Philadelphia Flyers | CollegeHockeyPlayers

04May

Joey Mormina(3) WBS Penguins

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Unlikely hero #2: 7th year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ defenseman Joey Mormina(3) scored the game-winning goal in the second contest of the best-of-seven AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Semi-Finals vs. St. John’s IceCaps to even the series at one apiece.

It was his first-ever postseason point in 39 games and what a big one to get for the extra-large 6’6″ 220 lbs. blue liner. Making matters even more exciting, it happened to be a shorthanded goal for the mostly stay-at-home d-man that happened to jumped into the play.

He’s played in 456 AHL games (21 goals, 82 assists) with four different teams and this is his second-go-round with the Baby Pens in 4 seasons.

He even had a career high in goals in 2011/2012 scoring 6.

The 29-year old signed a one-year AHL contract and chances are he’ll re-sign with them for a 5th campaign as he plays is fairly accountable in his own zone and was a league 2nd best +37 plus/minus a couple of seasons ago.

He has only appeared in one NHL career game with Carolina Hurricanes in ’07/’08 and was originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 6th round pick in the 2002 draft (#193 overall). He didn’t sign with them initially but did ink a contract in 2009 and was reassigned to Adirondack Phantoms.

30Apr

Ryan Potulny(27) Hershey Bears

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Hershey Bears‘ 7th year center Ryan Potulny(27) was a very smart 2-year pick up for Washington Capitals last season.

In 61 AHL games he scored 33 goals and 32 assists, good enough for top 10 in the league, and was a veteran force for a team that was in a bit of a rebuilding mode.

They didn’t make it out of the first round of the postseason but in 5 games he added another pair of goals and assists.

This was the first season where he failed to appear in an NHL game, which is a bit odd. In 126 games the 27-year old has recorded 22 goals and 27 assists but is an effective agitator out there.

Going into 2012/2013 his contract dictates he’s signed on a one-way contract and will be paid a minimum of $525, which again is smart and nicely deserving of this team player.

His contributions to Binghamton Senators’ 2011 Calder Cup were undeniable.

19Mar

Matt Ford(25) Adirondack Phantoms

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4th year right wing, Matt Ford(25) may have been a bit surprised when he was traded in his first season signed to an NHL contract with Washington Capitals. He was mostly playing for their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears putting up a very respectable 10 goals and 18 assists in 39 games.

Dealt before the trade deadline, he has found a formidable home in Philadelphia Flyers‘ organization with Adirondack Phantoms and has lit the lamp fairly big striking for 11 goals and 5 assists in 19 games.

He was originally picked in the 8th round of the 2004 draft (#256 overall) by Chicago Blackhawks but never signed with them and instead started his pro career in the ECHL with Charlotte Checkers before being called up to Hartford Wolf Pack and then Lake Erie Monsters, a team he stayed with for a couple of seasons.

If he continues to work hard and find the back of the net, he could find himself with a spot in the show with the Flyers out of training camp next season.

16Mar

Erik Gustafsson(36) Philadelphia Flyers

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In his 2nd season, Philadelphia Flyers‘ Swedish-born defenseman Erik Gustafsson(36) has played more NHL games with the injury ravaged big club than he has with their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms.

He’s in the second year of his 3-year entry level deal and has fared pretty well in 21 games for the Flyers scoring his first NHL goal and adding 3 assists, while going an outstanding +11 plus/minus.

In all likelihood he could leave the minors for good next year and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him ink an extension in the offseason.

At 5’10” 180 lbs. he could maybe add some muscle weight but he’s thought of as a good puck moving blue liner and his on-ice accountability suggests he might be ok where he is.

24Feb

Eric Wellwood(22) Philadelphia Flyers

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#172 overall), left wing Eric Wellwood(22) potted his first NHL goal last weekend and has been on a bit of a tear with the big club in his second recall of the 2011/2012 season. In 5 games he also has a pair of assists and is a +6 plus/minus, even though the team has lost 3 of the contests he played in.

He was summoned for 3 games in his rookie campaign and managed to get on the scoring sheet with an assist.

In 105 AHL games with Adirondack Phantoms, the 21-year old is credited for 25 goals and 24 assists.

