NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

08Feb

Aaron Ness(27) New York Islanders

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New York Islanders‘ rookie defenseman Aaron Ness(27) was a 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#40 overall). He got an unexpected emergency basis call-up from their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers and got to experience his first NHL action.

The game turned out to be an Islanders‘ 1-0 shootout win and he probably logged a bit more ice time (14:25 minutes) than he anticipated he’d get in his first game.

He skated in 13 games with the Sound Tigers at the end of last season after signing with the team and popped in his first professional goal and also served up a pair of helpers. In 46 games this season he’s got a couple of goals and 15 assists with a +6 plus/minus.

At 5’10” 170lbs. he’s not the biggest guy by no means but plays an aggressive, defensive style that has gotten him noticed.

07Feb

Erik Christensen(40) Minnesota Wild

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It had been only a couple of seasons since 8th year center Erik Christiansen(40) played in the AHL, but before that it had been a few years when he appeared in 16 games with the affiliate of the team he was originally drafted and signed by, Pittsburgh Penguins (3rd round of 2002, #69 overall).

His only full season in the minors was his rookie campaign in 2004/2005, the year of the NHL lockout.

In his third season with New York Rangers, he came out of the gate slow and was eventually squeezed out of the lineup as the Blueshirts were looking for that right winning combination to click.

After many healthy scratches, he was finally demoted to Connecticut Whale on a “conditioning stint”.

In 5 games he scored a pair of goals and added an assist.

Looking to add some punch to their now struggling team, Minnesota Wild stepped in and gave up a prospect for some help up front they hope will pay immediate dividends.

He’s played 359 NHL games scoring 62 goals and 94 assists.

We shall see. . .

05Feb

Cal O’Reilly(36) Pittsburgh Penguins

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6th year pro center Cal O’Reilly(36) didn’t survive the waiver wire in his recent Phoenix Coyotes‘ NHL call-up from their AHL affiliate Portland Pirates and was grabbed as a depth player for the injury riddled Pittsburgh Penguins‘ offensive push.

In 108 NHL games he has 13 goals and 28 assists (he just got his first with his new team over the weekend).

He was originally a 5th round Nashville Predators‘ pick in the 2005 draft (#150 overall) and skated for five plus seasons with them and Milwaukee Admirals before being traded to Phoenix at the beginning of this year.

03Feb

Jon Matsumoto(10) San Antonio Rampage

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Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft (#79 overall) center Jon Matsumoto(10) was a team prospect for the first three years of his pro career and had two 60+ point AHL seasons with the Phantoms before being traded at the end of his 3-year entry level contract to Carolina Hurricanes 2010 for what amounted to a bag of rocks, a 7th round draft selection.

He played with their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers for a season and a half (including 13 games, scoring 2 goals last season with the Hurricanes) before being recently dished to Florida Panthers for another up-and-coming forward that was primarily playing with San Antonio Rampage.

In 46 AHL games he has 17 goals and 24 assists, which puts in on pace for his third 60 point season. At 6′ 185 lbs. he isn’t the biggest forward but he plays that style and has to ramp it up to the next level.

01Feb

Spencer Machacek (10)

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4th year right wing Spencer Machacek(10) was originally selected by Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets in the 3rd round of 2007 draft (#67 overall).

He’s been in their system ever since he signed a 3-year two-way entry level deal with the team, followed by accepting their qualifying offer to stay for 2011/2012.

In the AHL he’s put up 50 points give or take in each of his first three seasons and is on course to achieve that again this year with St. John’s IceCaps.

He has 11 goals and 23 assists in 44 games.

Recently recalled, he skated in his first NHL game with Winnipeg Jets.

In 13 games he has yet to register a point and will likely need to step it up when he gets his opportunities or find a new home for 2012/2013.

He’s still only 23-years old though.

01Feb

Steve Bernier(25) New Jersey Devils

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7th year winger, originally a 1st round pick of San Jose Sharks in 2003 (#16 overall), Steve Bernier(25) signed an AHL contract with Albany Devils in late October.

Before this season he only ever played 59 games in the minors as a rookie and in his 3rd year.

He’s skated 385 NHL games (76 goals and 83 assists) with the Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and in 2010/2011 with Florida Panthers.

Not exactly the best totals for a former high draft selection.

At 6’3″ and 220 lbs., you got to think the 26-year old has plenty left to use that big frame and blossom into the power forward he was always pegged to become.

New Jersey Devils just stepped in and turned his contract into a big league one-year, two-way deal.

He made his 2012 NHL debut as the league reconvened post All-Star game and skated 18 shifts for 13:30 minutes of total ice, including some power play time.

He had one shot on goal and went a -1 plus/minus, which maybe wasn’t all that great but his team did win in the shootout.

31Jan

Casey Cizikas(11) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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1st year center Casey Cizikas(11) leads the AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers in team scoring with 14 goals and 24 assists in 44 games played.

He’s tied for third in the league in rookie scoring and leads all rookies in plus/minus with a +20, which is good for 2nd overall.

Originally picked by New York Islanders in the 4th round of the 2009 draft (#92 overall) look for him to get his first NHL call-up sooner than later.

He’s currently on a scoring tear getting 4 goals and 5 assists in his last three games and was chosen to play for the Eastern Conference in the 2012 AHL All-Star Game and collected himself a goal in the 8-7 shootout loss.

30Jan

Boyd Kane(12) Hershey Bears

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14-year veteran, Hershey Bears‘ left wing Boyd Kane(12) got the nod to captain the 2012 Eastern Conference All-Star squad for the Atlantic City, Boardwalk Hall match-up vs. the West.

He won back-to-back Calder Cups, first with Philadelphia Phantoms in 2005 and then with Hershey in 2006. He also won the AHL title with the Bears again in 2010.

His last three seasons have been spent in Washington Capitals‘ farm system and 5 of 6 seasons before that with Philadelphia, except the stop back in Hershey. He started his pro career with four years with New York Rangers‘ AHL (Hartford Wolf Pack) and ECHL (Charlotte Checkers) affiliates.

In 31 NHL games (23 with the Flyers, 8 with the Capitals) the 31-year old has three assists but has yet to pot his first goal. At 6’2″ 225 lbs. he’s easily more relied upon for his physical game.

30Jan

Edward Pasquale(40) St. John’s IceCaps

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2nd year Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets‘ 2009 4th round pick (#117 overall) goaltender Edward Pasquale(40) looks to put up career highs this season playing very impressively for their AHL Eastern Conference leading affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

In 16 games he has a 10-6 record with a 2.88 GAA and a so so .897 SV% but he’s been very focused and tough to beat in net the couple of starts we’ve seen him play recently. He notched his 1st shutout of 2011/2012 last weekend going into the AHL All-Star Game break.

He split his rookie season with Chicago Wolves and Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL and played decently for both.

28Jan

Mitch Wahl(51) Utah Grizzlies

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After suffering a season ending concussion in his 2010/2011 rookie year, Calgary Flames‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#48 overall), center Mitch Wahl(51) is starting it a bit slow to begin his second campaign in the pros.

After appearing in 6 games to start the season with ECHL Utah Grizzlies, where he put up 5 goals and two assists, he was recalled to Abbotsford Heat to find a spot in their lineup. He skated in 5 games with them but failed to get on the scoring sheet and was loaned by the Flames to Hamilton Bulldogs.

Recently recalled and reassigned once again to Utah, he picked up where he left off scoring a goal in his first game back.

With the Bulldogs, he had 2 goals and 3 assists in 22 games and went a +1 plus/minus.