NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

21Oct

Joe Morrow(6) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#23 overall) rookie defenseman Joe Morrow(6) has all the attributes to become one of the NHL‘s leading scorers for his position. He sees plays develop and moves the puck up to the forwards quickly, but is also a great stick handler with the ability to lead the rush into the offensive zone as well.

The not quite yet 20-year old showed these strengths in his final two season of juniors so it’s easy to see why he was selected so high in the draft.

He starts his pro career with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL as the NHL keeps a lock on its doors. He notched his first ever goal, a slapper from the point, the other night in Springfield.

He’s listed at 6’1″ 198 lbs. but honestly doesn’t seem to have that much size or weight. He appears smaller maybe because of the ease he moves through spaces out there whether they’re large or small.

Just looking at him, you know this is a kid that brings his A game every time.

18Oct

Josh Brittain(17) Fort Wayne Komets

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A few Anaheim Ducks‘ prospects are finding themselves doubly reassigned, when they start at AHL training camp but ultimately will play games in the ECHL to start 2012/2013.

3rd year, 2008 3rd round pick (#71 overall) left wing Josh Brittain(17) is familiar with the process already as he’s skated in 47 games with Elmira Jackals over his first two seasons, so joining Fort Wayne Komets will actually be a step up at least in terms of fans in the stands.

The big 6’4″ 210 lbs., that doesn’t really look like he takes up that much space out there as his size might indicate, spent more time up in the AHL in 2011/2012 with Syracuse Crunch and recorded career highs games played (38), goals (2) and assists (4).

He was in training camp with the Ducks‘ new affiliate Norfolk Admirals and was one of the last cuts before opening night.

The 22-year old definitely needs to open up more room on the ice for himself to increase his scoring chances.

18Oct

Francois Bouchard(61) Cincinnati Cyclones

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5th year Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#35 overall), center Francois Bouchard(27) found himself at the start of the season without a contract in what’s maybe been a bit of a tricky year for more than a few players to get work playing pro hockey.

After his initial 3-year entry level deal was up, he signed on for one more campaign in the Capitals‘ prospect system but was bounced from his time with Hershey Bears (where he won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2009 & 2010) to New York Rangers‘ AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale and uneventfully finished out the term of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent.

For the first time in his career he signs a minor league deal to play in the ECHL with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2012/2013.

It just maybe a smart move as he needs to reenergize that scoring touch he showed in his second year, when he popped in 21 and assisted on another 31 in 74 games played and was a crazy good +21 plus/minus.

If he starts to ignite and the NHL unfreezes the lockout, expect him to move back up the ladder.

17Oct

Sean Couturier(14) Adirondack Phantoms

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After putting up a fairly sturdy 13 goals and 14 assists to go along with a phenomenal +18 plus/minus, Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#8 overall), 2nd year center Sean Couturier(14) finds himself fine tuning his game in the AHL with their affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, as everyone in the higher league stomps their feet and continues to not play pro hockey.

The still not quite yet 20-year old is a tall kid at 6’4″ but his 191 lbs. frame is pretty lanky ala an early Joe Thornton. It’s almost a bit surprising he hits the scoresheet as much as he does, but he looks to skate a fairly committed game and always seems to be engaged right where the play is happening.

In two AHL regular season games, he’s already a point per game guy with a goal and an assist. It’s a pretty certain bet that he’ll be able to continue this pace in the league.

He also appeared in 11 playoff games for the Flyers last season and connected for 3 goals and an assist.

The bet is he hits the scoresheet like he did in his last two seasons of juniors, where he was basically a 1.5 points per game forward and had an unheard of +117 plus/minus.

16Oct

Ryan Johansen(9) Springfield Falcons

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Columbus Blues Jackets‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#4 overall), center Ryan Johansen(9) is spending time playing in the AHL with their affiliate Springfield Falcons as the big club sits on the sidelines.

In a pair of home games over opening weekend he tallied his first ever goal in the league.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. player scored a handy 9 goals and 12 assists in 67 NHL games in his rookie season with the Jackets.

At 20-years old playing games in the minors will only give him more playing and scoring confidence.

He already shows he has the skill set to achieve power forward status as he continues to grow into his game.

His entry level contract is a three-year deal through 2013/2014.

He tore up the scoring sheet in his only two seasons in juniors before deciding to turn pro.

Obviously being such a high draft pick, a lot will be expected of him but the future looks bright…

14Oct

Kirill Kabanov(77) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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20-year old Moscow-born, rookie left wing Kirill Kabanov(77) comes into the pro ranks with a lot of promise riding on his shoulders.

