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29Jun

Melker Karlsson(68) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted, Swedish-born rookie center Melker Karlsson(68) signed a one-year entry level deal after playing in 4 seasons of SHL pro hockey in his homeland.

He was obviously on their radar after winning two straight league championships with Skelleftea AIK and was runner-up the previous pair of years.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward is a complete spark plug style player with really quick hands and smart hockey sense.

He was reassigned to affiliate Worcester Sharks to start his first year on this side of the river and has scored 5 goals and 5 assists in 20 AHL games, while totaling a gatling gun 49 shots on net.

His tenacious play with the farm team has got the brass above wondering if he can replicate what he’s down overseas and in the minors in the show.

In his first NHL game his stat sheet was littered with goodness, skating a total of 18 shifts for 11:53 ice time, won 67% of the face offs, 1 shot on net, 1 takeaway, 1 giveaway, 1 break up, 2 hits and his first point, an assist and a +2 rating in a 5-2 win.

If injury keeps some of the regulars on reserves, the 24-year old could easily find a permanent roster spot in California and may even play himself into a full-time role regardless.

Original story: 12/9-14

After his debut performance he went pointless for the next pair of appearances but rebounded with his first multi-point effort (2 assists), followed it up with another helper and potted his first NHL goal in his 6th game giving him 1 tally and 4 assists for a hot start.

He easily never looked in the rear view mirror finishing the regular season potting 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points with a -3 rating in 53 games.

San Jose sees the quickly emerging talent of the soon-to-be 25-year old and doesn’t want to take any chances with restricted free agency approaching.

They wasted little time signing him to a 2-year one-way extension.

He will be an impressive talent in the top league for a long time to come.

21Jun

Carl Klingberg(48) Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

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Recalled to skate a few games near the conclusion of the 2013/2014 season, he finally netted his first NHL goal before being returned to farm club St. John’s IceCaps for their incredible Calder Cup Playoff run that took the team all the way to the Finals.

He would sign a one-year extension to stay on but still played almost exclusively with their minor league affiliate until he was once again summoned for another pair of games.

As it turned out, his short stint with the big club may have been merely a showcase for a trade.

He was sent to New York Rangers‘ prospect system on the day before the deadline and finished out 2014/2015 with Hartford Wolf Pack, where he would finish the season with a career high 24 assists, 180 shots on goal and 45 penalty minutes.

He also recorded a best 4 postseason tallies in 13 games.

The 24-year was once again entering a restricted free agency but has decided it’s time to take his game elsewhere and signed a two-year deal with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL through 2016/2017.

13Jun

Fredrik Claesson(3) Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#126 overall) Swedish-born defenseman Frederik Claesson(3) already had two seasons of professional play in the SHL with Djurgarden under his belt before committing to North American minor league hockey with affiliate Binghamton Senators.

The slightly bigger looking than 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner was never really a point producer throughout short playing career but since coming over this way to skate has seen his numbers on the uptick.

In his rookie campaign he put up a modest 3 goals and 8 assists with a +4 rating in 70 AHL games but this season is blowing the lid of those marks.

Through 48 contests, he may have put up less goals with 2, but has new career highs in assists (20), points (22) and holds onto a massive +28 plus/minus, currently good for third overall.

The only 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that runs through 2014/2015 and look for him to get his shot at cracking the NHL lineup or possibly get moved as the club has good depth at defense.

Original story 2/11-14

As his initial contract is set to run its course, Ottawa Senators re-up for another year with the blue liner that played in a career high 76 AHL games for affiliate Binghamton Senators and scored a new best 4 goals but managed only 15 assists (down 11 from last season).

Although he has yet to realize his first NHL call-up and maybe struggled a bit in his third campaign, the still young 22-year old should still compete for a roster spot out of training camp with the big club.

