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Tagged: NHL draft pick

25Jul

Konrad Abeltshauser(10) Chicago Wolves

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San Jose Sharks‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#163 overall) German-born defenseman Konrad Abeltshauser(10) is expected to make a big splash, which would make sense considering he stands 6’5″ and currently weighs 212 lbs.

He’s starting his pro career with their AHL affiliate Worcester Sharks after an impressive four-year run in the QMJHL patrolling the blue line for Halifax Mooseheads.

He won the 2013 league championship in his final season of junior hockey and also went on to capture the Memorial Cup in what was thought to be an outstanding run by the team.

The 21-year old has shown a tremendous offensive upside especially when it comes to setting up goal scoring opportunities.

He finished juniors with 122 assists in 219 games and is already making his presence felt in minor league preseason play.

His 3-year entry level deal with the Sharks takes him through the 2014/2015.

Original story: 9/30-13

In his rookie campaign he would get a very respectable 6 goals and 15 assists in 57 games.

Although he seemed to establish himself as a regular on the farm team’s blue line, he somehow fell out of favor and was listed as a healthy scratch more often than even he thought possible despite putting up a career high 16 assists in 50 contests.

He was reassigned down the ladder to affiliate Allen Americans, possibly asking to be sent so he could play and got right to establishing himself as a force in the lower league.

In just 6 ECHL regular season games he scored 5 goals and 2 assists but really got to work in the playoffs, where in 25 games on the way to the 2015 Kelly Cup Championship he recorded 5 goals and 11 assists (tied for third best) with a +3 rating and 73 shots on net.

With a title in hand, he was set to enter his first restricted free agency but was dealt to St. Louis Blues for a deep draft as the Sharks seemed to be all set with the big blue liner.

The soon-to-be 23-year old was quickly signed to a one-year, two-way extension and will start 2015/2016 with his new farm team Chicago Wolves but one can almost expect the change of scenery is going to do great things for this still untapped, young d-man.

24Jul

Michael Chaput (39)

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Striking for 13 goals and 19 assists in his rookie campaign, 4th year center Michael Chaput(16) would put himself on the parent club’s radar through 73 AHL games earning his first recall early in his 2nd season.

He would skate with the big club for 17 games getting an assist as he played mostly under 10 minutes of total ice time in each contest.

His game elevated to a whole other level on reassigned to the minors.

He posted a career high 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in only 55 games.

In the last year of his entry level deal he made the opening night roster and put up assists in the first two games of the season and finally notched his first NHL goal in his second recall.

He ended up appearing in 33 games scoring 1 tally and four helpers, while still playing roughly 10 minutes per outing and was usually above 50% on the face off dot giving him extra value.

On reassignment to finish out the year his numbers weren’t what he accomplished in his sophomore season but he still managed 10 goals and 11 assists in 45 games with a +2 rating.

The Blue Jackets like what they see in the now 23-year old’s development and have re-upped with him extending him for another run on a two-way contract.

If he succeeds making the team out of training camp again he will likely need to prove he’s ready to contribute on a regular basis.

23Jul

Triston Grant(23) Grand Rapids Griffins

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9th year right wing Triston Grant(23) won a Calder Cup Championship with Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013 and re-signs to start the title defense.

Last season he played in a career high 75 games with a best +15. He’s always good for 10-15 points and triple digit penalty minutes. Almost ironically his best point scoring season was also he’s first over 200 pims.

He had 17 fighting majors in 2012/2013, which almost surprisingly doesn’t even land him in the top ten of the category.

The 6’1″ 218 lbs. forward was originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 9th round pick in 2004 (#286 overall) and has skated in 11 NHL games registering one assist and three fights.

He’s appeared in 510 AHL games posting 54 goals and 57 assists with 1462 minutes in the box and a strong combined +32 rating.

At 29-years old, he still seems to have plenty of gas left in the tank and has helped every team he’s played for with lots of hard on ice work and determination.

Original story: 8/12-13

He would increase his point totals from the previous season in far less games to 6 goals and 10 assists, while getting into far less scraps, but unfortunately the team that won the league title last year was a quick exit from the 2014 playoffs.

Heading into 2014/2015, he decided to return to Milwaukee Admirals on an AHL contract and ended up having his best campaign yet scoring a new high 13 goals and 26 points with a career tying 13 assists.

For his 11th pro season the 31-year old elected to go back to Grand Rapid Griffins signing for 2015/2016 very early into free agency like the decision was a no-brainer.

21Jul

Brian Dumoulin(8) Pittsburgh Penguins

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Originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#51 overall), rookie defenseman Brian Dumoulin(8) signed a three-year entry level contract with the team but was traded to Pittsburgh Penguins in the Jordan Staal in a draft day deal.

