Marc Cantin(27) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Undrafted, rookie defenseman Marc Cantin(27) gets dished by Boston Bruins in a deal that sent two youngsters to New York Islanders for a pair of veterans.

Signed to a 3-year entry level contract, he didn’t seem to find a spot with Providence Bruins and was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate Reading Royals on numerous occasions. This season he’s played 15 games with them and has a goal and 5 assists. For the P-Bruins he guarded the blue line in 19 contests but failed to register a point.

At 6’1″ 192 lbs. the Isles could have just got themselves a nice 21-year old prospect for practically nothing.

Darryl Boyce(47) Columbus Blue Jackets

Lost in the trade deadline shuffle: undrafted, 5th year center Darryl Boyce(47) didn’t survive going through waivers after being reassigned by Toronto Maple Leafs to their AHL affiliate Marlies, the only two pro teams he’s ever played for.

He was snapped up by Columbus Blue Jackets and skated in his 1st game with his new team on Tuesday night.

He had appeared in 64 NHL games with the Leafs 6 goals with 9 assists but goal scoring isn’t where he lives.

At 6′ 200 lbs. he’s not excessively large but he plays a big game out there and is a tireless agitator for all his opponents to have to deal with.

It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the change of scenery and where the Blue Jackets see him fitting into their lineup. Seeing him with Springfield Falcons before the end of the season wouldn’t surprise me.

He traded in his odd number 47 jersey he’d been wearing for 43, which is a bit of a thinker.

Andrew Gordon(10) Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks added more depth at forward position by acquiring 5th year right wing Andrew Gordon(10) from Anaheim Ducks and reassigned to Chicago Wolves before anything even settled.

He started the season playing 37 NHL games (2 goals, 3 assists) but was reassigned to their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch in mid-January and skated in 19 games (3 goals, 5 assists) with them up until his trade from an organization he wasn’t even with for a full season.

Originally drafted by Washington Capitals in the 7th round of 2004 (#191 overall) he spent his first 4 years as pro in their system, playing 12 NHL games with them (1 goal, 1 assist). He was mostly known as being one of the team leaders for Hershey Bears, where in 313 regular season and playoff games he put up 124 goals and 136 assists.

He won back-to-back Calder Cups with the Bears in 2009 and 2010.

In his rookie season, he even played some games in the ECHL with South Carolina Stingrays but overpowered the competition in that league with 8 goals and 6 assists in 11 games.

Tim Kennedy(22) Worcester Sharks

4th year center Tim Kennedy(22) has been bouncing around from team-to-team for the last couple of seasons, skating NHL and AHL with 5 different teams.

He went from New York Rangers‘ organization to Florida Panthers and has landed in Worcester with his most current deal getting him traded to San Jose.

He played one full season NHL season with Buffalo Sabres (84 regular season and playoffs games, 11 goals and 18 assists) in 2009/2010, then got waived by them after he was awarded a $1 million deal through arbitration for the next year.

Since he has played in 33 more games, all with the Panthers. 26 of the contests were this year, where he scored 1 goal and 1 assist but had a -11 plus/minus.

In 170 AHL games he has 36 goals and 100 assists.

Since arriving in Worcester he’s almost a point per game player with 3 goals, 8 assists in 12 games but is a dismal -9.

He was originally drafted by Washington Capitals in the 6th round of 2005 (#181 overall).

He’s a small-ish presence out there at 5’10″ 179 lbs. but is crafty with the puck and could be a point producer in the NHL, but needs to add a bit more muscle into his game.

Brad Thiessen(39) Pittsburgh Penguins

3rd year undrafted Pittsburgh Penguins‘ goaltender Brad Thiessen(39) received his 1st NHL start after putting up impressive numbers with their affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Originally signed to a 2-year entry level deal with Pittsburgh, he’s played 126 AHL regular season and Calder Cup Playoff games waiting his turn in what has turned out to be a glut of good goalies in their system.

