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17Jul

Luke Witkowski (53)

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Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#160 overall) brutish defenseman Luke Witkowski(82) survives over 200 penalty minutes through a complete 76 game AHL regular season schedule to receive his first recall to the parent club from affiliate Syracuse Crunch.

At 6’3″ 213 lbs. he’s certainly a bit of a wide body protecting his zone and delivering crushing checks to opposing team members.

He definitely showed an affinity for the rough stuff in 2 years of USHL American junior hockey but was making smarter decisions to avoid the penalty box once he arrived at Western Michigan University.

He was made team captain in his senior year after winning the 2012 NCAA (CCHA) Championship as a junior, where he wore an “A”.

The 24-year old may only be filling in for a spot due to a starter’s injury but could easily carve out more time protecting teammates with some hard-nosed play.

Original story: 10/20-14

He was in and out of the lineup for his first recall but managed to stick around for a good six weeks before being sent back to the minors in early March and getting his second call-up at the end of the same month that would stick until the end of the regular season.

It ended up equaling his first 16 NHL games for 2014/2015.

He had no points and a 0 rating, while inflicting pain on any opposing forward that happened to roam into his zone.

He returned once again to Syracuse Crunch and played three Calder Cup Playoff games with 1 assist before exiting in the first round.

The now 25-year old signs on for another season on a two-way deal but you can bet he’s going to make it difficult for them to send him back to the farm.

14Mar

Nic Dowd(26) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft rookie center Nic Dowd(26) was selected after his well-played 1st year of US junior hockey in the NAHL with Wenatchee Wild.

He virtually mirrored his debut performance in his next season of USHL with Indiana Ice before heading off to St. Cloud State University.

It took the 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward a couple of years to pick up the pace but by his last two campaigns, serving as team captain as a senior, he was back up to point-per-game production.

For his efforts he was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist.

Upon completion of his college playing days, he signed a one-year entry level deal and was assigned immediately to join affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

In 7 AHL games he posted three assists and added his first pro goal in 4 postseason contests.

After a strong showing in training camp he was one of the final cuts to be sent down and got right to work. Through 58 games he has 5 goals and a healthy 23 helpers.

The 24-year old from the unlikely hockey home of Huntsville, AL leads his team in rookie scoring with 28 points and assists.

He still awaits his first NHL recall but his tenacious playing style and good size probably put him in line sooner than later.

19Feb

Ryan Walters(15) Iowa Wild

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Iowa Wild‘s undrafted rookie left wing Ryan Walters(15) has been virtually a point-per-game performer while on reassignment with Alaska Aces.

In 26 ECHL games he scored 10 goals and 13 assists.

The 2013 Hobey Baker Award Finalist needed to regain the scoring confidence that had him net 22 goals and 30 assists in his third year and another 27 helpers in his final campaign at University Of Nebraska-Omaha.

The 6′ 190 lbs. power forward was also a bit of a sniper for two years in the USHL with Des Moines Buccaneers.

Without a contract for his first season, he signed an ato to join Bridgeport Sound Tigers after his college career wrapped up.

He skated 11 games potting his first pro goal and added a pair of assists on a very young squad.

As an invite to Minnesota Wild training camp the inner state native did all he could to stay on the radar.

The 23-year was sent down under the watchful eye of the parent club and ultimately inked a one-year AHL standard player contract.

He was recently recalled and in 16 games he has a goal and 5 assists, which is pretty good, but easily more is expected of this prospect.

16Feb

Ryan Dzingel(43) Binghamton Senators

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Ottawa Senators‘ 7th round pick in the 2011 draft (#204 overall) rookie center Ryan Dzingel(43) has put up point-per-game numbers in his three years at Ohio State University and before that as a member of Lincoln Stars in the USHL.

He was a 2014 Hobey Baker Award finalist.

Upon signing his 2-year entry level contract he went right to work on an ato with affiliate Binghamton Senators scoring 2 goals and 5 assists in 9 AHL games.

The seemingly smaller than listed at 6′ 196 lbs. forward had a good training camp and was a late cut reassigned to start his first year with the farm club.

He’s put up 11 goals and 6 assists in 40 games, which may be a bit of a slow start but he definitely sees the ice well and has game-changer abilities.

The 22-year may stay in the minors this season but he is likely being looked at to have a productive summer and report to camp with a good chance to make the parent clubs’ 2015/2016 opening night roster.

08Mar

Nathan Walker(12) Hershey Bears

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After attending training camp on an invite from parent club Washington Capitals, where he impressed, Hershey Bears‘ undrafted rookie left wing Nathan Walker(12) becomes the first Australian player to skate in an AHL game

It’s well documented that this is a guy that wants to debut for his country in the NHL.

At 5’11” 185 lbs. he’s not exactly the biggest power forward out there, but knows how to get into those open spaces for scoring chances and plays a hustle style.

In 35 games he’s potted 5 goals and 6 assists with a -1 rating and almost 2 shots on net per contest.

He’s most definitely had an interesting path to take him to Chocolatetown, first appearing in 4.5 years of junior level hockey in of all places the Czech Republic.

He also played two years of pro Czech Extraliga (another first) before joining USHL junior hockey Youngstown Phantoms for the last third of the regular season.

He was pretty much a point-per-game guy as you’d expect.

