Phoenix Coyotes | CollegeHockeyPlayers

02Oct

Justin Weller(27) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#105 overall) defenseman Justin Weller(27) was assigned to the club’s double A affiliate Gwinnett Gladiators to start his second pro season.

He’s signed to a three year entry level deal, but failed to appear in the parent club’s training camp after prospect camp and reported to Portland Pirates‘ to skate in preseason games before recently getting cut. This is the final year of his contract.

At 6’2″ 205 lbs. he has fairly good size but has yet to crack even their AHL team’s roster.

In 65 ECHL games in his rookie season he scored a pair of goals and 9 assists with a +7 rating. He added another tally and a helper in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.

The 22-year old played 5 years of junior hockey in the WHL with Red Deer Rebels but was never a big point producer, favoring maybe a bit more of a stay-at-home defensive style.

If he can shine in his sophomore campaign, he may still be left unqualified going into 2014/2015, but could find himself a nice home for hockey overseas or look to continue to climb the ladder through the minors in North America.

21Sep

Nick Johnson(32) Boston Bruins

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Until someone tells 6th year right wing Nick Johnson(32) differently he’s making a case with Boston Bruins to be on their opening night roster to start the 2013/2014 season.

He’s scored 3 goals in 2 preseason games and the 27-year old is drawing praise from coaching and management.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward is signed to a 1-year two-way deal, but whether or not he is reassigned to minor league affiliate Providence Bruins, he’s easily put himself on the short list for an early recall once the action begins.

In 104 NHL games he has 14 goals and 23 assists and has spent parts of the last four seasons playing in the big league, including one full campaign with Minnesota Wild a couple of years ago.

His AHL stats are point towards a player that is on the cusp of a full-time job with a parent club. He has 53 goals and 70 assists in 183 games and holds a highly accountable +44 rating.

He was originally a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#89 overall).

He even spent time in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers working his way up in his rookie season and even played 5 games for Idaho Steelheads during the last year’s lockout.

See related: 11/17-10

04Aug

Brett Hextall(24) Phoenix Coyotes

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#159 overall), 3rd year right wing Brett Hextall(24) signed his qualifying offer to stay in the team’s prospect system for another season.

He was initially signed to a 2-year entry level deal after three seasons at the University Of North Dakota, where he won a championship in 2009.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward excelled in scoring in college hockey with 39 goals and 42 assists in 115 games but in 138 AHL contests with minor league affiliate Portland Pirates has just 16 tallies and 14 helpers.

His numbers were virtually identical in his first pair of pro seasons but he’ll likely have to take that up a notch to gain the notice of the parent club potentially score his first NHL call-up and stick around.

Although he does play a strong energy game and is good at getting in the face of opposing skaters, so could fill 4th line duties quite well if given the opportunity.

16Jun

Josh Lunden(42) St. John’s IceCaps

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Third year, undrafted left wing Josh Lunden(42) spent most of last season, first in training camp, then on a pair of pto’s with St. John’s IceCaps. In 31 games, he notched 8 goals and 10 assists playing mostly energy line roles.

In his sophomore campaign he was recalled for AHL games by three different times.

He has been signed for the last two seasons with Las Vegas Wranglers. He also appeared with the team during his rookie season, reassigned while under a one-year entry level contract with Phoenix Coyotes.

The 6’2″ 202 lbs. forward also participated in their 2010 training camp.

In 79 ECHL games he’s pocketed a nifty 33 goals and 36 helpers.

The 27-year old earned a well-deserved one-year contract with the IceCaps for 2013/2014, where he should be able to continue to step up his game.

31May

Curtis McElhinney(30) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Entering his ninth pro season, 30-year old goaltender Curtis McElhinney(30) doesn’t have to worry about where he will play, as he signed a one-year, one-way extension to stay in Columbus Blue Jackets‘ system.

He had an outstanding regular season in 2012/2013 with an AHL record 9 shutouts and was named to the All-Star Game.

He also set a team and career best .923 SV% and was named MVP, while also posting his most saves in a season at 1349 and a 29-16-2-3 record in 49 games to help the Falcons win the Northeast Division title by 20 points.

Although the 6’2″ 209 lbs. net minder failed to score a recall, he could be in line for one next season, if he game continues to excel.

He has appeared in 69 NHL games with Phoenix, Ottawa, Anaheim and Calgary. He was originally a 6th round pick in 2002 (#176 overall) by the latter team. He made his most appearances in the show, 21 games with the Ducks just a couple of seasons ago.

He’s always seemed to fall under the radar for a real shot as a starting goalie in the show but also seems to have a stick-to-it-ive-ness that just won’t quit.

See related: 7/4-12

06May

Derek Nesbitt(16) WBS Penguins

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8th year undrafted right wing Derek Nesbitt(16) is one of those players that has consistently worked hard for every break he’s ever received playing pro hockey.

