Tagged: Rochester Americans

Johan LarssonBuffalo Sabres‘ 3rd year left wing from Sweden, Johan Larsson(22) is looking to prove he is ready for prime time in his second recall from AHL affiliate Rochester Americans, where he clearly looked to be blowing the lid off his previous bests in goals, assists and points.

In 26 games he has already amassed 8 goals and 15 assists.

He had similar rookie and sophomore campaigns getting 16 and 15 goals with 25 and 26 assists, both very respectable.

Maybe more importantly though and being seen frequently these days is his pro career start with two years in the SHL.

He was under contract with Brynas but in the second year had signed his three year entry level deal and was loaned on a slide to the club for another round of seasoning, which seems to have worked.

The 5’11” 198 lbs. forward was originally a Minnesota Wild 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#56 overall).

He played his rookie season with Houston Aeros and got into his first big league game with no results before he was involved in a pair of prospects deal for a vet goal scorer that landed him in Buffalo.

The still young 22-year old is in the final run of his three-year entry level deal and even though he appeared in 28 games with the parent club had yet to realize the back of the net but did have 4 assists.

Something clicked in his latest summons, as he struck for his first NHL goal and was credited with an assist in the next game, so he officially has a point-scoring streak established and this team does have available roster spots.

Frederick Roy91Undrafted 23-year old, would be third year left wing Frederick Roy(91), son of Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy, has decided it’s time to hang up the skates.

Having signed a pair of successive AHL contracts with Rochester Americans and being without a solid deal going into 2014/2015, he probably was unwilling to move down to the ECHL to see what could materialize.

Also, possible there were little offers from Europe as well.

Regardless, the somewhat small 5’10” 170 lbs. forward with a ton of well-documented feistines (he’s credited with 10 fighting majors last season) stops playing much too soon.

He showed much potential scoring and checking line promise, especially in his fourth season in the QMJHL with Quebec Ramparts.

The word on his wiki suggests he’s decided it’s time to go back to school.

We still wish him well and of course, he comes from good hockey stock so we probably haven’t heard the last of him.

Colton-Gillies

7th year former Minnesota Wild 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#16 overall) right wing Colton Gillies(17) is currently minus a contract for the 2014/2015 but skating AHL games with Bridgeport Sound Tigers after being released from his New York Islanders‘ training camp invite.

He played the entirety of the 2013/2014 season on a minor league deal with Rochester Americans putting up close to career high numbers but even those are barely something to write home about (9-15-24).

The fairly large 6’4″ 190 lbs. forward has skated most of three full campaigns in the NHL with a pair of clubs.

His numbers up in the big league are minimal as well (6-12-18 in 154 games).

He never really produced on the score sheet through three years of junior hockey in the WHL with Saskatoon Blades. which makes it a bit of a wonder how he was ever selected so high and even traded up to get.

In a pair of games in this early season, he has yet to record a point playing on a pto.

He’s definitely a good leader type figure for the young squad to retain but it’s a wonder if they will.

TJ Brennan

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th year defenseman T.J. Brennan(3) is continuing his career year in the minors with affiliate Toronto Marlies.

He played in a season high 75 AHL regular season games scoring a new best 25 goals and 47 assists for 72 points, which basically doubled his previous yearly totals in the three scoring categories. His 2013/2014 totals were also good enough for lead on the team in tallies and overall. He was also 3rd in the league for points.

The 6’1″ 213 lbs. blue liner recently won the Eddie Shore Award for best d-man this year.

He only has 40 NHL games to his credit, despite being a Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round high selection pick.

The irony to those numbers is his best numbers with on a short, freshly traded 19-game stint with Florida Panthers, where he put up a pair of goals and 7 assists in 19 games.

He was picked up for a draft pick and then sent in an off-season trade to Nashville Predators, who decided not to qualify the pending restricted free agent.

Picked up by the Leafs, they, as the story goes never recalled him because they didn’t need him long-term and feared potentially losing him on waivers. It is so much easier to just call up an entry level player.

Now marching the Marlies through the Calder Cup Playoffs he has 4 goals and 4 assists in 9 games without a loss going into the Western Conference Finals.

The 25-year old is set to become a free and in the clear unrestricted free agent this summer. He received one-way contract money but will someone step up for 2014/2015 to try his experience for a full campaign? We’d sign him.

See related: 4/7-11, 11/24-11

Derek Whitmore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undrafted 6th year left wing Derek Whitmore(11) was having problems fitting in to a veteran ladenĀ Hershey Bears‘ lineup after signing a one-year minor league contract with the team upon his return from a short, half season stint in Germany’s DEL skating for Augsburger Panther.

