Tagged: 2014 Calder Cup

06Aug

Maxime Sauve(7) Hershey Bears

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maxime-sauve

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

10Jun

Barry Goers(41) WBS Penguins

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Barry-Goers

Wheeling Nailers‘ 4th year undrafted mini-defenseman Barry Goers(41) was recalled by affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on seven occasions, putting in an accountable effort when called upon.

The 5’9″ 175 lbs. (minimum weight any player is 9/10 times given) was finally given an AHL contract within the last month of the regular season and with one more appearance in the postseason will outplay his previous high from his rookie year with Las Vegas Wranglers.

Almost ironically he’s scored as many points in the current Calder Cup Playoffs, a pair of assists, as he did in the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 27-year old veteran blue liner could easily sign another ECHL contract for 2014/2015 and follow a similar path of call-ups but he may also grab a roster spot out of training camp or earlier in the off-season.

He’s easily earned it.

Original story: 6/1-14

Not wanting to wait until someone else could sign him Wilkes Barre/Scranton stepped back in offering a one-year contract.

Playing in his first full AHL season he recorded modest career highs with 2 goals, 7 assists and 9 points in 51 games, then added another 2 helpers in 8 Calder Cup Playoff contests.

The soon-to-be 29-year old was definitely consistent enough to score the extension with the Penguins.

barry-goers-1

03Jun

Seth Helgeson(2) Albany Devils

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Seth Helgeson

New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#114 overall) defenseman Seth Helgeson(2) has towering size at 6’5″ 215 lbs. and plays a punishing, stay-at-home style.

He was selected after a pair of seasons as a teenager in the USHL with Sioux City Musketeers.

Deciding to head to school as his next move helped him grow his game in four years at home state University Of Minnesota.

He finished his NCAA career with a +16 rating, completely reversing his numbers from American junior hockey but only put up modest scoring totals.

Once he turned pro, joining minor league affiliate Albany Devils for 75 AHL games in his rookie campaign, he scored only a single goal and credited with 9 assists, while running up 100 penalty minutes including 8 fighting majors. He was also a +12 plus/minus, helping the team to its first Calder Cup Playoff berth in a long while.

The 23-year old was recalled on a couple of occasions by the parent club but has yet to appear in an NHL game.

With a strong training camp heading into the final season of his 2-year entry level deal he could find himself spending some quality time in the show during the 2014/2015 season.

31May

Josh Leivo(14) Toronto Marlies

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josh-leivo

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#86 overall) rookie right wing Josh Leivo(14) has put together a fantastic first year, mostly on reassignment with minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies.

In 59 AHL games he posted 23 goals (good enough for 2nd on the team) and 19 assists with a +6 rating.

He was also recalled to the parent club, skating in 7 NHL games with one tally and one helper to his credit.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. power forward plays an aggressive but smart style, hard and honest without taking unnecessary penalties. His time in the sin bin is minimal.

Through three years of junior hockey in the OHL, he was virtually a point-per-game guy that showed an uptick of performance come playoff time, putting up 28 points in 22 games.

In the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs, the 21-year old is back at it. In 11 games he has 3 goals and 5 assists.

With continued hard work in the off-season, he could easily make a strong bid for a more permanent roster spot with the Leafs.

30May

Conor Sheary(43) WBS Penguins

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Conor Sheary2

Undrafted left wing Conor Sheary(43) signed an ato with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after finishing up his fourth-year at UMass-Amherst.

He put up some decent numbers at college but wasn’t really on anyone’s radar at the next level.

The small 5’8″ forward put on some significant weight bumping him up to 175 lbs. as he joined the AHL for the remainder of the regular season but didn’t connect.

Inserted into the lineup for the third game of the Calder Cup Playoffs first round, he notched an overtime game-winning assist to help solidify his spot in the lineup and tallied his first marker in game 2 of the semi-finals and then started dotting the score sheet to the tune of 6 goals and 4 assists in 13 postseason contests.

His consistent contributions have caught the attention of the parent club, Pittsburgh Penguins, who are now likely to sign him to an entry level contract.

The soon-to-be 22-year old had an agreement for a one-year deal to join WBS Pens for his rookie season as outlined in Elite Prospects and may start here but a player that has always stepped up his compete level may get his shot at the ultimate hockey prize, the NHL.

27May

Nic Kerdiles(8) Norfolk Admirals

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Nic Kerdiles

Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#36 overall) left wing Nic Kerdiles(8) leaves two years of college on the shelf after a pair of successful seasons to sign his entry level deal that runs through 2016.

He was a more than a point-per-game player at University Of Wisconsin and won an NCAA/WCHA Championship as a freshman. He was named MVP after a 10-point tournament effort.

The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward joined minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals on an ato to finish off 2013/2014, where he notched his first pro goal and three assists, helping the team to a Calder Cup Playoff berth.

In 10 postseason contests through the first two rounds he added another 3 tallies and another helper to help solidify his standing as he heads into his rookie year.

The only 20-year old born in the heart of hockey, Lewisville, TX, skates an aggressive game, always digging for the puck and getting himself into the open spots for scoring chances.

He should make an impact going into training camp and make it difficult to send him down to start his first full season in the AHL.

04May

Nicklas Svedberg(1) & Anton Forsberg(35)

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svedbergforsberg

A pair of Swedish goaltenders, Niklas Svedberg(1) and Anton Forsberg(35), called in to put out the first period 7 goal explosion in the deciding game 5 of the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between visiting, winning Providence Bruins and home team Springfield Falcons, exchange some home country good will in the handshake line to conclude the series.

The two starters allowed 4 and 3 goals in the opening stanza and yanked. Each back-up net minder let in the first shot they faced but that was all she wrote for the eventual winner.