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Tagged: NHL draft pick

02Oct

Justin Weller(27) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#105 overall) defenseman Justin Weller(27) was assigned to the club’s double A affiliate Gwinnett Gladiators to start his second pro season.

He’s signed to a three year entry level deal, but failed to appear in the parent club’s training camp after prospect camp and reported to Portland Pirates‘ to skate in preseason games before recently getting cut. This is the final year of his contract.

At 6’2″ 205 lbs. he has fairly good size but has yet to crack even their AHL team’s roster.

In 65 ECHL games in his rookie season he scored a pair of goals and 9 assists with a +7 rating. He added another tally and a helper in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.

The 22-year old played 5 years of junior hockey in the WHL with Red Deer Rebels but was never a big point producer, favoring maybe a bit more of a stay-at-home defensive style.

If he can shine in his sophomore campaign, he may still be left unqualified going into 2014/2015, but could find himself a nice home for hockey overseas or look to continue to climb the ladder through the minors in North America.

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

21Sep

Nick Johnson(32) Boston Bruins

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Until someone tells 6th year right wing Nick Johnson(32) differently he’s making a case with Boston Bruins to be on their opening night roster to start the 2013/2014 season.

He’s scored 3 goals in 2 preseason games and the 27-year old is drawing praise from coaching and management.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward is signed to a 1-year two-way deal, but whether or not he is reassigned to minor league affiliate Providence Bruins, he’s easily put himself on the short list for an early recall once the action begins.

In 104 NHL games he has 14 goals and 23 assists and has spent parts of the last four seasons playing in the big league, including one full campaign with Minnesota Wild a couple of years ago.

His AHL stats are point towards a player that is on the cusp of a full-time job with a parent club. He has 53 goals and 70 assists in 183 games and holds a highly accountable +44 rating.

He was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#89 overall).

He even spent time in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers working his way up in his rookie season and even played 5 games for Idaho Steelheads during the last year’s lockout.

See related: 11/17-10

20Sep

Alex Hutchings(11) Gwinnett Gladiators

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4th year left wing Alex Hutchings(11) will put on the skates for Gwinnett Gladiators in 2013/2014.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in 2009 (#93 overall), he was signed to a 3-year entry level deal but spent most of his playing time in the ECHL with affiliate Florida Everblades than he did in the AHL with Syracuse Crunch or Norfolk Admirals.

In the last two campaigns in the league, the 5’10” 178 lbs. forward recorded almost a point-per-game with 26 goals and 32 assists in 63 games.

He set similar marks in four seasons of junior hockey in the OHL with Barrie Colts, where he exploded for 111 goals and 97 assists.

At only 22-years old, he’ll likely continue to occupy the score sheet in the lower league and will likely receive a call-up or two but will have to contribute more to stay put.

12Sep

Matt Tassone(26) Las Vegas Wranglers

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4th year center Matt Tassone(26) bounced around lots last season and somehow ultimately ended up skating in 5 Kelly Cup Playoff games with Elmira Jackals scoring three points, a pair of goals and an assist.

Making sense of his movement through the 2012/2013 campaign is a whole other deal.

Initially the 6′ 200 lbs. forward was signed to an AHL contract by Lake Erie Monsters but was either released or reassigned and inked with Wichita Thunder before moving on within the Central Hockey League to Arizona Sundogs and then getting recalled by the Monsters and signed to a pto, where he appeared in 13 games scoring his first and thus far only league tally.

He was originally a Dallas Stars‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#176 overall) but never came to terms with them and eventually bounced down to their farm club, Texas Stars. This lasted no time though, as they sent him to their ECHL affiliate Idaho Steelheads.

As a rookie he played 32 games generating 10 points but also suffered injuries that sidelined him for a good chunk of the year.

For his sophomore season he signed with Ontario Reign but was once again was challenged to stay healthy and eventually released before the end of the regular season.

Once again, for 2013/2014 he commits to another ECHL team, Las Vegas Wranglers.

The 23-year old seems poised for a breakout on the score sheet and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him join the 20/20 club or better.

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.

