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Tagged: Toronto Maple Leafs

24Sep

Spencer Abbott(9) Frolunda Indians

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4th year right wing Spencer Abbott(9) started the new year with the Maple Leafs but went a -2 plus/minus with no points and quickly sent down.

2013/2014 would end up being his best season. He scored 17 goals with a whopping 52 assists, good enough for 2nd in the league and first on the Marlies.

These totals made keeping him around a no-brainer as he signed for another campaign but was left in the minors with diminishing scoring totals, then dealt to Chicago Blackhawks just before the trade deadline.

Reassigned to affiliate Rockford IceHogs, it took him little time to get situated as he popped in 12 goals and 9 assists in 19 AHL games, then added another 3 and 3 in 8 postseason match-ups.

Looking at his first unrestricted free agency, the 27-year old decided to head overseas to continue his game signing a one-year term with Frolunda Indians of the SHL.

He’s off to a speedy start with 2 goals in his first pair of appearances.

28Aug

Jesse Blacker(4) Texas Stars

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3rd year defenseman Jesse Blacker(4) was swapped to Anaheim Ducks‘ organization earlier this season in what amounted to a mostly minor league transaction.

He was originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#58 overall) and spent a couple of good campaigns with their farm team, Toronto Marlies.

The change of scenery to the Ducks‘ AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals has done him lots of good, as he’s already surpassed his career high with 5 goals and 17 points and is well on his way to recording more helpers than he’s put up in one season.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner received a pair of late call-ups in 2012/2013 but was never inserted into the lineup.

The 22-year old’s entry level deal is up at the end of the current campaign and he’s set to become a restricted free agent but with his consistent play it would be easy to see him finally make his NHL debut and extended at least another season.

He was also on 2009 Memorial Cup and OHL Champion junior hockey team, Windsor Spitfires.

Original story: 1/9-14

Finishing the 2013/2014 with an AHL career high 6 goals, 19 assists and 24 points, he would also own an abysmal -16 plus/minus on a team that squeaked into the postseason.

He played another 10 Calder Cup Playoff games contributing a goal.

With his initial deal expiring he was extended for another year and finally made his first NHL appearance.

He skated 9 shifts for 6:03 with one hit and one break-up but was a -2 in the loss.

The recall was in all likelihood to display him for a trade option, which happened as he was dished to Florida Panthers just days later.

He was immediately sent to affiliate San Antonio Rampage, where he finished out the season but the parent club with another rough -15 rating chose not to qualify him, rendering the 24-year old an unrestricted free agent.

For his 5th pro campaign he signed a one-year minor league contract with Texas Stars for 2015/2016.

He may see better results going forward with the pressure from above to excel and may just re-find his footing.

28Jul

Jerry D’Amigo(29) Rochester Americans

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After scoring 15 goals in the 2011/2012 AHL regular season, Toronto Marlies‘ 2nd year left winger Jerry D’Amigo(29) is another player netting goals in pairs in consecutive Calder Cup Playoff games. He is also credited with the game-winners on both team victories.

The 21-year old Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#158 overall) was fifth on the Marlies in scoring this season with a +13 plus/minus.

At 5’11” 213 lbs. he mostly plays a bit of an unassuming style of checking game but effectively gets the job done when he’s out there.

No doubt, if his team keeps winning and he continues to put up markers, he should get a long look for a spot on an NHL roster that has struggled to claim a place in the postseason since 2004.

Original story: 4/22-12

His 26 assists were tied for third during the regular season of his sophomore campaign and then his 8 goals in the playoffs were a team second.

In his third year he struck for a new record high goals of 17 but his overall points came down slightly as he may have been eying a role on another level.

He received that call-up after a couple of months in the minors heading into 2013/2014, where he would increase his goal production to another new level scoring 20 in far less AHL games and then exploded for a point-per-game (6-8) in 14 postseason contests.

