Tagged: EC Red Bull Salzburg

Rob Davison

13th year defenseman Rob Davison(3) comes full circle in his pro career signing a one-year, two-way deal with San Jose Sharks, the team that picked him in the 4th round of the 1998 draft (#98 overall).

He spent the last couple of seasons overseas playing mostly for EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Hockey League.

The rock solid 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner has skated in 219 NHL games with the Sharks, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils.

His tour of the AHL has been a bit more well-traveled with stops that include games for Kentucky Thoroughblades, Cleveland Barons, Lowell and Albany Devils and this year he’s team captain of Worcester Sharks.

The 33-year old has never been the biggest point getter but guards his own zone with gusto and has topped the 200 penalty minute mark twice in his first pair of seasons and then put up over 100 pims before leaving North American hockey.

He’s a true leader that will likely find himself behind the bench in a coaching role once he decides he’s had enough ice time.

Former Phoenix Coyotes‘ 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#30 overall) defenseman Nick Ross(42) had his most productive season yet in the AHL (5 goals, 13 assists) despite playing only 35 games for Portland Pirates.

He was a healthy scratch for too many games in the final season of his 3-year entry level contract but obviously didn’t let that hinder his on-ice performance.

The 6’1″ 206 lbs. 23-year old blue liner was not issued a qualifying offer to return for 2012/2013 despite finally showing some signs of life and being more than accountable with a +16 plus/minus rating.

No worries, as he takes his pro game overseas to the Austrian Hockey League/Erste Bank Eishockey Liga signing with EC Red Bull Salzburg.

He’s still so young that we can easily see him continue to develop and impress enough to score another NHL contract down the road.

ryan-duncan1

Undrafted, former Hobey Baker Award winner in 2007 for best collegiate player (as a sophomore), right wing Ryan Duncan(32) had a decent enough first season, playing with Portland Pirates scoring 14 goals and adding 22 assists in 64 games played.

The 26-year old signed a one-year AHL contract with Phoenix Coyotes a month before the start of 2011/2012, after spending his first two pro seasons in the Austrian Elite League skating for EC Red Bull Salzburg.

At only 5’7″ 170 lbs. the forward definitely looks very undersized out there but has the ability to get into the open areas and isn’t timid about getting involved to create a scoring opportunity.

A pre-Memorial Day tweet from him @rduncan16 suggests he’s going right back to Salzburg for 2012/2013.