Tagged: Swedish Elite League

09Sep

Gustaf Wesslau(40) Djurgardens IF / Springfield Falcons

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The single season North American pro hockey experiment is over for Swedish netminder Gustaf Wesslau as he returns to Elitserien (Swedish Elite League) to play for Djurgardens IF in 2011/2012.

He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract by Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2010 but failed to impress enough at the AHL level with Springfield Falcons to earn himself a call-up.

He packed his bags quickly at the end of the season and agreed to a new deal with the team he’d spent from 2008-2010 with.

13Aug

Andre Benoit(61) Spartak Moscow / Binghamton Senators

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Binghamton Senators‘ Andre Benoit(61) is one of the best defensive agitators I saw play in the AHL postseason and helped his team to the ultimate prize, the Calder Cup, while having clearly his best season of offensive numbers.

He even played in his first NHL games in his 6 year pro career last season;  8 with Ottawa. He registered 1 point, an assist.

He’s traveling overseas again next season joining Spartak Moscow of the KHL. He spent ’07/’08 in Finland and ’08/’09 in Sweden and the last two seasons in the AHL with Hamilton (2005-2007, 2009-2010) and Binghamton.

The knock on him must be that he’s two small to be a top six guy. I’ll miss seeing him in the AHL Eastern Conference but think he’ll be back to North America quite possilby on a one-way NHL deal.