Tagged: Hershey Bears

steve_pinizzottoEdmonton Oilers‘ 8th year undrafted right wing Steve Pinizzotto(13) got his first NHL goal recently after appearing in 34 games over the last three years.

He added his second tally a month later to go along with a pair of assists he notched in one game earlier in 2014/2015, and now has new career highs for goals and points but will need to add another helper to pass his previous mark set in only 6 games late last season.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward plays a gritty power forward style that has been fairly successful in the minors.

In 9 AHL games to start the current campaign with affiliate Oklahoma City Barons, he has no goals but a pretty nice 6 assists.

His best seasons in the league were 40+ efforts in 2010 & 2011 with Hershey Bears, while under contract with Washington Capitals.

He also won consecutive Calder Cup Championships with them in 2009 & 2010.

If he can continue to contribute there is little reason to believe the 30-year old won’t stick around on a team that could use some swagger.

He has easily worked hard for any inch of ice his been given and was the first player out of Rochester Institute Of Technology to sign a big league deal.

Original story: 12/27-14

He would stay with the big club for another month before being returned to the farm team but managed to play in a career high 18 games (36 total) getting a 2nd goal and 2 assists, both new bests.

The now 31-year old was likely looking at a decent contract in the minors for 2015/2016 but has chosen to take his game elsewhere signing a one-year deal with EHC Red Bull Munchen of DEL.

It may not be out of the question to see him put up some big numbers overseas.

Stanislav-Galiev

Less than a year ago, Washington Capitals‘ 3rd year Russian-born right wing Stanislav Galiev(49) was barely a consideration to be recalled to the parent club when an injury took down one of the starters.

At the end of 2014 he appeared in first round playoff games for ECHL affiliate Reading Royals. He was also part of their 2013 Kelly Cup Championship team scoring 4 goals and 7 asssists in 10 games as a rookie.

All that changed at the beginning of the final campaign of his three-year entry level deal though, as he has exploded with scoring abilities for farm team Hershey Bears in 2014/2015.

The not exactly huge 6’1″ 187 lbs. forward has a career high (and team leading) 25 goals, 20 assists and 45 points through 64 AHL games with a +5 rating.

His 15 power play tallies also lead the league.

The two-time, consecutive 2011 and 2012 QMJHL Champion and 2011 Memorial Cup winner always put up big numbers in juniors taking the most assist honors in his first season 2009/2010 and leading the way in the 2012 postseason for Saint John Sea Dogs with 16 goals and 34 points.

In his first NHL game, he skated 13 shifts for 9:56 total ice with :18 on the power play and had one shot on net, one hit, one giveaway and one takeaway.

See related: 11/20-12

 

Andre-Burakovsky

Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#23 overall) Austria-born rookie center Andre’ Burakovsky(15) may be spending most of his playing time with affiliate Hershey Bears heading down the stretch towards the postseason.

Although he’s skated in 50 games with the parent club, scored his first NHL in his debut and has a very decent 9 goals and 13 assists with a +12 rating, he’s also been a healthy scratch on many occasions as he develops.

The fairly big 6’3″ 198 lbs. power forward may be mostly squeezed out of his spot with the big club but considering he doesn’t have to go through waivers and seems to excel once reinserted into the lineup is likely first on the list to go back up.

He already had one full season’s experience in Sweden’s tier two Allsvenskan with Malmo (where he played most of his junior hockey) and even played 10 games with the team in 2011/2012 as a 16/17-year old, when he signed his entry level deal that extends through 2017.

Although his contract was set, it was decided to send him to Erie Otters much against his will to make sure their prospect was ready.

Scoring 41 goals and 47 assists in 57 OHL games he easily proved he was too skilled to be playing at the junior level.

The 20-year old posted his first AHL goal, an overtime game-winner, in his 6th game to go along with his one assist but will need to continue to dig hard to prove he’s ready for prime time.

Connor Carrick

Washington Capitals‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#137 overall) defenseman Connor Carrick(25) is having himself an outstanding sophomore season on reassignment with affiliate Hershey Bears.

