San Antonio Rampage | CollegeHockeyPlayers

25Jun

Colin Long (10)

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ restricted free agent center Colin Long(10) may have been reading the tea leaves with his decision to join Dusseldorfer EG Metro Stars of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for 2012/2013, leaving that status on the table for now.

It was the final year of his 3-year entry level contract, which saw his playing time limited to just 53 AHL games with San Antonio Rampage and last season Portland Pirates, due to head and upper body injuries that continued to follow him.

He also played 50 games in the ECHL with Las Vegas Wranglers during his second year and was almost a point per game skater.

The former Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#99 overall) doesn’t exactly have the size out there at 5’11” 186 lbs. but he does bring an edginess to his style, when he’s fully involved in the game.

Coming from a couple of years of big numbers in juniors, bigger things were expected of him but sidetracked due to multiple injuries to the 23-year old.

There’s still plenty of time for him to develop if he can stay healthy.

16Jun

Jason DeSantis (6)

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Entering into his 5th pro season, undrafted defenseman Jason DeSantis(6) signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida Panthers for the 2012/2013 season, which will see him skating for their AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage.

He signed a minor league deal last season with Winnipeg Jets that saw him appear in 76 games during the regular and postseason with St. John’s IceCaps, where he established career highs in games played (66), goals, assists and points (11-35-46).

His totals were good enough for second on the team for d-men and third overall.

He even spent more time in the sin bin that he had in any previous years with 66 penalty minutes.

Most importantly, the 5’11” 185 lbs. 26-year old established himself as a dependable presence on the blue line that has the ability to help out on the scoring sheet.

We’ll miss seeing him play in the Eastern Conference, but are happy to see him ink an NHL
deal and if he continues to play well it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Panthers‘ recall him for a look in the show.

10Jun

Michael Kostka(21) Norfolk Admirals

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Unlikely hero award: undrafted, 4th year Norfolk Admirals‘ defenseman Michael Kostka(21) scored both the game 3 and game 4 Calder Cup Championship series’ winning goals, which certainly makes it an odd AHL playoff stat I’m sure.

He managed just 7 goals in 52 games during the regular season, yet in 18 postseason contests he had 6 goals and 6 assists, good enough for first in scoring among defenseman in the playoffs.

When Tampa Bay Lightning traded for him back in December, they definitely saw some point-scoring potential from the 26-year d-man.

He put up 16 goals and 39 assists in 80 games with Rochester Americans in 2010/2011, which led the team but were picking him up mostly for some added depth in their own zone.

Signed to a one-year, two-way deal by Florida Panthers, he was a bit surprisingly one of the last roster cuts before being reassigned to their AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage.

Originally on a 2-year entry level deal out of college with Buffalo Sabres, the 6’1″ 210 lbs. blue liner will in all likelihood be rewarded with at least a two-year extension to stay in the system and a taste of some NHL playing time can’t be far behind.

03Jun

David Aebischer(1) Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

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Once again it’s time for soon to be 14 year veteran goalie David Aebischer(1) to go home to Switzerland, joining a new team in the NLA, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers.

While he didn’t earn a contract with Winnipeg Jets, the team he came back to North America on a tryout agreement to hopefully sign with, the 34-year old was offered an AHL deal, took it and did pretty well with their minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps running a 15-12 record with a 2.86 GAA and an .895 GAA and helping the team to the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals in their debut season.

Got to say it was still pretty cool seeing the former Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 1997 draft (#161 overall) play when the IceCaps were in town and he got the start in net. He has played in 214 NHL games with a 106 wins to 74 loss record.

12May

Mike Zigomanis(93) Toronto Marlies

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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.

10May

Alexandre Picard(9) Norfolk Admirals

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Former Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 1st round pick in the 2004 draft (#8 overall), left wing Alexandre Picard(9) is finding his scoring touch in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs with his new team of the 2011/2012 season, Norfolk Admirals.

The 6’2″ 206 lbs. power forward was signed to a one-year two-way contract by Tampa Bay Lightning at the beginning of free agency.

In 67 NHL games over the first five years of his pro career with the Blue Jackets, he only managed a pair of assists. He was not recalled this season and in 49 AHL games scored 6 goals, 19 assists for 25 points.

He did however have his best plus/minus with a +9.

