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23Aug

Frank Corrado(26) Vancouver Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#150 overall) defenseman Frank Corrado(26) has been under contract with the club for a couple of years now but only played a full slate of pro games this past season.

He first appeared in a few AHL games (2 assists) with then affiliate Chicago Wolves and from there jumped up to play his first 3 NHL contests with the parent club and was impressive enough to appear 4 times in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 6’1″ 191 lbs. blue liner started his official rookie season on reassignment with the expansion farm team Utica Comets but just before the new year was recalled and that set a path for 3 more trips to the show.

He ended his first campaign with 15 games in the big league. In this time he connected with his first goal.

Through 59 games with the Comets, he had 6 goals and 11 assists.

In four years of junior hockey in the OHL he was a pretty good set up guy that with continued digging could become a regular contributor to the score sheet.

The 21-year old’s entry level contract runs through 2015 and could very well spend most of his time in his sophomore season in the NHL.

Original story: 6/2-14

He started the final year of his initial deal on the parent club but it was only because he sustained an injury. As soon as he was healthy enough he was reassigned to Utica Comets.

That lasted only a few appearances as he was recalled, but it took him two more trips to the big club before he would see any action.

Upon being inserted into the lineup he stayed in for 7 games and connected with another NHL goal before waiting another month or so on the sidelines to get back on the ice.

He would finish skating about 15 shifts for roughly an average of 15 minutes per contest but was a bit of a shabby -7 on a team that didn’t qualify for the postseason.

Only 10 days into restricted free agency the soon-to-be 4th year forward signed for another one-year two-way extension to continue the progress.

At only 22-years old he’s pegged to make the ‘Nucks out of training camp and would have to clear waivers at this point, so it may be now or never and they are looking now.

02Aug

Steve Pinizzotto(13) EHC Red Bull Munchen

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Edmonton Oilers‘ 8th year undrafted right wing Steve Pinizzotto(13) got his first NHL goal recently after appearing in 34 games over the last three years.

He added his second tally a month later to go along with a pair of assists he notched in one game earlier in 2014/2015, and now has new career highs for goals and points but will need to add another helper to pass his previous mark set in only 6 games late last season.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward plays a gritty power forward style that has been fairly successful in the minors.

In 9 AHL games to start the current campaign with affiliate Oklahoma City Barons, he has no goals but a pretty nice 6 assists.

His best seasons in the league were 40+ efforts in 2010 & 2011 with Hershey Bears, while under contract with Washington Capitals.

He also won consecutive Calder Cup Championships with them in 2009 & 2010.

If he can continue to contribute there is little reason to believe the 30-year old won’t stick around on a team that could use some swagger.

He has easily worked hard for any inch of ice his been given and was the first player out of Rochester Institute Of Technology to sign a big league deal.

Original story: 12/27-14

He would stay with the big club for another month before being returned to the farm team but managed to play in a career high 18 games (36 total) getting a 2nd goal and 2 assists, both new bests.

The now 31-year old was likely looking at a decent contract in the minors for 2015/2016 but has chosen to take his game elsewhere signing a one-year deal with EHC Red Bull Munchen of DEL.

It may not be out of the question to see him put up some big numbers overseas.

05Jun

Nathan Longpre(9) Lorenskog

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Undrafted forward Nathan Longpre(9) had quite the rookie season in 2011/2012.

The 24-year old went from an invite to Vancouver Canucks‘ prospect and training camps to their minor league affiliate Chicago Wolves main camp before signing a deal with the team to start his pro career.

Then from seemingly out of nowhere, he was traded to Springfield Falcons in a minor league deal for future considerations after posting 8 goals and 10 assists in 39 games, while going a +8 plus/minus.

He trailed off to a meager 3 goals in 20 more regular season games after the swap but as luck would have it (and his status being that of an unrestricted free agent), the Wolves came a-knocking once again, inking him to an another AHL contract to pick up where he left off with the team for his second campaign.

No word whether the 6’2″ 195 lbs. player will garner another invite to join the Canucks as they train for the upcoming season but seems like that should be a likely scenario.

