Anaheim Ducks | CollegeHockeyPlayers

07May

Iiro Tarkki(35) Salavat Yulaev

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Finnish-born, undrafted Syracuse Crunch rookie goaltender Iiro Tarkki(35) put up some pretty impressive numbers in his first season of AHL action with a 24-17 win/loss record and a 2.45 gaa and .925 SV%. He played less well against a loaded St. John’s IceCaps‘ team in the opening round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

He was signed to a one-year entry level deal by Anaheim Ducks and appeared in one game for them getting his first NHL win in his only game, but he also let up a goal on the first shot he faced and was lit up for another 2 in only 9 more in the two periods he played in relief. It just so happened the Ducks popped in 7 goals to get him the W.

We honestly think he didn’t want to spend another year in the minors so decided to sign on with Salavat Yulaev of the KHL and work that angle. He started his career playing three years for the top league in his own country.

At 26-years old, he may just be one of those late-bloomers, because he seems to have a pretty good skill set.

05May

John Mitchell(24) Anaheim Ducks

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3rd year undrafted left wing John Mitchell(24) was rewarded for working hard with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch despite not being signed by Anaheim Ducks with a two-year, two-way entry level NHL deal that will take him through 2014.

He originally signed an AHL contract with the Crunch as a rookie in 2010/2011 and re-signed for a second campaign last season.

The 25-year old basically had mirror image seasons on the scoresheet but was a very respectable +7 plus/minus this year and played hard for them in their first round exit of the Calder Cup Playoffs scoring a goal.

He’s listed at 6’5″ 216 lbs. which seems big from when I saw him play. But if he is, then he should be banging like an extra large power forward.

20Apr

Mark Fraser(29) Toronto Marlies

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6th year, 25-year old defenseman Mark Fraser(29) will definitely help Toronto Marlies in their quest for the Calder Cup.

He’s had quite the ride in the 2011/2012 season as he started the season with the team that selected him in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft (#84 overall), New Jersey Devils. In 5 years in their system, he’s skated 98 NHL games (3 goals, 5 assists) and has appeared in 233 AHL contests.

Never really considered a big point producer, he is however a big presence on the blue line at 6’3″ 220 lbs.

A trade in mid-December, saw him go to Anaheim Ducks but he didn’t appear in a game before being reassigned to Syracuse Crunch, where he played some mean, shutdown hockey and was a career high +13 plus/minus.

Only a couple of months later though, he was dished again in a minor league deal that has him playing in the AHL postseason for the first time in his pro career. He got himself an assist on the game-winning goal to boot.

11Apr

Trent Hunter(47) Manchester Monarchs

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12-year veteran of 497 NHL games, right wing Trent Hunter(47) was reassigned by Los Angeles Kings to their AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs in mid-February after skating in 38 games and only putting up a pair of goals and 5 assists.

It’s his first stint in the minors since the 2002/2003 season.

He spent 10 years with New York Islanders starting in 2001, scoring 99 goals and 130 assists.

Originally drafted by Anaheim Ducks in the 6th round of the 1998 draft (#150 overall), the 6’3″ 210 lbs., 31-year old never skated a game with the team before being traded in 2000 to the Isles.

In 17 games with the Monarchs‘ he has 4 goals and 5 assists but most notably will be a leadership asset to the team if they complete their bid for a Calder Cup Playoff spot in the upcoming postseason.

08Apr

Peter Holland (22)

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#15 overall) rookie center Peter Holland(22) lit it up and gets some notice in the month of March earning the AHL Rookie of the Month honor.

He notched 4 goals and 14 assists in 15 games, not to mention had a tidy +12 plus/minus on a team that’s all of the sudden streaking at the right time towards a Calder Cup Playoff berth, Syracuse Crunch.

In 4 NHL games he got his 1st goal but hasn’t been back since mid-November 2011.

In 69 AHL games he ranks 2nd on the Crunch in scoring with 23 goals and 37 assists.

