Oklahoma City Barons | CollegeHockeyPlayers

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31Aug

Joel Broda (19)

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4th year center Joel Broda(6) is playing his first season as an unrestricted free agent after his 3-year entry level contract with Minnesota Wild was not qualified.

He signed a one-year minor league deal with Bakersfield Condors for 2013/2014, returning to the team he skated with on reassignment from Houston Aeros during his rookie season.

He played 124 AHL games through three seasons with the Aeros scoring 21 goals and 17 assists.

The 6′ 203 lbs. forward was an Oklahoma City Barons‘ training camp invite and impressed enough to score a call-up for 8 games near the start of the season, potting a goal and an assist quickly but then cooled off before being returned a month later.

He would get right to it in the ECHL, where he struck for 19 goals and 16 assists in 35 games.

His explosion on the score sheet gained him notice from Bridgeport Sound Tigers, who signed him to a pto and out of the gate he’s fitting right in with team chemistry.

Again, he scored early in his recall netting a pair of tallies and a helper in his first three contests.

Originally a Washington Capitals‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#144 overall), he had a notable junior hockey career scoring a league leading 53 goals in 2008/2009 and winning the WHL Championship with Calgary Hitmen in the following campaign.

The 24-year plays a speedy skating style, knows how to get himself into the open spaces on the ice for scoring chances and generally unloads a ton of shots on net.

Original story: 2/26-14

His time with Bridgeport Sound Tigers would finish with the 2 goals and 4 assists in 17 games.

Released from his pto near the end of the regular season, he rejoined Bakersfield Condors as team captain for their playoff run, which last 16 games through the Kelly Cup Western Conference Finals.

Once again, he exploded on the score sheet potting 8 goals and 4 assists with a +5 rating in 16 playoff games.

His 2013/2014 performance was enough to put him on the radar of Hershey Bears, who signed him to an AHL contract roughly a month before training camps started.

Through 53 contests, he would have a somewhat rough campaign in Chocolatetown falling out of favor as he was mostly a healthy scratch down the stretch and throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs.

It was obvious his 7 goals and 3 assists fell far short of the mark.

For his 6th pro season he’s decided to take his game elsewhere, signing a one-year deal with HC Bolzano Foxes of Erte Banke Eishockey Liga.

The now 25-year old that will turn 26 a month into the new season should easily be able to duplicate the kind of numbers he put in the ECHL overseas.

09Aug

C.J. Stretch (12)

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Undrafted 5th year center C.J. Stretch(12) was a late signing for Bridgeport Sound Tigers after attending New York Islanders‘ training camp on a tryout.

He spent last season under contract with Oklahoma City Barons after playing well for the team on loan late in the campaign from Ontario Reign, where he spent the first three years of his pro career.

Upon his recall, he was having a career year, ultimately playing in 60 ECHL games with 28 goals, 34 assists and 62 points, all high marks.

The 6′ 192 lbs. forward would be returned to skate in 4 Kelly Cup contests, adding 5 more tallies to his totals.

He had contributed nicely while up as well, getting 5 goals and 3 assists in 17 AHL games.

Once his lower league club was knocked out of the playoffs, he was again summoned to join the Calder Cup push and went right to work, playing in another 17 games, improving his numbers by one with 5 goals and 4 assists in the playoffs.

The 25-year old started 2014/2015 as a healthy scratch but found his spot in the lineup as of game 2, recorded 3 assists and has been a bit of a spark plug ever since.

He’s on pace to shatter last season’s total with 5 goals and 12 assists in 22 games and could be in line for his first NHL contract, if he can keep it up.

Original story: 12/8-14

Just shy of a few months later he would return to the more playoff bound Oklahoma City Barons and finish the 2014/2015 campaign with 10 goals, a new career high 27 assists and 37 points in the AHL.

He would only add another two helpers in 9 postseason match-ups.

Entering his 6th pro season the 26-year old heads overseas on a one-year deal with Starbulls Rosenheim of DEL2.

He should almost easily be a point-per-game guy in this league as he was in his third stint of ECHL action.

02Aug

Steve Pinizzotto(13) EHC Red Bull Munchen

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Edmonton Oilers‘ 8th year undrafted right wing Steve Pinizzotto(13) got his first NHL goal recently after appearing in 34 games over the last three years.

He added his second tally a month later to go along with a pair of assists he notched in one game earlier in 2014/2015, and now has new career highs for goals and points but will need to add another helper to pass his previous mark set in only 6 games late last season.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward plays a gritty power forward style that has been fairly successful in the minors.

In 9 AHL games to start the current campaign with affiliate Oklahoma City Barons, he has no goals but a pretty nice 6 assists.

