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15Jul

Brian McGrattan(22) Anaheim Ducks

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For his 14th pro season Brian McGrattan(22) signed a one-year two-way deal with Anaheim Ducks and could find himself playing a decent amount of NHL for the first time in a couple of campaigns to protect all the players in that deep pool of talent in California.

He’ll turn 34-years old before the new season starts.

The huge force, who’s obviously in great shape and last had 11 fights playing for Calgary Flames in 2013/2014, just keeps on ticking.

Original story below 3/15-15:

Calgary Flames‘ 13th year right wing Brian McGrattan(22) was reassigned to the minors for the first time in a couple of seasons, joining affiliate Adirondack Flames .

He last played six games on a conditioning loan with Milwaukee Admirals while under contract to Nashville Predators but returned to Calgary (he spent 2009/2010 with the team) via trade.

The larger than life 6’4″ 240 lbs. rugged forward skated only 8 games (no points) with the parent club and was listed as a healthy scratch all too often, so the parent club ultimately decided it was best to see if some more ice time could get him back into the lineup on what had become a much speedier squad.

In 2013/2014, he achieved career highs for games played (76), goals (4) and assists (4) while keeping the peace on ice.

The big man was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 1999 draft (#104 overall) but first signed with Ottawa Senators, who he spent his first six seasons with, scoring his first NHL goal.

After a trade to then Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, he bounced around from team-to-team on one-year deals and even spent the full 2010/2011 with a pair of farm clubs.

A veteran of 278 AHL games he has the record for the most penalty minutes and fighting majors in one season (2004/2005) with Binghamton Senators, when he drop the mitts 39 times and recorded 551 minutes in the sin bin.

The 33-year old enforcer has skated in 317 big league contests but is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

He may either decide to take his game overseas for a year as he’s yet to explore the landscape outside of North America or hang up those skates and continue to help players with substance abuse problems, an issue of close importance to him.

See related: 11/1-10, 1/19-11, 2/17-11, 9/18-11,

07Mar

Brendan Bell(14) Chicago Wolves

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12th year veteran defenseman Brendan Bell(14) was acquired by Chicago Wolves from Norfolk Admirals to help boost their back line heading into a potential playoff berth.

In his debut with his new team the 31-year scored a goal and an assist in a tough 4-3 overtime loss against division rival Lake Erie Monsters.

He had only one tally in 47 games with his former team but did compile a sturdy 22 helpers.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. d-man has almost always consistently put up 20+ assists in each AHL season played through 487 games.

Through his pro career, the former Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the in the 2001 draft (#65 overall) has appeared in 102 NHL contests (7 goals, 21 assists) with the last time being 1 game in 2011/2012, when signed with New York Rangers.

After that season, he left for a couple of spins through Europe, his second foray overseas, landing in Sweden’s SHL with Frolunda and then last year skating again for Biel in the Swiss Elite NLA.

Now that’s he’s returned to North America proving he still has plenty left in the tank, his presence definitely helps the youngsters out on any squad he joins.

04Mar

Matt Carkner(3) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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14th year veteran defenseman Matt Carkner(3) has played in the NHL exclusively for the last 5 years. He’s played 237 games scoring 4 goals and 23 assists.

It also took him 5 seasons to crack a big league lineup through his entry level deal with San Jose Sharks. He appeared in one game with them.

Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 1999 draft (#58 overall), the unrestricted free agent spent most of his playing days in the system with the defunct Cleveland Barons.

Currently signed through the end of this season, he’s in the last of his three-year deal with New York Islanders, but after coming off injured reserved was sent directly to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

It’s his first appearance in the minors since 2011 when he played three games on a conditioning reassignment to Binghamton Senators while under contract with Ottawa.

The big 6’4″ 226 lbs. wide body may be best remembered for his five campaigns with the Canadian nation’s capital team. He had his best offensive production with them in 2009/2010 when he got 2 goals and 9 assists and scored a triple overtime gwg in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 34-year old may be playing out his time in the AHL but could get a recall as the postseason draws nearer and the parent club needs to rest some players.

As far as continued playing time in his pro career, he’ll likely have to shift his game overseas or maybe sign a one year deal to continue to help develop prospects on a farm team.

28Feb

Andrew Hammond(30) Ottawa Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ undrafted 2nd year goalie Andrew Hammond(30) is making a strong argument to stay in between the pipes as the team pushes its’ winning efforts towards a playoff berth.

