Tagged: Texas Stars

tyler-beskorowany-1

4th year goaltender Tyler Beskorowany(1) signed an ECHL contract with San Francisco Bulls to start his first campaign as an unrestricted free agent.

In 32 games he kept an uneven team competitive with a 14-13 mark but was shelled with pucks each night and didn’t have the best GAA or SV% stats to show for it.

He was originally a Dallas Stars‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#59 overall) and signed a 3-year entry level deal through 2012/2013 but was not qualified.

The big 6’5″ 295 lbs. net minder excelled pretty well as a rookie with AHL affiliate Texas Stars in a split season with Idaho Steelheads, where he put up similar, slightly better numbers with a winning record.

He wasn’t as lucky in his sophomore year and maybe even shouldered some of the blame for the team’s 2nd to last worst placing.

For the final run of his terms, he slipped on the depth chart and was relegated to the Pacific Northwest. He seemed to take the move in stride, playing pretty well and backstopping the Steelheads into a second Kelly Cup Playoff round.

He was probably relieved when the Bulls‘ management decided to close up shop on a financially busted second season, leaving him once again free to find another cage to call home.

In stepped Orlando Solar Bears and in 2 games he’s got two victories with a 1.50 GAA and .940 SV%.

A needy St. John’s IceCaps noticed that and a month ago signed him to a pto. He’s only been between the pipes once, and although he won the game was victimized for 5 goals on 36 shots.

He started the 2013/2014 season in training camp with Worcester Sharks before being released.

Depending upon how deep his current club can go in the postseason, it seems doubtful the 23-year old Sudbury, Ontario native will stick with North America after this year.

Reilly Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd year right wing Reilly Smith(18) makes his 2013/2014 season debut on the opening night roster of his new team, Boston Bruins.

He was originally a Dallas Stars‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#69 overall) and skated 38 NHL games in his rookie campaign on up and down recall with AHL affiliate Texas Stars. He put in 3 goals and 6 assists on the top level and added another 14 goals and 21 assists in 45 minor league games.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward also skated in 3 NHL games after finishing up his playing career at Miami University. He was a point-per-game guy in college pocketing 66 goals and 56 helpers in 121 contests.

He’s signed to a 3-year entry level deal through the end of the current season but will easily get qualified.

The 22-year old now just needs to prove he should stay with the parent club.

Matt Tassone

4th year center Matt Tassone(26) bounced around lots last season and somehow ultimately ended up skating in 5 Kelly Cup Playoff games with Elmira Jackals scoring three points, a pair of goals and an assist.

Making sense of his movement through the 2012/2013 campaign is a whole other deal.

Initially the 6′ 200 lbs. forward was signed to an AHL contract by Lake Erie Monsters but was either released or reassigned and inked with Wichita Thunder before moving on within the Central Hockey League to Arizona Sundogs and then getting recalled by the Monsters and signed to a pto, where he appeared in 13 games scoring his first and thus far only league tally.

He was originally a Dallas Stars‘ 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#176 overall) but never came to terms with them and eventually bounced down to their farm club, Texas Stars. This lasted no time though, as they sent him to their ECHL affiliate Idaho Steelheads.

As a rookie he played 32 games generating 10 points but also suffered injuries that sidelined him for a good chunk of the year.

For his sophomore season he signed with Ontario Reign but was once again was challenged to stay healthy and eventually released before the end of the regular season.

Once again, for 2013/2014 he commits to another ECHL team, Las Vegas Wranglers.

The 23-year old seems poised for a breakout on the score sheet and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him join the 20/20 club or better.

Carl Sneep

4th year, former Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#32 overall), towering defenseman Carl Sneep(4) somewhat surprisingly signs a one-year deal with Idaho Steelheads for 2013/2014.

He was originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal in which he appeared in his only NHL game and even recorded his first big league point, an assist. He also suffered injuries that limited his play in his sophomore campaign.

The 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner was extended for another season but something seemed to go amiss as he was inserted into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ lineup for a mere one appearance and spent most of his time watching from the stands before being reassigned to Wheeling Nailers, where he skated in 29 games before being dished to Dallas Stars.

He played 25 games with Texas Stars and received one recall but did not skate with the parent club and was once again bounced on loan late in the season to Peoria Riverman.

Not surprising, his point totals suffered, probably from changing addresses so much but he was never really viewed as a big point-getter since high school hockey.

He’s more of a big shutdown d-man that is tough to play against and holds a highly accountable +28 rating in 133 AHL games; and added another +12 in 29 ECHL games, but also was able to put up some marks on the score sheet (3 goals, 12 assists).

With his big frame though, he could easily put a bit more punishing grit into his style of play.

In four years with Boston College Eagles he was a part of two national championship teams.

Joining Idaho may be a strategic move for the 25-year old, as it would be no surprise to see him attend affiliate Texas Stars‘ training camp, rejoining the team and log some miles between the two western states.

See related: 12/18-11.

Undrafted 10th year center Warren Peters(43) is the type of veteran skater you want on your team come playoff time for his on ice determination and game leadership he brings.

An unrestricted free agent after two seasons in the Minnesota Wild system, he signed a one-year two-way contract with Pittsburgh Penguins that’s seen him contribute with all the aforementioned qualities during the regular season, but in the postseason with AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins it’s on a whole other level. It’s also good reason for him to wear an assistant captain “A” on his sweater.

