NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

16Mar

Erik Gustafsson(36) Philadelphia Flyers

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In his 2nd season, Philadelphia Flyers‘ Swedish-born defenseman Erik Gustafsson(36) has played more NHL games with the injury ravaged big club than he has with their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms.

He’s in the second year of his 3-year entry level deal and has fared pretty well in 21 games for the Flyers scoring his first NHL goal and adding 3 assists, while going an outstanding +11 plus/minus.

In all likelihood he could leave the minors for good next year and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him ink an extension in the offseason.

At 5’10” 180 lbs. he could maybe add some muscle weight but he’s thought of as a good puck moving blue liner and his on-ice accountability suggests he might be ok where he is.

16Mar

Trent Whitfield(23) Boston Bruins

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14 years into his pro career and Boston Bruins‘ round 4 pick in the 1996 draft (#100 overall) center Trent Whitfield(23) has put in NHL game minutes for 10 of those seasons, including this one as he was recently recalled to play for a Bruins‘ team that’s looking just about anywhere for some answers, fill-ins.

He’s played 194 NHL games scoring 11 goals and 18 assists.

He has one more year on his current contract and assumes the role of team captain for Providence Bruins.

The 34-year old isn’t ready to quit and rightfully so, because he’s always an effective player out there and a contributor. In 41 AHL games he has 5 goals and 6 assists, but more importantly anchors a young Baby B’s core.

He’s played a phenomenal 755 AHL regular season games scoring 236 goals and 342 assists. We hope he makes it 1000.

15Mar

Corey Syvret(6) Trenton Titans

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2nd year defenseman, Corey Syvret(6) was originally drafted by Florida Panthers in the 6th round of 2007 (#181 overall) but only played 4 games with their then AHL affiliate Rochester Americans after his junior career finished.

He was signed a one-year two-way deal with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for his first pro season but was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings without seeing any action in a higher league.

For the 2011/2012 season he inked a deal to play with newly re-hatched Trenton Titans and set career highs for games played (50) goals and assists (4 apiece).

He received his first call-up of the year to Portland Pirates, where he skated in 3 games, registering no points but did go a +1 before being returned to Trenton, where he will likely finish out the season.

It’s a bit of a wonder why he isn’t under contract with an AHL team but maybe he’s a bit of a late bloomer and needs to grow into his game a bit more. He stands 6’2″ and weighs in at 195, so it not a question of size.

His older brother is Danny Syvret, also a defenseman, has seen action in 59 NHL and 396 AHL contests.

9/19-12: Alaska Aces traded for the signing rights of the 23-year old defenseman. Chances are good that he’ll work out a contract with the team for ’12/’13.

14Mar

Maxime Sauve(7) Boston Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#47 overall) center Max Sauve(7) finally got in his first NHL game and just over 3 minutes of ice time in suffers what is said to be a hip injury and is now added to the team’s ever growing list of walking wounded.

He had been limited to only 30 games with Providence Bruins, because of a concussion he suffered earlier in the season. In his second season he’s put up 7 goals and 10 assists.

The 22-year old (6’2″ 184 lbs.) scored 21 goals and added 17 assists in his first year

He signed a 3-year entry level deal that has one more season left but you have to figure the B’s organization sees a potential huge upside in his growth as a player, if he can steer clear of injuries.

No doubt he’s going to have to bulk up to power forward intensity. He already plays that style of game but is still a little light to be effectively throwing that body around.

He was one of the last players reassigned to the AHL from training camp.

13Mar

Kyle Palmieri(21) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#26 overall), 2nd year right wing Kyle Palmieri(21) has been on a string between the NHL and their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch as he is on his 5th recall.

He has marginal career highs in the NHL with 12 games played, registering a goal and an assist. He had 10 games with a goal in his rookie campaign.

In 46 games with the Crunch this season he has 32 goals and 22 assists. In 62 contest last season he had 29 goals and 22 assists, so is en route to more career scoring highs. He currently sits 10th in scoring leaders and leads the league in goals scored with anywhere from 15-20 less games played than the other skaters.

His older brother is Nick Palmieri, forward with Minnesota Wild.

