Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | CollegeHockeyPlayers

19Nov

Josh Gratton(13) Manchester Monarchs

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Undrafted 12th year left wing Josh Gratton(13) spent the last four seasons playing mostly in the KHL with Barys Astana and Vityaz Podolsk. He only skated in 11 games last season.

Seeing only limited action in his last two seasons was possibly the impetus for him to return to North American pro hockey to see if at 32-years old he could earn himself a contract.

Invited to Manchester Monarchs‘ training camp, he proved himself worthy and was given a pto to start the 2014/2015 season.

13 games into the season he has one assist, a +1 rating, 36 penalty minutes and quickly accrued 6 fighting majors.

The 6’2″ 215 lbs. tough guy has skated in 247 AHL games scoring a modest 35 goals and 39 assists with an eye-popping 936 pims and dropped the gloves 102 times.

He’s also appeared in 86 NHL games for Arizona Coyotes and two stints with Philadelphia Flyers.

He won a Calder Cup Championship with Philadelphia Phantoms in the lockout year 2004/2005.

It remains to be seen whether or not he’s given an spc for this season but regardless, he’s making his presence felt.

19Jan

Mike Mottau(3) Toronto Marlies

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Heading into 2012/2013 13th year defenseman Mike Mottau(3) was an unrestricted free agent with 313 NHL games to his credit.

Originally a New York Rangers‘ 7th round draft pick in 1997 (#182 overall) he has skated with 5 different teams, his hometown Boston Bruins‘ being the most recent he skated with last season. He was acquired in a trade deadline deal and wore a spoked “B” for 8 games, including 2 in the playoffs.

With a lockout looming, the 34-year old blue liner had a decision to make: either sign a deal with an AHL team or risk not playing for a full year and potentially wrapping up a nice, long career.

He chose the former and inked a pto to join San Antonio Rampage, making his first appearances in the league since 2007. In 16 games, he put up 7 assists and was a +5 plus/minus helping stabilize the team to jump back into the playoff picture.

Offered a chance to fight for a spot on Toronto Maple Leafs‘ roster in a shortened training camp the 6’ 193 lbs., 2000 Hobey Baker Award winner as the best player in college hockey, took it.

He had a strong enough showing that he was signed to a 1-year, two-way contract for the shortened season. Reassigned to their minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies, he played his first game with his new team notched an assist in the loss.

30May

Jason Williams(18) Ambrì- Piotta

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Entering his 13th season, center Jason Williams(18) says goodbye to North American pro hockey and is looking at the next 2 years with Ambri-Piotta of Switzerland National League A.

He leaves having skated in 455 NHL regular season and 27 postseason games scoring 95 goals and 135 assists, most recently with Pittsburgh Penguins, who he signed a one-year, two-way deal with for 2011/2012.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward had one of his best seasons in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins scoring 13 goals and 29 assists in 59 games and added another 3 goals and 10 assists in 12 games.

The 32-year old when the 2012/2013 season starts has skated in Europe once before. During the lock out, he played the season in Finland.

Chances are he’ll do well playing this style and they are already very excited to have him join their team.

14May

Keith Aucoin(11) Washington Capitals

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Veteran AHL center Keith Aucoin(11) has played a whopping 673 regualar season games in the league throughout his amazing 11-year career run.

Despite appearing in only 43 games this season, he still ranked 5th in scoring with 70 points (11 goals, 59 assists).

On February 28, the 33-year old was recalled from Hershey Bears for the fourth time in a month by Washington Capitals and stayed in the NHL throughout their Stanley Cup Playoff run, which included a pair of 7-game series.

In his first 14 big league postseason contests ever he had a pair of assists but more importantly was utilized on the power play and provided a tough fourth line checking forward for the opposition to deal with.

The 5’8″ 171 lbs. forward (that plays with hockey stick that’s bigger than he is) has been in the Caps‘ system for the last 4 seasons and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but we expect him to be re-upped for at least one more year.

26Mar

Ben Guite(28) Worcester Sharks

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12th year veteran center, Worcester Sharks‘ Ben Guite(28) has missed a majority of 2011/2012 due to complications from a concussion he sustained early in the AHL season.

He recently returned to the team and is contributing in their push toward the Calder Cup Playoffs.

In 15 games this year he has 2 goals and 7 assists but despite not being a prolific goal scorer, he’s look to for his leadership and playing intensity on the ice.

He’s appeared in 175 NHL games (all but seven of them with Colorado Avalanche from 2006 – 2009) scoring 19 goals and 26 assists.

In 574 AHL games he has 101 goals and 172 assists.

He was originally picked by Montreal Canadiens in the 7th round of 1997 draft (#172 overall). The 33-year old signed a one-year, two-way deal with San Jose Sharks in the offseason.

11Dec

Jason Williams(18) Pittsburgh Penguins

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Since 2000, undrafted center Jason Williams(18) has played games in the NHL and he played his first of the 2011/2012 season with Pittsburgh Penguins in their win over New York Islanders. He skated for 11:28 minutes, took a tripping penalty and had a shot on net.

In 448 NHL games he has 93 goals and 132 assists with Detroit (7 seasons, including a Stanley Cup with them in 2002), Chicago, Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas and now with the Pens.

He has far less career games in the AHL numbering 210 at last check (77 goals, 113 assists = a point per game) and this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins has 3 goals and 14 assists in 20 games.

07Dec

Keith Aucoin(11) Hershey Bears

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It didn’t take long for Hershey Bears‘ 11th year veteran center Keith Aucoin(11) to be named Reebok/AHL Player Of The Week.

He’s the league leading scorer with 6 goals and 30 assists but had a particularly productive four-game stretch where he put in another couple of goals and 6 helpers to help the team win 3 of the 4.

Originally undrafted, he has played in the Washington Capitals‘ system for the last four seasons, winning back-to-back Calder Cups with the Bears.

In 78 NHL games, he’s put up 8 goals and 18 assists but in the AHL he has scored the most points of any American born player.

30Oct

Sean Avery(16) Connecticut Whale

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13 year veteran Sean Avery(16) was waived by New York Rangers and reassigned to their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale, where he suited up for just his second game on Saturday night vs. Worcester Sharks. It’s his second stint with the Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack. He played there briefly in 2008 under the assumption the Rangers would sign him after Dallas parted ways.

He is the final year of his 4-year contract that is split between the two teams at $4. million per season.

In his first game he scored the empty-netter insurance goal and last night he got the game-winner in the sixth round of the shootout to give his team the 3-2 victory. All well and good and although it might be unlikely that he’ll get called up, he could potentially sign on with another team that has some salary cap room to play the agitator role that he’s one of the league’s best in the business at providing.