Norfolk Admirals | CollegeHockeyPlayers

18Oct

Josh Brittain(17) Fort Wayne Komets

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A few Anaheim Ducks‘ prospects are finding themselves doubly reassigned, when they start at AHL training camp but ultimately will play games in the ECHL to start 2012/2013.

3rd year, 2008 3rd round pick (#71 overall) left wing Josh Brittain(17) is familiar with the process already as he’s skated in 47 games with Elmira Jackals over his first two seasons, so joining Fort Wayne Komets will actually be a step up at least in terms of fans in the stands.

The big 6’4″ 210 lbs., that doesn’t really look like he takes up that much space out there as his size might indicate, spent more time up in the AHL in 2011/2012 with Syracuse Crunch and recorded career highs games played (38), goals (2) and assists (4).

He was in training camp with the Ducks‘ new affiliate Norfolk Admirals and was one of the last cuts before opening night.

The 22-year old definitely needs to open up more room on the ice for himself to increase his scoring chances.

02Oct

Kenndal McArdle(22) Norfolk Admirals

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6th year left wing Kenndal McArdle(22) was a former Florida Panthers‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#20 overall) but has yet to realize his potential, putting it lightly.

At 5’11” 190 lbs. he really doesn’t have that much size up front yet he definitely can be a pest to play against.

He’s never had what you’d call a stellar goal scoring season in the AHL, where he’s mostly been relegated to, aside from the 42 NHL games he’s appeared in with the Panthers and last season with Winnipeg Jets one year removed.

His totals are minimal at one goal and a pair of assists.

In 54 games last season split with St. John’s IceCaps to start before being loaned to Portland Pirates, he scored 10 goals and 8 assists, while amassing 98 minutes in penalties.

He was also part of that magical Vancouver Giants‘ team that won the Memorial Cup in 2007.

The still young 25-year old signed a try-out deal to play with Norfolk Admirals in 2012/2013. There’s no time like the present for this player to start answering the bell.

25Sep

Troy Bodie(20) Norfolk Admirals

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7th year left wing Troy Brodie(20) was part of a list of six players recently signed to an AHL contract by Norfolk Admirals, the new minor league affiliate of Anaheim Ducks.

He had a one-year, two-way deal with Anaheim last season but skated no NHL games.

In all, split half with the Ducks and one season picked up on waivers by Carolina Hurricanes, the 6’4″ 219 lbs. forward has skated in 107 games in the show registering 6 goals and 5 assists. He should be a bigger, more intimidating upfront power forward than his style indicates.

The 27-year was originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 9th round pick in the 2003 draft (#278 overall).

He started his pro career with Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, put up some big numbers and that was his only stop there.

This will be an interesting year him. It’s his first without an NHL contract and he definitely has something to prove.

17Sep

Radko Gudas(3) Syracuse Crunch

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Czech Republic born defenseman Radko Gudas(3) will be entering the final season of his 3-year entry level deal he signed with Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010.

He was originally a 3rd round draft pick in 2010 (#66 overall) but has yet to receive a call up on a team that stocked fairly well with blue liners.

In 2011/2012 he won the Calder Cup with the Admirals in a fairytale run to capture the title. He also grew the most enormous playoff beard pro hockey has seen.

At 6′ 201 lbs he doesn’t seem like the biggest of guys out on the ice but he plays a much bigger game than his size stats may point towards and is not afraid to drop the mitts, ending last season with 195 penalty minutes and 11 fighting majors to his credit.

Although his offensive numbers ticked up slightly last year in a few less games, he’s not what you’d deem as an offensive powerhouse. Still at a two season combined +33 there is plenty of accountable upside to his game.

He along with just about every other eligible player was recently reassigned to their new affiliate Syracuse Crunch.

12Sep

Jeff Dimmen(6) Florida Everblades

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2nd year defenseman Jeff Dimmen(6) had the type of rookie year he probably didn’t expect.

After signing an AHL contract with Norfolk Admirals for 2011/2012, he played in 64 regular season and 6 postseason games en route to winning the Calder Cup Trophy. The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner put up some respectable numbers in the process scoring 3 goals and 15 assists (1 in the playoffs), while showing much accountability in his own zone with a +10 plus/minus.

He made his pro debut at the end of 2011, inking an ato with Portland Pirates and skated in 14 total games for them notching an assist.

It a bit of a surprising move, the 26-year old has signed a one-year deal with Florida Everblades of the ECHL for the 2012/2013 season. Expect him to get a camp invite and the first recall with Syracuse Crunch for the upcoming campaign.