Even though he split time with the parent club and was injured for a good amount of time in his rookie year, his totals are still well beyond what he looked to post in 2013/2014.

In 40 AHL games he has 6 goals and 21 assists but is a lowly -13 rating on a good team. His play was good enough for a replacement nod at the All-Star Game.

The not huge 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner started with a few games in the NHL before being reassigned to the farm club but was recalled once he was ready to go again after recovering from an injury that sidelined him for a significant time.

Up with the big club he appeared in 34 games scoring his first goal and adding 5 assists but was a -9 plus/minus.

The 20-year old took a bit of an unlikely, quick route to turning pro. Upon being selected after his second season in the USHL he went on to only one campaign with Plymouth Whalers of the OHL before signing his 3-year entry level deal through 2016.

He’ll definitely have to continue to play excellent hockey in the minors and take his game to the next level when he gets back up with the big club to achieve what is projected of the deep draft selection.

Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2004 2nd round draft pick (#45 overall) center Ryan Garlock(22) signed a pto to start the season out of camp with Springfield Falcons and 5 games into the season and 5 assists later, he’s up it to an spc for 2011/2012.

He might be starting the argument that there was a good reason Chicago picked him so high but he never played in their system. At age 25, he’s already a veteran of just under 200 games played. Columbus could be watching.

For the last couple of seasons he’s been with Hartford Wolf Pack / Connecticut Whale.

Entering his 7th season pro, 2004 Washington Capitals 2nd round pick (#34 overall) Chris Bourque(17), son of Ray, returns to the “team” after a year abroad to play in the KHL and Swiss-A leagues. He’ll likely spend the majority of his playing time in the AHL with Hershey, where he’s played 319 of his games.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get more looks in the NHL to add to his 33 games with the Caps and Pittsburgh Penguins (1 goal, 3 assists). He has good hands and maybe it’s just taken more to grow into his game.

andrew-joudrey

Washington Capitals‘ 2003 8th round pick (#249 overall) center Andrew Joudrey(24) will skate for only his second pro team going into his fifth year pro.

Former captain for Hershey Bears, he signed a two-year, two-way deal with Columbus and will be a leader for their AHL affiliate, Springfield Falcons.

Late last month he played his first preseason game at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, MA vs. Providence Bruins after being reassigned from Blue Jackets‘ training camp..

One-time Providence Bruins‘ defenseman, Johnny Boychuk(55) is the first player to step on the TD Garden ice for Group B at the 2nd day of training camp.

He was originally drafted by Colorado Avalanche in the 2nd round of the 2002 draft (#61 overall). He only suited up for one game with them before being traded to Boston in 2008.

He played for four seasons with AHL affiliates of Colorado in Hershey, Lowell, Albany and Lake Erie before making his way to the NHL full-time a couple of seasons ago.

There’s no sign that he’ll ever go back.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 8th round draft pick in 2000 (#246 overall), wing Chad Wiseman(19) enters his 11th pro season and third with New Jersey Devils‘ organization (2nd go round). He played 23 games in 2008/2009 with Lowell Devils.

Signing another one-year, two-way deal, this will his 2nd season with Albany. Last year he had 44 points (16 goals and 28 assists) in 48 games.

He’s played 9 games in the NHL (4 with the Sharks and 5 with New York Rangers) scoring 1 goal to go along with 1 assist.

If the Devils suck again this season, I could see him getting in a few games at the Pru.

andrew-joudrey2

For the first time in his career, 5th year Washington Capitals‘ 2003 8th round draft pick (#249 overall) and former Hershey Bears‘ captain, centerman Andrey Joudrey(23) signed a two-year, two-way contract with Columbus Blue Jackets that will likely see him spend most of his playing time in the AHL with Springfield Falcons.

He had yet to earn any playing time in the NHL.

His stats have never been all that great but he is seen as a team leader on ice and in the locker room. He won Calder Cups in 2009 and 2010 with the Bears.