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18Aug

Steven Whitney(23) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ undrafted right wing Steven Whitney(23) signed an ato with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals after finishing his four-year college hockey career at Boston College. The 22-year old was considered the best unselected player available.

He scored his first pro goal in his AHL debut and has added 3 more assists in 5 games played.

The 5’7″ 165 lbs. forward is a ball of energy out there and has no problem dishing the puck for scoring chances or getting himself into the open areas of the ice to bury it despite being one of the smallest skaters.

In his final two seasons with the Eagles he was a point-per-game guy, won a pair of NCAA Championships and continues on that tear.

He signed a two-year NHL entry level deal through 2015 and has to be making the parent club smile about their new prospect.

Original story: 4/17-13

In 8 games on the ato he would get 3 goals and an assist but had a -2 rating.

To start his sophomore campaign he was basically reassigned back to the Admirals and stayed there for 65 games. He would only connect for 10 goals and 13 assists with a -7 plus/minus.

He wasn’t extended a qualifying offer to continue in the Ducks‘ prospect system and basically took the first half of his third season off.

When he decided it was time to start playing hockey again, he made a smart signing with Florida Everblades.

In 23 games he would net 8 goals and 8 assists with a +7 rating but came up a bit empty in the postseason with only one tally and 2 helpers.

The now 24-year old isn’t mulling a decision heading into 2015/2106, maybe a little ironically signing a one-year deal back with Norfolk Admirals but since dropped down a rung to the ECHL.

11Feb

Scott Clemmensen(40) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ veteran goalie Scott Clemmensen(40) has been in the system for 8 of his 14 pro years serving as their primary back-up and has played games with all three of their affiliates, Albany River Rats, Lowell Devils and current Albany Devils‘ teams.

In the few NHL seasons where he was either called on to be the starter or at least co-starter between the pipes, he performed pretty well, especially through 40 games on his second tour of duty in the Garden State 2008/2009, when Martin Brodeur went down with his first big injury.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. net minder posted a 25-13-1-2 record with a career best 2.39 GAA and .917 SV%. He also had two shutouts.

Based on his performance the unrestricted free agent decided to search for a #1 spot and landed a three-year deal with Florida Panthers. He would spend the next five seasons down south.

In 120 games he went 40-39-18-3 and kept decent numbers through his first three years but with less playing time his numbers suffered.

Almost ironically his only really good year in the AHL was one campaign with Toronto Maple Leafs on reassignment to Toronto Marlies.

He is likely to finish out his one-year deal in the minors with the occasional call-up due to injury.

No doubt he’ll be looking to get that 5000th save (he’s at 4931) to go along with the more than 1000 minutes played, and a 200 game mark wouldn’t suck either.

It’s been quite a career for the 37-year old, former 8th round pick in the 1997 draft (#215 overall), 2001 NCAA Champ with Boston College Eagles.

09Dec

Shayne Gostisbehere(14) Lehigh Valley Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft (#78 overall) mini-smart defenseman Shayne Gotisbehere(14) had pretty much going his way because of the hard work and consistently aware game he plays.

He was a late cut from training camp and started what may not actually become his rookie season on reassignment to affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms putting up some handsome numbers right away, 5 assists in 5 AHL games.

The generously listed 5’11” 170 lbs. blue liner also received his first NHL recall and even though he was returned with a -2 plus/minus he was part of two team wins vs Detroit and Los Angeles.

Approximately 10 days into his joining the farm team for more seasoning, he was hit into the boards awkwardly going around the net and looked to get his leg caught a bit too much behind him as he slid down.

The prognosis was a torn acl, requiring surgery and his return is listed as indefinite.

When and if he does return, possibly some time in the Spring, maybe for any potential playoff runs but both teams aren’t exactly in that running at the moment.

The 21-year old former Union College assistant captain, 2014 NCAA Champion, Hobey Baker finalist, World Junior Gold Medalist is most definitely highly touted from his three-year career at school (averaged 7 goals, 20 assists) and will be sorely missed especially on on the farm team.

Signed through 2017 on a three-year entry level deal, he should come back stronger and probably will only be looking at plane rides in his future.

31Oct

Danny Kristo(29) Hartford Wolf Pack

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Rookie right wing Danny Kristo(29) is off to a hot start with his pro career.

In 9 AHL games with Hartford Wolf Pack he already has 6 goals and 3 assists, which basically picks up where he left off at University Of North Dakota.

Through four years, he put up 68 goals and 93 assists in 157 games, good for just over a point-per-game.

He also was a part of three straight NCAA Championship teams, won a gold medal with USA at the World Juniors and on a personal level was a Hobey Baker Award finalist.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round draft pick and played 9 games signed to an ato with their minor league affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs at the end of last season. He tallied three helpers in the stint.

He inked to a two-year entry level deal but at the start of free agency he found himself switching jerseys and headed to New York Rangers.

The 23-year old definitely has smooth hands for scoring and play-making and also possesses a bit of a grinder mentality to his game despite his smaller size.

He should realize his first NHL recall sooner than later and will probably stick as soon as he gets a chance.

12Oct

Luke Glendening(41) Detroit Red Wings

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2nd year right wing/center Luke Glendening(33) signed a one-year, two-way entry level deal with Detroit Red Wings just after free agency started.

The undrafted forward had an outstanding rookie season on an AHL contract with minor league affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins and then took it up another notch in the playoffs striking for 6 goals and 10 assists in 22 games on the way to the 2013 Calder Cup Championship.

It wasn’t exactly a breeze for the 24-year old forward though as he was reassigned to start 2012/2013 in the ECHL with Toledo Walleye, where he detonated the score sheet with 14 goals and 7 assists in 27 games before being recalled permanently a couple of months into the campaign.

His unrelenting work ethic continued to impress the parent club that was closely watching his early strides and inked him quickly before any other suitors could step in.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. sophomore skater earns his first NHL recall after a quick start with their farm club, putting up a pair of assists in the opening two contests.

He was captain of his college hockey squad at University Of Michigan and won an NCAA title two seasons ago. He also was chosen as the best defensive-minded forward, which is primarily his style but he’s quickly adding goal scorer to that depth chart.

07Aug

Jason Gregoire(17) Södertälje

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3rd year unrestricted free agent left wing Jason Gregoire(17) signs a one-year deal to join second tier Swedish pro league team, Södertälje in Allsvenskan for the 2013/2014 season.

He was originally a New York Islanders‘ 3rd round draft pick in 2007 (#76 overall) but never signed and instead inked a two-year entry level contract with his hometown team, Winnipeg Jets. He was not given a qualifying offer to continue in the prospect system.

The 5’11” forward was virtually a point per game player in 3 years at University of North Dakota and won an NCAA Championship in ’09 and ’10. He was also selected twice to the All-Academic Team.

Upon turning pro he spent two seasons in the AHL with affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

He skated in a career high 60 games, posting sophomore season marks slightly above what he had in his rookie campaign with 10 goals and 18 points, but his two-year totals at 16-16 in 104 may have been a bit underwhelming.

The still very young 24-year old will probably light the lamp big in Europe and progress to greater heights overseas and could return to North America in the future.