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18Dec

Dan DaSilva(22) Worcester Sharks

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Undrafted 9th year right wing Dan DaSilva(22) was leading the ECHL in total point with 7 goals and 19 assists through 14 games, when he was called up and signed to a pto to help a struggling, young Worcester Sharks‘ club find their identity.

Although the 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward has only a pair of assists, it’s the intangibles he brings along with leading by example that has the team playing better hockey and back in the hunt posting a 5-3-1 record since his arrival.

His return to the minor league club he spent three seasons from 2008-2011 with before leaving for a campaign overseas that never quite seem to fit too well happens after concluding a successful run on loan to Houston Aeros in 2012/2013.

The 28-year old was recently signed to an AHL contract in hopes his veteran presence will continue to gel with the squad and get them into a playoff position.

See related: 11/18-10, 1/25-11, 9/2-11

21Nov

Brad Staubitz(16) Toronto Marlies

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Undrafted 9th year tough guy, right wing Brad Staubitz(16) has a one-way NHL deal for 2013/2014, but has been unable to find his spot on a roster. Signed to a 2-year contract with Anaheim Ducks, he was only played sparingly in the lockout shortened season and landed south with Norfolk Admirals to start the new campaign.

Disgruntled there after 7 AHL games, he was traded in hopes of finding a new start in Toronto Maple Leafs‘ organization but might have the same problem, few openings in the lineup and was reassigned to Toronto Marlies.

Never a player to mark up the score sheet with points, the 6’1″ 207 lbs. forward has never shied away from the rough stuff, amassing more than 100 penalty minutes in virtually every season and is strictly looked at as a fourth line energy source for a team.

It’s maybe a bit doubtful that the rugged winger will find another home in the show unless he reinvents his game some going into camp next season and catches the attention of a team in need of an enforcer.

31Aug

Nick Palmieri(44) EHC München

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After his first year of playing entirely in the minors and getting traded from Minnesota Wild/Houston Aeros to New York Rangers/Connecticut Whale, right wing Nick Palmieri(44) will lace up the skates in Germany’s DEL for EHC München in the upcoming season.

He has skated in 87 NHL games, mostly with New Jersey Devils, who made him their 3rd round pick of the 2007 draft (#79 overall). For now he leaves with 13 goals and 12 assists to his credit.

The rangy 6’3″ 220 lbs. winger has played 221 AHL games, 3 seasons with Lowell/Albany Devils with 49 goals and 46 assists in the league, easily less than anticipated from a prospect his size and potential power forward abilities.

In four years of junior hockey in the OHL he always put up decent numbers but again seemed a bit underwhelming.

The 24-year old should be able to become a 1.5 point-per-game guy overseas but we shall see.

All said, we’re still pulling for the guy to break out of his proverbial shell.

24May

Warren Peters(43) WBS Penguins

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Undrafted 10th year center Warren Peters(43) is the type of veteran skater you want on your team come playoff time for his on ice determination and game leadership he brings.

An unrestricted free agent after two seasons in the Minnesota Wild system, he signed a one-year two-way contract with Pittsburgh Penguins that’s seen him contribute with all the aforementioned qualities during the regular season, but in the postseason with AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins it’s on a whole other level. It’s also good reason for him to wear an assistant captain “A” on his sweater.

The 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward has made it to Calder Cup Finals in two of the last three seasons, first with Texas Stars and followed it up with Houston Aeros.

He’s appeared in 96 NHL with 3 different teams in each of the last four seasons (4 goals, 4 assists) and only likely didn’t receive a recall this season due to the shortened campaign.

As a player that started his career in the ECHL and even spent his entire sophomore season in the league during the other most recent lockout, we can appreciate the fact that he’s worked his way up to the show with lots of hard play and persistence.

The 30-year old is back on the market this summer but chances are the Penguins will offer him a one-year extension.

16Apr

Chay Genoway(4) Hershey Bears

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Undrafted, 2nd year defenseman Chay Genoway(4) was originally signed to a one-year entry level deal by Minnesota Wild after putting up point-per-game numbers in college hockey with University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

He received a 2-year extension after connecting for 7 goals and 29 assists with AHL affiliate Houston Aeros in 72 games in his rookie season but fell out of favor on the roster as his point totals diminished in his sophomore campaign.

The small 5’9″ 177 lbs. may have been off the mark on the scoresheet but his on-ice accountability went up to a +11 rating on a team that was good at winning games but their goals for advantage wasn’t exactly miles apart from their goals against.

He was recently traded to Washington Capitals for a conditional 2014 seventh-round pick and reassigned to their farm team, Hershey Bears. In 10 contests he has five assists and is a +2.

