of building block rookie year right out of the gate playing games with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In 23 AHL games he has a pair of tallies and 6 assists with a +7 rating.

He also appeared in a pair of 2013 playoff games, scoring his first professional goal.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner plays mostly a solid, stay-at-home style but did show he can contribute on the score sheet in four years of junior hockey with London Knights.

He won a pair of OHL Championships serving as team captain in the most recent title grab.

The 20-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that keeps him in the prospect system through 2016.

He could easily receive his first NHL recall this season but may also stay put to help the farm club go deep in the postseason.

Original story: 12/12-13

He would finish his first season with AHL career highs full schedule 76 games played, 5 goals, 19 assists and 24 points, then appeared in 16 postseason contests playing a mostly stay-at-home style with just one helper.

To start his sophomore season, he was a late cut from Pittsburgh training camp and would be recalled on 5 different occasions playing his first 10 NHL games.

He would record no points with a -10 rating.

On reassignment he played 48 games with WBS Penguins scoring 2 goals and 10 assists with a third team best +19 rating.

He also skater all 8 playoff games with one assist and a +2 plus/minus.

Heading into the final year of his entry level deal the big d-man was dealt to Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the Phil Kessel trade.

The now 22-year old should definitely give them something to think about come training camp.

He may start his third season with affiliate Toronto Marlies but chances are he will get himself into a lot of action with the big club.

14Aug

T.J. Syner(84) Utah Grizzlies

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Hershey Bears‘ rookie center T.J. Syner(84) has done the 60 minute drive to and from affiliate Reading Royals for games so many times in the month of February his car probably knows the route automatically.

He’s at 7 and it’ll end there, because he’s joining the team for a Florida swing of games. There seems to be a method to the wacky races madness, because in 10 ECHL games he has 4 goals and 7 assists. They hope he can convert the same success to the higher league.

In 34 AHL games he has 3 goals and 4 assists.

At 5’9″ 179 lbs. the 24-year old is definitely on the small side but has the ability to get into those open areas and bury his chances, which is what he’ll need to do with frequency to stay on Washington Capitals‘ radar. He was in their development camp and has a player profile on their site but there’s no information about his contract anywhere.

At the rate he’s playing he could suit up for almost 100 games this season depending who he plays with in the postseason (maybe both) and how deep they go.

Original story 2/28-13

He finished his first season playing 36 AHL games and kept those 3 goals and 4 assists mark with a +1 rating but in the lower league he would only play an additional 6 to 16 ECHL games as his totals swelled to 9 goals and 10 assists, then en route to a 2013 Kelly Cup Championship he helped chipping in 9 tallies and 12 helpers in 22 games with a +22 rating.

He signed once again with Hershey for his sophomore campaign but spent most of the time down with Reading Royals skating a career high 56 games, scoring 19 goals, 25 assists and 44 points with a +12 plus/minus. But at only 64 shots on net, he clearly doesn’t shoot the puck nearly enough.

He had no points in 4 postseason contests before splitting for inter-league rival Utah Grizzlies in 2014/2015.

Sidelined by injuries he was limited to 45 games scoring 15 goals and 16 assists but then popped back to scoring life in the playoffs connecting for a pair of goals and 6 assists in 11 games through the Western Conference Finals.

He’s decided to stay put once again signing for 2015/2016 with the Grizzlies.

Crazy to think that he’ll be entering his 4th pro season and will turn 27-years old near the beginning of the new hockey calendar.

Also, can’t forget he started late after a pretty storied four year career at UMass-Amherst.

13Aug

Danick Gauthier(81) Wichita Thunder

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Tampa Bay Lightning rookie center Danick Gauthier(81) went undrafted but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t well sought after.

He signed a handsome three-year entry level deal after back-to-back junior hockey titles and a Memorial Cup win with Saint John Sea Dogs.

His numbers in his final year were more than a point per game.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. forward started his pro career with minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch but has also found himself to be a healthy scratch probably more than he wanted, playing 30 AHL games with 5 goals and 2 assists.

Recently reassigned to ECHL farm team Florida Everblades, he spent 10 days down south and pocketed 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games.

The 21-year old has been recalled and needs to put up some numbers like he did in the lower league as the team edges closer to clinching a playoff berth.

Original story: 3/17-13

He would finish his first season with 5 goals and 5 assists in 38 games but was not inserted into the lineup for any playoff contests despite the team making it all the way to the 2013 Calder Cup Finals.

To open his sophomore campaign he would start with Florida Everblades and stayed there a month before getting the nod to come back up.

He ended splitting time between the two clubs but spent more time in the lower league.

In the final year of his contract, he once again was sent south at the onset of the season but only stayed for a few appearances before being summoned for three games, then dispatched to Wichita Thunder, where he started to bloom.

He would go on to score a career high 30 goals and 40 assists for 70 points, all team leading, with a -3 rating in 69 ECHL games. He would also put up a crazy 250 shots on net.

For 2015/2016, he’ll turn just 24-years old as the new season starts and re-signed with the Thunder hoping to continue his scoring surge.

12Aug

Robert Bortuzzo(41) St. Louis Blues

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#78 overall) defenseman Robert Bortuzzo(15) got his first taste of NHL play with an injury depleted blue line in the final year of his entry level deal.

He suffered a concussion in mid-December on his second recall from the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins missing a month’s worth of action, but has not appeared in another game with the big club since returning.

At 6’4″ 215 lbs. the 23-year old is a towering presence that isn’t afraid to mix it up anywhere on the ice but still could use another ten pounds of muscle to become a full-time d-man in the show.

It’s likely a no-brainer that he receives a qualifying offer to return for his fourth season in the Penguins‘ system.

Original story: 3/31-12

After appearing in his first 6 games with the big club, being accountable and looking comfortable out there, Pittsburgh rewarded him with another season as the league was heading into its 2nd lockout in less than 10 years.

To start 2012/2013 he would need to sign an AHL deal to rejoin Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and play some hockey.

He would be in the parent club’s training camp when they started playing again and even though it took him a bit to get into the lineup, he eventually made it scoring his first NHL goal in his 2nd game.

The big blue liner would play 15 contests in the shortened season getting 2 goals and 2 assists with a +3 rating only being returned to the farm team for a few days before being recalled to play out the schedule.

Heading into another restricted free agency the Penguins took little time to extend him for another two years and that would signal the end of his time with the farm team.

Over the next two campaigns he would skate in 92 games recording a career high 10 assists and points in 2013/2014 and get two more tallies and 4 helpers for 2014/2015 along with a new best 7 fights.

At the trade deadline, the now 26-year old was traded to St. Louis Blues and quickly signed for another 2-years.

He would finish the season getting in 13 games with a goal and an assist for his new team.

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