New York Rangers | CollegeHockeyPlayers

09May

Scott Tanski (13)

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Unlikely hero #3: undrafted Connecticut Whale rookie right wing Scott Tanski(13) has been a healthy scratch for the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs but keeping a good attitude about it. F

ans were even heard chanting his name when he appeared in the runway area during warm-ups at a recent first round game.

The 22-year old’s full-on energy style game has definitely gained him attention amongst the faithful.

His head full of wild flowing red hair helps too.

He signed a one year AHL contract at the start of the 2011/2012 season after his training camp invite went really well.

He also made a surprise appearance in New York Rangers‘ camp before being reassigned.

In 65 games this season he scored 5 goals and 6 assists, but in only his 2nd Calder Cup Playoff game he scored the game-winning goal to propel the Whale to a 4-1 win, tying the Semi-Finals‘ series vs. Norfolk Admirals at 2 apiece.

Could we see the 6’1″ 193 lbs. forward in the Rangers‘ camps for the upcoming season?

Of course.

Could he score himself an NHL contract? Definitely.

For the style of player he is out there, he keeps his penalty minutes to a minimum.

Reliable play.

03May

Andreas Thuresson(55) Connecticut Whale

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Unlikely hero #1: 5th year Connecticut Whale right wing Andreas Thuresson(55) scores the overtime winning goal at 2:53 in game 1 of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Semi-Finals vs. the red-hot Norfolk Admirals to take the series lead 1-0 on enemy ice.

Originally a 5th round pick by Nashville Predators in the 2007 draft (##144 overall) the Swedish-born 6’1″ 211 lbs. forward has played 277 regular season games with their AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals scoring 53 goals and 65 assists.

He has also appeared in 25 NHL games over a couple of seasons and put a goal and a pair of assists up on the scoresheet.

A peek at his postseason stats of 8 goals and 11 assists in 37 games suggests he’s more than capable of coming through with that big point when it counts.

He was traded to New York Rangers on the day after free agency began and signed to a one-year, two-way contract. We think they’ll issue him a qualifying offer for another season.

02May

Mike Vernace(48) Connecticut Whale

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6th year defenseman Mike Vernace(48) has been on quite the ride through the AHL this season as he was traded twice and is currently playing for his third team in the 2011/2012 season.

Ironically all three teams he skated for are still in the postseason.

He started the year with Norfolk Admirals, the team he’d been with for the entirety of 2010/2011 and even got into 10 games with the parent club Tampa Bay Lightning.

From there he was dished to Florida Panthers but skated only with San Antonio Rampage.

That relationship lasted only 22 games before he was once again passed along to New York Rangers in a trade deadline deal and reassigned to Connecticut Whale, where he’ll play his former team, the Admirals in the AHL Eastern Conference Semi-Finals in a best-of-seven series.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 7th round pick in the 2004 draft (#201 overall), the 6’ 216 lbs. blue liner has only appeared in 22 NHL games throughout his playing career.

It’s a bit doubtful that he’ll crack New York Rangers‘ lineup next fall or if they’ll even sign him up for another year, as he’ll be a UFA at the conclusion of the playoff run.

We still think he’s got plenty of pop to crack a big league lineup.

27Mar

Alexandre Giroux(12) Springfield Falcons

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High 5’s for 11-year Springfield Falcons‘ veteran center Alexandre Giroux(12) for scoring his 700th career AHL point, a goal last weekend.

He has 364 goals and 336 assists in 764 regular season games played, which is a pretty incredible feat.

He’s not exactly having a career year for scoring this season with 24 goals and 26 assists in 58 games; yet he’s still in the top 20 for points in the league.

In the last three seasons, he’s either won top scorer or come in second.

He’s skated in 48 NHL games scoring 6 goals and 6 assists.

At 6’3″ 202 lbs. he’s a pretty big power forward and has the ability to get in tight and score some goals but has never quite been given the chance.

We remember two and a half great seasons when he was with Hartford Wolf Pack, signed to New York Rangers, who he only played one game for.

He’s only signed with Columbus Blue Jackets for a year, but we hope they re-up with him for another season.

17Mar

Mats Zuccarello(36) New York Rangers

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New York Rangers‘ 2nd year wing Mats Zuccarello(36) has only appeared in 6 NHL games this season (3 since he’s most current recall) after an outstanding rookie year with the club, when he posted 6 goals and 17 assists in 42 games. He also showed phenomenal skills in the shootout.

He sustained an ankle injury that sat him out for a for good stretch of time this season, but whenever he’s been in the lineup has brought it. In 37 AHL games with Connecticut Whale he’s got 12 goals and 24 assists.

He has yet to register more than an assist on the scoresheet so far but I would think he’ll catch on soon again.

