2013 AHL All-Star Game | CollegeHockeyPlayers

Tagged: 2013 AHL All-Star Game

08Jun

Brad Hunt(29) Edmonton Oilers

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Undrafted, soon-to-be 2nd year defenseman Brad Hunt(2) receives a 2-year 2-way entry level deal from Edmonton Oilers after a solid rookie year on an AHL contract with Chicago Wolves.

He’s small at just 5’9″ 188 lbs. but the blue liner connected for 4 goals and 29 assists in 65 games and added another goal and 3 assists in 5 playoff contests. He also played in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game and got a goal on his only shot on net to help the Western Conference to a 7-6 victory.

He first appeared in 14 games with the Wolves on an ato after completing his college career at Bemidji State University, where he showed the ability to put up points. He got his 1st pro goal and 4 assists.

The 24-year old will be in training camp and likely start the 2013/2014 campaign with their minor league affiliate Oklahoma City Barons but with continued good play should be on the short list for a call-up, look.

Original story: 7/8-13

Since inking his first major contract, he has continued to perform better with each season and received a longer stint from the parent club in 2014/2015 playing 11 NHL games and scoring his first goal (to go along with a pair of assists). He has appeared in 14 total big league contests.

Now 26-years old, scored a career high 19 AHL goals and 51 points, then added another 3 tallies and 7 helpers in 10 postseason matchups with Oklahoma City Barons in the campaign that just finished.

With a freshly signed one-year extension he should get a longer look from the Oilers.

21Apr

Brayden McNabb(7) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#66 overall), 2nd year defenseman Brayden McNabb(7) missed the last month of the regular season with a knee injury and the hope is he will be able to return as the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs start imminently.

He set career highs in AHL games played with 62 and 31 assists and 36 points in 2012/2013, while tying his goal scoring total at 5. He also was a bit more physical out there increasing his penalty minutes to 50 and was chosen to play in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game for a second straight appearance.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. always put up better numbers in each successive year of junior hockey with Kootenay Ice and was team captain when they won a WHL title in 2011.

He played 25 NHL games in his rookie season scoring his first big league goal and adding 7 assists. It’s a bit of a thinker why he failed to get games in this lockout shortened season though.

The 22-year old signed a three-year entry level deal that takes him through next season.

But first things first, he needs to return for the postseason.

14Apr

Adam Clendening(2) Rockford IceHogs

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#36 overall) rookie defenseman Adam Clendening(2) was chosen to the 2012-2013 AHL Second All-Star Team for his impressive play in the quickly wrapping up season.

In 71 games with their minor league affiliate Rockford IceHogs he has 8 goals and 36 assists with a +14 rating and quarterbacks the power play. He also leads the league in assists by a d-man and is top five in scoring for the position.

The 5’11” 187 lbs. blue liner left two years of college at Boston University on the shelf to turn pro signing a three-year entry level deal.

He was also picked to represent at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game.

The 20-year old definitely plays a much bigger game than his size may indicate and can be an offensive threat without becoming liability in his own zone.

He has yet to make an appearance in an NHL game but that time will certainly come. First he has his sights set on scoring a Calder Cup appearance with his team that sits just inside the bubble of a berth.

02Apr

Mark Cundari(15) Calgary Flames

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3rd year undrafted defenseman Mark Cundari(15) was a key component in a trade deadline deal that saw him move from St. Louis Blues‘ system to Calgary Flames.

He was chosen to appear in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game, where he had one assist to help the Western Conference to a 7-6 win, in what has been his breakout campaign.

He’s appeared in 172 minor league contests scoring 10 goals and 59 assists, all with Peoria Rivermen.

The under-sized 5’9″ but solid as a rock, 200 lbs. agitator defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut but could net a recall from farm team, Abbotsford Heat before the current season wraps up.

He won back-to-back OHL and Memorial Cup titles in juniors with Windsor Spitfires.

The soon-to-be 23 year old is in the final season of his 3-year entry level deal and scheduled to become a restricted free agent as the end of 2012/2013.

As the Flames are rebuilding a more youthful future, he will undoubtedly be qualified with a contract extension.

