Tagged: Calder Cup

02May

NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 1: Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maples Leafs – TD Garden

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NHL Eastern Conference number 4 seed goes against number 5 in the Quarterfinals: Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden.

The Black & Gold won the regular season series 3-1 but the Leafs are a much better team coming down the stretch.

After letting up the opening tally, the Bruins absolutely blew the doors off game 1 with a 4-1 win.

Did the start of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs awaken a sleeping giant?

They do boast 19 players that have won the ultimate prize and one who won a Calder Cup Championship.

Nice to see Wade Redden and Kaspers Daugavins make the postseason roster. Redden scored the first B’s goal of the 2013 playoffs.

Bruins center ice

16Mar

Nicolas Deschamps(9) Hershey Bears

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nicolas-deschamps

Originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2008 draft (#38 overall), center Nicolas Deschamps(9) is in the last season of his 3-year entry level deal.

He was skating with AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch, putting up good numbers (15 goals and 31 assists in 80 games) in his rookie campaign before his point production all but evaporated in the first half of his sophomore season.

The 6′ 173 lbs. forward was dished mid-year to Toronto Maple Leafs in a minor league transaction and was reassigned to the Marlies.

It was easily the change of scenery he needed because he finished the regular season with 7 goals and 23 assists in 40 games and added another 3 strikes and 9 helpers in a playoff run that went the distance to the Calder Cup Finals before falling.

The 23-year has been erratic at best in 2012/2013, barely marking up the scoresheet.

Realizing there’s still potential and really having nothing to lose, Washington Capitals become the latest suitors hoping he can kickstart that scoring touch and help Hershey Bears gain a more solid run in the postseason.

Chances are the low-risk gamble will put the fire back on his stick in the last 20 or so games that remain, but will it be enough?

 

14Mar

Cameron Schilling (6)

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cameron-schilling2

Washington Capitals‘ undrafted rookie defenseman Cameron Schilling(6) was recalled for his first NHL action.

He skated 11 shifts for a conservative 11:58 total ice time in the team’s 4-0 smack down.

In 54 AHL games with affiliate Hershey Bears, he has 6 goals and 8 assists with a +7 rating, playing in all types of game situations. He also appeared in 7 regular season (no points) and 4 Calder Cup Playoff games (2 goals) signed to an ato at the conclusion of his college playing career.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner is signed through 2014 on a two-year entry level deal.

Although not selected, the 24-year old came as a highly touted defensive specialist with the potential to contribute points on the scoresheet.

It’s unlikely that he’ll spend much more than this season in the minors.

30Jan

Matt Anderson(29) New Jersey Devils

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matt-anderson-1

Minor league feel good story of the year (so far): undrafted 6th year right wing Matt Anderson(29) gets his first recall with New Jersey Devils and plays in his NHL debut vs. Boston Bruins, a 2-1 shootout loss at 30-years old.

He skated 6:57 of ice time with no other real stats, which isn’t always a bad thing.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward originally signed an AHL contract with Albany Devils in 2010, his first new team since three seasons with Chicago Wolves, also under a minor league agreement.

In 2011, he scored his first big league deal, signing for one-year, two way with New Jersey.

He has a combined 351 AHL regular season and playoff games with 70 goals, 114 assists and a Calder Cup Championship ring to his credit.

He’s always been considered a team leader and plays that style of game, consistent, hard-working.

The Devils got lucky in a similar veteran call-up situations with Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier, so this could be a formula, especially in a shortened season.

And they would know: 1995.

09Aug

Eric Gryba(2) Ottawa Senators

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The big man that has been guarding the blue line for Binghamton Senators for the last couple of seasons, Eric Gryba(2) re-signed with the parent club, Ottawa Senators through 2014 on another two-way contract.

He was originally a 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft (#58 overall) but has yet to see any NHL action.

The 6’4″ 222 lbs. defenseman had AHL career highs in 2011/2012 with 73 games played, 5 goals, 15 assists and 20 points. His unfortunate -13 plus/minus was on the worst regular season team in the league.

Just one season prior and he was playing in his rookie campaign for the Cinderella B-Sens‘ squad that won the 2011 Calder Cup Championship.

At only 24 years old he could get a look in the show with continued good play and some injuries, but he’s going to need to elevate his overall game.

09Sep

Colin Stuart(10) Buffalo Sabres / Rochester Americans / Portland Pirates

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7th year pro Colin Stuart(10) re-ups with Buffalo for another season but will probably see most of his playing time switch from the AHL city of Portland to Rochester with the Sabres‘ purchase the past off-season of the Amerks.

He’s skated 54 games in the NHL (3 last season, 0 points), but the re-signing is more likely to help guide the younger players in the AHL and get the team back into the hunt for the Calder Cup. Something Rochester has struggled to do consistently in the last 5 seasons.

Colin‘s brother is Mark Stuart of the Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers, the team that drafted him in 2001 (5th round, #135 overall).

06Aug

Patrick O’Sullivan(16) Phoenix Coyotes / Houston Aeros

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Seems strange to be using the word veteran when describing Minnesota Wild‘s 2003 2nd round pick (#56 overall) Patrick O’Sullivan(16), but the 2011/2012 season will be his 7th year as a pro.

Last season he came full circle ending up with Houston Aeros in the AHL Calder Cup Finals but made stops along the way in Los Angeles, Manchester, Edmonton and Carolina, where he played in 311 NHL games (56 goals, 101 assists).

Minnesota decided not to re-up with him, so Phoenix stepped in offering a one-year, two-way contract. He will likely see time in Portland, which will return him to AHL play in New England for the first time since 2007.