27Feb

Henrik Samuelsson(15) Arizona Coyotes

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Arizona Coyotes‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#27 overall) US-born, Swedish center Henrik Samuelsson(15) gets the nod for his NHL debut and as luck would have it he is opposing his famous hockey dad and assistant coach for New York Rangers, Ulf Samuelsson.

His pa’s team got the best of his squad in a crushing 4-3 come from behind upset but the lanky 6’3″ 210 lbs. power forward had a good personal showing.

He skated 16 shifts for 9:33 total ice and even got a 1:19 on the power play. He also had one shot on net, one hit, one takeaway and was perfect on the face off dot with no points or penalty minutes.

In his first season with affiliate Portland Pirates he’s doing well with 10 goals and 15 assists in 50 AHL games and is a +1 on a bit of an uneven squad.

The 21-year old is used to doing well coming out of two straight WHL Championships with Edmonton Oil Kings in 2013 and 2014, a Memorial Cup and a regular season of more than a point per game production and a postseason with basically a point in each contest.

There’s little doubt that it should be a short trek for this one to be big league ready just like his dad was spending only half a season in the minors before playing 19 years in the show.

Heck, he already had 15 games of pro hockey experience as a teenager with MODO of the SHL before starting his three years of juniors.

15Feb

Alexander Wennberg(41) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#14 overall) Swedish-born rookie center Alexander Wennberg(41) was reassigned for a round flight trip to minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons fairly early in his first year but then about a month later was sent down to get some scoring confidence in his game.

In 6 AHL games he was able to managed three assists with a +4 rating.

He only has 2 goals and 4 assists in 44 NHL games with a must be league leading worst -28 rating.

He was such a high selection because of his ability to connect with the net and definitely more is needed from the decently sized 6’1″ 190 lbs. that came over with two years of pro experience in his home country’s SHL and Allsvenskan leagues and had performed well in the world junior championships.

The only 20-year old signed a three-year entry level deal, which extends through 2017, so some extended time with the farm team might not be such a bad idea, unless he’d flinch and go home.

The parent club is obviously wicked high on this kid and would like to see him succeed.

04Feb

Matt Lashoff(5) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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9th year defenseman Matt Lashoff(5) came home from one year in Switzerland’s top league, NLA, one in Sweden’s SHL and part of this season with Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL.

His best showing was a few years ago with ZSC of the Swiss Elite League, where he got a goal and 9 assists but easily short of what was expected when he came across the pond.

The former Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#22 overall) has only played 74 NHL games (for three teams: Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs being the other two) scoring one goal and 15 assists, which is decently offense-minded but he’s also owns a -15 rating.

In 5 AHL seasons the 6’2: 205 lbs. blue liner has always been a 20+ point scorer and even had a pair of campaigns with 30+ numbers.

He had 47 points in 56 OHL games in 2006, his 3rd and final year with Kitchener Rangers before turning pro.

The only 28-year old signed a standard contract to join Bridgeport Sound Tigers and give the young squad some more veteran leadership.

He’s only appeared in two games thus far with one assist and a -2 but if given the opportunity could likely contribute on a regular basis with the team and help them into a Calder Cup berth.

10Jan

Sebastian Collberg(49) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ Swedish-born rookie right wing Sebastian Collberg(49) got the wake-up call pretty quickly as he was reassigned down to affiliate Stockton Thunder when he wasn’t really producing much with farm club Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

In 6 ECHL games he produced 4 goals and 3 assists that proved he definitely belonged on a higher level of hockey. He already had 3 seasons of pro experience in his home country’s top league SHL skating for Frolunda.

He rebounded nicely, in 18 AHL games he now has 3 goals and 5 assists and is definitely starting to contribute. Two of those tallies were notched when he returned up the ladder.

The 5’11” 186 lbs. forward, who was originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (#33 overall) then traded, is only officially signed through the end of this season, when his three-year entry level deal with two years on loan, expires.

The only 20-year old will need to continue to step it up and prove himself worthy for a look at the next level to earn a qualifying offer.

