NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

15Sep

Theo Ruth(25) Springfield Falcons

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As the NHL prepares for another lockout, the big club’s are stocking the minor league ponds with all the two-way contracts they’ve got.

One such player is Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 3rd year defenseman, Theo Ruth(25). He’ll be in the final year of his entry level deal.

The 6’1″ 207 lbs. blue liner looks bigger than his stats might indicate. So far in his pro career he’s skated 106 AHL games with their affiliate Springfield Falcons and had identical scoring of 1 goal and 5 assists each year. One stat he’s probably not bragging about though is the cumulative -38 plus/minus he’s run up in just two campaigns.

He was originally a Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#46 overall) but “Ted” found himself dished in a trade for Sergei Federov before he ever skated a game with the team. That will always be something for him to brag about.

He’s still fairly young at 23-years old but he’ll need to step up his game big in what will be a difficult AHL season to gain some notice.

14Sep

Tommy Cross(29) Boston Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#35 overall), defenseman Tommy Cross(29) signed a 2-year entry level deal with the club last spring after he finished a mighty successful college career earning two national titles and captaining Boston College in his senior year on the way to that honor.

Upon completion of this academic career he played with Providence Bruins for the remainder of the AHL regular season and got in a couple of pro games that put him up on the stat sheet with 4 shots on goal and a +1 plus/minus.

Even without the impending NHL lockout it was almost a certainty that the 6’3″ 210 lbs. 23-year old would start his first full pro season with the P-Bruins.

In the games and prospect camps we’ve seen him skate, he makes good decisions with the puck and has enough size out there that he’s already tough to play against.

13Sep

Joe Charlebois(51) Kalamazoo Wings

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4th year defenseman Joe Charlebois(51) re-signs a one-year deal with Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL for 2012/2013.

He’s been with the the team for the last couple of seasons and has skated in 112 regular and playoff games scoring 3 goals and 31 assists with a +22 plus/minus.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. d-man was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 2005 draft (#188 overall) but never officially signed him. Instead he agreed to an spc with their minor league team, Rockford IceHogs. He spent most of his time with their ECHL affiliate Toledo Walleye though.

In 2010, he returned to Toledo inking for a year with them but was traded to the K-Wings, where the 26-year old has found a home of sorts.

In 2011/2012, he was recalled for 13 games by Manchester Monarchs and Lake Erie Monsters. In 28 AHL games he has yet to register a point.

09Sep

Eric Gelinas(24) New Jersey Devils

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21-year old New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#54 overall) defenseman Eric Gelinas(24) failed to score a rookie season recall and stuck with Albany of the AHL through 75 games, one short of a full regular season.

He arguably put up better numbers during his first pro year than he ever did in any of his time in juniors. In 2011/2012 he was tied for 3rd in the league for scoring by rookie d-men with 37 points (16 goals and 21 assists) and was first by a long margin on the A-Devils.

At 6’4″ 205 lbs. he’s still probably a good 15 pounds light of his eventual playing weight, but this is a guy that probably won’t be playing in the minors much longer.

2012/2013 will only be the 2nd year into his 3-year entry level deal he signed.

07Sep

Justin Florek(29) Boston Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ signed their 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#135 overall) left wing Justin Florek(29) to a 2-year entry level deal, as he started skating with the team’s AHL affiliate in Providence after the conclusion of his score sheet-filled college career at Northern Michigan University.

He signed an ato with the P-Bruins‘ before the ink was barely dried and had yet to be formally announced by the big club.

For the 6’4 200 lbs. forward’s pro debut he scored two goals and added a pair of assists in his 8-game stint before being released just before the end of the regular season.

At 22-years old he’s definitely a big presence, but as reported needs to put more muscle into his game.

He certainly has all the attributes to becoming a full-fledged power forward as he develops, a strength he started to show at Bruins‘ prospect camp.

Look for him to have a strong rookie season in the minors.

