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Tagged: New York Rangers

23Sep

Marc-Andre Cliche(22) Colorado Avalanche

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Colorado Avalanche claimed 7th year center Marc-Andre Cliche(22) off waivers from Los Angeles Kings.

He’s on the 2nd year of his current contract which pays him a one-way salary regardless of getting reassigned to a minor league affiliate.

The seemingly under-sized 6′ 205 lbs. forward was Manchester Monarchs‘ captain for the last three seasons and has skated in 341 AHL games with the team scoring 68 goals and 83 assists. He also owns a highly accountable +19 rating.

In his last two years of junior hockey with Lewiston Maineiacs, he was also team captain leading them to the 2007 QMJHL Championship.

He’s only been recalled for a single NHL game but could find his way to becoming a regular in the parent club’s lineup like former teammate Richard Clune did once Nashville Predators pulled him out from the Kings‘ prospect system.

The 26-year old former New York Rangers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft (#56 overall) will definitely be looking to getting into his new training camp and prove he’s ready to become a full-time member in the big league. His tenacious, never-say-quit playing style and endless ability to stick up for teammates will definitely help his case.

See related: 10/11-11

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.

25May

Eric Hunter(15) Stockton Thunder

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Double draft pick, 2nd year center Eric Hunter(15) was the hero in game 4 with 2 tallies, including the game-winning goal, giving Stockton Thunder a heartbeat in the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals.

Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 8th round pick in 2004 (#229 overall) he was never signed and went back into the pool only be selected again a couple of years later by New York Rangers in the 6th round (#174 overall). They also didn’t sign him.

After five seasons of junior hockey with Prince George Cougars, he elected to attend college in Canada and played for another four years with University Of Alberta.

He maintained a close to or more than a point per game production since his second campaign in juniors and upon completion of his higher education inked his first pro contract, a 1-year AHL deal with Lake Erie Monsters.

The very decently sized 6’1″ 194 lbs. center skated 75 games in 2011/2012 scoring 6 goals and 10 assists, although wasn’t retained by the team for another season.

Looking at a crowded hockey landscape due to the impending NHL lockout, he signed another one-year agreement to join Stockton. In 60 games, he was regaining that scoring touch with 17 goals and 22 assists.

He continues the pace in the postseason with 5 goals and 7 assists in 21 games, while holding a +4 rating.

He was also recalled by Oklahoma City Barons on 4 occasions putting up a goal in 11 contests. After attending training camp with the team, he was sent back to start the regular season but later added to the roster on an spc.

The 26-year old is likely in line for another AHL tour of duty for 2013/2014.

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.

01May

Chad Kolarik(42) WBS Penguins

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5th year center Chad Kolarik(42) had his best pro season yet in 2012/2013.

He finished the AHL scoring race in tied for third in goals and third overall in points with 31 markers and 37 assists, while playing in full 76-game schedule split between Connecticut Whale and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The feisty 5′ 11″ 185 lbs. forward was involved in his second mid-season trade that brought him into Pittsburgh Penguins‘ system, where he continued to light it up.

He has never quite received a look in the show having only skated in 6 NHL games (1 assist), first with Columbus Blue Jackets and then New York Rangers.

The 27-year old was sidelined for the full 2011/2012 campaign suffering a season-ending injury in training camp.

He made up for lost time in a big way putting up career highs.

Entering just his third postseason, he is finding his way to the net yet again.

He’s a prolific scorer with 9 goals and 4 assists in 12 games, including a pair in the first game of the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, one of them being the game-winning tally in overtime.

Originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 7th round pick in the 2007 draft (#199 overall), he played for almost two years in the organization.

As of July 1, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent. It looks promising for him to be re-upped for a full season in a Penguins‘ jersey but he also may have a look as to what else might be out there.

See related: 12/5-10, 7/4-11

26Apr

Logan Pyett(39) Connecticut Whale

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5th year defenseman Logan Pyett(39) signed a one-year two-way deal with New York Rangers for 2012/2013 and had himself a career year for assists (32) and points (39) with Connecticut Whale. He finished third on the team in scoring and was also a +9 plus/minus.

The 5’10” 199 lbs. d-man is set to become an unrestricted free agent. No word quite yet if the Blueshirts will retain his services for another year.

He was originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round pick in the 2006 draft (#212 overall) and played four seasons with their minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, initially on a three-year entry level deal and then inked an extension for another campaign.

The 24-year old has yet to appear in the NHL but has played in 361 AHL games scoring 30 goals and recently notched his 100th assist.

He was also a good point producer in junior hockey and captained his hometown team Regina Pats of the WHL.

Where he ends up is still a guessing game but regardless, he’s an asset and potential insurance to have on the blue line for any club.

23Feb

Christian Thomas (20)

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New York Rangers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#40 overall), rookie right wing Christian Thomas(92) made his NHL debut over the weekend.

He skated 17 shifts for 12:46 total ice time, took a pair of shots on net and dished out three hits in the team’s painful 4-0 blanking.

At only 5’9″ 170 lbs. he’s a considerably smaller-sized forward but plays a bigger skater style than his measurements might suggest.

The son of former hockey great, Steve Thomas, is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015.

He played 11 regular and postseason games with minor league affiliate Connecticut Whale after his junior career concluded and put up his first pair of points, a goal and an assist.

In 52 AHL games, he has 13 goals and 11 assists with a +3 rating.

A hard working player, he should be able to make it to the show on a full-time basis, much like his dad. Whether he’ll be able to eclipse the hockey legacy left by his father obviously remains to be seen.

20Feb

Brandon Mashinter(23) New York Rangers

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New York Rangers‘ 4th year undrafted left wing Brandon Mashinter(23) gets his first game in a blue shirt and his second NHL recall with his new team.

He skated 13 games with San Jose Sharks when he was signed to a 3-year entry level deal but failed to connect with any points.

His 1-year extension they gave him for this season will leave the 24-year old unrestricted free agent, so he’s in effect playing for a contract.

He’s already making his mark in the Rangers‘ system with their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale since arriving in a trade roughly a month ago.

The big 6’4″ 220 lbs. forward has 5 goals and 6 assists in 14 games.

He put up point per game numbers in the final year of junior hockey before turning pro and has been a bit of a boiling kettle when it comes to point production, although has consistently put up more than 30 points in each of his first three years.

He’s also not afraid to drop the mitts and will no doubt be playing that role, but doesn’t spend a lot of time in the box.

It would be no surprise to see him hit the score sheet in his time up in New York.

17Feb

Steve Eminger(4) Connecticut Whale

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New York Rangers‘ 10th year veteran defenseman Steve Eminger(4) last saw playing time in the minors during the 2004/2005 lockout. He was recently reassigned to AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale on a conditioning loan as space on the parent club’s blue line was a bit scarce.

He started the shortened 2012/2013 campaign on the roster and found his way into four games but was unable to put up any points and was a healthy scratch for half a dozen games before being reassigned.

The 29-year old former Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2002 draft (#12 overall) has skated in 457 NHL games scoring 19 goals and adding 77 assists. He’s an unfortunate -50 plus/minus but has show better on ice accountability in recent years.

The Blueshirts are the 6th team the 6’2″ 207 lbs. has signed with. After 6 seasons with the Caps, he was signed for one-year deals with the Flyers, Lightning, Panthers and Ducks before being involved in a trade that brought him back east.

He scored his first AHL goal in 8 years and honestly even at this later stage in his pro career he looks a bit out of place and overqualified to be spending much more time on the farm.

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.

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