NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

10Jul

Patrick Mullen(14) Vancouver Canucks

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4th year, undrafted defenseman Patrick Mullen(14) tries his hand with a new team for 2012/2013, signing a one-year, two-way deal with Vancouver Canucks that will in all likelihood start him with their affiliate Chicago Wolves. He was an unrestricted free agent as of July 1.

He’s coming off his best AHL season yet with Manchester Monarchs that saw him put up more goals, assists and points in one year (13 + 28 – 41) than he did in his first two combined. Plus, he skated in 69 games, which eclipsed his previous high by a couple.

Initially signed to a 2-year entry level contract with Los Angeles Kings in 2009, the 5’10” 184 lbs. blue liner could still use some extra weight to throw around out there but has obviously spent some quality time improving his offensive capabilities.

It will be interesting to see what he does in a new conference and if he can score his first NHL call-up.

He is the son of three time Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall Of Fame defenseman, Joe Mullen.

09Jul

Mathieu Beaudoin(26) Hershey Bears

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6th year right wing Mathieu Beudoin(26) is set to join Hershey Bears for the 2012/2013 season. It will be his fifth AHL team in the last five years for the undrafted, 28-year old.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward is definitely capable of finding the back of the net with reasonable consistency but was injured for two months in the middle of last season with a dislocated thumb and couldn’t find the groove with Portland Pirates after reaching career highs in goals, assists and points in 2010/2011.

He was on the Texas Stars‘ team that went all the way to the Calder Cup Finals and lost to these very same Bears.

So, once again becoming an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season after his one-year two-way deal with Phoenix C oyotes was up, the Bears wasted no time signing him to an AHL contract to fill the roster with more veteran leadership.

For the first time in recent memory, Hershey‘s team seems to be full of intangibles. It’s a bit of a wonder what type of season they’re going to have, which never happens.

08Jul

Jason King(5) St. John’s IceCaps

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Heading into his 11th pro season, St. John’s IceCaps‘ assistant captain Jason King(5) re-signs for two more years with the hometown team.

He had a pretty solid 2011/2012 year playing in a career high 70 regular season games putting up a team leading 22 goals and 19 assists. The only downside was a miserable -14 plus/minus on the second best team in the AHL Eastern Conference.

Originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 7th round pick in the 2001 draft (#212 overall), the 6’1″ 192 lbs. forward was fairly legendary with their AHL affiliate Manitoba Moose.

He also appeared in 59 NHL games, almost all with the ‘Nucks skating on the “mattress” line with the Henrik and Daniel Sedin: two twins and a King. Now that’s humor right there but he got 12 goals and 9 assists that year. Unfortunately by the next season had fallen lower on the depth chart as was strictly playing in the AHL.

The almost 31-year old is a good fit for the IceCaps.

07Jul

Mark Dekanich(1) St. John’s IceCaps

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5th year goalie Mark Dekanich(1) has always posted a winning record since turning pro in 2008.

He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2006 draft (#146 overall) by Nashville Predators and tended net in their system, mostly with AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals for his first three seasons.

In 2011/2012, his first and only season with Columbus Blue Jackets, a series of high ankle sprains and a groin injury limited his availability to only 5 regular season games with Springfield Falcons.

The 6’2″ 192 lbs. 26-year goaltender is still looked at as a potential NHL backstop (he’s appeared in one game) and Winnipeg Jets think that could be the case as they signed him to a one-year, two-way contract for the upcoming year.

Most likely he’ll compete for the St. John’s IceCaps‘ starting job.

07Jul

John Albert(16) St. John’s IceCaps

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2nd year center John Albert(16) was originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#175 overall).

He signed an AHL only deal with Winnipeg Jets to play with their affiliate, St. John’s IceCaps for his rookie season in 2011/2012.

In 64 games he popped in 9 goals and 18 assists, while going a very accountable +10 plus/minus on a good team. He also scored 3 goals and added 2 assists in 15 Calder Cup Playoff games that saw the team get to the Eastern Conference Final.

Count the Jets as impressed, because they re-upped with the 23-year old AHL style for a second season.

At 5’11” (when fully stretched) 190 lbs. he’s the type of player that always looks to put himself at the center of the action and finds the open areas of the ice for scoring chances.

