NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

30Nov

Mark Pysyk(13) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#23 overall), defenseman Mark Pysyk(13) is making a seamless transition from junior hockey into the pros. He’s participated in three prospect and two training camps already.

The 20-year old starts his rookie season with their AHL affiliate Rochester Americans and has 1 goal and 6 assists in 17 games and is a +2 plus/minus on a team that is still better on paper than they are on the ice.

He was captain of Edmonton Oil Kings taking his hometown team to a WHL championship last season.

At 6’1 193 lbs. it’s not like he’s an oversized blue liner but is considered a good play-maker and is also accountable in his own end.

He’s really the type of player that has leadership written all over him but we’ll see how his game and on-ice identity develop.

28Nov

Beau Bennett(13) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#20 overall), left wing Beau Bennett(13) decided to turn pro after only a couple of years of college hockey, signing a three year entry level deal that keeps him with the organization through 2015.

The 21-year old has on his first two levels shown to be prolific on the scoresheet and in 18 AHL games to start his rookie season, he’s already struck for 4 goals and 9 assists.

At 6’1″ 195 lbs. the forward already has size and works it to gain position for scoring chances.

He might just be the first player ever to be born in Gardena, CA to play in the NHL. We’re projected that obviously.

27Nov

Mark Visentin(29) Portland Pirates

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#27 overall), goalie Mark Visentin(29) was a force in net in his last two seasons in juniors. Of his many accomplishments: he posted a 2011/2012 league best 1.99 GAA in 42 games and had 10 shutouts, establishing a new OHL record. The netminder also helped his team to the playoff finals, which was the furthest Niagara IceDogs had ever been in the postseason and even scored a goal for himself. Ironically it was the previous season he was named goaltender of the year.

The 20-year old has appeared in a few Desert Dogs‘ prospect camps and was in-line to participate another NHL training camp until everything was put on hold.

He, along with every other eligible player, was reassigned to start his pro career in the AHL with their affiliate Portland Pirates.

The young 6’2″ 205 lbs. goaltender has struggled a bit out of the gate in the minors but seems like a very centered personality that should ultimately help the farm team excel as the season wears on.

23Nov

Chris Bourque(17) Providence Bruins

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Fully ensconced in his 8th pro year, left wing Chris Bourque(17) now sports a spoked emblem on the front of his jersey similar to the one his dad wore for 21 seasons.

The first son wears a “P” for Providence on his sweater, whereas his dad proudly wore the “B” for Boston Bruins.

Temporarily with no place to move up the ladder, the AHL veteran forward is right at home playing his games at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, a building he skated many a contests for opposing teams, instead of up the highway at the TD Garden.

The still only 26-year old is off the scoring pace that made him the top point getter in the league last season with 93, but 14 games in he has a pair of goals and 8 assists, which is very respectable.

If things stayed stalled with the NHL talks, he may not be a league leader in 2012/2013 with the talent pool the way it is but he’ll almost certainly for a fourth start year end the campaign as a point per game performer.

19Nov

Emerson Etem(26) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#29 overall), center Emerson Etem(26) is a rare example of a local kid signing with the hometown team and seeing how it’s a California story makes it even more like Twilight Zone.

After three pretty outrageously successful years in juniors, where last year he put up 107 points (61 goals and 46 assists) in 65 regular season games, the 20-year is ready for the next step. He signed a three-year entry level deal that keeps him with the Ducks through 2015.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward probably didn’t expect to see as much time with the team’s farm team, Norfolk Admirals but with no NHL in site he’s skated 14 AHL games to start 2012/2013.

He’s recorded three goals and no assists. Last season on an ato with then Anaheim affiliate Syracuse Crunch he potted a goal in two games to get things started.

No doubt he seems to have the skill set but in the one game we saw him play, his team was eaten alive in a shutout so no one looked too good.

14Nov

Brock Nelson (29)

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New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#30 overall), center Brock Nelson(29) is lighting the lamp with frequency with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 11 games, he’s already tallied 7 goals and 6 assists with a +4 plus/minus.

