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20Sep

Raymond Sawada(27) Oji Eagles

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5th year right wing Raymond Sawada(27) signs an AHL contract to join St. John’s IceCaps for the 2012/2013. He was reassigned from Texas Stars to the team near the end of last year appearing in 17 regular season and 15 Calder Cup games.

Originally a 2nd round pick of Dallas Stars in the 2004 draft (#52 overall), he has skated in 11 NHL games over three seasons with one goal to his credit. He scored it on his birthday.

In the AHL, the power forward has played in 289 regular and postseason contests for 45 goals and 80 assists, which are somewhat surprisingly low scoring totals for the 6’2″ 205 lbs. high draft pick.

At 27-years old, he’s seemingly still waiting for his breakout campaign but has to be running low on time in North American pro hockey to prove his abilities.

Original story 8/10-12

He would tie his best offensive output in his first full season with St. John’s scoring a new high 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points but was a dismal -24 in 65 games.

Going into 2013/2014 he signed a deal at the start of the ECHL season with Colorado Eagles, his first venture playing in the lower league.

His numbers were that of a point-per-game player (7-8-15 in 18 contests with a +7 plus/minus) but he must have gotten a bit stir crazy as he up and left for SM-liiga of Finland, joining Tappara but his numbers were similar to what he’d put up in the AHL.

He left there for a year in the EIHL with Belfast Giants and fully exploded with 22 goals and 41 assists in 58 games and added another 2 tallies and 2 helpers in 4 postseason match-ups.

For his 8th pro season, the former Cornell University captain has made a somewhat surprising decision to play 2015/2016 in the Asia League with Oji Eagles, where he should once again dominate on the score sheet.

The 30-year was likely offered a lot of money he couldn’t turn down.

03Aug

Jamie Oleksiak(5) Dallas Stars

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Dallas Stars‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#14 overall), mammoth-sized defenseman Jamie Oleksiak(6) made his NHL debut after starting his rookie season with their minor league affiliate Texas Stars.

He skated 21 shifts for 15:32 of total ice time in a 4-3 shootout win.

At 6’7″ 250 lbs. his size speaks for itself but he started to show an offensive upside in the second half, after a trade, of his only year in junior hockey. That followed one season in college hockey.

In 43 AHL games he has scored a modest 3 goals but added a playmaker 20 assists to his scoring totals and leaves the farm club (for now) with a +12 plus/minus. He also was selected to the starting lineup of the recent 2013 AHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition.

The 20-year old signed a 3-year entry level contract that keeps him in the Stars‘ system through 2015. He should easily become a full-time fixture in the show well before then as a solid two-way specialist.

Original story: 2/2-13

He would finish his first season posting a team leading 27 assists and 33 points for d-men with a healthy +19 rating.

He also appeared in 16 games with the big club recording his first two assists.

In his sophomore campaign he played a new high 69 AHL games but only got into 7 contests with Dallas, unable to get any points. His 5 goals, 18 assists and 23 points with a +8 plus/minus were second amongst blue liners on Texas and he would be a part of the 2014 Calder Cup Champions contributing 5 assists and a +13 rating in 21 playoff outings.

He would start his contract year on the opening night roster but was a healthy scratch and called into action for the following game.

For the next few games he’d be back in the stands watching but after that he would start showing up regularly.

He would end up playing 36 contests getting his first NHL goal and 7 assists.

While mostly playing with the big club he was sent down, skating 35 games with the farm club.

Now 23-years old he signed a one-year extension early into his restricted free agency to stay with Dallas Stars and is expected to stick with the big club exclusive in 2015/2016.

03Jul

Jason Bacashihua (35)

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In his 10th season, veteran goaltender Jason Bacashihua(35) was originally a 1st round draft pick in 2001 for Dallas Stars (#26 overall) but they never played a game in net for them.

After a couple of not so successful seasons with their AHL team, Utah Grizzlies he was traded to St. Louis Blues and tended goal for Worcester IceCats for a season and Peoria Rivermen before getting his chance in the NHL.

