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Tagged: New York Islanders

11Nov

Brandon DeFazio(39) Vancouver Canucks

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Undrafted right wing Brandon DeFazio(39) has been consistently working hard on his game to move up to playing in the show.

In his first season he signed a one-year agreement to join Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and as a youngster put in a respectable 11 goals and 5 assists.

He was rewarded for his efforts with a one-year entry level contract with New York Islanders. He skated exclusively for their affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers and saw his point totals rise with another 11 goal season and an assist increase to 14 on a mostly very young, struggling squad.

The feisty 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward that looks slightly smaller than his measurements indicate was noticed by Vancouver Canucks and received another 1-year, 2-way deal.

He stuck with their AHL farm club Utica Comets for the entirety of 2013/2014 but kept escalating his scoring game, hitting the net for a career high 17 goals and 17 assists, 34 points in 76 games.

He’s also been good for over 100 penalty minutes for each of his pro campaigns.

The 26-year old was extended for another season and got right to work, scoring 4 goals to lead the team and adding another pair of tallies resulting in his first NHL recall.

He skated 10 shifts for 6:04 of total ice time with no other stats but it was a team shootout win, so he may stick at least temporarily with the club.

See related: 7/17-12

26Oct

Scott Munroe(33) Springfield Falcons

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9th year undrafted goaltender Scott Munroe(33) returned to North American hockey for a second time after tending net for Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL last season. He also spent an earlier year overseas in the KHL with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Although he put up pretty excellent numbers in Sweden (2.05 GAA, .913 SV% in 36 games) he was cut loose.

He decided to come back to this side of the pond signing a one-year, two-way deal with Springfield Falcons.

To start the new season the now 32-year old was for the first time in his pro career dispatched to ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings, where he appeared in one game, getting the win.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. backstop was immediately recalled and started his first AHL game in about a year and a half, winning his second straight of 2014/2015 in two different leagues.

His last stint was his second go-round with Adirondack (Philadelphia) Phantoms.

He’s had three NHL contracts and was invited to Columbus Blue Jackets’ training camp but never played an official big league game.

When he finally decides to hang up the skates, he’d be a great goaltending coach for a team.

See related: 8/28-12

14Oct

Colton Gillies(17) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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7th year former Minnesota Wild 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#16 overall) right wing Colton Gillies(17) is currently minus a contract for the 2014/2015 but skating AHL games with Bridgeport Sound Tigers after being released from his New York Islanders‘ training camp invite.

He played the entirety of the 2013/2014 season on a minor league deal with Rochester Americans putting up close to career high numbers but even those are barely something to write home about (9-15-24).

The fairly large 6’4″ 190 lbs. forward has skated most of three full campaigns in the NHL with a pair of clubs.

His numbers up in the big league are minimal as well (6-12-18 in 154 games).

He never really produced on the score sheet through three years of junior hockey in the WHL with Saskatoon Blades. which makes it a bit of a wonder how he was ever selected so high and even traded up to get.

In a pair of games in this early season, he has yet to record a point playing on a pto.

He’s definitely a good leader type figure for the young squad to retain but it’s a wonder if they will.

25Apr

Alan Quine(22) Stockton Thunder

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New York Islanders‘ 6th round pick in the 2013 draft (#166 overall) rookie left wing Alan Quine(22) was ready to sign his three-year entry level contract and turn pro immediately upon being selected a second time.

He was originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 3rd round pick in 2011 (#85 overall) but was left to go back into the pool.

He did however appear in training camp and skated three games at the end of 2012 with Grand Rapids Griffins but somewhere along the line they lost interest.

No worries, he put up some nifty rookie season numbers in the AHL with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 9 goals and 18 assists. On the downside, he was a -24 but matters deteriorated on a number of occasions through the 61 games he suited up for.

Reassigned near the end of his first season, he was sent down to join ECHL affiliate Stockton Thunder for 7 games, which was enough to keep him skating into the postseason.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward produced at a point-per-game clip in the lower league, getting 2 goals and half a dozen helpers in 7 games.

He only has one tally in 3 Kelly Cup Playoff games but he’s on a team that looks to go deep and will very likely add more points to that start.

2014/2015 will be an important season that should help better define the type of player the still young 21-year old will become.

09Apr

Andrey Pedan(3) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#63 overall), extra large 6’4″ 215 lbs. Russian-born defenseman Andrey Pedan(3) missed a good portion of his rookie season with minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers due to an upper body injury that put him on the sidelines for almost three months.

Appearing in only 25 AHL games, he still was able to connect for 5 goals and 5 assists while playing a punishing shutdown style in his own zone.

His -1 rating is also nicely accountable on a team with a league second worst goal differential.

