Tagged: Chicago Wolves

17Nov

Arturs Kulda(44) Winnipeg Jets

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4th year defenseman, 2006 Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets‘ 7th round draft pick (#200 overall) Arturs Kulda(44) recently got into his first NHL action of the 2011/2012 season. He’d been called up for short stints in the past couple of years in the Thrashers‘ system (7 games, 0 goals, 2 assists).

He was re-signed by the Jets in the offseason after his entry level contract expired to a one-year, two-way deal.

He’s been excelling in the AHL with St. John’s IceCaps putting up 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 13 games; but he’s a more important +9 player.

 

 

14Nov

Jared Ross(18) Ingolstadt ERC

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Undrafted center, 7th year pro Jared Ross(18) was all the rage in the Philadelphia Flyers‘ system for a few moments but in 22 NHL games (13 regular season, 9 playoff), he’s only registered one goal in the postseason.

He’s a proven prolific scorer in the AHL despite his small size (5’9″ 165 lbs).

For the 2011/2012 season, he finds himself playing pro hockey overseas, joining former Boston Bruins‘ tough guy Jeremy Reich on Ingolstadt ERC in Germany. That’s a long way from his Huntsville, Alabama place of birth and where he attended college at the University Of Alabama, which both are quite the anomaly for a NHL caliber player.

01Nov

Andre Deveaux(7) New York Rangers

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Responding to a need for some grit in their game after a lackluster 3-3-3 in 9 games start, New York Rangers‘ call up their extra large-sized offseason free agent signing, 8th year pro, center Andre Deveaux(7).

He has 22 games of NHL experience with the Maple Leafs putting up only one assist but more importantly 75 penalty minutes, which is mostly what he’s called upon for.

In recent years he has shown an ability to find the back of the net though; this season already putting up 6 points in 9 games played in the AHL with Connecticut Whale.

Born in the Bahamas, he is the first from there to play in the NHL. He was originally drafted by Montreal Canadiens in the 6th round of the 2002 draft (#182 overall) but never signed with them.

 

22Oct

Manny Legace(30) Springfield Falcons

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18-year veteran goaltender started the 2011/2012 season on a training camp tryout invite from Vancouver Canucks. They released him in mid-September and from there he signed a pto with San Antonio Rampage, which lasted through one game of the AHL season.

His playing career has come full circle as he signed another pto. This time with the team he started his pro career with, Springfield Falcons. On Friday night, he appeared in his first game with the team since 1997.

Just how long this renewed relationship will last is tough to say but I would expect it to be a short return visit. In the 3-0 loss vs. WBS Penguins he looked to be in the zone and shaky sometimes on the same play.

At 38 years old and having backstopped 365 NHL games, won a Stanley Cup with Detroit Red Wings in 2002 and played in 6 different leagues (4 North American, 2 oversesas) it may be time for him to hang up the goalie skates.

05Oct

Dale Weise(23) Vancouver Canucks

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Still looking to add the right measure of toughness to their starting lineup on opening night, Vancouver Canucks claims forward Dale Weise(23) off waivers from New York Rangers. He was impressive in training camp for the Blueshirts but was one of a few odd-men out when it came down to the final cuts. It’s doubtful the Rangers thought they would lose the big guy (6’2″ 206 lbs.) on his first trip through the wire post his 3-year entry level deal.

He needs to stay healthy (had issues last year) but could be an effective fourth line agitator with the ability to put the puck in the net from time-to-time.

Connecticut Whale will miss this guy.

10/20: Weise scores his 1st NHL goal.

02Oct

Joe Loprieno(3) Bakersfield Condors

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After two seasons with Worcester Sharks, undrafted defenseman found himself looking for a new team for 2011/2012.

He recently signed a contract to play in the ECHL with the seemingly stacked Bakersfield Condors.

He was invited to Chicago Wolves‘ training camp but was cut when they received reinforcements from their new parent club, Vancouver Canucks.

Last year the big defenseman (6’3″ 220 lbs.) found himself playing a few games at the forward position and not too surprisingly it yielded his first professional hockey goals. The trend to put him up front will probably continue with the Condors. And it’s also likely that he’ll receive a call-up or two in the upcoming season.

29Sep

Antoine Roussel(24) Vancouver Canucks

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2nd year forward Antoine Roussel(24) scored himself an invite to Vancouver Canucks‘ training camp after Boston Bruins didn’t pick up his option following his rookie season.

He managed to impress the brass in camp and throughout NHL preseason games enough to stick around longer than most would have expected him to. Assigned to camp with first year AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves he looks poised to pick himself up a contract for 2011/2012.

In 42 games with Providence last season he scored 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) but brought a feisty attitude onto the ice with every shift. Kind of surprised to see he was a +5 skater for the team.

17Sep

Mike Vernace(7) Tampa Bay Lightning / Norfolk Admirals

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I love stories like this one.  6th year pro, defenseman Mike Vernace(7) was a San Jose Sharks 7th round draft pick in 2004 (#201 overall) but never signed with the team. He eventually signed a one-year two-way deal with Colorado Avalanche and started his rookie season with Central Hockey League‘s Arizona Sundogs before moving up to the AHL with Albany River Rats.

He spent another couple of seasons in the Avalanche system and even got his first 12 NHL games under his belt in 2008-2009.

He wasn’t resigned for at the end of 2009 and signed with Atlanta Thrashers but didn’t appear in the NHL, although he played for two different AHL teams, first Chicago Wolves, then Hamilton Bulldogs, where he got his first playoff experience

Last year he signed a free agent deal with Tampa Bay Lightning, played 10 more games in the NHL and got an assist, his first point in the show.

In 2011/2012 he’ll be back for his second season in the Lightning system.

 

 

28Aug

Mark Mancari(25) Vancouver Canucks / Buffalo Sabres / Portland Pirates

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After 6 years in the Buffalo system and a career year in NHL games played and points (20 games, 1 goal and 7 assists), Mark Mancari(25) gets cut loose by the Sabres.

Vancouver stepped in immediately and signed him to a 0ne-way deal for the league minimum $525,000. He’ll be fighting for an open spot in the Canucks lineup for opening night, but even if he gets sent down, it’s to play with Chicago Wolves, which isn’t exactly the worst AHL city to end up in.

It’s time for him to step up and become a full-time NHLer.