Tagged: Edmonton Oilers

Colin McDonald2

New York Islanders‘ 8th year veteran right wing Colin McDonald(13) started the current campaign on the roster but was having a tough time finding an open spot.

After only a couple of NHL games with no points, he was put on waivers and reassigned to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the first time in a long while.

Over the last 4 years in the AHL the 6’2″ 205 lbs. power forward averaged over 40 points, while in his time spent up with 3 teams in his pro career he has a none too shabby 16 goals and 20 assists in 124 games but is a sort of abysmal -22 plus/minus.

In 40 games this year he’s helping out with 14 goals and 21 assists and definitely provides needed leadership on a still young squad.

Signed only through the end of 2015, it will be interesting to see where the 30-year old will take his game next.

The former Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft (#51 overall) definitely has the ability to help out a checking line but may be looking at a trip overseas is probably a better bet.

Original story: 2/7-15

He would get recalled the very next day and started contributing immediately earning that spot on the roster and not looking back.

Although he would level off and was a healthy scratch for games down the stretch he did appear in a pair of playoff games.

Turning 31-years old as the new season approaches it’s probably a good time to switch up the scenery and he’s signed a one-year two-way deal with Philadelphia Flyers for 2015/2016, but I would not put it by him to make the big club out of training camp and fit in just nicely.

See related: 4/22-12

steve_pinizzottoEdmonton 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.

 

Gilbert-Brule9

In late November he re-signed with Arizona Coyotes and was recalled after posting 7 goals and 5 assists in 11 games with Portland.

He skated 3 NHL games but failed to connect for any points and was set to be reassigned back down.

Not wanting to spend any more time in the minors he decided not to report and he was released by the team for breach of contract.

Unable to find another suitor he would sit for the remainder of 2013/2014.

For 2014/2015 he would sign a 1-year deal with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. In 44 KHL games he went on to score 10 goals and 5 assists.

It was rumored he was set to leave for the league a year earlier but decided to stay in North America.

The now 28-year old will spend his second season in the KHL but switch it up to skate with Medvescak Zagreb.

Undrafted, soon-to-be 2nd year defenseman Brad Hunt(2) receives a 2-year 2-way entry level deal from Edmonton Oilers after a solid rookie year on an AHL contract with Chicago Wolves.

He’s small at just 5’9″ 188 lbs. but the blue liner connected for 4 goals and 29 assists in 65 games and added another goal and 3 assists in 5 playoff contests. He also played in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game and got a goal on his only shot on net to help the Western Conference to a 7-6 victory.

He first appeared in 14 games with the Wolves on an ato after completing his college career at Bemidji State University, where he showed the ability to put up points. He got his 1st pro goal and 4 assists.

The 24-year old will be in training camp and likely start the 2013/2014 campaign with their minor league affiliate Oklahoma City Barons but with continued good play should be on the short list for a call-up, look.

Original story: 7/8-13

Since inking his first major contract, he has continued to perform better with each season and received a longer stint from the parent club in 2014/2015 playing 11 NHL games and scoring his first goal (to go along with a pair of assists). He has appeared in 14 total big league contests.

Now 26-years old, scored a career high 19 AHL goals and 51 points, then added another 3 tallies and 7 helpers in 10 postseason matchups with Oklahoma City Barons in the campaign that just finished.

With a freshly signed one-year extension he should get a longer look from the Oilers.

Brad Hunt

Taylor-Chorney3

Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 7th year defenseman Taylor Chorney(44) spent the last pair of seasons exclusively in the minors while under contract with St. Louis Blues.

Previously he’d skated in at least a couple contests each campaign, and spent over half of 2009/2010 with draft team Edmonton Oilers (2005 round 2, #35 overall). He’s appeared in 65 NHL games scoring a goal and 5 assists.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. blue liner has reached 20+ points in the AHL five times, including his 4 goals and 16 assists mark this season.

He’s received a pair of recalls and played in 4 games, increasing his time on ice to 24 shifts for 15:24, including 1:38 on the power play and 2 shots on net, 2 hits and one break up.

The 27-year old is only signed through the end of the season but could extended to stick around in eastern Pennsylvania.

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.

Corey-Potter5

Almost a month after his 2nd recall from affiliate Adirondack Flames, Calgary Flames‘ 9th year defenseman Corey Potter(28) finally got into a couple of games to extend his streak of big league appearances to seven seasons in a row.

In 125 NHL big league contests, for two seasons with Edmonton Oilers he appeared in games only at the highest level and has skated the bulk of his games with the Canadian club (111).

Otherwise, he’s had a few nods here and there: from draft team (4th round in 2003, #122 overall) New York Rangers over a couple of seasons, 1 with Pittsburgh Penguins and most recently 3 looks from Boston Bruins after being grabbed off waivers.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. has played 352 AHL games scoring a modest 28 goals and 125 assists but is an absolute mammoth of on ice accountability with an overall +97 rating.

At 31-years old he still has some more seasons left in the tank but it’s a bit of a wonder if he gets another major contract or plays out his time in the minors mentoring prospects and heads into coaching when it’s time to finally hang up the skates.

See related: 3/28-11

Mark-Fistric

Anaheim Ducks‘ 9th year defenseman Mark Fistric(7) was reassigned to affiliate Norfolk Admirals after 9 games and no points.

It’s his first significant time in the minors since 2008/2009, when he played 35 AHL contests for Manitoba Moose while under contract with Dallas Stars, the team that selected him in the 1st round of 2004 draft (#28 overall).

The sizable 6’2″ 230 lbs. blue liner spent his first six years in the prospect system and played three full NHL seasons with the team before being traded to his hometown Edmonton Oilers.

He played with them for a single season before signing for one-year with the Ducks as an unrestricted free agent. He would re-up mid-season for another three-year deal through 2017.

Never known as a big point getter, the 28-year old is a hard-nosed, stay-at-home style defensive specialist that isn’t afraid to mix it up.

Although he may be spending some extended time with the farm team this season, he could be recalled at any point, and with his +28 rating through 325 games in the big league he’s at the very least accountable on ice.

What happens for the former Vancouver Giants2006 WHL Champion’s future in the off-season is a bit of a wonder.

He’s not on the books for much money and could be kept around for insurance and to help out the youngsters but that’s purely speculation.

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.

Steve-MacIntyre2

Norfolk Admirals‘ absolutely huge 6’5″ 250 lbs. 13th year veteran left wing Steve MacIntyre(74) has seemingly taken his demotion to Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL for the first time since 2006 in stride this late in his pro career.

He actually played the next season 2006/2007 in the old UHL with Quad City Mallards, who maybe ironically are now playing their games in the same league.

His brick wall, tough guy style and persistent attitude helped take his game to the next level when in 2007/2008 he skated a full AHL season with Providence Bruins.

It would be the last time he put up over 200 penalty minutes in a season and although he threw fists 18 times, that was easily the most fights in a campaign he’d ever settled.

Edmonton Oilers took notice and grabbed him off waivers from Florida Panthers, who reclaimed him a year later.

He would play games mostly in Alberta, but he also got some time with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 34-year old skated last season with Oklahoma City Barons but only appeared in 11 games.

He’s been held pointless for at least the last three years.

It’s pretty likely that if he wants to still play the sport he will take his game to England next and be a hero.