Tagged: Norfolk Admirals

25Mar

Blair Jones (22)

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Blair-Jones

Philadelphia Flyers‘ 9th year center Blair Jones(22) has appeared in NHL games in each of his seasons except for 2008/2009, when he skated the full slate of 80 AHL contests with Norfolk Admirals reaching a personal best 34 assists.

A veteran of 132 games in the big league (7 goals and 10 assists with a -18 rating) and 408 in the minors (100 goals, 168 assists with a -38 plus/minus), the 6’2″ 215 lbs. forward hasn’t always been blessed enough to be on good teams but is liked on the squads he’s played with because he skates a rough and tumble style and is tough to play against.

Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#102 overall), he spent his first 5 and a half seasons in their prospect system before being dealt to Calgary Flames, where he stayed for 2 and a half years before signing his current deal.

He missed 24 games in 2014/2015 due to a groin injury that required surgery and may be a bit of a long shot to return to the parent club but seems to be doing just fine where he is with 6 goals, 11 assists and a +5 in 24 games with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Where the 28-year old goes next is likely up in the air but it would be little surprise to see him test out the waters on the other side of the hockey pond.

07Mar

Brendan Bell(14) Chicago Wolves

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Brendan-Bell

12th year veteran defenseman Brendan Bell(14) was acquired by Chicago Wolves from Norfolk Admirals to help boost their back line heading into a potential playoff berth.

In his debut with his new team the 31-year scored a goal and an assist in a tough 4-3 overtime loss against division rival Lake Erie Monsters.

He had only one tally in 47 games with his former team but did compile a sturdy 22 helpers.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. d-man has almost always consistently put up 20+ assists in each AHL season played through 487 games.

Through his pro career, the former Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the in the 2001 draft (#65 overall) has appeared in 102 NHL contests (7 goals, 21 assists) with the last time being 1 game in 2011/2012,  when signed with New York Rangers.

After that season, he left for a couple of spins through Europe, his second foray overseas, landing in Sweden’s SHL with Frolunda and then last year skating again for Biel in the Swiss Elite NLA.

Now that’s he’s returned to North America proving he still has plenty left in the tank, his presence definitely helps the youngsters out on any squad he joins.

06Mar

Mark Fistric(7) Norfolk Admirals

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Mark-Fistric

Anaheim Ducks‘ 9th year defenseman Mark Fistric(7) was reassigned to affiliate Norfolk Admirals after 9 games and no points.

It’s his first significant time in the minors since 2008/2009, when he played 35 AHL contests for Manitoba Moose while under contract with Dallas Stars, the team that selected him in the 1st round of 2004 draft (#28 overall).

The sizable 6’2″ 230 lbs. blue liner spent his first six years in the prospect system and played three full NHL seasons with the team before being traded to his hometown Edmonton Oilers.

He played with them for a single season before signing for one-year with the Ducks as an unrestricted free agent. He would re-up mid-season for another three-year deal through 2017.

Never known as a big point getter, the 28-year old is a hard-nosed, stay-at-home style defensive specialist that isn’t afraid to mix it up.

Although he may be spending some extended time with the farm team this season, he could be recalled at any point, and with his +28 rating through 325 games in the big league he’s at the very least accountable on ice.

What happens for the former Vancouver Giants‘ 2006 WHL Champion’s future in the off-season is a bit of a wonder.

He’s not on the books for much money and could be kept around for insurance and to help out the youngsters but that’s purely speculation.

25Feb

Devante Smith-Pelly (21)

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Devante-Smith-Pelly

Montreal Canadiens pick up a power forward personality player in 4th year left wing Devante Smith-Pelly(21) for their playoff push in an even swap with Anaheim Ducks, his draft team (2010 round 2, #42 overall), the only team he’s skated for.

The 6’0 220 lbs. wide body set new career highs for games played (54), assists (12) and points (19) in the current campaign.

He still has one-year on his current deal, so he’s likely in for the haul with this trade.

At only 22-years old he has the ability to make a third line into a fluke scoring machine and he may get more freedom to do explore in the new system.

04Feb

Matt Lashoff(5) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Matt Lashoff

9th year defenseman Matt Lashoff(5) came home from one year in Switzerland’s top league, NLA, one in Sweden’s SHL and part of this season with Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL.

His best showing was a few years ago with ZSC of the Swiss Elite League, where he got a goal and 9 assists but easily short of what was expected when he came across the pond.

The former Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#22 overall) has only played 74 NHL games (for three teams: Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs being the other two) scoring one goal and 15 assists, which is decently offense-minded but he’s also owns a -15 rating.

In 5 AHL seasons the 6’2: 205 lbs. blue liner has always been a 20+ point scorer and even had a pair of campaigns with 30+ numbers.

