NHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

27Feb

Brad Thiessen (39)

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3rd year undrafted Pittsburgh Penguins‘ goaltender Brad Thiessen(39) received his 1st NHL start after putting up impressive numbers with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal with Pittsburgh, he’s played 126 AHL regular season and Calder Cup Playoff games waiting his turn in what has turned out to be a glut of good goalies in their system.

In his debut, a 4-2 win, he saved 22 of 24 shots for a 2.00 GAA and .917 SV%.

It’s another one of the success stories as he was never drafted and played parts of his rookie season in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers, 12 games, 8-3 record.

He could be in line to be the team’s NHL back-up for 2012/2013, but will need another contract in the meantime.

26Feb

Cam Atkinson(13) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ rookie right wing Cam Atkinson(13) is currently on his 3rd NHL call-up. In 7 games he has one goal and one assist but is a shaky -7 plus/minus.

He was originally a 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#157 overall) and signed to a 2-year entry level contract.

In 50 AHL games with Springfield Falcons he dominates with 29 goals and 15 assists while going a +4.

He’s another small player entry to pro hockey at 5’8″ 175 lbs. but fully engulfs himself into the action and as far as prospects go, big things are expected of the compact but mighty 22-year old forward.

26Feb

Ben Maxwell(49) St. John’s Ice Caps

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4th year center has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride between a few teams this season, but has settled in pretty well in his AHL home with St. John’s Ice Caps, scoring 7 goals and 10 assists in 26 games.

He started 2011/2012 with Winnipeg Jets and appeared in 4 games before being waived for reassignment in mid-November, only to get picked up by Anaheim Ducks.

He skated in 6 games with them picking up an assist before he was sent down and reclaimed by the Jets.

Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#49 overall), he played 20 NHL games but spent most of his time with their affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs.

He was sent to Atlanta Thrashers before the trade deadline and scored his 1st NHL goal last season.

Tough to say when he’ll get another look in the show.

He’ll likely have to ignite that scoring touch and play a bit tougher of a game to stick.

25Feb

Rob Gronkowski(87) New England Patriots

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New England Patriots‘ tight end Rob Gronkowski(87), in leg cast as he recovers from offseason surgery, spiked the puck at Worcester Sharks‘ game Friday night vs. Providence Bruins.

He was fined $7500 for spiking the ball in a game after scoring a touchdown a bit too close to a defender vs. New York Jets, and the Sharks‘ organization stepped up and offered to pay the fine for him if he’d spike the ceremonial first puck to open their game after football season was done.

24Feb

Eric Wellwood(22) Philadelphia Flyers

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#172 overall), left wing Eric Wellwood(22) potted his first NHL goal last weekend and has been on a bit of a tear with the big club in his second recall of the 2011/2012 season. In 5 games he also has a pair of assists and is a +6 plus/minus, even though the team has lost 3 of the contests he played in.

He was summoned for 3 games in his rookie campaign and managed to get on the scoring sheet with an assist.

In 105 AHL games with Adirondack Phantoms, the 21-year old is credited for 25 goals and 24 assists.

In juniors, he played for Windsor Spitfires, who won back-to-back Memorial Cups in 2009 and 2010.

At 5’11” 179 lbs. he doen’t look like the most threatening skater on the ice but he does have the ability to be out there contributing on a regular basis.

He is in the 2nd season of his 3-year entry level contract.

23Feb

Matt Fornataro(39) VIK Västerås HK

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In a pair of moves that sort of amounted to “trading” a bishop for a rook: 4th year, undrafted forward Matt Fornatoro(39) heads on to his third AHL team, Rockford IceHogs after spending a couple of seasons signed to an spc with Norfolk Admirals.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. 26-year old played 161 games for the Admirals scoring 33 goals and 52 assists. He was a +8 plus/minus and has always worked hard for any contract in triple A hockey he’s signed.

In a very simultaneous, coordinated transaction, Tampa Bay Lightning picked up 9th year forward Brandon Segal from Chicago Blackhawks and assigned him to Norfolk.

9/17-12: Fornataro flies the North American coop for the Swedish 2nd tier league Allsvenskan. He joins VIK Västerås HK for the upcoming season.

23Feb

Carter Camper(19) Boston Bruins

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Undrafted Boston Bruins‘ rookie center Carter Camper(19) leads his AHL team Providence Bruins in scoring (14 goals, 24 assists in 53 games) and gets rewarded with his 1st NHL call-up.

He skated 6:21 minutes of ice time with no other stats but didn’t look out of place or mesmerized by all the talent out there in the B’s win 4-2 over St. Louis Blues in their home arena. They hadn’t lost a game in regulation in the building since very early December.

At 5’9″ 173 lbs. he’s not the most imposing player but will always fight for the puck and get into the open areas. He’s got hockey sense and plays the game with a lot of heart. It remains to be seen if he can pull a St. Louis.

22Feb

Mark Fayne(6) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 5th round pick in the 2005 draft (#155 overall) defenseman Mark Fayne(6) has developed quickly into a full-time NHL blue liner.

Since his recall from their AHL affiliate Albany Devils last November, he pretty much only had to look back briefly once but hasn’t since.

In 2010/2011 he played career highs for games and scoring in his rookie year and this season is set to eclipse those marks.

He’s a big guy at 6’3″ 218 lbs. and he when he’s out there he plays a big-sized game and is accountable on the ice.

In the last year of his entry level contract, look for the Devils not to wait until the end of the year to sign him to an extension.

22Feb

Matt Watkins(14) Phoenix Coyotes

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3rd year wing Matt Watkins(14) was originally drafted by Dallas Stars in the 5th round of 2005 (#160 overall) but signed his entry level deal with Phoenix Coyotes, where he’s been the entire time progressively putting up points for their AHL affiliates, San Antonio Rampage in his first couple of seasons and this year with Portland Pirates.

At only 5’10” 180 lbs. he’s a relatively small guy (and looks it out there at times) but so are a lot of their prospects. Regardless, he’s next in line for a shot at the show. He’s quietly 6th in team scoring this season with 9 goals and 18 assists, heading toward a career year for points.

He wears the assistant captain “A” this season for Portland.

21Feb

Jon Kalinski(40) Hershey Bears

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4th year Philadelphia Flyers‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#152 overall) left wing Jon Kalinski(40) was the pawn that got moved by the team to the Tampa Bay Lightning to pick up defenseman Pavel Kubina.

He has appeared in 22 NHL games scoring 1 goal and 4 assists but it’s been almost two full seasons now since his last recall.

At 6’1″ 180 lbs., the 24-year old doesn’t exactly play a big man’s role out on the ice but maybe he’s going to be a bit of a late bloomer and will mesh well with the team in Norfolk to help kickstart his playing career away from the Flyers‘ system for the first time since turning pro.

In 247 AHL games (regular season and playoffs) with Adirondack/Philadelphia Phantoms he has 37 goals and 52 assists and a shaky -15 plus/minus.

9/17-12: The great underachiever signs a one-year AHL contract with the former enemy Hershey Bears for 2012/2013.