28Aug

Carl Sneep(4) Idaho Steelheads

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4th year, former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#32 overall), towering defenseman Carl Sneep(4) somewhat surprisingly signs a one-year deal with Idaho Steelheads for 2013/2014.

He was originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal in which he appeared in his only NHL game and even recorded his first big league point, an assist. He also suffered injuries that limited his play in his sophomore campaign.

The 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner was extended for another season but something seemed to go amiss as he was inserted into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ lineup for a mere one appearance and spent most of his time watching from the stands before being reassigned to Wheeling Nailers, where he skated in 29 games before being dished to Dallas Stars.

He played 25 games with Texas Stars and received one recall but did not skate with the parent club and was once again bounced on loan late in the season to Peoria Riverman.

Not surprising, his point totals suffered, probably from changing addresses so much but he was never really viewed as a big point-getter since high school hockey.

He’s more of a big shutdown d-man that is tough to play against and holds a highly accountable +28 rating in 133 AHL games; and added another +12 in 29 ECHL games, but also was able to put up some marks on the score sheet (3 goals, 12 assists).

With his big frame though, he could easily put a bit more punishing grit into his style of play.

In four years with Boston College Eagles he was a part of two national championship teams.

Joining Idaho may be a strategic move for the 25-year old, as it would be no surprise to see him attend affiliate Texas Stars‘ training camp, rejoining the team and log some miles between the two western states.

See related: 12/18-11.

25Aug

Jeff Frazee(31) Valpellice Bulldogs

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New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft (#38 overall) goaltender Jeff Frazee(31) became an unrestricted free agent at the end 2012/2013.

He was originally signed to a 3-year entry level deal and extended for another couple of seasons but despite being recalled, practicing and serving as back-up, had only played in one NHL game with the parent club last season.

His time in the cage was brief at 19 minutes of playing time, only facing three shots but at the very least he blocked each one of them.

The 6′ 195 lbs. net minder has appeared in 187 AHL games with their minor league affiliates Lowell and Albany Devils posting a 3.02 GAA and .906 SV%. Almost ironically he had one of his best seasons in 2012/2013.

Entering his 6th pro season, the 26-year old signed a one-year deal to join the Italian Elite A League Valpellice Bulldogs.

He should be able to slam the door shut on his opponents, which will either potentially open the door to better league play overseas or another opportunity with a different club in North America.

See related: 10/20/10

21Aug

Joel Chouinard(2) Hamilton Bulldogs

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4th year defenseman Joel Chouinard(2) signs a one-year AHL contract to skate with Hamilton Bulldogs or ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers in the 2012/2013.

Originally a Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#187 overall), he was left unqualified after three seasons in the their prospect system, where he played in 98 games with minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters but only 10 last year.

Instead he was reassigned for most of the campaign to the Central Hockey League appearing in 42 contests with Denver Cutthroats.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner posted career highs in assists and points in the lower league.

He had similar strong marks in his rookie season, putting up a team leading 8 goals and 9 assists in only 35 AHL games.

This first year pro performance extended what he was able to accomplish in his final run of junior hockey with Victoriaville Tigres. He struck for phenomenal 23 tallies, good for first in the league and 35 helpers, which made him a more than point per game guy as a d-man.

The 23-year old will need to step it up again to spend the full season with the Bulldogs.

06Aug

Jacob Lagace (83)

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4th year unrestricted free agent left wing Jacob Lagace(83) signs on for the 2013/2014 season with Orlando Solar Bears.

He just wrapped up his 3-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres that saw him skate 120 AHL games (20-23-43) with Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans and 70 in the ECHL (16-26-42) with Greenville Road Warriors and Bakersfield Condors.

He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#134 overall).

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward posted his best numbers in 2012/2013 with 16 goals and 20 assists last season with Bakersfield only reassignment but only had four AHL appearances.

He was a scoring machine in 3 junior hockey campaigns in the QMJHL with 90 markers and 114 helpers in 191 games.

The 23-year old should be able to surpass his high marks with a full season in the ECHL but he could also be on the short list for a recall.

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