Milwaukee Admirals | CollegeHockeyPlayers

25Aug

Brodie Dupont(9) HC Valpellice Bulldogs

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Facing unrestricted free agency status, 6th year left wing Brodie Dupont(9) jumps ship after one dismal season with Milwaukee Admirals to skate with HC Valpellice Bulldogs of Italy pro hockey for 2012/2013.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. forward was originally a New York Rangers 3rd round pick in the 2005 draft (#66 overall) but skated only one NHL contest with the team. He appeared in 297 AHL games with their affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale scoring 58 goals and 90 assists before being traded as an rfa to Nashville Predators at the start of 2011 free agency.

The 25-year old is a big man on ice but seems to lack the aggressive follow through punch that would make him a more effective power forward. Maybe the time overseas will help his overall game.

09Jul

Mathieu Beaudoin(26) Hershey Bears

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6th year right wing Mathieu Beudoin(26) is set to join Hershey Bears for the 2012/2013 season. It will be his fifth AHL team in the last five years for the undrafted, 28-year old.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward is definitely capable of finding the back of the net with reasonable consistency but was injured for two months in the middle of last season with a dislocated thumb and couldn’t find the groove with Portland Pirates after reaching career highs in goals, assists and points in 2010/2011.

He was on the Texas Stars‘ team that went all the way to the Calder Cup Finals and lost to these very same Bears.

So, once again becoming an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season after his one-year two-way deal with Phoenix C oyotes was up, the Bears wasted no time signing him to an AHL contract to fill the roster with more veteran leadership.

For the first time in recent memory, Hershey‘s team seems to be full of intangibles. It’s a bit of a wonder what type of season they’re going to have, which never happens.

07Jul

Mark Dekanich(1) St. John’s IceCaps

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5th year goalie Mark Dekanich(1) has always posted a winning record since turning pro in 2008.

He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2006 draft (#146 overall) by Nashville Predators and tended net in their system, mostly with AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals for his first three seasons.

In 2011/2012, his first and only season with Columbus Blue Jackets, a series of high ankle sprains and a groin injury limited his availability to only 5 regular season games with Springfield Falcons.

The 6’2″ 192 lbs. 26-year goaltender is still looked at as a potential NHL backstop (he’s appeared in one game) and Winnipeg Jets think that could be the case as they signed him to a one-year, two-way contract for the upcoming year.

Most likely he’ll compete for the St. John’s IceCaps‘ starting job.

28Jun

Marco Rosa (19)

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Entering his 10th pro season, center Marco Rosa(19) skips the country to play with Espoo Blues of the SM-liiga for the 2012/2013 season.

Hampered by post-concussion symptoms, he was limited to just 31 games during the regular season but did manage to produce close to a point per game with 6 goals and 21 assists.

He was on par to beat his career high point totals from 2 years ago until he got sidelined.

Although he did return for 9 postseason contests, he wasn’t nearly the same player, getting only one assist.

Originally a Dallas Stars‘ 8th round pick in the 2001 draft (#255 overall), the 6’ 180 lbs. forward worked his way up through the ranks first with a few years in the ECHL and for the last 5 seasons he’s been an AHL mainstay.

At 30 years old, no doubt he’s making the right decision to possible play his final years in Europe.

05Jun

Brandon Segal(26) Norfolk Admirals

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9th year Norfolk Admirals‘ veteran right wing Brandon Segal(26) is the perfect old school presence the team needs on the ice and in the locker room to help stabilize the mostly young group of players as they continue their push for a first Calder Cup Championship in 12 AHL seasons.

He was obtained in a minor league deal back in February for his second stint with the organization. He skated in 91 games with them just a couple of year ago from 2008 – 2009.

The soon to be 29-year old has played in 454 regular and postseason games including a trip to the finals with the other Admirals, Milwaukee in 2006.

He has appeared in 102 NHL games (11 goals, 11 assists) with 4 different teams including making his first appearance and most recent with the same team, Tampa Bay Lightning. In 12 games with the Bolts he’s yet to tally on the scoresheet.

