8th year defenseman Mathieu Brodeur(6) re-signs for a 3rd year with Adirondack Thunder.
He played 15 ECHL games getting off to his best start ever with the team scoring 4 goals and 15 assists last season before being loaned up to Syracuse Crunch for the remainder of the calendar playing 56 AHL contests.
The big blue liner had a good run in the upper league as well grabbing 3 goals and 10 assists with a +14 rating, then appeared in a career high 22 Calder Cup Playoff match-ups gaining another goal and 3 assists.
It’s a bit of a wonder that the 27-year old wasn’t able to grab another deal with a direct farm club but if it materializes for him on the score sheet the way it did last year, he won’t be there for long again.
Mathieu Brodeur(6) Chicago Wolves
Former Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#76 overall) biggie defenseman Mathieu Brodeur(6) was left unqualified going into a second restricted free agency after the one year extension on his three-year entry level deal was up.
At 6’6″ he’s certainly one very large man on the ice but weighing only 215 lbs. he still seems like he has some more room to completely fill out that frame.
His skating style is a bit awkward with all that size that maybe that’s an area a little more muscle would help.
He certainly fires a decent number of shots at net from the point but maybe he has let it fly even more.
In 176 AHL games the fifth year blue liner only has 8 goals and 30 assists, which ain’t half bad, all with minor league affiliate Portland Pirates.
The 24-year played most of his rookie season in the ECHL with Las Vegas Wranglers.
He signed his first contract after three campaigns in the QMJHL Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, where he had a some offensive prowess in the assist department with 25.
For 2014/2015, he signed a one-year deal to join Chicago Wolves.
He’s going to have to bring it.
Mathieu Brodeur(6)
Phoenix Coyotes‘ 4th year, undrafted defenseman Mathieu Brodeur(6) signs his qualifying offer to stay with the team for another season after putting up decent numbers with their minor league affiliate Portland Pirates in 2012/2013.
He skated in 65 AHL games scoring 3 goals and 16 assists with 47 penalty minutes, all career highs.
At 6’6″ 215 lbs. he’s one very big blue liner that still needs to steady his game and up the aggressiveness factor before he can become a true shutdown pillar in the defensive zone.
The sharp increase in helpers he put together in his final year of juniors with Cape Breton Screaming Eagles is definitely a plus factor if he can keep it going for the upcoming campaign.
He’s still only 23-years old and one has to think his game still has another level to climb.