At 6’3″ 200 lbs. the 21-year old is probably still at a bit light for where his prime playing weight will be but he’s not afraid to get dirty and should get a longer look in what might be a bit of a rebuilding Ducks for 2012/2013, especially considering he’ll only be in the 2nd year of his three-year entry level deal.

04Apr

Mat Clark(2) Anaheim Ducks

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2nd year Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#37 overall), defenseman Mat Clark(2) played his first NHL game on April Fool’s. He skated 11 shifts for 11:02 of even strength ice time and pretty much that was his lone pair of stats, which isn’t a bad thing in the 2-1 loss.

At 6’3″ 205 lbs. the 21-year old still has time to grow into his game and at the very least this year in the AHL, his second with Syracuse Crunch, he’s become a more accountable d-man.

He has another year left on his 3-year entry level deal.

Another guy that just has to take a million shots from the point and get them in on net consistently.

20Mar

Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(43) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(43) has been around a lot more years than most folks would even remember.

He was originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2002 draft (#31 overall) and had spent the first 7 years of his career playing in their system starting with Edmonton Roadrunners, Hamilton Bulldogs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Springfield Falcons and Oklahoma City Barons (all one-time Oilers‘ AHL affiliates).

He also played 58 NHL games over two seasons with Edmonton.

One thing about his netminding, even when he didn’t put up a winning record, he never really had a terrible GAA or SV%.

That fact was not missed by Anaheim, who signed him to a two-year two deal as a free agent for 2011-2013. Oddly enough, he’s posting his worst numbers for their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch but is 1-0 in a start with the Ducks and in his 2nd start tonight.

The 27-year old stands 6’4″ 200 lbs. It’d be no surprise to see him win a starting job soon, like he did in ’09/’10 with Edmonton.

18Mar

Kyle Cumiskey (7)

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6th year defenseman Kyle Cumiskey(7) was originally a Colorado Avalanche 7th round pick in 2005 (#222 overall) and went on to play 5 years in their system amassing 132 NHL games scoring 9 goals and 26 helpers.

At the beginning of the 2011/2012 season he was traded to Anaheim Ducks for a prospect but has only seen ice time with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch despite a pair of call-ups.

In 2009/2010, he played his first full NHL season but was limited to 18 games the next year due to recurring head injuries. He did put up a goal and 7 assists in that time though.

He’s not huge at 5’10” 185 lbs. but could be paired with a bigger guy for his offensive upside, although he really doesn’t sacrifice anything on defense.

Through 44 games with Syracuse Crunch he’s scored three goals and 20 assists and was an even plus/minus.

13Mar

Kyle Palmieri(21) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#26 overall), 2nd year right wing Kyle Palmieri(21) has been on a string between the NHL and their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch as he is on his 5th recall.

He has marginal career highs in the NHL with 12 games played, registering a goal and an assist. He had 10 games with a goal in his rookie campaign.

In 46 games with the Crunch this season he has 32 goals and 22 assists. In 62 contest last season he had 29 goals and 22 assists, so is en route to more career scoring highs. He currently sits 10th in scoring leaders and leads the league in goals scored with anywhere from 15-20 less games played than the other skaters.

His older brother is Nick Palmieri, forward with Minnesota Wild.

28Feb

Andrew Gordon(10) Vancouver Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks added more depth at forward position by acquiring 5th year right wing Andrew Gordon(10) from Anaheim Ducks and reassigned to Chicago Wolves before anything even settled.

He started the season playing 37 NHL games (2 goals, 3 assists) but was reassigned to their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch in mid-January and skated in 19 games (3 goals, 5 assists) with them up until his trade from an organization he wasn’t even with for a full season.

Originally drafted by Washington Capitals in the 7th round of 2004 (#191 overall) he spent his first 4 years as pro in their system, playing 12 NHL games with them (1 goal, 1 assist). He was mostly known as being one of the team leaders for Hershey Bears, where in 313 regular season and playoff games he put up 124 goals and 136 assists.

He won back-to-back Calder Cups with the Bears in 2009 and 2010.

In his rookie season, he even played some games in the ECHL with South Carolina Stingrays but overpowered the competition in that league with 8 goals and 6 assists in 11 games.