NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

22Apr

Colin McDonald(13) WBS Penguins

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5th year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ forward Colin McDonald(13) is putting goals in the net in the Calder Cup Playoffs like Noah loads animals into the ark: two at a time.

He potted a pair in the first game and another two in the second game, both wins for the 2-0 lead vs. Hershey Bears in the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series.

Originally drafted by Edmonton in the 2nd round of 2003 (#51 overall), he appeared in only 2 games with the Oilers but did get his first NHL goal.

He’s played in 5 games this season with Pittsburgh Penguins, the team he signed a one-year, two-way contract with as an unrestricted free agent but didn’t register a point.

In 374 AHL regular season games he has 94 goals and 85 assists. He put in a career high 42 last season with Oklahoma City Barons but had a best this year with assists at 35 and a +12 plus/minus.

21Apr

David Rundblad(2) Phoenix Coyotes

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Swedish-born, 21-year old rookie defenseman David Rundblad(2) started his first season on the blue line with Ottawa Senators and appeared in 24 games scoring his first NHL goal and 3 assists with them before being traded to Phoenix Coyotes in a deal that has maybe paid more immediate dividends for the Senators, as they got Kyle Turris.

The Coyotes only utilized him in 6 regular season games in the 2011/2012 season, but he added another 3 assists to his first year totals.

In 30 AHL games with Portland Pirates, he managed 7 goals and 9 assists but was a not so good -18 plus/minus.

At 6’2″ 190 lbs. he definitely looks like he has good size out there but easily needs to add more muscle and grit into his game to fulfill the promise of being a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#17 overall). He signed with them but got dished to Ottawa in what amounted to mostly a deal of draft picks.

He was just recalled to join Phoenix in their Stanley Cup run, which is closing in on a first round victory, but it’s doubtful he’ll see any game time action with the depth they have on d.

20Apr

Mark Fraser(29) Toronto Marlies

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6th year, 25-year old defenseman Mark Fraser(29) will definitely help Toronto Marlies in their quest for the Calder Cup.

He’s had quite the ride in the 2011/2012 season as he started the season with the team that selected him in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft (#84 overall), New Jersey Devils. In 5 years in their system, he’s skated 98 NHL games (3 goals, 5 assists) and has appeared in 233 AHL contests.

Never really considered a big point producer, he is however a big presence on the blue line at 6’3″ 220 lbs.

A trade in mid-December, saw him go to Anaheim Ducks but he didn’t appear in a game before being reassigned to Syracuse Crunch, where he played some mean, shutdown hockey and was a career high +13 plus/minus.

Only a couple of months later though, he was dished again in a minor league deal that has him playing in the AHL postseason for the first time in his pro career. He got himself an assist on the game-winning goal to boot.

19Apr

Daniel New(7) Springfield Falcons

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Undrafted 23-year old, Springfield Falcons‘ defenseman Daniel New(7) made a good impression in first two pro games following the conclusion of his college career with a goal and a pair of assists and a +2 plus/minus. Both games were also wins for the team.

He was signed to an ato in late March but didn’t make his debut until the final contests of the 2011/2012 regular season.

Where the 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner will end up next season is anyone’s guess, but their NHL affiliate Columbus Blue Jackets almost certainly took notice.

18Apr

Ryan Spooner (18)

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Boston Bruins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#45 overall), 20-year old center Ryan Spooner(18) signed a three-year entry level deal with the team in the last year’s offseason but was returned to play his fourth and final campaign in juniors.

He picked up a handy 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games, which continued the streak of three (almost four) years as a point plus per game player in the OHL.

In two years signing an ato with Providence Bruins at the conclusion of his junior season, he has 3 goals and 4 assists in 8 games as a pro.

He is likely to report to another Boston prospect camp, followed by the regular training camp and will likely start 2012/2013 with Providence.

Listed at 5’10” 175 lbs., he looks smaller, which won’t help the AHL team that is already struggling with some size issues up front but he obviously knows how to be effective at the triple A level, so how he develops should be exciting to see.