He did reasonably well overseas connecting for 9 goals and 14 assists in 26 games.

Loaned in a player swap at the trade deadline to Adirondack Phantoms, the 5’11” 185 lbs. forward has benefited, scoring almost as many points with his new squad in half the time.

He’s well off his 40+ point pace from 2010-2012 in Buffalo Sabres‘ affiliate system but given another full season workload could find the mark again.

Luke Adam

Buffalo Sabres‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#44 overall) center Luke Adam(72) is playing in his 4th season in the team’s prospect system.

Initially signed to a three-year entry level deal, he was qualified for another season and will become a restricted free agent once again at the end of the current campaign.

He’s played in 85 NHL games with the parent club (only 10 so far this season with 1 goal) but will likely surpass a career high 30-goal mark in the AHL with minor league affiliate Rochester Americans.

The 6’2″ 206 lbs. power forward put up 29 in his first year, when he was voted Rookie Of The Year.

Maybe a bit surprising he wasn’t moved before the trade deadline, the still super-young 23 year-old will probably receive another one-year extension but needs to step it up.

See related: 10/13-11, 9/14-11, 4/16-11

Scott Timmins

New Jersey Devils‘ newly acquired 4th year center Scott Timmins(17) is off to his fastest start on the score sheet in his pro career with minor league affiliate Albany Devils.

In 12 games, he has 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) with a +4 rating, which currently ties him for the team lead in scoring. The change of scenery has obviously done him some good.

Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#165 overall), he has skated 24 NHL games over three seasons in their prospect system on an entry level deal, scoring one goal.

In 180 AHL contests with farm clubs San Antonio Rampage and Rochester Americans he hit the mark for 32 goals and 41 assists, which hardly reflects the kind of season he’s looking at for 2013/2014.

Although he may not be blessed with big size, the 5’11” 191 lbs. forward uses all he’s got and isn’t afraid to get himself in the center of the action for opportunities.

In 4 seasons of OHL juniors, he won three straight league championships on two different teams and consecutive Memorial Cups.

If he continues on the pace he’s setting for himself early on, the 24-year will be in line for another shot at the show.

Jacob Lagace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th year unrestricted free agent left wing Jacob Lagace(83) signs on for the 2013/2014 season with Orlando Solar Bears.

He just wrapped up his 3-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres that saw him skate 120 AHL games (20-23-43) with Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans and 70 in the ECHL (16-26-42) with Greenville Road Warriors and Bakersfield Condors.

He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#134 overall).

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward posted his best numbers in 2012/2013 with 16 goals and 20 assists last season with Bakersfield only reassignment but only had four AHL appearances.

He was a scoring machine in 3 junior hockey campaigns in the QMJHL with 90 markers and 114 helpers in 191 games.

The 23-year old should be able to surpass his high marks with a full season in the ECHL but he could also be on the short list for a recall.

nick-crawford-1

Buffalo Sabres‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#164 overall), restricted free agent defenseman Nick Crawford(20) re-signs to rejoin the team’s prospect system for a fourth season.

He has yet to earn an NHL call-up but has skated in 199 games for AHL affiliates Rochester Americans and Portland Pirates scoring 18 goals and 54 assists.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. blue liner has shown the ability to be a play maker throughout his playing career, especially in his last two seasons of OHL junior hockey with Saginaw Spirit and Barrie Colts and his first year as a pro.

The 23-year old is fairly steady on ice but will need to step up those appearances on the score sheet to continue to find his spot on the minor league roster and keep the eyes of the suits on his game.

New Jersey Devils shed more salary cap to pick up 3rd year larger than life left wing prospect Riley Boychuk(45) from Buffalo Sabres, the team that drafted him in the 7th round of 2010 (#208 overall).

He is in the last season of a three-year entry level deal that has seen him play mostly AA pro hockey, last year in the Central Hockey League reassigned to Fort Worth Brahmas and in his rookie campaign he played 20 games with Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.

The 6’5″ 205 lbs. player put up career high goals, assists and points (8-9-17) in his sophomore year.

He’s anticipated to join Albany Devils for 2013/2014. He was recently invited to the parent club’s development camp and will definitely be joining them again in September.

The 23-year old played 26 AHL games in his first season with Rochester Americans and had a pair of helpers but is still looking for his AAA tally.

No doubt, this is a big frame forward that needs to be stepping it up.

Riley Boychuk