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25Sep

Zack Torquato (15)

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4th year center Zack Torquato(15) re-signed for 2013/2014 with Wheeling Nailers for another chance to propel the ECHL club into the postseason after missing half of last season on the injured reserved list.

Originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#178 overall) he was never signed and became an unrestricted free agent but did play games in two seasons with minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.

He would later sign an AHL contract with Rockford IceHogs but spent most of his rookie season with their affiliate Toledo Walleye, where he put up some pretty good numbers scoring 11 goals and 33 assists in 54 games.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward is no stranger to posting record marks, as he did with 62 assists in his over-age junior hockey season with Erie Otters.

He got off to a super-hot start with the Nailers posting 9 goals and 22 assists and a crazy 100 shots on net in 25 games and was loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins just before Christmas.

In 7 games already chipping away at the score sheet with a pair of goals and assists.

The 24-year old could net a contract in the higher league or if he’s sent back down, it’s not likely to be for a long time.

Original story: 1/5-14

He would stay up with the Penguins for another month skating 18 games with 2 goals, 5 assists and a +1 rating before being returned.

For 2013/2014 he finished up his 4th season in the ECHL setting new scoring highs (14-38-52) and putting in another point-per-game in 6 playoff match-ups.

Just prior to 2014/2015 starting he re-signed for another year with Wheeling Nailers.

Once again he netted a couple of recalls to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton but evened out a bit with only a goal and an assists in 12 games.

In the lower league though, he once again struck for career bests of 19 goals, 40 assists and 59 points, then equal his postseason totals from a year ago.

The 26-year old has decided to stay put for a 5th campaign with the Nailers.

If he strikes on the score sheet quickly he will probably find himself recalled but could possibly go to a different AHL team to try his luck.

04Aug

Robbie Czarnik (27)

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6th year center Robbie Czarnik(70) would play for three different teams in the 2014/2015, spending the first part of the year with Indy recording almost a point-per-game, 17 goals and 13 assists in 31 and then traded to Ontario Reign, 21 contest (6-4) before being dished to Gwinnett Gladiators until he failed to pass a physical and was returned.

That transaction wouldn’t last as he was recalled on to join Norfolk Admirals on a pto.

He finished the regular season skating 10 AHL games with a goal and 3 assists, which almost matched his output from 2013/2014 in a third less appearances.

For 2015/2016 the 25-year old has inked for another year in the ECHL with Reading Royals and will likely be a training camp invite to affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he could impress to stick.

19Jul

Justin Hodgman(12) St. Louis Blues

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Undrafted sixth year center Justin Hodgman(12) had already won two IHL Turner Cup Championships with Fort Wayne Komets while he was still playing in the OHL with Erie Otters.

He was also named MVP in both those seasons with a combined 14 goals and 12 assists in 24 playoff games.

These scoring totals were much in line with his last three seasons of juniors, where he averaged a point-per-game.

In his rookie year he was even allowed while under contract with Toronto Marlies to be released back to the Komets to play for their third straight title.

From there he played a full season for the Marlies, despite a brief 3 ECHL game stint with Reading Royals.

His point totals were even half decent at 12 goals and 17 assists in 42 AHL games with a +7 rating.

But by the next season he split for Europe and agreed for a year with Pelicans of Liiga in Finland.

The 6’1″ 203 lbs. forward continued to climb the hockey ladder spending his next pair of campaigns in the KHL mostly with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

For 2014/2015 he decided to return home and seek out a deal closer to home.

Arizona Coyotes unceremoniously signed him to a one-year, two-way contract.

He was on the opening night roster after a fantastic training camp in which he netted a team high 4 preseason goals.

Although very much pleasantly surprised by his efforts, he sat the first two games as a healthy scratch before being reassigned to minor league affiliate Portland Pirates.

He played three games at the beginning of their season, recording no points.

Recalled quickly due to an injury, he made his NHL debut count, scoring the game-tying goal on his only shot on net, skated 16 shifts for 11:27 total time on ice with 2 penalty minutes.

The 26-year old has made quite the journey through 3 minor leagues and 2 pro leagues overseas to finally get his opportunity in the show.

Original story: 10/28-14

After his first year back in North America post 3 seasons overseas and his 1st NHL goal, the recently turned 27-year old signs for 2015/2016 with St. Louis Blues on another two-way deal.

