Tagged: NHL draft pick

21Sep

Eric Tangradi (25)

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Entering his third season, extra large-sized Pittsburgh Penguins‘ forward Eric Trangradi(25) at 6’4″ 221 lbs. looks to make himself a permanent fixture in the team’s lineup for the 2011/2012 season.

He seemed to be on his way last year but got derailed when he was knocked out for over a month with a concussion.

Originally drafted by Anaheim in 2007 in the 2nd round (#42 overall) he was traded before ever playing with them.

He’s spent most of his first two seasons with the Pens‘ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton becoming a fan favorite at Casey Plaza.

I would say he should find a spot on the NHL roster for himself if he stays healthy.

20Sep

Jared Cowen(4) Ottawa / Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#9 overall) defenseman Jared Cowen(4) is going to make it difficult to not give him a spot on the roster opening night. He scored 2 goals and got into a fight in the team’s first preseason matchup vs. the Maple Leafs in Toronto, a 4-2 loss.

He showed up to Binghamton late last season, after his junior team finished, to help the B-Sens in the final two rounds of their storied ride to capture the 2011 AHL Calder Cup.

 

19Sep

Johnny Boychuk(55) Boston / Providence Bruins

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One-time Providence Bruins‘ defenseman, Johnny Boychuk(55) is the first player to step on the TD Garden ice for Group B at the 2nd day of training camp.

He was originally drafted by Colorado Avalanche in the 2nd round of the 2002 draft (#61 overall). He only suited up for one game with them before being traded to Boston in 2008.

He played for four seasons with AHL affiliates of Colorado in Hershey, Lowell, Albany and Lake Erie before making his way to the NHL full-time a couple of seasons ago.

There’s no sign that he’ll ever go back.

18Sep

Brian McGrattan(38) Anaheim Ducks

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Mammoth-sized (6’4″ 235 lbs) 10th year vet, Brian McGrattan(38) signed a one-year, two-way deal to stay in the Anaheim Ducks‘ system after he was traded late last season by Boston in what amounted to a 4-player minor league swap.

He had played mostly in the NHL for the prior five seasons but last year failed to catch on with a club in the big league. The Ducks already have a guy named George Parros to do their dirty work, so he’ll likely find most, if not all of his playing time with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch.

18Sep

Justin Faulk(3) Carolina Hurricanes / Charlotte Checkers

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2010 2nd round draft pick (#37 overall) defenseman Justin Faulk(3) joined their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers for the Calder Cup Playoff run after his college team won the NCAA title. He played 13 games registered a couple of assists and went a bit lowly -7.

He reportedly played well in the recently held Traverse City Rookies Tournament and may develop quicker than the ‘Canes figured he would. He’s all of 19-years old, turning pro after only a single season of playing college.

 

16Sep

Mark Borowiecki(5) Ottawa / Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 2008 5th round draft pick (#139 overall), defenseman Mark Borowiecki(5) will be a rookie at the start of this season but has already experienced much playing pro.

He appeared in 9 games at the end of last season and 21 games of Calder Cup action, helping Binghamton Senators win the AHL championship trophy.

Word has it that this somewhat deep pick is impressing folks in camp and what was almost a certain start for a full year with the B-Sens, may grab him some playing time in the show. He barely shows up on the Ottawa team website at this point.

We’ll see but he didn’t look out of place in the 8 games I watched him play in the post-season.

15Sep

Chad Wiseman(19) New Jersey / Albany Devils

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Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 8th round draft pick in 2000 (#246 overall), wing Chad Wiseman(19) enters his 11th pro season and third with New Jersey Devils‘ organization (2nd go round). He played 23 games in 2008/2009 with Lowell Devils.

Signing another one-year, two-way deal, this will his 2nd season with Albany. Last year he had 44 points (16 goals and 28 assists) in 48 games.

He’s played 9 games in the NHL (4 with the Sharks and 5 with New York Rangers) scoring 1 goal to go along with 1 assist.

If the Devils suck again this season, I could see him getting in a few games at the Pru.

13Sep

Kaspars Daugavins(26) Ottawa / Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 2006 3rd round draft pick (#91 overall) Latvian Kaspars Daugavins(26) will spend his 4th season in the team’s prospect system in 2011/2012.

He’s only skated 1 game in the NHL a couple of seasons ago but he’s still pretty young at 23 years old.

Last season, his third with Binghamton, he had career highs in games and points (73: 19 goals, 35 assists) but the crowning moment was the almost fantasy-like Calder Cup Playoff run by the B-Sens to win it.

Daugavins added 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 games to his point totals and he was one player that came to play each shift out there.

10/24: With 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 games this season, Daugavins gets the early season call to help the struggling Ottawa Senators put some offense up on the board, while veteran Daniel Alfredsson rests his hip.

11Sep

Zack Fitzgerald (14)

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Hamilton Bulldogs inked grizzly 7th year veteran defenseman Zack Fitzgerald(14) to an AHL contract for 2011/2012.

He led the league in penalty minutes with 311 in ’09/’10.

He’ll no doubt be called upon to protect some of the younger prospects in the Canadiens‘ system.

In the 2007/2008 season he did get a 1 game wink in an NHL game when he was signed by the Canucks for a couple of seasons.

The last two years he’s been signed with Carolina Hurricanes.

Fitzgerald was a 3rd round pick in 2003 (#88 overall) by St. Louis and played for two years with their minor league affiliates in Peoria and Alaska.