Florida Panthers | CollegeHockeyPlayers

15Mar

Tyson Strachan(5) Hershey Bears

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Big 6’3″ 225 lbs. 7th year defenseman Tyson Strachan(5) has been signed to an NHL contract and played in big league games since his sophomore campaign.

He is currently under a one-year two-way deal with Washington Capitals and has one assist but has mostly been on reassignment with farm club Hershey Bears, where he serves as an assistant captain.

He’s never been exactly the biggest point production d-man scoring only one goal and 13 helpers in 132 big league contests.

His point totals are better in the minors.

This season in 49 AHL games he has a pair of markers with 15 assists, which could easily ascend to a career high by the end of 2013/2014.

He also has a remarkable +13 rating.

Through 264 games he’s potted 15 goals and 70 assists.

Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 5th round pick in the 2003 draft (#137 overall).

He signed his first entry level deal with St. Louis Blues after attending Ohio State University and played in their organization for 4 years before moving on to Florida Panthers for a couple of seasons.

No doubt the 29-year old is an asset to any team he joins and will likely continue where he is or score another big league contract elsewhere, unless he decides to move his game overseas for more money.

10Feb

Jack Skille(10)

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7th year, former Chicago Blackhawks‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#7 overall) right wing Jack Skille(15) played exclusively in the NHL for the last three seasons, mostly with Florida Panthers after a trade in late 2011.

In that time he skated in 148 games and scored a somewhat underwhelming 15 goals and 26 assists.

At 6’1″ 216 lbs. he’s definitely got power forward size and plays a bit of a laid back version of that style but definitely can get to the net.

As an unrestricted free agent he signed a one-year two-way contract with Columbus Blue Jackets in the off-season and has split time with minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons pretty evenly.

In 12 games with a parent club he has 4 goals and is a +2. In the AHL he’s basically at a point-per-game with 4 strikes and 6 helpers in 11 contests.

Really tough to say where the 26-year old goes next but you have to wonder if he wouldn’t have a breakout year on a wing with some other explosive forwards.

15Nov

Scott Timmins(17) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ newly acquired 4th year center Scott Timmins(17) is off to his fastest start on the score sheet in his pro career with minor league affiliate Albany Devils.

In 12 games, he has 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) with a +4 rating, which currently ties him for the team lead in scoring. The change of scenery has obviously done him some good.

Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#165 overall), he has skated 24 NHL games over three seasons in their prospect system on an entry level deal, scoring one goal.

In 180 AHL contests with farm clubs San Antonio Rampage and Rochester Americans he hit the mark for 32 goals and 41 assists, which hardly reflects the kind of season he’s looking at for 2013/2014.

Although he may not be blessed with big size, the 5’11” 191 lbs. forward uses all he’s got and isn’t afraid to get himself in the center of the action for opportunities.

In 4 seasons of OHL juniors, he won three straight league championships on two different teams and consecutive Memorial Cups.

If he continues on the pace he’s setting for himself early on, the 24-year will be in line for another shot at the show.

06Oct

Nolan Yonkman(3) Norfolk Admirals

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13th year veteran defenseman Nolan Yonkman(3) continues his streak of NHL contracts, signing a one-year two-way contract with Anaheim Ducks for 2013/2014.

He was originally a Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 1999 draft (#37 overall) and will start the season in the AHL with affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

The absolutely huge 6’6″ 247 lbs. blue liner has 601 minor league games to his credit scoring 16 goals and 63 assists. He also unfortunately also possesses a -31 rating. The -28 plus/minus last season didn’t help those numbers any.

His totals in the show of 74 games with a goal and 8 assists are modest but he’s skated in the big league a half dozen of his career years. 38 of those appearance were in one season, ’05/’06 with the Caps.

The 32-year old has been named team captain 5 times in the last six campaigns and it would be no surprise to see his “A” turn into a “C” because he definitely plays like a leader out there.

15Jun

Bill Thomas(29) Medvescak Zagreb

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29-year old, undrafted 8th year right wing, Bill Thomas(29) has decided it’s time to leave North American pro hockey and joins Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL for 2013/2014.

He had been signed to a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado Avalanche for 2012/2013 but failed to receive a call-up in the lockout shortened season. It was the first time since he was on an AHL agreement for ’09/’10 with Springfield Falcons that he didn’t play in an NHL game.

He also left mid-season that year for the NLA in Switzerland but returned for the next campaign signing with Florida Panthers.

The unassuming 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward has played 87 contests in the show scoring 16 goals and 12 assists with three different teams.

He has 388 minor leagues games with 115 goals and 136 assists to his credit.

Seems like the right choice for the veteran player and chances are he will find his scoring touch.

See related: 12/29-10

04Mar

Andreas Lilja(6) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 13th year Swedish defenseman Andreas Lilja(6) is having a bit of a tough time finding a spot on the big club’s roster this lockout shortened season and has found himself reassigned to their farm team, Adirondack Phantoms on more than one occasion.

