Rochester Americans | CollegeHockeyPlayers

17Aug

Maxime Legualt(29) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft (#194 overall) right wing Maxime Legault(29) is still without an NHL contract but has stuck around in their prospect system and re-signs his third AHL deal returning to Rochester Americans for 2012/2013.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forwards numbers went down from his rookie year to his second but he’s the type of player that never stops digging when he’s on the ice.

He started his pro career in the Sabres‘ 2010 training camp before getting reassigned to Portland Pirates without a contract but was eventually inked to an spc in December.

The 23-year old could pester his way into a 2-way NHL deal if he can become a necessary fourth line energy player and effective penalty kill specialist.

08Aug

Drew Schiestel (44)

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Buffalo Sabres said “I do” for a one-year, two-way contract with their 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall) defenseman Drew Schiestel(44) despite there being a can of worms still on the table throughout his first three seasons in the system.

In a low total of 156 AHL games with their Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans‘ affiliates, plus a weird 16 games with Texas Stars late last season in a shuffle him out of the conference Sabres‘ reassignment.

He was good for 8 goals and 39 assists in that stretch.

Not terrible, although there should be more upside.

And there is: he’s an effective +17 plus/minus over his first three years since turning pro playing in the minors. 2011/2012 was his first season in the minus column on the ice.

He did get hampered by a season ending knee injury a couple of years ago but he was also a healthy scratch from the Amerks at times last year.

Step up.

04Aug

Alex Biega(4) Buffalo Sabres

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd year, 24-year old defenseman, Alex Biega(4) signed a one-year, two-way contract keeping him in their system for another season. He had restricted free agent status and was qualified an offer by the team but seemingly took a little bit to put his name above the line.

In his first two seasons, he put up admirable numbers with AHL career highs in goals, assists and points (5 – 18 -23) for 2011/2012. He’s also played on a pair of affiliates (Portland Pirates / Rochester Americans) that made it to the postseason; and is more than accountable in his zone with a combined +18 plus/minus.

He plays hard and definitely shows some skills but listed at 5’10” 191 lbs. it seems like they’re stretching it a bit. Maybe it’s just time for him to start living at the gym. He could be doing that as he heads into another season having set career highs in the previous one.

03Aug

Rick Schofield (9)

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Undrafted 2nd year center Rick Schofield(9) moves just up the road to Rochester Americans from his address in his rookie season with Syracuse signing a one-year AHL contract to join the team.

The 6’2″ 207 lbs. forward had a one-year entry level deal with Anaheim Ducks but it was mostly for their minor league affiliate. He did participate in their training camp and preseason.

The 24-year old was quietly decently effective up front scoring 8 goals and 9 assists in 73 games and kept his head above the water on the ice with a +9 plus/minus.

Kind of surprising that he wasn’t invited to attend Buffalo Sabres’ Rookie Camp on a tryout agreement.

16Jul

Jimmy Bonneau(43) Worcester Sharks

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Big and tough guy Jimmy Bonneau(43) signed up for another season to keep the opposing players honest for Worcester Sharks, a job he handled with ease for the team in 2011/2012.

Going into his 8th pro year, the 6’3″ 220 lbs. left wing inked an AHL standard player contract to return.

He isn’t exactly looked to for goal scoring but put in a modest pair of pucks in the net, while dishing out 3 assists. His penalty minutes were up there for 54 games played at 168, which tied him for team lead in the category and was the leader in fighting majors with 22. Worcester led the entire league in fights (120).

Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 8th round pick in the 2003 draft (#241 overall), he skated mostly with their ECHL affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones before bouncing around the AHL with a few clubs, including another trip back to Hamilton Bulldogs.

For the time being though, he’s found a home in Central MA.

09Jul

Mathieu Beaudoin(26) Hershey Bears

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6th year right wing Mathieu Beudoin(26) is set to join Hershey Bears for the 2012/2013 season. It will be his fifth AHL team in the last five years for the undrafted, 28-year old.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward is definitely capable of finding the back of the net with reasonable consistency but was injured for two months in the middle of last season with a dislocated thumb and couldn’t find the groove with Portland Pirates after reaching career highs in goals, assists and points in 2010/2011.

He was on the Texas Stars‘ team that went all the way to the Calder Cup Finals and lost to these very same Bears.

So, once again becoming an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season after his one-year two-way deal with Phoenix C oyotes was up, the Bears wasted no time signing him to an AHL contract to fill the roster with more veteran leadership.

For the first time in recent memory, Hershey‘s team seems to be full of intangibles. It’s a bit of a wonder what type of season they’re going to have, which never happens.

05Jul

Evan Rankin(15) Rochester Americans

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Undrafted, 5th year pro, right winger Evan Rankin(15) spent more time in the AHL this season with Rochester Americans than he did in a lower league.

He spent his most of his first three campaigns almost entirely in the ECHL or the CHL, where he played in his rookie year.

Called up in late November, he signed to a pto and never looked back.

By early March, the 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward inked an spc to finish out 2011/2012 with the team.

He arguably ended up having a career year scoring 15 goals and adding 14 assists in 35 games.

His time in the penalty box much was limited as well with 12 pims and he’s accountable +9 plus/minus.

For 2012/2013, he was rewarded with an AHL contract to return to the Amerks.

This 26-year old could be a late bloomer.

We love this moment from his personal life that’s made it’s way to youtube. masterful.

01Jul

Ryan Del Monte(16) Starbulls Rosenheim

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28-year old right wing, Ryan Del Monte(16) joins the exodus from North American pro hockey to Europe (and beyond). He signed with Starbulls Rosenheim for next season after 4 years in the ECHL and AHL.

He played his first full season in the AHL last year, appearing in 52 games with Worcester Sharks scoring 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points, all bests for the 6′ 190 lbs. forward in the league.

He won the Kelly Cup with Cincinnati Cyclones in 2010 and signed with the team in the next season before being traded to South Carolina Stingrays but spent the majority of it with Rochester Americans and the Sharks.

Although he was undrafted and has no appearances in the show, the NHL did a nice story on him a few years ago talking about the route he took from a couple of seasons in junior hockey to four years of college to earn a degree and then finally turning pro.

24Jun

Jacob Micflikier(18) EHC Biel

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Entering his 5th pro season undrafted, under-sized as previously stated in a previous post, forward Jacob Micflikier(18) flies from North American hockey to skate with EHC Biel of the Swiss NLA.

It’s a move that makes sense for the 27-year old, unrestricted free agent. For 2011/2012, he signed a one-year, two-way deal with Washington Capitals but spent the entire season with Hershey Bears. He also was injured and limited to 57 games but had a career year for assists with 35 and would have been on par for highs in points and possibly goals too.

He leaves on a high, which is probably why the climate change likely makes it more appealing from a player standpoint. He’ll probably do pretty well playing this style hockey and we wish him all the best.

See related posts: July 18, 2011 & November 30, 2010

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).