06Jul

J.F. Jacques(14) Florida Panthers

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8th year left wing giant J.F. Jacques(14) heads to his third team in three seasons. Florida Panthers signed him to a one-year, two-way deal for 2012/2013.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#63 overall), the 6’3″ 231 lbs. forward played his first 6 years pro in the organization with their ever-changing list of AHL affiliates but has always appeared in NHL games each season from the get-go.

The 27-year old has played in 160 big league games with the Oilers scoring 9 goals and 8 assists. He’s mostly out there as a fourth line energy player but doesn’t exactly rack up a crazy amount of penalty minutes (188 pims) while protecting his teammates.

Still, he’s a useful presence on the ice and no doubt the Panthers will utilize his talents for at least a few games in the upcoming season, but will most likely help San Antonio Rampage get back into the playoffs. He had his best scoring totals in 2011/2012 with Syracuse Crunch since his rookie year in 2oo5.

He’s also faced a few NHL games’ suspension for nasty hits on a couple of occasions, most recently last year in preseason.

03Jul

Ryan Hamilton(12) Toronto Maple Leafs

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Undrafted, 7th year center Ryan Hamilton(12) captained the AHL Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup Championship Final. They were beaten in 4 straight but to come as far as the team did and to get within four wins of lifting that trophy was a pretty outstanding accomplishment for the team.

Maple Leafs‘ brass likes this 27-year old vet because they re-signed him to another one-year, two way contract for a fourth season in the system. He even received his first NHL recall in 2012 and notched an assist.

He’s played a total of 365 regular season games in the minors scoring 99 goals and 85 assists (puck hog). He had career bests in 2011/2012 in goals, assists, points, games played.

He’s a fairly big frame at 6’2″ 219 lbs. and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fill the slot on the Leafs last occupied by Joey Crabb.

02Jul

Nick Holden (5)

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ undrafted defenseman Nick Holden(5) re-signed for another year, his 5th with the team since turning pro in 2008.

His deal is for one-year on a two-way contract.

He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

He missed two-thirds of the 2011/2012 season with an injury, limiting him to just 25 regular season AHL games (3 goals, 6 assists, -2 plus/minus) with Springfield Falcons.

He’s played 222 games minor league contests and put up 17 goals and 62 assists.

In 2010/2011 he made his first NHL appearances, when he was called up for a 5-game stint.

Although he didn’t register a point, he skated an average of 20+ shifts and 17 minutes per game.

At 6’4″ 205 lbs. he’s a towering presence on the ice.

With a little more weight and a bit more grit and he could find himself a permanent spot on a big league roster, if he wants it.

01Jul

Ryan Del Monte(16) Starbulls Rosenheim

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28-year old right wing, Ryan Del Monte(16) joins the exodus from North American pro hockey to Europe (and beyond). He signed with Starbulls Rosenheim for next season after 4 years in the ECHL and AHL.

He played his first full season in the AHL last year, appearing in 52 games with Worcester Sharks scoring 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points, all bests for the 6′ 190 lbs. forward in the league.

He won the Kelly Cup with Cincinnati Cyclones in 2010 and signed with the team in the next season before being traded to South Carolina Stingrays but spent the majority of it with Rochester Americans and the Sharks.

Although he was undrafted and has no appearances in the show, the NHL did a nice story on him a few years ago talking about the route he took from a couple of seasons in junior hockey to four years of college to earn a degree and then finally turning pro.

29Jun

Ryan Garlock(14) Vålerenga

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Headed into his 7th pro season, center Ryan Garlock(14) is heading out of the country for 2012/2013 to skate with Vålerenga of GET-ligaen (Norway).

He was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#45 overall) but has yet to play in an NHL game.

The 6’ 196 lbs. forward has 321 AHL games to his credit putting up 22 goals and 57 assists. He also spent parts of 3 seasons in the ECHL, where he easily was a point per game player.

He signed an spc with Springfield Falcons shortly after he joined the team on a pto last season, his second stint but first full year with the team.

He’s a tough one to figure out, because he’s got the size and tenacity and mostly plays an agitating style, leaving it all on the ice but other times he looks like he’s land of the lost and unable to follow the play.

See related post: 10/21/11