Initially recalled from affiliate Binghamton Senators on an emergency basis to serve as back-up he was pressed into action and maybe a bit unimpressive letting in a pair of goals on 5 shots in a deflating loss.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. net minder got the nod when their other number one goaltender also went down with injury (Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner for anyone keeping track) and got the victory in Montreal, of all places.

At this point he’s basically their go-to goalie down the stretch and he’s getting it done – big.

The sort of late to arrive 27-year old played a boatload of 119 games at Bowling Green State University but never had a winning record.

It’s also not like he’s shutting the door on opponents this season in the minors. In his rookie campaign he managed a 25-19-3 record with a 2.81 GAA and a .910 SV% in 48 AHL games but this year he’s only 7-13 with a 3.51 GAA and an .898 SV% on a club that struggles to string together back-to-back w’s.

Since his first start, he’s posted a tidy 5-0 record with a 1.31 GAA and a .951 SV% along with 2 straight shutouts.

This mirrors his one and only other appearance, a relief effort in a single game last year, where he didn’t let up a goal with 11 stops in 34:31 minutes.

He’s only signed through the end of this season.

See related: 3/1-14

16Feb

Ryan Dzingel(43) Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#204 overall) rookie center Ryan Dzingel(43) has put up point-per-game numbers in his three years at Ohio State University and before that as a member of Lincoln Stars in the USHL.

He was a 2014 Hobey Baker Award finalist.

Upon signing his 2-year entry level contract he went right to work on an ato with affiliate Binghamton Senators scoring 2 goals and 5 assists in 9 AHL games.

The seemingly smaller than listed at 6′ 196 lbs. forward had a good training camp and was a late cut reassigned to start his first year with the farm club.

He’s put up 11 goals and 6 assists in 40 games, which may be a bit of a slow start but he definitely sees the ice well and has game-changer abilities.

The 22-year may stay in the minors this season but he is likely being looked at to have a productive summer and report to camp with a good chance to make the parent clubs’ 2015/2016 opening night roster.

08Feb

Fight Card: Paul Bissonnette(15) vs. David Dziurzynski(22)

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10-year veteran Paul Bissonnette(15) is credited for 52 NHL fighting majors via hockeyfights.com.

It took him the 8 games he skated with Portland Pirates on a pto and a while with Manchester Monarchs to finally drop the gloves but once it finally occurred he’s getting into a scrap almost once a week and his total is up to 4.

For his second battle of the 2014/2015 and recently signed to a one-year AHL contract, the 6’3″ 220 lbs. battler squared off David Dziurzynski(22) who almost exactly matches his measurements at 6’3″ 218 lbs.

Dziurzynski is no stranger to fisticuffs having 7 scraps this year to bring his overall to 27 in the league.

25Jan

Shawn Szydlowski (27)

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4th year undrafted right wing Shawn Szydlowski(27) is having a career season in his second campaign with Fort Wayne Komets, his first under contract with the team.

He has 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points in 35 ECHL games with a +19 rating.

His totals are good enough for 5th overall points in the league but possibly the most tell-tale stat about his sudden surge is his 117 shots on net, which is only three off his totals from last year.

The 6′ 208 lbs. forward was originally under a 3-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres but after his rookie year with Rochester Americans was mostly reassigned down.

He has always put up respectable numbers but it was in the 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs where he really started to shine getting 6 goals and 5 assists in 11 games with a +4 plus/minus.

Not being offered a qualifying offer to spend another year under NHL contract, he decided to stay in Indiana and is really starting to take off.

His play got notice from Binghamton Senators, who signed him to a pto.

In 3 AHL he failed to register a point but was played somewhat sparingly.

22Oct

Matt Taormina(20) Worcester Sharks

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Undrafted 6th year defenseman Matt Taormina(20) has definitely bounced around from team-to-team in the last few seasons.

For 2014/2015 he signs his first AHL contract joining Worcester Sharks, since turning pro with Lowell Devils in 2009.

As a rookie, coming of four seasons at Providence College, he had a hefty 40 helpers and 10 goals in 75 games.

The effort earned the small but accountable in his own end 5’10” 185 lbs. a two-year entry level deal with New Jersey Devils, where he spent the majority of the next two seasons.

An unrestricted free agent he tested the waters and signed for a year with Tampa Bay Lightning but found himself playing mostly with their minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch. He was re-signed but once again was unable to crack the parent club’s roster, skating in only 7 NHL games with no points.

Then close to the trade deadline he was dealt in a farm team deal to Columbus Blue Jackets and reassigned to Springfield Falcons.

If the just turned 28-year old can find the scoring sheet like he did at the beginning of his career, he may find himself signing another big league contract.

See related: 12/17-11