23Mar

Gustav Nyquist(13) Detroit Red Wings

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Detroit Red Wings‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#121 overall), 2nd year Swedish right wing Gustav Nyquist(13) knew the route from minor league affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins‘ Van Andel Arena to Joe Louis pretty well by the end of the season.

In 18 NHL games he scored a goal and 6 assists, while in 56 AHL contests he tallied 22 goals and 36 assists.

The back-and-forth bus trips (or drives) are looking to be the norm again in his sophomore campaign.

The small-ish 5’11” 185 lbs. forward has a goal and an assist already in 5 games but knows consistency is the key to keep him with the big club and to ultimately gain a contract extension.

In the AHL he has set career highs in all categories, with 23 goals and 37 assists in 58 games already eclipsing last year’s marks. He is basically a point-per-game guy that leads the scoring race in the league and was chosen to appear in the 2013 All-Star Game.

He’s in the final season of his 2-year entry level deal and scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of 2012/2013.

There’s little doubt he will score a qualifying offer but much is expected of the 23-year old moving ahead.

For a European, he took the somewhat odd route to pro hockey by playing for a U.S. college team, where he was their leading scorer and left his last year to sign a deal.

18Feb

Jason Zucker(16) Minnesota Wild

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Minnesota Wild 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#59 overall) rookie left wing Jason Zucker(16) cashed in on his first NHL goal in his first game on recall from minor league affiliate Houston Aeros, where he leads that team in scoring with 19 goals and 22 assists.

He started his pro career at the end of last season, signing a three-year entry level deal upon leaving college after two years of more than a point per game production.

In 6 contests with the Wild to finish off a 2011/2012 without a playoff berth, the 5’11” 180 lbs. forward got his first points in the show with a pair of assists.

He was selected to appear in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game, in which he scored a goal and an assist and tied a team high with 5 shots on net in the 7-6 Western Conference win. He was also a close second in the fastest skater contest in the Skills Competition.

In the 21-year old’s 2013 NHL debut, he logged 15 shifts for 11:09 of total ice time, scored the goal, went a +1 plus/minus and had 2 shots on net in the 3-2 victory. His tally tied the game at 2.

Minnesota is going to have to put his picture and add some more visual content up on his player page and soon, so fans can get to know this potential rising star, born in Las Vegas (of all places), on their team.

14Feb

Tyler Toffoli(26) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#47 overall) rookie center Tyler Toffoli(26) has yet to realize an NHL call-up quite yet but it has to be imminent, unless all the players on the parent club perform well and stay healthy. He was one of the last skaters to be reassigned to start the shortened season.

He’s 2nd in scoring for AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs with 35 points, leading the team with 21 goals and a +15 plus/minus. He was also selected to play in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game and collected a goal and an assist in the heart-breaking Eastern Conference loss.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward had three outstanding final three years of junior hockey and even led the highly competitive OHL in scoring for 2010/2011.

He’s signed to a three-year entry level deal that keeps him with the Kings through the 2015 season.

There’s little doubt that the 20-year old is going to blossom into a full-time NHL player but he’ll have to continue to excel on the farm and wait for his turn to prove he can step it up.

08Feb

Petr Mzarek(34) Detroit Red Wings

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Detroit Red Wings‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#141 overall) rookie Czech net minder Petr Mzarek(34) got the nod for his 1st NHL start and absolutely commanded a 5-1 win over Division rivals St. Louis Blues.

Not bad for a goalie that started his still shiny new pro career in the ECHL with Toledo Walleye for a few games before being recalled to Grand Rapid Griffins.

He posted a 2-1 record with a 2.02 GAA and .944 SV% on a team that looks to be a Kelly Cup contender before receiving the start in his 2nd game back in the AHL and began winning, a lot, all the time.

His 16-7 in 25 games with a 2.26 GAA and .916 SV for the division leading squad is pretty dazzling.

These efforts earned him an invite to the 2013 AHL All-Star Game and was in net for the Western Conference late 3rd period victory.

It would almost be no surprise to see the 6’1″ 187 lbs. goaltender work his way into the mix of starters for the Wings going forward. He’s signed through 2015 on a three-year entry level contract.

The win was a nice early birthday present for the soon-to-be 21-year old Valentine’s Day baby backstop.