Edmonton Oilers | CollegeHockeyPlayers

10Apr

Steve MacIntyre(33) WBS Penguins

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10th year veteran tough guy at a mere 6’5″ 250 lbs. Steve MacIntyre(33) most definitely didn’t take the easy way to the NHL but has made his mark in the league through 90 games.

His “pro” career started in a Continental Elite Hockey League (CEHL) and made its way through, surviving the QSPHL (LNAH), WHA2, UHL and ECHL.

Undrafted, he always played a game of hard knocks totaling over 200 penalty minutes in each of his first 6 seasons. It should be noted he hasn’t come close to that much time spent in the box since 2008.

The season that followed saw him skate his first NHL games with Edmonton, a team he would spend most of the next three seasons with.

For 2011/2012 he was signed by Pittsburgh Penguins and has split time with their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He was recently recalled for their last game of the regular season to keep the peace in a game vs. Philadelphia Flyers before being reassigned again.

There’s little doubt he will police the ice for the Baby Pens in their quest for the Calder Cup.

It’s a wonder where the 31-year old will end up playing next season, if he’ll stay in Steel City or move on.

27Mar

Alexandre Giroux(12) Springfield Falcons

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High 5’s for 11-year Springfield Falcons‘ veteran center Alexandre Giroux(12) for scoring his 700th career AHL point, a goal last weekend.

He has 364 goals and 336 assists in 764 regular season games played, which is a pretty incredible feat.

He’s not exactly having a career year for scoring this season with 24 goals and 26 assists in 58 games; yet he’s still in the top 20 for points in the league.

In the last three seasons, he’s either won top scorer or come in second.

He’s skated in 48 NHL games scoring 6 goals and 6 assists.

At 6’3″ 202 lbs. he’s a pretty big power forward and has the ability to get in tight and score some goals but has never quite been given the chance.

We remember two and a half great seasons when he was with Hartford Wolf Pack, signed to New York Rangers, who he only played one game for.

He’s only signed with Columbus Blue Jackets for a year, but we hope they re-up with him for another season.

20Mar

Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(43) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(43) has been around a lot more years than most folks would even remember.

He was originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2002 draft (#31 overall) and had spent the first 7 years of his career playing in their system starting with Edmonton Roadrunners, Hamilton Bulldogs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Springfield Falcons and Oklahoma City Barons (all one-time Oilers‘ AHL affiliates).

He also played 58 NHL games over two seasons with Edmonton.

One thing about his netminding, even when he didn’t put up a winning record, he never really had a terrible GAA or SV%.

That fact was not missed by Anaheim, who signed him to a two-year two deal as a free agent for 2011-2013. Oddly enough, he’s posting his worst numbers for their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch but is 1-0 in a start with the Ducks and in his 2nd start tonight.

The 27-year old stands 6’4″ 200 lbs. It’d be no surprise to see him win a starting job soon, like he did in ’09/’10 with Edmonton.

12Mar

Dean Arsene(29) Portland Pirates

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11th year undrafted veteran defenseman, current captain of Portland Pirates, Dean Arsene(29) played his 500 career AHL game over the weekend.

He’s so excited about the prospect, he’s seen blowing bubbles during warm-ups before game 499. He was supposed to set the mark last month but an upper body injury has hampered his ability to play consistently.

He accomplished the feat playing games with only 5 different teams, but 6 of his pro seasons have been spent with Hershey Bears, a team he won two Calder Cup Championships with in 2006 and 2009.

The 31-year old has only appeared in 13 NHL games (all with Edmonton Oilers) but no tallies on the scoresheet to show for it.

He’s never been the biggest point producer (13 goals and 64 assists) but his leadership presence in the locker room and out of the ice is priceless.

No doubt about it, after his playing career he would be an excellent coach.

10Mar

Patrick O’Sullivan(16) Peoria Rivermen

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One time Minnesota Wild 2nd round pick in the 2oo3 draft (#56 overall) 7th year left wing Patrick O’Sullivan(16) gets bounced from one AHL team, Portland Pirates, to another, Peoria Rivermen in a offensive-minded forward swap.

He played 23 NHL games with Phoenix Coyotes scoring a pair of goals and assists before last being reassigned to the Pirates in early January. He put up 10 goals and 20 assists in 26 games but went a -6 plus/minus on a pretty good team.

