Tagged: Montreal Canadiens

mathieu-carle

After 5 seasons of towing the blue line in the AHL 25-year old Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#53 overall), Mathieu Carle(27) reportedly will leave North American hockey for some Russian action with Dinamo Riga in the KHL in 2012/2013. He would have been a restricted agent with Anaheim Ducks in line for a qualifying offer.

He’s appeared in 296 AHL games with Hamilton Bulldogs before he was traded and reassigned last season to Syracuse Crunch.

The 6’0 206 lbs. d-man is almost always an effective plus player on the ice, this season notching a +7. He also had career highs in games played (72), assists (31) and points (37).

He’s only ever appeared in 3 NHL games with the Canadiens but you know what? He went a +1.  Good luck to him.

Original story: 5/6-12

He would play most of the 2012/2013 season in the KHL but very close to the end of his first visit overseas signed to play the remainder of the year in the Swiss’ NLA with Geneve Survette HC and even skated 7 postseason games helping out on three assists.

For the next pair of years he had pretty good success heading back to Russia under contract with Medvescak Zagreb. In 81 games he had 5 goals and 31 assists.

As he enters his 9th pro season he trades in one country for another on a third occasion and will try his hand in DEL with Adler Mannheim.

The pretty tough guy defensive styled game the 28-year old plays should do quite well here.

Robbie-Czarnik3

6th year center Robbie Czarnik(70) would play for three different teams in the 2014/2015, spending the first part of the year with Indy recording almost a point-per-game, 17 goals and 13 assists in 31 and then traded to Ontario Reign, 21 contest (6-4) before being dished to Gwinnett Gladiators until he failed to pass a physical and was returned.

That transaction wouldn’t last as he was recalled on to join Norfolk Admirals on a pto.

He finished the regular season skating 10 AHL games with a goal and 3 assists, which almost matched his output from 2013/2014 in a third less appearances.

For 2015/2016 the 25-year old has inked for another year in the ECHL with Reading Royals and will likely be a training camp invite to affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he could impress to stick.

Greg-Pateryn

Montreal Canadiens‘ 3rd year defenseman Greg Pateryn(64) appeared in his 7th NHL game this season.

He skated in six games on his first recall of 2014/2015 before being reassigned and recalled just a few weeks later to rest a veteran blue liner down the stretch.

The rugged style 6’2″ 222 lbs. blue liner was on the ice for 18 shifts playing 10:16 with :25 in a short handed situation in a 2-1 win over the other first place in the Eastern Conference team, New York Islanders.

He had a shot on net, a pair of hits but also coughed up the puck a couple of times; rookie pressure error.

Signed initially to a tw0-year entry level deal after a four year stint at University Of Michigan, where he won a NCAA/CCHA Championship as a sophomore in 2010, he is in the prospect system through 2016.

The 24-year old can definitely put up numbers: 2nd in goals last season and has done better in 3 years of the AHL with affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs than he did in college and has that rugged battler upside as well.

A late cut from training camp this season, it’s almost a sure bet that he ends up with a good amount of time at Bell Center in the future.

Original story: 3/15-15

Upon his 2nd recall he stayed through the end of the regular season appearing in a total of 17 NHL games scoring no points, and then skated 7 Stanley Cup Playoff contests getting his first three points, all assists with a +2 rating.

Impressed enough with his performance, the Canadiens made sure the sturdy blue liner didn’t look elsewhere and got him under a new 2-year contract that extends him into 2017/2018.

The recently turned 25-year old is expected to make the big club out of training camp for 2015/2016 and will become a presence to be reckoned with on their blue line.

9th year defenseman Alexandre Picard(45) signed a one-year two-way deal with Pittsburgh Penguins shortly after free agency started in the offseason.

With 243 NHL games to his credit (19 goals, 46 assists), he is looks to be mostly considered a 6th or 7th defenseman.

He’s off to a good start this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. In 12 games, he has 1 goal and 4 assists but it’s the +9 that’s getting most of the attention.

Into his second recall, he’s already a +5 with the Pens in 7 games with no points.

Original story: 12/1-11

After skating 17 games with Pittsburgh recording 4 assists with a +4 rating and playing 12 Calder Cup Playoff games getting 6 assists, he decided that he would try his game overseas joining HC Lev Praha of the KHL but suffered a shoulder injury and was later released.

After only appearing in 11 games in the 2012/2013 season, he moved on signing a one-year deal with Graz 99ers of Erste Banke Liga.

The 6’3″ 215 lbs. d-man would once again go elsewhere and departed for DEL, where he inked to play with ERC Ingolstadt.

Now 29-years old he’s decided to head to yet another country agreeing to lace up the skates for HC Fribourg-Gotteron of NLA.

There’s no telling if he’ll finally settle but chances are probably not.

 

Aaron-Palushaj

At least a few players in Montreal Canadiens‘ system are racking up those Air Canada frequent flyer miles, but probably none more than 3rd year right wing Aaron Palushaj(28).

Originally chosen in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft (#44 overall) by St. Louis Blues, he was traded late in his rookie season and has pretty much skated with Hamilton Bulldogs ever since, excluding a 3-game call up to the NHL last season, where he didn’t register a point but at least went a +1 plus/minus.

He’s a point-per-game producer in the AHL this season (13 goals and 18 assists in 31 games) with a +1.

