Phoenix Coyotes | CollegeHockeyPlayers

24Jul

Garrett Stafford(55) Washington Capitals

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Going into his 10th pro season, defenseman Garrett Stafford(55) signs a one-year, two-way deal with Washington Capitals that will almost definitely have him becoming captain or assistant for their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears.

The 32-year old has only ever appeared in 7 NHL games: a pair with the Red Wings, a pair with the Stars and 3 with the Coyotes.

On the AHL side of the coin though, he’s appeared in 653 regular and postseason games with 7 different teams and made it to the Finals once in 2010 with Texas Stars.

He had some really good years in minor hockey points-wise but now is looked upon for his leadership qualities to help guide the younger players in the system. The 6’1″ 207 lbs. blue liner was team captain for Hamilton Bulldogs last season.

No doubt after his playing days are done, he’ll be a great assistant coach to start.

He was originally undrafted and on the personal side of life, recently became a first time dad to a potential future hockey playing son.

25Jun

Colin Long (10)

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ restricted free agent center Colin Long(10) may have been reading the tea leaves with his decision to join Dusseldorfer EG Metro Stars of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for 2012/2013, leaving that status on the table for now.

It was the final year of his 3-year entry level contract, which saw his playing time limited to just 53 AHL games with San Antonio Rampage and last season Portland Pirates, due to head and upper body injuries that continued to follow him.

He also played 50 games in the ECHL with Las Vegas Wranglers during his second year and was almost a point per game skater.

The former Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#99 overall) doesn’t exactly have the size out there at 5’11” 186 lbs. but he does bring an edginess to his style, when he’s fully involved in the game.

Coming from a couple of years of big numbers in juniors, bigger things were expected of him but sidetracked due to multiple injuries to the 23-year old.

There’s still plenty of time for him to develop if he can stay healthy.

23Jun

Marc Cheverie(30) Pittsburgh Penguins

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2nd year goaltender Marc Cheverie(30) has split his first couple of seasons between ECHL and AHL teams with most of his appearances in the former.

In 2011/2012, he posted his best numbers yet with Gwinnett Gladiators winning 10 games, 4 losses and a 2.71 GAA and .910 SV% on a team that should have gone much further in the Kelly Cup Playoffs than their first round exit.

He was involved in a draft day Pittsburgh Penguins‘ trade with Phoenix Coyotes that could land him the job as a back-up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and/or maybe continue in AA hockey with their affiliate Wheeling Nailers.

The 25-year backstop is decently sized at 6’2″ 185 lbs. and should continue to improve his game, making him a nice pick-up for the Pens‘ system.

He was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 7th round pick in 2006 (#193 overall).

14Jun

Ryan Duncan(32) Portland Pirates

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Undrafted, former Hobey Baker Award winner in 2007 for best collegiate player (as a sophomore), right wing Ryan Duncan(32) had a decent enough first season, playing with Portland Pirates scoring 14 goals and adding 22 assists in 64 games played.

The 26-year old signed a one-year AHL contract with Phoenix Coyotes a month before the start of 2011/2012, after spending his first two pro seasons in the Austrian Elite League skating for EC Red Bull Salzburg.

At only 5’7″ 170 lbs. the forward definitely looks very undersized out there but has the ability to get into the open areas and isn’t timid about getting involved to create a scoring opportunity.

A pre-Memorial Day tweet from him @rduncan16 suggests he’s going right back to Salzburg for 2012/2013.

03Jun

David Aebischer(1) Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

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Once again it’s time for soon to be 14 year veteran goalie David Aebischer(1) to go home to Switzerland, joining a new team in the NLA, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers.

While he didn’t earn a contract with Winnipeg Jets, the team he came back to North America on a tryout agreement to hopefully sign with, the 34-year old was offered an AHL deal, took it and did pretty well with their minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps running a 15-12 record with a 2.86 GAA and an .895 GAA and helping the team to the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals in their debut season.

Got to say it was still pretty cool seeing the former Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 1997 draft (#161 overall) play when the IceCaps were in town and he got the start in net. He has played in 214 NHL games with a 106 wins to 74 loss record.