The 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward has made it to Calder Cup Finals in two of the last three seasons, first with Texas Stars and followed it up with Houston Aeros.

He’s appeared in 96 NHL with 3 different teams in each of the last four seasons (4 goals, 4 assists) and only likely didn’t receive a recall this season due to the shortened campaign.

As a player that started his career in the ECHL and even spent his entire sophomore season in the league during the other most recent lockout, we can appreciate the fact that he’s worked his way up to the show with lots of hard play and persistence.

The 30-year old is back on the market this summer but chances are the Penguins will offer him a one-year extension.

Warren Peters

 

 

 

San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#43 overall) rookie defenseman William Wrenn(45) was never signed by the team for his first pro season. Even though he attended minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks‘ training camp and didn’t make their opening night roster, he wasn’t simply reassigned to their ECHL team, San Francisco Bulls.

Instead, in all likelihood with the blessing of the parent club, he signed a deal to join him home town team in the league, Alaska Aces.

His first AHL recall was to Worcester Sharks, where he appeared in three games before being sent back and continuing to do well with 5 goals and 16 assists in 51 games playing for what is always an elite squad. He was also chosen to play in the All-Star Game.

A month later the 6’1 210 lbs. d-man received another call-up. This time inking a pto with the Western Conference leading Texas Stars.

It’s been a good fit for the 22-year old, as he’s skated in 12 games and scored 2 goals and 2 assists. He’s also been firing the puck on the net a ton, got into a couple of scraps and even had a three-game point streaking working for him.

Is San Jose taking notice? They are reporting news on him, so probably are.

William Wrenn

 

 

Dallas Stars‘ undrafted, 2nd year left wing Matt Fraser(25) appeared in his 2nd NHL game on his 1st recall of 2012/2013; and scored his first big league goal to start the game, which unfortunately ended as a 5-4 OT loss for the team.

He skated 15 shifts for 9:52 total ice time with his only shot on net being the tally and ended the night with a +1 rating.

Not too shabby for the 6’1″ 204 lbs. forward that amassed triple digit penalty minutes in his last three seasons of junior hockey but also average a point per game in his final two years.

In two campaigns with Texas Stars, he has kept up his marks on the scoresheet, running 37 goals and 18 assists as a rookie and continues to strike in his sophomore season with 24 goals and 11 assists. He was also chosen to represent his team at two consecutive AHL All-Star Games.

Signed to a three-year entry level contract, the 22-year old’s next score looks to be a 2-year contract extension to continue his development right where he’s at.

Matt Fraser1

 

 

 

 

Undrafted 2nd year center Scott Campbell(4) has spent the majority of his playing time in the ECHL with Las Vegas Wranglers. He’s skated in 75 games, signed to successive one-year contracts, with the team.

The 6’2″ 210 lbs. forward has 19 goals and 22 assists with a combined +11 plus/minus and added another 8 goals and 2 assists in 18 2012 Kelly Cup Playoff games, advancing all the way to the Finals before being defeated.

He started his pro campaign under an ato joining Houston Aeros after his collegiate career was done. He received call-ups in his rookie season with Rochester Americans and Texas Stars for a total of 12 games but failed to notch his first point in the league.

The 26-year old once again was on the radar for an AHL recall and got the ring from Bridgeport Sound Tigers to join them just before the Christmas holiday push.

He’s certainly making his mark, continuing to prove he belongs in the upper league with 2 goals and 5 assists in 17 games. He was recently rewarded with a contract to stay for the remainder of 2012/2013 and hopes to keep contributing to make that step up from the get-go next year.

No doubt he has the assets to be a legitimate power forward but seems to shy away from getting too involved, using more of a hard skating style to create his chances by stealing pucks and being in the right place at the right time.

Scott Campbell

 

 

 

 

kael-mouillierat

Undrafted 3rd year forward Kael Mouillierat(20) must have been holding out to see if any higher league offers trickled in after his best pro season yet in 2011/2012 on recall by Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

He finished the year having played a career high 44 AHL games and achieved bests in scoring with 8 goals and 15 assists for 23 points and a mighty impressive +16 plus/minus.

With no takers, he once again signed with Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL for a third straight season. He’s an asset on the ice though as the 6′ 185 lbs. skater is basically a point per game guy with the team and in his first appearance of the 2012/2013 season he hit the scoresheet for both a goal and an assist.

Once the NHL shakes hands on a new CBA, the 25-year will almost certainly continue his playing time in the AHL.

This highlight reel goal is a thing of beauty.

Buffalo Sabres said “I do” for a one-year, two-way contract with their 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall) defenseman Drew Schiestel(44) despite there being a can of worms still on the table throughout his first three seasons in the system.

In a low total of 156 AHL games with their Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans‘ affiliates, plus a weird 16 games with Texas Stars late last season in a shuffle him out of the conference Sabres‘ reassignment.

He was good for 8 goals and 39 assists in that stretch.

Not terrible, although there should be more upside.

And there is: he’s an effective +17 plus/minus over his first three years since turning pro playing in the minors. 2011/2012 was his first season in the minus column on the ice.

He did get hampered by a season ending knee injury a couple of years ago but he was also a healthy scratch from the Amerks at times last year.

Step up.