In his debut, a 4-2 win, he saved 22 of 24 shots for a 2.00 GAA and .917 SV%.

It’s another one of the success stories as he was never drafted and played parts of his rookie season in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers, 12 games, 8-3 record.

He could be in line to be the team’s NHL back-up for 2012/2013. He’ll need another contract in the meantime though.

 

 

Cam Atkinson(13) Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets‘ rookie right wing Cam Atkinson(13) is currently on his 3rd NHL call-up. In 7 games he has one goal and one assist but is a shaky -7 plus/minus.

He was originally a 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#157 overall) and signed to a 2-year entry level contract.

In 50 AHL games with Springfield Falcons he dominates with 29 goals and 15 assists while going a +4.

He’s another small player entry to pro hockey at 5’8″ 175 lbs. but fully engulfs himself into the action and as far as prospects go, big things are expected of the compact but mighty 22-year old forward.

Ben Maxwell(49) St. John’s Ice Caps

4th year center has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride between a few teams this season, but has settled in pretty well in his AHL home with St. John’s Ice Caps, scoring 7 goals and 10 assists in 26 games.

He started 2011/2012 with Winnipeg Jets and appeared in 4 games before being waived for reassignment in mid-November, only to get picked up by Anaheim Ducks. He skated in 6 games with them picking up an assist before he was sent down and reclaimed by the Jets.

Originally a Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#49 overall), he played 20 NHL games but spent most of his time with their affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs. He was sent to Atlanta Thrashers before the trade deadline and scored his 1st NHL goal last season.

Tough to say when he’ll get another look in the show. He’ll likely have to ignite that scoring touch and play a bit tougher of a game to stick.

 

Rob Gronkowski(87) New England Patriots

New England Patriots‘ tight end Rob Gronkowski(87), in leg cast as he recovers from offseason surgery, spiked the puck at Worcester Sharks‘ game Friday night vs. Providence Bruins.

He was fined $7500 for spiking the ball in a game after scoring a touchdown a bit too close to a defender vs. New York Jets, and the Sharks‘ organization stepped up and offered to pay the fine for him if he’d spike the ceremonial first puck to open their game after football season was done.

Eric Wellwood(22) Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#172 overall), left wing Eric Wellwood(22) potted his first NHL goal last weekend and has been on a bit of a tear with the big club in his second recall of the 2011/2012 season. In 5 games he also has a pair of assists and is a +6 plus/minus, even though the team has lost 3 of the contests he played in.

He was summoned for 3 games in his rookie campaign and managed to get on the scoring sheet with an assist.

In 105 AHL games with Adirondack Phantoms, the 21-year old is credited for 25 goals and 24 assists.

In juniors, he played for Windsor Spitfires, who won back-to-back Memorial Cups in 2009 and 2010.

At 5’11″ 179 lbs. he doen’t look like the most threatening skater on the ice but he does have the ability to be out there contributing on a regular basis.

He is in the 2nd season of his 3-year entry level contract.

Blair Riley(5) Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Undrafted 2nd year left wing Blair Riley(5) was rewarded with an AHL spc by Bridgeport Sound Tigers for his consistent hard work up front on what has turned into winning push for the team as the Calder Cup Playoffs near.

Initially signed to a pto back in November of last year on call-up from Chicago Express, the ECHL team he inked with to start 2011/2012, he’s played 31 games and has a goal and a pair of assists but more importantly he’s fitting into a mix that works for the team.

He played 8 AHL games last season with San Antonio Rampage and Peoria Rivermen and scored one goal and got 2 assists. He’s already got career highs in games played but goals and assists will likely soon follow.

In 15 games this season with the Express, he had 7 goals (including the first ever in team history) and 9 assists, so scoring will be expected of him as he gets even more games under his belt. He played 59 games with Las Vegas Wranglers in his rookie season and put up 20 goals and 20 assists.