In 22 games with the big club he scored his first NHL goal and added a pair of assists.

On the first day of 2014 free agency he would be traded to Columbus Blue Jackets and signed to a one-year two-way contract a month later.

He was a late cut from training camp but when he went to affiliate Springfield Falcons he would stay there until he was eventually dished again in a minor deal that sent him to Buffalo Sabres.

Starting with their farm team Rochester Americans he scored 13 goals and 9 assists in 31 games earning his late season recall.

He played 9 games getting no points but the now 24-year old has been given another opportunity for his 6th pro season.

No doubt he’ll be drilling in the minors for another chance to prove he can skate at the next level.

13Jul

Jamie Devane(24) Milwaukee Admirals

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Toronto Maple Leafs quickly added a couple of seasons extension to rugged left wing Jamie Devane(24) 3-year entry level deal keeping him with the team through 2016.

The 6’4″ 220 lbs. presence made his first NHL appearance early in 2013, playing a couple contests registering no points before being returned to AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies.

He put up career highs in almost every category in his 2nd pro campaign but maybe most noteworthy was an additional 100+ penalty minutes he added to his stats.

The 23-year old has definitely shown the ability to help his squad on the score sheet, as he did in his final pair of OHL seasons with Plymouth Whalers but may be looked at on the pro level more for his toughness factor.

As a big guy on ice he should use his stature to become more of a power forward force and could use a little extra coaching to keep putting more pucks on the net. He was credited with only 33 shots on goal in 2013/2014.

Original story: 9/28-14

His game slid in 2014/2015 with only 2 assists in 39 games and with a month left in the regular season he was all done for the season due to a hip injury that required surgery.

Seems like it could have been nagging him for sometime before he was put on the injured list.

With a year left on his current deal he was traded to Nashville Predators for 2015/2016 and will probably start with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals but could easily get recalled and contribute nicely on the Western Conference squad.

06Jul

Sam Carrick(53) Toronto Maples Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#144 overall), center Sam Carrick(16) is heading into the final season of his three-year entry level deal.

The 6′ 205 lbs. plays like a power forward and was definitely looking to make a statement as he heads into 2014/2015.

Skating in 62 AHL games he managed to put 14 in the back of the net and help out on another 21, good enough to tie for team 5th in assists and he was a best +17 plus/minus.

His chippy nature also lands him in the penalty box for long stretches. Hockeyfights has him listed with 9 fights to his credit in the 2013/2014 season.

He also puts a decent amount of shots on net; his 142 tied for 3rd. Needless to say, he’s pretty active in the game.

He seemed to put an exclamation point on all those career highs in the Calder Cup Playoffs, where he helped his squad along with 5 goals, 4 assists and a +2 rating. in 14 games before bowing out in the Western Conference Finals.

Not bad for a guy that spent his first 50 pro games in the ECHL with Idaho Steelheads grinding his teeth, putting up points: 16-21-37 with a +15 before being put on permanent recall.

Next it’s time to step up. He’s yet to receive his NHL summons.

You can bet the still young 22-year old is going to be putting a lot of pressure on the parent club at 2014 training camp.

Original story 6/6-14

He got his chances in the 2014/2015 with the Maple Leafs on three recalls from the farm club Toronto Marlies.

The tough nut skated 16 games scoring his first NHL goal and adding an assists playing what was an average 9 shifts for 6:30 of total ice time.

The now 23-year old appeared in 59 AHL games scoring a low 9 goals and 18 assists in slightly less games but it’s easy to excuse due to his time up with the big club.

Wasting no time the pending restricted free agent was signed to a 1-year extension before the 2015 playoffs finished to keep pushing for a spot.

07Mar

Brendan Bell(14) Chicago Wolves

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12th year veteran defenseman Brendan Bell(14) was acquired by Chicago Wolves from Norfolk Admirals to help boost their back line heading into a potential playoff berth.

