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Tagged: NHL draft pick

19Aug

Stefan Chaput(21) Olimpija Ljubljana

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5th year center Stefan Chaput(21) hooks up with Hamilton Bulldogs for the 2012/2013 season on a one-year AHL contract.

He missed all but 11 games with Providence Bruins last year due to hip surgery, groin, upper body, you name it. Apparently healthy once again, he’ll look to regain some of that scoring spark he had when he first came to the P-Bruins in 2010 and from his “rookie” season in the Carolina Hurricanes‘ system with Albany River Rats.

The 6′ 192 lbs. forward was originally a Canes‘ 5th round pick in 2006 (#153 overall). He’s not an overly big player and doesn’t really play that style of game but given some room he can make things happen and the Bulldogs are counting on some of that magic to reappear. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

Original story: 9/19-12

He would start his new season on reassignment down to Wheeling Nailers, where in 15 ECHL games he scored 3 goals and 6 assists before being recalled to spend the rest of the campaign with Hamilton.

Although not what he was able to achieve in his earlier career, he still was able to do ok with 5 goals and 12 assists in 48 games but was a woeful -12 plus/minus.

It was good enough to get him another contract for 2013/2014, but when he was once again to start the new year in the lower league he decided to split signing briefly with Cornwall River Kings of the LNAH.

He received another AHL look on a pto with Utica Comets but failed to connect in three games and was released.

His next step may have been one of his most important, as he agreed to terms halfway through the season to head overseas joining Ravensburg Towerstars of DEL2.

Seemed like the right move as he found that scoring touch connecting for 9 goals and 11 assists in 16 games and added another tally and 4 more helpers in 5 playoff match-ups.

For 2014/2015 he decided to stay put in Germany but switch allegiances inking a deal with rivals Dresdner Eislowen.

He would post career highs for his new squad notching 20 goals and 34 assists for 54 points in 43 games but came up a bit empty in a short postseason.

Heading into his 8th year, the now 27-year old has decided to move on to Austria’s Erste Bank Eishockey Liga to skate with Olimpija Ljubljana, where he may be a bit more challenged to keep up those scoring stats from last season but will be a good challenge.

17Aug

Cam Janssen(22) Nottingham Panthers

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Originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2002 draft (#117 overall), 9th year right wing Cam Janssen(22) makes an appearance in an AHL game for the first time in 5 years.

Ironically it’s once again with a Devils‘ minor league affiliate and he comes full circle from where he started his career in the last lockout season 2004-2005, Albany. Then it was the River Rats and later became Lowell Devils before changing back to upper state NY with the horned moniker in tow.

In that rookie season, the 6′ 215 lbs. pugilist wrapped up an amazing 337 penalty minutes. He owned stock in that penalty box.

He continued that role and it landed him in the NHL full-time by 2008 with St. Louis Blues, although he did play 95 games with New Jersey.

The 28-year has been signed to a series of 1-year two-way deals on his second go round with the Devils and with this lockout history, he will have a hard time finding a spot on a lineup that has the elements he brings to the table but also can put some points up on the score sheet.

Regardless, he’s a fun player to watch and in his first minor league game in half a decade looked to be more interested in making plays and scoring goals in what turned into a blow out loss.

He’s skated 311 NHL in his pro career and honestly we doubt he’s done.

Original story: 2/3-13

Once the lockout thawed he would start the shortened 2013 season with 3 games for the parent club out of training camp playing very limited minutes before being sent to Albany.

For 2013/2014 he signed another short term deal with New Jersey Devils and begin the new year in the AHL but was quickly recalled and managed to split time between the two affiliated teams and even ended up scoring a career high 3 NHL goals before being returned down.

He must have made a good impression because he inked quickly at the conclusion of the season for his 8th campaign with the Devils and although he failed to skate in a big league game, when he was inserted into the lineup with the farm team he kept opponents honest with 9 fighting majors to his credit.

The recently turned 31-year old is entering his 12th pro season and has decided to try something new as he agrees for 2015/2016 with Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL.

With the announcement he’s already creating quite the stir overseas.

