NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

07Jan

J.T. Miller (10)

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New York Rangers‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#15 overall) center J.T. Miller(10) started his pro career with their AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale after only a single season in OHL but could bump up to the NHL now that a new CBA is on the horizon.

In 26 games, he has 5 goals and 9 assists.

He also skated with the Whale for 8 games in last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs.

The 19-year old was reassigned for the period over the holidays to compete with Team USA for the World Junior Championship, which they did in fact win with a victory over last year’s top country, Sweden.

He was an alternate captain.

Now back in North America, the young 6’1″ 200 lbs. burgeoning power forward has been once again reassigned back to Connecticut but will likely first be making a stop at the Rangers‘ brief training camp before finding out where his next home address will settle (at least for the time being).

His three-year entry level deal extends through 2015.

06Jan

Sami Vatanen(9) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#106 overall), Finnish defenseman Sami Vatanen(9) isn’t the biggest of the blue liners playing pro hockey measuring in at 5’9″ 163 lbs. but he competes hard and definitely has a huge potential offensive upside.

In 30 games with AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, the rookie has 4 goals and 14 assists and isn’t exactly easily beaten in his own zone at a -3 plus/minus on a team that is challenged to win games more than they should be.

The 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that carries him through 2014 in the Ducks‘ prospect pool.

Tough to say if he makes it stick in the NHL but he’s definitely worth a few looks.

03Jan

Frederik Andersen(30) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 3rd round pick in last year’s draft (#87 overall), Danish goalie phenom Frederick Andersen(30) signed a two-year entry level deal mostly tending the cage with affiliate, Norfolk Admirals, but he did receive a first recall.

In 17 AHL games he’s posted a so-so 7-7 record on a team that is barely living up to expectations but his 2.42 GAA and .925 SV% is pretty convincing. He’s currently 2nd among rookie net minders in the league.

The 23-year old is a towering 6’4″ 230 lbs. frame in net but moves very well and could become the first goaltender from his country to play in the NHL.

Chances are likely that will happen.

01Jan

Kevin Porter(12) Rochester Americans

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5th year, unrestricted free agent center Kevin Porter(12) signed a two-year deal with Buffalo Sabres in early July. In its first season, the deal is a two-way contract but for the second year it pays him NHL money even if he’s put on waivers and reassigned to their AHL affiliate, Rochester Americans.

Due to the lockout in the big league, the 6″ 190 lbs. forward was loaned to the Amerks to start his first campaign with the organization, his first time playing in the league since late-ish 2010. He was named team captain at the beginning of the season.

The 26-year old won the Hobey Baker Award in 2008 for being the best player in college hockey and was originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 4th round in the 2004 draft (#119 overall).

He spent his rookie season splitting time between the Coyotes and San Antonio Rampage before being dished at the trade deadline to Colorado Avalanche, where he had a career 2010/2011 run before seeing his ice time all but evaporate, limiting his games played to just 35 the following year.

In the AHL, he’s always been a nearly point-per-game player and this season is no different, as he’s scored 9 times with 14 assists in 31 games.

He’ll have to find a role with a team to step up permanently and could very well do it.

29Dec

Dan Gendur(9) Orlando Solar Bears

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5th year unrestricted right wing Dan Gendur(9) started the 2012/2013 season with an invite to participate in Springfield Falcons‘ AHL training camp.

Originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 7th round pick in the 2007 draft (#206 overall) he has some experience in the league with 20 games played but only a goal and an assist to show for it.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward spent most of the last two seasons in the Central Hockey League with the now extinct Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, where in 2011/2012 he posted 28 goals and 45 assists for 73 points in 62 regular season appearances, all career highs and good enough for top ten scoring in the league.

He was originally signed to a three-year entry level deal that expired as an unrestricted free agent with Nashville Predators in 2011 after being involved in a minor league deal.

The 25-year inked a deal with Evansville IceMen in the offseason to join the team for their inaugural season in the ECHL, moving up from the CHL to the better AA league, where he had played during his first two pro campaigns. In 14 games he tallied 4 goals and 3 assists.

But found himself to be involved in another trade that dished him and a teammate to another first season team, Orlando Solar Bears, where he currently resides and has posted 6 goals and 3 assists in 10 contests.

The winger put up 5 of those points (4 goals and an assist) in one game (12/28).

28Dec

Hugh Jessiman(19) Binghamton Senators

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8th year, former New York Rangers‘ 1st round pick in the 2003 draft (#12 overall), gigantic right winger Hugh Jessiman(19) signed a one-year, two-way deal with Ottawa Senators for the 2012/2013 season.

