Tagged: Edmonton Oilers

Colin-Fraser

10th year veteran center Colin Fraser(24) signed a one-year two-way deal to join St. Louis Blues‘ organization after three seasons with Los Angeles Kings that saw him score a second 2012 Stanley Cup.

He won his first final hardware a couple of years earlier with Chicago Blackhawks and story has it even though he only appeared in 3 postseason contests still was granted his name engraved on the trophy.

You could even stretch it a bit and suggest he was part of a team that has won it all every other season for the last 6 years, as he skated with the Kings for 33 games, but was reassigned to the minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs for the first time since 2008 with the intent of sending the soon to be unrestricted free agent on his way elsewhere.

And although he was only part of the practice squad for the 2014 run, he was still given his day with the Cup.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. former Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2003 draft (#69 overall) has played 359 NHL games scoring only 20 goals and 38 assists but given his track record of being around a championship, he has his upside.

He was recalled for a game recently raising his years of appearances in the highest hockey league to 9.

Used ultra sparingly with only 6 shifts and 4:42 total ice he did at least manage a shot on net, one hit and one break up play.

Where the 29-year old takes his game next is anyone’s guess but if he is even associated with another team that wins it, then you can be sure luck will give him yet another shot in the show.

Kellan Lain2Undrafted Vancouver Canucks‘ exceedingly large 6’6″ 222 lbs. center Kellan Lain(19) found himself in an early season mostly minor league deal that ships him to Edmonton Oilers‘ prospect system for the final year of his two-year extension.

Initially signed to an entry level deal for just one season coming out of his third tour with Lake Superior State University, he started his pro career with 13 AHL games for then affiliate Chicago Wolves.

Although he was credited for no points he must have played with enough jam to keep the restricted free agent around for more than one more look.

In his official rookie season with Utica Comets he is credited for 7 tallies and 12 helpers in 63 games with a +4 rating on a mostly struggling first year squad.

He earned himself a pair of call ups after the new year and stuck around for 9 NHL game scoring his first big league goal and was a +1 plus/minus.

Heading into a contract year, he was maybe a bit slow out of the gate, getting reassigned to the farm club early in training camp and coming out of the gate slowly with only 1 assist in 10 games.

Maybe the new surroundings skating with Oklahoma City Barons will wake the sleeping giant.

Kevin Westgarth copyUndrafted 8th year right wing Kevin Westgarth(15) found no takers for his gritty game in the NHL so he has decided to join storied English hockey franchise Belfast Giants for the 2014/2015 campaign.

The exceedingly large 6’4″ 234 lbs. forward was invited to Edmonton Oilers‘ training camp before being released right before the start of the new season.

He last played a full year with Calgary Flames and seemed to enjoy it as a most productive landing spot in 2013/2014 scoring a career high 4 goals and 3 assists in 36 games.

His last stint four+ years ago in the AHL with Manchester Monarchs he showed signs of converting his fists into scoring chances landing 11 goals and 14 assists in 76 games.

The now 30-year old is off to a hot start getting a pair of goals in his first two appearances and of course, already has one fighting major penalty too.

He should be a point per game kind of player in this league.

It remains to be seen if good play away from home for a season will get anyone interested in paying for his services to return.

Brad Winchester2Sizable 6’5″ 230 lbs. left wing Brad Winchester(15) signed his first minor league contract to play professional hockey in his 12th year of service.

The 33-year old inked late for a one year AHL deal with Norfolk Admirals. He was also invited to Anaheim Ducks‘ training camp to start ’14/’15 but was among the first to be released, despite having a strong showing.

He actually spent 19 regular season and 3 postseason games with them a few seasons ago amongst the many teams he’s skated for.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2000 draft (#35 overall), he played his first four years in their system including his first two stints with a pair of farm club Roadrunners, first Toronto then Edmonton.

It wasn’t until his fourth season that he became a regular in the show.

He’s appeared in 390 NHL games (mostly through three years with St. Louis Blues) scoring 37 goals, 31 assists and a monster -42 rating.

His last pair of campaigns have been exclusively in the minors and he seems fairly comfortable assuming the role of assistant captain.

He’s quite the poiny scorer in the league too at 96 goals and 81 assists in 319 games but still haunted by a horrible -32 plus/minus.

It remains to be seen if those on ice accountability numbers will improve but he’s off to a hot start with a first time reversed 3 goals and 4 assists in 9 games and a +1.

Roy Sommer2

Worcester Sharks‘ coach Roy Sommers stood behind the bench for his now league leading 1,257th AHL game.

He started his journey 16 years ago in 1998 with then San Jose Sharks‘ farm club Kentucky Thoroughblades, then moved with the team to 5 minor league famed seasons at the helm for Cleveland Barons.

Continuing his move with affiliates east, he achieves the record feat in his 8th year in Central Massachusetts.