He skated in 5 games with Arizona Coyotes on two recalls and played in a new AHL high 62 games with a new best 24 assists and 35 points.

He just may make the parent club out of training camp, but even if he heads to start the season with affiliate Chicago Wolves he’ll likely be one of the first from the farm club to get summoned.

13Jul

Jamie Devane(24) Milwaukee Admirals

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Toronto Maple Leafs quickly added a couple of seasons extension to rugged left wing Jamie Devane(24) 3-year entry level deal keeping him with the team through 2016.

The 6’4″ 220 lbs. presence made his first NHL appearance early in 2013, playing a couple contests registering no points before being returned to AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies.

He put up career highs in almost every category in his 2nd pro campaign but maybe most noteworthy was an additional 100+ penalty minutes he added to his stats.

The 23-year old has definitely shown the ability to help his squad on the score sheet, as he did in his final pair of OHL seasons with Plymouth Whalers but may be looked at on the pro level more for his toughness factor.

As a big guy on ice he should use his stature to become more of a power forward force and could use a little extra coaching to keep putting more pucks on the net. He was credited with only 33 shots on goal in 2013/2014.

Original story: 9/28-14

His game slid in 2014/2015 with only 2 assists in 39 games and with a month left in the regular season he was all done for the season due to a hip injury that required surgery.

Seems like it could have been nagging him for sometime before he was put on the injured list.

With a year left on his current deal he was traded to Nashville Predators for 2015/2016 and will probably start with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals but could easily get recalled and contribute nicely on the Western Conference squad.

03Jul

Reid McNeill (3)

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#170 overall) defenseman Reid McNeill(3) plays an almost unassumingly solid stay-at-home style.

He’s in the final season of his three-year entry level deal, signed after skating a few campaigns of junior hockey in the OHL.

The towering 6’4″ 215 lbs. d-man has never put up much on the score sheet but is showing an increasing upward tick to his penalty minutes and fighting majors.

He was credited with throwing down the gloves 11 times in 55 AHL games last season.

All that time in the box has yet to sour his accountability on the ice either, as he’s currently holding a +12 rating.

The young 22-year old is definitely being looked as an up-and-comer working his way up from his rookie season start in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers.

Now that he’s become a fixture on the blue line for minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins it still may take a bit more seasoning until he finds a spot on the parent club’s roster.

Original story: 10/24-14

Following a career season with high marks of 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points, the big stay-at-home d-man re-signs for two more years to stay in the prospect system.

His shutdown style game could score the recently turned 23-year old a first NHL recall on a parent club that may be looking for some help in their own zone.

01Jun

Patrick McNeill(20) ERC Ingolstadt

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th year defenseman Patrick McNeill(8) must be liking the first change of scenery in his pro career.

He’s reached a new high in scoring with 11 goals with minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons and second most for points, currently at 36.

Originally a Washington Capitals‘ 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#118 overall), he spent his first 6 seasons in the team’s prospect system skating for Hershey Bears.

The 6′ 198 lbs. blue liner initially showed strong offensive instincts in four campaigns of OHL juniors with Saginaw Spirit, leading all d-men scoring 77 points in 2005/2006.

He has yet to realize his first NHL contest but has appeared in a whopping 386 AHL games, registering 44 goals and 144 assists with a combined +36 rating and a back-to-back Calder Cup Championships in 2009 and 2010.

The 27-year old is signed to a 1-year, 2-way deal through the end of 2013/2014.

A contract extension may well depend upon how he and the team perform in the upcoming postseason but he’s certainly right on track.

Original story date 4/12-14.

Early in 2014 free agency, he was offered a one-year two-way deal to join Arizona Coyotes.

Suffering a shoulder injury during practice early in the season, his time was limited to just 23 games with affiliate Portland Pirates. He did fairly well scoring as he usually does with a goal and 11 assists.

The now 29-year old has decided to accept his next deal from overseas and will skate his 9th season for ERC Ingolstadt.

See related: 8/3-11, 6/19-12

06Feb

Mike Richards(18) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 10th year veteran center Mike Richards(18) was recently put on waivers and reassigned to minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs for the first time ever, save for the time he spent winning the 2005 AHL Calder Cup with Philadelphia Phantoms after finishing up 4 years of juniors with Kitchener Rangers.

