Tagged: Hartford Wolf Pack

14Jan

Steve MacIntyre(74) Utah Grizzlies

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Steve-MacIntyre2

Norfolk Admirals‘ absolutely huge 6’5″ 250 lbs. 13th year veteran left wing Steve MacIntyre(74) has seemingly taken his demotion to Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL for the first time since 2006 in stride this late in his pro career.

He actually played the next season 2006/2007 in the old UHL with Quad City Mallards, who maybe ironically are now playing their games in the same league.

His brick wall, tough guy style and persistent attitude helped take his game to the next level when in 2007/2008 he skated a full AHL season with Providence Bruins.

It would be the last time he put up over 200 penalty minutes in a season and although he threw fists 18 times, that was easily the most fights in a campaign he’d ever settled.

Edmonton Oilers took notice and grabbed him off waivers from Florida Panthers, who reclaimed him a year later.

He would play games mostly in Alberta, but he also got some time with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 34-year old skated last season with Oklahoma City Barons but only appeared in 11 games.

He’s been held pointless for at least the last three years.

It’s pretty likely that if he wants to still play the sport he will take his game to England next and be a hero.

15Dec

Tim Erixson(34) Chicago Blackhawks

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Tim Erixon2Chicago Blackhawks love their Swedes and defenseman Tim Erixson(34) becomes their latest addition via trade.

He was actually born in America but spent much of his time growing up, playing juniors and his first three years of pro hockey as a teenager in the SHL with Skelleftea.

Originally drafted in the 1st round by Calgary Flames, he was traded when he refused to sign to New York Rangers, where he spent most of his rookie season on reassignment to then differently named affiliate Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack and went right to work on the score sheet with 3 goals and 30 assists.

The sort of smaller looking than his stats suggest 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner did play his first 18 NHL games in his first campaign registering two helpers.

He lasted only one season of his three-year entry level deal as he was a prospect part of the huge Rick Nash off season transaction that sent him to Columbus Blue Jackets.

He spent the first half of his sophomore campaign with their farm club, Springfield Falcons putting up more fantastic offensive marks (5-24-29).

Recalled to the parent club, where he stayed for the remainder of the season he managed to appear in 31 games with 5 assists and a +4 rating to his credit.

Not sure what the factors were that had him fall off the depth chart but even though he was summoned half a dozen times he only appeared in two games in his third season, while he increased his point totals to a point-per-game player in the minors.

The 23-year old signed a one-year one-way extension to stay put and would only skate contests in the show for his fourth run.

He finally got his first NHL goal but once again found himself on the dispensable list and lands in probably the best situation he could possibly ask for.

See related: 3/22-12

30Nov

Ryan Malone(6) Hartford Wolf Pack

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Ryan Malone12th year veteran left wing Ryan Malone(6) has played a whopping 647 NHL games with only three teams throughout his lengthy pro career.

He was a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th round pick in the 1999 draft (#115 overall) and spent his first 4 years, minus the 2004/2005 lockout, with the team, where he reached the 20/20 scorer three times.

The big 6’4″ 224 lbs. forward went on to sign a lucrative 6-year deal with Tampa Bay Lightning and once again averaged the 20/20 mark through his first four seasons in south Florida.

A few seasons ago though, his numbers started to tank.

This led the Lightning to rethink their contract and eventually moved to buy out the remaining two seasons of his agreement.

After a summer of uncertainty as a freshly released unrestricted free agent, the 35-year old signed a one-year, two-way contract for virtual pennies to see if he could fill in some offensive spots lost by New York Rangers after their run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

He was on the opening night roster and was almost reassigned once until an injury kept him up. Failing to connect, he was eventually put on waivers and reassigned to minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.

It was his first time in the AHL since playing 3 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fresh out of four years of college at St. Cloud University.

He’s appeared in 5 contests thus far recording a pair of assists in one game on a veteran heavy squad that may require him to sit out more often than not.

19Nov

Josh Gratton(13) Manchester Monarchs

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Josh Gratton

Undrafted 12th year left wing Josh Gratton(13) spent the last four seasons playing mostly in the KHL with Barys Astana and Vityaz Podolsk. He only skated in 11 games last season.

Seeing only limited action in his last two seasons was possibly the impetus for him to return to North American pro hockey to see if at 32-years old he could earn himself a contract.

Invited to Manchester Monarchs‘ training camp, he proved himself worthy and was given a pto to start the 2014/2015 season.

13 games into the season he has one assist, a +1 rating, 36 penalty minutes and quickly accrued 6 fighting majors.

The 6’2″ 215 lbs. tough guy has skated in 247 AHL games scoring a modest 35 goals and 39 assists with an eye-popping 936 pims and dropped the gloves 102 times.

He’s also appeared in 86 NHL games for Arizona Coyotes and two stints with Philadelphia Flyers.

He won a Calder Cup Championship with Philadelphia Phantoms in the lockout year 2004/2005.

It remains to be seen whether or not he’s given an spc for this season but regardless, he’s making his presence felt.

07Oct

Nickolas Latta (39)

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Nickolas Latta

Undrafted, German-born rookie center Nickolas Latta(39) takes an interesting route to starting his pro career.

After 4 years in the OHL with Sarnia Sting, under the watchful eye of New York Rangers he signed an ato with minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack late last season.

In 11 AHL games he scored 1 goal, added one assist and held a +1 rating.

He was the team captain and a point-per-game player in his last campaign of junior hockey.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. skater plays a bit bigger on the ice than his size might indicate and could definitely develop into a form of a power forward style.

He was an invite to the Blueshirts‘ training camp but released early to the Pack where he would potentially signed a contract with the farm team.

A week later the 21-year old decided he was going back to Germany and signed with Kolner Haie of DEL.

