(Source: Daniel Wallace/Times)
It was announced on Friday morning that the Tampa Bay Lightning have resigned defensement Andrej Sustr to a one-year one-way contract.
Sustr, 23, posted one goal and eight points, in 43 games with the Lightning last season. He lone goal was the first in his NHL career and came against the Dallas Stars on April 5th at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
A native of Plzen, Czech Republic, had a career best two assists on November 16 in Phoenix. He made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut against the Montreal Canadiens in 2014, where he skated in three games. Last season he played in 12 games with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. He had one goal and three assists in that span.
Standing in at 6-foot-8 and weighing in at 225-pounds, he has appeared in 45 games with the Lightning over two seasons. He’s posted one goal and eight points in his career. The Czech was signed as a free agent by the Lightning on March 21, 2013 out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. With Nebraska, he has appeared in 81 games over three seasons and notched 15 goals and 51 points.
The start of July is always busy. The month goes off like a firework with the start of free agency on the 1st, Canada Day also falling on the 1st, and July 4th marks Independence Day for the United States. Curious which NHL players hail from the good ol’ USA? As the United States development program grows deeper, the number of American born players increase season by season, a total of 65 players were taken in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft alone. In honor of 2014, here are 14 players who sparkle like a fresh sheet of ice.
Zach Parise, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Zach Parise (Minnesota Wild): As a former captain of the NJ Devils, Parise skated the team all the way to the Stanley Cup finals back in 2012 when New Jersey fell to the LA Kings. At the time, one of the most sought after free agents on the market; a Minnesota native, Parise had cause to celebrate, after being signed to the home team that summer. The Minnesota Wild signed the former NJ Devils captain to a 13 year, $98M contract. Captain America to say the least, Parise wore the “C” for Team USA during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Jonathan Quick, Milford, Connecticut (Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire)
Jonathan Quick (LA Kings): Quickly becoming a hockey household name, Quick helped his team win the most coveted prize in hockey, not once in 2012, but repeated the feat again this season, earning The Stanley Cup. Impressed with his goaltending skills, LA shutout the rest of the NHL by locking down their goaltender, Quick is currently well into a contract, not set to expire until the 2022-23 season.
Ryan Callahan, Rochester, New York
Ryan Callahan (Tampa Bay Lightning): Once playing captain to the New York Rangers, Callahan dropped the red, and now dons white and blue with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being dealt to Tampa for Martin St. Louis, a 2015 first round pick and a 2014 second round pick. The move has proven beneficial, landing Callahan a six-year contract extension to stay with the Lightning, averaging $5.8M a season.
Matt Carle, Anchorage, Alaska
Matt Carle (Tampa Bay Lightning): Carle has been a consistent force on the blue-line for Tampa Bay since re- joining the team in 2012, after a four year stint with the Philadelphia Flyers. Consistent and content enough to stay, Carle found himself signing a six-year deal in July of 2012 worth $33M.
Bobby Ryan, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Bobby Ryan (Ottawa Senators): Playing his entire career with the Ducks organization, until skating into Ottawa in 2013, Bobby Ryan now dons the Senators logo on his jersey. Ryan made a splash in the headlines this January, hanging in US Olympic Hockey limbo, after being snubbed from the 2014 Winter Olympic Team. Ryan had previously won silver during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics with Team USA.
Max Pacioretty, New Canaan, Connecticut
Max Pacioretty (Montreal Canadiens): Coming back from injury is never an easy feat, but Pacioretty has managed just fine, repeatedly. Suffering critical injury in March 2011, Pacioretty had a career best season during 2011-12; ultimately winning him the Masterton Trophy during the NHL Awards that season. During the season, Pacioretty dons red, white and blue with Montreal, but the offseason has his wearing the red, white and blue of USA.
Ryan Suter, Madison, Wisconsin
Ryan Suter (Minnesota Wild): Once a big player in the free agency game, Suter proved his worth and found a lengthy home as a member of the Minnesota Wild franchise. Joining fellow American teammate Zach Parise, Suter is in the midst of a 13-year, $98M contract. Suter has a silver medal; earned during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics where he served as alternate captain, he also traveled to Sochi as a member of the 2014 Team USA.
John Carlson, Natick, Massachusetts
John Carlson (Washington Capitals): Carlson has been a solid force for the Capitals throughout the season as an offensive defencemen. Carlson did help the US in 2010 with his game winning goal during the World Junior Ice-Hockey Championships, followed by a stint on the Team USA roster in Sochi. Despite being born in Massachusetts, 24-year-old Carlson grew up in New Jersey.