He’s played only a single NHL game thus far but has appeared in 11 AHL games and has three helpers.

The 37-year old has appeared through a smattering of loans to minor league clubs in the last few years but hasn’t spent significant time in the league since his rookie campaign with Lowell Lock Monsters in 2000/2001.

He was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick (#54 overall) in 2000 that already had 4+ years pro experience in SEL.

The sizable 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner has played an outstanding 577 NHL games scoring 16 goals and 77 assists with an overall +32 rating. He was also a member of the 2008 Detroit Red Wings’ Stanley Cup Championship team.

He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season and it would be no surprise to see him sign with his 6th team for at least one more run.

25Feb

Adam Comrie(24) Worcester Sharks

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Reading Royals‘ 3rd year defenseman Adam Comrie(24) is enjoying his most productive season as a pro scoring 17 goals and 16 assists in 45 ECHL games to go along with a +22 rating on a team that has been on top most of the year.

The tower of a 6’4″ 215 lbs. blue liner he was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#80 overall) but something went amiss in his second season and he asked to be released from his 3-year entry level deal that would have taken him through the end of the current season.

The details of what happened are hazy at best.

He spent most of his rookie season with Rochester Americans but was also reassigned to lower league affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones on a number of occasions.

He started his sophomore campaign with the Cyclones and was quick to strike with 3 goals and 3 assists in 4 games before departing. He would eventually sign a contract with Greenville Road Warriors to finish out the season.

The 22-year old inked a deal with the Royals about a month before the start of 2012/2013. He attended new affiliate Hershey Bears‘ training camp and was involved in exhibition game play.

He was sent back and that’s when things started to take better shape for the big d-man.

Recently signed to an spc by Worcester Sharks on an AHL call-up, he fits in pretty nicely in the higher league and will likely hit the scoresheet with decent frequency. He already has an assist in 3 appearances and should continue to step up.

17Feb

Steve Eminger(4) Connecticut Whale

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New York Rangers‘ 10th year veteran defenseman Steve Eminger(4) last saw playing time in the minors during the 2004/2005 lockout. He was recently reassigned to AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale on a conditioning loan as space on the parent club’s blue line was a bit scarce.

He started the shortened 2012/2013 campaign on the roster and found his way into four games but was unable to put up any points and was a healthy scratch for half a dozen games before being reassigned.

The 29-year old former Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2002 draft (#12 overall) has skated in 457 NHL games scoring 19 goals and adding 77 assists. He’s an unfortunate -50 plus/minus but has show better on ice accountability in recent years.

The Blueshirts are the 6th team the 6’2″ 207 lbs. has signed with. After 6 seasons with the Caps, he was signed for one-year deals with the Flyers, Lightning, Panthers and Ducks before being involved in a trade that brought him back east.

He scored his first AHL goal in 8 years and honestly even at this later stage in his pro career he looks a bit out of place and overqualified to be spending much more time on the farm.

13Feb

Drew Shore(36) Florida Panthers

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Florida Panthers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#44 overall), rookie center Drew Shore(36) is getting his opportunity to impress in both the minors with affiliate San Antonio Rampage and up in the show with the big club.

He notched his first NHL goal (not the prettiest of shots that’s ever made it inside the net) in his 10th game to go with the three helpers he already has.

For a player listed at 6’3″ 200 lbs., he deceptively looks a bit smaller than credited for and has the quick hands of a smaller-sized forward.

In 41 AHL games he’s scored 10 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating on a team that is challenged to string together wins.

He was named to the lineup for the 2013 AHL All-Star Game and netted a goal and an assist to help the Western Conference to a 7-6 victory.

The 22-year old, who left his last year of college hockey to turn pro after a point per game production, is signed through 2015 and looks to already be paying dividends for the scouts that found him.

05Feb

Jeff Taffe(20) Hershey Bears

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Hershey Bears‘ 11th year, veteran center was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2000 draft (#30 overall) but was traded before ever playing with the team.

He signed his first AHL only contract since the last lockout in 2004/2005, when he was a member of Utah Grizzlies for a partial campaign.

Despite only appearing in 180 NHL games, the almost 31-year old forward has managed appearances in each of his pro years. He has 21 goals and 25 assists to his credit, skating with 6 different teams.

In the minors though, he’s amassed a hearty 533 games, scoring 185 goals with 244 helpers.

At 6’3″ 209 lbs. he’s always a big presence to contend with in front of the net and is the consummate team guy.

What the future holds for him is anyone’s guess but with 9 strikes and 29 assists in 43 contests, he leads the Bears . in scoring.

He’s good to have around if a team needs some points and has five 20 goal seasons and 8 years of 20+ assists (with one year where he hit the 50 mark).

He was selected to appear in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game when a teammate was on call-up.