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18Sep

Dany Heatley(51) Nurnberg Ice Tigers

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 14th year veteran left wing Dany Heatley(51) signed a one year deal over the summer after spending a three seasons with Minnesota Wild (two as assistant captain), 2 with San Jose Sharks, 4 with Ottawa Senators and his first three with 2000 draft team (1st round, #2 overall) Atlanta Thrashers.

He was hampered by an early groin injury at the beginning of the campaign and then had to fight to gain a roster spot on an already pretty deep team with many prospects in the wings.

When he did get in, reports have it that he looked out of step, unable to keep up and failed to connect with the score sheet in six contests.

Before Christmas for the first time ever he was put on waivers for reassignment to under performing minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

The somewhat huge 6’3″ 219 lbs. forward looks a lot out of place skating in the AHL but basically seems to only have it in third gear most of the time.

He has an unimpressive 2 tallies and 5 helpers in 24 games.

Where the former two-time 50 goal scorer goes next is fully up in the air but retirement may not be out of the question for the 34-year old.

In a career 869 NHL games, he has scored an absolutely phenomenal 372 goals and 419 assists with a +38 rating and won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2010 with Team Canada, pretty great stats to hang up the skates with.

Original story: 2/24-15

Four days after this article was posted he would get traded from the Ducks‘ organization to Florida Panthers and be reassigned to their minor league affiliate San Antonio Rampage.

Even though he wasn’t going to be skating more NHL games with the big club, it was easily a much happier landing place as he was on a high scoring squad in playoff contention.

His play pointed towards better surroundings as he scored 6 goals and 7 assists in 18 contests but failed to connect in three postseason match-ups.

As his 15th season of pro hockey approaches he makes the commitment to join Nurnberg Ice Tigers as the new DEL calendar is just getting started.

He should be able to fully find his scoring touch on the bigger sheets of ice and may play out a few more years overseas before deciding to move onto the next chapter post-hockey life.

15Jul

Brian McGrattan(22) Anaheim Ducks

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For his 14th pro season Brian McGrattan(22) signed a one-year two-way deal with Anaheim Ducks and could find himself playing a decent amount of NHL for the first time in a couple of campaigns to protect all the players in that deep pool of talent in California.

He’ll turn 34-years old before the new season starts.

The huge force, who’s obviously in great shape and last had 11 fights playing for Calgary Flames in 2013/2014, just keeps on ticking.

Original story below 3/15-15:

Calgary Flames‘ 13th year right wing Brian McGrattan(22) was reassigned to the minors for the first time in a couple of seasons, joining affiliate Adirondack Flames .

He last played six games on a conditioning loan with Milwaukee Admirals while under contract to Nashville Predators but returned to Calgary (he spent 2009/2010 with the team) via trade.

The larger than life 6’4″ 240 lbs. rugged forward skated only 8 games (no points) with the parent club and was listed as a healthy scratch all too often, so the parent club ultimately decided it was best to see if some more ice time could get him back into the lineup on what had become a much speedier squad.

In 2013/2014, he achieved career highs for games played (76), goals (4) and assists (4) while keeping the peace on ice.

The big man was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 1999 draft (#104 overall) but first signed with Ottawa Senators, who he spent his first six seasons with, scoring his first NHL goal.

After a trade to then Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, he bounced around from team-to-team on one-year deals and even spent the full 2010/2011 with a pair of farm clubs.

A veteran of 278 AHL games he has the record for the most penalty minutes and fighting majors in one season (2004/2005) with Binghamton Senators, when he drop the mitts 39 times and recorded 551 minutes in the sin bin.

The 33-year old enforcer has skated in 317 big league contests but is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

He may either decide to take his game overseas for a year as he’s yet to explore the landscape outside of North America or hang up those skates and continue to help players with substance abuse problems, an issue of close importance to him.

See related: 11/1-10, 1/19-11, 2/17-11, 9/18-11,

08Jul

Matt Gilroy(97) Spartak Moskva

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Undrafted 4th year defenseman Matt Gilroy(97) was an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2012/2013 season.

With no deal (or NHL) in the offseason, he inked an AHL contract with Connecticut Whale, a team he skated in 5 games with in his rookie campaign while signed with New York Rangers. He was with the Blueshirts for a couple of years before last season’s ride started with Tampa Bay Lightning and ended with an underdog playoff bid by Ottawa Senators that brought him back to MSG for some postseason play against his former team.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. blue liner displayed an offensive-minded upside in his college career but has yet to ignite the same sort of chemistry in the show. He was the Hobey Baker award winner in 2009 as the top player in college hockey.