Jack Johnson, Indianapolis, Indiana
Jack Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets): After signing a 7-year contract extension with LA in January of 2011; Johnson was traded nearly a year later by the organization on February 23, 2012. Trades happen all the time, it’s the nature of the game. One can assume that the trade came 4 months too early for Johnson, as his former team went on to win the 2012 Stanley Cup, and took the title again this season. Although his name won’t be on the Cup, Johnson does have a silver medal in his trophy case from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and a home with a fantastic fanbase within the Columbus Blue Jackets franchise.
Dustin Brown, Ithaca, New York
Dustin Brown (LA Kings): Perhaps you aren’t familiar with the entire roster for the LA Kings, but their captain is one player you should recognize. Brown skated, checked, and scored his way to hoisting the Stanley Cup this past June. No stranger to recognition, Brown also served as an alternate captain for Team USA in Vancouver and held a place on the roster in Sochi. In addition, he’s played in 4 World Championships and been the recipient of the NHL Foundation Award in 2010-11 and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2014.
TJ Oshie, Mount Vernon, Washington (Photo: Brian Mount/Icon Sportswire)
TJ Oshie (St. Louis Blues): If you’re a fan of Team USA hockey, the chances are fairly great that you’re a fan of Oshie also. Oshie skated through the paces again, again and again going 4 for 6 against in the shootout to defeat Russia. That game alone earned Oshie nicknames across the league and a devoted fanbase beyond the ones residing in St. Louis. Oshie tallied 21 goals and 39 assists throughout the regular season, helping the Blues skate into the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Patrick Kane, Buffalo, New York (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire)
Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks): 2014-15 will skate in as the last year of Kane’s contract with Chicago, a headline that may soon be fixed as extension negotiations begin. At just 25-years-old Kane has netted two Stanley Cups, a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, a trip to Sochi in 2014 and a Calder Cup Trophy. Drafted in 2007 by Chicago, the Blackhawks organization is the only one Kane has ever known, whether he stays or goes, Kane has a spot as one of the best American born players in the league.
Ryan Kesler, Livonia, Michigan
Ryan Kesler (Anaheim Ducks): Despite being an American, Kesler has spent his career as a staple within the Vancouver Canucks organization, up until being traded to the Anaheim Ducks this week. A product of the US National Team Development program, Kesler has skated into a silver medal at the Vancouver Olympic games, as well as a slot on the roster in Sochi — a trend with the American born players it seems. Kesler also netted the Selke Trophy in 2011.
Joe Pavelski, Plover, Wisconsin
Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks): Pavelski has similar accolades to his fellow American born NHL colleagues, a silver medal in Vancouver and a slot on the 2014 team in Sochi. Having played his entire career within the Sharks organization, the team signed the 29-year-old to a five-year, $30M contract extension in 2013. This past March, Pavelski notched his 400th career point, skating the forward into waters that the team may never have imagined.
On Wednesday, July 2, the Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced that the team had signed goaltender Jeremy Smith to a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old, Michigan native played for the Springfield Falcons—Columbus Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate—during the 2013-14 season where he earned 21-14-3 record while posting a 2.78 goal against average and .898 save percentage.
Jeremy Smith
Prior to joining Columbus’ organization, Smith played in the American Hockey League in Nashville’s system with the Milwaukee Admirals from 2009 to 2013. Smith’s best season, where he had 31 wins, 2.17 goals against average and .922 save percentage was during his 2011-12 season with Milwaukee.
Drafted in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators, Smith spent part of his career in the ECHL with the Cincinnati Cyclones from 2009 to 2011. While with the Cyclones, he was a member of the Kelly Cup-winning 2009-10 team.
Niklas Svedberg
Some may be wondering why the Bruins have signed the 6’0” 178-pound goalie given the depth in goaltending they have with Tuukka Rask, Niklas Svedberg and Malcolm Subban and others in the system. However, given Chiarelli’s comments during his Free Agency media conference call on Tuesday, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
“I think [Svedberg]’s almost ready, if not ready. It doesn’t mean he gets the job; it doesn’t mean we won’t add somebody at some point to challenge him,” said Chiarelli. “He’s got some areas in his game he has to improve, but we had calls on him from other teams. He’s certainly going to challenge for a spot.”
It is more likely that Smith will see some quality time with the Providence Bruins in the coming season, sharing goalie duties with Subban. However, Smith is likely to bring his A-game and do his best to take that back-up slot from Svedberg.
(Photo: Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports
What ended the 2013-14 season as a young team is now becoming a more mature, experienced team for the Colorado Avalanche.
On Monday, the Avs acquired 36-year-old Daniel Briere from the Montreal Canadiens, and with the start of the free agent signing on Tuesday, Colorado signed Jarome Iginla, 37, who spent this past season with the Boston Bruins.