29Aug

Jaroslav Janus (30)

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Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#192 overall) goalie Jaroslav Janus(30) hopefully heads to the home country Slovakia to continue his pro hockey career development as he’s signed a tryout agreement with HC Slovan Bratislava.

The 3rd year goaltender’s entry level deal was up and he was a restricted free agent going into 2012/2013.

With no room in the minors and he’s yet to make an NHL appearance, this was thought to be the best idea in the quest to keep getting him playing time.

The 6’1″ 189 lbs. backstop had a career year with Calder Cup Champion Norfolk Admirals last season.

In 34 games he posted a 23-8 record with a 2.36 GAA and .914 SV%.

Unless he gets comfortable playing closer to his birthplace, it’s likely that if the Lightning just have too many goalies in their system, someone else will come a knocking for the 22-year old.

12Aug

Ryan Craig(22) Springfield Falcons

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Heading into his 10th season, center Ryan Craig(22) is back with Springfield Falcons under an AHL contract. He was originally reassigned to the team in his second pro year by Tampa Bay Lightning. He was their 8th round pick in the 2002 draft (#255 overall).

The 6’2″ 202 lbs. forward was team captain from 2004 until mid-way through 2005 before being recalled to the NHL, where he stayed for the next four seasons although was unable to shake the injury bug limiting his effectiveness and games to 61 games in 2007-2009.

By the start of 2009 – 2010, he was basically relegated to their AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

He was an unrestricted free agent as the start of 2010 and signed a one-year, two-way deal with Pittsburgh Penguins. He played 6 games with them without hitting the scoresheet, spending most of his time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Re-signing for 2011/2012, he skated the full year in the AHL.

The now 30-year forward is a welcome asset and proven leader for a young Falcons‘ squad, and may just lift them back into the playoff picture.

In 190 career NHL games he’s scored 32 goals and 31 assists.

27Jul

Jay Leach(2) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ defenseman Jay Leach(2) will be entering his 12th pro year at the start of next season. He re-signed for another 0ne-year, two-way deal that will possibly see him taking over as team captain for their AHL affiliate in Albany.

Originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 5th round pick in the 1998 draft (#115 overall), it wasn’t until four years of bouncing between ECHL and AHL teams that he got his first taste of NHL action with Boston Bruins. He’s appeared in 70 games with 5 different teams scoring only one goal and adding a pair of assists.

He’s never really been counted on for his scoring touch so much as his 6’4″ 215 lbs frame to keep the attackers at bay.

The almost 33-year old has what seems to be a small-ish count of 439 regular season AHL games to his credit. You’d think he’s played more but he also has a surprising 177 ECHL contests on his resume.

This could be his final season playing. We could see him going into coaching with ease, if that’s where he sees the next step in his hockey career. He barely play any last season succumbing to what seemed like a series of injuries.

26Jul

Matt Smaby(4) Anaheim Ducks

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Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#41 overall) defenseman Matt Smaby(4) almost doesn’t seem like he’s been playing pro for as long as he has but 2012/2013 will be his 7th season.

He re-signed with Anaheim Ducks for another one-year, two-way deal. Last season he played the entire campaign with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch after injuring his thumb in an NHL preseason game that sidelined him for a good three months.

The towering 6’6″ 239 lbs. d-man has skated in 122 NHL games (all with the Lightning) scoring no goals with 6 assists and a less than impressive plus/minus. But in 2010/2011, his first full season in the show, he went a +2 in 32 contests.

Even on the abbreviated by injury season last year, he had a pair of goals and 7 assists in 30 games and went a healthy +12.

Of all the super-ironies to happen to players though, if the 27-year old starts the new season in the AHL or gets reassigned, he will return to Norfolk, where he spent three years of his pro career.

20Jul

Marco Cousineau(31) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks go for another swim in the shallow pool with their 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#83 overall), goaltender Marco Cousineau(31). He signed a 3-year entry level deal midway through 2009/2010, but has only officially played in their system for the last two.

He was outstanding in his last two seasons in juniors and won the outstanding goaltender award in the 2009 Memorial Cup Tourney.

Maybe their continuing to bank on 6′ 200 lbs. net minder finding his pro game like he did when he was younger but in a couple of seasons, he’s mostly been limited to appearances with Elmira Jackals in the ECHL and Central Hockey League.

With the Allen Americans last year he played well winning 16 and losing 4 with a 2.53 GAA and a .918 SV%.

He’s still only 22 years old, so there’s plenty of room to grow but he has to be hoping he moves up the ladder and starts a bunch of AHL games in 2012/2013 with Norfolk Admirals.