NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

20May

John Gibson(43) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2o11 draft (#39 overall) goaltender John Gibson(43) got the ultimate call-up in his young career when he was chosen to be the starting net minder for Team USA at the IIHF World Championships.

He helped backstop the team to a bronze medal, their first ranking in almost ten years at the competition.

After participating in two NHL training camps, including the shortened 2013 camp, the still only 19-year old was sent back to rejoin his junior club Kitchener Rangers.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal at the end of the 2012 season, the parent club elected to wait and used a first year slide based on his age.

The sizable 6’3″ 209 lbs. backstop is highly touted in a Ducks‘ system that is already very deep at the goalie position but he already looks to be capable to stealing a job in his first year with the team.

If that doesn’t happen, he’ll likely shoulder a lot of the playing time with AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, a team he joined briefly, appearing in one game before their 2012/2013 season concluded.

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.

14May

Shane Prince (18)

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Ottawa Senators‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#61 overall), rookie left wing Shane Prince(18) had himself a good first pro season, 18 goals and 17 assists in 65 AHL games for minor league affiliate Binghamton Senators and added another marker in three playoff contests.

He absolutely exploded in his last two seasons in juniors with Ottawa 67’s notching basically a point and a half per game.

At 5’11” 189 lbs., he’s not exactly small but never really plays a big game and more than anything seems to slip almost unnoticed into the open areas to come up with scoring opportunities.

He has a three year entry level deal that keeps him in the system through 2015.

The 20-year is currently on recall with the parent club serving as one of the “black aces” playoffs’ practice squad.

He’s likely due an NHL look in his sophomore season.

12May

Jake Hansen(14) Springfield Falcons

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#68 overall) rookie right wing Jake Hansen(14) is playing the spark plug of energy role for minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons in the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs, when he’s been inserted into the lineup.

He’s appeared in 3 of their 6 postseason match ups with no points, a pair of shots and a 0 plus/minus, but has been a ball of fire each and every time he steps on the ice.

The 6’2″ 193 lbs. forward had a fairly successful first campaign with 4 goals and 5 assists in 46 AHL games.

And although he may have not been in every game, he was kept around without being reassigned further down.

He put up increasingly better numbers with each successive year at University Of Minnesota and was just about a point-per-game guy in his final season there.

The 23-year signed a two-year entry level deal through 2013/2014.

If he keeps hustling and can increase his production on the score sheet, should find himself getting a phone call to add some oomph to the team chemistry.

11May

Tom Wilson(10) Washington Capitals

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Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#16 overall), right wing Tom Wilson(10) enjoyed his third and final season in juniors as assistant captain with Plymouth Whalers.

He scored highs in goals (23), assists (35) and points (58), more than doubling the numbers he put up the previous year and achieved a similar effect in the postseason striking for 9 goals and 8 assists in 13 games to help take his team to the OHL Western Conference Finals before falling.

The still only 19-year old 6’4″ 210 lbs. big body has no problem using his size advantage out there and bets are on that he’ll transition to the pro ranks with ease.

He was signed to a three-year entry level deal soon after he was drafted but without a season to start in the big league was reassigned back to juniors. He appeared in the Capitals brief training camp when the lockout thawed but was once again sent down.

He made his AHL debut with minor league affiliate Hershey Bears for the 2013 Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, where he broke the ice with his first goal. But the Bears‘ fortunes were ended when they lost in the deciding game 5 of the series.

It was a given that he would continue his 2012/2013 playing time to at the very least participate as a member of Washington’s practice squad for their Stanley Cup playoff push, but when injury sidelined one of their top forwards he was recalled to join the team and play his first NHL game.

He skated 8 shifts for 6:24 of total ice time, registering one shot, one takeaway and dishing out 4 hits in the 2-1 OT win.

With the appearance, the young forward appeared in three leagues in one season.

09May

Philipp Grubauer(31) & Niklas Svedberg(1)

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2nd year Hershey Bears‘ goalies Philipp Grubauer(31) congratulates opposing Providence Bruins‘ rookie net minder Niklas Svedberg(1) on their 3 games to 2 come from behind AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals‘ victory.