He (and every other eligible player) was reassigned to their AHL affiliate Binghamton Senators to start the new campaign.

The 6’5″ 233 lbs. mammoth has only ever skated in a pair of NHL games a couple of seasons ago with Florida Panthers.

He’s played 455 AHL regular season games with 7 different teams and last season posted a career high 27 goals and 44 points with Lake Erie Monsters and Abbotsford Heat.

By all accounts he should be a power forward that is impossible to move from the front of the net and a consistent 20+ goals, 20+ helpers forward.

In 25 games so far this season the 28-year old has 6 goals and 4 assists.

27Dec

Brett Bellemore(34) Charlotte Checkers

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#162 overall), defenseman Brett Bellemore(34) is in the last season of his two-year contract extension. The 24-year old is set to become a restricted free agent once again but chances are good that he’ll be re-signed for at least another campaign to help keep Charlotte Checkers‘ teammates well-protected.

He’s rarely among the leaders on the team in penalty minutes but his 6’4″ 210 lbs. presence is enough to keep opponents from making any stupid moves. In 29 contests his pims are showing a bit of an uptick, considering he is one of two big men on the current roster. The towering blue liner could end his 4th full season with a career high in the category.

He has never been all that active on the scoresheet through 29o AHL regular and postseason contests, scoring only 6 goals and 30 assists. With 5 helpers already this season, he could reach another career best for assists.

He’s also a +9 plus/minus, which is another high mark, so far in the first third of the season on a squad that looks good to compete for the Calder Cup.

21Dec

Hampus Lindholm(4) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#6 overall) Swedish defenseman Hampus Lindholm(4) goes from playing under 18 leagues and tournaments in his home country to signing a three-year entry level deal that potentially causes him to make an appearance in the NHL, if it wasn’t for the nasty little word that keeps anything from happening: lockout.

With that going on he starts the rookie season of his North American pro career reassigned to AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

In 19 games he’s posted his first professional hockey goal and added 4 assists with a +2 plus/minus on a team that lets up more goals than it gets.

At 6’3″ 195 lbs. he’s pegged to be the type of all around defenseman every team wants in their lineup.

He’s currently the youngest player in the league but left his team temporarily to compete in the 2012 World Junior Championships, which Sweden won last year.

19Dec

Ben Blood (44)

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Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#120 overall), rookie defenseman Ben Blood(44) has been making the one hour drive between affiliates Binghamton Senators and Elmira Jackals more times than he even thought possible in the first two months of the season, and more trips are likely on the horizon for his first year pro.

Since the start of the 2012/2013 season he has been reassigned and recalled 8 times playing 17 games in the ECHL and 4 in the AHL scoring no points yet in either league.

He also skated 4 games with the Baby Sens last season when his college career wrapped up.

His intimidating 6’3″ 232 lbs. presence and ability to make the opponents’ players suffer in the attacking zone, combined with good on ice accountability makes him a worthy asset for either squad.

The 23-year old signed a 2-year entry level deal that keeps him in the prospect pipeline through next season.

If he can add some offensive upside as he did in his college career, he’ll be one big, well-rounded skater for either Sens‘ team.

18Dec

Ondrej Palat(12) Syracuse Crunch

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Tampa Bay Lightning have certainly found a diamond in the rough with deep pick, 7th round in the 2011 draft (#208 overall), Czech left wing Ondrej Palat(12).

He was with Norfolk Admirals in his rookie campaign for their storied ride to the AHL Calder Cup Championship and scored 4 goals and 5 assists in 18 games.

He finished the regular season with 9 strikes and 21 helpers in 61 contests while going a +6 plus/minus.

Through the first couple few months of his sophomore season, the 6′ 180 lbs. forward is taking it up a notch on the score sheet as he’s on pace to post career highs for assists, points and plus/minus and may even break his goal scoring mark as well.

In 26 games with new Lightning minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch, he’s potted only 3 goals (but that could change in a hurry with some explosive output streaks) and his 17 assists look to crush his mark set last season by a wide margin.

He’s also an outstandingly accountable +17 on the ice.

The 21-year old has always put up big numbers first playing in his homeland and then in two years of Canadian juniors before turning pro.

He’s signed through 2014 on a three-year entry level deal but that could get extended in the offseason to make sure he stays on pace to move up in the ranks with Tampa Bay.