SHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

26Oct

Scott Munroe(33) Springfield Falcons

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9th year undrafted goaltender Scott Munroe(33) returned to North American hockey for a second time after tending net for Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL last season. He also spent an earlier year overseas in the KHL with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Although he put up pretty excellent numbers in Sweden (2.05 GAA, .913 SV% in 36 games) he was cut loose.

He decided to come back to this side of the pond signing a one-year, two-way deal with Springfield Falcons.

To start the new season the now 32-year old was for the first time in his pro career dispatched to ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings, where he appeared in one game, getting the win.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. backstop was immediately recalled and started his first AHL game in about a year and a half, winning his second straight of 2014/2015 in two different leagues.

His last stint was his second go-round with Adirondack (Philadelphia) Phantoms.

He’s had three NHL contracts and was invited to Columbus Blue Jackets’ training camp but never played an official big league game.

When he finally decides to hang up the skates, he’d be a great goaltending coach for a team.

See related: 8/28-12

16May

Andre Petersson(20) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ Swedish-born right wing Andre Petersson(20) is at the end of his 3-year entry level deal he signed with draft team Ottawa Senators (2008 4th round #109 overall).

He was involved in a minor trade on the deadline date that sent him from one AHL affiliate, Binghamton Senators to Norfolk Admirals.

In the meantime though, the small but shifty 5’9″ 177 lbs. was managing to put up some career highs with 33 assists and 56 points, while his 23 goals tied a rookie campaign marker he put up quickly.

Having already played two seasons in the SHL before putting his hat in the ring for a shot at the NHL, he’s played only one game in 2011/2012.

The 23-year old is set to become a restricted free agent and will almost certainly be qualified, especially after a nice 2014 Calder Cup Playoff debut appearance with 3 goals and 3 assists in 10 games to get the underdog team to the second round.

The question might just be, will he still want to stick around to go after the North American hockey dream.

See related: 1/24-12

15Apr

William Karlsson(22) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#53 overall), Swedish-born center William Karlsson(22) already has 4 seasons of pro hockey in his home country, including the last pair in the SHL with HV71.

He scored 19 goals with 46 assists in 105 games and previously played 60 contests as a teenager in the tier 2 league, Allsvenskan.

The 6′ 180 lbs. forward was a point-per-game guy with a +25 rating in 2011/2012 for Västerås.

Signing his 3-year entry level deal for the current campaign, he was loaned by the parent club to skate one more season in Sweden.

With their playoff elimination, he was recalled to join minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

In 6 AHL games he has his first North American pro hockey goal and a 3 assists, while playing a hard-working, highly skilled style.

At 21-years old he’ll most definitely be competing for a NHL roster spot for his official rookie year, 2014/2015.

12Feb

Jesper Fast(27) Hartford Wolf Pack

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New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#157 overall) fourth year, Swedish-born right wing Jesper Fast(27) had a career campaign in 2012/2013 on loan from the parent club back to HV71 of the SHL. He scored 18 goals and 17 assists in 46 games and added another tally and 4 helpers in the playoffs, while skating a combined +17 rating. It was his third year playing in the league.

The smart, speedy 6′ 185 lbs. forward started his rookie season in the NHL but was reassigned after 8 games with no points and a -5 plus/minus on a squad that was very slow out of the gate.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack he’s contributing in a big way in all situations on another team that has been struggling to win.

In 24 AHL games he has 9 goals and 9 assists with a +5.

The recently turned 22-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015 and will no doubt get another opportunity to show his stuff in the show.

05Feb

Stefan Warg (8)

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#143 overall), sizable 6’3″ 220 lbs. Swedish-born defenseman Stefan Warg(8) heads back to his home country to play the remainder of the season with Skellefteå of the SHL.

Before signing a two-year entry level deal, he had already played three pro seasons in the lower Allsvenskan league after completing a pair of campaigns in the WHL.

There was definitely a buzz after last season’s performance with Västerås, where he put up 4 goals and 15 assists with a +21 rating in 52 games.

In his rookie season the 24-year old was mostly on the AHL roster with affiliate Norfolk Admirals but all too often a healthy scratch until injuries to the blue line basically forced the team to play him.

In 21 games he only had an assist playing a very conservative brand of defense that wasn’t always pretty to watch but had a good level of accountability.

Word has it that overall he was somewhat uncomfortable fitting in with the minor league American lifestyle and was going to be bought out of the remainder of his contract.

He moves back home with a new 2-year deal.

