Pittsburgh Penguins | CollegeHockeyPlayers

26Oct

Scott Munroe(33) Springfield Falcons

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9th year undrafted goaltender Scott Munroe(33) returned to North American hockey for a second time after tending net for Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL last season. He also spent an earlier year overseas in the KHL with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Although he put up pretty excellent numbers in Sweden (2.05 GAA, .913 SV% in 36 games) he was cut loose.

He decided to come back to this side of the pond signing a one-year, two-way deal with Springfield Falcons.

To start the new season the now 32-year old was for the first time in his pro career dispatched to ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings, where he appeared in one game, getting the win.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. backstop was immediately recalled and started his first AHL game in about a year and a half, winning his second straight of 2014/2015 in two different leagues.

His last stint was his second go-round with Adirondack (Philadelphia) Phantoms.

He’s had three NHL contracts and was invited to Columbus Blue Jackets’ training camp but never played an official big league game.

When he finally decides to hang up the skates, he’d be a great goaltending coach for a team.

See related: 8/28-12

30May

Conor Sheary(43) WBS Penguins

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Undrafted left wing Conor Sheary(43) signed an ato with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after finishing up his fourth-year at UMass-Amherst.

He put up some decent numbers at college but wasn’t really on anyone’s radar at the next level.

The small 5’8″ forward put on some significant weight bumping him up to 175 lbs. as he joined the AHL for the remainder of the regular season but didn’t connect.

Inserted into the lineup for the third game of the Calder Cup Playoffs first round, he notched an overtime game-winning assist to help solidify his spot in the lineup and tallied his first marker in game 2 of the semi-finals and then started dotting the score sheet to the tune of 6 goals and 4 assists in 13 postseason contests.

His consistent contributions have caught the attention of the parent club, Pittsburgh Penguins, who are now likely to sign him to an entry level contract.

The soon-to-be 22-year old had an agreement for a one-year deal to join WBS Pens for his rookie season as outlined in Elite Prospects and may start here but a player that has always stepped up his compete level may get his shot at the ultimate hockey prize, the NHL.

22May

Brian Gibbons(9) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd year, undrafted center Brian Gibbons(9) is coming off a career year and once this incredible 2013/2014 season ride is complete he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his thus far brief pro career.

The super-small 5’8″ 170 lbs. forward played his first NHL games this year. He skated 41 contests, putting up a respectable 5 goals and 12 assists with a +5 rating; and then added another tally and pair of helpers in 8 Stanley Cup Playoff games before being eliminated.

He was able to be returned to the farm club Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to help their postseason quest.

Already paying dividends, in 6 Calder Cup Playoff tilts he’s scored one highlight reel goal and two assists, while bringing increased energy and speed to an already fast, high scoring team.

He has a pedigree for winning as he won two NCAA Championships in 2008 and 2010 with Boston College Eagles.

He was already having a pretty amazing minor league campaign in his third season of play. In his first two years, he scored an equal 30 points over the course of 70 games. Then in the current run he equaled his rookie scoring numbers (9-11-30) in just 28 match-ups, which easily got him noticed for his first recall.

The parent club would be smart to put this one to bed quickly and offer him a tw0-year, potentially one-way contract extension to stay.

18May

Josh Archibald(42) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2013 draft right wing Josh Archibald(42) leaves his final year at University Of Nebraska-Ohama, turning pro with a freshly inked 3-year entry level deal.

He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2012/2013 hitting the back of the net 29 times in 37 NCAA games.

The undersized 5’10” 170 lbs. forward joined minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the remainder of 2013/2014 and pocketed his first pro goal.

He plays a fairly tenacious style game to open up scoring opportunities and it certainly paid off with his first tally of the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs in his AHL postseason debut.

The 21-year old will be in the parents’ club training camp once again, competing for a roster spot but most likely will be spending the majority of his rookie season with the farm team to see if he can produce on a regular basis.

20Mar

Cody Sylvester(12) Wheeling Nailers

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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ undrafted rookie center Cody Sylvester(12) netted ECHL Player Of The Week for March 10-16, his second time being selected this season.

In 43 games with Wheeling Nailers he has a solid 22 tallies and 16 assists with a +14 rating. He’s also unloaded a team third high total of 134 shots on goal.

The 5’11” 191 lbs. forward played 5 campaigns of junior hockey with Calgary Hitmen. He won the 2010 WHL Championship with them and took his scoring touch up a notch in the playoffs, which set up 2 years of more than point-per-game production in his final pair of seasons before turning pro. He also served as team captain as an over-age player.

He’s mostly been on reassignment since attending the first part of Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on an invite, then with the WBS.