His best seasons in the league were 40+ efforts in 2010 & 2011 with Hershey Bears, while under contract with Washington Capitals.

He also won consecutive Calder Cup Championships with them in 2009 & 2010.

If he can continue to contribute there is little reason to believe the 30-year old won’t stick around on a team that could use some swagger.

He has easily worked hard for any inch of ice his been given and was the first player out of Rochester Institute Of Technology to sign a big league deal.

Original story: 12/27-14

He would stay with the big club for another month before being returned to the farm team but managed to play in a career high 18 games (36 total) getting a 2nd goal and 2 assists, both new bests.

The now 31-year old was likely looking at a decent contract in the minors for 2015/2016 but has chosen to take his game elsewhere signing a one-year deal with EHC Red Bull Munchen of DEL.

It may not be out of the question to see him put up some big numbers overseas.

23Jul

Triston Grant(23) Grand Rapids Griffins

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9th year right wing Triston Grant(23) won a Calder Cup Championship with Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013 and re-signs to start the title defense.

Last season he played in a career high 75 games with a best +15. He’s always good for 10-15 points and triple digit penalty minutes. Almost ironically his best point scoring season was also he’s first over 200 pims.

He had 17 fighting majors in 2012/2013, which almost surprisingly doesn’t even land him in the top ten of the category.

The 6’1″ 218 lbs. forward was originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 9th round pick in 2004 (#286 overall) and has skated in 11 NHL games registering one assist and three fights.

He’s appeared in 510 AHL games posting 54 goals and 57 assists with 1462 minutes in the box and a strong combined +32 rating.

At 29-years old, he still seems to have plenty of gas left in the tank and has helped every team he’s played for with lots of hard on ice work and determination.

Original story: 8/12-13

He would increase his point totals from the previous season in far less games to 6 goals and 10 assists, while getting into far less scraps, but unfortunately the team that won the league title last year was a quick exit from the 2014 playoffs.

Heading into 2014/2015, he decided to return to Milwaukee Admirals on an AHL contract and ended up having his best campaign yet scoring a new high 13 goals and 26 points with a career tying 13 assists.

For his 11th pro season the 31-year old elected to go back to Grand Rapid Griffins signing for 2015/2016 very early into free agency like the decision was a no-brainer.

18Jul

Gilbert Brule(7) Medvescak Zagreb

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In late November he re-signed with Arizona Coyotes and was recalled after posting 7 goals and 5 assists in 11 games with Portland.

He skated 3 NHL games but failed to connect for any points and was set to be reassigned back down.

Not wanting to spend any more time in the minors he decided not to report and he was released by the team for breach of contract.

Unable to find another suitor he would sit for the remainder of 2013/2014.

For 2014/2015 he would sign a 1-year deal with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. In 44 KHL games he went on to score 10 goals and 5 assists.

It was rumored he was set to leave for the league a year earlier but decided to stay in North America.

The now 28-year old will spend his second season in the KHL but switch it up to skate with Medvescak Zagreb.

25Jun

Teigan Zahn(18) Colorado Eagles

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Double NHL draft pick defenseman Teigan Zahn(33) was first a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2008 5th round selection (#132 overall) but went unsigned and back into the pool and later chosen by Tampa Bay Lightning in the 7th round of 2010 (#186 overall) but not tendered an offer. He attended training camps with both teams.

After his overage season serving as captain of WHL Saskatoon Blades in which he posted career bests in games played, assists, points and +39 plus/minus, he decided to go the college route and enrolled at University Of Calgary.

The 6’2″ 221 lbs. blue liner with good size and grit to his game signed a one-year AHL contract with Oklahoma City Barons to start his pro career but was dispatched to affiliate Stockton Thunder, where he stayed for most of his first campaign. He was recalled for a month and appeared in 5 games registering his first point, an assist.

To start his sophomore season he scored a training camp tryout with Anaheim Ducks before he was reassigned to farm club, Norfolk Admirals‘ camp and continued to get passed along landing with Utah Grizzlies.

The 24-year old was again summoned up and got into three more games in the higher league notching yet another assist but was returned a couple of weeks later.

In 42 ECHL games, he has 3 goals and 9 assists putting him on pace for career highs in all categories.

He will need to keep connecting and finding his game or he may be looking overseas for his next hockey home.

Original story: 2/20-14

After posting career highs for goals, assists and points (7-11-18) in 2013/2014, he signed his next contract with Colorado Eagles.

He continued to increase his totals achieving new marks for games played (70), assists (17), points (20), plus/minus (12), shots on goal (107) and more than doubled his penalty minutes to a whopping 298, good enough for 2nd in the ECHL.

Another stat that made a huge jump for the increasingly agitated skater was fighting majors, which made a big step up to 20, almost doubling what he had in two previous seasons.