The undrafted Norwegian 24-year old uses all of his 5’7″ 179 lbs. sized frame out there and is tenacious like a pitbull when it comes to puck possession.

16Mar

Trent Whitfield(23) Boston Bruins

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14 years into his pro career and Boston Bruins‘ round 4 pick in the 1996 draft (#100 overall) center Trent Whitfield(23) has put in NHL game minutes for 10 of those seasons, including this one as he was recently recalled to play for a Bruins‘ team that’s looking just about anywhere for some answers, fill-ins.

He’s played 194 NHL games scoring 11 goals and 18 assists.

He has one more year on his current contract and assumes the role of team captain for Providence Bruins.

The 34-year old isn’t ready to quit and rightfully so, because he’s always an effective player out there and a contributor. In 41 AHL games he has 5 goals and 6 assists, but more importantly anchors a young Baby B’s core.

He’s played a phenomenal 755 AHL regular season games scoring 236 goals and 342 assists. We hope he makes it 1000.

15Mar

Casey Wellman(19) Connecticut Whale

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Undrafted 2nd year center Casey Wellman(19) was involved in a pre-deadline deal that sent him from Minnesota Wild‘s AHL affiliate Houston Aeros to New York Rangers‘ AHL team, Connecticut Whale.

He played 41 NHL games with the Wild over three seasons, including 12 contests fresh out of college. He’s managed 4 goals and 9 assists.

In the AHL he’s basically a point per game performer. He has 6 goals and 6 assists in 12 games with the Whale since the deal and had 28 goals and 32 assists in 68 games with the Aeros from 2009 – 2011. He also contributed 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 24 Calder Cup Playoff games last season.

At 24 years old, 6′ 186 lbs. he still needs to put some more muscle into his game before he sticks with an NHL team.

He may get that opportunity in training camp next season with the Rangers, if he can agree to a new deal in the offseason.

7/20-12: In a bit of a surprising move, Wellman gets traded to Florida Panthers for a 5th round 2014 draft pick. He signed a one-year, two-way contract for 2012/2013.

16Feb

Jeff Woywitka(2) New York Rangers

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9th year New York Rangers‘ defenseman Jeff Woywitka(2) has been in and out of the lineup and injured this season, seeing action in 26 games. He’s on the scoring sheet with a goal and 5 assists and a modest +2 plus/minus.

He was plucked off waivers from Montreal Canadiens early in the season and signed to fill the role as an alternate defenseman.

To start February, he was sent down to get some playing time in the AHL with Connecticut Whale on a conditioning stint. He appeared in 6 games and had three assists to help the team get back into the win column after going on a terrible losing skid.

Now that he has been recalled it will be interesting to see if he’ll be able to find his way back into a lineup that has settled very nicely for the Eastern Conference leaders.

He was originally a Philadelphia Flyers 1st round pick in the 2001 draft (#27 overall). He has played 277 NHL games, recording 9 goals and 55 assists.

07Feb

Erik Christensen(40) Minnesota Wild

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It had been only a couple of seasons since 8th year center Erik Christiansen(40) played in the AHL, but before that it had been a few years when he appeared in 16 games with the affiliate of the team he was originally drafted and signed by, Pittsburgh Penguins (3rd round of 2002, #69 overall).

His only full season in the minors was his rookie campaign in 2004/2005, the year of the NHL lockout.

In his third season with New York Rangers, he came out of the gate slow and was eventually squeezed out of the lineup as the Blueshirts were looking for that right winning combination to click.

After many healthy scratches, he was finally demoted to Connecticut Whale on a “conditioning stint”.

In 5 games he scored a pair of goals and added an assist.

Looking to add some punch to their now struggling team, Minnesota Wild stepped in and gave up a prospect for some help up front they hope will pay immediate dividends.

He’s played 359 NHL games scoring 62 goals and 94 assists.

We shall see. . .

04Feb

Wojtek Wolski(86) Connecticut Whale

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In six pro seasons, Polish left wing Wojtek Wolski(86) has never played a minor league game; until last week.

Assigned by the parent club, New York Rangers on conditioning loan to their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale to rehab after being out of action for well over a month with a groin injury he has to get up to speed to crack the solid lineup in Manhattan.

In his debut with the Whale, he ended up scoring what would become the game winning goal for the team.

I hope someone saved him that puck to mark the occasion.

In 402 NHL games, he has 91 goals and 158 assists for 249 points.

He was originally a 1st round pick by Colorado Avalanche in the 2004 draft (#21 overall). He played four seasons with them before being dished to Phoenix Coyotes and from there to the Rangers.

At almost only 26 years of age, the big (6’3″ 200 lbs.) power forward still should have plenty left in the tank but looks to be on his way to a fourth team.