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29Apr

Dustin Tokarski(34) & Martin Jones(31)

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Norfolk Admirals‘ 3rd year goalie Dustin Tokarski(34) and Manchester Monarchs‘ 2nd year net minder Martin Jones(31) exchange handshakes at the conclusion of their AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Jones sat his first playoff game of the series but was the goaltender on record for the previous three contests, including a Monarchs‘ 5-2 win in game 2, the Admirals‘ 1st loss after 29 straight victories that started back on February 10. Almost appears like Tokarski is giving him a nod with the shake for that win.

The 22-year old Tokarski has one more year left on his 3-year entry level contract. It’s very possible that the 5’11” 198 lbs. backstop could compete for the starter job with Tampa Bay Lightning next season. He showed flashes of brilliance in 5 games in 2011/2012, despite only one win.

26Apr

Nick Drazenovic(10) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed soon-to-be 6th year center Nick Drazenovic(10) to another one year, two-way contract for the 2012/2013 season.

He failed to receive an NHL call-up in what was an injury-plagued year for the 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward.

Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 6th round pick in the 2005 draft (#171 overall), he appeared in three games with the team registering no points.

In 278 games over four seasons with their AHL affiliate Peoria Rivermen, he’s scored 70 goals and 90 assists.

Even being limited to only 41 games with Springfield Falcons, he managed 13 goals and a career high 28 assists, making him a point per game player.

If he’s healthy, the 25-year old should almost certainly see some more time in the show in the upcoming year.

26Apr

Riley Holzapfel(26) Syracuse Crunch

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Love this minor (league) detail when the AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Playoff match-ups were set.

4th year center Riley Holzapfel(26) was traded from Winnipeg Jets‘ affiliate St. John’s IceCaps to Anaheim Ducks AHL team, Syracuse Crunch for Maxime Macenauer.

In 28 games with the Crunch he has 8 goals and 14 assists but nothing in the postseason as of yet.

At 6’3″ 190 lbs. the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#43 overall), the 23-year old can get in there and get points but he sometimes plays more of a finesse game than he should considering his size.

Macenauer has only appeared in one of the 3 games, an IceCaps‘ loss but looks to be on the team that will continue their playoff push.

22Apr

Colin McDonald(13) WBS Penguins

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5th year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ forward Colin McDonald(13) is putting goals in the net in the Calder Cup Playoffs like Noah loads animals into the ark: two at a time.

He potted a pair in the first game and another two in the second game, both wins for the 2-0 lead vs. Hershey Bears in the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series.

Originally drafted by Edmonton in the 2nd round of 2003 (#51 overall), he appeared in only 2 games with the Oilers but did get his first NHL goal.

He’s played in 5 games this season with Pittsburgh Penguins, the team he signed a one-year, two-way contract with as an unrestricted free agent but didn’t register a point.

In 374 AHL regular season games he has 94 goals and 85 assists. He put in a career high 42 last season with Oklahoma City Barons but had a best this year with assists at 35 and a +12 plus/minus.

21Apr

David Rundblad(2) Phoenix Coyotes

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Swedish-born, 21-year old rookie defenseman David Rundblad(2) started his first season on the blue line with Ottawa Senators and appeared in 24 games scoring his first NHL goal and 3 assists with them before being traded to Phoenix Coyotes in a deal that has maybe paid more immediate dividends for the Senators, as they got Kyle Turris.

The Coyotes only utilized him in 6 regular season games in the 2011/2012 season, but he added another 3 assists to his first year totals.

In 30 AHL games with Portland Pirates, he managed 7 goals and 9 assists but was a not so good -18 plus/minus.

At 6’2″ 190 lbs. he definitely looks like he has good size out there but easily needs to add more muscle and grit into his game to fulfill the promise of being a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#17 overall). He signed with them but got dished to Ottawa in what amounted to mostly a deal of draft picks.

He was just recalled to join Phoenix in their Stanley Cup run, which is closing in on a first round victory, but it’s doubtful he’ll see any game time action with the depth they have on d.

20Apr

Mark Fraser(29) Toronto Marlies

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6th year, 25-year old defenseman Mark Fraser(29) will definitely help Toronto Marlies in their quest for the Calder Cup.

He’s had quite the ride in the 2011/2012 season as he started the season with the team that selected him in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft (#84 overall), New Jersey Devils. In 5 years in their system, he’s skated 98 NHL games (3 goals, 5 assists) and has appeared in 233 AHL contests.

Never really considered a big point producer, he is however a big presence on the blue line at 6’3″ 220 lbs.

A trade in mid-December, saw him go to Anaheim Ducks but he didn’t appear in a game before being reassigned to Syracuse Crunch, where he played some mean, shutdown hockey and was a career high +13 plus/minus.

Only a couple of months later though, he was dished again in a minor league deal that has him playing in the AHL postseason for the first time in his pro career. He got himself an assist on the game-winning goal to boot.

18Apr

Ryan Spooner (18)

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Boston Bruins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#45 overall), 20-year old center Ryan Spooner(18) signed a three-year entry level deal with the team in the last year’s offseason but was returned to play his fourth and final campaign in juniors.

He picked up a handy 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games, which continued the streak of three (almost four) years as a point plus per game player in the OHL.

In two years signing an ato with Providence Bruins at the conclusion of his junior season, he has 3 goals and 4 assists in 8 games as a pro.

He is likely to report to another Boston prospect camp, followed by the regular training camp and will likely start 2012/2013 with Providence.

Listed at 5’10” 175 lbs., he looks smaller, which won’t help the AHL team that is already struggling with some size issues up front but he obviously knows how to be effective at the triple A level, so how he develops should be exciting to see.

15Apr

Boone Jenner (15)

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18-year old Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#37 overall), center Boone Jenner(15) picked up his first pro hockey goal with AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons in their last game of the regular season.

He’s skated in 5 games with the team since his juniors club was eliminated from the OHL playoffs.

In all likelihood he will be returned to his final year of juniors but already at 6’1″ 193 lbs. he’s big and looks to have all the right assets to play hockey with the bigger boys.

13Apr

Mark Barberio(8) Norfolk Admirals

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Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#156 overall), 2nd year defenseman Mark Barberio(8) is having himself another career year with their AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

He leads all defenseman in the league with 47 assists, tied for 2nd in plus/minus (+25) and overall points (60). In his first campaign he established a new record for points, assists and points among rookie defenseman.

He was recently named winner of the Eddie Shore Award as the outstanding blue liner for the 2011/2012 season and also picked as a 1st team AHL All-Star.

One surprising note in all that is good so far in his pro career, the 22-year old has yet to receive an NHL recall despite all the success.

It’s seemingly the one thing that has eluded the 6’1″ 200 lbs. d-man.

He’s in the 2nd year of his 3-year entry level deal.

12Apr

J.D. Watt(10) Ontario Reign

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4th year pro, right wing J.D. Watt(10) signed an AHL contract with Manchester Monarchs‘ for the 2011/2012 season after opting out of his one-year deal with Calgary Flames.

He was originally a Flames‘ 4th round pick in 2005 (#111 overall) and played 139 AHL games with their affiliates in Quad City then Abbotsford Heat before leaving.

Starting the season with the Monarchs‘ ECHL affiliate Ontario Reign he was recalled three times and played 19 games scoring a goal to go along with a pair of helpers.

He was most recently reassigned to the ECHL again to help out in the Reign‘s Kelly Cup Playoff push. They did get to game 5 before losing in that decisive matchup.

He will likely be recalled unless the Monarchs wait to see how their final weekend unfolds as they are in a battle for their playoff lives. The 24-year has been mostly a 4th line energy forward throughout his playing career.