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19Sep

Chris McKelvie(16) Albany Devils

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Albany Devils‘ assistant captain, undrafted 4th year left wing Chris McKelvie(16) looks very likely to set career highs in his second season under contract with the team.

In 31 AHL games he already has a new best 6 goals to go along with 6 helpers, which is only 4 off the mark and only two points away from tying the 14 he put up in 2012/2013.

This will be his first full season in the top development league after stint reassignments to Greenville Road Warriors in his rookie and sophomore campaigns and a pair of ECHL contests last year with Trenton Titans.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward has also been invited to NHL training camps three of his four pro seasons. He was in two with New York Rangers before being sent back to Connecticut Whale and started his second run with Albany after an invite to join New Jersey Devils in their camp.

At 28-years old he may just starting to find his game late.

Original story: 1/3-14

He would go on to elevate his game across the board in 2013/2014, skating 57 AHL games scoring 9 goals, 12 assists and 21 points with a +6 rating, all as projected.

The final season of his 2-year contract extension wouldn’t be quite as good for the winger as he struggled to get only 3 tallies and 5 helpers in a similar amount of games as the previous campaign.

All-in-all it was still good enough to keep him around for another run as the 30-year old has signed for 2015/2016 to stay in the Albany system.

19Aug

Alexander Urbom (6)

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6th year defenseman Alexander Urbom(6) would finish out his second campaign in the minors and by his third season had seemingly slipped off New Jersey‘s depth chart, appearing in only one game to finish the year.

As training camp was winding down for the start of 2013/2014, he would be a late cut having to clear waivers before reassignment but was claimed by Washington Capitals and start the season on their opening night roster.

He stayed with the big club for 20 games scoring a goal and an assist while skating a good 20 shifts for an average of 15 minutes per game but something happened near the end and his ice time was cut significantly, then sat on the sidelines for a month before being set to be sent down.

The Devils was paying attention though and reclaimed him but he was immediately sent to Albany, where he would unhappily conclude his time in North America.

Entering restricted free agency, he would reportedly sign a two-year agreement with Severstal Cherepovots of the KHL but must have had an out clause because for his 7th year, the 24-year old returned home to the SHL signing with Skelleftea AIK.

17Aug

Cam Janssen(22) Nottingham Panthers

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Originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2002 draft (#117 overall), 9th year right wing Cam Janssen(22) makes an appearance in an AHL game for the first time in 5 years.

Ironically it’s once again with a Devils‘ minor league affiliate and he comes full circle from where he started his career in the last lockout season 2004-2005, Albany. Then it was the River Rats and later became Lowell Devils before changing back to upper state NY with the horned moniker in tow.

In that rookie season, the 6′ 215 lbs. pugilist wrapped up an amazing 337 penalty minutes. He owned stock in that penalty box.

He continued that role and it landed him in the NHL full-time by 2008 with St. Louis Blues, although he did play 95 games with New Jersey.

The 28-year has been signed to a series of 1-year two-way deals on his second go round with the Devils and with this lockout history, he will have a hard time finding a spot on a lineup that has the elements he brings to the table but also can put some points up on the score sheet.

Regardless, he’s a fun player to watch and in his first minor league game in half a decade looked to be more interested in making plays and scoring goals in what turned into a blow out loss.

He’s skated 311 NHL in his pro career and honestly we doubt he’s done.

Original story: 2/3-13

Once the lockout thawed he would start the shortened 2013 season with 3 games for the parent club out of training camp playing very limited minutes before being sent to Albany.

For 2013/2014 he signed another short term deal with New Jersey Devils and begin the new year in the AHL but was quickly recalled and managed to split time between the two affiliated teams and even ended up scoring a career high 3 NHL goals before being returned down.

He must have made a good impression because he inked quickly at the conclusion of the season for his 8th campaign with the Devils and although he failed to skate in a big league game, when he was inserted into the lineup with the farm team he kept opponents honest with 9 fighting majors to his credit.

The recently turned 31-year old is entering his 12th pro season and has decided to try something new as he agrees for 2015/2016 with Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL.

With the announcement he’s already creating quite the stir overseas.

28May

Tom Kostopoulos (29)

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The 36-years old, Tom Kostopoulos(29) will lace up the skates signing his third contract, his 17th pro campaign, to continue as captain of Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins for 2015/2016.

He’s managed to put up 40+ points in each of the past two seasons and will like reach that mark for an 8th time in the AHL.

His highest totals were in the 2004/2005 lockout, where he amassed 71 points for Manchester Monarchs before embarking of 9 straight years in the NHL with Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils.

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.

09Nov

Keith Kinkaid (1)

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Already playing in his fourth season, New Jersey Devils‘ goaltender prospect Keith Kinkaid(1) has been somewhat quietly developing his game with AHL affiliate Albany Devils, where he’s continued to get better and kept the parent club’s vision intact of bringing him up slowly.

