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Category: NHL

11Aug

Steven Delisle(5) Springfield Falcons

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4th year towering 6’6″ 233 lbs. defenseman Steven Delisle(5) signed a one-year AHL contract for 2013/2014 with Adirondack Phantoms.

He was a healthy scratch for most of the start of the season but injuries to their top six d-men brought him into the lineup, where he’s been since late December.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#104 overall), he spent the first campaign of his 3-year entry level deal on the sidelines with a recurring shoulder injury.

Available for most of his second season, he was mostly reassigned to then ECHL affiliate Chicago Express, skating in only six games with Springfield Falcons.

A minor piece of a major off-season trade that sent him to New York Rangers‘ prospect system, he was dished back to the Blue Jackets‘ organization later that same year.

Almost ironically he found a bit of a scoring touch for Greenville Road Warriors, where he put up career highs with 4 goals, 16 assists, 20 points and was an outstanding +23 plus/minus in 61 games. He was allowed to stay with them despite the transaction.

Given the opportunity and maybe a little more offensive-minded coaching the 23-year old could definitely be a key contributor to whatever team he signs with next.

Original story: 1/15-14

He finished 2013/2014 skating 50 games scoring one goal and three assists with a -10 rating.

It was a performance that earned him some loyalty as he would be brought back for a second stint with the newly named Lehigh Valley Phantoms, playing a career high 62 AHL games getting a new bests 2 goals, 12 assists for 14 points with 133 penalty minutes and 11 fighting majors to his credit.

He heads into his 6th pro season returning to familiar territory with Springfield Falcons for 2015/2016.

There’s no reason not to believe the now 25-year old will elevate his game yet again. He seems to be just starting to hit his stride.

10Aug

Viktor Svedberg(8)

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ undrafted Swedish-born defenseman tower (6’9″ 234 lbs.), Viktor Svedberg(8) is entering his fifth pro season and third in the prospect system.

He started with a pair of seasons in his home country skating for Frolunda Indians of the SHL before signing a two-year entry level deal.

He had his best season yet in 2014/2015 playing a career high 49 games with a best 3 goals, 11 assists for 14 points with a +14 rating with affiliate Rockford IceHogs. and added another four helpers in 8 Calder Cup Playoff contests.

Going into the off-season he entered his first restricted free agency and it only took a month to sort out a one-year extension keeping the big blue liner in the organization and continue work on his progress.

At 24-years old he may just be getting started and should give the parent club every reason to have a look on the NHL level in 2015/2016.

He did join the team as a member of the black aces to help with Stanley Cup Playoff preparations.

08Aug

Scott Fleming(24) Greenville Road Warriors

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At 26-years old Fort Wayne Komets‘ center Scott Fleming(24) has to be enjoying his “rookie” season.

He first signed an agreement to join the team’s preseason roster but once they saw him play he was a part of the team.

He last played on ultimate reassignment to Gwinnett Gladiators in 2011/2012 after invites to affiliates Phoenix Coyotes and Portland Pirates‘ training camps.

His first year pro was cut short after only 6 games with 3 goals and 1 assists after suffering a season-ending concussion.

The 5’11” 180 lbs. undrafted forward is another player that took a somewhat longer route before ever signing a contract.

He started at 16 with three years marking up the score sheet in the OPJHL before moving on to 4 campaigns of hockey at Dartmouth College, where he served as team captain in 2010-2011.

After almost two full seasons of sitting on the sidelines, his return picks up where he left off.

In 40 ECHL games he has 11 goals and 23 assists with a +13 rating.

His point production got him noticed as Worcester Sharks signed him to a pto to fill some injured holes in the lineup.

He skated in 4 AHL games and dished a pair of helpers with a +1 plus/minus, which could easily grab the attention on another higher league club.

For now though, he’ll go back to double A hockey, continue to work on his game and help his team win.

Original story 2/15-14

He finished 2013/2014 scoring 16 goals and 33 assist in 62 games and added another pair of helpers in 11 postseason contests.

For his follow-up season he signed to skate with Fife Flyers of EIHL. He added to his totals slightly with 26 goals and tied his 33 assists mark for 59 points in 60 contests.

The now 27-year old has made the decision to return to North American hockey for 2015/2016 and will suit up for Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL.

We expect him to continue his point production and possibly even earn another call-up to the higher leauge.

07Aug

Igor Bobkov(35) Admiral Vladivostok

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#76 overall), 2nd year Russian goaltender Igor Bobkov(35) found himself dropping in the team’s depth chart and reassigned to ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies to start the final year of his 3-year entry level deal. The first season had a “slide” as he was signed but returned to junior hockey with Kingston Frontenacs.