12Mar

Marcus Foligno(71) Buffalo Sabres

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#104 overall), rookie left wing Marcus Foligno(71) has received a pair of one-game cracks at the NHL…and in his second look in the show, he scored himself his first NHL goal, the game-tying goal in the third period to an eventual shootout win.

In 55 AHL games with Rochester Americans he’s got 14 goal and 20 assists, which is tied on his team for 3rd in scoring, first among rookies. He’s also a +13 plus/minus, which is pretty big on a team with 181 GF and 177 GA.

At 6’3″ 216 lbs. he already plays to his size and will probably add some more muscle to his game, just like his dad Mike Foligno used to for 10 seasons with the Sabres. As the 20-year old gets some more games in, he’ll no doubt do just that.

His older brother Nick plays for Ottawa Senators.

09Mar

Dustin Tokarski(34) Tampa Bay Lightning

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3rd year Tampa Bay Lightning 5th round pick in 2008 (#122 overall) goaltender Dustin Tokarski(34) got a bit of a surprise when they decided to start him in his 1st NHL call up of the season. It was the first time he’d started a game.

He’s deserved it with his impressive play in net for the very good AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals. He has 27 wins against 11 losses and a 2.34 GAA and .905 SV%. He also has 4 shutouts.

While not the biggest guy in the crease at 5’11” 195 lbs. he plays the angles well and looks to be blossoming into a bona fide big league goalie and at this point the Lightning could use one of those as they inch closer to a playoff spot.

He has one more year on his 3-year entry level deal, which included a first year slide.

08Mar

James Sheppard(15) Worcester Sharks

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Center James Sheppard(15) was Minnesota Wild‘s 1st round pick in 2006 (#9 overall) and played for three NHL seasons with the team but fell far short of expectations putting in only 11 goals, along with 38 assists in 224 games.

Not exactly the numbers expected from a player selected in the first round of the draft after a couple of phenomenally successful last couple years in juniors.

Then in the offseason, right before his fourth campaign he gets injured horsing around on some heavy all-terrain equipment and 2010/2011 get scrapped. It’s derailed most of this season as well as he continues to rehab but he finally appeared.

He was picked up in a low rent trade by San Jose Sharks before the start of 2011/2012 and continued to rehab. Finally set to go, he was reassigned to the AHL for the 1st time in his career on a conditioning stint, where he could very well stay in Worcester. In 4 games he has yet to get on the scoresheet, but does have 6 shots on net.

We’re sure San Jose would love to roll the dice, because they need to find a way to win or they’ll miss the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

07Mar

Lane McDermid(20) Boston Bruins

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Heavyweight Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#112 overall), left wing Lane McDermid(20) was one of the last players cut and reassigned from this seasons training camp.

In their system for the last few years he is in the final year of his entry level contract.

Patience, persistance and punches has paid off, because he received his first NHL call-up to spark the slumping (and injured) Bruins get their mojo back in order.

In the two games he’s appeared in, a win and a loss, he’s skated for an average of 7 minutes of ice time, got into a fight and is an even plus/minus.

He may not be putting the puck in the net anytime soon (although we won’t be surprised if he gets one) but he creates chaos out there and his 6’3″ 205 lbs. frame isn’t any fun when it’s coming full speed at an opposing player.

In 57 AHL games with Providence Bruins this season the 22-year old is 2nd in penalty minutes and has 4 goals and 10 assists.

07Mar

Mark Katic(71) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 3rd round pick in 2007 (#62 overall), 3rd year defenseman Mark Katic(71) hasn’t exactly been the luckiest pro at shaking off injuries. He succumbed to a second surgery right before the season started to repair a shoulder that sidelined him from the last Isles’ regular season game of 2010/2011 on April 9 until March 4.

His return was with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, a team he has now played 112 games for scoring 7 goals and 37 assists.

In 11 NHL games he has no goals and an assist.

He’s in the final year of his 3-year entry level deal and having spent so much time and money on medical bills it would be no surprise to see him get a qualifying offer for another year or two.

He’s still only 22 years old and definitely has potential puck moving, play making capabilities in his style of play. If there’s a downside, it’s been a pretty horrible plus/minus, although those numbers were on very subpar teams.

How he responds to his first pro postseason play will probably be huge to see where he sits on the depth chart.