01Jun

Nathan Oystrick(20) HC Lev Praha

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7th year unrestricted defenseman Nathan Oystrick(20) is heading to the KHL to skate for HC Lev Praha as he reported on his twitter @Oystie74.

The former Atlanta Thrashers‘ 7th round pick in the 2002 draft (#198 overall) has played 65 NHL games with three different teams but skated all of 2011/2012 with Portland Pirates after signing a one-year, two-way deal with Phoenix Coyotes.

He’s played in 383 AHL regular and postseason contests putting up some respectable stats (69 goals, 162 assists) and won the Calder Cup Trophy with Chicago Wolves in 2008.

At 6′ 210 lbs. he always plays an imposing game and should fit in well with the style of Russian hockey.

12May

Mike Zigomanis(93) Toronto Marlies

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Everyone’s favorite 12th year vegan pro, Toronto Marlies‘ center Mike Zigomanis(93) got the OT winner in the series vs. Abbotsford Heat to lift them into the AHL Calder Cup Western Conference Finals for the second time in the team’s history.

He becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season after spending the last two in Toronto Maple Leafs‘ system. His last NHL appearance was eight games in 2009/2010.

The 6’0 200 lbs. forward has appeared in 197 NHL games scoring 21 goals and 19 assists.

Chances are probably pretty good that the Leafs will keep the 31-year veteran around for another year. He’s pretty much the consummate player to have on your team.

08May

Brock Trotter (39)

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When St. John’s IceCaps picked up center Brock Trotter(39) in early March on an AHL loan deal he was on the sidelines nursing an upper body injury that made his immediate playing future a bit unclear.

He managed to return before the regular season concluded and skated in the last couple games with the team after missing 20 previous contests.

The point per game forward failed to reach the scoresheet.

The IceCaps’ Calder Cup future was already sealed though and they opened as the number 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Throughout 8 postseason games (so far) he is back to form contributing 5 goals, while adding 4 assists but none would add up more importantly than the pair he pocketed in the Semi-Finals‘ 2-1 overtime game 3 win vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to put them in the series lead.

He’s set to become an restricted free agent as summer approaches and bets are on that Winnipeg Jets will make a move with Phoenix to sign the fully stretched 5’10” 185 lbs. minor league scoring machine up for another season.

01May

Mark Louis(33) Portland Pirates

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Undrafted 6’4″ 220 lbs. defenseman Mark Louis(33) signed a one-year, two-way contract with Phoenix Coyotes for the 2012/2013 season.

He was originally signed to a pto with their AHL affiliate Portland Pirates late last season and inked an standard player contract with them a little more than a week later.

In 23 games he has no goals and four assists but never backing down from a challenge accumulated 72 penalty minutes.

The one aspect of his game where he’ll need to be more accountable is plus/minus. The 25-year old was a -7.

As he approaches his first full year of pro hockey as a rookie, he’ll learn to play with more responsibility in his own zone. Chances are because of his extra-big-sized frame, he may even merit some looks for some NHL action.

21Apr

David Rundblad(2) Phoenix Coyotes

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Swedish-born, 21-year old rookie defenseman David Rundblad(2) started his first season on the blue line with Ottawa Senators and appeared in 24 games scoring his first NHL goal and 3 assists with them before being traded to Phoenix Coyotes in a deal that has maybe paid more immediate dividends for the Senators, as they got Kyle Turris.

The Coyotes only utilized him in 6 regular season games in the 2011/2012 season, but he added another 3 assists to his first year totals.

In 30 AHL games with Portland Pirates, he managed 7 goals and 9 assists but was a not so good -18 plus/minus.

At 6’2″ 190 lbs. he definitely looks like he has good size out there but easily needs to add more muscle and grit into his game to fulfill the promise of being a St. Louis Blues‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#17 overall). He signed with them but got dished to Ottawa in what amounted to mostly a deal of draft picks.

He was just recalled to join Phoenix in their Stanley Cup run, which is closing in on a first round victory, but it’s doubtful he’ll see any game time action with the depth they have on d.