In 13 AHL games this season he has 3 goals and 6 assists but more importantly brings some big league experience and accountability to the ice in every game.

Once/if the NHL gets their sides to meet somewhere in the middle, the 28-year old could find himself with a suitor or two for what will probably be a two-way deal at the league minimum salary cap.

Original story: 11/25-12

After 34 games with the farm team scoring 6 goals and 9 assists with a -16 rating, he was signed for 2013’s post-lockout season with New York Rangers and skated 15 games getting no points.

He parlayed that into a one-year contract with Florida Panthers and opened the 2013/2014 campaign with 16 games for the team until getting reassigned for the balance of the stint to affiliate San Antonio Rampage, where he did pretty nicely popping in 10 goals and 11 assists in 42 contests.

For his sixth pro season he inked an overseas deal with Atlant Moscow Oblast and had some of his best offensive production yet connecting for 9 goals and 24 assists in 60 KHL games.

The 30-year will stay in the country for 2015/2016 and play for Spartak Moskva.

It will be interesting to see if he can maintain his new affinity with the score sheet.

19Jun

Alexandre Picard(45) HC Fribourg-Gotteron

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9th year defenseman Alexandre Picard(45) signed a one-year two-way deal with Pittsburgh Penguins shortly after free agency started in the offseason.

With 243 NHL games to his credit (19 goals, 46 assists), he is looks to be mostly considered a 6th or 7th defenseman.

He’s off to a good start this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. In 12 games, he has 1 goal and 4 assists but it’s the +9 that’s getting most of the attention.

Into his second recall, he’s already a +5 with the Pens in 7 games with no points.

Original story: 12/1-11

After skating 17 games with Pittsburgh recording 4 assists with a +4 rating and playing 12 Calder Cup Playoff games getting 6 assists, he decided that he would try his game overseas joining HC Lev Praha of the KHL but suffered a shoulder injury and was later released.

After only appearing in 11 games in the 2012/2013 season, he moved on signing a one-year deal with Graz 99ers of Erste Banke Liga.

The 6’3″ 215 lbs. d-man would once again go elsewhere and departed for DEL, where he inked to play with ERC Ingolstadt.

Now 29-years old he’s decided to head to yet another country agreeing to lace up the skates for HC Fribourg-Gotteron of NLA.

There’s no telling if he’ll finally settle but chances are probably not.

13Jun

Fredrik Claesson(3) Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#126 overall) Swedish-born defenseman Frederik Claesson(3) already had two seasons of professional play in the SHL with Djurgarden under his belt before committing to North American minor league hockey with affiliate Binghamton Senators.

The slightly bigger looking than 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner was never really a point producer throughout short playing career but since coming over this way to skate has seen his numbers on the uptick.

In his rookie campaign he put up a modest 3 goals and 8 assists with a +4 rating in 70 AHL games but this season is blowing the lid of those marks.

Through 48 contests, he may have put up less goals with 2, but has new career highs in assists (20), points (22) and holds onto a massive +28 plus/minus, currently good for third overall.

The only 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that runs through 2014/2015 and look for him to get his shot at cracking the NHL lineup or possibly get moved as the club has good depth at defense.

Original story 2/11-14

As his initial contract is set to run its course, Ottawa Senators re-up for another year with the blue liner that played in a career high 76 AHL games for affiliate Binghamton Senators and scored a new best 4 goals but managed only 15 assists (down 11 from last season).

Although he has yet to realize his first NHL call-up and maybe struggled a bit in his third campaign, the still young 22-year old should still compete for a roster spot out of training camp with the big club.

12Jun

Louie Caporusso(11) Iserlohn Roosters

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3rd year left wing Louie Caporusso(11) signs a one-year contract with 2013 Kelly Cup Champions‘ Reading Royals for 2013/2014.

He was originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft (#90 overall) and played a couple of seasons with minor league affiliates Binghamton Senators and Elmira Jackals.

In 36 AHL games he scored a single goal with 5 assists, which isn’t that amazing but in 70 ECHL match-ups he’s a point-per-game guy at 35 goals and 42 assists with a +20 rating. He continued on that scoring tear in 6 playoff games, getting a pair of tallies and 6 helpers.

The small looking 5’10” 200 lbs. forward was also a sniper in four years of NCAA hockey at University Of Michigan posting 68 goals and 76 assists in 160 games with an outstanding +48 plus/minus.

At still only 24 years old the former Hobey Baker Award finalist will be added to an already deep talent pool and definitely help the Royals defend their title in the upcoming campaign.