03Feb

T.J. Hensick(28) Hartford Wolf Pack

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7th year veteran center T.J. Hensick(28) returns to North American hockey after a half season away in the SHL with MODO.

He was released by the team after under-producing on the score sheet.

Signed to an AHL contract by Abbotsford Heat but then claimed off waivers by Hartford Wolf Pack, his last two pro years were spent with Peoria Rivermen, under a 2-way contract with St. Louis Blues.

The 5’9″ 195 lbs. forward was originally a Colorado Avalanche 3rd round pick in the 2005 draft (#88 overall) and played three seasons with the team and in their system.

He’s played 112 NHL games scoring 12 goals and 24 assists, last appearing in the league in 2012 with the Blues.

The 28-year old has skated in 332 minor league games with impressive numbers: 103 goals and 246 assists, making him more than a point-per-game player.

He had impressive numbers through his college career at University Of Michigan, winning a national championship in 2005 and being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist in two of his four season.

Where he goes next year is up for grabs but his contributions with his new team are already being noticed.

02Jan

Max Friberg(14) Norfolk Admirals

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#143 overall), Swedish-born left wing Max Friberg(14) is off to a nice start in his rookie season.

In 33 games with minor league affiliate Norfolk Admirals he has 9 goals and 9 assists with a +8 rating.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal in the offseason, he continued to play in his home country’s pro league, SHL for one more campaign before joining the Admirals for 6 contests, scoring his first tally, at the end of 2012/2013.

Listed at 5’11” 195 lbs., those measurements seem a bit generous. His speedy skating style and stick-handling abilities is definitely more akin to a smaller sized player.

He won a gold medal at the under 20 World Junior Championships, finished as scoring leader and was selected to the All-Star Team.

It seems unlikely with all the depth in the prospect system that he earns a call-up this season but he could easily work his way up to fill a roster spot next year, which is also the final year of his deal.

10Nov

Oscar Lindberg (16)

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New York Rangers‘ Swedish-born rookie center Oscar Lindberg(16) has come to this side of the pond and wasted no time establishing himself as a scoring presence with AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.

In 13 games he has 3 goals and 6 assists.

The 22-year old forward has already skated in 178 games through four years of pro play in his home country SHL with Skellefteå AIK and managed to light it up last season scoring 17 goals and 25 assists, win the league championship and was even named the playoffs MVP.

Originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#57 overall), he was traded to the Blueshirts before ever skating a game.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2015, was a spark plug in preseason and looks to be making a statement that he belongs in the NHL sooner than later.

08Nov

Adam Almquist(5) Detroit Red Wings

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2nd year Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round pick in the 2010 draft (#210 overall), Swedish-born defenseman Adam Almquist(5) scores his first NHL recall from the minors. He scored his first big league goal in his second appearance.

He skated 50 shifts over the pair of appearances and average almost 17 minutes of playing time with 2 shots on net and a -1 rating.

The 5’11” 178 lbs. d-man won a 2013 Calder Cup with Grand Rapid Griffins in his rookie campaign. He also put up 3 goals and 7 assists in 21 playoff contests after scoring 10 goals and 21 assists in 68 games during the regular season. His combined +18 plus/minus for a smaller blue liner was also a nice stat.

He impressed pretty well in training camp and was in a group of last cuts to be reassigned.

He’s signed to a three-year entry level deal but that included a season he only played in 3 AHL games after finishing up his final run in the SHL, so this is the last of his initial contract. He already has 7 assists in 10 games with the Griffins.

The 22-year old will almost certainly get qualified, if not be offered a 2-year extension to stay in the system.

19Sep

Carl Soderberg(34) Boston Bruins

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11th year pro, Swedish-born center/left wing Carl Soderberg(34) appears to be poised to finally join Boston Bruins‘ lineup for a full season.

He signed a 3-year deal during the team’s playoff run last season and appeared in a pair of games (with no points) on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The big 6’3″ 218 lbs. forward was pretty much a point per game player in his last 8 seasons of action with Malmo of his home country’s 2nd tier league Allsvenskan and the last two in the SHL playing for Linköping.

Almost amazing, the Bruins maintained his playing rights in North America after making a trade for him in 2007. He was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 2nd round draft pick in 2004 (#49 overall).

He was always rumored to be suiting up with the team sooner than it ultimately happened but was under contract, which kept him overseas and still on the radar.

At 27-years old is expected to be an elite contributor Boston‘s continuing success.