DEL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

15Jul

Jon Landry(7) New York Islanders

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It would be easy to have a case of mistaken identity in this roster move: defenseman Jon Landry(7), who last year played with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for 34 games on call-up and scored 2 goals and 18 assists, while going a +11 plus/minus is not to be confused with Jon (now) A. Landry, who played for Bridgeport in 2011 but didn’t skate last season.

This Jon Landry, like the other one though, was called up from the ECHL, where he was under contract with Colorado Eagles. The 6’3″ 220 lbs. d-man had 12 goals and 18 assists when unknowingly he left for good.

The couple seasons before that he played in the EIHL for a year and parts of one in Germany’s DEL. Mostly though, he was sort of hiding as an undrafted player in the Central Hockey League with Arizona Sundogs for his first 4 seasons since turning pro.

He did manage to win a President’s Cup Trophy as the top team in the league in his second campaign in.

Now the 29-year old seemingly out of nowhere signed his first one-year, two-way NHL contract with New York Islanders and will likely see more time in Bridgeport to continue to confuse everyone. Until he makes his NHL debut that is.

14Jul

Korbinian Holzer(5) Toronto Maple Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 4th round pick in the 2006 draft (#111 overall) German-born defenseman Korbinian Holzer(5) recently signed a 1-way contract to make the full-time jump to the big league.

Apparently they liked what they saw of him last year, although so far his only two NHL games came in his rookie year.

He put up AHL career highs in assists and points with Toronto Marlies.

Although he pocketed only one goal, he had 19 assists for 20 points and was a +7 plus/minus on a team that made it all the way to the Calder Cup Finals. In 2010/2011 he was a +10.

As a 19-year old he played three seasons in the DEL for DEG Metro Stars after a pair of campaigns in Germany2 (DEL2) but finally came over on a two-year entry level deal.

Now at 24-years old the big 6’3″ 206 lbs. d-man is looking to step it up.

25Jun

Colin Long (10)

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ restricted free agent center Colin Long(10) may have been reading the tea leaves with his decision to join Dusseldorfer EG Metro Stars of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for 2012/2013, leaving that status on the table for now.

It was the final year of his 3-year entry level contract, which saw his playing time limited to just 53 AHL games with San Antonio Rampage and last season Portland Pirates, due to head and upper body injuries that continued to follow him.

He also played 50 games in the ECHL with Las Vegas Wranglers during his second year and was almost a point per game skater.

The former Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#99 overall) doesn’t exactly have the size out there at 5’11” 186 lbs. but he does bring an edginess to his style, when he’s fully involved in the game.

Coming from a couple of years of big numbers in juniors, bigger things were expected of him but sidetracked due to multiple injuries to the 23-year old.

There’s still plenty of time for him to develop if he can stay healthy.

11May

Alex Henry(5) DEG Metro Stars

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13 year pro defenseman Alex Henry(5) leaves North American hockey for Germany (his second stint in the country; he was there in the 2004/2005 NHL lockout year). He joins DEG Metro Stars of the DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga).

The always daunting 6’5″ 220 lbs. blue liner was originally a 3rd round pick by Edmonton Oilers in the 1998 draft (#63 overall). He only played 3 of his 177 NHL appearances with the Oilers. He’s credited with 2 goals and 9 assists.

Starting his pro career with Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL for the first three seasons; he closes this chapter of playing hockey having played the last four years with the team, including the last two as their captain.

The 32-year old has played a massive 546 regular and postseason games with the Bulldogs and 701 AHL contests overall. Hardly considered for his offensive prowess, he’s found the back of the net only 19 times and filled in the scoring sheet with 78 assists.