One season previous he won the 2003 OHL Championship and subsequent Memorial Cup.

As a 20-year old playing his first pro games he was a point per game guy in the playoffs with 8 goals and 7 assists. He was also a +8 plus/minus.

You’d think the sports’ world stopped for a second when in his first game not so unhappily reporting to skate, he failed to get a point.

In his second appearance though he came up with the night’s first goal, assisted on two others and was chosen the game’s first star.

Through 704 NHL games he has 179 goals and 302 assists with a +21 rating.

He’s four times connected for over 60 points in a season, once had 80 points, twice over 30 tallies and on three occasions had over 40 helpers with 50 in one campaign.

The 5’11” 196 lbs. two-time 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup Champion was originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round pick in the 2003 draft (#24 overall).

He played 6 years with the team and was captain for his last three.

Signed to a 12-year deal in 2007 he’s officially under a big league contract through 2020.

It’s likely that a buy out will be exercised and he’ll be free to pursue a fresh start, which is easily what the still young 29-year old needs moving forward.

31Jan

Barclay Goodrow(89) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted rookie right wing Barclay Goodrow(89) put up almost a point-per-game in 5 seasons of development with North Bay Battalion and scored the most goals in last year’s OHL playoffs.

He managed to make the opening night roster on the big club but has yet to produce the kind of results he put up in junior hockey.

In 32 NHL games he has 3 goals and 6 assists with a -6 rating and has been a healthy scratch on numerous nights.

There’s little doubt the biggish 6’2″ 215 lbs. power forward is capable of connecting with the score sheet on a regular basis but might just need a season under his belt to start producing most frequently.

He was reassigned for a couple games to the farm team Worcester Sharks over the All-Star break to give him a wake up call and attempt to kick-start the wheels.

Although he fail to produce any points in 2 AHL games the message got through as he struck for a goal and an assist on his return.

The 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2017 but could be trade bait if the parent club needs some more immediate results.

27Jan

Andrew Crescenzi(21) Manchester Monarchs

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Undrafted 3rd year, large but low-scoring center Andrew Crescenzi(21) was involved in a mid-season deal that sent him from Toronto Maple Leafs‘ system to Los Angeles Kings, where they like their forwards big.

Skating in only 14 AHL games with Manchester Monarchs, he found himself to be a healthy scratch on more occasions than he likely considered.

The 6’5″ 208 lbs. pivot enters his contract season and has to be thinking it’s high time to make an impression.

Although it’s a modest boost, in 31 games he’s already tied his 2 goal mark and has new career highs with 3 assists and 5 points with half the regular season remaining.

He’s also firing the puck on net with much more frequency and is asserting his size into play.

The only 22-year old was hardly a hefty scorer in three years in the OHL with Kitchener Rangers but did put up almost a point-per-game in his final campaign before turning pro.

He’ll have to connect with the score sheet with more frequency to be given a qualifying offer to stay in the system but it’s still a long climb for the big man.

30Dec

Tyler Gaudet(32) Arizona Coyotes

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Arizona Coyotes‘ undrafted rookie center Tyler Gaudet(32) has been proving he’s got sauce since he first laced ’em up.

He began as an 18-year old in the QMJHL with Gatineau Olympiques but was dropped back when he failed to produce as a youngster.

The unassumingly large 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward played a couple half seasons in the CCHL with Pembroke Lumber Kings working on his game and eventually signed with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds a year after his demotion.

He was slow to start but picked it up big in his second campaign with the team scoring 26 goals and 35 assists in 65 OHL games with a +25 rating and continued his hot streak into 9 playoff contests with a pair of tallies and 6 helpers.

Despite earlier uneven play he managed to land himself on the radar of the Coyotes and was signed to a three-year entry level deal before turning pro at the end of 2013/2014.

Arriving for his first development and training camps, the 21-year old showed the big club he was ready to go with an impressive, accountable two-way style game he was developing.

He was reassigned to Portland Pirates at the start of the season and picked up right away.

In 29 AHL games he’s grabbed 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 plus/minus while helping keeping the club in the picture.

His consistent play has earned him a recall to the NHL.

In his debut he skated 12 even strength shifts for 9:20 of total ice with one shot on net, one hit and was a -1 in the team’s 4-2 victory.

If he can land a spot on the roster, he is easily the type of player that can be great on the penalty kill and help out on the offense too.

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