Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | CollegeHockeyPlayers

09Mar

Matt Murray(30) WBS Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft (#85 overall) goaltender Matt Murray(30) is having a spectacular first season with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

He’s recorded an 18-8-2 mark in his rookie campaign, which started with a shutout in his first appearance of the season.

The 6’4″ slim 174 lbs. net minder just set a new AHL scoreless streak at 3:04:11 without letting in a goal.

He blanked the competition four straight games in the process and then was only scored on with 1:11 remaining in his fifth straight win. He managed to stop 130 shots on net before letting one in.

The former Sault Ste. Marie Greyhound is signed through 2016/2017 and with continued good play and a strong playoff showing could find himself suited up as the NHL back-up for the parent club in his sophomore season.

30Dec

Tyler Gaudet(32) Arizona Coyotes

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Arizona Coyotes‘ undrafted rookie center Tyler Gaudet(32) has been proving he’s got sauce since he first laced ’em up.

He began as an 18-year old in the QMJHL with Gatineau Olympiques but was dropped back when he failed to produce as a youngster.

The unassumingly large 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward played a couple half seasons in the CCHL with Pembroke Lumber Kings working on his game and eventually signed with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds a year after his demotion.

He was slow to start but picked it up big in his second campaign with the team scoring 26 goals and 35 assists in 65 OHL games with a +25 rating and continued his hot streak into 9 playoff contests with a pair of tallies and 6 helpers.

Despite earlier uneven play he managed to land himself on the radar of the Coyotes and was signed to a three-year entry level deal before turning pro at the end of 2013/2014.

Arriving for his first development and training camps, the 21-year old showed the big club he was ready to go with an impressive, accountable two-way style game he was developing.

He was reassigned to Portland Pirates at the start of the season and picked up right away.

In 29 AHL games he’s grabbed 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 plus/minus while helping keeping the club in the picture.

His consistent play has earned him a recall to the NHL.

In his debut he skated 12 even strength shifts for 9:20 of total ice with one shot on net, one hit and was a -1 in the team’s 4-2 victory.

If he can land a spot on the roster, he is easily the type of player that can be great on the penalty kill and help out on the offense too.

13Dec

Colin Miller(6) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#151 overall), 2nd year defenseman Colin Miller(6) is having a great sophomore season with affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

His point totals in 23 AHL games this season has already surpassed what he put up in 65 games as a rookie.

He has a new career high goals with 6 and points at 18 and is tied his assist mark from last year with 12.

In his last campaign of juniors with hometown team Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, he was a point–per-game player scoring 20 goals and 35 assists in 54 OHL games.

The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner was always very accountable in his own zone, leaving after three years with a +24 rating.

He continued on that path in the minors and is currently a +7 plus/minus.

The 22-year old has yet to earn his first NHL recall but is definitely on the right path and signed with the parent club through 2016 on a 3-year entry level deal.

07Feb

Brandon Alderson(19) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ undrafted rookie right wing Brandon Alderson(19) is the type of player that could sneak a call up to the NHL and make it stick for a long career.

At 6’4″ 200 lbs. he comes to the table with power forward size that should keep growing with age.

The 22-year old has never exactly put up amazing numbers, although he was a point-per-game guy in his fourth season of junior hockey in the OHL with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Pretty much strictly a fourth line player for minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, he’s been able to connect for 6 goals and 4 assists in 41 AHL games.

He’s a big guy that can create space on the ice, who with a little offensive coaching could become a sleeper success.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016, he has some time to develop.

13Nov

Nick Cousins(25) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#68 overall), center Nick Cousins(25) was more than a point-per-game player in 4 years of junior hockey with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

His totals in his last two seasons were completely off the hook, scoring 62 goals and 129 assists in 129 OHL games and picking up another 6 in 6 in the playoffs.

In 14 AHL games, the 5’11” 190 lbs. rookie forward leads minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms in scoring with 3 goals and 6 assists.

He is signed through 2016 on a three-year entry level deal and despite his sort of small-ish size, he moves pretty quickly into the open spaces on the ice and does look to have almost unassumingly good play-making abilities.

At only 20-years old, he may even be a little ahead of the parent club’s schedule for his progress but seeing as where the NHL team is in the standings at this point, they could use some nice surprises to add to the roster.