Original story: 8/16-13

After attending a week of Worcester Sharks‘ training camp, he reported back to Reading to start the season and once again was putting up lots of points (7-21-28 in 24 games) before deciding halfway through to split overseas and skate the remainder of the campaign with Augsburger Panther of DEL, where he continued on a similar tear.

He resigned with the team for another year and although his production slipped slightly he was still connecting with the net on a regular basis finishing 2014/2015 with 15 goals, 23 assists in 47 games.

For his 5th pro season, he signs on with the enemy, agreeing to play for Iserlohn Roosters and at only 25-years old he’s probably still just getting started.

04Apr

Stefan Noesen(64) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ rookie center Stefan Noesen(64) was probably thinking if it wasn’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all to begin his pro career.

Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#21 overall), he was traded after three seasons of more than a point-per-game production in juniors with Plymouth Whalers.

Ready to start with his new team, he was reassigned to minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals and after only two games in, he popped both his acl and mcl requiring season ending surgery.

The tough-playing forward that’s always grinding in front of the opposing net was able to return for the second round of the playoffs and instantly contributed 4 assists in 4 postseason contests before being eliminated.

Ready to make a comeback for his new first campaign to start 2014/2015, he got all of four games under his belt before yet again fell to an injury to the tune of a severely cut Achilles’ tendon that required him to be sidelined for another 3 and a half month stint.

Finally set to begin what should be a great run playing the sport he loves, the 6’2″ 205 lbs. pivot was introduced back into the lineup and isn’t looking back.

In 23 AHL games he has 3 goals and 5 assists on a team that is win challenged but he always brings the energy and the gusto.

The 22-year old’s persistence to be a difference maker on the ice has caught the attention of the parent club who gave him a first NHL recall.

He skated a conservative 10 shifts for 6:54 total ice time with one breakup.

This digger prospect will definitely find his place in the show eventually but needs to continue to work hard to completely return to form and assure his place.

07Mar

Brendan Bell(14) Chicago Wolves

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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.

04Mar

Matt Carkner(3) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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14th year veteran defenseman Matt Carkner(3) has played in the NHL exclusively for the last 5 years. He’s played 237 games scoring 4 goals and 23 assists.

It also took him 5 seasons to crack a big league lineup through his entry level deal with San Jose Sharks. He appeared in one game with them.

Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 1999 draft (#58 overall), the unrestricted free agent spent most of his playing days in the system with the defunct Cleveland Barons.

Currently signed through the end of this season, he’s in the last of his three-year deal with New York Islanders, but after coming off injured reserved was sent directly to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

It’s his first appearance in the minors since 2011 when he played three games on a conditioning reassignment to Binghamton Senators while under contract with Ottawa.

The big 6’4″ 226 lbs. wide body may be best remembered for his five campaigns with the Canadian nation’s capital team. He had his best offensive production with them in 2009/2010 when he got 2 goals and 9 assists and scored a triple overtime gwg in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 34-year old may be playing out his time in the AHL but could get a recall as the postseason draws nearer and the parent club needs to rest some players.

As far as continued playing time in his pro career, he’ll likely have to shift his game overseas or maybe sign a one year deal to continue to help develop prospects on a farm team.

28Feb

Andrew Hammond(30) Ottawa Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ undrafted 2nd year goalie Andrew Hammond(30) is making a strong argument to stay in between the pipes as the team pushes its’ winning efforts towards a playoff berth.

Initially recalled from affiliate Binghamton Senators on an emergency basis to serve as back-up he was pressed into action and maybe a bit unimpressive letting in a pair of goals on 5 shots in a deflating loss.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. net minder got the nod when their other number one goaltender also went down with injury (Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner for anyone keeping track) and got the victory in Montreal, of all places.

At this point he’s basically their go-to goalie down the stretch and he’s getting it done – big.

The sort of late to arrive 27-year old played a boatload of 119 games at Bowling Green State University but never had a winning record.

It’s also not like he’s shutting the door on opponents this season in the minors. In his rookie campaign he managed a 25-19-3 record with a 2.81 GAA and a .910 SV% in 48 AHL games but this year he’s only 7-13 with a 3.51 GAA and an .898 SV% on a club that struggles to string together back-to-back w’s.

Since his first start, he’s posted a tidy 5-0 record with a 1.31 GAA and a .951 SV% along with 2 straight shutouts.

This mirrors his one and only other appearance, a relief effort in a single game last year, where he didn’t let up a goal with 11 stops in 34:31 minutes.

He’s only signed through the end of this season.

See related: 3/1-14

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