WHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

27Nov

Mitch Callahan(15) Grand Rapid Griffins

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Detroit Red Wings‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#180 overall), 3rd year left wing Mitch Callahan(15) is picking up his game big with minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins in the final year of his entry level deal.

In 19 AHL games he already has 8 goals, 4 assists and a smart +10 rating.

It’s almost as if he’s taking up where he left off in the 2013 postseason that ended with a Calder Cup Championship.

In 24 playoff contests he had 6 goals and 5 assists.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward posted career highs last season with 11 goals, 9 assists and 20 points in 71 games. He looks to shatter that mark before the All-Star break.

Even though he didn’t exactly garner the highest selection spot in the draft, he did put up some impressive numbers in his final year of juniors before turning pro.

The 22-year old also won the WHL Championship with Kelowna Rockets as a rookie and placed 2nd in the subsequent Memorial Cup.

Almost ironically he made the team on a tryout, which would be even more amazing for him to eventually make his NHL debut. Plus, he was born and raised in California.

20Nov

Brenden Kichton (8)

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Double draft pick (most recently Winnipeg Jets‘ 7th round in the 2013 draft, #190overall) rookie defenseman Brenden Kichton(8) was making a huge splash on the back line in his last few years of juniors with Spokane Chiefs.

He managed 240 assists in 202 WHL games, good enough for most helpers in the league from 2010-2012 and lead all d-men in points those years as well.

It’s surprising his number slipped so far down in the most recent draft, especially considering his offensive explosion.

He was originally taken by New York Islanders in the 5th round of 2011 (#127 overall) but failed to work out a contract with the team.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner was also invited to join Detroit Red Wings‘ prospect camp in 2010.

He was reassigned to Winnipeg‘s minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps to start his debut campaign and has continued to effectively head man the puck for scoring chances.

In 17 AHL games he has 2 goals and 9 assists with a +5 rating.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the 21-year old looks to have a bright future ahead of him and will likely realize his first NHL recall this season.

02Oct

Justin Weller(27) Gwinnett Gladiators

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#105 overall) defenseman Justin Weller(27) was assigned to the club’s double A affiliate Gwinnett Gladiators to start his second pro season.

He’s signed to a three year entry level deal, but failed to appear in the parent club’s training camp after prospect camp and reported to Portland Pirates‘ to skate in preseason games before recently getting cut. This is the final year of his contract.

At 6’2″ 205 lbs. he has fairly good size but has yet to crack even their AHL team’s roster.

In 65 ECHL games in his rookie season he scored a pair of goals and 9 assists with a +7 rating. He added another tally and a helper in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff contests.

The 22-year old played 5 years of junior hockey in the WHL with Red Deer Rebels but was never a big point producer, favoring maybe a bit more of a stay-at-home defensive style.

If he can shine in his sophomore campaign, he may still be left unqualified going into 2014/2015, but could find himself a nice home for hockey overseas or look to continue to climb the ladder through the minors in North America.

25Sep

Ty Rimmer(39) Oklahoma City Barons

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Undrafted rookie goaltender Ty Rimmer(39) signs his first pro deal, a one-year AHL contract with Oklahoma City Barons for the 2013/2014 season.

He’ll have some tough competition during training camp to stay with the team and could very well find himself reassigned to their new ECHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors to start his first campaign.

The 6’1″ 180 lbs. net minder played a ton of games in three WHL seasons for a variety of teams, posting a 2011/2012 league best 2.43 GAA and .922 SV% with Tri-City Americans.

He followed that up with continued impressive numbers in the playoffs and in the next year shattered the single season saves record at 2,106 for Lethbridge Hurricanes.

After completing his final run of junior hockey, he signed an ato to join Manchester Monarchs for the remainder of last season.

He appeared in one game, taking the loss with a 4.12 GAA and .900 SV%.

The 21-year old definitely knows he has a lot to prove now that he’s playing hockey with the big boys and a year in double A might be the best start for the young goalie.

10Sep

Martin Jones(31) Los Angeles Kings

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Almost shockingly, undrafted 4th year net minder Martin Jones(31) has spent his entire pro career in Los Angeles KIngs‘ prospect system and will be riding with the organization for another two seasons as he just inked an extension through 2014/2015.

He was signed to an entry level deal with a couple of slide seasons as an 18-year old to lay claim to him though.

