NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

03Dec

Jean-Francois Berube(35) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#95 overall) goaltender Jean-Francois Berube(35) finally moved up the hockey ladder to start the last season of his 3-year entry level deal in the AHL with Manchester Monarchs.

In his first two campaigns he tended net almost exclusively with then ECHL affiliate Ontario Reign.

In 61 games he posted a 32-19-4-2 record with a 2.55 GAA and .908 SV% but really broke through in the Kelly Cup Playoffs where in 10 games he went 6-2-2 and finished with a 2.07 GAA and .914 SV%.

The Kings‘ farm team did have the off season opening for the 6’1″ slim 170 lbs. net minder to step right in and take the back-up job between the pipes; and with that achieved it’s highly doubtful anyone expected him to be pressed into action as the number 1 guy for an extended period.

But that has happened after the farm club’s starting goalie was summoned when Jonathan Quick went down with a long-term injury.

The 23-year old is out of the gate strong with a 6-3-1 record, a solid 2.28 GAA and shutdown .920 SV% very assuredly keeping the Monarchs in their commanding first place Eastern Conference lead.

If he keeps up his stellar play it will be interesting to see if the backstop is qualified with an extension or moved in a trade.

02Dec

Mark Alt(2) Adirondack Phantoms

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Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#53 overall), rookie defenseman Mark Alt(2) was traded to Philadelphia Flyers just as the lockout thawed.

The sizable 6’4″ 210 lbs. young blue liner skated in 6 games with minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms after finishing up his third year at University Of Minnesota. He recorded his first pro goal and assist in his short stint with the team.

He returned on reassignment after attending the parent club’s prospect and regular training camps bringing with him a steady, stay-at-home style that may have been a little light on the score sheet but heeded a solid +39 rating through his collegiate playing time.

In 19 AHL games he’s pocketed another goal and added 5 more assists.

The 22-year old is signed through 2016 on a three-year entry level deal and will likely realize some NHL playing time sooner than later.

01Dec

Seth Griffith(17) Providence Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#131 overall) rookie right wing Seth Griffith(15) is making his mark early in his pro career with the parent club’s minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

In 15 AHL games, the small but stocky 5’9″ 192 lbs. forward already has half a dozen tallies and 5 assists with a +1 rating.

He’s basically taking up where he left after winning consecutive OHL titles in junior hockey with London Knights as the top scoring player in his position. He was a more than point-per-game skater in three plus seasons striking for 102 goals and 129 assists in 207 games.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the 20-year old may have to wait for a recall past his first season (mostly due to the depth they have up front), but if he continues to hit his mark on the score sheet he will likely move higher on the depth chart and score his chance.

29Nov

Jeff Schultz(55) Manchester Monarchs

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Former Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2004 draft, 8th year defenseman Jeff Schultz(55) is back in the AHL for the first time in half a dozen seasons.

For the last 7 seasons he skated all but one appearance in the NHL for 399 games scoring 11 goals and 64 assists with a mammoth +78 rating.

In 2009/2010 he was a league best +50 plus/minus.

The big big 6’6″ 225 lbs. blue liner was signed to a 4-year extension early into his restricted free agency status but was unable to sustain the numbers.

The Capitals decided to cut ties and elected to exercise their option to buy out the final season of his contract.

Soon afterwards, Los Angeles Kings stepped him offering him a one-way deal at just over the league minimum.

The 27-year old was a late cut, reassigned to minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs, where in 21 games he has a goal and an assist and is a +1.

Chances are good that he’ll live to skate his 400th game in the show but what happens next season is a total crap shot.

27Nov

Mitch Callahan(15) Grand Rapid Griffins

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Detroit Red Wings‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#180 overall), 3rd year left wing Mitch Callahan(15) is picking up his game big with minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins in the final year of his entry level deal.

In 19 AHL games he already has 8 goals, 4 assists and a smart +10 rating.

It’s almost as if he’s taking up where he left off in the 2013 postseason that ended with a Calder Cup Championship.

In 24 playoff contests he had 6 goals and 5 assists.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward posted career highs last season with 11 goals, 9 assists and 20 points in 71 games. He looks to shatter that mark before the All-Star break.

Even though he didn’t exactly garner the highest selection spot in the draft, he did put up some impressive numbers in his final year of juniors before turning pro.

The 22-year old also won the WHL Championship with Kelowna Rockets as a rookie and placed 2nd in the subsequent Memorial Cup.

Almost ironically he made the team on a tryout, which would be even more amazing for him to eventually make his NHL debut. Plus, he was born and raised in California.

26Nov

Stefan Matteau(18) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#29 overall), left wing Stefan Matteau(18) was given quite the opportunity to step right into the big league at age 18 after competing in only half a season in the QMJHL with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Waiting for the lockout to thaw, he was invited to training camp with the chance to make the squad and did just that.