See related post: 3/31-2011

Original story: 8/18-12

He would spend another pair of seasons in the Wolves‘ organization signing one year extensions to stay on and played the full 2013/2014 with the club, but last year split his time skating 28 AHL games and 33 in the ECHL with affiliate Kalamazoo Wings, where found the net for 10 goals and 17 assists.

The soon-to-be 27-year old is off to find a new hockey home leaving North America for Norway’s Lorenskog.

He should have an easy time finding his score touch to be amongst the leaders in league scoring.

03Jun

Alexandre Bolduc(49) Phoenix Coyotes

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6’1″ 197 lbs., grisly 7th year center, Alexandre Bolduc(49) found himself without a team after basically skating his first six seasons pro in Vancouver Canucks‘ system mostly with their AHL affiliate, the famed Manitoba Moose, a team he skated 232 games with.

It didn’t last long though, as Arizona Coyotes picked up his unrestricted free agency status with a one-year two-way deal. He’s mostly skated with Portland Pirates putting up 3 goals and 11 assists in 19 games.

He’s played 46 NHL games and scored a pair of goals and three assists. He was originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 4th round pick in the 2003 draft (#127 overall) but never signed with them.

He technically signed as a rookie with ECHL Bakersfield Condors but skated more games in the AHL. For the next season he inked a two-way AHL contract with the Moose, then a one-way deal with Manitoba before scoring a contract with the Canucks for 2008/2009.

An upper body (um, shoulder) injury kept him sidelined for most of this season but he’s come back strong.

Original story 3/25-12

After inking for a second year in the Coyotes‘ system as captain of their farm team, he moved on circling back to skate for the team that selected him out of junior hockey, St. Louis Blues.

He spent the entire 2013/2014 season on reassignment with Chicago Wolves.

The following campaign he would again be signed by Arizona and once more take the lead of affiliate Portland Pirates.

He ended up having a career second best 23 goals and highs of 29 assists and 52 points to lead the team in 62 AHL games.

For his 11th pro season the 29-year old leaves North American hockey for his first run at the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk.

02Mar

Ronalds Kenins(41) Vancouver Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks‘ undrafted Lativian-born rookie forward Ronalds Kenins(41) is certainly showing the parent club that he’s made to be there since being recalled from minor league affiliate Utica Comets just over a month ago. He left with 5 goals, 8 assists with a +7 rating in 36 AHL games.

In his first big league game he failed to get a point but by his second appearance he got his first point, an assist.

He added another helper in his next contest and by his seventh game he had 3 assists and scored his first NHL goal.

The 6′ 201 lbs. power forward added another pair of assists in his 9th shot on the ice against New York Rangers no less.

In 14 games he has 3 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating.

Before arriving here to play, he already had three years of pro experience in the Swiss elite NLA with ZSC and won two league championships. His three previous years were playing in the NLB, second tier in Switzerland, so that’s 6 total.

At 24, he’s a bit older than most first year players and plays like his been competing at this level for awhile, yet it’s only his debut at the highest level of hockey.

What’s apparent about his style is he plays a complete game and skates like he’s loaded with a stick of dynamite.

17Feb

Alex Biega(55) Vancouver Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 5th year defenseman Alex Biega(55) earned his recall and spent a couple of weeks with the parent club but only practiced with the team.

As a small-ish 5’10” 187 lbs. blue liner he is mostly a stay-at-home style blue liner but has been consistently able to hit the 20-point mark through his four seasons in the AHL and could very well set new career high marks int the current campaign with Utica Comets.

With continued consistent play with the farm club, he received another shot and on little notice found himself suiting up for his first big league game.

The 26-year old skated 22 shifts for 16:32 total ice time with 2 hits, 2 break ups, 1 giveaway and 2 shots on net.

One of those shots ended up being his first NHL goal and the 3-2 game winner.

He’s only signed to a one-year, two-way deal and now is looking more likely to get re-upped.

See related: 8/4-12

28Dec

Yann Sauve(3) Orlando Solar Bears

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Orlando Solar Bears‘ 5th year defenseman Yann Sauve(3) was late to come to the table signing a one-year minor league deal for 2014/2015 two months into the new season.