06Sep

Fight Card: Dane Byers (34) vs. Sena Acolatse (14)

Posted in AHL, Fight Card, NHL | 1 Comment

Opponents got much more than they bargained for mixing it up with Worcester Sharks‘ rookie defenseman Sena Acolatse(14) last season than they probably expected.

Standing in at only 5’11” 205 lbs. he may have not seem like a lot to handle, but once those gloves come off opponents quickly found him to be much stronger than his size might indicate and on the losing end of the battle.

Springfield Falcons 6’3″ 202 lbs. veteran left wing Dane Byers(34) got himself acquainted, only to get pummeled in his exchange with the smaller player.

Both guys will be around again with their respective teams for 2012/2013, so we’ll see if any rematch ensues.

Watch the fight here.

05Sep

Tony Romano(8) Vienna Capitals

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4th year center Tony Romano(8) was not qualified by New York Islanders after his three-year entry level contract expired at the conclusion of last season.

He was a local player, born on Long Island in Smithtown, NY.

For 2012/2013 he signed a tryout agreement with Vienna Capitals of the Erste Bank Hockey League (Austria).

It would be a big surprise if he failed to make the team.

In 2011/2012, his third AHL season with Bridgeport Sound Tigers the 24-year old put up career highs in just about every category scoring 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points, finishing 5th on the team.

He was also a +3 plus/minus and connected with 117 shots on net.

Still, the 5’10” 177 lbs. is relatively small and not always as strong on the puck as he should be, so found himself in and out of the lineup at times and was even reassigned to the ECHL Chicago Express for a wake-up weekend.

It actually worked because his point production soared afterwards.

He was originally a New Jersey Devils‘ 6th round pick in the 2006 draft (#178 overall) but traded to the Isles before he ever signed.

03Sep

Fight Card: Mike Moore(8) vs. Micheal Haley(18)

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Former Worcester Sharks‘ captain/defenseman Mike Moore(8) and former Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ left wing Micheal Haley(18) had an axe to grind all season mixing it up on a number of occasions when the two teams met during the 2011/2012 season. The sluggers match up fairly well at roughly the same size and weight.

They won’t get to see much of one another next year though as both players have signed contracts that will see them play in different conferences.

Moore will likely be guarding the blue line for Milwaukee Admirals, while Haley moves up the highway joining Connecticut Whale.

Both could see some time in the NHL with affiliates Nashville Predators and New York Rangers, which could reopen the can of worms.

02Sep

Justin Courtnall(90) Providence Bruins

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Left wing Justin Courtnall(90) decides to forego his final year of college hockey in the Hub with Boston University Terriers and signs a minor league contract to start up his pro career with Providence Bruins.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in the 2007 draft (#210 overall), he was an invite to Boston Bruins‘ 2012 prospect camp and his willingness and tough play earned him some looks.

Although 6’3″ 210 lbs. forward didn’t really put up stellar numbers in his three years of college hockey, the 23-year old is the son of Geoff Courtnall, who a sniper in over 1000 pro games in his career from 1983 – 2000.

Pretty much should be a no brainer that he shows up in Bruins’ training camp when and if that opens for in a couple of weeks.

01Sep

Fight Card: Frazer McLaren(10) vs. Justin Johnson(49)

Posted in AHL, Fight Card, NHL | 1 Comment

San Jose/Worcester Sharks‘ big and tough guy Frazer McLaren(10) will rise up to whatever challenger he faces and during more than one occasion in his severely shortened 2011/2012 he was called out by Manchester Monarchs‘ resident maniac Justin Johnson(49).

Injuries hindered most of last season, limiting the 6’5″ 240 lbs. forward’s availability to just 20 AHL games (and 7 in the NHL).

Manchester Monarchs‘ bruiser Johnson is always a menacing presence to opposing players. The 5’10” 222 lbs. ball of fire amassed 187 minutes in the box through 44 games played, surpassing his total from the prior year by 60 seconds.

There will be more chances for the two players to meet up in 2012/2013 as the former signed on for another season and the latter has one more left under his current contract.