His Canadian father Kenneth Latta spent the majority of his playing time in the country and still coaches.

05Oct

Tommy Grant(17) Aalborg Pirates

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Tommy Grant4th year undrafted left wing Tommy Grant(17) decided to take his game overseas to Denmark, joining Aalborg Pirates after tearing it up for a season under contract with Idaho Steelheads.

In 64 ECHL games he had 23 goals and 27 assists.

It wasn’t his first time skating in the league either. While under contract with San Jose Sharks he was double reassigned to San Francisco Bulls where he had one tally and four helpers in 5 contests.

The pretty big 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward was initially property of New York Rangers playing exclusively for their minor league affiliate the then Connecticut Whale, once again Hartford Wolf Pack.

He was signed to a 2-year entry level deal after three outstanding seasons of college hockey at University Of Alaska-Anchorage and joined the team at the completion of school for 7 regular season games (3 assists) and 8 Calder Cup Playoff matchups (1-1-2).

He had decent enough campaigns with the team too, scoring 9 goals and 9 assists in 34 AHL games before getting dealt.

When he reported to Worcester Sharks all the air seems to be let out of the tires. Maybe he potentially realized the time on his 2-year entry level was up and he’d be looking for a new place to play for his third year.

He seems to be fitting in kind of nicely in his new surroundings as he’s credited with a pair of goals and 1 assist in 4 games.

21Mar

Jesse Root(36) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Jesse Root2

In his pro debut undrafted center Jesse Root(36) signed to an ato with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, fresh off four years at Yale University, scores his first and only goal of the eventual 4-1 loss to AHL interstate rival Hartford Wolf Pack.

The seemingly smaller than listed at 5’11” 185 lbs. forward may have had it go in off the bottom of his skate as he was charging the net for the scoring chance but it was credited and a goal is a goal.

In his final two campaigns of college hockey he was a point-per-game guy and won the 2013 NCAA Championship. He was also team captain for 2013/2014.

The Pittsburgh, PA native also played one season as a 19-year old in the EHL US Junior league before heading off to school.

Where the now 24-year old will sign for 2014/2015 will probably be influenced how well he does in the last 10 or so games left in the regular season; but he’s off to a good start.

25Jun

Brent Henley(44) Nottingham Panthers

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Giant-sized 6’7″ 249 lbs., undrafted 11th year defenseman Brent Henley(44) will don the jersey of his 21st pro hockey team, when he jumps shores to continue his career in the EIHL with Nottingham Panthers for 2013/2014.

He has skated most of his time in the ECHL amassing 248 games and 1189 penalty minutes in the league, while posting 9 goals and 38 assists.

He’s also played in 114 AHL contests, most recently last season in 5 appearances with Lake Erie Monsters.

The 32-year old was a member of Fort Wayne Komets through three different leagues, playing 164 games and won a pair of titles with the team, 2008 IHL Turners Cup and 2012 Central Hockey League President’s Cup.

Most awesomely though, he started his career with Colorado Gold Kings of the WCHL in 2001/2002.

Brent Henley1

15May

Dylan Reese(2) WBS Penguins

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6th year defenseman Dylan Reese(2) had a homecoming with his offseason signing on the first day of free agency, when he was picked up by team he watched growing up, Pittsburgh Penguins.

Signed to a one-year two-way deal, he had to wait for the NHL lockout to thaw until he got his chance to play in front of the hometown crowd, suiting up for 3 games with the parent club but registering no points.

He has been on reassignment with their minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins since the start of the 2012/2013 season and a career high 8 goals.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. d-man is currently skating in the Calder Cup playoffs for as long as that lasts and if they are exited will likely be brought up as one of the “black aces” practice squad.

It seems like an easy fit to bring the 28-year old back into the fold for another season but he could also have other suitors out there wanting to bring him up to the show on a more regular basis.

He’s played 77 NHL games with 3 goals and 14 assists to his credit. He was originally a New York Rangers‘ 7th round pick in the 2003 draft (#209 overall) but only played as part of their system with Hartford Wolf Pack for four games when his college career at Harvard University was finished.

He signed his first contract with San Antonio Rampage and spent his first two pro seasons with the team. He’s appeared in 326 AHL games scoring 21 goals with 100 assists to his credit.

12Feb

Thomas Pock(22) Lake Erie Monsters

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9th year undrafted Austrian-born defenseman Thomas Pock(22) has been on quite the journey in his playing career. He was a scoring stud in his final couple of seasons of college hockey that gained him the notice of New York Rangers, who plucked him fresh out of school and put him into action for 6 games to round out the 2003/2004 season. He managed a pair of goals and assists in the brief run.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. blue liner played another 5 seasons in the Blueshirts‘ system but was unable to match the early offensive output in the higher league. The 2004/2005 lockout could have part of the blame sidetracking his development.

In the AHL he also struggled some to reignite that scoring touch but had a couple of really good seasons wrapped around his first full year in the NHL; maybe the pro blossoming was delayed.

He was once again going to be sent down to start his 6th campaign with the Rangers but their rivals across the river decided to give him a shot as part of their never-ending franchise rebuild process but he failed pretty miserably on a poorly performing New York Islanders‘ team.

With nowhere to go in the show, he turned his attention towards Sweden, first signing for a couple of seasons with Rapperswil of the NLA and then MODO.

He managed to kickstart his ability to land on the scoresheet to a degree and made the decision that it was time for another shot at the NHL. Colorado Avalanche took the bait and signed him for 2012/2013 to add some depth to their back line.

In 45 games with their AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters, he has 8 goals and 19 assists, while wearing the “A” for the team and helping the younger players with their game.

Very likely the now 31-year old will head back overseas to wrap up his playing career.