The 26-year old has appeared in one NHL game and picked up an assist. Tough to say if he gets another shot in the show but if he picks up his stats again, his chances become more likely. He’s small but plays a smart style game that knows how to turn defense into offense.

16Feb

Scott Campbell(4) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted 2nd year center Scott Campbell(4) has spent the majority of his playing time in the ECHL with Las Vegas Wranglers. He’s skated in 75 games, signed to successive one-year contracts, with the team.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. forward has 19 goals and 22 assists with a combined +11 plus/minus and added another 8 goals and 2 assists in 18 2012 Kelly Cup Playoff games, advancing all the way to the Finals before being defeated.

He started his pro campaign under an ato joining Houston Aeros after his collegiate career was done. He received call-ups in his rookie season with Rochester Americans and Texas Stars for a total of 12 games but failed to notch his first point in the league.

The 26-year old once again was on the radar for an AHL recall and got the ring from Bridgeport Sound Tigers to join them just before the Christmas holiday push.

He’s certainly making his mark, continuing to prove he belongs in the upper league with 2 goals and 5 assists in 17 games. He was recently rewarded with a contract to stay for the remainder of 2012/2013 and hopes to keep contributing to make that step up from the get-go next year.

No doubt he has the assets to be a legitimate power forward but seems to shy away from getting too involved, using more of a hard skating style to create his chances by stealing pucks and being in the right place at the right time.

09Feb

Jordan Hendry(6) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ undrafted 7th year defenseman Jordan Hendry(6) has appeared in NHL games in 5 of his pro years. In 130 contests he has 4 goals and 9 assists, while maintaining a reliable +2 rating. He was also on the Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2010 Stanley Cup Championship team but left unsigned after his fifth season in the system.

As an unrestricted free agent, he agreed to a training camp tryout last year with Minnesota Wild and by all accounts had a good run during preseason. He reported to their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros on a pto but was ultimately released after only 10 games.

He then signed a deal to skate with Lugano of the NLA in Switzerland to finish out the season.

The 28-year returned for 2012/2013 when offered a 1-year 2-way deal with the Ducks.

He was on the NHL opening night roster but reassigned to Norfolk Admirals (his second go round with the team under his only two parent clubs), when he didn’t crack the lineup for a second appearance. In 31 AHL games, he had a pair of goals and assists before he was recently recalled.

The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner skated 24 shifts and was on the ice for an average of 17 minutes in both wins. He’s easily a 5-6 depth guy on defense but fairly accountable and that won’t hurt his chances to continue making visits to the show.

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.

15Jan

Bryce Lampman(27) Portland Pirates

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Originally a New York Rangers‘ 4th round pick in the 2001 draft (#113 overall) defenseman Bryce Lampman(27) is probably best known for his days with their then farm club, Hartford Wolf Pack. He played 287 AHL regular and postseason games with the team and had two 25 point seasons.

He spent the last couple of years skating with a pair of teams in the German Elite League (DEL) before returning to North America to play in 2012/2013 with the first year ECHL Orlando Solar Bears.

In 21 games, the 30-year old blue liner could be on a bit of a scoring tear with three goals and 9 assists. He could realize career highs on the scoresheet if he’s not careful.

He was recently signed to a pto by Portland Pirates as some of their regulars abandoned them for NHL training camps.

The last time the fairly steady 6’1″ 200 pounder played in the AHL was a cup of coffee a couple of years ago with Houston Aeros but the year prior he was on the ice for 54 games with Peoria Rivermen, where he had a 20 point season.

He has dressed for 10 NHL games (all with the Blueshirts, of course) with no points.

29Oct

Nick Petersen (8)

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Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#121 overall), right wing Nick Petersen(8) was bought out the final year of his 3-year entry level contract by the team.

He appeared in a career high 52 AHL games with their farm team, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins scoring a best 11 goals and 16 assists, 27 points with a +15 plus/minus.

The kind of lanky 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward started his pro career in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers, where he lit the lamp with ease clocking in at just shy of a 1.5 points per game player and was reassigned and recalled from on a couple of occasions during his rookie season.

There were some minor rumors floating that he was a difficult player in the system.

He signed a training camp tryout agreement with Houston Aeros to start the third campaign of his pro career and although he failed to make the opening night roster, he was kept on and sent to their affiliate Orlando Solar Bears.

In 6 ECHL games he has 6 goals and 8 assists with a +4 rating and has been quickly called-up to Houston.

Turns out he was a healthy scratch for one game and sent back.

When he gets his chance, you can pretty much bet he’ll produced on the scoresheet.

Nice black eye in the pic, right?