The only 20-year old forward also had a couple of super-young visits in the Australian pro AIHL.

By all means, the player originally born in the United Kingdom just might achieve his goal.

25Feb

Scott Mayfield(10) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#34 overall), defenseman Scott Mayfield(10) is using his large 6’4″ 210 lbs. to establish his shutdown, heavy hitting style of play.

He averaged well over triple digit penalty minutes in two years of USHL with Youngstown Phantoms and slightly under the mark through less games in another pair of seasons at University Of Denver.

He’s very much on track for another season of over 100 pims. In 54 AHL games with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers he’s racked up 82 minutes with 6 fighting majors to his credit.

The rangy player is also showing an ability to put up points and may even surpass his American junior hockey career highs in goals and assists. He has 3 goals and 11 assists with a +9 rating on a squad that is just over an even record.

The 21-year is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016 and will likely get a long look at next year’s NHL training camp as the parent club definitely has to make some tough decisions about their defensive core.

24Feb

Chad Rau(20) Worcester Sharks

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5th year center Chad Rau(20) recently moved from Minnesota Wild‘s prospect system, the only one he knew, to San Jose Sharks‘ organization and was reassigned from minor league affiliate Iowa Wild to Worcester Sharks.

His point production dipped severely in 33 AHL games, putting in only a single tally and adding half a dozen assists on a team that struggles to connect on the score sheet but continues to be in the hunt of a Western Conference playoff spot.

He has yet to catch fire so to speak with his new club notching only a pair of assists in 8 contests.

The not exactly huge 5’11” 178 lbs. forward averaged 35 points in each of his first four seasons and dipped below that mark last year but also had a career second best 16 goals.

Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 7th round pick in the 2005 draft (#228 overall), he was never signed and inked a 2-year entry level contract with the Wild.

He has played in 9 NHL games and potted two goals in his short stint and was recalled and sent back numerous times

The 27-year old has definitely attained some pretty good goals: 2005 USHL Rookie Of The Year, four reputable years at Colorado College with close to point-per-game production and a trip to the 2011 Calder Cup Finals in his first year pro with Houston Aeros.

His 2-year extension is up at the end of this season and it’s definitely a wonder where the veteran will end up next.

05Dec

Reid Boucher(14) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#99 overall) left wing Reid Boucher(14) has been an impact player at 5’11” 195 lbs. ever since turning pro for the end of the 2012/2013 regular season with minor league affiliate Albany Devils.

He managed to skate in 11 AHL games and put together 3 goals and a pair of assists in his debut.

To start his rookie season he’s already struck for 10 goals and 8 assists in only 21 match-ups with a +4 rating.

The 20-year old only played a couple of campaigns in the OHL with Sarnia Sting; he scored 62 goals and 33 assists in 68 games last season, but already had two years in American junior USHL under his belt to give him a start.

He is American-born: Lansing, MI.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, it would be easy to see him make the jump permanently into the NHL quickly. He possesses that kind of determination out there.

His efforts have earned him a first recall from the farm team on 12/4. He made his debut skating 19 shifts for 12:30 of ice time, including :57 on the power play no less. That was likely earned as he had his first point, an assist in the game and subsequently was chosen as the first shooter in the shootout and scored.

He was also credited with 2 shots and ended the 4-3 shootout loss a +2 plus/minus.

We see a bright future.

26Oct

Jayson Megna(19) Pittsburgh Penguins

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Undrafted 2nd year center Jayson Megna(19) didn’t spend long pursuing a degree in college hockey after a couple of seasons in US junior hockey before signing a 2-year entry level deal with Pittsburgh Penguins.

He put up virtually point-per-game numbers in his last pair of campaigns in the USHL with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, then one-year at University Of Nebraska-Omaha.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward spent his entire rookie season in the AHL with minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins where he dropped in 5 goals and 7 assists with a -12 rating playing most limited duties in the lineup.

He somewhat broke out in the Calder Cup Playoffs with a pair of strikes and 3 assists in 12 games and that play has carried over into this the final year of his contract.

In 6 games he’s already put in another 3 goals and 2 assists with a +8 rating.

This play earned him his first NHL recall 10/25. In his debut he skated 13 even strength shifts with total ice time of 9:26 and an unfortunate -1 in the late third period defeat to the Islanders.

You can definitely see that this is a player with something to prove this season. He’s always easily spotted out there because he’s always squarely in the middle of the play.

10/28: In his second big league game he gets his first NHL goal and adds an assist in the win.

17Jul

Will O’Neill(23) St. John’s IceCaps

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2nd year defenseman Will O’Neill(23) signed a 1-year entry level deal for 2012/2013 with Winnipeg Jets after completing his college playing career at University Of Maine, where he was team captain and had a knack for feeding scoring chances.

He was originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ 7th round pick back in 2006 (#210 overall) before he started a couple of seasons in the USHL, American junior hockey with Omaha Lancers.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner played 59 games with AHL affiliate St. John’s IceCaps last season, scoring 3 goals and 18 assists. He had also joined them on an ato to finish out 2011/2012 and notched his first professional hockey tally.

Heading into the new year, the 25-year was set to become an unrestricted free agent.

The IceCaps took care of that inking him to a one-year contract to stay with the team. He could also score himself an invite to the parent club’s training camp.

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