NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

30Aug

Alex Grant(20) Pittsburgh Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#114 overall) defenseman Alex Grant(20) re-signs his qualifying offer to return for another season in the team’s prospect system.

He had an amazing 2011/2012 setting career highs in games played, goals, assists, points and penalty minutes (61-10-27-37-73) with their AHL affiliate WBS Penguins after a disastrous 2nd year, when he shattered his wrist and suffered whiplash in a rookie tournament leading up to training camp pretty much shelving the entire campaign.

The blue liner has sizable presence standing at 6’3″ 190 lbs. and could definitely add some bulk to his frame, making him tougher to play against.

At 23-years old, he looks to be developing pretty much on schedule. He started his pro career in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers and has played in 71 games in double A, including 17 on their way to the Kelly Cup Eastern Conference Finals.

30Aug

Malcolm Subban(81)

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The name on the back of the jersey is one Boston Bruins‘ fans have learned to hate over the last couple of seasons, as his brother PK is always in the crosshairs of the black & gold, while wearing his Canadiens‘ bleu blanc rouge.

Well, this is 18-year old goaltender, Malcolm Subban(81), the spoked B’s 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#24 overall).

He’s played a couple of seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with Belleville Bulls.

His 2011/2012 season was pretty impressive. The 6′ 178 lbs. netminder played in a career high 39 games with a record of 25-14 and a 2.50 GAA and .923 SV%.

He looks to have the same competitiveness as his brother has but maybe is a little more grounded.

That could just be related to the position on ice he plays.

Projected to make the majors; could very well be a key selection.

29Aug

Jaroslav Janus (30)

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Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#192 overall) goalie Jaroslav Janus(30) hopefully heads to the home country Slovakia to continue his pro hockey career development as he’s signed a tryout agreement with HC Slovan Bratislava.

The 3rd year goaltender’s entry level deal was up and he was a restricted free agent going into 2012/2013.

With no room in the minors and he’s yet to make an NHL appearance, this was thought to be the best idea in the quest to keep getting him playing time.

The 6’1″ 189 lbs. backstop had a career year with Calder Cup Champion Norfolk Admirals last season.

In 34 games he posted a 23-8 record with a 2.36 GAA and .914 SV%.

Unless he gets comfortable playing closer to his birthplace, it’s likely that if the Lightning just have too many goalies in their system, someone else will come a knocking for the 22-year old.

27Aug

Corey Fienhage(5) Rochester Americans

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2nd year defenseman Corey Fienhage(5) re-signs with Rochester Americans for 2012/2013, while still under the guidance of the parent club Buffalo Sabres.

He was a 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#88 overall) but has only been signed to standard AHL contracts. He also was reassigned to Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL for a good chunk of his first season, where he has managed a bit better success on the scoresheet so far.

In 32 games last season he had 5 goals and 8 assists while going a -4 plus/minus.

In the AHL he’s a +2 with 4 assists in 20 games.

At 6’2 215 lbs. he plays like a big defenseman out there but at only 22-years old it could be said he’s still growing into his pro game.

26Aug

Tyler Ruegsegger(7) Alaska Aces

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Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2006 draft (#166 overall), center Tyler Ruegsegger(7) was suppose to figure in the team’s future plans based on his stats leading up to his selection and then later with his excellent play in the last year of his college career.

Somewhere along the line though something happened because he didn’t sign to start his rookie season until late October of 2010; and that was with Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.

From there he gets traded to Alaska Aces, but in the final month of his first year the then 23-year old gets his first AHL called-up by Abbotsford Heat. scoring 1 goal and 4 assists in 12 games. He was returned to the Aces just in time to help them win the 2011 Kelly Cup.

In a surprising move for his second campaign, the 6′ 195 lbs. forward re-signed with the Aces to continue with the team for 2011/2012. Once again, he was recalled: first by Bridgeport Sound Tigers, then the Heat for a second run.

If he wasn’t accidentally clocked in the face by a one-timer in practice, it’s speculated that he could have played his first Calder Cup Playoff games or participated in another playoff run with the Aces.

For the upcoming 2012/2013 season, the now 25-year old re-signs for his third go with Alaska.

In 105 ECHL games he has 29 shots on goal into the net and assisted on another 25. Will this be his breakout year?