He’s coming off another campaign with affiliate Manchester Monarchs, where he set record highs in many categories including a phenomenal 56 games played (2nd most overall), wins with 27 but also 25 losses, 5 shutouts, 3347 minutes in the crease and 1601 saves to his credit.

The big 6’4″ but light 189 lbs. goaltender has yet to officially earned an NHL call-up in the juggernaut that was in net for the parent club until recently but was part of the team’s practice squad when they won the Stanley Cup in 2012. He’s easily proving he is worth a look as he maintains a 2.46 GAA and .921 SV% in the minors through 136 AHL games.

He won a WHL Championship in his last season of junior hockey with Calgary Hitmen, plus was playoff MVP and top goaltender in the Memorial Cup and in the league for 2009/2010.

There is still that curtain of let’s see what this kid can do when he gets into a game with the “big boys” but the 23-year old seems to be on the right path.

See related: 2/10-11, 3/3-11, 4/29-12

17Aug

Thomas Heemskerk(33) Quad City Mallards

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3rd year undrafted goalie Thomas Heemskerk(33) was left unqualified by San Jose Sharks and became an unrestricted free agent after his three-year entry level contract was up.

He spent two years in their prospect system skating mostly for their ECHL affiliates Stockton Thunder and San Francisco Bulls with some sprinkles of ice time with Worcester Sharks. In 6 AHL games he posted a 1.97 GAA and .926 SV%.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder also received one recall to the NHL to serve as a back-up and practice with the team.

Although only appearing in a fraction of the games, his SV% was better than his junior hockey league best in 2009/2010 with Everett Silvertips. had a 91-58-19 record in four years of WHL with a 2.81 GAA and .910 SV%.

His marks in the ECHL were less good. In 63 contests his GAA was 3.19 and had a .899 SV%.

For 2013/2014, he almost surprisingly signs a one-year deal with Quad City Mallards of Central Hockey League.

The still very young 23-year old goaltender should score a recall or two in the upcoming season that might elevate him back up into a higher level of pro hockey.

26Apr

Logan Pyett(39) Connecticut Whale

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5th year defenseman Logan Pyett(39) signed a one-year two-way deal with New York Rangers for 2012/2013 and had himself a career year for assists (32) and points (39) with Connecticut Whale. He finished third on the team in scoring and was also a +9 plus/minus.

The 5’10” 199 lbs. d-man is set to become an unrestricted free agent. No word quite yet if the Blueshirts will retain his services for another year.

He was originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round pick in the 2006 draft (#212 overall) and played four seasons with their minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, initially on a three-year entry level deal and then inked an extension for another campaign.

The 24-year old has yet to appear in the NHL but has played in 361 AHL games scoring 30 goals and recently notched his 100th assist.

He was also a good point producer in junior hockey and captained his hometown team Regina Pats of the WHL.

Where he ends up is still a guessing game but regardless, he’s an asset and potential insurance to have on the blue line for any club.

21Apr

Brayden McNabb(7) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#66 overall), 2nd year defenseman Brayden McNabb(7) missed the last month of the regular season with a knee injury and the hope is he will be able to return as the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs start imminently.

He set career highs in AHL games played with 62 and 31 assists and 36 points in 2012/2013, while tying his goal scoring total at 5. He also was a bit more physical out there increasing his penalty minutes to 50 and was chosen to play in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game for a second straight appearance.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. always put up better numbers in each successive year of junior hockey with Kootenay Ice and was team captain when they won a WHL title in 2011.

He played 25 NHL games in his rookie season scoring his first big league goal and adding 7 assists. It’s a bit of a thinker why he failed to get games in this lockout shortened season though.

The 22-year old signed a three-year entry level deal that takes him through next season.

But first things first, he needs to return for the postseason.

30Nov

Mark Pysyk(13) Rochester Americans

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Buffalo Sabres‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#23 overall), defenseman Mark Pysyk(13) is making a seamless transition from junior hockey into the pros. He’s participated in three prospect and two training camps already.

The 20-year old starts his rookie season with their AHL affiliate Rochester Americans and has 1 goal and 6 assists in 17 games and is a +2 plus/minus on a team that is still better on paper than they are on the ice.

He was captain of Edmonton Oil Kings taking his hometown team to a WHL championship last season.

At 6’1 193 lbs. it’s not like he’s an oversized blue liner but is considered a good play-maker and is also accountable in his own end.

He’s really the type of player that has leadership written all over him but we’ll see how his game and on-ice identity develop.