He had 47 points in 56 OHL games in 2006, his 3rd and final year with Kitchener Rangers before turning pro.

The only 28-year old signed a standard contract to join Bridgeport Sound Tigers and give the young squad some more veteran leadership.

He’s only appeared in two games thus far with one assist and a -2 but if given the opportunity could likely contribute on a regular basis with the team and help them into a Calder Cup berth.

30Jan

The AHL moves west

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AHLfaceoff

At 3:30pm ET AHL president Dave Andrews announced the creation on a Pacific Division that will play in the Western Conference of the league starting 2015/2016.

The cities effectively losing teams are Oklahoma City Barons, which happened earlier this season, Norfolk Admirals, Glens Falls/Adirondack Flames after only one run, Worcester Sharks and rivals Manchester Monarchs.

Picking up teams will be soon to be former ECHL franchises Ontario (Los Angeles), Bakersfield (Edmonton) and Stockton (Calgary). San Diego (Anaheim) will be a new city for triple A hockey although did at one time have a Gulls, and San Jose‘s farm club will play out of the same building as the Sharks; and will likely be renamed.

It’s fairly well-thought that Manchester, Adirondack and Norfolk make announcement to join the double A league and there’s rumors racing around Worcester is exploring the options and would have the best chance at success by resurrecting the Ice Cats, while Oklahoma City may get back into the fold under their old successful Blazers‘ banner after a year on the sidelines.

This move was 100% inevitable and can easily make fiscal sense. Those west coast teams draw fairly well with their fan base of hockey lovers.

On the plus side for Eastern Conference folks, chances are Utica, Rochester, Charlotte, Hamilton and even possible Toronto enter in their rivalry picture.

The big news is the top level of minor league hockey in California has arrived.

23Jan

Cory Conacher(89) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Cory-Conacher

Undrafted, 4th year left wing Cory Conacher(89) has been on a bumpy ride with four different teams since signing his first NHL contract before the lockout shortened season with Tampa Bay Lightning.

He inked his initial 2-year 2-way entry level deal after winning the 2012 Calder Cup with then affiliate Norfolk Adrmirals, being named AHL rookie of the year, playoff MVP and putting up more assists than any other first year player during the regular season and in the playoffs.

Although he is most definitely under-sized at 5’8″ 179 lbs., he was merely following up a celebrated run at Canisius College, where he recorded all-time highs for goals, points and game-winning tallies and an incredibe first run with three teams in two different leagues he recorded 8 goals and 4 assists in 10 games but was held to only an assist in seven postseason contests.

He jumped out quickly when the big league got back under way 9 goals and 15 assists in 35 games but ultimately he was expendable when the parent club needed goal tending and found himself traded off to Ottawa Senators at the deadline.

He played his only full slate of regular season games in 2013/2014 but fell short of expectations with 4 goals and 16 assists in 60 games.

Ultimately he was to be reassigned back down but the horrible Buffalo Sabres picked him up on waivers.

He skated with them for the remaining 17 games and got himself a nifty 3 goals and 3 assists but was a woeful -7 plus/minus.

Heading into his second unrestricted free agency, first since he signed a minor league contract to start his pro career, he didn’t have to wait long as New York Islanders saw something they liked and swooped right in on opening day getting him to agree to a one-year two-way deal.

It looked like he’d come out strong but through 15 games faltered on a roster filled with lots of bigger, younger studs with only a goal and a pair of assists.

The 24-year was waived and sent to farm team Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he’s settled in quickly hitting the back of the net 4 times and dishing 11 helpers in 15 games.

He be a free agent at the end of this year and it’s looking like the small forward might have better luck taking his game across the pond.

See related: 11/8-11

14Jan

Steve MacIntyre(74) Utah Grizzlies

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Steve-MacIntyre2

Norfolk Admirals‘ absolutely huge 6’5″ 250 lbs. 13th year veteran left wing Steve MacIntyre(74) has seemingly taken his demotion to Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL for the first time since 2006 in stride this late in his pro career.

He actually played the next season 2006/2007 in the old UHL with Quad City Mallards, who maybe ironically are now playing their games in the same league.

His brick wall, tough guy style and persistent attitude helped take his game to the next level when in 2007/2008 he skated a full AHL season with Providence Bruins.

It would be the last time he put up over 200 penalty minutes in a season and although he threw fists 18 times, that was easily the most fights in a campaign he’d ever settled.

Edmonton Oilers took notice and grabbed him off waivers from Florida Panthers, who reclaimed him a year later.

He would play games mostly in Alberta, but he also got some time with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 34-year old skated last season with Oklahoma City Barons but only appeared in 11 games.

He’s been held pointless for at least the last three years.

It’s pretty likely that if he wants to still play the sport he will take his game to England next and be a hero.