Tagged: Worcester Sharks

29Jun

Melker Karlsson(68) San Jose Sharks

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Melker-Karlsson

San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted, Swedish-born rookie center Melker Karlsson(68) signed a one-year entry level deal after playing in 4 seasons of SHL pro hockey in his homeland.

He was obviously on their radar after winning two straight league championships with Skelleftea AIK and was runner-up the previous pair of years.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward is a complete spark plug style player with really quick hands and smart hockey sense.

He was reassigned to affiliate Worcester Sharks to start his first year on this side of the river and has scored 5 goals and 5 assists in 20 AHL games, while totaling a gatling gun 49 shots on net.

His tenacious play with the farm team has got the brass above wondering if he can replicate what he’s down overseas and in the minors in the show.

In his first NHL game his stat sheet was littered with goodness, skating a total of 18 shifts for 11:53 ice time, won 67% of the face offs, 1 shot on net, 1 takeaway, 1 giveaway, 1 break up, 2 hits and his first point, an assist and a +2 rating in a 5-2 win.

If injury keeps some of the regulars on reserves, the 24-year old could easily find a permanent roster spot in California and may even play himself into a full-time role regardless.

Original story: 12/9-14

After his debut performance he went pointless for the next pair of appearances but rebounded with his first multi-point effort (2 assists), followed it up with another helper and potted his first NHL goal in his 6th game giving him 1 tally and 4 assists for a hot start.

He easily never looked in the rear view mirror finishing the regular season potting 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points with a -3 rating in 53 games.

San Jose sees the quickly emerging talent of the soon-to-be 25-year old and doesn’t want to take any chances with restricted free agency approaching.

They wasted little time signing him to a 2-year one-way extension.

He will be an impressive talent in the top league for a long time to come.

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26Jun

Troy Grosenick(1) San Jose Sharks

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Troy-Grosenick2

San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted 2nd year goalie Troy Grosenick(1) is continuing his pattern of stepped up play in his sophomore campaign.

He’s in a four way tie for first place amongst AHL net minders with 7 victories in 10 starts.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. backstop put up a very decent showing in his rookie season with affiliate Worcester Sharks.

In 35 games he had an 18-14 record with a team that mostly struggled to win and a 2.62 GAA and 2.62 SV% including a pair of shutouts and 6 shootout wins.

He was on pace to start 50+ contests in the minors for 2014/2015 but with the hot start and an injury sidelining the parent club’s backup goaltender, he earned his first recall and got his first big league start.

The 25-year old that always seems to be in exactly the right spot to make saves this season was stellar in his NHL initiation, shutting down the mostly abysmal Carolina Hurricanes‘ 45 shot offensive flurry and capturing the game’s first star award in the process, along with setting a new league record for most stops in a debut.

He may be making the coast-to-coast flight many times if he can maintain his game, which will be a good thing for a player that is set to become a restricted free agent.

Original story 11/18-14

After appearing in a new career high 20 AHL games posting 20 wins and making his stellar NHL debut, he nets a new 2-year contract that is one-way for 2016/2017.

The soon-to-be 26-year old will likely be given the workload of minutes with new affiliate San Jose Barracuda in the upcoming campaign but could easily challenge for the starter job in the 2nd year of his new deal.

14Jun

Greger Hanson(15) Allen Americans

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Greger-Hanson

4th year undrafted Swedish-born left wing Greger Hanson(15) has received his first pair of AHL call-ups this season. From his impressive play, he looks like he could easily find a spot on a roster in the league.

Signed for a second year with Allen Americans of the ECHL, he won the last Central Hockey League President’s Cup with the team in 2014.

He was a point-per-game skater in the playoffs and throughout the regular season, continuing that scoring pace in the current campaign with a +26 rating.

The not huge 5’10” 185 lbs. forward scored his first higher league goal on loan to Worcester Sharks, adding three assists and got another one through 3 games with Oklahoma City Barons.

For his first pro season he would return home to skate with Sodertalje of the second tier Allsvenskan after four years at Northern Michigan University putting up stellar numbers in his junior campaign.

The already 27-year old proven goal scorer may be running short of time to prove his game in North America but he’s easily right on the cusp of jumping up a notch on the hockey ladder.

Original story 3/18-15

For a second straight season he wins a title, this time it’s Allen Americans‘ first year in the ECHL for the 2015 Kelly Cup.