He didn’t exactly step up at the opportunity and his stock dropped causing him to get traded to Colorado Avalanche for a bag of rocks.

Two calendars years later he signs a one-year deal with the always fantastic Hershey Bears and posted his first winning record since 2005/2006.

From here he starts his vagabond journey signing another deal and a great year for him later with Colorado. He backstops their AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters with a winning record and career highs in GAA 2.29 and SV% .917 and he’s on a roll at 28-years old.

He signed another one-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers but has and probably will only play with Adirondack Phantoms in the AHL. But once again, he’s winning more games than losing with decent GAA and SV%.

Original story: 1/24-12

After three seasons tending net in DEL for Straubing Tigers playing 137 games with a 2.80 GAA and a .911 SV% the soon-to-be 33 year old has decided to switch things up and moves on to Slovak Extraliga joining HC Banska Bystrica for 2015/2016.

It will be his 14th professional season.

11Apr

Fight Card: Mathieu Tousignant(16) vs. Garret Ross(26)

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March 3, 2015: Adirondack Flames‘ fight leader at 14 bouts, the not exactly large 5’11” 185 lbs. center Mathieu Tousignant(16) is fed up with the way the game is going so picks a fight from some feistiness in front of the opposing net with Rockford IceHogs‘ 2nd year left wing Garret Ross(26) who is credited with 4 mix ups this season and is similarly sized at 6′ 182 lbs.

It was basically a draw with some good punches thrown.

Tousignant was just named “Man Of The Year” too.

06Mar

Mark Fistric(7) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 9th year defenseman Mark Fistric(7) was reassigned to affiliate Norfolk Admirals after 9 games and no points.

It’s his first significant time in the minors since 2008/2009, when he played 35 AHL contests for Manitoba Moose while under contract with Dallas Stars, the team that selected him in the 1st round of 2004 draft (#28 overall).

The sizable 6’2″ 230 lbs. blue liner spent his first six years in the prospect system and played three full NHL seasons with the team before being traded to his hometown Edmonton Oilers.

He played with them for a single season before signing for one-year with the Ducks as an unrestricted free agent. He would re-up mid-season for another three-year deal through 2017.

Never known as a big point getter, the 28-year old is a hard-nosed, stay-at-home style defensive specialist that isn’t afraid to mix it up.

Although he may be spending some extended time with the farm team this season, he could be recalled at any point, and with his +28 rating through 325 games in the big league he’s at the very least accountable on ice.

What happens for the former Vancouver Giants‘ 2006 WHL Champion’s future in the off-season is a bit of a wonder.

He’s not on the books for much money and could be kept around for insurance and to help out the youngsters but that’s purely speculation.

09Feb

Jyrki Jokipappa(2) Dallas Stars

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Dallas Stars‘ 7th round deep pick in the 2011 draft (#195 overall) 5th year Finnish-born defenseman Jyrki Jokipappa(2) won a Calder Cup in his rookie season on reassignment with affiliate Texas Stars.

In 21 playoff games he had 5 assists and was a +8.

The rangy 6’3″ 210 lbs. blue liner was a late training camp cut showing in preseason action he was ready to step up his efforts.

In 23 NHL games he already has 6 assists.

In 19 AHL games he struck for 3 goals and 2 assists.

With 3 years of pro hockey under his belt with Ilves of Liiga, the top league in Finland, he’s one of many new international players that are taking that route to North America.

He was even loaned back in the first season of his three-year entry level deal to continue his development overseas before arriving here and is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign.

The 23-year old will easily be given a qualifying offer for another year, if not tied up for another two.

04Jan

Brett Richie(25) Dallas Stars

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Dallas Stars‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#44 overall) 2nd year right wing Brett Richie(25) is making quite the argument to stay put on the hot-and-cold parent club after only a pair of games since his first recall.

In two team wins, the big 6’3″ 220 lbs. power forward scored his first NHL goal in his debut, then added another tally and an assist in his next appearance with a +4 rating.

Over the pair of games he was also credited with 4 shots on net, 8 hits, 1 takeaway, 1 giveaway and 2 takeaways in an average of 16 shifts and a conservative 11 minutes of ice time.