(via nhlpa.com)
Iginla has had an illustrious NHL career so far, tallying 1,167 points in 1,310 regular season games. His 560 goals place him at 24th on the NHL’s all-time list, where he is tied with Guy Lafleur. Additionally, Iginla’s 1,167 career points rank 50th on the NHL’s all-time scoring list. He has also played 81 playoff games, registering 37 goals and 31 assists, though he has yet to win a Stanley Cup. Iginla is a two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner (2001-02, 2003-04), and he won the Art Ross Trophy in 2001-02. He received the 2002 Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay Award) and has been a finalist for the Hart Trophy twice (2001-02, 2007-08). He was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team in 2001-02, 2007-08, 2008-09, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1996-97 and NHL’s Second All-Star Team in 2003-04. Iginla has also won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada (2002, 2010) and represented his home country in the 2006 Olympics as well.
Needless to say, this veteran forward is highly decorated.
The 2014-15 season will be Iginla’s 18th. He spent his first 15-and-a-half seasons with the Calgary Flames, and he has since played with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins before signing with Colorado this week. In the 2013-14 season, Iginla put up 30 goals and 31 assists in 78 games for Boston, marking his 12th career 30-goal season. Colorado has now signed him to three-year contract through the 2016-17 season.
“Playing against [the Avalanche] and watching them…it’s a dynamic group,” Iginla said in a conference call on Tuesday. “I look forward to being a part of it.”
“We are excited about Jarome Iginla becoming a member of the Avalanche,” said Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic. “Jarome’s track record speaks for itself. He is one of the top goal scorers of all time, as well as a great leader. His addition will bolster our offense.”
But Iginla isn’t the only new signing for Colorado.
Defenseman Brad Stuart, formerly of the San Jose Sharks, will also dress for the Avalanche this coming season.
(via nhlpa.com)
Stuart, 34, has a career 322 points (77 goals, 245 assists) and will be entering his 15th NHL season. He has spent the majority of his career with the Sharks but has played for the Bruins, Flames, LA Kings, and Detroit Red Wings as well; Stuart won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008.
“The acquisition of Brad helps strengthen our blue line,” said Sakic. “He is a proven, quality defenseman, and his addition will help our team.”
Stuart had 3 goals and 8 assists in 61 games with the Sharks this past season, and he finished third on the team with 114 blocked shots and 122 hits.
The Avs have also acquired defensemen Zach Redmond and Bruno Gervais, as well as forwards Jesse Winchester and Ben Street. Redmond, Winchester, and Street have all been signed to two-year contracts, while Gervais has a one-year deal with Colorado.
Redmond, 25, played 10 games with the Winnipeg Jets this season, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists. He spent the majority of the season with Winnipeg’s AHL affiliate, St. John’s IceCaps, where he had 25 points (6 goals, 19 assists) in 40 regular season games and 14 points (2 goals, 12 assists) in 21 playoff games.
Gervais, 29, spent this season with Philadelphia’s AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, where he had 10 goals and 16 assists in 59 games. He has played in 418 career NHL games, spending time with the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Philadelphia Flyers. Gervais has 87 points (16 goals, 71 assists) in his NHL career, and he has also appeared in 5 playoff games (1 goal, 1 assist).
Winchester, 30, put up 18 points for the Florida Panthers this season (9 goals, 9 assists) in 52 games. He has also spent time with the Ottawa Senators and has a career 20 goals and 50 assists in 285 games.
Street, 27, spent the majority of this past season with Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, where he had 28 goals and 32 assists in 58 games. He appeared in 13 games with the Flames as well and recorded 1 assist. Street has 2 assists in 19 career NHL games.
photo credit: Chuck Myers/MCT
The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t make the usual splash that the team is known for in NHL free agency.
Ron Hextall, the Flyers General Manager, had to sit back and watch most teams improve and spend money because of the cap situation that the former General Manager, Paul Holmgren, put the team in for this year. Holmgren signed Vincent Lecavalier to a five-year, $22.5 million deal before the start of last season with a cap hit of $4.5 million per season. Lecavalier didn’t pan out for the Flyers and the team has given him permission to seek a trade.
Holmgren also signed defenseman, Andrew MacDonald to a six-year, $ 30 million extension after he hadn’t even played a full season with the Flyers. The signing came with a $5 million per season cap hit for the next six seasons. Wayne Simmonds is signed for a $3.975 million cap hit over the next five years, and Mark Streit has a cap hit of $5.25 million for the next three seasons.
The big signing for the Flyers on day one of free agency was goaltender Ray Emery, who signed for one year with a cap hit of $1 million. Emery will be the backup goalie to Steve Mason, just like he was last season. The backup goalies were going fast to other teams that had more money to spend. The backups were signing longer deals for more money per season than Emery too.
Emery played in 28 games with a 9-12-2 record, a 2.96 GAA, a .903 save percentage and posted two shutouts. In three playoff games last season he was 1-2, with a 3.49 GAA and only a .888 save percentage. In his career, Emery has played 256 games while posting a 135-75-21 record. He also has a career 2.66 GAA, a .908 save percentage and 16 shutouts.
