NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

12Apr

Jean-Gabriel Pageau(10) Ottawa Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#96 overall), rookie center Jean-Gabriel Pageau(10) isn’t exactly one of the biggest players on the ice, standing at 5’9″, weighing in at a measly 163 lbs., but in his first pro season with minor league affiliate Binghamton Senators he is proving he can get the job done.

In 67 AHL games, he has 7 goals and 22 assists with a +8 rating on a team near the top of the league standings and ripe with much rookie talent.

He averaged a point-per-game in three seasons of junior hockey before signing his three-year entry level contract that runs through 2015. He decided to forego his last season to ink his deal.

The only 20-year old received his first NHL call-up and recorded his first point, an assist, while skating 18 shifts for 11:17 total ice time, including going 55.6% on face-off draws and a +1 plus/minus in a 3-1 winning effort.

He probably still needs to add a bit more weight and muscle to his game but he’s definitely heading in the right direction.

10Apr

Cody Sol (41)

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Big as a redwood, Winnipeg Jets‘ rookie defenseman Cody Sol(41) scored his first AHL goal to go along with 3 assists in his 21st game for minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

He started his first pro season in the ECHL with Colorado Eagles (5 goals, 3 assists, 25 games) and has been recalled three times with the most recent one occurring in mid-February; and from there he’s stuck with the team.

The absolutely massive 6’6″ 242 lbs. d-man is signed for another season on a three-year entry level deal, one of which appears to have been paid even though he spent the season in his final skate in juniors with Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.

He was originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ (r.i.p.) 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#125 overall) and actually played a single game with then affiliate Chicago Wolves at the end of 2010.

At 22-years of age, there’s literally no where to go but up. He plays with all the grit and fight you’d want from a player with his size, but still seems to be finding the finer points of his game.

It’s still officially only his debut season and with the goal we’re sure more confidence follows.

09Apr

Brad Malone(42) Colorado Avalanche

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Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#105 overall), 2nd year center Brad Malone(42) notched his first NHL goal in 15 tries.

He is currently on his 2nd recall from their minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters, where he’s skated in 133 AHL games scoring 21 goals and 40 assists in regular and postseason play. He’s also a pretty lousy -20 overall plus/minus on a team barely above the .500 mark in 2012/2013. They were a much better team the previous season, just missing a playoff berth.

The 6’2″ 207 lbs. power forward was up for 9 games in his rookie campaign connecting for his first points in the show, a pair of assists.

He put up big numbers in his last two years of college hockey with University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

The 23-year old is in the final season of his two-year entry level deal and set to become a restricted free agent. It’s seems likely that he’ll be qualified for at least another season to continue his development.

04Apr

Alexander Fällström(15) Providence Bruins

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Originally a Minnesota Wild 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#116 overall), Swedish right wing Alexander Fallstrom(15) was involved in a trade that brought his rights to Boston Bruins before he would start his college career at Harvard University, right down the road from the team’s home arena, TD Garden.

The 21-year signed a 2-year entry level deal through 2015 and starts his pro career on an ato with minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

He notched his first pro point, an assist, in his debut and scored his first goal 5 games later.

At 6’2″ 203 lbs. he already has the physical attributes of a power forward, very much plays that style of game and has soft enough hands to connect with the back of the net consistently.

He may start his rookie season in the AHL but looks like he will become an NHL top six forward in short order.

03Apr

Ryan Strome(18) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#5 overall) center Ryan Strome(18) made his professional debut with minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers scoring his first goal, adding an assist and was selected as the game’s number one star in the 4-2 win.

The 6’1″ 183 lbs. power forward also looks like he will be making his first NHL appearance sooner than later based on his opening night performance on the scoresheet and overall play.

He signed his three-year entry level deal at the start of 2011, but was a slide for its initial year and could do that again for 2012/2013.

Although we see strong indications that he’ll be called up to help the parent club with their postseason push, allowing his contract to kick in.

The still only 19-year old struck for almost a pair of points per game in his second and last seasons of junior hockey and looks to continue on course to become a top 6 player in the show.

01Apr

Thomas Greiss(1) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 2004 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#94 overall) goaltender Thomas Greiss(1) was reassigned to minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks for conditioning.

After starting the lockout shortened season with a shutout win, he’s been shaky in his last three starts, all losses before going down to what is reported as being a neck injury.

