Hamilton Bulldogs | CollegeHockeyPlayers

20Oct

Marvin Degon(3) Reading Royals

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6th year pro defenseman and Worcester, MA native Marvin Degon(3) looked like he might stick on the Providence Bruins‘ roster after a strong training camp with the team.

He spent the last few seasons playing overseas mostly in Germany and Austria for a short time, but decided to return to North America for the 2011/2012 season. In his first two seasons he was the leading scorer on defense for both Hartford Wolf Pack, then Hamilton Bulldogs, where he was actually signed with the Canadiens.

After playing just two games for the P-Bruins and then being waived, he signed with their ECHL affiliate Reading Royals, where he should be nothing short of outstanding and likely will be back up in the AHL soon.

17Sep

Mike Vernace(7) Tampa Bay Lightning / Norfolk Admirals

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I love stories like this one. 6th year pro, defenseman Mike Vernace(7) was a San Jose Sharks 7th round draft pick in 2004 (#201 overall) but never signed with the team. He eventually signed a one-year two-way deal with Colorado Avalanche and started his rookie season with Central Hockey League‘s Arizona Sundogs before moving up to the AHL with Albany River Rats.

He spent another couple of seasons in the Avalanche system and even got his first 12 NHL games under his belt in 2008-2009.

He wasn’t resigned for at the end of 2009 and signed with Atlanta Thrashers but didn’t appear in the NHL, although he played for two different AHL teams, first Chicago Wolves, then Hamilton Bulldogs, where he got his first playoff experience

Last year he signed a free agent deal with Tampa Bay Lightning, played 10 more games in the NHL and got an assist, his first point in the show.

In 2011/2012 he’ll be back for his second season in the Lightning system.

11Sep

Zack Fitzgerald (14)

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Hamilton Bulldogs inked grizzly 7th year veteran defenseman Zack Fitzgerald(14) to an AHL contract for 2011/2012.

He led the league in penalty minutes with 311 in ’09/’10.

He’ll no doubt be called upon to protect some of the younger prospects in the Canadiens‘ system.

In the 2007/2008 season he did get a 1 game wink in an NHL game when he was signed by the Canucks for a couple of seasons.

The last two years he’s been signed with Carolina Hurricanes.

Fitzgerald was a 3rd round pick in 2003 (#88 overall) by St. Louis and played for two years with their minor league affiliates in Peoria and Alaska.

13Aug

Andre Benoit(61) Spartak Moscow / Binghamton Senators

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Binghamton Senators‘ Andre Benoit(61) is one of the best defensive agitators I saw play in the AHL postseason and helped his team to the ultimate prize, the Calder Cup, while having clearly his best season of offensive numbers.

He even played in his first NHL games in his 6 year pro career last season; 8 with Ottawa. He registered 1 point, an assist.

He’s traveling overseas again next season joining Spartak Moscow of the KHL. He spent ’07/’08 in Finland and ’08/’09 in Sweden and the last two seasons in the AHL with Hamilton (2005-2007, 2009-2010) and Binghamton.

The knock on him must be that he’s two small to be a top six guy. I’ll miss seeing him in the AHL Eastern Conference but think he’ll be back to North America quite possilby on a one-way NHL deal.

11Aug

Cedrick Desjardins(30) Colorado Avalanche / Norfolk Admirals

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Cedrick Desjardins(30) was left out of Tampa Bay‘s plans for the future after one year with the organization.

He had a great season with Norfolk Admirals in the AHL and won both his starts with the Lightning.

Colorado signed him for 2011/2012 and he’ll challenge for the starting job or could give Lake Erie a nice boost in net.

He won the ECHL Kelly Cup with Cincinnati Cyclones in 2008.

11Aug

Nathan Lawson(52)

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Last season undrafted goaltender Nathan Lawson(52) appeared in his first NHL games (he played 10 with the Islanders, posting a 1-4 record) but was left without a contract at the end of the year.

He signed a one-year, two-way deal with Montreal Canadiens for 2011/2012, where he will probably be assigned to their AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs and split time with former Colorado 2008 draft pick (2nd round #61 overall) prospect Peter Delmas. He was never signed by the Avalanche.

Lawson could see some more net time in the NHL due to injuries in Montreal‘s crease but it’s kind of doubtful.

10Aug

Mike Blunden(12) Montreal Canadiens

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6th year pro (drafted in 2005, round 2 #43 overall by Chicago), right wing Mike Blunden(12) joins Montreal Canadiens‘ system for 2011/2012. He was traded in early July by Columbus for Ryan Russell, whose twin brother Kris Russell already plays for the Blue Jackets.

Blunden(12) has played 51 games in the NHL, registering only 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists). He likely be a contributor for the team’s AHL affiliate in Hamilton.

10/23: Blunden gets his 1st call-up by Montreal.