The sizable 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward knows how to get into position and execute scoring chances.

He left college after only a couple of years (and his last one as more than a point per game player), signing a 3-years entry level deal with the Isles.

If the NHL was in session, the 21-year old would definitely be competing for a roster spot in the show; but for now he’s doing just fine proving what he’s worth with the farm team in his rookie season.

12Nov

Ryan Parent(3) Norfolk Admirals

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6th year, former 1st round draft pick of Nashville Predators in 2005 (#18 overall) defenseman Ryan Parent(3) has over 100 games of NHL experience but none since a couple of seasons ago, 4 games with Vancouver Canucks despite signing a two-year one-way contract with the team.

He spent all of 2011/2012 that he was healthy enough to play for with their new AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves but only managed to be 22 of a 76-game season.

Ironically he finished the season with a goal and 5 assists, which would have put him on pace for career highs on the scoresheet.

He also have a goal and 6 assists in the NHL.

As an unrestricted free agent approaching 2012/2013, he signed a pto with Norfolk Admirals a couple of weeks into the season.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. d-man has one assist in 6 games but is a -5 plus/minus.

Admirals must like having the 25-year old on their team though, because they inked him to an spc. Still, it looks to be a smart move on their part.

11Nov

Adam Larsson(5) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#4 overall), Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson(5) started his rookie season with the team as an 18-year and scored his first NHL goal one day before his 19th birthday. He would finish the 2011/2012 campaign with a pair of goals and 16 assists in 65 games but went a lowly -7 plus/minus. He also appeared in 5 postseason contests and scored his only goal in his first Stanley Cup Playoff game. At age 16 and 17 he already played two years in the Swedish Elite League (SEL).

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the d-man was reassigned to start his sophomore season with their AHL affiliate Albany Devils, as the big club waits for word on whether they will play at all.

In 9 games he’s put up four helpers.

At 6’3″ 200 lbs. the youngster definitely has good size in his favor and will likely only continue to fill out that frame and has the ability to help the team put some points up on the board but has to push for more accountability in his zone.

10Nov

Cody Hodgson(19) Rochester Americans

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3rd year Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#10 overall) center Cody Hodgson(19) is back in the AHL after his first successful full season in the NHL that ended with Buffalo Sabres after a late season trade sent him eastward.

In 83 totals regular season games he picked up 19 goals and another 22 assists between the two squads.

The 6′ 185 lbs. gritty forward would have almost assuredly continued to pick up the pace in the big league this year had they not hit the roadblock called a lockout.

Everyone seems to agree though that some more playing time in the AHL (his first since being a Manitoba Moose rookie standout ) with the Sabres‘ affiliate Rochester Americans will continue to help his game reach that next level and becoming a consistent 20-goal scorer is where he looks to be headed.

Unfortunately he was recently derailed for at least a few weeks with a broken hand suffered in the third week of the season. In 9 games he’s been quick to notch a goal and 9 assists.

08Nov

Ryan Stoa (21)

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4th year center Ryan Stoa(21) was originally a Colorado Avalanche 2nd round draft pick in 2005 (#34 overall) and stayed in their system for 3 seasons, first under a 2-year entry level deal and one-year extension.

He’s played in 37 NHL games over his first two years scoring 4 goals and 3 assists but skated the full 2011/2012 season with their affiliate Lake Erie Monsters.

The rugged 6’3″ 200 lbs. forward has played in 177 AHL regular season contests connecting for 55 goals and 54 assists.

He leads the young team in overall tallies.

Going into the offseason, the 25-year old faced his first unrestricted free agent status but was quickly scooped by Washington Capitals and signed to a one-year, two-way contract.

Reporting to Hershey Bears, he has struck for 3 goals and an assist in 9 games with a -2 rating.

That does seem to be the one hindrance to his play as he’s on the ice for more goals against than he probably should be and does seem to eat up a lot of minutes.