Rockford IceHogs | CollegeHockeyPlayers

30Apr

Ryan Potulny(27) Hershey Bears

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Hershey Bears‘ 7th year center Ryan Potulny(27) was a very smart 2-year pick up for Washington Capitals last season.

In 61 AHL games he scored 33 goals and 32 assists, good enough for top 10 in the league, and was a veteran force for a team that was in a bit of a rebuilding mode.

They didn’t make it out of the first round of the postseason but in 5 games he added another pair of goals and assists.

This was the first season where he failed to appear in an NHL game, which is a bit odd. In 126 games the 27-year old has recorded 22 goals and 27 assists but is an effective agitator out there.

Going into 2012/2013 his contract dictates he’s signed on a one-way contract and will be paid a minimum of $525, which again is smart and nicely deserving of this team player.

His contributions to Binghamton Senators’ 2011 Calder Cup were undeniable.

25Apr

Mike Brodeur(29) Houston Aeros

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For the first time in his 8-year pro career, goaltender Mike Brodeur(29) didn’t sign a contract to play with a team for the 2011/2012 season.

This is after two seasons in the Ottawa Senators‘ system, where he appeared in 7 games from 2009-2011. Last season he appeared in NHL, AHL and ECHL games.

Then seemingly out of nowhere, he signs a pto 3 weeks before the end of regular season with Houston Aeros and finds himself to be the back-up but would come in to relieve an injured Matt Hackett in each of the first two games AHL Calder Cup Playoffs and got the call to start game 3 backstopping 31 shots for the 1-0 win to put them back in the series.

Aeros did get bounced from the Calder Cup Playoffs by Oklahoma City Barons on Tuesday night.

Originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 7th round pick in the 2003 draft (#211 overall), it’s a wonder where the 29-year old will end up next season. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him go the Europe route.

23Feb

Matt Fornataro(39) VIK Västerås HK

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In a pair of moves that sort of amounted to “trading” a bishop for a rook: 4th year, undrafted forward Matt Fornatoro(39) heads on to his third AHL team, Rockford IceHogs after spending a couple of seasons signed to an spc with Norfolk Admirals.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. 26-year old played 161 games for the Admirals scoring 33 goals and 52 assists. He was a +8 plus/minus and has always worked hard for any contract in triple A hockey he’s signed.

In a very simultaneous, coordinated transaction, Tampa Bay Lightning picked up 9th year forward Brandon Segal from Chicago Blackhawks and assigned him to Norfolk.

9/17-12: Fornataro flies the North American coop for the Swedish 2nd tier league Allsvenskan. He joins VIK Västerås HK for the upcoming season.

03Feb

Danny Richmond(7) Lake Erie Monsters

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Defenseman Danny Richmond(7) is one of those high draft picks (Carolina Hurricanes‘ 2nd round in 2003, #31 overall) that just have never quite lived up to expectations.

He was just traded out of Hershey, where he saw limited action, and just couldn’t find his spot on a fairly deep roster after signing a one-year, two-way deal with Washington Capitals in the offseason. This happened to be his 8th AHL team in six years.

The next chapter in his pro career takes him to Cleveland to skate for Lake Erie Monsters, as he was traded out of Chocolatetown. We’ll see if he’s able to gain any traction and maybe another look with Colorado Avalanche.

He has 49 games of NHL experience, registering 0 goals and 3 assists and a -12 plus/minus. He mostly has been less than accountable in his defensive zone.

05Jan

Rob Klinkhammer(14) Binghamton Senators

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It’s been a long while since undrafted 5th year winger Rob Klinkhammer(14) has played in the Eastern Conference of the AHL, but he’s back for the first time since his rookie season with Norfolk Admirals in 2006/2007.

In 66 games, he had 12 goals and 12 assists.

From there he was signed to a two-year entry level deal and subsequent one-year, two-way contract with Chicago Blackhawks playing mostly for their affiliate Rockford IceHogs.

He was called up for one NHL game and registered no points but did have a shot on net and went a +1 in 11:36 ice time.

He started his fourth year in the Blackhawks‘ organization but was traded to Ottawa Senators and is playing mostly with Binghamton.

In 15 games, he already have 9 goals and 6 assists and his season totals have him tied for first in scoring on the team.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ottawa call him up to have a closer look.

21Aug

Mike Sgroi(17) Evansville Icemen / Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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Central Hockey League‘s newest team, Evansville Icemen recently signed 6’5″ 235lbs of grit in Mike Sgroi(17) for the upcoming season.

A 12-year veteran, he usually finds himself playing for multiple minor league teams each season, either with call-ups or trades for his services. In 2008-2009, he played games for no less than 6 teams in the AHL and ECHL (Syracuse Crunch, Binghamton Senators, Norfolk Admirals, Johnstown Chiefs, Utah Grizzlies, Elmira Jackals).

Last season, seeming out of nowhere, he signed a pto with Bridgeport Sound Tigers and appeared in a couple of games at the end of the season registering no points and more surprisingly no penalty minutes.