He was originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#41 overall) and in their system for four campaigns, first signing a three-year entry level contract and then an extension for 2013/2014.

The fairly big 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner was assistant captain for affiliate Utica Comets, had a career high 13 assists and tied the 14 points he recorded as a rookie, but was also a disappointing -20 plus/minus.

He was recalled to the NHL for the first time since his initial year, when he appeared in 5 games.

In 3 more games as the parent club’s blue line was injury depleted, he again didn’t connect with the score sheet.

He was productive in the QMJHL with Saint John Sea Dog s averaging 20 assists each season and had an unreal +42 rating before he turned pro.

The 24-year old had already played portions of two seasons on reassignment in ECHL teams, so is familiar with the league.

His best run was in 2012/2013, when he had 19 points in 32 games and is off to a good start with a goal and an assist in 5 contests.

On 12/29-14 he has moved back up the hockey ladder for the moment, signing to a pto with Saint John’s IceCaps.

04Dec

Brent Sopel(55) Chicago Wolves

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Enduring 17th year defenseman Brent Sopel(55) has not appeared in an AHL game since 1999-2000 with Syracuse Crunch, then affiliate of Vancouver Canucks.

He was originally a ‘Nucks 6th round pick in the 1995 draft (#144 overall) and last skated in the minors with the old Kansas City Blades in the last year of the IHL. His stint was a short 4-game stay as this would be his first complete season in the show.

The 37-year old has skated an absolutely phenomenal 659 NHL games and was a key member of the 2010 Stanley Cup win with Chicago Blackhawks.

Only one season removed hockey’s biggest prize he would disappear for three years to the KHL.

Returning to North America to be play closer to home, he entered training camp on an invite with Chicago Wolves and signed a one-year deal as the 2014/2015 season started.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. blue liner is already contributing nicely with 7 assists in 21 games and a +2 rating, plus is the senior member of his squad so his vast knowledge and leadership both on and off the ice is priceless.

He recently appeared in his 1000 pro game as his career continues and still eyes a return to the highest league of hockey.

23Nov

Kellan Lain(19) Oklahoma City Barons

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Undrafted Vancouver Canucks‘ exceedingly large 6’6″ 222 lbs. center Kellan Lain(19) found himself in an early season mostly minor league deal that ships him to Edmonton Oilers‘ prospect system for the final year of his two-year extension.

Initially signed to an entry level deal for just one season coming out of his third tour with Lake Superior State University, he started his pro career with 13 AHL games for then affiliate Chicago Wolves.

Although he was credited for no points he must have played with enough jam to keep the restricted free agent around for more than one more look.

In his official rookie season with Utica Comets he is credited for 7 tallies and 12 helpers in 63 games with a +4 rating on a mostly struggling first year squad.

He earned himself a pair of call ups after the new year and stuck around for 9 NHL game scoring his first big league goal and was a +1 plus/minus.

Heading into a contract year, he was maybe a bit slow out of the gate, getting reassigned to the farm club early in training camp and coming out of the gate slowly with only 1 assist in 10 games.

Maybe the new surroundings skating with Oklahoma City Barons will wake the sleeping giant.

22Nov

Bo Horvat(53) Vancouver Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#9 overall) center Bo Horvat(53) started his rookie season with the on the opening night roster but was unable to crack the lineup, so less than a month into 2014/2015 he was sent down on a conditioning reassignment to minor league affiliate Utica Comets.

In 5 AHL games he was somewhat oddly unable to come up with a point but still showed enough that he should be up with the parent club.

The 6′ 216 lbs. former two-time 2012 and 2013 OHL Champion continued to work hard and finally found a spot on the team.

He was virtually a point-per-game player in three seasons with London Knights.

At only 19-years old and leaving a year early from junior hockey, he plays the game like a true power forward and in his 7th NHL game finally came up with his first pro goal in the team’s 4-3 loss.

He did appear in the full slate of preseason match ups and was credited with an unofficial tally.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, he should be a contributor for a long-time in Western Canada.

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