Both backstops were coming off great AHL seasons with Svedberg taking home the 2012/2013 Baz Bastien Outstanding Goaltender Award, while Grubauer had the rare distinction of tending net in three different leagues throughout the season, also suiting up for a pair of NHL games with the parent club Washington Capitals and 26 for ECHL affiliate Reading Royals.

08May

Brian Lee(25) Syracuse Crunch

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Former Ottawa Senators‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#9 overall), 6th year defenseman Brian Lee(25) was a 2012 trade deadline acquisition of Tampa Bay Lightning.

He played the rest of the regular season with the Lightning recording no goals but his 8 assists set a new career high mark for helpers (15) and points (16).

Not exactly ice shattering marks for such a high draft selection that was pegged to have an offensive upside.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner is signed through next season on a one-way contract but was recently reassigned to their minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch, when he was failing to put up the numbers in the lockout shortened campaign and the parent club wanted to have some longer looks at younger players in the system.

In 10 AHL games, his first appearance in the league in a few years, he had only one assist through the remainder of the regular season. In 3 Calder Cup Playoff games he has yet to put up any points but at the very least maintains a +2 rating.

The recently turned 26-year old may not be a shoe-in for a roster spot to start 2013/2014.

He’s played in 209 NHL games and will need to have a breakout year or might have a tough time finding future deal in the show.

No doubt, with his size, he has to keep a good attitude in place and put a lot more backbone into his game.

07May

Nicolas Deslauriers(4) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#84 overall), 2nd year defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers(4) had career bests in the 2012/2013 season scoring 4 goals and 19 assists with AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

His point production uptick carried over into the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, where he struck for a pair of goals and assists in 4 games; good enough to make him the team’s leading scorer after a first round postseason exit.

The 6’1″ 230 lbs. blue liner plays a rough and tumble, physical style that doesn’t always end him up with time in the penalty box, but he’s also unafraid to drop the mitts when call upon and also may have opened up a little extra room on the ice for his offensive game to flourish.

In four years of junior hockey he was able to put up points on the score sheet on a fairly regular basis, especially in his last two seasons.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal that extends through 2013/2014, the 22-year old has found his footing at the right time and could be on track for his first NHL call-up next season if he continues on this pace, but for now would be happy to join the “black aces” practice squad as the parent club competes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

04May

Dylan Demelo(15) Worcester Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#179 overall) defenseman Dylan Demelo(15) has been summoned to join the team as one of the “black aces” practice squad as they continue to prepare for Western Conference Quarterfinals‘ games. It will be second postseason workout with the big club.

He was reassigned to minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks upon finishing up his fourth year of junior hockey with Mississauga Steelheads, where he had highs in goals (15) and points (50).

The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner skated in 10 AHL games recording 4 assists. He appeared in 4 games with Worcester the previous season and recorded his first pro point, a helper.

He signed a three-year entry level deal at the end of the 2012 regular season and is set to be in the prospect system through 2015.

At just 20 years old, he still looks to be developing his game but is right in the thick of things at a young age, so hopefully will turn into a gem of a deep draft selection.

03May

Chad Johnson(30) & Cedrick Desjardins(30)

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A pair of number 30 goaltenders meet at center ice for the traditional handshake at the end of the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals best-of-five.

Portland Pirates‘ Chad Johnson(30) congratulates Syracuse Crunch Cedrick Desjardins(30) 0n the 3-0 series victory.

Both net minders will be unrestricted free agents as of July 1.

Chances have to be highly likely 4th year, 26-year old Johnson signs a one-year extension to stay in Phoenix Coyotes‘ system. He appeared in 4 NHL games this lockout shortened season and had a 1.21 GAA and .954 SV%.

He could easily score the back up job in 2013/2014.

27-year old Desjardins was reacquired by Tampa Bay Lightning on Valentine’s Day in a goalie swap with Montreal Canadiens. It’s his second time with the only team he’s played NHL games with, 5 total including three this past season.

He’s basically won everything at the junior and ECHL levels and is still waiting for a real opportunity in the show but for now will be concentrating on climbing that next rung with an AHL Championship.