16Aug

Scott Harrington (6)

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#54 overall) defenseman Scott Harrington(6) is having exactly the kind of building block rookie year right out of the gate playing games with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In 23 AHL games he has a pair of tallies and 6 assists with a +7 rating.

He also appeared in a pair of 2013 playoff games, scoring his first professional goal.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner plays mostly a solid, stay-at-home style but did show he can contribute on the score sheet in four years of junior hockey with London Knights.

He won a pair of OHL Championships serving as team captain in the most recent title grab.

The 20-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that keeps him in the prospect system through 2016.

He could easily receive his first NHL recall this season but may also stay put to help the farm club go deep in the postseason.

Original story: 12/12-13

He would finish his first season with AHL career highs full schedule 76 games played, 5 goals, 19 assists and 24 points, then appeared in 16 postseason contests playing a mostly stay-at-home style with just one helper.

To start his sophomore season, he was a late cut from Pittsburgh training camp and would be recalled on 5 different occasions playing his first 10 NHL games.

He would record no points with a -10 rating.

On reassignment he played 48 games with WBS Penguins scoring 2 goals and 10 assists with a third team best +19 rating.

He also skater all 8 playoff games with one assist and a +2 plus/minus.

Heading into the final year of his entry level deal the big d-man was dealt to Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the Phil Kessel trade.

The now 22-year old should definitely give them something to think about come training camp.

He may start his third season with affiliate Toronto Marlies but chances are he will get himself into a lot of action with the big club.

11Aug

Steven Delisle(5) Springfield Falcons

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4th year towering 6’6″ 233 lbs. defenseman Steven Delisle(5) signed a one-year AHL contract for 2013/2014 with Adirondack Phantoms.

He was a healthy scratch for most of the start of the season but injuries to their top six d-men brought him into the lineup, where he’s been since late December.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#104 overall), he spent the first campaign of his 3-year entry level deal on the sidelines with a recurring shoulder injury.

Available for most of his second season, he was mostly reassigned to then ECHL affiliate Chicago Express, skating in only six games with Springfield Falcons.

A minor piece of a major off-season trade that sent him to New York Rangers‘ prospect system, he was dished back to the Blue Jackets‘ organization later that same year.

Almost ironically he found a bit of a scoring touch for Greenville Road Warriors, where he put up career highs with 4 goals, 16 assists, 20 points and was an outstanding +23 plus/minus in 61 games. He was allowed to stay with them despite the transaction.

Given the opportunity and maybe a little more offensive-minded coaching the 23-year old could definitely be a key contributor to whatever team he signs with next.

Original story: 1/15-14

He finished 2013/2014 skating 50 games scoring one goal and three assists with a -10 rating.

It was a performance that earned him some loyalty as he would be brought back for a second stint with the newly named Lehigh Valley Phantoms, playing a career high 62 AHL games getting a new bests 2 goals, 12 assists for 14 points with 133 penalty minutes and 11 fighting majors to his credit.

He heads into his 6th pro season returning to familiar territory with Springfield Falcons for 2015/2016.

There’s no reason not to believe the now 25-year old will elevate his game yet again. He seems to be just starting to hit his stride.

07Aug

Igor Bobkov(35) Admiral Vladivostok

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#76 overall), 2nd year Russian goaltender Igor Bobkov(35) found himself dropping in the team’s depth chart and reassigned to ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies to start the final year of his 3-year entry level deal. The first season had a “slide” as he was signed but returned to junior hockey with Kingston Frontenacs.

He turned pro with a pair of AHL starts in 2011 and 4 more at the end of 2012 but officially began his rookie campaign with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals last year.

The gigantic 6’6″ 235 lbs. goalie has yet to put up decent numbers on this side of the ice and there’s now a bit of a logjam in net with hot prospects, so could find himself on the trading block to see if there’s any takers.

The still super-young 22-year old will either have to find his game pretty quickly at this point or return to his home country and join a KHL team. Or he could head elsewhere.

He was recently recalled to the higher league after three starts in double A hockey but ultimately may still play out the remainder of his contract in Utah.

