NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

21Mar

Yury Alexandrov(41) New York Islanders

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New York Islanders got all proactive and picked up Boston Bruins‘ 2006 2nd round draft pick (#37 overall), defenseman Yury Alexandrov(41) for a bag of rocks.

He attended Bruins‘ rookie and training camps before skating his first season with Providence Bruins, where he put up 6 goals and 13 assists in 66 AHL games.

Not going to get called up to play an NHL game soon, he worked out a deal where he would go back to Russia and play in the KHL to continue his development and maturation.

He’ll still only be 24 years old when he reports to the Islanders‘ camp for the start of 2012/2013.

He mostly played pretty decently as a rookie and the Isles may be smart to continue to groom him for an NHL roster spot.

20Mar

Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(43) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(43) has been around a lot more years than most folks would even remember.

He was originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2002 draft (#31 overall) and had spent the first 7 years of his career playing in their system starting with Edmonton Roadrunners, Hamilton Bulldogs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Springfield Falcons and Oklahoma City Barons (all one-time Oilers‘ AHL affiliates).

He also played 58 NHL games over two seasons with Edmonton.

One thing about his netminding, even when he didn’t put up a winning record, he never really had a terrible GAA or SV%.

That fact was not missed by Anaheim, who signed him to a two-year two deal as a free agent for 2011-2013. Oddly enough, he’s posting his worst numbers for their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch but is 1-0 in a start with the Ducks and in his 2nd start tonight.

The 27-year old stands 6’4″ 200 lbs. It’d be no surprise to see him win a starting job soon, like he did in ’09/’10 with Edmonton.

19Mar

Sebastian Stalberg(42) Worcester Sharks

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Undrafted, Swedish-born winger Sebastian Stalberg(42) leaves college after three years, signing a 2-year entry level contract with San Jose Sharks that will kick in at the start of the 2012/2013 season.

He joins Worcester Sharks for the remainder of the season (and potentially the playoffs).

In his debut over the weekend he scored his first professional goal and looks like he can become a big offensive contributor in whatever league he officially starts his pro career with.

His brother, Viktor Stalberg is posting career highs for goals and assists in his second year (third overall) with Chicago Blackhawks.

19Mar

Matt Ford(25) Adirondack Phantoms

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4th year right wing, Matt Ford(25) may have been a bit surprised when he was traded in his first season signed to an NHL contract with Washington Capitals. He was mostly playing for their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears putting up a very respectable 10 goals and 18 assists in 39 games.

Dealt before the trade deadline, he has found a formidable home in Philadelphia Flyers‘ organization with Adirondack Phantoms and has lit the lamp fairly big striking for 11 goals and 5 assists in 19 games.

He was originally picked in the 8th round of the 2004 draft (#256 overall) by Chicago Blackhawks but never signed with them and instead started his pro career in the ECHL with Charlotte Checkers before being called up to Hartford Wolf Pack and then Lake Erie Monsters, a team he stayed with for a couple of seasons.

If he continues to work hard and find the back of the net, he could find himself with a spot in the show with the Flyers out of training camp next season.

18Mar

Kyle Cumiskey (7)

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6th year defenseman Kyle Cumiskey(7) was originally a Colorado Avalanche 7th round pick in 2005 (#222 overall) and went on to play 5 years in their system amassing 132 NHL games scoring 9 goals and 26 helpers.

At the beginning of the 2011/2012 season he was traded to Anaheim Ducks for a prospect but has only seen ice time with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch despite a pair of call-ups.

In 2009/2010, he played his first full NHL season but was limited to 18 games the next year due to recurring head injuries. He did put up a goal and 7 assists in that time though.

He’s not huge at 5’10” 185 lbs. but could be paired with a bigger guy for his offensive upside, although he really doesn’t sacrifice anything on defense.

Through 44 games with Syracuse Crunch he’s scored three goals and 20 assists and was an even plus/minus.

17Mar

Jim O’Brien (19)

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Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd year center Jim O’Brien(19) was a 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#29 overall) and in the 3rd year of his entry level deal, he’s starting to light it up a bit.

