Tagged: New York Islanders

Colin McDonald2

New York Islanders‘ 8th year veteran right wing Colin McDonald(13) started the current campaign on the roster but was having a tough time finding an open spot.

After only a couple of NHL games with no points, he was put on waivers and reassigned to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the first time in a long while.

Over the last 4 years in the AHL the 6’2″ 205 lbs. power forward averaged over 40 points, while in his time spent up with 3 teams in his pro career he has a none too shabby 16 goals and 20 assists in 124 games but is a sort of abysmal -22 plus/minus.

In 40 games this year he’s helping out with 14 goals and 21 assists and definitely provides needed leadership on a still young squad.

Signed only through the end of 2015, it will be interesting to see where the 30-year old will take his game next.

The former Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#51 overall) definitely has the ability to help out a checking line but may be looking at a trip overseas is probably a better bet.

Original story: 2/7-15

He would get recalled the very next day and started contributing immediately earning that spot on the roster and not looking back.

Although he would level off and was a healthy scratch for games down the stretch he did appear in a pair of playoff games.

Turning 31-years old as the new season approaches it’s probably a good time to switch up the scenery and he’s signed a one-year two-way deal with Philadelphia Flyers for 2015/2016, but I would not put it by him to make the big club out of training camp and fit in just nicely.

See related: 4/22-12

Corey-Trivino

2nd year center Corey Trivino(23) received his first AHL recall playing 11 games with Portland Pirates on loan from Stockton Thunder. He wound up with four assists and managed a +3 rating before being returned from a team that is mostly slipping in the standings.

Originally a New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#36 overall) he was never signed, although attended many team training camps and eventually inked his first deal to join Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward put up stellar numbers in his rookie season with 18 goals, 33 assists and a +17 plus/minus in 63 games and added another 3 goals and 8 assists in 13 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.

He was also outstanding through a pair of OPJHL seasons at age 16 and 17, where he amassed 127 points (43-84) in 88 games.

Next up, he chose to attend Boston University and won an NCAA National Title in his first campaign at the school.

Personal problems would arise from there and he was eventually expelled in his fourth year  of college despite having his most productive goal scoring start with 13 strikes in 15 games.

At this point the 24-year old is looking to only put any past crossroads behind him and continue what he does best: putting points up on the score sheet.

Original story: 2/17-14

With Stockton he would finish playing 46 games scoring 11 goals and 32 assists and then added another 5 assists in 9 playoff games.

A month into 2014/2015 he would join Florida Everblades but after only 5 games (3 goals, 6 assists) Portland Pirates came calling once again.

Only this time he would reach a new career 39 games played and best 3 goals, 11 assists and 14 points with a +2 rating before being sent back to help the Everblades with their playoff push.

In 11 posteason games he scored 5 goals and 3 assists.

For his 4th pro year he’s decided to take his game overseas signing a one-year deal after a try-out with Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL.

corey-trivino-1

CJ-Stretch

Undrafted 5th year center C.J. Stretch(12) was a late signing for Bridgeport Sound Tigers after attending New York Islanders‘ training camp on a tryout.

He spent last season under contract with Oklahoma City Barons after playing well for the team on loan late in the campaign from Ontario Reign, where he spent the first three years of his pro career.

Upon his recall, he was having a career year, ultimately playing in 60 ECHL games with 28 goals, 34 assists and 62 points, all high marks.

The 6′ 192 lbs. forward would be returned to skate in 4 Kelly Cup contests, adding 5 more tallies to his totals.

He had contributed nicely while up as well, getting 5 goals and 3 assists in 17 AHL games.

Once his lower league club was knocked out of the playoffs, he was again summoned to join the Calder Cup push and went right to work, playing in another 17 games, improving his numbers by one with 5 goals and 4 assists in the playoffs.

The 25-year old started 2014/2015 as a healthy scratch but found his spot in the lineup as of game 2,  recorded 3 assists and has been a bit of a spark plug ever since.

He’s on pace to shatter last season’s total with 5 goals and 12 assists in 22 games and could be in line for his first NHL contract, if he can keep it up.

Original story: 12/8-14

Just shy of a few months later he would return to the more playoff bound Oklahoma City Barons and finish the 2014/2015 campaign with 10 goals, a new career high 27 assists and 37 points in the AHL.

He would only add another two helpers in 9 postseason match-ups.

Entering his 6th pro season the 26-year old heads overseas on a one-year deal with Starbulls Rosenheim of DEL2.

He should almost easily be a point-per-game guy in this league as he was in his third stint of ECHL action.