He was recalled for almost a couple months of action in the higher league and played 17 AHL games, getting a pair of goals before being sent back down.

The 21-year old will likely be a key contributor to any potential Kelly Cup Playoff quest or rejoin the Baby Pens in their postseason run, but however his first year ends up, should return for another look next season or will find a new home to continue strengthen his overall game.

14Feb

Anton Zlobin(18) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#173 overall), Russian-born rookie right wing Anton Zlobin(18) has been tearing up the score sheet on every level he’s played leading up to his recall from ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers to direct farm club Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In his 9 games in double A hockey he posted the usual point-per-game (or better) production with 4 goals and 5 assists.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 198 lbs. forward knows how to find his space on the ice.

He skated in 186 QMJHL games through 3 seasons scoring 92 goals and 120 assists for a mammoth 212 points. He also concluded his career in juniors at a stellar +61 rating and won a Memorial Cup with Shawinigan Cataractes in 2012.

The just turning 21-year old was quick to sign a three-year entry level contract and turn pro after his selection.

In 28 AHL games he has yet to completely catch fire with 5 goals and 4 assists but at a +10 he’s on the ice a good amount of the time when the puck goes in the net, which will likely lead to more opportunities for him to connect.

08Feb

Eric Hartzell(35) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ undrafted rookie goalie Eric Hartzell(31) is continuing his successes from an outstanding 4-year college career at Quinnipiac University, where he basically help set all kinds of team and individual records en route to the 2013 National Champion Title Game, into the pro ranks. To his credit, he was chosen as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

In 19 AHL games for farm club, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he’s posted a 9-5 record with 1.85 GAA and .925 SV%. His goals against average is currently tops in the league and already has 3 shutout efforts.

The fairly large-sized 6’4″ 205 lbs. net minder was selected CCM/AHL Goaltender Of The Month for January with his even more outstanding play in the time period.

He initially signed a one-year entry level deal to join the parent club fresh out of college and was quickly extended for two more years in the off-season, keeping him in the system through 2015.

Look for the 24-year old to get a look with the big club if injury sidelines one of their top two net minders.

08Jan

Dominik Uher(26) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#144 overall), Czech Republic-born center Dominik Uher(26) has already surpassed his rookie season highs in assists and points and is one goal away from setting a new mark in goals as well.

In 31 AHL games with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he has 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points. Last season in 53 regular season contests he tallied 7 points total.

The 6’1″ 199 lbs. forward plays a feisty style of game out there and only really started to light the lamp before turning pro in his final season of junior hockey in the WHL with Spokane Chiefs, when he was a bit over a point-per-game guy.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through the end of the 2015 campaign, the still very young 21-year old seems to be just hitting his stride.

It would be no shock to see him continue to increase his point totals and maybe get a look at his NHL game by the parent club.

21Dec

Arron Asham(45) Hartford Wolf Pack

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16-year veteran right wing Arron Asham(45) last spent time in the AHL with teams that are long-defunct: Quebec Citadelles and earlier Fredericton Canadiens. This occurred more than 10 seasons ago, when he was signed to the team that chose him in the 3rd round of the 1996 draft (#71 overall), Montreal Canadiens.

He spent four seasons with the team and in their prospect system until he was traded to New York Islanders and would play the next 10 years exclusively in the NHL.

The 5’11” 210 lbs. forward has played in a staggering 789 big league games scoring 94 goals and 114 assists with a -42 rating, which isn’t great and makes us wonder how he managed to sign so many one-way contracts throughout his pro career.

Signed to a two-year deal with New York Rangers that ends at the conclusion of 2013/2014, the 35-year old has been up and down with minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack but will likely see his career make it to 800 big league games.

Where he ends up next (possible retirement) is a crap shoot.

29Oct

Andrew Ebbett (25)

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8th year undrafted left wing Andrew Ebbett(25) wasted no time in free agency signing a one-year, two-way deal to join Pittsburgh Penguins‘ system for a season.

In 8 AHL games with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he already has a tidy 2 goals and 5 assists. He’s pretty much a point per game guy in the league at 78 goals and 165 assists in 254 games, now skating with his 6th team. He also owns a remarkable +32 rating.

He’s less prolific in the NHL scoring 25 tallies and 39 helpers in 191 games under contracts with 7 different teams but also has an accountable +3 plus/minus.

The small 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward is looked to for bursts of energy he brings to the table and that kind of spark plug often results in wins.

It will be interesting to see where the 30-year old ends up next but he can almost assuredly expect a recall to the parent club before the seasons out, which would give him NHL appearances in his last 7 seasons.