The 6’3″ 210 lbs. blue liner won an NCAA Championship last season with BC Eagles before deciding to turn pro after three years.

With no NHL in sight at the start of his rookie season, he was reassigned with every eligible player to their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barres/Scranton Penguins. In 31 games he has a pair of goals and 7 assists.

For a big guy d-man he did show an offensive upside at the college level and would be quite the asset if he can parlay that talent consistently in the big leagues.

It’s quite possible that he’ll get a quick look at Penguins‘ training camp when it starts up next weekend.

Original story: 1/9-15

His first year would finish with a nice 6 goals and 18 assists but a not so great -11 rating. He continued to improve in his Calder Cup Playoff debut getting 2 goals and 6 assists in 15 contests.

In his sophomore campaign his minor league totals fell very slightly but he played 20 less games, while scoring his first recall and making his first 6 appearances with the parent club. He would get his first point, an assist in his second game.

Upon his return to the Baby Pens he would come up with a new personal best 3 goals and 9 assists in 17 postseason match-ups.

A late training camp cut to start 2014/2015 he was summoned fairly early for 8 games and got his first NHL goal before being sent back putting up AHL career high 29 assists, 33 points and a crazy good +25 plus/minus.

His sturdy, steady play earned him a spot on the Stanley Cup Playoff roster, where he skated all 5 first round games with no points and a +1 rating.

Once again returning to the farm team to help them with their postseason push he notched three assists in 6 games bowing out in the second round.

Pittsburgh has given him a 2-year extension and it looks like the soon-to-be 24-year old will be playing his first full season in the show.

18Jul

Gilbert Brule(7) Medvescak Zagreb

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In late November he re-signed with Arizona Coyotes and was recalled after posting 7 goals and 5 assists in 11 games with Portland.

He skated 3 NHL games but failed to connect for any points and was set to be reassigned back down.

Not wanting to spend any more time in the minors he decided not to report and he was released by the team for breach of contract.

Unable to find another suitor he would sit for the remainder of 2013/2014.

For 2014/2015 he would sign a 1-year deal with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. In 44 KHL games he went on to score 10 goals and 5 assists.

It was rumored he was set to leave for the league a year earlier but decided to stay in North America.

The now 28-year old will spend his second season in the KHL but switch it up to skate with Medvescak Zagreb.

14Jul

Oliver Lauridsen (7)

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The big Dane d-man Oliver Lauridsen(7) played out the 2013 regular season in the NHL scoring 2 goals and 1 assist in 15 games with a 0 rating on a team that missed the playoffs.

He was given a two-year extension in the offseason but played 63 AHL games without garnering a call-up even though he recorded a season high 10 assists and 11 points; and also got into 9 dust-ups flexing some ruggedness and took his penalty totals up to 167 minutes.

In 2014/2015 he managed to skate in a career high 75 games for new farm team Lehigh Valley Phantoms scoring a new best 4 goals and again threw down the gloves 9 times and had 152 pims but only got into one game with the Flyers as he was past by other blue liners on the big club’s depth chart.

The 26-year old was an unrestricted free agent heading into the new season and heads overseas signing for 2015/2016 with Frolunda Indians of the SHL.

He’ll probably elevate his game to a whole other level.

07Jul

Kyle Wilson(7) MODO

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After 7 seasons of pro hockey in North America, 28-year old center Kyle Wilson(7) opts for a 1-year contract to join 2012 and 2013 KHL champs Dinamo Riga.

He was most recently signed to a two-year deal by Nashville Predators with the second year of the deal on a one-way contract.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward was moved in the off season to Tampa Bay Lightning, playing only 22 games for their minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch but was once again on the chopping block after scoring only 5 goals.

He was traded to Anaheim Ducks, where he was reassigned to Norfolk Admirals and seemed to regain some of his scoring touch with 3 goals and 9 assists in 16 games.

In 427 AHL games, he has amassed an impressive 319 points (149 goals and 170 assists) with an outstanding +48 rating and won back-to-back Calder Cup Championships with Hershey Bears.

Originally a Minnesota Wild 9th round pick in the 2004 draft (#272 overall), he has skated in 39 NHL games with 3 different teams recording a modest 4 goals and 9 assists.

He was set to become an unrestricted free agent upon deciding to take his game overseas.

Original story: 6/12-13

He had an exceptional first season with Dinamo Riga scoring close to point-per-game numbers (17-27-44) in 49 games but was sidelined late in the campaign with a back injury.

The Oakville, ON native would switch KHL teams in the offseason on a pair of occasions and start 2014/2015 with Traktor Chelyabinsk but returned to Dinamo Riga after 22 contests.

His production suffered greatly, as he was possibly still recovering from surgery, only connecting for 2 goals and 13 assists.

