New York Islanders | CollegeHockeyPlayers

04Jun

Mike Keenan(5) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Bridgeport Sound Tigers signed undrafted defenseman Mike Keenan(5) to a one-year AHL standard player contract for 2013/2014.

He joined the team for 5 games on an ato at the end of last season after concluding his four-year college career at Dartmouth. He was team captain in his last two years and put up career highs goals, assists and points in his final campaign, although those numbers were considerably moderate at 5 tallies and 11 helpers in 34 games.

The 6′ 180 lbs. d-man notched his first professional hockey point, an assist, while also going a +3 plus/minus and connecting for 6 shots on goal and 9 minutes in penalty, including one fighting major.

With his mostly stay-at-home, steady style the 24-year old should help the Sound Tigers shore up the defensive zone, as they were the second most scored upon team in the league last season.

15May

Dylan Reese(2) WBS Penguins

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6th year defenseman Dylan Reese(2) had a homecoming with his offseason signing on the first day of free agency, when he was picked up by team he watched growing up, Pittsburgh Penguins.

Signed to a one-year two-way deal, he had to wait for the NHL lockout to thaw until he got his chance to play in front of the hometown crowd, suiting up for 3 games with the parent club but registering no points.

He has been on reassignment with their minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins since the start of the 2012/2013 season and a career high 8 goals.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. d-man is currently skating in the Calder Cup playoffs for as long as that lasts and if they are exited will likely be brought up as one of the “black aces” practice squad.

It seems like an easy fit to bring the 28-year old back into the fold for another season but he could also have other suitors out there wanting to bring him up to the show on a more regular basis.

He’s played 77 NHL games with 3 goals and 14 assists to his credit. He was originally a New York Rangers‘ 7th round pick in the 2003 draft (#209 overall) but only played as part of their system with Hartford Wolf Pack for four games when his college career at Harvard University was finished.

He signed his first contract with San Antonio Rampage and spent his first two pro seasons with the team. He’s appeared in 326 AHL games scoring 21 goals with 100 assists to his credit.

05Apr

Joey Diamond(32) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Undrafted left wing Joey Diamond(32) finishes up four years of college hockey and signs an ato joining Bridgeport Sound Tigers to start his pro career.

The very under-sized 5’7″ 170 lbs. player skates with all the grit and determination of a power forward but with roughly half a foot less in the height category.

He consistently put up triple digit penalty minutes in his final three seasons with Maine Black Bears and also had a knack for getting into the open areas for scoring chances.

He’s already proving he belongs. It took him little time to establish himself as he got his first point, an assist in his 2nd game and added another in the next contest. He followed that up with his first fight and then scored and is currently on a two-game goal streak, with the addition of another fisticuffs bout for 22 total pims.

Parent club New York Islanders is very likely taking notice. He’s been in prospect camp with the team and was born in the area, so it would be no surprise to see him sign an entry level deal this summer for 2013/2014.

03Apr

Ryan Strome(18) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#5 overall) center Ryan Strome(18) made his professional debut with minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers scoring his first goal, adding an assist and was selected as the game’s number one star in the 4-2 win.

The 6’1″ 183 lbs. power forward also looks like he will be making his first NHL appearance sooner than later based on his opening night performance on the scoresheet and overall play.

He signed his three-year entry level deal at the start of 2011, but was a slide for its initial year and could do that again for 2012/2013.

Although we see strong indications that he’ll be called up to help the parent club with their postseason push, allowing his contract to kick in.

The still only 19-year old struck for almost a pair of points per game in his second and last seasons of junior hockey and looks to continue on course to become a top 6 player in the show.

03Mar

Rick DiPietro(39) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round draft pick in 2000 (#1 overall) goalie Rick DiPietro(39) was recently waived by the team and reassigned to minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

It’s not his first time back since he predominantly played there in his first pair of pro seasons. He was sent down a few years ago on a conditioning stint for four games.

The 11-year veteran net minder has run into more than his share of bad luck with injuries but feels 100% ready to play in the lockout shortened 2013 season but was ineffective in three starts with an 0-3 record.

Hitting the AHL pipes again to regain his confidence was seen as the best possible scenario for the now 31-year old with 8 years left on his 15-year, $67.5 millon contract.

In his first start, he was shelled for 5 goals on a meager 12 shots (on 3 of them he could have sued teammates for non-support) and was mercifully pulled after the first period. He managed much better the next night making 22 of 25 saves in the Sound Tigers‘ 4-3 victory.

Where his story will go from here is anyone’s guess.

See related: 4/13-10

12Feb

Thomas Pock(22) Lake Erie Monsters

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9th year undrafted Austrian-born defenseman Thomas Pock(22) has been on quite the journey in his playing career. He was a scoring stud in his final couple of seasons of college hockey that gained him the notice of New York Rangers, who plucked him fresh out of school and put him into action for 6 games to round out the 2003/2004 season. He managed a pair of goals and assists in the brief run.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. blue liner played another 5 seasons in the Blueshirts‘ system but was unable to match the early offensive output in the higher league. The 2004/2005 lockout could have part of the blame sidetracking his development.

