Anaheim Ducks | CollegeHockeyPlayers

18Oct

Chris Wagner (21)

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#122 overall), third year center Chris Wagner(21) is enjoying a quick start to his 2014/2015 campaign.

He notched his first career hat trick (including a pair of short-handed tallies and the game-winning goal) in minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals‘ season opener and added another strike in his next game.

The 6’ 195 lbs. forward was named CCM Player Of The Week for his strong offensive outburst and recalled for his NHL debut.

He only skated 9 shifts for 4:10 of total ice time and 2 penalty minutes but is still up with the parent club so will get another crack at the ice.

In 148 AHL games he has 26 goals and 27 assists, setting high point marks in 2013/2014 (14-14-28 in a complete 76 game effort) but seemed to be waiting for the kind of point production he enjoyed in a pair of years at Colgate University and two seasons of American juniors in the EJHL.

The 23-year old is in the final season of his three-year entry level deal and trying to make it a no-brainer for an extension.

27May

Nic Kerdiles(8) Norfolk Admirals

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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.

16May

Andre Petersson(20) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ Swedish-born right wing Andre Petersson(20) is at the end of his 3-year entry level deal he signed with draft team Ottawa Senators (2008 4th round #109 overall).

He was involved in a minor trade on the deadline date that sent him from one AHL affiliate, Binghamton Senators to Norfolk Admirals.

In the meantime though, the small but shifty 5’9″ 177 lbs. was managing to put up some career highs with 33 assists and 56 points, while his 23 goals tied a rookie campaign marker he put up quickly.

Having already played two seasons in the SHL before putting his hat in the ring for a shot at the NHL, he’s played only one game in 2011/2012.

The 23-year old is set to become a restricted free agent and will almost certainly be qualified, especially after a nice 2014 Calder Cup Playoff debut appearance with 3 goals and 3 assists in 10 games to get the underdog team to the second round.

The question might just be, will he still want to stick around to go after the North American hockey dream.

See related: 1/24-12

03May

Kent Huskins(29) Utica Comets

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13-year veteran defenseman Kent Huskins(29) signed an AHL contract to join Utica Comets a month into the 2013/2014 season.

Possibly looking for a new NHL suitor after splitting less than 20 games the previous year with Detroit Red Wings then Philadelphia Flyers, it’s possible he saw a possible opening in the parent club to influence his decision to sign a minor league deal.

He appeared in 65 games with the expansion central New York club adding another 10 points to his league totals (473-33-101-134). He also owns a +33 rating.

The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has also skated in 318 contests in the show putting up just 13 goals and 55 assists, but his stay-at-home style and strong defense of his own zone gives him a highly accountable +46 plus/minus.

It took him 5 years of trolling with farm teams before he received his first opportunity to play at the highest level but from there he spent six straight seasons on top.

Not bad for a player that was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 1998 draft (#156 overall).

The almost 35-year old could either stay put or try his hand elsewhere but is probably happy earning a decent payday playing pro hockey.

He won a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 as a member of Anaheim Ducks.

15Apr

William Karlsson(22) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#53 overall), Swedish-born center William Karlsson(22) already has 4 seasons of pro hockey in his home country, including the last pair in the SHL with HV71.

He scored 19 goals with 46 assists in 105 games and previously played 60 contests as a teenager in the tier 2 league, Allsvenskan.

The 6′ 180 lbs. forward was a point-per-game guy with a +25 rating in 2011/2012 for Västerås.

Signing his 3-year entry level deal for the current campaign, he was loaned by the parent club to skate one more season in Sweden.

With their playoff elimination, he was recalled to join minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

In 6 AHL games he has his first North American pro hockey goal and a 3 assists, while playing a hard-working, highly skilled style.

At 21-years old he’ll most definitely be competing for a NHL roster spot for his official rookie year, 2014/2015.

31Mar

Danny Syvret(25)

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Hartford Wolf Pack 9th year veteran defenseman Danny Syvret(25) is quickly approaching his third straight 40-point AHL season (9 goals, 30 assists).