He has spent most of his playing time with the parent club’s affiliate Texas Stars, where in 90 AHL games he’s scored 33 goals and 33 assists with a monster +24 rating and has amassed a gargantuan 314 shots.

The 21-year old was also big part of the 2014 Calder Cup Championship and contributed another 7 goals and 4 assists in 13 games to the title.

Makes sense that he’s getting his opportunity now as he could be the spark plug the big league teams needs heading into the second half of the season.

07Dec

Francis Wathier(11) Portland Pirates

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10th year veteran center Francis Wathier(11) was for the first time in his long career without a contract heading into 2014/2015.

Previously he had been in Dallas Stars‘ prospect system from the get-go. He was originally their 6th round pick in the 2003 draft (#185 overall).

The sizable 6’4″ 210 lbs. forward has a lengthy 525 game career in the AHL but only 10 NHL contests to his credit with zero points.

He’s not exactly a wizard on the score sheet with the farm teams either scoring 91 goals and 107 assists but he a ceaseless battler and although keeps his time in the penalty box to a minimum is unafraid to drop the mitts, usually good for at least 6-12 fights a year.

The 30-year old unrestricted free agent was an invite to Toronto Maple Leafs‘ training camp and released early.

He next arrived in affiliate Toronto Marlies‘ camp but was also let go.

He signed at pto joining Portland Pirates a couple weeks into the new season and has found his spot as he signed his first minor league contract recently to play the entire year with the team.

27Nov

Adam Burish(37) Worcester Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 9th year veteran center Adam Burish(37) has never been a prolific goal scorer through 378 NHL games he’s skated, 27 goals and 33 assists.

Returning healthy after suffering an injury that tossed all but 15 games to the sidelines last season, he’s off to a less than stellar start with only a goal, a pair of assists and a -6 rating in 20 contests.

His team is also suffering from sub par performances on more nights than not. As they say, there’s plenty of blame to go around.

Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ very deep 9th round pick in 2002 (#282 overall), the 6’1″ 191 lbs. forward has played most of his big league games with them, winning a Stanley Cup in 2010.

He does seem to gravitate towards winning as he was team captain for University Of Wisconsin when they won the 2006 NCAA Championship.

In between he had a two season stop posting career highs with Dallas Stars before signing a very decent 4-year agreement with the Sharks.

He’s in the third campaign of his one-way deal but not producing and with the team slumping he finds himself on the outs, reassigned to minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks.

It’s his first appearance in the AHL in 7 years.

In two games he has one assist.

The 31-year old could be a huge asset with the farm club or could easily find himself on the payoff end of a buyout after this season.

07Nov

Joe Morrow(45) Boston Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ defenseman Joe Morrow(7) is technically only playing the second season of his entry level contract but is in his third pro year under contract with already with his third team.

Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st round pick in 2011 (#23 overall) he was traded late in his rookie campaign to Dallas Stars in a no relation deal for namesake veteran forward Brendan Morrow.

He finished out the regular calendar and 8 Calder Cup Playoff games with affiliate Texas Stars.

Before the former Portland Winterhawks‘ blue liner could even get an apartment in the Lone Star state, he once again found himself on the move as a minor add on in a blockbuster trade that had him heading east to Boston.

He spent his sophomore season (first of his contract) on reassignment to Providence Bruins taking up where he left off in 4 years of WHL junior hockey, handing a lot of pucks to scorers for assists.

The 6’1 206 lbs. d-man had 6 goals, 23 assists in 56 AHL games and 128 shots on net. He added another pair of tallies and 5 assists with a +7 rating in 10 postseason matchups.

The still only 21-year old picked up where he left off to start 2014/2015. In 5 games he has a goal and an assist but is an already outstanding +4.

With injuries running rampant for the parent club, he gets his first chance and completes the NHL appearances of the four players picked up in the swap that brought him to the team.

In three games, all wins, he has yet to record a point but is a +2 plus/minus, has 8 shots on the goal and averaged 24 shifts each outing with over 17 minutes time on ice.

See related: 10/21-12

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