Minnesota Wild | CollegeHockeyPlayers

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.

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.

15Mar

Casey Wellman(19) Connecticut Whale

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Undrafted 2nd year center Casey Wellman(19) was involved in a pre-deadline deal that sent him from Minnesota Wild‘s AHL affiliate Houston Aeros to New York Rangers‘ AHL team, Connecticut Whale.

He played 41 NHL games with the Wild over three seasons, including 12 contests fresh out of college. He’s managed 4 goals and 9 assists.

In the AHL he’s basically a point per game performer. He has 6 goals and 6 assists in 12 games with the Whale since the deal and had 28 goals and 32 assists in 68 games with the Aeros from 2009 – 2011. He also contributed 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 24 Calder Cup Playoff games last season.

At 24 years old, 6′ 186 lbs. he still needs to put some more muscle into his game before he sticks with an NHL team.

He may get that opportunity in training camp next season with the Rangers, if he can agree to a new deal in the offseason.

7/20-12: In a bit of a surprising move, Wellman gets traded to Florida Panthers for a 5th round 2014 draft pick. He signed a one-year, two-way contract for 2012/2013.

10Mar

Patrick O’Sullivan(16) Peoria Rivermen

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One time Minnesota Wild 2nd round pick in the 2oo3 draft (#56 overall) 7th year left wing Patrick O’Sullivan(16) gets bounced from one AHL team, Portland Pirates, to another, Peoria Rivermen in a offensive-minded forward swap.

He played 23 NHL games with Phoenix Coyotes scoring a pair of goals and assists before last being reassigned to the Pirates in early January. He put up 10 goals and 20 assists in 26 games but went a -6 plus/minus on a pretty good team.

In each of his last 6 seasons, he’s appeared in NHL games, 334 of them. He’s basically a point per every other game producer with 58 goals and 103 assists. In 183 AHL games his stats are 97 goals and 120 assists, better than a point per game. 3 goals and 4 assists of that are in 3 contests since the trade that brought him to the Rivermen.

He lists at 5’11” 189 lbs., which seems a little light. He doesn’t play a very physical game. It’s all about getting into those open spaces and creating them in his style.

He’s either got to turn on those jets or play with a bit more of an edge while scoring those goals and setting up those assists. Make sure that helmet’s on tight.

08Mar

James Sheppard(15) Worcester Sharks

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Center James Sheppard(15) was Minnesota Wild‘s 1st round pick in 2006 (#9 overall) and played for three NHL seasons with the team but fell far short of expectations putting in only 11 goals, along with 38 assists in 224 games.

Not exactly the numbers expected from a player selected in the first round of the draft after a couple of phenomenally successful last couple years in juniors.

Then in the offseason, right before his fourth campaign he gets injured horsing around on some heavy all-terrain equipment and 2010/2011 get scrapped. It’s derailed most of this season as well as he continues to rehab but he finally appeared.

He was picked up in a low rent trade by San Jose Sharks before the start of 2011/2012 and continued to rehab. Finally set to go, he was reassigned to the AHL for the 1st time in his career on a conditioning stint, where he could very well stay in Worcester. In 4 games he has yet to get on the scoresheet, but does have 6 shots on net.

We’re sure San Jose would love to roll the dice, because they need to find a way to win or they’ll miss the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

16Feb

Stephane Veilleux(19) New Jersey Devils

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11-year left wing Stephane Veilleux(19) split to Liiga and NLA for a season but the stats suggest he was a little unhappy with the decision, so he returned to sign a one-year, two-way deal for 2011/2012 with New Jersey Devils that has seen him appear in 40 AHL games with Albany Devils.

He has 11 goals and 11 assists and +3 on the ice with them and plays like a team leader every game out there, which is why he wears an “A” on his jersey.

He has 439 NHL appearances to his credit and was originally a Minnesota Wild 3rd round pick in 2001 (#93 overall).

He played his first 8 seasons with the Wild and Houston Aeros.

As a Valentine’s gift, he received his 1st call-up and played a sparing 4:36 in the 4-1 win.

07Feb

Erik Christensen(40) Minnesota Wild

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It had been only a couple of seasons since 8th year center Erik Christiansen(40) played in the AHL, but before that it had been a few years when he appeared in 16 games with the affiliate of the team he was originally drafted and signed by, Pittsburgh Penguins (3rd round of 2002, #69 overall).

His only full season in the minors was his rookie campaign in 2004/2005, the year of the NHL lockout.

In his third season with New York Rangers, he came out of the gate slow and was eventually squeezed out of the lineup as the Blueshirts were looking for that right winning combination to click.

After many healthy scratches, he was finally demoted to Connecticut Whale on a “conditioning stint”.

In 5 games he scored a pair of goals and added an assist.

Looking to add some punch to their now struggling team, Minnesota Wild stepped in and gave up a prospect for some help up front they hope will pay immediate dividends.

He’s played 359 NHL games scoring 62 goals and 94 assists.

We shall see. . .

26Jan

Justin Falk(4) Minnesota Wild

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Large-sized (6’5″ 215 lbs.) Minnesota Wild defenseman Justin Falk(4) got his first NHL goal in his fourth season with the team.

He was originally a 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#110 overall) and has career highs this year for games played (29), goals (1), assists (4) and points (5). This also looks to be his first full season in the big league.

He’s skated in 233 games (including 44 Calder Cup Playoff contests) over 3 years with their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros. The 2010/2011 season was a big breakout year for the 23-year old in points and overall play, as he’s growing into his game nicely.

21Jan

Colton Gillies(18) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Former 1st round pick, center Colton Gillies(18) was handed a new two-year, one-way deal with Minnesota Wild and played 37 games with the team this season. The downside was he only recorded 2 assists.

With little point production for the slumping team, he was put on the waivers to be reassigned to their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros.

That was all the motivation last place Columbus Blue Jackets needed, as they claimed him to hopefully bolster their offense with his sizable 6’4″ frame.

In his first game with the team he was initially credited for a goal but was later changed to an assist. Either way, it was a good way for him to start a new phase in his career with the Blue Jackets.

01Jan

Jon DiSalvatore(14) Houston Aeros

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Houston Aeros‘ captain and 9 year veteran left winger, Jon DiSalvatore(14) earned his first NHL call-up since the 2005-2006 season when he was with St. Louis Blues.

This was only his sixth ever game in the big league. He skated a total of 14:27 including time on the power play and had 2 shots on net and 2 penalty minutes. He was reassigned back to the Aeros the next day.

In 635 AHL games he has 188 goals and 269 assists. He has scored 20 or more goals in all of his previous 8 pro seasons and looks to be on his way to a 9th consecutive 20 goal campaign as he already has 10 in 33 games.

He was originally a 4th round pick in the 2000 draft by San Jose Sharks (#104 overall).