His 12 goals and 17 assists in 25 games earned him the Most Valuable Player award.

Will he head overseas next to collect some earnings that he should get or stick around. We shall see.

02Apr

Taylor Fedun(43) San Jose Sharks

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Taylor-Fedun

Undrafted 4th year defenseman Taylor Fedun(43) signed a one-year, two-way contract with San Jose Sharks on the second day of free agency after spending his first three seasons in Edmonton Oilers‘ prospect system, but had to sit out the entirety of what would have been his rookie campaign with a broken femur suffered in preseason.

The versatile puck-moving blue liner posted his first NHL goal in his debut and then got another two nights later playing 4 games with Edmonton in 2013/2014, but was left unqualified when it was time to re-up despite also coming off a year with affiliate Oklahoma City Barons that gave him new career bests in goals (10), assists (28) and points (38).

He also fired a new high 190 shots on net in 65 AHL games.

The small-ish looking but listed at 6′ 200 lbs. d-man is likely on his way to earning another notch up in his helper totals, as he’s at 27 in 63 games with farm team Worcester Sharks and should eclipse that mark unless he happens to stay up with the parent club.

He had always increased his numbers in four years at Princeton University and even scored 10 goals in his senior season as team captain.

The now 26-year old but will be 27 when 2015/2016 starts is unrestricted and it’s definitely a bit of a wonder where he’ll end up next. He fits in nicely where he’s at but will that be enough to keep him around for a continued look.

He’s doing nicely in his 2nd call-up with the Sharks, receiving plenty of playing time, skating over 17 minutes in each of his first two games and even got his first big league assist in a win.

05Feb

Fight Card: Micheal Haley(18) vs. Chris Breen(8)

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Worcester Sharks‘ Micheal Haley(18) has 8 fighting majors but also is second on the team in goal scoring with 12. He looks to reach a career high mark in the category this season.

This was only the 2nd fight for the 6’7″ 224 lbs. Providence Bruins‘ defenseman Chris Breen(8).

Despite giving up almost half a foot and 20 pounds the smaller, still tough as nails Haley held it to a draw.

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31Jan

Barclay Goodrow(89) San Jose Sharks

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Barclay_Goodrow

San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted rookie right wing Barclay Goodrow(89) put up almost a point-per-game in 5 seasons of development with North Bay Battalion and scored the most goals in last year’s OHL playoffs.

He managed to make the opening night roster on the big club but has yet to produce the kind of results he put up in junior hockey.

In 32 NHL games he has 3 goals and 6 assists with a -6 rating and has been a healthy scratch on numerous nights.

There’s little doubt the biggish 6’2″ 215 lbs. power forward is capable of connecting with the score sheet on a regular basis but might just need a season under his belt to start producing most frequently.

He was reassigned for a couple games to the farm team Worcester Sharks over the All-Star break to give him a wake up call and attempt to kick-start the wheels.

Although he fail to produce any points in 2 AHL games the message got through as he struck for a goal and an assist on his return.

The 21-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2017 but could be trade bait if the parent club needs some more immediate results.

30Jan

The AHL moves west

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AHLfaceoff

At 3:30pm ET AHL president Dave Andrews announced the creation on a Pacific Division that will play in the Western Conference of the league starting 2015/2016.

The cities effectively losing teams are Oklahoma City Barons, which happened earlier this season, Norfolk Admirals, Glens Falls/Adirondack Flames after only one run, Worcester Sharks and rivals Manchester Monarchs.

Picking up teams will be soon to be former ECHL franchises Ontario (Los Angeles), Bakersfield (Edmonton) and Stockton (Calgary). San Diego (Anaheim) will be a new city for triple A hockey although did at one time have a Gulls, and San Jose‘s farm club will play out of the same building as the Sharks; and will likely be renamed.

It’s fairly well-thought that Manchester, Adirondack and Norfolk make announcement to join the double A league and there’s rumors racing around Worcester is exploring the options and would have the best chance at success by resurrecting the Ice Cats, while Oklahoma City may get back into the fold under their old successful Blazers‘ banner after a year on the sidelines.

This move was 100% inevitable and can easily make fiscal sense. Those west coast teams draw fairly well with their fan base of hockey lovers.

On the plus side for Eastern Conference folks, chances are Utica, Rochester, Charlotte, Hamilton and even possible Toronto enter in their rivalry picture.

The big news is the top level of minor league hockey in California has arrived.