He was traded in the second season of his two-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers, his third contract with the team, to New York Rangers and reassigned to their farm club in Connecticut, where he’s played 67 contests in 2013/2014.

The stocky-looking 5’11” 205 lbs. d-man has skated in 59 NHL games, putting up a modest 3 goals and 4 assists but hasn’t paid a visit to the show since late 2011.

He’s considered a top-two pairing blue liner in the minors but given a full campaign may play a fairly strong role as a bottom six, seventh guy in the lineup more than watching from the sidelines.

10Mar

Charles Sarault(17) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ undrafted rookie center Charles Sarault(17) is having himself a decent first year on a Norfolk Admirals‘ team that’s stocked with talent both young and old.

In 40 AHL games he has 6 goals and 7 assists with a -5 rating on a team that’s 13 games over .500 but only has a +10 goals for/against differential.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward played in 11 contests with the team after his overage junior season was completed, notching 6 assists.

He led the OHL in assists for his last two campaigns with the Sarnia Sting, putting up a phenomenal 67 then 86 helpers.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal that keeps him in the system through 2015/2016, the 22-year old has plenty of time to develop but there’s no time like the present to start impressing.

The only knock on his play that can easily be spotted is the number of shots he puts on the cage, which should easily be double what he has.

28Jan

John Kurtz(12) Norfolk Admirals

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Norfolk Admirals‘ undrafted 4th year, tough left wing John Kurtz(12) was rewarded last season with his first NHL contract from parent club Anaheim Ducks for his consistently edgy play in the minors with their affiliate clubs.

The 6’2″ 206 lbs. forward was further endorsed by the parent club as he received a one-year extension for 2014/2015.

He’s on pace this season to set AHL career highs in all categories, which may not put him tops on the team in scoring, but for a player that is looked to as protection for their more gifted scoring prospects it’s a nice increase.

Although he will likely spend the entire current campaign with the farm club, it appears he’s being readied for a recall to flex some muscle in the big league.

At only 24-years old he wears an “A” on his jersey serving as one of the alternate captains.

He was captain for his final pair of seasons in junior hockey with Sudbury Wolves, so proven leadership is an important part of his game.

02Jan

Max Friberg(14) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#143 overall), Swedish-born left wing Max Friberg(14) is off to a nice start in his rookie season.

In 33 games with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals he has 9 goals and 9 assists with a +8 rating.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal in the offseason, he continued to play in his home country’s pro league, SHL for one more campaign before joining the Admirals for 6 contests, scoring his first tally, at the end of 2012/2013.

Listed at 5’11” 195 lbs., those measurements seem a bit generous. His speedy skating style and stick-handling abilities is definitely more akin to a smaller sized player.

He won a gold medal at the under 20 World Junior Championships, finished as scoring leader and was selected to the All-Star Team.

It seems unlikely with all the depth in the prospect system that he earns a call-up this season but he could easily work his way up to fill a roster spot next year, which is also the final year of his deal.

25Nov

Matt Beleskey(34) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th round pick in the 2006 draft (#112 overall), 6th year left wing Matt Beleskey(34) has skated the last couple of seasons exclusively in the NHL with the parent club but is no stranger to the minors.

He was recently reassigned to AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals on a conditioning loan to rehab a broken thumb suffered at the start of the season, which was also when his brand new 2-year, one-way contract extension kicked in.

He’s appeared in 213 NHL games scoring 27 goals and 30 assists. His numbers in the lower league are similar but through only half the amount of games played.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward spent only a few games down before being recalled but found the back of the net for a tally, which must have helped him some with his confidence, because as soon as he got back struck for his first goal of the new season and added a helper a couple of nights later.

He put up great numbers in his final season of junior hockey as captain with Belleville Bulls but is probably not expected to post 41 goals and 49 assists in 62 games anytime soon.

The 25-year old could use a breakout 20-point campaign to stay put in the show and could also be more accountable than his overall -23 rating. There’s little doubt he has the tools in his kit to stick.