In his debut with his new team the 31-year scored a goal and an assist in a tough 4-3 overtime loss against division rival Lake Erie Monsters.

He had only one tally in 47 games with his former team but did compile a sturdy 22 helpers.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. d-man has almost always consistently put up 20+ assists in each AHL season played through 487 games.

Through his pro career, the former Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the in the 2001 draft (#65 overall) has appeared in 102 NHL contests (7 goals, 21 assists) with the last time being 1 game in 2011/2012, when signed with New York Rangers.

After that season, he left for a couple of spins through Europe, his second foray overseas, landing in Sweden’s SHL with Frolunda and then last year skating again for Biel in the Swiss Elite NLA.

Now that’s he’s returned to North America proving he still has plenty left in the tank, his presence definitely helps the youngsters out on any squad he joins.

01Mar

Zach Sill(22) Toronto Maple Leafs

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6th year undrafted center Zach Sill(22) was probably a bit surprised and happy to be dealt before the trade deadline from Pittsburgh Penguins to the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 6′ 205 lbs. fourth line agitator started his pro career in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for two seasons before scoring his first major contract, which was extended twice.

It’s up at the end of the current campaign so he’ll have to prove himself with his new team to earn another deal.

2014-2015 has been the 26-year old’s first full run in the show but he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

Not exactly know for his scoring prowess, although he did score his first NHL goal and added a pair of assists, he’s mostly used to get under the skin of opponents and welcomes any encounter.

He has 5 fighting majors this season and will likely battle his way into a new contract.

See related: 4/30-12

11Feb

Scott Clemmensen(40) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ veteran goalie Scott Clemmensen(40) has been in the system for 8 of his 14 pro years serving as their primary back-up and has played games with all three of their affiliates, Albany River Rats, Lowell Devils and current Albany Devils‘ teams.

In the few NHL seasons where he was either called on to be the starter or at least co-starter between the pipes, he performed pretty well, especially through 40 games on his second tour of duty in the Garden State 2008/2009, when Martin Brodeur went down with his first big injury.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. net minder posted a 25-13-1-2 record with a career best 2.39 GAA and .917 SV%. He also had two shutouts.

Based on his performance the unrestricted free agent decided to search for a #1 spot and landed a three-year deal with Florida Panthers. He would spend the next five seasons down south.

In 120 games he went 40-39-18-3 and kept decent numbers through his first three years but with less playing time his numbers suffered.

Almost ironically his only really good year in the AHL was one campaign with Toronto Maple Leafs on reassignment to Toronto Marlies.

He is likely to finish out his one-year deal in the minors with the occasional call-up due to injury.

No doubt he’ll be looking to get that 5000th save (he’s at 4931) to go along with the more than 1000 minutes played, and a 200 game mark wouldn’t suck either.

It’s been quite a career for the 37-year old, former 8th round pick in the 1997 draft (#215 overall), 2001 NCAA Champ with Boston College Eagles.

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.

27Jan

Andrew Crescenzi(21) Manchester Monarchs

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Undrafted 3rd year, large but low-scoring center Andrew Crescenzi(21) was involved in a mid-season deal that sent him from Toronto Maple Leafs‘ system to Los Angeles Kings, where they like their forwards big.

Skating in only 14 AHL games with Manchester Monarchs, he found himself to be a healthy scratch on more occasions than he likely considered.

The 6’5″ 208 lbs. pivot enters his contract season and has to be thinking it’s high time to make an impression.

Although it’s a modest boost, in 31 games he’s already tied his 2 goal mark and has new career highs with 3 assists and 5 points with half the regular season remaining.

He’s also firing the puck on net with much more frequency and is asserting his size into play.

The only 22-year old was hardly a hefty scorer in three years in the OHL with Kitchener Rangers but did put up almost a point-per-game in his final campaign before turning pro.

He’ll have to connect with the score sheet with more frequency to be given a qualifying offer to stay in the system but it’s still a long climb for the big man.

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