He did get into one game in his sophomore campaign.

His team made the postseason for the first time in forever last year and even in a four game losing effort kept them in each game with a 2.26 GAA and .932 SV%.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. net minder was originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal after a pair of dominating seasons with Union College and two campaigns in U.S. junior hockey, the 25-year old has been given qualifying offers twice to keep him in the system.

He started 2014/2015 on fire, posting a 4-0-2 record with a 1.95 GAA and .931 SV%.

Good enough for New Jersey to make the call officially dubbing him as back up net minder.

He was called into action immediately off the bench and accepted the loss on the one goal he had no chance of saving.

It’s almost a sure bet he’ll get his first NHL start in short order.

22Oct

Matt Taormina(20) Worcester Sharks

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Undrafted 6th year defenseman Matt Taormina(20) has definitely bounced around from team-to-team in the last few seasons.

For 2014/2015 he signs his first AHL contract joining Worcester Sharks, since turning pro with Lowell Devils in 2009.

As a rookie, coming of four seasons at Providence College, he had a hefty 40 helpers and 10 goals in 75 games.

The effort earned the small but accountable in his own end 5’10” 185 lbs. a two-year entry level deal with New Jersey Devils, where he spent the majority of the next two seasons.

An unrestricted free agent he tested the waters and signed for a year with Tampa Bay Lightning but found himself playing mostly with their minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch. He was re-signed but once again was unable to crack the parent club’s roster, skating in only 7 NHL games with no points.

Then close to the trade deadline he was dealt in a farm team deal to Columbus Blue Jackets and reassigned to Springfield Falcons.

If the just turned 28-year old can find the scoring sheet like he did at the beginning of his career, he may find himself signing another big league contract.

See related: 12/17-11

03Jun

Seth Helgeson(2) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#114 overall) defenseman Seth Helgeson(2) has towering size at 6’5″ 215 lbs. and plays a punishing, stay-at-home style.

He was selected after a pair of seasons as a teenager in the USHL with Sioux City Musketeers.

Deciding to head to school as his next move helped him grow his game in four years at home state University Of Minnesota.

He finished his NCAA career with a +16 rating, completely reversing his numbers from American junior hockey but only put up modest scoring totals.

Once he turned pro, joining minor league affiliate Albany Devils for 75 AHL games in his rookie campaign, he scored only a single goal and credited with 9 assists, while running up 100 penalty minutes including 8 fighting majors. He was also a +12 plus/minus, helping the team to its first Calder Cup Playoff berth in a long while.

The 23-year old was recalled on a couple of occasions by the parent club but has yet to appear in an NHL game.

With a strong training camp heading into the final season of his 2-year entry level deal he could find himself spending some quality time in the show during the 2014/2015 season.

21Dec

Arron Asham(45) Hartford Wolf Pack

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16-year veteran right wing Arron Asham(45) last spent time in the AHL with teams that are long-defunct: Quebec Citadelles and earlier Fredericton Canadiens. This occurred more than 10 seasons ago, when he was signed to the team that chose him in the 3rd round of the 1996 draft (#71 overall), Montreal Canadiens.

He spent four seasons with the team and in their prospect system until he was traded to New York Islanders and would play the next 10 years exclusively in the NHL.

The 5’11” 210 lbs. forward has played in a staggering 789 big league games scoring 94 goals and 114 assists with a -42 rating, which isn’t great and makes us wonder how he managed to sign so many one-way contracts throughout his pro career.

Signed to a two-year deal with New York Rangers that ends at the conclusion of 2013/2014, the 35-year old has been up and down with minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack but will likely see his career make it to 800 big league games.

Where he ends up next (possible retirement) is a crap shoot.

05Dec

Reid Boucher(14) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#99 overall) left wing Reid Boucher(14) has been an impact player at 5’11” 195 lbs. ever since turning pro for the end of the 2012/2013 regular season with minor league affiliate Albany Devils.

He managed to skate in 11 AHL games and put together 3 goals and a pair of assists in his debut.

To start his rookie season he’s already struck for 10 goals and 8 assists in only 21 match-ups with a +4 rating.

The 20-year old only played a couple of campaigns in the OHL with Sarnia Sting; he scored 62 goals and 33 assists in 68 games last season, but already had two years in American junior USHL under his belt to give him a start.

He is American-born: Lansing, MI.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, it would be easy to see him make the jump permanently into the NHL quickly. He possesses that kind of determination out there.

His efforts have earned him a first recall from the farm team on 12/4. He made his debut skating 19 shifts for 12:30 of ice time, including :57 on the power play no less. That was likely earned as he had his first point, an assist in the game and subsequently was chosen as the first shooter in the shootout and scored.

He was also credited with 2 shots and ended the 4-3 shootout loss a +2 plus/minus.

We see a bright future.

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