He’s been in the parent club’s training camps ever since he was selected but returned to junior hockey as a teenager, where he skated a few seasons with Guelph Storm before signing his three-year entry level deal.

No doubt this is a player that has been widely scouted, as he was a first round grab in both the 2010 KHL and OHL drafts.

He obviously decided to try his skates on North American ice for a shot at the NHL.

The 20-year old may return to the farm club for a full year of development in 2014/2015, but could very well be on the short list for a recall, especially if he continues to display more of his offense-minded upside.

05Mar

Justin Johnson(49) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ right wing Justin Johson(49) 8-year minor league journeyman’s career finally got some vindication as he scored a two-way NHL contract with parent club New York Islanders for the remainder of the 2013/2014 season.

He may not play any big league games but can now be easily recalled to help protect some of their skilled, younger prospects as they look to be spoilers.

After four years of college hockey at University Of Alaska, his hometown school of higher education, he went undrafted and signed a deal with the local club, Alaska Aces but was cut only 4 games into his rookie season.

He would tour the ECHL suiting up for 3 other teams before circling back to play another campaign with the Aces.

The somewhat stocky looking 6’1″ 220 lbs. has never been one to produce on the score sheet much but NEVER backs down from mixing it up with the opposing team’s biggest bruiser.

He would get a recall from Manchester Monarchs at the beginning of 2010/2011, signing a pto and stayed with them for the duration.

Heading into the next session he scored himself a 2-year extension to stay in New Hampshire.

The 32-year old would finally move on when he had interest from Bridgeport to sign for a season and become the enforcer for their young squad. He was even invited to join the Islanders‘ training camp and play in exhibition games.

Regardless of where he goes next, a stick-to-it attitude and perseverance pays off.

See related: 2/11-11, 9/4-11, 9/1-12

25Feb

Scott Mayfield(10) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#34 overall), defenseman Scott Mayfield(10) is using his large 6’4″ 210 lbs. to establish his shutdown, heavy hitting style of play.

He averaged well over triple digit penalty minutes in two years of USHL with Youngstown Phantoms and slightly under the mark through less games in another pair of seasons at University Of Denver.

He’s very much on track for another season of over 100 pims. In 54 AHL games with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers he’s racked up 82 minutes with 6 fighting majors to his credit.

The rangy player is also showing an ability to put up points and may even surpass his American junior hockey career highs in goals and assists. He has 3 goals and 11 assists with a +9 rating on a squad that is just over an even record.

The 21-year is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016 and will likely get a long look at next year’s NHL training camp as the parent club definitely has to make some tough decisions about their defensive core.

07Jan

Chris Bruton(16) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ 3rd year undrafted center Chris Bruton(16) was given a one-year, two-way NHL contract for 2013/2014 by New York Islanders to captain the young minor league affiliate squad.

Unfortunately he broke his hand early into the campaign and missed a month of action, leaving the team to field three assistants in his absence.

Upon his return, he has skated in 26 AHL games scoring a goal and an assist but is mostly counted on for his leadership and backing up his teammates when called upon.

He was team captain in his last season with Spokane Chiefs when they won both the Western Hockey League Championship and Memorial Cup. There was also an unfortunate incident that happened with the latter trophy.

At only 5’11” 205 lbs. he isn’t exactly the biggest guy out there but as his fighting record and time spent in the penalty box indicate, he welcomes any challenge.

One of those was after his junior career wrapped up, instead of turning pro immediately he decided to attend Acadia University.

After three years in school he signed his first contract with Alaska Aces after attending training camp with Peoria Rivermen but on his second loan to the club inked a deal in the higher league and re-signed for a 2012/2013.

The 26-year old definitely seems to be enjoying his time as mentor and could be headed for a nice coaching career once he’s ready to step off the ice.

23Dec

Pierre-Marc Bouchard(96) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Former Minnesota Wild 1st round pick in the 2002 draft (#8 overall) veteran left wing Pierre-Marc Bouchard(96) is spending his first time in the AHL since the lockout season of 2004/2005, when he skated with minor league affiliate Houston Aeros.

A veteran of 12 seasons he’s skated 593 NHL games scoring a very tidy 110 goals and 246 assists with an overall +6 rating.

Standing at a mid-sized 5’10” with a small 175 lbs. frame, he’s a quick moving forward with great instincts but has also been injury-prone in the last few years and missed 2009/2010 altogether.

In the four previous seasons though, he was averaging almost 60 points a campaign with over 40 assists.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers by New York Islanders, his first team other after a phenomenal 11 seasons with the Wild, he’s already put up a goal and 3 assists in 4 games.

The 29-year old is a great stabilizing presence for what is a young squad in the parent club’s prospect system.

He’s likely to reach the 600 game mark in the show but may need to wait another 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.

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