Bruno-Gervais5 After putting up some decent numbers (10-16-26) with the farm team while under contract for Philadelphia Flyers, on the first day of free agency he switched teams signing with Colorado Avalanche.

Although a late cut from training camp, he would skated another full campaign in the minors serving as team captain for affiliate Lake Erie Monsters, playing 71 AHL games.

He didn’t have great numbers at 3 goals and 10 assists with a -10 rating but certainly helped guide the youngsters in the system quite nicely.

For 2015/2016, he may not be able to see another big league deal so he returns to Germany on a contract with Eisbaren Berlin of the DEL.

Tough to say how much time the soon-to-be 31-year old will have left on the ice but should have a few good runs with some overseas clubs.

Matt-Mangene

Undrafted center Matt Mangene(57) entered his third pro season with a bit of uncertainty where he would skate next.

He chose to take the one-year option with Florida Everblades of the ECHL for 2014/2015.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward was originally on a 2-year entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers but was a minor Adirondack Phantoms‘ piece of a late season trade that shuffled him to New York Islanders‘ system, reporting exclusively to Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Set to become a restricted free agent in need of a new deal, he was left unqualified.

He appeared in more AHL games last season than he had in his rookie campaign but ended up with less points and a little more feist in his game.

The 25-year has shown flashes of scoring prowess in the past, especially in his final year at University Of Maine and early in Northeastern US Junior Hockey.

It’s a good bet the 25-year old will start putting up points on the score sheet once again in a league he’s familiar with from 20 games played (1-10-11) with Trenton Titans and Stockton Thunder but will it be enough to earn him a recall?

Original story: 9/27-14

After scoring 4 goals and 13 assists in 27 ECHL games, the converted defenseman was loaned after a couple of months in the lower league to Texas Stars and never left.

Six weeks in he was given an standard player contract.

As a blue liner he scored 2 goals and set new AHL career highs with 15 assists and 17 points in 36 games, while firing a 60 shorts on net from the point.

For 2015/2016 the now 26-year old signs a new deal to continue with Texas and will need to continue the hard work but is likely see his totals increase again.

Jeremy-Langlois2

Undrafted rookie right wing Jeremy Langlois(20) signed a one-year two-way minor league contract with Springfield Falcons and started the season with the team, but had been mostly skating on reassignment with affiliate Evansville IceMen, where he put up some big numbers.

In 49 ECHL games he retains the team’s leading scorer stats with 16 goals and 36 assists, while taking a second most shots on net at 174 before a recent trade relocated him to Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He’s obviously enjoying his time with his new squad. In 7 AHL games he’s struck for a pair of goals and assists, whereas in 5 contests on recall with his previous club he was unable to find the score sheet skating mostly fourth line minutes.

The 6′ 173 lbs. forward put together some good numbers in 4 years at Quinnipiac University and went to the NCAA Finals losing to the geographically nearby, eventual winners Yale.

As an 18-year old he won a Championship, leading scorer title and was named league MVP with New Jersey Hitmen of the EJHL before heading off to college.

Now 23, he was invited to attend Columbus Blue Jackets‘ training camps to begin his first pro season and from his continued solid play he looks like a shoe-in to score another tryout, quite possibly with the parent club where he’ll finish out the year, New York Islanders.

Original story: 3/30-14

After 7 games with Bridgeport (2-2-4) he was reassigned to affiliate Stockton Thunder.

He finished out the regular season scoring 8 points in 7 ECHL games to solidify his spot on the league’s all rookie team, but really took it to the next level in the 3 Kelly Cup Playoff games the team played. He would get an astounding 4 goals and 5 assists with a +4 rating.

His effective play in the upper system caught the attention of rival Worcester Sharks, who inked him to a standard player contract for 2014/2015.

He set career highs in his first full AHL season skating 42 regular season games with 16 goals (tied for 2nd on the team) and 10 assists.

If hadn’t broken his foot, he would have done even better but missed the second half of the season not returning until the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Impressed with what they saw and the effectiveness of his play, San Jose Sharks stepped in offering the 25-year old a 1-year entry level contract for 2015/2016.

He may start with new affiliate San Jose Barracuda but if he comes out of the gate quickly could see his first NHL action.

jeremy-langlois-1

Griffin-Reinhart2

New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#4 overall) rookie defenseman Griffin Reinhart(8) was likely chosen after his stock had risen by winning the WHL Championship with Edmonton Oil Kings.

He put up some impressive numbers in the postseason through 20 games, 2 goals and 6 assists with a +14 rating.

