Syracuse Crunch | CollegeHockeyPlayers

20Mar

Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(43) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(43) has been around a lot more years than most folks would even remember.

He was originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2002 draft (#31 overall) and had spent the first 7 years of his career playing in their system starting with Edmonton Roadrunners, Hamilton Bulldogs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Springfield Falcons and Oklahoma City Barons (all one-time Oilers‘ AHL affiliates).

He also played 58 NHL games over two seasons with Edmonton.

One thing about his netminding, even when he didn’t put up a winning record, he never really had a terrible GAA or SV%.

That fact was not missed by Anaheim, who signed him to a two-year two deal as a free agent for 2011-2013. Oddly enough, he’s posting his worst numbers for their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch but is 1-0 in a start with the Ducks and in his 2nd start tonight.

The 27-year old stands 6’4″ 200 lbs. It’d be no surprise to see him win a starting job soon, like he did in ’09/’10 with Edmonton.

18Mar

Kyle Cumiskey (7)

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6th year defenseman Kyle Cumiskey(7) was originally a Colorado Avalanche 7th round pick in 2005 (#222 overall) and went on to play 5 years in their system amassing 132 NHL games scoring 9 goals and 26 helpers.

At the beginning of the 2011/2012 season he was traded to Anaheim Ducks for a prospect but has only seen ice time with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch despite a pair of call-ups.

In 2009/2010, he played his first full NHL season but was limited to 18 games the next year due to recurring head injuries. He did put up a goal and 7 assists in that time though.

He’s not huge at 5’10” 185 lbs. but could be paired with a bigger guy for his offensive upside, although he really doesn’t sacrifice anything on defense.

Through 44 games with Syracuse Crunch he’s scored three goals and 20 assists and was an even plus/minus.

13Mar

Kyle Palmieri(21) Anaheim Ducks

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#26 overall), 2nd year right wing Kyle Palmieri(21) has been on a string between the NHL and their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch as he is on his 5th recall.

He has marginal career highs in the NHL with 12 games played, registering a goal and an assist. He had 10 games with a goal in his rookie campaign.

In 46 games with the Crunch this season he has 32 goals and 22 assists. In 62 contest last season he had 29 goals and 22 assists, so is en route to more career scoring highs. He currently sits 10th in scoring leaders and leads the league in goals scored with anywhere from 15-20 less games played than the other skaters.

His older brother is Nick Palmieri, forward with Minnesota Wild.

28Feb

Andrew Gordon(10) Vancouver Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks added more depth at forward position by acquiring 5th year right wing Andrew Gordon(10) from Anaheim Ducks and reassigned to Chicago Wolves before anything even settled.

He started the season playing 37 NHL games (2 goals, 3 assists) but was reassigned to their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch in mid-January and skated in 19 games (3 goals, 5 assists) with them up until his trade from an organization he wasn’t even with for a full season.

Originally drafted by Washington Capitals in the 7th round of 2004 (#191 overall) he spent his first 4 years as pro in their system, playing 12 NHL games with them (1 goal, 1 assist). He was mostly known as being one of the team leaders for Hershey Bears, where in 313 regular season and playoff games he put up 124 goals and 136 assists.

He won back-to-back Calder Cups with the Bears in 2009 and 2010.

In his rookie season, he even played some games in the ECHL with South Carolina Stingrays but overpowered the competition in that league with 8 goals and 6 assists in 11 games.

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.

17Feb

Bryan Rodney(33) Oklahoma City Barons

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Undrafted 7th year defenseman Bryan Rodney(33) is one of those stories of endurance and sticktoitiveness that defines a pro.

His first couple of seasons were predominantly spent in the ECHL. By his third year he made the jump up to an AHL regular after a call-up with Albany River Rats.

With his impressive play on the blue line that season, Carolina Hurricanes stepped in an signed him to a one-year, two-way contract. He would sign two more similar contracts with them and skate his only 33 NHL games with Carolina (1 goal, 12 assists).

For the 2011/2012 he was once again a free agent but this time in need of a new home. Anaheim Ducks wasted no time signing him to a one-year, two-way deal that has him skating with their AHL affiliate, Syracuse Crunch. He has 5 goals and 15 assists.

Then, almost without warning, the Ducks have dished him to Edmonton Oilers, where he’ll report to their affiliate Oklahoma City Barons.

He’s definitely become a team leader on the ice but the big knock with his game is his tendency to be a minus player. Despite that, it would be little surprise to see the Oilers give him a look to see if they can’t ignite that scoring touch.

15Feb

Devante Smith-Pelly (34)

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Anaheim Ducks‘ 2010 2nd round draft pick (#42 overall), right wing Devante Smith-Pelly(34) was reassigned to minor league affiliate Syracuse Crunch for a brief conditioning stint after missing a month of game action due to a fractured foot he suffered while on loan to Team Canada for the IIHF World Junior Championship.

In 4 AHL games, the 6′ 211 lbs. 19-year old rookie only produced one assist.

In 26 NHL games he has 3 goals and a pair of assists but is a miserable -10 plus/minus.

He still looks a bit lost out there skating with the men but plays with enough fire that it shouldn’t take him long to get deep into the mix on a streaking team in the playoff hunt.

14Feb

Andrew Murray(44) Worcester Sharks

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 8th round pick in the 2001 draft (#242 overall), 30-year old center Andrew Murray(44) hasn’t played in an AHL game in almost four seasons. Recently he was reassigned by San Jose Sharks to Worcester to pick up some increased playing time as the parent club shifts some of their younger guys in the system through the lineup to see where they stand with them before the NHL trade deadline at the end of the month.

He’s been rightfully given the assistant captain nod on the Worcester team and got his first goal (an empty-netter) in the league since the 2007/2008 season where he split time with the Blue Jackets and Syracuse Crunch. He did it while wearing this pink jersey the whole team donned for “Pink In The Rink” to benefit the Cup Crusaders.

He has 220 NHL games to his credit, scoring 24 goals and 16 assists as mostly a fourth line contributor.

San Jose management says they fully intend to recall him but that won’t likely happen until around March 1.

22Jan

Mark Bell(18) Anaheim Ducks

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11 year veteran, former Chicago Blackhawks‘ 1st round draft pick in 1998 (#8 overall), 31-year old center Mark Bell(18) received his first NHL call-up with his new team for the 2011/2012 season, Anaheim Ducks.

He now has 446 big league games to his credit, registering 87 goals and 95 assists to go along with 597 penalty minutes.

For the last couple of seasons he played in the Swiss-A League but signed a one-year, two-way contract to come back to North American pro hockey early in the offseason.

In 32 games with the Ducks‘ AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch he has 5 goals and 8 assists but is a kind of miserable -11 plus/minus.

19Jan

Trevor Smith(23) Tampa Bay Lightning

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5th year undrafted winger Trevor Smith(23) has played in 7 NHL games (all with New York Islanders) but that was back in the 2008/2009 season.

He’s bounced around the AHL with a couple of teams since then but signed a one-year, two-way contract in the offseason to join Tampa Bay Lightning‘s prospect system.

As the team’s assistant captain, he’s having himself a heck of a first half of the season with their affiliate, Norfolk Admirals. In 39 games, he leads the team in points posting 16 goals and 28 assists and is an outstanding +17 plus/minus.

This play has earned him his 1st recall in three seasons and some more ice time in an NHL game, where he hopes to add to his one goal and no assists scoring.