Original story: 10/27-13

He would bounce between Ducks‘ affiliates for much 2013/2014 playing more games with better success in the lower league, but he was still signed to a one-year extension approaching restricted free agency and continued to battle to get back on the parent club’s radar.

In his new contract year though, he would play a fewest 7 games with a less than great 4.27 GAA and .852 SV% on a Norfolk team that struggled mightily.

He reached new career highs with Utah Grizzlies playing in a high 34 contests with 19 wins and 4 shutouts and continued his good play helping them get into the 2nd round of the playoffs before their exit.

At 24-years old and looking at another season working on his game in the minors, he has decided to jump ship heading home to the KHL on 2-year deal with Admiral Vladivostok.

06Aug

Maxime Sauve(7) Hershey Bears

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Norfolk Admirals‘ center Maxime Sauve(7) has definitely experienced some troubles in his fourth pro season finding a permanent spot on a roster.

Traded to Chicago Blackhawks near the end of last year, the final campaign of his entry level deal, he was left unqualified rendering him an unrestricted free agent going into 2013/2014.

Invited by Anaheim Ducks to their training camp, he was released from his pto and reassigned to their minor league affiliate, where he started the season.

It remains unclear if he ever signed a contract but the 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward skated in 47 AHL games with the team but put up his fewest point totals and was watching contests from the stands on too many occasions.

He has been prone to upper and lower body and concussions throughout his playing time. He was even injured in his one NHL game with Boston Bruins.

Sat for the first game of the Calder Cup Playoffs, he was inserted into the lineup in the 2nd meeting, which was a win evening the series at 1-1.

The 24-year old was the hero scoring the 1st overtime game-winner of a 1-0 game 3 victory.

He’ll no doubt be back to see if he can continue on a streak and help the Admirals into the next round of action.

What happens after the end of the current run is up in the air, as he will once again be unrestricted.

Original story: 5/1-14

He decided to sign for a year overseas joining Kolner Haie Sharks of DEL but once again succumbed to injury playing only 27 games scoring a career low 3 goals 6 assists.

Hershey Bears have stepped in and take a chance for 2015/2016 thinking the now 25-year old veteran skater still has jets and maybe even a little something to prove.

See related: 12/25-10, 2/28-11, 3/14-12

03Aug

Jamie Oleksiak(5) Dallas Stars

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Dallas Stars‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#14 overall), mammoth-sized defenseman Jamie Oleksiak(6) made his NHL debut after starting his rookie season with their minor league affiliate Texas Stars.

He skated 21 shifts for 15:32 of total ice time in a 4-3 shootout win.

At 6’7″ 250 lbs. his size speaks for itself but he started to show an offensive upside in the second half, after a trade, of his only year in junior hockey. That followed one season in college hockey.

In 43 AHL games he has scored a modest 3 goals but added a playmaker 20 assists to his scoring totals and leaves the farm club (for now) with a +12 plus/minus. He also was selected to the starting lineup of the recent 2013 AHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition.

The 20-year old signed a 3-year entry level contract that keeps him in the Stars‘ system through 2015. He should easily become a full-time fixture in the show well before then as a solid two-way specialist.

Original story: 2/2-13

He would finish his first season posting a team leading 27 assists and 33 points for d-men with a healthy +19 rating.

He also appeared in 16 games with the big club recording his first two assists.

In his sophomore campaign he played a new high 69 AHL games but only got into 7 contests with Dallas, unable to get any points. His 5 goals, 18 assists and 23 points with a +8 plus/minus were second amongst blue liners on Texas and he would be a part of the 2014 Calder Cup Champions contributing 5 assists and a +13 rating in 21 playoff outings.

He would start his contract year on the opening night roster but was a healthy scratch and called into action for the following game.

For the next few games he’d be back in the stands watching but after that he would start showing up regularly.

He would end up playing 36 contests getting his first NHL goal and 7 assists.

While mostly playing with the big club he was sent down, skating 35 games with the farm club.

Now 23-years old he signed a one-year extension early into his restricted free agency to stay with Dallas Stars and is expected to stick with the big club exclusive in 2015/2016.