In 42 NHL games the 6’1″ 215 lbs. German-born net minder owns a 17-15 record with a 2.55 GAA and a .910 SV%. His stats in the AHL are similar, although more games played at 141 with Worcester going 74-60 with 2.70 GAA and .904 SV%.

The 27-year old is in the final year of his 2-year extension (one-way deal for 2012/2013) and set to become an unrestricted free agent.

It seems highly improbable that they will keep him around. He’ll see little playing time as the season heads down the stretch to prove any uncertainty the organization might have after 7 years in the prospect system.

30Mar

Michael Pelech(27) Peoria Rivermen

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4th year center Michael Pelech(27) finally struck for his first tally in his fifth AHL recall, third this season.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. power forward has been basically a point-per-game guy in the ECHL for his last couple of campaigns, including the current one, in which he has 13 goals and 33 assists in 50 contests with Cincinnati Cyclones.

Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#156 overall), he spent his entire rookie year with Ontario Reign but signed to a one-year deal with affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

He started his sophomore season with the Monarchs but was reassigned once again after 5 games with no points.

His point production also slumped slightly in 2010/2011.

By the start of his third year, he needed to find a new home and inked a deal with Toledo Walleye.

It wasn’t too far into the season though before he was traded to Cincinnati, the team that he would find his scoring stride with.

He finished 2011/2012 with them popping in 16 goals and 44 assists in 60 games, and a career best +17 rating.

He also earned a one game call-up to Norfolk Admirals.

In a no-brainer move he re-signed with the Cyclones and continued on his point scoring streak through the new year, when he started get phone calls from AHL teams.

His first call was to join his older brother Matt’s team Worcester Sharks for four games.

He got his first point, an assist.

A couple weeks later he was summoned to Connecticut Whale but failed to connect and released.

It wasn’t until his current recall to Peoria Rivermen that he finally found the back of the net.

He has been with the team through 7 games.

The still only 23-year old could very easily play out the regular season where he is or once again get reassigned soon to start the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Neither roster moves seems so bad, unless the Rivermen don’t make the playoffs and the Cyclones end in one round.

28Mar

Brian Boucher(1) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 16-year veteran goalie and former 1st round pick in the 1995 draft (#22 overall), Brian Boucher(1) has circled back to tend net for the team three times since leaving the fold after his fifth season in the organization.

He’s only suited up for 4 games in the current campaign and has been shuffled to AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms on a few occasions. In 10 starts he owns a 2.50 GAA and .906 SV%. His numbers with the big club in 4 contests are similar.

His most recent venture back to Philly came as the lockout ended and Carolina Hurricanes was already set with their goaltending situation.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. backstop has worn the pads for seven different NHL squads, amassing an absolute eye-popping 371 regular and postseason games.

The 36-year old is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but we’re betting he still has something left in the tank and wants to continue his playing career.

Where he will go is an absolute mystery though.

27Mar

Derek Joslin(36) Worcester Sharks

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6th year defenseman Derek Joslin(36) has just seen his pro career come full circle.

He is back with the team he started with, Worcester Sharks, when the parent clubs swapped minor league defensemen in a late season move that saw Vancouver Canucks return him to the AHL Eastern Conference from Chicago Wolves.

He is still signed with the Canucks but set to become a restricted free agent.

The 26-year old inked a one-year, two-way deal early in free agency with the team after Carolina Hurricanes bought out the final season of his 1-way contract.

He has 114 NHL contests to his credit with 4 goals and 12 assists and spent the entire last two seasons in the league, skating games in the show since 2008-2009 season.

The solid as a rock blue liner has yet to score a recall in the lockout shortened 2013 campaign but now that appears doubtful.

In 262 career AHL games, he’s scored 29 times and added 84 assists but currently sitting at a sort of dismal overall -16 plus/minus.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. d-man was originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2005 draft (#149 overall).

24Mar

Calvin Pickard(31) Lake Erie Monsters

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Colorado Avalanche‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#49 overall) rookie goaltender Calvin Pickard(31) has been a workhorse in net through his junior career and the pace didn’t slow in his first pro year.

In 40 games between the pipes for AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters so far this season, he has a 16-17-5 record and a 2.55 GAA and .916 SV%.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. net minder has been recalled on a couple of occasions to take warm-ups and ride back-up but has yet to see any NHL action. That could change as the season plays itself out. He may get the nod if the Avalanche are out of the playoff hunt.

The soon-to-be 21-year old is signed through 2015 to a 3-year entry level deal, so has plenty of time to show the big club what he’s got.