NHL draft pick | CollegeHockeyPlayers

16Mar

Jordan Martinook(18) Portland Pirates

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#58 overall) left wing Jordan Martinook(18) surpassed his rookie year high marks with minor league affiliate Portland Pirates for goals, assists and points in one less AHL game than he played in all of his first season.

He reached the new mark in 52 contests after appearing in 53 during his first campaign.

He currently sits at 11 goals, 12 assists for 23 points, which eclipsed last year totals (9-10-19).

Almost ironically he set the new totals in that 52nd game, where he notched a tally and a pair of helpers.

The 6′ 202 lbs. forward wasted little time turning pro after being selected as a 20-year old (currently 22), skating in his second season with Vancouver Giants of the WHL.

He managed to put up a nifty 40 goals in 2011/2012.

His entry level deal runs through 2014/2015 and his play definitely looks to be reaching that next level, which could score him an NHL recall before the end of this season depending where the parent club’s playoff push is at in the next couple of weeks.

13Mar

Tyler Beskorowany(1) St. John’s IceCaps

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4th year goaltender Tyler Beskorowany(1) signed an ECHL contract with San Francisco Bulls to start his first campaign as an unrestricted free agent.

In 32 games he kept an uneven team competitive with a 14-13 mark but was shelled with pucks each night and didn’t have the best GAA or SV% stats to show for it.

He was originally a Dallas Stars‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#59 overall) and signed a 3-year entry level deal through 2012/2013 but was not qualified.

The big 6’5″ 295 lbs. net minder excelled pretty well as a rookie with AHL affiliate Texas Stars in a split season with Idaho Steelheads, where he put up similar, slightly better numbers with a winning record.

He wasn’t as lucky in his sophomore year and maybe even shouldered some of the blame for the team’s 2nd to last worst placing.

For the final run of his terms, he slipped on the depth chart and was relegated to the Pacific Northwest. He seemed to take the move in stride, playing pretty well and backstopping the Steelheads into a second Kelly Cup Playoff round.

He was probably relieved when the Bulls‘ management decided to close up shop on a financially busted second season, leaving him once again free to find another cage to call home.

In stepped Orlando Solar Bears and in 2 games he’s got two victories with a 1.50 GAA and .940 SV%.

A needy St. John’s IceCaps noticed that and a month ago signed him to a pto. He’s only been between the pipes once, and although he won the game was victimized for 5 goals on 36 shots.

He started the 2013/2014 season in training camp with Worcester Sharks before being released.

Depending upon how deep his current club can go in the postseason, it seems doubtful the 23-year old Sudbury, Ontario native will stick with North America after this year.

11Mar

Luke Adam(72) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#44 overall) center Luke Adam(72) is playing in his 4th season in the team’s prospect system.

Initially signed to a three-year entry level deal, he was qualified for another season and will become a restricted free agent once again at the end of the current campaign.

He’s played in 85 NHL games with the parent club (only 10 so far this season with 1 goal) but will likely surpass a career high 30-goal mark in the AHL with minor league affiliate Rochester Americans.

The 6’2″ 206 lbs. power forward put up 29 in his first year, when he was voted Rookie Of The Year.

Maybe a bit surprising he wasn’t moved before the trade deadline, the still super-young 23 year-old will probably receive another one-year extension but needs to step it up.

See related: 10/13-11, 9/14-11, 4/16-11

09Mar

David Warsofsky(5) Providence Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 3rd year defenseman David Warsofsky(5) is in the final campaign of his entry level contract, putting up career high point marks and has a +10 rating in the AHL with minor league affiliate Providence Bruins.

The mini-sized 5’9″ 170 lbs. blue liner is also on the short list of d-men recalled for action with the parent club. For his lack of physical presence out there, he plays a smart, minimum risk style with an offensive upside. He’s been summoned up 3 times to date this season.

In 6 NHL games he scored his first big league goal and added an assist.

He was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 4th round pick in 2008 (#95 overall) and rights traded in 2010 and signed in 2011 in time to finish the regular season with the farm team.

The still super-young 23-year old, having played three seasons at Boston University and basically grew up skating the Massachusetts hockey route to a pro career.

He’s a restricted free agent at the end of 2013/2014 but it would be like zero surprise to see Boston offer him a 2-year extension.

See related: 3/29-11

28Feb

Cody Goloubef (27)

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#37 overall), 4th year defenseman Cody Goloubef(27) is having a breakout year.

On reassignment to minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons he has reached career highs in goals (6), assists (16), points (22) and will soon eclipse his mark in games played.

He also made an appearance in the 2014 AHL All-Star Classic contributing a helper in the 7-2 victory.

Never a really big point scorer through 3 years of college hockey at University Of Wisconsin , he was able to connect frequently with assists.

The 6′ 195 lbs. hard-hitting blue liner has received NHL call-ups in each of the last three seasons playing 15 games total, scoring his first big league strike.

