New Jersey Devils | CollegeHockeyPlayers

26Nov

Stefan Matteau(18) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#29 overall), left wing Stefan Matteau(18) was given quite the opportunity to step right into the big league at age 18 after competing in only half a season in the QMJHL with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Waiting for the lockout to thaw, he was invited to training camp with the chance to make the squad and did just that.

After 17 games, with his first pro goal and a pair of assists to his credit, it was decided to return him to his junior hockey team to play out the remainder of the season; although the situation went amiss and he ended up abruptly leaving the team during their playoff run.

His playing rights were traded to Rimouski Oceanic, but the 6’3″ 215 lbs. player was determined to turn pro and stick with the parent club or start his official rookie season with their minor league affilate Albany Devils.

The latter occurred when he was reassigned to the farm club to continue his development.

In 18 AHL games the built like a power forward has a conservative 3 goals and 4 assists, while seemingly still adjusting to the higher level of play.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal last season, the first campaign of the contract was accounted for in his somewhat tumultuous 2012/2013.

The big 19-year old will likely figure out pretty quickly what it’s going to take for him to jump to the next level permanently and become a fixture in the league but will probably need to pay attention to some good coaching and could use a great veteran mentor.

19Nov

Yann Danis(34) Adirondack Phantoms

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Undrafted 10th year veteran goalie Yann Danis(34) has played NHL games in four of his five last seasons. He had one campaign on the interim in the KHL.

Signed to a 1-year two-way deal with Philadelphia Flyers, he’s splitting time between the pipes for their minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms and is an invaluable mentor to young prospects in the system.

He has 284 regular season games of AHL experience with a roughly 2.46 GAA and .913 SV%. He was named goaltender of the league in 2012 for his consistent play.

The 5’11” 182 lbs. net minder also has 53 NHL games, mostly in one run with New York Islanders but also appearances with Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and most recently for Edmonton Oilers.

His numbers in the show are a bit less impressive at 3.02 GAA and .891 SV% but they’ve mostly been when called in as the back-up.

The 32-year old will likely get his chance at another big league game and the trend will continue.

It will definitely be interesting to see where he lands for his 11th season in 2014/2015.

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.

15Nov

Scott Timmins(17) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ newly acquired 4th year center Scott Timmins(17) is off to his fastest start on the score sheet in his pro career with minor league affiliate Albany Devils.

In 12 games, he has 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) with a +4 rating, which currently ties him for the team lead in scoring. The change of scenery has obviously done him some good.

Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#165 overall), he has skated 24 NHL games over three seasons in their prospect system on an entry level deal, scoring one goal.

In 180 AHL contests with farm clubs San Antonio Rampage and Rochester Americans he hit the mark for 32 goals and 41 assists, which hardly reflects the kind of season he’s looking at for 2013/2014.

Although he may not be blessed with big size, the 5’11” 191 lbs. forward uses all he’s got and isn’t afraid to get himself in the center of the action for opportunities.

In 4 seasons of OHL juniors, he won three straight league championships on two different teams and consecutive Memorial Cups.

If he continues on the pace he’s setting for himself early on, the 24-year will be in line for another shot at the show.

04Nov

Jon Merrill(5) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#38 overall) defenseman Jon Merrill(5) almost didn’t get to enjoy his chance to turn pro on an ato late last season with minor league affiliate Albany Devils.

But after his third year at University Of Michigan and a broken vertebrae suffered in college hockey exhibition play that left him almost paralyzed, he returned to his Wolverines for one more campaign, and when that was completed signed a three-year entry level deal realizing his dream.

He stepped in an scored a goal and 7 assists in 12 AHL games at the end of 2012/2013 and then picked up in his rookie season right where he left off.

In 11 contests, he already has 2 more tallies and another 5 assists to his totals.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner received his first NHL recall to join the parent club but suffered an early game-ending, when he was racing for a defensive zone puck, pursued by an opposing player and went face first into the boards, officially ending his big league debut.

The 21-year old was helped off the ice but should be ok to return to action and won’t be suffering any more setbacks.

21Oct

Rob Davison(3) Worcester Sharks

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13th year defenseman Rob Davison(3) comes full circle in his pro career signing a one-year, two-way deal with San Jose Sharks, the team that picked him in the 4th round of the 1998 draft (#98 overall).

He spent the last couple of seasons overseas playing mostly for EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Hockey League.

The rock solid 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner has skated in 219 NHL games with the Sharks, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils.

His tour of the AHL has been a bit more well-traveled with stops that include games for Kentucky Thoroughblades, Cleveland Barons, Lowell and Albany Devils and this year he’s team captain of Worcester Sharks.

The 33-year old has never been the biggest point getter but guards his own zone with gusto and has topped the 200 penalty minute mark twice in his first pair of seasons and then put up over 100 pims before leaving North American hockey.

He’s a true leader that will likely find himself behind the bench in a coaching role once he decides he’s had enough ice time.

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.

25Aug

Jeff Frazee(31) Valpellice Bulldogs

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New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft (#38 overall) goaltender Jeff Frazee(31) became an unrestricted free agent at the end 2012/2013.

He was originally signed to a 3-year entry level deal and extended for another couple of seasons but despite being recalled, practicing and serving as back-up, had only played in one NHL game with the parent club last season.

His time in the cage was brief at 19 minutes of playing time, only facing three shots but at the very least he blocked each one of them.

The 6′ 195 lbs. net minder has appeared in 187 AHL games with their minor league affiliates Lowell and Albany Devils posting a 3.02 GAA and .906 SV%. Almost ironically he had one of his best seasons in 2012/2013.

Entering his 6th pro season, the 26-year old signed a one-year deal to join the Italian Elite A League Valpellice Bulldogs.

He should be able to slam the door shut on his opponents, which will either potentially open the door to better league play overseas or another opportunity with a different club in North America.

See related: 10/20/10

16Jul

Riley Boychuk(45) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils shed more salary cap to pick up 3rd year larger than life left wing prospect Riley Boychuk(45) from Buffalo Sabres, the team that drafted him in the 7th round of 2010 (#208 overall).

He is in the last season of a three-year entry level deal that has seen him play mostly AA pro hockey, last year in the Central Hockey League reassigned to Fort Worth Brahmas and in his rookie campaign he played 20 games with Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.

The 6’5″ 205 lbs. player put up career high goals, assists and points (8-9-17) in his sophomore year.

He’s anticipated to join Albany Devils for 2013/2014. He was recently invited to the parent club’s development camp and will definitely be joining them again in September.

The 23-year old played 26 AHL games in his first season with Rochester Americans and had a pair of helpers but is still looking for his AAA tally.

No doubt, this is a big frame forward that needs to be stepping it up.

13Jul

Raman Hrabarenka(41) New Jersey Devils

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After spending his rookie season on an AHL contract with minor league affiliate Albany Devils, big, undrafted, Belarus-born defenseman Raman Hrabarenka(4) signs a 3-year entry level deal with New Jersey Devils that keeps him in the system through 2016 .

The 6’3″ 212 lbs. blue liner notched his first pro goal and added 4 assists in 34 games, but also found himself watching from the sidelines on too many occasions as a healthy scratch and also missed some playing time due to injury.

He still needs to step up his game with that sizable frame and definitely showed that ability in his last season of junior hockey with Drummondville Voltiguers.

At only 20-years old he is still very young and may have a big spurt of development this season, when he joins the parent club for prospect development and the upcoming training camp.