Through 7 seasons, he’s played 351 AHL regular season games scoring 111 goals and 121 assists.

In 9 postseason contests he has seemingly exploded for 6 goals and 6 assists and leads the team and league in scoring.

He potted another two in game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, including the winning tally to put the Admirals up in the series 3-2 in the best-of-7.

09May

Alex Bourret(22) Wichita Thunder

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Wichita Thunder 6th year right wing Alex Bourret(22) was originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#16 overall).

He started his pro career playing 168 AHL games with a few different teams, a couple of trades later.

By his fourth year, he seemed to burn out or something because he went off the pro map playing a couple of games in the LNAH, 16 in the Czech Elite League and even 16 in the Asian Hockey League but each of the last two seasons also kept a toe-hold in North American hockey with a couple of teams in the ECHL.

For 2011/2012 season, he signed with the Thunder of the Central Hockey League and tore it up with 57 points (20 goals, 37 assists) in 43 games and a mighty +20 plus/minus.

The 5’10” 205 lbs. 25-year old forward was called up for 6 games with Worcester Sharks this season and chipped in with 3 helpers. It was his first action in the A since 2009.

By all indications he should be playing in higher league. He helped Wichita to the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals but was injured and limited to 14 games (5 goals, 9 assists).

02May

Mike Vernace(48) Connecticut Whale

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6th year defenseman Mike Vernace(48) has been on quite the ride through the AHL this season as he was traded twice and is currently playing for his third team in the 2011/2012 season.

Ironically all three teams he skated for are still in the postseason.

He started the year with Norfolk Admirals, the team he’d been with for the entirety of 2010/2011 and even got into 10 games with the parent club Tampa Bay Lightning.

From there he was dished to Florida Panthers but skated only with San Antonio Rampage.

That relationship lasted only 22 games before he was once again passed along to New York Rangers in a trade deadline deal and reassigned to Connecticut Whale, where he’ll play his former team, the Admirals in the AHL Eastern Conference Semi-Finals in a best-of-seven series.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 7th round pick in the 2004 draft (#201 overall), the 6’ 216 lbs. blue liner has only appeared in 22 NHL games throughout his playing career.

It’s a bit doubtful that he’ll crack New York Rangers‘ lineup next fall or if they’ll even sign him up for another year, as he’ll be a UFA at the conclusion of the playoff run.

We still think he’s got plenty of pop to crack a big league lineup.

12Apr

J.D. Watt(10) Ontario Reign

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4th year pro, right wing J.D. Watt(10) signed an AHL contract with Manchester Monarchs‘ for the 2011/2012 season after opting out of his one-year deal with Calgary Flames.

He was originally a Flames‘ 4th round pick in 2005 (#111 overall) and played 139 AHL games with their affiliates in Quad City then Abbotsford Heat before leaving.

Starting the season with the Monarchs‘ ECHL affiliate Ontario Reign he was recalled three times and played 19 games scoring a goal to go along with a pair of helpers.

He was most recently reassigned to the ECHL again to help out in the Reign‘s Kelly Cup Playoff push. They did get to game 5 before losing in that decisive matchup.

He will likely be recalled unless the Monarchs wait to see how their final weekend unfolds as they are in a battle for their playoff lives. The 24-year has been mostly a 4th line energy forward throughout his playing career.

15Mar

Casey Wellman(19) Connecticut Whale

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Undrafted 2nd year center Casey Wellman(19) was involved in a pre-deadline deal that sent him from Minnesota Wild‘s AHL affiliate Houston Aeros to New York Rangers‘ AHL team, Connecticut Whale.

He played 41 NHL games with the Wild over three seasons, including 12 contests fresh out of college. He’s managed 4 goals and 9 assists.

In the AHL he’s basically a point per game performer. He has 6 goals and 6 assists in 12 games with the Whale since the deal and had 28 goals and 32 assists in 68 games with the Aeros from 2009 – 2011. He also contributed 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 24 Calder Cup Playoff games last season.

At 24 years old, 6′ 186 lbs. he still needs to put some more muscle into his game before he sticks with an NHL team.

He may get that opportunity in training camp next season with the Rangers, if he can agree to a new deal in the offseason.

7/20-12: In a bit of a surprising move, Wellman gets traded to Florida Panthers for a 5th round 2014 draft pick. He signed a one-year, two-way contract for 2012/2013.