In each of his last 6 seasons, he’s appeared in NHL games, 334 of them. He’s basically a point per every other game producer with 58 goals and 103 assists. In 183 AHL games his stats are 97 goals and 120 assists, better than a point per game. 3 goals and 4 assists of that are in 3 contests since the trade that brought him to the Rivermen.

He lists at 5’11” 189 lbs., which seems a little light. He doesn’t play a very physical game. It’s all about getting into those open spaces and creating them in his style.

He’s either got to turn on those jets or play with a bit more of an edge while scoring those goals and setting up those assists. Make sure that helmet’s on tight.

17Feb

Bryan Rodney(33) Oklahoma City Barons

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Undrafted 7th year defenseman Bryan Rodney(33) is one of those stories of endurance and sticktoitiveness that defines a pro.

His first couple of seasons were predominantly spent in the ECHL. By his third year he made the jump up to an AHL regular after a call-up with Albany River Rats.

With his impressive play on the blue line that season, Carolina Hurricanes stepped in an signed him to a one-year, two-way contract. He would sign two more similar contracts with them and skate his only 33 NHL games with Carolina (1 goal, 12 assists).

For the 2011/2012 he was once again a free agent but this time in need of a new home. Anaheim Ducks wasted no time signing him to a one-year, two-way deal that has him skating with their AHL affiliate, Syracuse Crunch. He has 5 goals and 15 assists.

Then, almost without warning, the Ducks have dished him to Edmonton Oilers, where he’ll report to their affiliate Oklahoma City Barons.

He’s definitely become a team leader on the ice but the big knock with his game is his tendency to be a minus player. Despite that, it would be little surprise to see the Oilers give him a look to see if they can’t ignite that scoring touch.

25Jan

Marc-Antoine Pouliot(23) Phoenix Coyotes

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Former Edmonton Oilers‘ 1st round pick in 2003 (#22) and former Rimouski Oceanic linemate of Sidney Crosby, forward Marc-Antoine Pouliot(23) got an early New Year’s gift with a recall by the new NHL team he signed with as a free agent in the offseason, Phoenix Coyotes.

In 9 games he has a pair of assists and is a -3 plus/minus.

He skated in 168 NHL games with the Oilers to start his career and had 21 goals and 32 assists. In three games last season with Tampa Bay Lightning he had no points.

In the AHL he’s basically a point per game player but just has yet to be able to translate that to the higher league.

For Portland Pirates he has four goals and 12 assists in 25 games and is a +4 player.

In his 7 pro seasons he’s played more games in the NHL 4 times to 3 in the AHL.

26Dec

Riley Nash(20) Charlotte Checkers

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It looked like second year Carolina Hurricanes‘ center Riley Nash(20) had his first NHL goal in the first shift of his second game ever but later it was deemed he never touched the puck on it’s way into the net, so he settled for a first point in the big league instead, an assist.

Originally a 1st round pick by Edmonton Oilers in the 2007 draft (#21 overall), he was traded to the Hurricanes before ever playing in a game for them.

He lasted a couple of games in his debut recall and put up a point while averaging 10 minutes of ice time before being reassigned to AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers.

In 31 games he has 2 goals and 7 assists but is a dreadful -8 plus/minus.

He wears the same #20 in both leagues.

25Nov

Tim Sestito (12)

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Center Tim Sestito(12) played 36 games with New Jersey Devils last season recording two assists, but to start 2011/2012 was assigned to AHL affiliate Albany Devils, where in 12 games he has 2 goals and an assist.

Goal scoring isn’t exactly what he’s relied on for though.

He’s one of those agitating players that it’s tough and no fun to play against and does it well without being cheap.

He recently did get the call and played in his first game, a 2-1 win vs. Columbus.

He has still yet to score his first NHL goal in 47 games played but I got to think one will come sooner than later for the 7th year veteran, his third in the Devils‘ system.

30Aug

Ryan Keller(28) Edmonton Oilers / Binghamton Senators

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Binghamton Senators‘ captain Ryan Keller(28) leaves the team after two years and 6 games with Ottawa, his first in the NHL. He failed to register a point and last year never received a call-up but was a force in the AHL with Binghamton, leading the team to a memorable Calder Cup Championship.

He signed a one-year, two-way deal with Edmonton Oilers, which may get him some more NHL playing time opportunities but mostly he will be counted on to lift Oklahoma City Barons to deeper playoff contention than their first round exit this past season.

We’ll miss him in the Eastern Conference.