Originally a 4th round pick by Nashville Predators in the 2002 draft (#102 overall), it’s unclear at the moment what will be next for the as of July 1 soon to be unrestricted free agent.

11May

Alex Henry(5) DEG Metro Stars

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13 year pro defenseman Alex Henry(5) leaves North American hockey for Germany (his second stint in the country; he was there in the 2004/2005 NHL lockout year). He joins DEG Metro Stars of the DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga).

The always daunting 6’5″ 220 lbs. blue liner was originally a 3rd round pick by Edmonton Oilers in the 1998 draft (#63 overall). He only played 3 of his 177 NHL appearances with the Oilers. He’s credited with 2 goals and 9 assists.

Starting his pro career with Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL for the first three seasons; he closes this chapter of playing hockey having played the last four years with the team, including the last two as their captain.

The 32-year old has played a massive 546 regular and postseason games with the Bulldogs and 701 AHL contests overall. Hardly considered for his offensive prowess, he’s found the back of the net only 19 times and filled in the scoring sheet with 78 assists.

03May

Andreas Thuresson(55) Connecticut Whale

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Unlikely hero #1: 5th year Connecticut Whale right wing Andreas Thuresson(55) scores the overtime winning goal at 2:53 in game 1 of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Semi-Finals vs. the red-hot Norfolk Admirals to take the series lead 1-0 on enemy ice.

Originally a 5th round pick by Nashville Predators in the 2007 draft (##144 overall) the Swedish-born 6’1″ 211 lbs. forward has played 277 regular season games with their AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals scoring 53 goals and 65 assists.

He has also appeared in 25 NHL games over a couple of seasons and put a goal and a pair of assists up on the scoresheet.

A peek at his postseason stats of 8 goals and 11 assists in 37 games suggests he’s more than capable of coming through with that big point when it counts.

He was traded to New York Rangers on the day after free agency began and signed to a one-year, two-way contract. We think they’ll issue him a qualifying offer for another season.

26Mar

Ben Guite(28) Worcester Sharks

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12th year veteran center, Worcester Sharks‘ Ben Guite(28) has missed a majority of 2011/2012 due to complications from a concussion he sustained early in the AHL season.

He recently returned to the team and is contributing in their push toward the Calder Cup Playoffs.

In 15 games this year he has 2 goals and 7 assists but despite not being a prolific goal scorer, he’s look to for his leadership and playing intensity on the ice.

He’s appeared in 175 NHL games (all but seven of them with Colorado Avalanche from 2006 – 2009) scoring 19 goals and 26 assists.

In 574 AHL games he has 101 goals and 172 assists.

He was originally picked by Montreal Canadiens in the 7th round of 1997 draft (#172 overall). The 33-year old signed a one-year, two-way deal with San Jose Sharks in the offseason.

11Feb

Kevin Henderson(47) Milwaukee Admirals

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After his two-year entry level contract with San Jose Sharks was up last season, undrafted left wing Kevin Henderson(47) found himself without any takers for 2011/2012.

He played two full seasons with Worcester Sharks with his scoring totals improving over the second year of his deal but not quite enough for them to offer him another shot.

Now past the leagues All-Star breaks, he finally signed a deal to play with Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. After all of two games played with them, he instantly gets loaned and signs a pto with their AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.

How long he sticks probably depends on how quick is to make his mark on the scoring sheet.

The 3rd year pro is fairly big at 6’03” 210 lbs. but needs to put a little more Lucic into his game.

05Feb

Cal O’Reilly(36) Pittsburgh Penguins

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6th year pro center Cal O’Reilly(36) didn’t survive the waiver wire in his recent Phoenix Coyotes‘ NHL call-up from their AHL affiliate Portland Pirates and was grabbed as a depth player for the injury riddled Pittsburgh Penguins‘ offensive push.

In 108 NHL games he has 13 goals and 28 assists (he just got his first with his new team over the weekend).

He was originally a 5th round Nashville Predators‘ pick in the 2005 draft (#150 overall) and skated for five plus seasons with them and Milwaukee Admirals before being traded to Phoenix at the beginning of this year.