He has career highs with 19 games played, 2 goals and 2 assists, his first NHL points but failed to tally in his first recall for 6 games last season and seems to be trying to make up for it in earnest in this a new contract year for him.

Through 183 regular season AHL games, all with Binghamton he’s racked up a tidy 39 goals and 49 assists.

He was a pivotal part of the B-Sens’ Calder Cup Championship run last season appearing in 23 postseason games scoring 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists).

At 6’2″ 2oo lbs. he has the makings of a power forward, now he just needs to bring it.

17Mar

Mats Zuccarello(36) New York Rangers

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New York Rangers‘ 2nd year wing Mats Zuccarello(36) has only appeared in 6 NHL games this season (3 since he’s most current recall) after an outstanding rookie year with the club, when he posted 6 goals and 17 assists in 42 games. He also showed phenomenal skills in the shootout.

He sustained an ankle injury that sat him out for a for good stretch of time this season, but whenever he’s been in the lineup has brought it. In 37 AHL games with Connecticut Whale he’s got 12 goals and 24 assists.

He has yet to register more than an assist on the scoresheet so far but I would think he’ll catch on soon again.

The undrafted Norwegian 24-year old uses all of his 5’7″ 179 lbs. sized frame out there and is tenacious like a pitbull when it comes to puck possession.

16Mar

Erik Gustafsson(36) Philadelphia Flyers

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In his 2nd season, Philadelphia Flyers‘ Swedish-born defenseman Erik Gustafsson(36) has played more NHL games with the injury ravaged big club than he has with their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms.

He’s in the second year of his 3-year entry level deal and has fared pretty well in 21 games for the Flyers scoring his first NHL goal and adding 3 assists, while going an outstanding +11 plus/minus.

In all likelihood he could leave the minors for good next year and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him ink an extension in the offseason.

At 5’10” 180 lbs. he could maybe add some muscle weight but he’s thought of as a good puck moving blue liner and his on-ice accountability suggests he might be ok where he is.

16Mar

Trent Whitfield(23) Boston Bruins

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14 years into his pro career and Boston Bruins‘ round 4 pick in the 1996 draft (#100 overall) center Trent Whitfield(23) has put in NHL game minutes for 10 of those seasons, including this one as he was recently recalled to play for a Bruins‘ team that’s looking just about anywhere for some answers, fill-ins.

He’s played 194 NHL games scoring 11 goals and 18 assists.

He has one more year on his current contract and assumes the role of team captain for Providence Bruins.

The 34-year old isn’t ready to quit and rightfully so, because he’s always an effective player out there and a contributor. In 41 AHL games he has 5 goals and 6 assists, but more importantly anchors a young Baby B’s core.

He’s played a phenomenal 755 AHL regular season games scoring 236 goals and 342 assists. We hope he makes it 1000.

15Mar

Corey Syvret(6) Trenton Titans

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2nd year defenseman, Corey Syvret(6) was originally drafted by Florida Panthers in the 6th round of 2007 (#181 overall) but only played 4 games with their then AHL affiliate Rochester Americans after his junior career finished.

He was signed a one-year two-way deal with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for his first pro season but was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings without seeing any action in a higher league.

For the 2011/2012 season he inked a deal to play with newly re-hatched Trenton Titans and set career highs for games played (50) goals and assists (4 apiece).

He received his first call-up of the year to Portland Pirates, where he skated in 3 games, registering no points but did go a +1 before being returned to Trenton, where he will likely finish out the season.

It’s a bit of a wonder why he isn’t under contract with an AHL team but maybe he’s a bit of a late bloomer and needs to grow into his game a bit more. He stands 6’2″ and weighs in at 195, so it not a question of size.

His older brother is Danny Syvret, also a defenseman, has seen action in 59 NHL and 396 AHL contests.

9/19-12: Alaska Aces traded for the signing rights of the 23-year old defenseman. Chances are good that he’ll work out a contract with the team for ’12/’13.