He turned pro with a pair of AHL starts in 2011 and 4 more at the end of 2012 but officially began his rookie campaign with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals last year.

The gigantic 6’6″ 235 lbs. goalie has yet to put up decent numbers on this side of the ice and there’s now a bit of a logjam in net with hot prospects, so could find himself on the trading block to see if there’s any takers.

The still super-young 22-year old will either have to find his game pretty quickly at this point or return to his home country and join a KHL team. Or he could head elsewhere.

He was recently recalled to the higher league after three starts in double A hockey but ultimately may still play out the remainder of his contract in Utah.

Original story: 10/27-13

He would bounce between Ducks‘ affiliates for much 2013/2014 playing more games with better success in the lower league, but he was still signed to a one-year extension approaching restricted free agency and continued to battle to get back on the parent club’s radar.

In his new contract year though, he would play a fewest 7 games with a less than great 4.27 GAA and .852 SV% on a Norfolk team that struggled mightily.

He reached new career highs with Utah Grizzlies playing in a high 34 contests with 19 wins and 4 shutouts and continued his good play helping them get into the 2nd round of the playoffs before their exit.

At 24-years old and looking at another season working on his game in the minors, he has decided to jump ship heading home to the KHL on 2-year deal with Admiral Vladivostok.

06Aug

Maxime Sauve(7) Hershey Bears

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Norfolk Admirals‘ center Maxime Sauve(7) has definitely experienced some troubles in his fourth pro season finding a permanent spot on a roster.

Traded to Chicago Blackhawks near the end of last year, the final campaign of his entry level deal, he was left unqualified rendering him an unrestricted free agent going into 2013/2014.

Invited by Anaheim Ducks to their training camp, he was released from his pto and reassigned to their minor league affiliate, where he started the season.

It remains unclear if he ever signed a contract but the 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward skated in 47 AHL games with the team but put up his fewest point totals and was watching contests from the stands on too many occasions.

He has been prone to upper and lower body and concussions throughout his playing time. He was even injured in his one NHL game with Boston Bruins.

Sat for the first game of the Calder Cup Playoffs, he was inserted into the lineup in the 2nd meeting, which was a win evening the series at 1-1.

The 24-year old was the hero scoring the 1st overtime game-winner of a 1-0 game 3 victory.

He’ll no doubt be back to see if he can continue on a streak and help the Admirals into the next round of action.

What happens after the end of the current run is up in the air, as he will once again be unrestricted.

Original story: 5/1-14

He decided to sign for a year overseas joining Kolner Haie Sharks of DEL but once again succumbed to injury playing only 27 games scoring a career low 3 goals 6 assists.

Hershey Bears have stepped in and take a chance for 2015/2016 thinking the now 25-year old veteran skater still has jets and maybe even a little something to prove.

See related: 12/25-10, 2/28-11, 3/14-12

05Aug

Hubert Labrie (3)

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Undrafted 5th year defenseman Hubert Labrie(3) for a second season found himself in the unrestricted free agency open market.

It only took him until the end of the first month to sign a one-year deal and he’s going to be back in the lone star state once again, this time under contract with San Antonio Rampage.

Skating last season under an AHL contract with Springfield Falcons he played a career high 46 games scoring a new best 8 assists and 9 points and has also been known to occasionally drop the mitts with 65 minutes spent in the penalty box.

At 5’11” 194 lbs. he isn’t the biggest of blue liners but plays with enough strength and gusto to get the job done.

In 146 games he maintains a +6 rating.

He was originally signed by Dallas Stars to a three-year entry level deal after playing 4 seasons of junior hockey with Gatineau Olympiques, was captain in his third stint and won the 2008 QMJHL Championship as a rookie.

After spending most of his first campaign with farm club Texas Stars, he would split time equally in 2012/2013 with ECHL affiliate Idaho Steelheads.

In the last year of his contract though he would only skate 4 games in the lower league and 40 contests up but only appeared in 4 postseason match-ups en route to a 2014 Calder Cup Championship.

At just 24-years old this may be a blue liner that is just getting started.

04Aug

Tyler Biggs(22)

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3rd year former Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#22 overall) right wing Tyler Biggs(22) was involved in a corker of a deal that sent Phil Kessel and one other player to Pittsburgh Penguins for three prospects in return.

After two seasons of US Development Team junior hockey, followed by a year at Miami University (Ohio) and another campaign with Oshawa Generals, where he scored 26 goals and 27 assists in 60 OHL games he turned pro on an ato with farm team Toronto Marlies.

In 4 AHL games he scored his first pro goal.