The still just 25-years old agreed to return for another season in Loveland, CO and will likely continue to see his overall game step up.

08Jun

Brad Hunt(29) Edmonton Oilers

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Undrafted, soon-to-be 2nd year defenseman Brad Hunt(2) receives a 2-year 2-way entry level deal from Edmonton Oilers after a solid rookie year on an AHL contract with Chicago Wolves.

He’s small at just 5’9″ 188 lbs. but the blue liner connected for 4 goals and 29 assists in 65 games and added another goal and 3 assists in 5 playoff contests. He also played in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game and got a goal on his only shot on net to help the Western Conference to a 7-6 victory.

He first appeared in 14 games with the Wolves on an ato after completing his college career at Bemidji State University, where he showed the ability to put up points. He got his 1st pro goal and 4 assists.

The 24-year old will be in training camp and likely start the 2013/2014 campaign with their minor league affiliate Oklahoma City Barons but with continued good play should be on the short list for a call-up, look.

Original story: 7/8-13

Since inking his first major contract, he has continued to perform better with each season and received a longer stint from the parent club in 2014/2015 playing 11 NHL games and scoring his first goal (to go along with a pair of assists). He has appeared in 14 total big league contests.

Now 26-years old, scored a career high 19 AHL goals and 51 points, then added another 3 tallies and 7 helpers in 10 postseason matchups with Oklahoma City Barons in the campaign that just finished.

With a freshly signed one-year extension he should get a longer look from the Oilers.

06Apr

Taylor Chorney(44) Pittsburgh Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th year defenseman Taylor Chorney(44) spent the last pair of seasons exclusively in the minors while under contract with St. Louis Blues.

Previously he’d skated in at least a couple contests each campaign, and spent over half of 2009/2010 with draft team Edmonton Oilers (2005 round 2, #35 overall). He’s appeared in 65 NHL games scoring a goal and 5 assists.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. blue liner has reached 20+ points in the AHL five times, including his 4 goals and 16 assists mark this season.

He’s received a pair of recalls and played in 4 games, increasing his time on ice to 24 shifts for 15:24, including 1:38 on the power play and 2 shots on net, 2 hits and one break up.

The 27-year old is only signed through the end of the season but could extended to stick around in eastern Pennsylvania.

02Apr

Taylor Fedun(43) San Jose Sharks

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Undrafted 4th year defenseman Taylor Fedun(43) signed a one-year, two-way contract with San Jose Sharks on the second day of free agency after spending his first three seasons in Edmonton Oilers‘ prospect system, but had to sit out the entirety of what would have been his rookie campaign with a broken femur suffered in preseason.

The versatile puck-moving blue liner posted his first NHL goal in his debut and then got another two nights later playing 4 games with Edmonton in 2013/2014, but was left unqualified when it was time to re-up despite also coming off a year with affiliate Oklahoma City Barons that gave him new career bests in goals (10), assists (28) and points (38).

He also fired a new high 190 shots on net in 65 AHL games.

The small-ish looking but listed at 6′ 200 lbs. d-man is likely on his way to earning another notch up in his helper totals, as he’s at 27 in 63 games with farm team Worcester Sharks and should eclipse that mark unless he happens to stay up with the parent club.

He had always increased his numbers in four years at Princeton University and even scored 10 goals in his senior season as team captain.

The now 26-year old but will be 27 when 2015/2016 starts is unrestricted and it’s definitely a bit of a wonder where he’ll end up next. He fits in nicely where he’s at but will that be enough to keep him around for a continued look.

He’s doing nicely in his 2nd call-up with the Sharks, receiving plenty of playing time, skating over 17 minutes in each of his first two games and even got his first big league assist in a win.

17Mar

Corey Potter(28) Calgary Flames

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Almost a month after his 2nd recall from affiliate Adirondack Flames, Calgary Flames‘ 9th year defenseman Corey Potter(28) finally got into a couple of games to extend his streak of big league appearances to seven seasons in a row.

In 125 NHL big league contests, for two seasons with Edmonton Oilers he appeared in games only at the highest level and has skated the bulk of his games with the Canadian club (111).

Otherwise, he’s had a few nods here and there: from draft team (4th round in 2003, #122 overall) New York Rangers over a couple of seasons, 1 with Pittsburgh Penguins and most recently 3 looks from Boston Bruins after being grabbed off waivers.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. has played 352 AHL games scoring a modest 28 goals and 125 assists but is an absolute mammoth of on ice accountability with an overall +97 rating.

At 31-years old he still has some more seasons left in the tank but it’s a bit of a wonder if he gets another major contract or plays out his time in the minors mentoring prospects and heads into coaching when it’s time to finally hang up the skates.

See related: 3/28-11

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