The quite sizable 6’4″ 217 lbs. d-man is highly regarded to blossom on the blue line.

He managed to impress enough at training camp in his first try to land a spot on the 2014/2015 opening night roster and stick around for three games, all wins, but management decided to move forward with some older prospects in the system rewarding them with the playing time but also the first year skater is a no risk to reassign.

The 20-year old would continue his development with minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He lands into a pretty similar playing situation, as the farm club is also a young, hungry to win team.

He seems to have acquainted himself nicely with 2 goals and 6 assists in 15 AHL games but will definitely need to work on that -8 plus/minus.

It’s pretty likely this will be the former Memorial Cup and 2 time junior hockey championship winner’s only season in the lower league but he’s signed through 2017 so there is time.

Original story: 11/26-14

After 59 AHL games scoring 7 goals, 15 assists, 8 NHL games with one assist and 1 Stanley Cup Playoff contest with a -2 plus/minus, he becomes a draft day casualty being traded to Edmonton Oilers to move up in the selection process.

The now still super-young 21-year old is expected to grab a spot on the big club’s roster for his sophomore season.

Griffin-Reinhart-1

Art Bidlevskii

Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Art Bidlevskii(27) has decided to stay put with Bakersfield Condors for the 2013/2014 season.

He played 10 games with the team at the end of his rookie year after being dished at the trade deadline by South Carolina Stingrays, where he was released to and signed after attending Providence Bruins‘ training camp on a tryout.

The 6’ 198 lbs. blue liner started his pro career in the AHL signed to an ato by Bridgeport Sound Tigers after 5 years of juniors with Prince George Cougars.

He plays a style of hockey that seems like he constantly has a chip on his shoulder and is not afraid to drop the mitts. He had 9 dust ups last season and a 2nd career high 14 in his final WHL season with another four more scuffles in his first 10 pro games. He’s regularly in the triple digit club for penalty minutes.

The 22-year old has never been known for his point totals; last season 2 goals, 3 assists in 54 ECHL games but could work his way up with a strong defensive zone game and maybe a few more marks on the score sheet.

Original story: 8/8-13

Literally right before the 2013/2014 season started he got traded to Ontario Reign. He stayed with the team for 26 ECHL games before sort of unceremoniously getting traded to Gwinnett Gladiators, where he finished out the season scoring a career high one goal and 8 assists with a +8 rating. He also had 8 fighting majors.

With an offer to come back to Gwinnett for another season, he took it but ended up getting injured early in the campaign and only managed to appear in 13 games getting three assists.

For 2015/2016 the now 24-year old has decided to take his game overseas signing a one-year deal with Kallinge/Ronneby IF of Sweden’s Hockeyettan.

John-Persson2

19-year old Swedish-born left wing John Persson(23) signed an ato with Bridgeport Sound Tigers to join them for the remainder of the 2011/2012 season.

The 6’2″ 222 lbs. forward was a New York Islanders‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#125 overall).

He plays with size out there and in his 2nd game he picked up his first professional goal in the team’s 3-2 shootout loss over the weekend.

The Islanders might be taking a long look at him in next year’s training camp before deciding whether to have him join their ranks or send him back to his junior team for one more season. Our prediction is that won’t be an easy decision to make.

Original story: 3/24-12

He finished his short initial stint with Bridgeport with 4 goals and 4 assists in 12 AHL games.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal he had his best showing as a rookie for the farm team scoring 17 goals and 12 assists in 65 contests.

It was good enough to earn him a 10 game look with the Islanders at the end of 2013/2014.

He scored his first NHL goal.

He struggled slightly in the final year of his contract with only 11 tallies and 10 helpers but wasn’t entirely helped playing on a team that was on mostly on the losing side of the scorecard.

The 23-year old is set to become a restricted free agent but has decided it’s time to head back to Sweden inking for 2-years with Farjestad of the SHL.

He’s a fairly large skater with good hands and muscle and should excel in his home country.

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Johan-Sundstrom3

After three seasons of mostly playing in the minors and restricted free agent status approaching Johan Sundstrom(28) has decided to return home to the team he started with Frolunda of the SHL, accepting a two-year deal.

His numbers in the AHL were diminishing after a fairly strong rookie season and may have already been in discussions of where his future with the team was going.

He did get his opportunity to play 11 games in the show late during 2013/2014 but only recorded one assist and although he was a late cut from his last training camp, he failed to impress enough on a deep pool of youngsters to earn another recall.

With his fairly large power forward sized build, the 22-year old seemed to want to play more of a scorers game than mixing it up in corners or front of the net and that probably troubled the higher ups.