NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

04Jun

Steve Oleksy(15) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted, 3rd year defenseman Steve Oleksy(15) signed a pto joining the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers in October after starting the year in the ECHL with Idaho Steelheads, a team he’s played with in each of his pro years (110 total games).

He was returned after a couple of weeks but then recalled again in late November and signed an spc in late February to stay for the remainder of the season including their brief Calder Cup Playoffs‘ bid.

In 50 AHL games he had very decent point totals (a goal and 14 assists) and was an outstanding +16 plus/minus guarding the defensive zone.

The 6′ 195 lbs. also showed a willingness to mix it up when called upon.

Where the 26-year old blue liner will end up next season is anyone’s guess?

He wasn’t available to be put on Steelheads‘ protected list for 2012/2013.

The Sound Tigers should just be smart, sign him to another one-way deal for the upcoming season and be done with it.

In the meantime, he’s back home in Michigan running the Eastside Elite Hockey League, which is a summer program for pros and juniors wanting to stay game-situation sharp by skating in an 11-team non-check league.

7/2-12: Hershey Bears swoop in and grab the unrestricted free agent defenseman, signing him to a one-year AHL contract for 2012/2013.

03Jun

David Aebischer(1) Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

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Once again it’s time for soon to be 14 year veteran goalie David Aebischer(1) to go home to Switzerland, joining a new team in the NLA, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers.

While he didn’t earn a contract with Winnipeg Jets, the team he came back to North America on a tryout agreement to hopefully sign with, the 34-year old was offered an AHL deal, took it and did pretty well with their minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps running a 15-12 record with a 2.86 GAA and an .895 GAA and helping the team to the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals in their debut season.

Got to say it was still pretty cool seeing the former Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 1997 draft (#161 overall) play when the IceCaps were in town and he got the start in net. He has played in 214 NHL games with a 106 wins to 74 loss record.

02Jun

Mats Zuccarello(36) Metallurg Magnitogorsk

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New York Rangers‘ restricted free agent, right wing Mats Zuccarello(36) inks a one-year deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL for 2012/2013.

The 24-year old Norwegian forward had signed a 2-year entry level deal through the end of last season and skated 52 NHL games for 8 goals and 18 assists, along with some clutch shootout strikes for Blueshirts’ wins.

In 73 AHL games with Connecticut Whale, he was pretty much a point per game guy at 25 goals and 40 assists.

The 5’7 179 lbs. spark plug winger had an unlucky year with injuries dealing first with an ankle situation that sidelined him for a couple of months. Then when he finally was called up to the Rangers, he was doing ok with a goal and a pair of assists in 10 games and fractured his wrist.

Out for another six weeks during the start of New York’s Stanley Cup Playoff run, he was able to return only near the end of the Eastern Conference Finals but wasn’t used.

We think it’s a bit of a wonder why they don’t just offer him a one-year one-way extension to stay.

01Jun

Nathan Oystrick(20) HC Lev Praha

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7th year unrestricted defenseman Nathan Oystrick(20) is heading to the KHL to skate for HC Lev Praha as he reported on his twitter @Oystie74.

The former Atlanta Thrashers‘ 7th round pick in the 2002 draft (#198 overall) has played 65 NHL games with three different teams but skated all of 2011/2012 with Portland Pirates after signing a one-year, two-way deal with Phoenix Coyotes.

He’s played in 383 AHL regular and postseason contests putting up some respectable stats (69 goals, 162 assists) and won the Calder Cup Trophy with Chicago Wolves in 2008.

At 6′ 210 lbs. he always plays an imposing game and should fit in well with the style of Russian hockey.

31May

Dany Sabourin(35) Hershey Bears

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Heading into his 13th season, Hershey Bears‘ goaltender Dany Sabourin(35) signs a one-year, two-way extension with Washington Capitals‘ organization for a third straight season.

Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 4th round pick in the 1998 draft (#108 overall), he has almost always consistently put together a winning season for whatever club he’s been with.

The 31-year old has played in 59 NHL games mostly with Pittsburgh Penguins over a few seasons and appeared in net with Vancouver Canucks and the Flames as well.

In the AHL he has 278 regular and postseason contests to his credit.