15Dec

Tim Erixson(34) Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago Blackhawks love their Swedes and defenseman Tim Erixson(34) becomes their latest addition via trade.

He was actually born in America but spent much of his time growing up, playing juniors and his first three years of pro hockey as a teenager in the SHL with Skelleftea.

Originally drafted in the 1st round by Calgary Flames, he was traded when he refused to sign to New York Rangers, where he spent most of his rookie season on reassignment to then differently named affiliate Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack and went right to work on the score sheet with 3 goals and 30 assists.

The sort of smaller looking than his stats suggest 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner did play his first 18 NHL games in his first campaign registering two helpers.

He lasted only one season of his three-year entry level deal as he was a prospect part of the huge Rick Nash off season transaction that sent him to Columbus Blue Jackets.

He spent the first half of his sophomore campaign with their farm club, Springfield Falcons putting up more fantastic offensive marks (5-24-29).

Recalled to the parent club, where he stayed for the remainder of the season he managed to appear in 31 games with 5 assists and a +4 rating to his credit.

Not sure what the factors were that had him fall off the depth chart but even though he was summoned half a dozen times he only appeared in two games in his third season, while he increased his point totals to a point-per-game player in the minors.

The 23-year old signed a one-year one-way extension to stay put and would only skate contests in the show for his fourth run.

He finally got his first NHL goal but once again found himself on the dispensable list and lands in probably the best situation he could possibly ask for.

See related: 3/22-12

17Nov

Anton Forsberg(35) Springfield Falcons

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ deep 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#188 overall) Swedish-born goalie Anton Forsberg(35) realized his first pair of NHL starts as a rookie.

He’s thus far absolutely shutting the door on the offense in a pair of AHL starts with affiliate Springfield Falcons.

He won both appearances posting a 1.50 GAA and a .953 SV% along with a getting his first shutout.

It was much the same when he first appeared with the farm club at the tail end of last season and kept a secure 1.13 GAA and .957 SV% in 4 times between the pipes. He also played in 2 Calder Cup Playoff games, running some respectable numbers.

The fairly sizable 6’3″ 195 lbs. fared less well in his two appearances with the big club.

He was credited for only one of the losses but got shellacked on the stat sheet with a dismal 5.32 GAA and .841 SV%. He did earn a third star award in one of the games for at least keeping his team competitive in one of the defeats.

As a teenager he already experienced pro hockey in his home country playing last season in net with MODO of the SHL. He also backstopped 14 games for them in 2011/2012, while still participating in juniors and incidentally won a gold medal at the WJC.

For his first official year of pro hockey he kept the crease clear for Sodertalje of tier two Allsvenskan.

Although he may have come out of the gate in the show less than spectacularly, the still very young 21-year old is best suited playing a good 30+ game schedule in the minors and given plenty of room to develop as he’s signed for a 3-year entry level deal through 2016.

See related: 5/4-2014

29Oct

David Pastrnak(32) Providence Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 1st round pick in the 2014 draft (#24 overall) 18-year old Czech Republic-born right wing David Pastrnak(32) came within a whisker of making the opening night roster for the parent club and might have accomplish the feat, if he wasn’t sidelined by injury during training camp.

He was eventually reassigned on the day before the regular season opener but not where it was initially thought he would go.

Because of his young age, it was believed he would have to go back overseas and join an SHL club for 2014/2015, but through a clause he was sent to the much closer minor league affiliate Providence Bruins to start his North American pro career and for the brass to keep a closer eye on his play.

The 6′ 167 lbs. forward has very good hands and skillfully sees the ice well at a very young age.

Having already competed in Swedish tier 2 league Allsvenskan with Sodertalje for the last couple of seasons most certainly helped that development.

He’s certainly making his mark with the farm team already notching two goals, 7 assists and a league leading +8 rating in 7 AHL games.

As a rookie, he obviously leads the league in a few stat categories.

He signed his three-year entry level deal but it’s understood that if he fails to participate in 9 NHL games, 2014/2015 will be a slide.

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