Pittsburgh Penguins | CollegeHockeyPlayers

12Aug

Ryan Craig(22) Springfield Falcons

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Heading into his 10th season, center Ryan Craig(22) is back with Springfield Falcons under an AHL contract. He was originally reassigned to the team in his second pro year by Tampa Bay Lightning. He was their 8th round pick in the 2002 draft (#255 overall).

The 6’2″ 202 lbs. forward was team captain from 2004 until mid-way through 2005 before being recalled to the NHL, where he stayed for the next four seasons although was unable to shake the injury bug limiting his effectiveness and games to 61 games in 2007-2009.

By the start of 2009 – 2010, he was basically relegated to their AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

He was an unrestricted free agent as the start of 2010 and signed a one-year, two-way deal with Pittsburgh Penguins. He played 6 games with them without hitting the scoresheet, spending most of his time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Re-signing for 2011/2012, he skated the full year in the AHL.

The now 30-year forward is a welcome asset and proven leader for a young Falcons‘ squad, and may just lift them back into the playoff picture.

In 190 career NHL games he’s scored 32 goals and 31 assists.

24Jun

Michel Ouellet(28) Boston Bruins

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

10th year veteran right wing Michel Ouellet(28) was traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, where he won the Calder Cup Championship last season with AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, to Boston Bruins in a draft day deal.

If signed, he’ll most likely be reassigned to Providence to start 2012/2013.

The former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th round pick in the 2000 draft (#124) has 190 games of NHL experience 52 goals and 68 assists.

In the AHL he has 105 goals and 131 assists in 330 regular and postseason games.

No doubt the 30-year old, 6’1″ 210 lbs. forward will bring some much needed size to the P-Bruins‘ lineup but they are certainly going to need him to regain that scoring touch to help them get back into the playoffs for the first time in a few seasons.

He could also pull some effective 4th line duties for the big club if injuries occur.

23Jun

Marc Cheverie(30) Pittsburgh Penguins

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

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).

31May

Dany Sabourin(35) Hershey Bears

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Heading into his 13th season, Hershey Bears‘ goaltender Dany Sabourin(35) signs a one-year, two-way extension with Washington Capitals‘ organization for a third straight season.

Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 4th round pick in the 1998 draft (#108 overall), he has almost always consistently put together a winning season for whatever club he’s been with.

The 31-year old has played in 59 NHL games mostly with Pittsburgh Penguins over a few seasons and appeared in net with Vancouver Canucks and the Flames as well.

In the AHL he has 278 regular and postseason contests to his credit.

Whomever the Bears end up with to split time with him in the upcoming season, he is more than capable of shouldering the starting job or splitting the 76-game schedule with another netminder as he did in 2011/2012.

He has been recalled by the Caps but yet to tend for them in a game. Maybe that will change in 2012/2013.

30May

Jason Williams(18) Ambrì- Piotta

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

Entering his 13th season, center Jason Williams(18) says goodbye to North American pro hockey and is looking at the next 2 years with Ambri-Piotta of Switzerland National League A.

He leaves having skated in 455 NHL regular season and 27 postseason games scoring 95 goals and 135 assists, most recently with Pittsburgh Penguins, who he signed a one-year, two-way deal with for 2011/2012.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward had one of his best seasons in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins scoring 13 goals and 29 assists in 59 games and added another 3 goals and 10 assists in 12 games.

The 32-year old when the 2012/2013 season starts has skated in Europe once before. During the lock out, he played the season in Finland.

Chances are he’ll do well playing this style and they are already very excited to have him join their team.

27May

Chris Bourque(17) Boston Bruins

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

The name Bourque will once again appear in Black & Gold.

Boston Bruins traded former 1st round pick, center Zach Hamill to Washington Capitals for left wing and son of Ray, Chris Bourque(17).

He has played 411 games through 6 seasons with Hershey Bears in the AHL throughout his 7-year pro career scoring 131 goals and an eye-popping 264 assists.

The 5’8″ 181 lbs. forward won three Calder Cups with the Bears, was playoff MVP in 2010 and lead the league in scoring this season with 93 points in 73 games.

He was a 2nd round pick in the 2004 draft (#33 overall) but has only skated in 33 NHL games scoring one goal with three helpers and most of those games ironically were played with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 26-year old could definitely find a spot with the big club is he works for it but honestly the first time he steps onto either the Garden or even Dunkin’ Donuts Center ice in those colors, it’s going to be one strange but glorious sight.

Related posts: 12/1/11 and 10/9/11.

12May

Mike Zigomanis(93) Toronto Marlies

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

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.

04May

Joey Mormina(3) WBS Penguins

Posted in AHL, NHL | Leave a comment

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

Zach Sill(11) WBS Penguins

Posted in Profile | 1 Comment

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ 3rd year undrafted center Zach Sill(11) isn’t exactly known for his prolific goal scoring/point production: 10 goals, 7 assists in 68 AHL games this season.

But sometimes it’s not how many but when they happen and his 2nd of the AHL Calder Cup Quarterfinals was the gwg in the pivotal game 5 vs. Hershey Bears to move them along to the next round.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward signed his first NHL contract, a two-year two-way deal, in 2011 that keeps him in the Pittsburgh system through the end of 2013.

He’s played 223 career games with Baby Pens scoring 29 goals and 34 assists.

The 23-year old will be looking to impress in the next training camp, especially considering the quick playoff exit of the highly touted parent club.

22Apr

Colin McDonald(13) WBS Penguins

Posted in AHL, ECHL, NHL | 1 Comment

5th year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ forward Colin McDonald(13) is putting goals in the net in the Calder Cup Playoffs like Noah loads animals into the ark: two at a time.

He potted a pair in the first game and another two in the second game, both wins for the 2-0 lead vs. Hershey Bears in the AHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series.

Originally drafted by Edmonton in the 2nd round of 2003 (#51 overall), he appeared in only 2 games with the Oilers but did get his first NHL goal.

He’s played in 5 games this season with Pittsburgh Penguins, the team he signed a one-year, two-way contract with as an unrestricted free agent but didn’t register a point.

In 374 AHL regular season games he has 94 goals and 85 assists. He put in a career high 42 last season with Oklahoma City Barons but had a best this year with assists at 35 and a +12 plus/minus.