His current recall makes it 5 so far in 2011/2012.

In 19 games he has one assist.

He’s bound to get his first NHL goal before the end of this season.

Original story: 2/19-12

For 2011/2012, he would end up splitting time equally with 38 games for the big club, where he did get his first goal and 35 games with the farm team producing another point-per-game effort.

The 5’11” 192 lbs. forward was given a one year extension but suffered a shoulder injury in the minors a couple of months into the season.

When he was set to return, he was set to be reassigned but claimed off waivers by Colorado Avalanche.

He skated in 25 games scoring a pair of goals and 7 assists, which wasn’t deemed good enough to get him a qualifying offer to stay.

For 2012/2013 he would sign for a year with Carolina Hurricanes but only played two games with them and was mostly once again a big point producer scoring a career tying 22 goals and high 36 assists, 58 points for affiliate Charlotte Checkers.

He would look overseas for his next deal signing with Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL but traded shortly into his term to Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.

Now, the still only 25-years old, starting his 7th campaign decided to return to North American hockey accepting a two-way contract with Philadelphia Flyers that could see him playing a veteran role mostly with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

tom-kostopoulos-1

The 36-years old, Tom Kostopoulos(29) will lace up the skates signing his third contract, his 17th pro campaign, to continue as captain of Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins for 2015/2016.

He’s managed to put up 40+ points in each of the past two seasons and will like reach that mark for an 8th time in the AHL.

His highest totals were in the 2004/2005 lockout, where he amassed 71 points for Manchester Monarchs before embarking of 9 straight years in the NHL with Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils.

Daniel-Carr2

Montreal Canadiens‘ undrafted rookie left wing Daniel Carr(11) plays a full on energy style that leaves it all on the ice after every shift.

The generously listed 6′ 189 lbs. forward won the 2014 NCAA Championship with underdog success story Union College and was leading scorer. He posted his college best 22 goals and 28 assists for 50 points in 38 games but in a deep field didn’t come away with a Hobey Baker nominee nod despite point-per-game efforts through four years of Division 1 school hockey and also winning three straight ECAC titles before taking it all.

He continues on a scoring tear as a first year pro. In 70 AHL games with affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs, he leads rookie scoring with 22 goals and has 12 assists for 34 points with a +13 rating on a team that scores as much as it’s scored upon.

The 23-year old signed a two-year entry level contract that keeps him in the system through next season. He’ll need to continue to prove his mettle but he definitely has it and could become a scary presence around the net in the show.

Charles-Hudon2

Montreal Canadiens‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#122 overall) small-ish, first year center Charles Hudon(10) is an absolute f&ing rocket on skates.

The 5’10” 184 lbs. forward leads AHL rookie scoring with 51 points and his 37 assists are first with a +11 rating.

The former junior hockey 1st round selection was a scoring machine through four years of QMJHL mostly with Chicoutimi Sangueneens averaging 1.16 points per appearance (104-169-273) in 235 games.

He leads Hamilton Bulldogs with his point totals and helpers too.

In 2013 at the end of his playoff run, right before he inked a three-year entry level deal, signed an ato to join their minor league affiliate for the rest of the regular season.

He managed to play in 9 games and got his first pro goal and a couple of assists.

The next season he would be in the parent club’s training camps but when released it was ultimately decided that one more season in juniors would help the youngster continue to develop.

Even though he’s yet to realize an NHL recall he can’t be far off and this is one spark plug that should be able to contribute right away.

The still only 20-year old was his team’s representative at the 2015 AHL All-Star Game and only had a hat trick and an assist to help lead the Western Conference to a 14-12 win and nabbed co-mvp of the game.

Matt-Carkner

14th year veteran defenseman Matt Carkner(3) has played in the NHL exclusively for the last 5 years. He’s played 237 games scoring 4 goals and 23 assists.

It also took him 5 seasons to crack a big league lineup through his entry level deal with San Jose Sharks. He appeared in one game with them.

Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 1999 draft (#58 overall), the unrestricted free agent spent most of his playing days in the system with the defunct Cleveland Barons.

Currently signed through the end of this season, he’s in the last of his three-year deal with New York Islanders, but after coming off injured reserved was sent directly to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

It’s his first appearance in the minors since 2011 when he played three games on a conditioning reassignment to Binghamton Senators while under contract with Ottawa.

The big 6’4″ 226 lbs. wide body may be best remembered for his five campaigns with the Canadian nation’s capital team. He had his best offensive production with them in 2009/2010 when he got 2 goals and 9 assists and scored a triple overtime gwg in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 34-year old may be playing out his time in the AHL but could get a recall as the postseason draws nearer and the parent club needs to rest some players.

As far as continued playing time in his pro career, he’ll likely have to shift his game overseas or maybe sign a one year deal to continue to help develop prospects on a farm team.

Devante-Smith-Pelly

Montreal Canadiens pick up a power forward personality player in 4th year left wing Devante Smith-Pelly(21) for their playoff push in an even swap with Anaheim Ducks, his draft team (2010 round 2, #42 overall), the only team he’s skated for.

The 6’0 220 lbs. wide body set new career highs for games played (54), assists (12) and points (19) in the current campaign.

He still has one-year on his current deal, so he’s likely in for the haul with this trade.

At only 22-years old he has the ability to make a third line into a fluke scoring machine and he may get more freedom to do explore in the new system.