Whomever the Bears end up with to split time with him in the upcoming season, he is more than capable of shouldering the starting job or splitting the 76-game schedule with another netminder as he did in 2011/2012.

He has been recalled by the Caps but yet to tend for them in a game. Maybe that will change in 2012/2013.

30May

Jason Williams(18) Ambrì- Piotta

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Entering his 13th season, center Jason Williams(18) says goodbye to North American pro hockey and is looking at the next 2 years with Ambri-Piotta of Switzerland National League A.

He leaves having skated in 455 NHL regular season and 27 postseason games scoring 95 goals and 135 assists, most recently with Pittsburgh Penguins, who he signed a one-year, two-way deal with for 2011/2012.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward had one of his best seasons in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins scoring 13 goals and 29 assists in 59 games and added another 3 goals and 10 assists in 12 games.

The 32-year old when the 2012/2013 season starts has skated in Europe once before. During the lock out, he played the season in Finland.

Chances are he’ll do well playing this style and they are already very excited to have him join their team.

29May

Philip-Michael Devos(88) Norfolk Admirals

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Undrafted Norfolk Admirals‘ rookie center Philip-Michael Devos(88) season couldn’t have had it much better with either of the two leagues he skated in 2011/2012.

Upon receiving his second recall from the ECHL Florida Everblades on the day after Christmas, he never looked or went back down.

Signed in the offseason to a 2-year, two-way AHL contract with the Admirals, the 5’11” 185 lbs. forward would have maybe suffered a bit of a pay cut playing in the lower league, but he would have been skating with a Kelly Cup Championship team.

In 22 ECHL games he scored 6 goals and 14 assists. Up in the A, he had 7 goals and 17 assists through 52 contests and has a goal and an assist in 8 Calder Cup appearances.

With four more in the W column, he will have earned himself a spot on a Calder Cup Championship team, so this once explosive scorer from juniors really had quite a first year playing pro.

28May

Jared Knight(87) Boston Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#32 overall) right wing Jared Knight(87) finished up his junior career with a trip to the Mastercard Memorial Cup Finals with his team, OHL’s London Knights. He had a few chances to put the game into either the lead or win column but was unable to put it by a red-hot goalie.

He was signed to a 3-year entry level deal before the 2011/2012 season but was sent back to juniors for his fourth season out of training camp.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. forward will be in Bruins’ Prospect and full training camps again before in all likelihood starting his pro slate with Providence. He appeared in the three games with them at the end of 2011 and picked up a pair of assists.

While not exactly the biggest guy out there, the 20-year old plays with a ton of spirit and determination that he’s bound to fight for a spot on the big club before too long.

27May

Chris Bourque(17) Boston Bruins

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The name Bourque will once again appear in Black & Gold.

Boston Bruins traded former 1st round pick, center Zach Hamill to Washington Capitals for left wing and son of Ray, Chris Bourque(17).

He has played 411 games through 6 seasons with Hershey Bears in the AHL throughout his 7-year pro career scoring 131 goals and an eye-popping 264 assists.

The 5’8″ 181 lbs. forward won three Calder Cups with the Bears, was playoff MVP in 2010 and lead the league in scoring this season with 93 points in 73 games.

He was a 2nd round pick in the 2004 draft (#33 overall) but has only skated in 33 NHL games scoring one goal with three helpers and most of those games ironically were played with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 26-year old could definitely find a spot with the big club is he works for it but honestly the first time he steps onto either the Garden or even Dunkin’ Donuts Center ice in those colors, it’s going to be one strange but glorious sight.

Related posts: 12/1/11 and 10/9/11.

26May

Kevin Quick(4) Florida Everblades

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4th year defenseman Kevin Quick(4) signed an AHL 2-way contract with Norfolk Admirals in the offseason after spending most of the first 3 seasons of his career with the team signed to an entry level deal with Tampa Bay Lightning.

He appeared in 6 NHL games in his rookie year registering an assist. The blue liner also skated 18 ECHL games in that season.

In 2011/2012, the 24-year old spent most of his time with Florida Everblades and eventually won the Kelly Cup with the team.

He did skate 14 games with the Admirals and now that the lower league has reached its’ conclusion, he will likely rejoin them for the Calder Cup Finals, where he can be used pretty effectively in case one of the players goes down with injury.