15Apr

Boone Jenner (15)

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18-year old Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#37 overall), center Boone Jenner(15) picked up his first pro hockey goal with AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons in their last game of the regular season.

He’s skated in 5 games with the team since his juniors club was eliminated from the OHL playoffs.

In all likelihood he will be returned to his final year of juniors but already at 6’1″ 193 lbs. he’s big and looks to have all the right assets to play hockey with the bigger boys.

13Apr

Mark Barberio(8) Norfolk Admirals

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Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#156 overall), 2nd year defenseman Mark Barberio(8) is having himself another career year with their AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

He leads all defenseman in the league with 47 assists, tied for 2nd in plus/minus (+25) and overall points (60). In his first campaign he established a new record for points, assists and points among rookie defenseman.

He was recently named winner of the Eddie Shore Award as the outstanding blue liner for the 2011/2012 season and also picked as a 1st team AHL All-Star.

One surprising note in all that is good so far in his pro career, the 22-year old has yet to receive an NHL recall despite all the success.

It’s seemingly the one thing that has eluded the 6’1″ 200 lbs. d-man.

He’s in the 2nd year of his 3-year entry level deal.

12Apr

J.D. Watt(10) Ontario Reign

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4th year pro, right wing J.D. Watt(10) signed an AHL contract with Manchester Monarchs‘ for the 2011/2012 season after opting out of his one-year deal with Calgary Flames.

He was originally a Flames‘ 4th round pick in 2005 (#111 overall) and played 139 AHL games with their affiliates in Quad City then Abbotsford Heat before leaving.

Starting the season with the Monarchs‘ ECHL affiliate Ontario Reign he was recalled three times and played 19 games scoring a goal to go along with a pair of helpers.

He was most recently reassigned to the ECHL again to help out in the Reign‘s Kelly Cup Playoff push. They did get to game 5 before losing in that decisive matchup.

He will likely be recalled unless the Monarchs wait to see how their final weekend unfolds as they are in a battle for their playoff lives. The 24-year has been mostly a 4th line energy forward throughout his playing career.

11Apr

Trent Hunter(47) Manchester Monarchs

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12-year veteran of 497 NHL games, right wing Trent Hunter(47) was reassigned by Los Angeles Kings to their AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs in mid-February after skating in 38 games and only putting up a pair of goals and 5 assists.

It’s his first stint in the minors since the 2002/2003 season.

He spent 10 years with New York Islanders starting in 2001, scoring 99 goals and 130 assists.

Originally drafted by Anaheim Ducks in the 6th round of the 1998 draft (#150 overall), the 6’3″ 210 lbs., 31-year old never skated a game with the team before being traded in 2000 to the Isles.

In 17 games with the Monarchs‘ he has 4 goals and 5 assists but most notably will be a leadership asset to the team if they complete their bid for a Calder Cup Playoff spot in the upcoming postseason.

10Apr

Steve MacIntyre(33) WBS Penguins

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10th year veteran tough guy at a mere 6’5″ 250 lbs. Steve MacIntyre(33) most definitely didn’t take the easy way to the NHL but has made his mark in the league through 90 games.

His “pro” career started in a Continental Elite Hockey League (CEHL) and made its way through, surviving the QSPHL (LNAH), WHA2, UHL and ECHL.

Undrafted, he always played a game of hard knocks totaling over 200 penalty minutes in each of his first 6 seasons. It should be noted he hasn’t come close to that much time spent in the box since 2008.

The season that followed saw him skate his first NHL games with Edmonton, a team he would spend most of the next three seasons with.

For 2011/2012 he was signed by Pittsburgh Penguins and has split time with their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He was recently recalled for their last game of the regular season to keep the peace in a game vs. Philadelphia Flyers before being reassigned again.

There’s little doubt he will police the ice for the Baby Pens in their quest for the Calder Cup.

It’s a wonder where the 31-year old will end up playing next season, if he’ll stay in Steel City or move on.