The 56-year old former played only three NHL games but managed to score his only goal in the show in his debut.

He also won a Calder Cup trophy with Maine Mariners in 1984 and skated in 147 AHL and 195 IHL games.

He hung up his skates after 8 seasons, just after his 30th birthday.

Straight after retirement, he started as an assistant coach for a pair of seasons before moving on to 5 winning campaigns in the ECHL and two more as an assistant in the NHL.

 

Danny Syrvet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hartford Wolf Pack 9th year veteran defenseman Danny Syvret(25) is quickly approaching his third straight 40-point AHL season (9 goals, 30 assists).

He was traded in the second season of his two-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers, his third contract with the team, to New York Rangers and reassigned to their farm club in Connecticut, where he’s played 67 contests in 2013/2014.

The stocky-looking 5’11” 205 lbs. d-man has skated in 59 NHL games, putting up a modest 3 goals and 4 assists but hasn’t paid a visit to the show since late 2011.

He’s considered a top-two pairing blue liner in the minors but given a full campaign may play a fairly strong role as a bottom six, seventh guy in the lineup more than watching from the sidelines.

 

chris-vandevelde

4th year center Chris VandeVelde(26) was an invite to Philadelphia Flyers‘ training camp and one of the last cuts reassigned to their minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms to start the 2013/2014 season.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward signed an AHL contract in mid-September, but was given every chance to up his status and make the parent club’s opening night roster.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#97 overall) he has played in 28 NHL through his first three seasons scoring one goal and a pair of assists.

His entry level deal was for two years and added a one-year extension before being left unqualified as an unrestricted free agent going into the current campaign.

The 26-year currently leads the minor league team in goals scored with 7 and is second on the team in points at 13 in 23 games.

He’s on pace to set career highs in all categories potentially approaching a 20/20 season and maybe scoring that elusive big club contract.

Tobias Rieder

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#114 overall) German-born right wing Tobias Rieder(9) was traded in a prospects’ deal to Phoenix Coyotes and quickly signed to a 3-year entry level contract.

He starts his pro career on reassignment to AHL affiliate Portland Pirates, where he’s making things happen in short order on the score sheet with 6 goals and a pair of assists in 11 games. He got sidelined with a lower body injury suffered in the debut but also scored his first two tallies.

The not so huge 5’11” 190 lbs. forward is always squarely in the middle of the play and usually comes out on the other end with a puck and a scoring chance.

At only 20-years old, he’s already played one campaign professionally in the Germany2 league for his hometown EV Landshut and did pretty well scoring 10 goals, 13 assists in 45 games as a teenager.

After that he left for three years of junior hockey in the OHL with Kitchener Rangers and amassed 231 points in 205 regular season and playoff games.

There’s little doubt he is a player that can make the jump up to the NHL. It’s just a matter of being given an opening, which looks likely to happen for him as a rookie.

Yann Danis

Undrafted 10th year veteran goalie Yann Danis(34) has played NHL games in four of his five last seasons. He had one campaign on the interim in the KHL.

Signed to a 1-year two-way deal with Philadelphia Flyers, he’s splitting time between the pipes for their minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms and is an invaluable mentor to young prospects in the system.

He has 284 regular season games of AHL experience with a roughly 2.46 GAA and .913 SV%. He was named goaltender of the league in 2012 for his consistent play.

The 5’11” 182 lbs. net minder also has 53 NHL games, mostly in one run with New York Islanders but also appearances with Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and most recently for Edmonton Oilers.

His numbers in the show are a bit less impressive at 3.02 GAA and .891 SV% but they’ve mostly been when called in as the back-up.

The 32-year old will likely get his chance at another big league game and the trend will continue.

It will definitely be interesting to see where he lands for his 11th season in 2014/2015.

Zack Stortini

Mammoth 6’4″ 234 lbs., 9th year right wing Zack Stortini(26) is in familiar playing territory leading the AHL in penalty minutes with 66 and 8 fighting majors, currently skating for a good squad in Norfolk Admirals this season. In 12 games he also has a goal and an assist.

He signed a 1-year, 2-way contract with Anaheim Ducks for 2013/2014 early in free agency. He was coming off a pair of single campaigns with Hamilton Bulldogs and Nashville Predators, all but one game in the minors, after spending the first 6 years in Edmonton Oilers‘ system.

Originally an Oilers‘ 2003 3rd round pick (#94 overall), he appeared in 256 NHL games with the team scoring 14 goals and 27 assists while amassing 718 pims.

It may be a little late in the 28-year old’s pro career to change up his playing style, especially considering he looks poised to lead the league in time spent in the box and fisticuffs’ battles, but he has shown some skill to be a power forward.

He did put up a point in every other game through four years of OHL juniors and was captain for Sudbury Wolves in three of those years but also learned how to battle ferociously in his early playing days.