02Aug

Bruno Gervais(37) Eisbaren Berlin

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After putting up some decent numbers (10-16-26) with the farm team while under contract for Philadelphia Flyers, on the first day of free agency he switched teams signing with Colorado Avalanche.

Although a late cut from training camp, he would skated another full campaign in the minors serving as team captain for affiliate Lake Erie Monsters, playing 71 AHL games.

He didn’t have great numbers at 3 goals and 10 assists with a -10 rating but certainly helped guide the youngsters in the system quite nicely.

For 2015/2016, he may not be able to see another big league deal so he returns to Germany on a contract with Eisbaren Berlin of the DEL.

Tough to say how much time the soon-to-be 31-year old will have left on the ice but should have a few good runs with some overseas clubs.

31Jul

Julian Melchiori(44) Manitoba Moose

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Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets‘ 3rd pick in the 2010 draft (#87 overall), second year defenseman Julian Melchiori(44) proves third time is the charm for a recall. He was summoned on a couple of occasions but returned without cracking the lineup.

Appearing in his first NHL game, he logged 14 shifts for 8:41 minutes total ice time with a -1 rating, 1 block shot, 1 hit and 1 giveaway in the team’s 6-4 victory.

The big 6’5″ 215 lbs. blue liner is mostly a stay-at-home style player but is noticing a bit of an uptick in point production in his sophomore season with 5 helpers in 18 AHL games with affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

He managed only a goal and 7 assists in 52 games through his rookie campaign.

The 22-year old is signed through 2015 after only a pair of seasons in junior hockey and although he was reassigned back to the farm club, he will probably see more time in the show to continue to prove he has what it takes to stick.

Original story 12/28-13

The fairly huge d-man appeared in only the single game and seemed to fall on the team’s prospect depth chart spending the rest of the season in the minors collecting one goal and a new career high 10 assists with a second best +19 rating but was never inserted into the lineup through 21 postseason match-ups.

He would stay with the farm team for a new season high 70 AHL games but fell to a -16 plus/minus on a squad that was mostly out of the playoff picture for the entire run of 2014/2015.

With his 3-year entry level deal reaching its conclusion he was set to become a restricted free agent and it was looking like the Jets would be giving up on him but have elected to sign him to another 1-year two-way extension.

It will be interesting to see how he emerges from training camp to see if he can find his way back onto the parent club’s future plans but is bound to spend the majority of his playing time with new affiliate Manitoba Moose.

28Jul

Jerry D’Amigo(29) Rochester Americans

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After scoring 15 goals in the 2011/2012 AHL regular season, Toronto Marlies‘ 2nd year left winger Jerry D’Amigo(29) is another player netting goals in pairs in consecutive Calder Cup Playoff games. He is also credited with the game-winners on both team victories.

The 21-year old Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#158 overall) was fifth on the Marlies in scoring this season with a +13 plus/minus.

At 5’11” 213 lbs. he mostly plays a bit of an unassuming style of checking game but effectively gets the job done when he’s out there.

No doubt, if his team keeps winning and he continues to put up markers, he should get a long look for a spot on an NHL roster that has struggled to claim a place in the postseason since 2004.

Original story: 4/22-12

His 26 assists were tied for third during the regular season of his sophomore campaign and then his 8 goals in the playoffs were a team second.

In his third year he struck for a new record high goals of 17 but his overall points came down slightly as he may have been eying a role on another level.

He received that call-up after a couple of months in the minors heading into 2013/2014, where he would increase his goal production to another new level scoring 20 in far less AHL games and then exploded for a point-per-game (6-8) in 14 postseason contests.

In 22 games with the big club he scored his first NHL goal and added a pair of assists.

On the first day of 2014 free agency he would be traded to Columbus Blue Jackets and signed to a one-year two-way contract a month later.

He was a late cut from training camp but when he went to affiliate Springfield Falcons he would stay there until he was eventually dished again in a minor deal that sent him to Buffalo Sabres.

Starting with their farm team Rochester Americans he scored 13 goals and 9 assists in 31 games earning his late season recall.

He played 9 games getting no points but the now 24-year old has been given another opportunity for his 6th pro season.

No doubt he’ll be drilling in the minors for another chance to prove he can skate at the next level.

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