In juniors, he played for Windsor Spitfires, who won back-to-back Memorial Cups in 2009 and 2010.

At 5’11” 179 lbs. he doen’t look like the most threatening skater on the ice but he does have the ability to be out there contributing on a regular basis.

He is in the 2nd season of his 3-year entry level contract.

21Feb

Jon Kalinski(40) Hershey Bears

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4th year Philadelphia Flyers‘ 6th round pick in the 2007 draft (#152 overall) left wing Jon Kalinski(40) was the pawn that got moved by the team to the Tampa Bay Lightning to pick up defenseman Pavel Kubina.

He has appeared in 22 NHL games scoring 1 goal and 4 assists but it’s been almost two full seasons now since his last recall.

At 6’1″ 180 lbs., the 24-year old doesn’t exactly play a big man’s role out on the ice but maybe he’s going to be a bit of a late bloomer and will mesh well with the team in Norfolk to help kickstart his playing career away from the Flyers‘ system for the first time since turning pro.

In 247 AHL games (regular season and playoffs) with Adirondack/Philadelphia Phantoms he has 37 goals and 52 assists and a shaky -15 plus/minus.

9/17-12: The great underachiever signs a one-year AHL contract with the former enemy Hershey Bears for 2012/2013.

03Feb

Jon Matsumoto(10) San Antonio Rampage

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Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft (#79 overall) center Jon Matsumoto(10) was a team prospect for the first three years of his pro career and had two 60+ point AHL seasons with the Phantoms before being traded at the end of his 3-year entry level contract to Carolina Hurricanes 2010 for what amounted to a bag of rocks, a 7th round draft selection.

He played with their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers for a season and a half (including 13 games, scoring 2 goals last season with the Hurricanes) before being recently dished to Florida Panthers for another up-and-coming forward that was primarily playing with San Antonio Rampage.

In 46 AHL games he has 17 goals and 24 assists, which puts in on pace for his third 60 point season. At 6′ 185 lbs. he isn’t the biggest forward but he plays that style and has to ramp it up to the next level.

30Jan

Boyd Kane(12) Hershey Bears

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14-year veteran, Hershey Bears‘ left wing Boyd Kane(12) got the nod to captain the 2012 Eastern Conference All-Star squad for the Atlantic City, Boardwalk Hall match-up vs. the West.

He won back-to-back Calder Cups, first with Philadelphia Phantoms in 2005 and then with Hershey in 2006. He also won the AHL title with the Bears again in 2010.

His last three seasons have been spent in Washington Capitals‘ farm system and 5 of 6 seasons before that with Philadelphia, except the stop back in Hershey. He started his pro career with four years with New York Rangers‘ AHL (Hartford Wolf Pack) and ECHL (Charlotte Checkers) affiliates.

In 31 NHL games (23 with the Flyers, 8 with the Capitals) the 31-year old has three assists but has yet to pot his first goal. At 6’2″ 225 lbs. he’s easily more relied upon for his physical game.

15Jan

Brandon Manning(28) Adirondack Phantoms

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No doubt about it Philadelphia Flyers need defenseman and this one could be a hidden gem for them.

Undrafted rookie d-man Brandon Manning(28) scored his first ever professional hockey goal last Friday night in Adirondack Phantoms‘ home win vs. Hamilton Bulldogs at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Still one of the best arenas to see a hockey game in.

He started the season on injured reserved and has since played 11 AHL games adding an assist and going a -4 plus/minus.

Won’t be a surprise if the Flyers give him a look this year.

26Dec

Tom Sestito(21) Philadelphia Flyers

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Left wing Tom Sestito(21) was originally chosen by Columbus Blue Jackets in the 3rd round of the 2006 draft (#85 overall) and played in their system for almost 4 seasons. Appearing in 13 NHL games he put up 2 goals and 2 assists before getting traded to Philadelphia Flyers and was assigned to their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms where he finished off the year.

In the offseason he signed a one-year, two-way deal. He received his first call-up to the Flyers and skated in three games with no points but 15 penalty minutes.

He’s not exactly known for his scoring touch but at 6’5″ 228 lbs. it would be nice to utilize him as a power forward in front of the net to go along with his fighting skills. In 24 AHL games he has 8 goals and 6 assists.