He was a 3rd round New York Islanders‘ pick in the 2010 draft (#65 overall) that has size (6’3″ 194 lbs.) and shown on every level thus far that he can definitely put the puck in the net or dish a sweet set up for a goal. And he’s even better in the playoffs. His contract is a three-year entry level deal without many bells or whistles, so this is a player that’s got something to prove.

We won’t know until the lockout gets settled if he starts the season in the NHL or stays where he’s already contributing now, with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He had a pair of assists in the team’s opening game 6-4 win on the road and looks to be a strong skater that personifies power forward. He’ll just have to keep his head in the game.

11Oct

Brett MacLean(39) Phoenix Coyotes

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This one is a real heartbreaker.

Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#32 overall) left wing Brett MacLean(39) is forced to retire from pro hockey at 23-years old after sudden cardiac arrest that occurred during an offseason pick up game with friends in Owen Sound.

He was nothing short of a force on the AHL scoring sheet (264 games, 99 goals and 104 assists) and setting himself up for more of a permanent spot in the NHL.

The 6’2″ 197 lbs. forward skated in 13 games with the Coyotes a couple of seasons ago, scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist, and had 5 appearances when he was briefly picked up on waivers by Winnipeg Jets before being re-scooped by Phoenix and reassigned to their new AHL affiliate Portland Pirates last season, where he notched his fourth straight 20+ goal season with 25.

Great story announcing the news on the AHL site. Ironically this is a player that played the game with all heart and was starting to realize the dream after a lot of hard work in the minors.

08Oct

Anton Blomqvist(29) Evansville IceMen

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#167 overall) giant Swedish defenseman Anton Blomqvist(29) is a thinker of a project for the team.

He’s huge at 6’6″ but only weighs 206 lbs., which seems awfully light in pro hockey for a guy that big.

Problem is he just doesn’t seem as engaged and attached to the play as he should be and rightfully needs to add way more muscle to his style.

In his rookie season with Springfield Falcons he skated in only 24 games due to suffering an early season concussion but also found himself to be a healthy scratch probably more often than he would have liked.

His entry level contract is only in its’ second season of a 3-year deal.

As the 2012/2013 season approaches the 22-year old was a training camp trim and gets reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Evansville IceMen.

This is big move (literally) because this guy needs playing time and some in-game coaching to develop into the type of player he could easily become. He has to put some points up too, as he managed a goose egg on the scoresheet last season.

06Oct

Tony Lucia(12) Gwinnett Gladiators

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3rd year left wing Tony Lucia(12) signs a one-year ECHL contract to join Gwinnett Gladiators for the 2012/2013 season.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 6th round pick in the 2005 draft (#193 overall), he wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the team after his 2-year entry level contract was up.

He spent his entire rookie season in the AHL with Worcester Sharks dealing with post concussion syndrome, limiting him to only a pair of games; and that even bled over to his 2nd season, although he did manage to appear in 46 games and scored a healthy 8 goals and 19 assists, while being a very accountable +8 plus/minus.

There’s was talk of Portland Pirates signing the 6′ 190 lbs. forward to an AHL deal as he was the only tryout player invited to their camp, but instead he inks with their ECHL affiliate and is probably on the short list for a recall.

05Oct

Jamie Tardif (9)

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6th year right wing Jamie Tardif(9) got the 2nd campaign of his tw0-way deal with Boston Bruins off to a productive start in AHL preseason.

He scored the first two goals, including the game-winner for Providence en route to a 4-1 win.

The 27-year old has appeared in 376 AHL regular season games posting 93 goals and 91 assists.

Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 4th round pick in the 2003 draft (#112 overall), he never signed with the team despite showing some impressive scoring skills in juniors.

The 6’ 207 lbs. forward started his pro career modestly, signing an ECHL deal with Toledo Storm but managed to skate for 3 different AHL teams in his rookie year on call-up.

From there, one of his suitors, Grand Rapid Griffins saw enough promise to sign him up for his full sophomore season.

Doing well in his first full run in the AHL, Detroit Red Wings offered him a 2-year entry level deal and he stuck with the Griffins for what amounted to 4 + years.

Although he has yet to appear in an NHL game, he possesses the ability to light the lamp and plays a gritty game, so there’s a small window he still has the ability to crawl through.

We’ll see if changing to number 9 from his long-standing 25 will give his game a psychological boost.

The pic is right after he flipped the puck up and in for his goal.