He was signed to a one-year extension for 2013/2014 after his entry level deal was up and seems to be hell bent on proving his abilities to move up the ladder.

At 24-years old he’s making a good argument to stick with the only prospect system he knows and possibly score two more years at the end of the current campaign.

25Feb

Scott Mayfield(10) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#34 overall), defenseman Scott Mayfield(10) is using his large 6’4″ 210 lbs. to establish his shutdown, heavy hitting style of play.

He averaged well over triple digit penalty minutes in two years of USHL with Youngstown Phantoms and slightly under the mark through less games in another pair of seasons at University Of Denver.

He’s very much on track for another season of over 100 pims. In 54 AHL games with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers he’s racked up 82 minutes with 6 fighting majors to his credit.

The rangy player is also showing an ability to put up points and may even surpass his American junior hockey career highs in goals and assists. He has 3 goals and 11 assists with a +9 rating on a squad that is just over an even record.

The 21-year is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016 and will likely get a long look at next year’s NHL training camp as the parent club definitely has to make some tough decisions about their defensive core.

24Feb

Chad Rau(20) Worcester Sharks

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5th year center Chad Rau(20) recently moved from Minnesota Wild‘s prospect system, the only one he knew, to San Jose Sharks‘ organization and was reassigned from minor league affiliate Iowa Wild to Worcester Sharks.

His point production dipped severely in 33 AHL games, putting in only a single tally and adding half a dozen assists on a team that struggles to connect on the score sheet but continues to be in the hunt of a Western Conference playoff spot.

He has yet to catch fire so to speak with his new club notching only a pair of assists in 8 contests.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 178 lbs. forward averaged 35 points in each of his first four seasons and dipped below that mark last year but also had a career second best 16 goals.

Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 7th round pick in the 2005 draft (#228 overall), he was never signed and inked a 2-year entry level contract with the Wild.

He has played in 9 NHL games and potted two goals in his short stint and was recalled and sent back numerous times

The 27-year old has definitely attained some pretty good goals: 2005 USHL Rookie Of The Year, four reputable years at Colorado College with close to point-per-game production and a trip to the 2011 Calder Cup Finals in his first year pro with Houston Aeros.

His 2-year extension is up at the end of this season and it’s definitely a wonder where the veteran will end up next.

22Feb

J.C. Lipon(34) St. John’s IceCaps

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Winnipeg Jets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#91 overall), rookie right wing J.C. Lipon(34) is having the kind of first year pro that he’ll easily be able to build on.

He signed a three-year entry level deal that keeps him in the prospect system through 2016.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps, he’s posted a tidy 6 goals and 21 assists in 48 AHL games with a -7 rating.

The 6′ 180 lbs. forward also exhibits a willingness to stick his nose into developing situations, never shying away from any of the rough stuff and is a bit of a pest to play against.

He’s on his way to putting up triple digits in penalty minutes much like he did in three seasons with Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.

He also showed signs of marking up the score sheet with a lot of assists passing out 99 helpers to go with 55 goals in his final pair of junior hockey campaigns.

The still super-young 20-year old is very likely to get a look in the show and could stick with his feisty play.

14Feb

Anton Zlobin(18) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#173 overall), Russian-born rookie right wing Anton Zlobin(18) has been tearing up the score sheet on every level he’s played leading up to his recall from ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers to direct farm club Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In his 9 games in double A hockey he posted the usual point-per-game (or better) production with 4 goals and 5 assists.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 198 lbs. forward knows how to find his space on the ice.

He skated in 186 QMJHL games through 3 seasons scoring 92 goals and 120 assists for a mammoth 212 points. He also concluded his career in juniors at a stellar +61 rating and won a Memorial Cup with Shawinigan Cataractes in 2012.

The just turning 21-year old was quick to sign a three-year entry level contract and turn pro after his selection.

In 28 AHL games he has yet to completely catch fire with 5 goals and 4 assists but at a +10 he’s on the ice a good amount of the time when the puck goes in the net, which will likely lead to more opportunities for him to connect.

12Feb

Jesper Fast(27) Hartford Wolf Pack

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New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#157 overall) fourth year, Swedish-born right wing Jesper Fast(27) had a career campaign in 2012/2013 on loan from the parent club back to HV71 of the SHL. He scored 18 goals and 17 assists in 46 games and added another tally and 4 helpers in the playoffs, while skating a combined +17 rating. It was his third year playing in the league.

The smart, speedy 6′ 185 lbs. forward started his rookie season in the NHL but was reassigned after 8 games with no points and a -5 plus/minus on a squad that was very slow out of the gate.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack he’s contributing in a big way in all situations on another team that has been struggling to win.

In 24 AHL games he has 9 goals and 9 assists with a +5.

The recently turned 22-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015 and will no doubt get another opportunity to show his stuff in the show.