After 17 games, with his first pro goal and a pair of assists to his credit, it was decided to return him to his junior hockey team to play out the remainder of the season; although the situation went amiss and he ended up abruptly leaving the team during their playoff run.

His playing rights were traded to Rimouski Oceanic, but the 6’3″ 215 lbs. player was determined to turn pro and stick with the parent club or start his official rookie season with their minor league affilate Albany Devils.

The latter occurred when he was reassigned to the farm club to continue his development.

In 18 AHL games the built like a power forward has a conservative 3 goals and 4 assists, while seemingly still adjusting to the higher level of play.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal last season, the first campaign of the contract was accounted for in his somewhat tumultuous 2012/2013.

The big 19-year old will likely figure out pretty quickly what it’s going to take for him to jump to the next level permanently and become a fixture in the league but will probably need to pay attention to some good coaching and could use a great veteran mentor.

25Nov

Matt Beleskey(34) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th round pick in the 2006 draft (#112 overall), 6th year left wing Matt Beleskey(34) has skated the last couple of seasons exclusively in the NHL with the parent club but is no stranger to the minors.

He was recently reassigned to AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals on a conditioning loan to rehab a broken thumb suffered at the start of the season, which was also when his brand new 2-year, one-way contract extension kicked in.

He’s appeared in 213 NHL games scoring 27 goals and 30 assists. His numbers in the lower league are similar but through only half the amount of games played.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward spent only a few games down before being recalled but found the back of the net for a tally, which must have helped him some with his confidence, because as soon as he got back struck for his first goal of the new season and added a helper a couple of nights later.

He put up great numbers in his final season of junior hockey as captain with Belleville Bulls but is probably not expected to post 41 goals and 49 assists in 62 games anytime soon.

The 25-year old could use a breakout 20-point campaign to stay put in the show and could also be more accountable than his overall -23 rating. There’s little doubt he has the tools in his kit to stick.

23Nov

Anders Lee (9)

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New York Islanders‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#152 overall) left wing Anders Lee(9) played a pair of NHL games fresh off finishing up his third season at University Of Notre Dame that culminated in an NCAA (CCHA) Championship.

He scored his first big league goal and added an assist in his debut.

Also very close to a point per game player in college hockey, he scored 61 goals and 55 assists in 125 games with a monstrous +33 rating.

The rangy 6’3″ 225 lbs. forward was unable to find his roster spot with the parent club to start his rookie campaign and reassigned to minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

In his first 16 AHL games he has a mighty 6 goals and 7 assists out of the gate.

One would have to think if a spot opens up on the Islanders‘ lineup due to injury, the just turned 21-year old has to be on a short list for a recall.

20Nov

Brenden Kichton (8)

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Double draft pick (most recently Winnipeg Jets‘ 7th round in the 2013 draft, #190overall) rookie defenseman Brenden Kichton(8) was making a huge splash on the back line in his last few years of juniors with Spokane Chiefs.

He managed 240 assists in 202 WHL games, good enough for most helpers in the league from 2010-2012 and lead all d-men in points those years as well.

It’s surprising his number slipped so far down in the most recent draft, especially considering his offensive explosion.

He was originally taken by New York Islanders in the 5th round of 2011 (#127 overall) but failed to work out a contract with the team.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner was also invited to join Detroit Red Wings‘ prospect camp in 2010.

He was reassigned to Winnipeg‘s minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps to start his debut campaign and has continued to effectively head man the puck for scoring chances.

In 17 AHL games he has 2 goals and 9 assists with a +5 rating.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the 21-year old looks to have a bright future ahead of him and will likely realize his first NHL recall this season.

17Nov

Connor Murphy(28) Phoenix Coyotes

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#30 overall) defenseman Connor Murphy(28) received his first recall only 10 games into his rookie year with minor league affiliate Portland Pirates.

He had yet to produce a goal but did have 5 assists and a +3 rating on a team that was off to a shaky start.

The 6’3″ 190 lbs. never exactly put up big numbers in two campaigns of OHL junior hockey with Sarnia Sting or earlier in his development but possesses all the intangibles that made him a top prospect for the Coyotes.

He was quickly signed to a three year entry level deal that only officially kicked in at the start of this season.

In his NHL debut he scored his first big league goal, the eventual game-winner, skated 29 shifts for 22:32 total ice time (including 1:53 on the penalty kill), had one shot on net, 5 hits and ended the game with a +1. He was somewhat unceremoniously returned to the AHL on the next day to continue his upward progress.

The 20-year old wore number 5, which his dad Gord Murphy wore throughout his pro career.