In the AHL he also struggled some to reignite that scoring touch but had a couple of really good seasons wrapped around his first full year in the NHL; maybe the pro blossoming was delayed.

He was once again going to be sent down to start his 6th campaign with the Rangers but their rivals across the river decided to give him a shot as part of their never-ending franchise rebuild process but he failed pretty miserably on a poorly performing New York Islanders‘ team.

With nowhere to go in the show, he turned his attention towards Sweden, first signing for a couple of seasons with Rapperswil of the NLA and then MODO.

He managed to kickstart his ability to land on the scoresheet to a degree and made the decision that it was time for another shot at the NHL. Colorado Avalanche took the bait and signed him for 2012/2013 to add some depth to their back line.

In 45 games with their AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters, he has 8 goals and 19 assists, while wearing the “A” for the team and helping the younger players with their game.

Very likely the now 31-year old will head back overseas to wrap up his playing career.

19Jan

Mike Mottau(3) Toronto Marlies

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Heading into 2012/2013 13th year defenseman Mike Mottau(3) was an unrestricted free agent with 313 NHL games to his credit.

Originally a New York Rangers‘ 7th round draft pick in 1997 (#182 overall) he has skated with 5 different teams, his hometown Boston Bruins‘ being the most recent he skated with last season. He was acquired in a trade deadline deal and wore a spoked “B” for 8 games, including 2 in the playoffs.

With a lockout looming, the 34-year old blue liner had a decision to make: either sign a deal with an AHL team or risk not playing for a full year and potentially wrapping up a nice, long career.

He chose the former and inked a pto to join San Antonio Rampage, making his first appearances in the league since 2007. In 16 games, he put up 7 assists and was a +5 plus/minus helping stabilize the team to jump back into the playoff picture.

Offered a chance to fight for a spot on Toronto Maple Leafs‘ roster in a shortened training camp the 6’ 193 lbs., 2000 Hobey Baker Award winner as the best player in college hockey, took it.

He had a strong enough showing that he was signed to a 1-year, two-way contract for the shortened season. Reassigned to their minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies, he played his first game with his new team notched an assist in the loss.

30Dec

Peter Mannino(35) Manchester Monarchs

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Undrafted 5th year goaltender Peter Mannino(35) had quite the wild ride in his rookie season playing minutes in three different leagues: ECHL (Utah Grizzlies), AHL (Bridgeport Sound Tigers) and NHL (New York Islanders).

He was officially signed to a one-year entry level deal with the Isles before being scooped up by Atlanta Thrashers as an unrestricted free agent for sophomore run. His solid play in net for their farm team Chicago Wolves got him re-signed for another two seasons in their system.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. netminder eventually found himself, after a bit of a logjam in the St. John’s IceCaps‘ backstop prospects, returned to the ECHL to play with the now extinct Chicago Express. Eventually the former NCAA Championship goalie was loaned to Portland Pirates for the remainder of the regular season in a minor league transaction to finish out the remainder of his contract.

Looking into 2012/2013, the 28-year old found himself in unchartered territory without a place to play. He signed a training camp invite with Manchester Monarchs that turned into a pto and was recently upped to a one-year AHL spc.

He’s off to a fantastic start with a 7-3 record in 12 appearances and a 2.00 GAA and .932 SV%, as he looks to be regaining his form. He’s played NHL games in each of his pro career years.

Got to love the old style look to the pads he uses. Although rumor has it he’s in line for some more modern looking gear.

24Dec

Brett Gallant(44) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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4th year, undrafted pugilist Brett Gallant(44) has already just about doubled a penalty minute high total from all of last season in just his first 26 games played in 2012/2013.

He’s currently second in the league with 138 pims, right behind dance partner in the pic, Bobby Robins.

The 6′ 185 lbs. left wing re-signed an AHL deal with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for a 2nd straight campaign after being recalled from Reading Royals late in 2011, where he proved his might in 17 appearances.

Not overly big-sized, the 24-year old is one tough customer to do battle with and has taken down much burlier opponents.

He started his pro career with almost two full seasons in the ECHL, leading Elmira Jackals in minutes spent in the sin bin with only half a slate of games to his credit and scored himself an invite to New York Islanders‘ prospect and training camps to put him on their radar.

14Nov

Brock Nelson (29)

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#30 overall), center Brock Nelson(29) is lighting the lamp with frequency with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 11 games, he’s already tallied 7 goals and 6 assists with a +4 plus/minus.

The sizable 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward knows how to get into position and execute scoring chances.

He left college after only a couple of years (and his last one as more than a point per game player), signing a 3-years entry level deal with the Isles.

If the NHL was in session, the 21-year old would definitely be competing for a roster spot in the show; but for now he’s doing just fine proving what he’s worth with the farm team in his rookie season.