Minnesota Wild | CollegeHockeyPlayers

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.

16Nov

David Steckel(39) Norfolk Admirals

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10th year center, former Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in the 2001 draft (#30 overall) center David Steckel(39) had to hang around for a little while before he found himself a deal for the 2013/2014 season.

He was invited to join Minnesota Wild training camp and eventually signed a pto to continue with their minor league affiliate Iowa Wild but was released after only 4 appearances.

Rumor has it he was fishing for a one-year, NHL deal and there was little room there for him to sign.

So, onto the next and he takes up Norfolk Admirals but inks an spc with the promise of signing with the parent club and team he last skated with, Anaheim Ducks.

He’s played 419 NHL games scoring 33 goals and 46 assists and lead the league in best faceoff percentage in 2010/2011, his last of 6 seasons with Washington Capitals.

The mammoth 6’6″ 215 lbs. forward is killer on the dot and it could be his ticket back to the show.

He scored a handsome two-way deal, was put on waivers and sent back to the AHL.

The 31-year old is a veteran of 219 games in the league with 56 goals, 60 assists and a pretty hefty +37 rating.

His last appearance in the A was Hershey Bears‘ deep playoff run in 2007.

It would be little surprise to see him leave for the KHL to finish out his pro career.

29Oct

Andrew Ebbett (25)

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8th year undrafted left wing Andrew Ebbett(25) wasted no time in free agency signing a one-year, two-way deal to join Pittsburgh Penguins‘ system for a season.

In 8 AHL games with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he already has a tidy 2 goals and 5 assists. He’s pretty much a point per game guy in the league at 78 goals and 165 assists in 254 games, now skating with his 6th team. He also owns a remarkable +32 rating.

He’s less prolific in the NHL scoring 25 tallies and 39 helpers in 191 games under contracts with 7 different teams but also has an accountable +3 plus/minus.

The small 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward is looked to for bursts of energy he brings to the table and that kind of spark plug often results in wins.

It will be interesting to see where the 30-year old ends up next but he can almost assuredly expect a recall to the parent club before the seasons out, which would give him NHL appearances in his last 7 seasons.

14Oct

Darroll Powe(17) Hartford Wolf Pack

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7th year, undrafted center Darroll Powe(17) finds himself back in the minors for the first time since he played 8 games at this level in early 2008/2009.

He was initially signed to an AHL contract with Philadelphia Phantoms in his rookie season but quickly signed a two-year entry level deal with parent club Philadelphia Flyers for his sophomore campaign.

For the last five seasons the 5’11” 209 lbs. forward has played exclusively in the show with the Flyers, Minnesota Wild for a full slate and 8 games after the lockout before being traded to New York Rangers.

With limited spots available with the Blueshirts, he was reassigned to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack to start 2013/2014 but could find himself recalled if the winning situation doesn’t improve in Manhattan.

The 28-year old has played in 328 NHL games scoring 28 goals and 28 assists.

He may just be headed overseas next.

21Sep

Nick Johnson(32) Boston Bruins

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Until someone tells 6th year right wing Nick Johnson(32) differently he’s making a case with Boston Bruins to be on their opening night roster to start the 2013/2014 season.

He’s scored 3 goals in 2 preseason games and the 27-year old is drawing praise from coaching and management.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward is signed to a 1-year two-way deal, but whether or not he is reassigned to minor league affiliate Providence Bruins, he’s easily put himself on the short list for an early recall once the action begins.

In 104 NHL games he has 14 goals and 23 assists and has spent parts of the last four seasons playing in the big league, including one full campaign with Minnesota Wild a couple of years ago.

His AHL stats are point towards a player that is on the cusp of a full-time job with a parent club. He has 53 goals and 70 assists in 183 games and holds a highly accountable +44 rating.

He was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#89 overall).

He even spent time in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers working his way up in his rookie season and even played 5 games for Idaho Steelheads during the last year’s lockout.

See related: 11/17-10

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.

04Apr

Alexander Fällström(15) Providence Bruins

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Originally a Minnesota Wild 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#116 overall), Swedish right wing Alexander Fallstrom(15) was involved in a trade that brought his rights to Boston Bruins before he would start his college career at Harvard University, right down the road from the team’s home arena, TD Garden.

The 21-year signed a 2-year entry level deal through 2015 and starts his pro career on an ato with minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

He notched his first pro point, an assist, in his debut and scored his first goal 5 games later.

At 6’2″ 203 lbs. he already has the physical attributes of a power forward, very much plays that style of game and has soft enough hands to connect with the back of the net consistently.

He may start his rookie season in the AHL but looks like he will become an NHL top six forward in short order.

18Feb

Jason Zucker(16) Minnesota Wild

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Minnesota Wild 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#59 overall) rookie left wing Jason Zucker(16) cashed in on his first NHL goal in his first game on recall from minor league affiliate Houston Aeros, where he leads that team in scoring with 19 goals and 22 assists.

He started his pro career at the end of last season, signing a three-year entry level deal upon leaving college after two years of more than a point per game production.

In 6 contests with the Wild to finish off a 2011/2012 without a playoff berth, the 5’11” 180 lbs. forward got his first points in the show with a pair of assists.

He was selected to appear in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game, in which he scored a goal and an assist and tied a team high with 5 shots on net in the 7-6 Western Conference win. He was also a close second in the fastest skater contest in the Skills Competition.

In the 21-year old’s 2013 NHL debut, he logged 15 shifts for 11:09 of total ice time, scored the goal, went a +1 plus/minus and had 2 shots on net in the 3-2 victory. His tally tied the game at 2.

Minnesota is going to have to put his picture and add some more visual content up on his player page and soon, so fans can get to know this potential rising star, born in Las Vegas (of all places), on their team.