NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

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

30Apr

Cody Bass (26)

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6th year center Cody Bass(26) is back at it in the AHL postseason scoring the game-winners.

He posted back-to-back gwg’s for Springfield Falcons to take a 2-0 lead in their best of 5 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals’ Series. He is only the third player in league history to post such a feat.

The 26-year old power forward has been sidelined with an injury for most of the regular season, appearing in only 18 games with 2 goals and 5 assists.

Undoubtedly the type of player every team wants in their lineup at 6′ 205 lbs., he’s a leader both on and off the ice and plays the game like the ultimate foot soldier but that often ends him up on the long-term injured reserve list.

In two seasons under his current contract, he’s only appeared in 55 games (14 NHL, 41 AHL) but at least on the minor league level now, he’s making a difference.

Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round draft pick in the 2005 draft (#96 overall), he won a Calder Cup Championship with Binghamton Senators in 2011.

Signed by Columbus Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent for the following season and then re-signed for another year, there is little doubt he will be extended once again or head to another team where his chances of joining an NHL roster on a full-time basis are seemingly better.

He has 48 games in the show to his credit with a pair of goals and 3 assists.

See related: 5/11-11, 6/4-11, 7/26-11, 12/27-11

29Apr

Matt Puempel(9) Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#24 overall), left wing Matt Puempel(9) scored his first pro postseason goal with minor league affiliate Binghamton Senators in game 2 of their AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Semi-Finals series, a 3-2 loss.

He scored his first pro goal period last season on an ato with the B-Sens, but that was his only point in 9 games.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game guy in juniors with Kitchener Rangers for his final year and Peterborough Petes through the first three.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal that extends him through 2015 in the prospect system, he plays with a good amount of grit and basically digs for the puck all the time, which will likely lead to scoring chances when it’s time for his official rookie season in 2013/2014.

There’s a good chance the 20-year old will return to the AHL to start and will be fun to watch him develop his game.

28Apr

Peter LeBlanc(18) Hershey Bears

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | 1 Comment

Hershey Bears‘ third year center Peter LeBlanc(18) had an assist hat trick to help his team with the 5-4 overtime win giving them a 2-0 series lead in the best of five AHL Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

This effort followed up a pair of helpers he had in game 1 and the points currently tie him for the league lead.

He was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 7th round pick in the 2006 draft (#186 overall) but only signed an NHL contract, a one-year entry level deal, at the start of his third pro season and is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this campaign.

He spent all of his time with their minor league affiliate Rockford IceHogs putting up a little more than a point in every other appearance for 40 goals and 56 assists in 164 games. He was signed consecutive AHL deals and even started his rookie season in the ECHL with Toledo Walleye for 22 games until permanently recalled.

The 5’11” forward may be not be the biggest guy on the ice but has power forward weight at 200 lbs.

With his breakout early playoff performance (his first time in the postseason), chances are good Washington Capitals will re-up with him for another year and who knows he may even get a look for a few games in the show.

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.

24Apr

Paul Carey(28) Lake Erie Monsters

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Colorado Avalanche 5th round pick in the 2007 draft (#135 overall), rookie center Paul Carey(28) is another player that quietly had himself a good first pro season.

He spent his entire debut campaign with minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters scoring 19 goals and 22 assists with a +2 rating on a team that sits just outside of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoff picture. He also played a couple of games at the end of 2012 when

The 24-year old was also a good point producer in college hockey with Boston College Eagles. He won a pair of NCAA titles in 2010 and 2012 with them, and even scored the gwg in the most recent win.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward signed a two-year entry level deal through 2013/2014, when he’s set to become a restricted free agent.

He has yet to earn his first NHL recall but if he continues to put up the numbers, he can almost be assured his number will be called.

21Apr

Brayden McNabb(7) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#66 overall), 2nd year defenseman Brayden McNabb(7) missed the last month of the regular season with a knee injury and the hope is he will be able to return as the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs start imminently.

He set career highs in AHL games played with 62 and 31 assists and 36 points in 2012/2013, while tying his goal scoring total at 5. He also was a bit more physical out there increasing his penalty minutes to 50 and was chosen to play in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game for a second straight appearance.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. always put up better numbers in each successive year of junior hockey with Kootenay Ice and was team captain when they won a WHL title in 2011.

He played 25 NHL games in his rookie season scoring his first big league goal and adding 7 assists. It’s a bit of a thinker why he failed to get games in this lockout shortened season though.

The 22-year old signed a three-year entry level deal that takes him through next season.

But first things first, he needs to return for the postseason.

20Apr

Derek Mathers(32) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#206 overall) right wing Derek Mathers(32) scored his first pro goal with minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms.

The big 6’3″ 227 lbs. tough guy signed a three-year entry level deal that paid him for 2012/2013 despite playing the entire campaign with his junior club, Peterborough Petes.

In three seasons he consistently amassed triple digit penalty minutes and showed his might when challenged in the minors.

He signed successive ato’s to join the AHL team for the remainder of the last two seasons, appearing in 20 games and participated in the last two parent club prospect camps and training camp in 2011.

The 19-year old may not be the fastest guy on the ice and still seems to think his way through the game more than play by instinct, but regardless, he is one tough customer that we’re sure will be in the faces of all opposing skaters.

14Apr

Adam Clendening(2) Rockford IceHogs

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Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#36 overall) rookie defenseman Adam Clendening(2) was chosen to the 2012-2013 AHL Second All-Star Team for his impressive play in the quickly wrapping up season.

In 71 games with their minor league affiliate Rockford IceHogs he has 8 goals and 36 assists with a +14 rating and quarterbacks the power play. He also leads the league in assists by a d-man and is top five in scoring for the position.

The 5’11” 187 lbs. blue liner left two years of college at Boston University on the shelf to turn pro signing a three-year entry level deal.

He was also picked to represent at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game.

The 20-year old definitely plays a much bigger game than his size may indicate and can be an offensive threat without becoming liability in his own zone.

He has yet to make an appearance in an NHL game but that time will certainly come. First he has his sights set on scoring a Calder Cup appearance with his team that sits just inside the bubble of a berth.

13Apr

Sami Aittokallio (30)

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Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#107 overall), Finnish rookie net minder Sami Aittokallio(30) got his first crack at an NHL start for a team that is out of the playoff picture in this lockout shortened season.

He performed well only allowing a pair of goals on 25 shots in two periods before having to be relieved in the third with muscle cramps he was suffering due to dehydration.

The Avalanche ended up losing the game 3-2 in the shootout.

In 26 appearances for AHL affliate Lake Erie Monsters, he has a 14-11-1 record with a 2.89 GAA and .903 SV%.

At 20-years old, the parent club believes he could be their starting goalie of the future, signing him to a 3-year entry level deal that runs through 2015.

The 6’1″ 180 lbs. backstop could be their answer between the pipes.

They need one as they ended up signing three goaltender prospects on one day in the offseason.

He performed nicely in the last couple of years as a teenager in Finland’s elite league, SM-liiga, so if he can stay on course he could be their guy.