Heading into his 9th season the 30-year old moves on to join MODO of the SHL for 2015/2016 and should be able to get his mojo back.

See related: 3/8-11, 3/12-13

06Jul

Sam Carrick(53) Toronto Maples Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#144 overall), center Sam Carrick(16) is heading into the final season of his three-year entry level deal.

The 6′ 205 lbs. plays like a power forward and was definitely looking to make a statement as he heads into 2014/2015.

Skating in 62 AHL games he managed to put 14 in the back of the net and help out on another 21, good enough to tie for team 5th in assists and he was a best +17 plus/minus.

His chippy nature also lands him in the penalty box for long stretches. Hockeyfights has him listed with 9 fights to his credit in the 2013/2014 season.

He also puts a decent amount of shots on net; his 142 tied for 3rd. Needless to say, he’s pretty active in the game.

He seemed to put an exclamation point on all those career highs in the Calder Cup Playoffs, where he helped his squad along with 5 goals, 4 assists and a +2 rating. in 14 games before bowing out in the Western Conference Finals.

Not bad for a guy that spent his first 50 pro games in the ECHL with Idaho Steelheads grinding his teeth, putting up points: 16-21-37 with a +15 before being put on permanent recall.

Next it’s time to step up. He’s yet to receive his NHL summons.

You can bet the still young 22-year old is going to be putting a lot of pressure on the parent club at 2014 training camp.

Original story 6/6-14

He got his chances in the 2014/2015 with the Maple Leafs on three recalls from the farm club Toronto Marlies.

The tough nut skated 16 games scoring his first NHL goal and adding an assists playing what was an average 9 shifts for 6:30 of total ice time.

The now 23-year old appeared in 59 AHL games scoring a low 9 goals and 18 assists in slightly less games but it’s easy to excuse due to his time up with the big club.

Wasting no time the pending restricted free agent was signed to a 1-year extension before the 2015 playoffs finished to keep pushing for a spot.

03Jul

Jason Bacashihua (35)

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In his 10th season, veteran goaltender Jason Bacashihua(35) was originally a 1st round draft pick in 2001 for Dallas Stars (#26 overall) but they never played a game in net for them.

After a couple of not so successful seasons with their AHL team, Utah Grizzlies he was traded to St. Louis Blues and tended goal for Worcester IceCats for a season and Peoria Rivermen before getting his chance in the NHL.

He didn’t exactly step up at the opportunity and his stock dropped causing him to get traded to Colorado Avalanche for a bag of rocks.

Two calendars years later he signs a one-year deal with the always fantastic Hershey Bears and posted his first winning record since 2005/2006.

From here he starts his vagabond journey signing another deal and a great year for him later with Colorado. He backstops their AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters with a winning record and career highs in GAA 2.29 and SV% .917 and he’s on a roll at 28-years old.

He signed another one-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers but has and probably will only play with Adirondack Phantoms in the AHL. But once again, he’s winning more games than losing with decent GAA and SV%.

Original story: 1/24-12

After three seasons tending net in DEL for Straubing Tigers playing 137 games with a 2.80 GAA and a .911 SV% the soon-to-be 33 year old has decided to switch things up and moves on to Slovak Extraliga joining HC Banska Bystrica for 2015/2016.

It will be his 14th professional season.

03Jul

James Livingston(28) EC Dornbirner Bulldogs

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Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#70 overall), 3rd year right wing James Livingston(26) signed a 3-year entry level deal by San Jose Sharks and played with their minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks for the past 2 and a half years.

He was recently picked up by Los Angeles Kings‘ organization at the trade deadline for a future draft pick, giving him a new start.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. always hard-skating digger is already making an impression with his new squad he’s already very familiar with from playing games against in the AHL, Manchester Monarchs.

In his first outing he got into a scrap late in the first period. In his second skate (on his birthday) he posted the game-winning goal and an insurance marker raising his yearly totals closer to modest career highs, which he should surpass.

At his current pace, it seems like a good prospect for the restricted free agent to get a qualifying offer to stay where he is for a complete season look.

The 24-year old has yet to appear in an NHL game but with some more hard work could be a great fourth line grinder to start.

Original story: 3/12-14

For the final year of his initial contract, he ended the season posting career high totals: 8 goals and 15 assists in 67 games but it wasn’t enough to gain interest from another club.

He would decide to take a step back and sign for a season with Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL posting a handy 13 goals and 21 assists.

Surveying the landscape the now 25-year old has decided to pursue pro hockey elsewhere and agreed to play in Austria’s Erste Bank Eishockey Liga with EC Dornbirner Bulldogs.

He should be able to increase his point totals overseas and may find renewed energy in his game.

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