25Aug

Brodie Dupont(9) HC Valpellice Bulldogs

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Facing unrestricted free agency status, 6th year left wing Brodie Dupont(9) jumps ship after one dismal season with Milwaukee Admirals to skate with HC Valpellice Bulldogs of Italy pro hockey for 2012/2013.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. forward was originally a New York Rangers 3rd round pick in the 2005 draft (#66 overall) but skated only one NHL contest with the team. He appeared in 297 AHL games with their affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale scoring 58 goals and 90 assists before being traded as an rfa to Nashville Predators at the start of 2011 free agency.

The 25-year old is a big man on ice but seems to lack the aggressive follow through punch that would make him a more effective power forward. Maybe the time overseas will help his overall game.

24Aug

Cam Paddock(11) Frederikshavn

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9th year grisly veteran center Cam Paddock(11) started last season with Manchester Monarchs after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles Kings right before the 2011/2012 season started.

He appeared in 39 AHL games scoring 2 goals and 3 assists and then seemingly disappeared. The 29-year resurfaced, without much of an explanation from the parent club other than they terminated his contract, back in Germany (where he skated in ’10/’11) with Ausburg Panthers for the remainder of the year.

The one-time 5th round pick of Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2002 draft (#137 overall) switches up countries for the new season, joining Frederikshavn White Hawks in the Danish hockey league AL-Bank Ligaen.

The 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward has nasty written all over his game and has played in 16 NHL games, all with St. Louis Blues, registering a goal and a pair of assists to his credit.

It’s likely he’ll ride out his pro career overseas at this point.

21Aug

Jamie Arniel (12)

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After three years with Boston Bruins, signed to an entry level contract, center Jamie Arniel(12) was not qualified an offer to return for another season.

He had a really poor year with their AHL affiliate Providence Bruins (only 7 goals and 17 assists in 74 games combined with a terrible -17 plus/minus), which could have contributed to them giving up on his development.

The 23-year old was originally a 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#97 overall) and there was high hopes for the always seemingly small looking 5’11” 183 lbs. forward.

In 227 minor league games he posted 43 goals and 60 assists with career highs in 2010/2011, the season he skated in his one NHL game (also the year the Bruins won the Stanley Cup).

He is said to have received a ring for his time with their practice squad, the Black Aces.

For 2012/2013 he is off to continue his professional playing career in DEL with Eisbären Berlin.

He’s still so young that it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see him put up some big numbers overseas and return to another NHL team under a two-way contract.

20Aug

Tyler Eckford(7) Ottawa Senators

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5th year defenseman Tyler Eckford(7) will slide over to skate with his third team in three seasons signing a two-year, two-way deal with Ottawa Senators for the 2012/2013 season.

After spending his first three seasons with New Jersey Devils, mostly with their farm team in Albany/Lowell, he hooked up with Phoenix Coyotes on a one-year contract and skated in a career high 75 AHL games with Portland Pirates, scoring a personal best 10 goals.

He was never recalled last year, as he was for 7 games over 2 seasons with the Devils. He tallied one assist in 3 and 4 game stints.

Whether he earns an occasional spot on the Sens‘ blue line seems to lie for the upcoming season with the player, as there may be an opening for him to potentially fill. Regardless, he should help the team’s affiliate in Binghamton shore up their defense for the next couple of years.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. almost 27-year old plays a tough, aggressive game but seems to lack a bit of the knockout punch in his play he needs to use more of.

See related posts: 8/19-11 and 4/13-10

19Aug

Chris Terry(25) Carolina Hurricanes

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ 5th round pick in the 2007 draft (#132 overall) left wing Chris Terry(25) gets the nod for another two seasons to continue his development in the team’s prospect system.

In 2011/2012 he had an AHL career high in 43 assists with Charlotte Checkers.

His 59 points led the team in scoring; he was second by a point the year before.

Through 234 regular season games he has 67 goals and 103 assists, which is pretty good for the 5’10” 195 lbs. forward.

He was outstanding in the Checkers‘ surge to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011 with 6 goals and 3 assists in 15 contests.

The 23-year old has yet to appear in an NHL contest but an appearance should be right around the corner, especially if he continues on his scoring run in the minors.