Through the next two years he would only score 9 goals and 5 assists through 108 games and was even reassigned for almost a month to the ECHL affiliate Orlando Solar Bears skating 8 contests.

He managed 4 goals and 2 assists in the lower league before being called back up.

The big 6’3″ 224 lbs. forward signed a three-year entry level deal that makes him a restricted free agent at the end of 2015/2016.

He’ll almost certainly start the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and will need to prove he’s got game.

03Aug

Jamie Oleksiak(5) Dallas Stars

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Dallas Stars‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#14 overall), mammoth-sized defenseman Jamie Oleksiak(6) made his NHL debut after starting his rookie season with their minor league affiliate Texas Stars.

He skated 21 shifts for 15:32 of total ice time in a 4-3 shootout win.

At 6’7″ 250 lbs. his size speaks for itself but he started to show an offensive upside in the second half, after a trade, of his only year in junior hockey. That followed one season in college hockey.

In 43 AHL games he has scored a modest 3 goals but added a playmaker 20 assists to his scoring totals and leaves the farm club (for now) with a +12 plus/minus. He also was selected to the starting lineup of the recent 2013 AHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition.

The 20-year old signed a 3-year entry level contract that keeps him in the Stars‘ system through 2015. He should easily become a full-time fixture in the show well before then as a solid two-way specialist.

Original story: 2/2-13

He would finish his first season posting a team leading 27 assists and 33 points for d-men with a healthy +19 rating.

He also appeared in 16 games with the big club recording his first two assists.

In his sophomore campaign he played a new high 69 AHL games but only got into 7 contests with Dallas, unable to get any points. His 5 goals, 18 assists and 23 points with a +8 plus/minus were second amongst blue liners on Texas and he would be a part of the 2014 Calder Cup Champions contributing 5 assists and a +13 rating in 21 playoff outings.

He would start his contract year on the opening night roster but was a healthy scratch and called into action for the following game.

For the next few games he’d be back in the stands watching but after that he would start showing up regularly.

He would end up playing 36 contests getting his first NHL goal and 7 assists.

While mostly playing with the big club he was sent down, skating 35 games with the farm club.

Now 23-years old he signed a one-year extension early into his restricted free agency to stay with Dallas Stars and is expected to stick with the big club exclusive in 2015/2016.

03Aug

Rob Flick(26)

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Florida Panthers‘ newly signed 4th year center Rob Flick(10) comes off a career season with Providence Bruins skating a new high 65 AHL games, scoring a team leading 19 goals, 24 points, a +11 rating and 124 shots on net.

He also dropped the mitts a season low 3 times after his first three years with 9, 8 and 6 fights, so that aspect of his game may be changing.

He did produce some decent numbers in his third and final campaign of juniors with Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors before turning pro.

A restricted free agent heading into 2015/2016 he decided for a change of scenery after two years under contract after his trade to Boston Bruins.

The infinitely tough 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#120 overall) but wasn’t signed to his 3-year entry level deal until cutting his teeth for a year in the minors with affiliate Rockford IceHogs, which included some early rookie time in the ECHL with Toledo Walleye.

He will probably start the upcoming season with new affiliate Portland Pirates but some good, hard skating may just him earn a first NHL recall.

02Aug

Marko Dano(56) Chicago Blackhawks

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#27 overall) Slovakian-born center Marko Dan0(10) starts his rookie year on the NHL roster after playing two seasons with HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL as a teenager and signing an ato late last season to join minor affiliate Springfield Falcons for their playoff run.

Still at only 19-years old he collected his first goal and an assist in just his second game.

The somewhat small-ish looking, speedy 5’11” 183 lbs. forward put in a pair of goals and 4 assists in 10 AHL games, adding another 2 helpers in 5 postseason contests.

He comes to North American hockey already possessing a good amount of experience, so it looks to be mostly watching him grow as a pro and see if he can continue to keep pace in the best league in the world.

Original story: 10/15-14

He would split his first season playing time almost equally, recording close to identical numbers in each league.

Starting the year with the parent club he had his first multi-point game in just his second appearance with his 1st NHL goal and assist.

In 35 games he would finish strong with 8 goals 13 assists and a +12 rating.

His year in the minors would wrap up playing 39 AHL games scoring 11 goals and 8 assists with a -4 plus/minus.

Traded as part of a mult-player deal on the day before free agency started, he joins 2015 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks for his sophomore season and is said to be in contention to grab a roster spot if he can continue putting up numbers.

Getting right to work, the 20-year old decided to take part in prospect camp and will prove through his constant, hard work ethic that he deserves a permanent place with the team.

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