He joined his ninth team, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to help them with their AHL Calder Cup playoffs push. He was traded from Peoria Rivermen, who was out of postseason contention.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward started his career in the ECHL for a couple of seasons and won a Kelly Cup Championship in his sophomore campaign with Idaho Steelheads. He also put up 81 points in 66 games and another 6 goals and 12 assists in 22 playoff contests that breakout year.

It also set him up to move up to the higher league on a more permanent basis. In 211 ECHL games he has 86 goals and 154 assists.

He signed his only NHL deal with Phoenix Coyotes, a one-year two-way deal, a couple of seasons later.

He has spent most of his playing time in the AHL for the past 6 seasons, where he also has some pretty impressive numbers with 92 goals and 111 assists in 320 games.

The 31-year old is an unrestricted free agent pretty much like he’s always been, heading in 2013/2014 and is coming off his third straight 40+ point year and one where he tallied a career best 26 goals.

03May

Chad Johnson(30) & Cedrick Desjardins(30)

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A pair of number 30 goaltenders meet at center ice for the traditional handshake at the end of the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals best-of-five.

Portland Pirates‘ Chad Johnson(30) congratulates Syracuse Crunch Cedrick Desjardins(30) 0n the 3-0 series victory.

Both net minders will be unrestricted free agents as of July 1.

Chances have to be highly likely 4th year, 26-year old Johnson signs a one-year extension to stay in Phoenix Coyotes‘ system. He appeared in 4 NHL games this lockout shortened season and had a 1.21 GAA and .954 SV%.

He could easily score the back up job in 2013/2014.

27-year old Desjardins was reacquired by Tampa Bay Lightning on Valentine’s Day in a goalie swap with Montreal Canadiens. It’s his second time with the only team he’s played NHL games with, 5 total including three this past season.

He’s basically won everything at the junior and ECHL levels and is still waiting for a real opportunity in the show but for now will be concentrating on climbing that next rung with an AHL Championship.

01May

Chad Kolarik(42) WBS Penguins

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5th year center Chad Kolarik(42) had his best pro season yet in 2012/2013.

He finished the AHL scoring race in tied for third in goals and third overall in points with 31 markers and 37 assists, while playing in full 76-game schedule split between Connecticut Whale and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The feisty 5′ 11″ 185 lbs. forward was involved in his second mid-season trade that brought him into Pittsburgh Penguins‘ system, where he continued to light it up.

He has never quite received a look in the show having only skated in 6 NHL games (1 assist), first with Columbus Blue Jackets and then New York Rangers.

The 27-year old was sidelined for the full 2011/2012 campaign suffering a season-ending injury in training camp.

He made up for lost time in a big way putting up career highs.

Entering just his third postseason, he is finding his way to the net yet again.

He’s a prolific scorer with 9 goals and 4 assists in 12 games, including a pair in the first game of the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, one of them being the game-winning tally in overtime.

Originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 7th round pick in the 2007 draft (#199 overall), he played for almost two years in the organization.

As of July 1, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent. It looks promising for him to be re-upped for a full season in a Penguins‘ jersey but he also may have a look as to what else might be out there.

See related: 12/5-10, 7/4-11

21Mar

Louis Domingue(37) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#138 overall) rookie goaltender Louis Domingue(37) is another prospect putting up good numbers for affiliates in his first pro year.

In 32 games with ECHL Gwinnett Gladiators he’s stepped up big since taking over the starter job, boasting a 21-9-2 record with a 2.80 GAA and .902 SV%. He has helped the team clinch a playoff berth and just about seal the top spot in the South Division.

The 6’3″ 200 lbs. net minder has also played in two AHL games for Portland Pirates, getting a 6-3 win in his only start with a 2.40 GAA and .931 SV%.

The 21-year old is signed to a 3-year NHL entry level deal through 2015, so there is definitely much healthy competition between the pipes for Desert Dogs‘ #1 spot.

His continue good play will be key to the Glads going far in the upcoming Kelly Cup Playoffs. They have a tandem in net that could take them all the way.

20Mar

Mike Lee(31) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#91 overall), rookie goaltender Mike Lee(31) has been reassigned and recalled to ECHL and AHL affiliates nine times in his first pro season, which is seemingly a lot but in turn he has received much playing time in both leagues.

He impressively won his first five starts in net for Portland Pirates before coming back down to earth posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.76 GAA and .915 SV% in 10 games until recently being sent back down, where barring any further injuries he’ll likely stay to finish out the year.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder started the season with Gwinnett Gladiators. He has a record of 14-11-1 with a 2.23 GAA and .916 SV%, has been Goaltender Of The Week on two occasions and made an appearance in the league All-Star Game.

No doubt the future is bright between the pipes for the Coyotes‘ prospects, as the top five goalie in the league will now compete with his former back-up for the starting job heading into the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, making them one tough team to beat.

The 22-year old signed a 3-year NHL entry level deal, which keeps him in the system through 2015.