When he was in net last season, especially the during the playoffs, he tended to give up some big rebounds that went off of his pads. He also lacked any kind of post-to-post quickness, but he knows what his role will be on the team. Emery also wanted to come back to the Flyers because he felt comfortable here.
The Flyers also signed Rob Zepp, a 32-year-old goaltender out of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany. Zepp has spent the last seven years with the Berlin Polar Bears. He was a teammate of Claude Giroux and former Flyer, Danny Briere while they played with the Polar Bears during the 2012-13 lockout.
In the 2013-14 season, he played in 38 games, had a 2.32 GAA and a .927 GAA. Zepp has played in the World Championships for Germany three years including 2010,2013 and 2014. The goalie was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 1999 draft but never signed. He was then taken by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2001 draft in the fourth round.
The deal will be a one year, two-way contract. Zepp will mostly likely be the backup goalie for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the AHL affialiate of the Flyers. The starting goalie will most likely be Anthony Stolarz since the Flyers let Cal Heeter become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Zepp moves well, has good reflexes, is athletic and is mentally strong, according to eliteprospects.com.
The New Jersey Devils have signed goaltender Scott Clemmensen to a one-year two-way contract.
The 36-year old spent the last six seasons with the Florida Panthers and their AHL team, the San Antonio Rampage. Clemmensen was originally drafted by the Devils in 1997 and has already spent seven seasons with New Jersey.
In the 2013-2014 season he played in 17 games with Florida and had a 6-7-1 record.
He spent most of his first four years with the Albany Devils (the NJ Devils AHL team) but eventually accumulated a 73-59-23 record in his 188 games that he played in New Jersey, Toronto and Florida. In addition, he had seven shutouts and a 2.77 goals-against average.
In New Jersey alone, Clemmenson played in 65 games with a 40-39-18 record. He also had three shutouts and a 2.88 goals-against average.
Earlier, President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello said that he was looking to sign a veteran goalie to backup Cory Schneider. However, he hopes that Keith Kinkaid, another Albany Devil, will be able to take the job as Schneider’s main backup. With the signing of a veteran goalie, it appears that long-time-Devil and Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur will be moving on to another team for the upcoming year.
The Devils are also working on signing Cory Schneider to an extension past the 2014-2015 season.
(Photo: Duane Burleson/CP)
Free Agent Frenzy 2014 is here, and with it comes big trades and contract deals throughout the NHL.
Earlier today, Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher announced that the Wild have agreed to a three-year, $19.5 million contract with LW Thomas Vanek.
“Thomas is an elite offensive talent who showed a strong desire to play in Minnesota,” said Fletcher. “We are excited to welcome him to our organization.”
“[The Wild] have a great team, I believe…to join that, it doesn’t get much better for me right now,” Vanek told Sportsnet this afternoon. “It’s a team that’s very deep, and I know I can add to that.”
Vanek, 30, is no stranger to “The State of Hockey.” He played two seasons with the University of Minnesota, where he had 113 points in 83 games and helped the Golden Gophers win the 2003 NCAA title; Vanek was named the 2003 NCAA Championship Tournament MVP. He also lives in Minnesota during the NHL offseason with his family.
Vanek spent the majority of his career with the Buffalo Sabres (2005-14), who selected him fifth overall in the 2003 NHL draft–the highest pick ever for an Austrian-born player. He made history with the Sabres organization by ranking fourth all-time in power play goals (106) and game-winning goals (41), as well as fifth in goals (254), tenth in points (497), and fifteenth in games played (598). He was also named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2006-07 and received NHL All-Star accolades in 2009.
The Sabres traded Vanek to the New York Islanders in October 2013, and he then spent the latter half of the 2013-14 season with the Montreal Canadiens after the Islanders traded him in March. He registered 68 points in 78 games this past season (27 goals and 41 assists) and contributed an additional 10 points (5 goals and 5 assists) during Montreal’s 17-game postseason run.
Vanek ranks eighth overall in the NHL for goals scored (277) and third in power play goals (113). He has a career 556 points since joining the NHL in 2005-06 and boasts a +41 rating in 663 regular season games. Vanek also has 30 points in 53 playoff games.
With free agency wide open as of July 1, the New Jersey Devils have signed left winger Mike Cammalleri.
Cammellari spent his last two season as the alternate captain of the Calgary Flames. According to reports, the deal with Cammalleri is for 5 years and worth $25 million.
In the 2013-2014 season, the 32-year-old forward had 26 goals and 45 points. Before signing with Calgary, Cammalleri spent five season with the LA King
In addition, the Devils have signed forward Martin Havlat to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Havlat scored 22 goals in the 2013-2014 season with the San Jose Sharks. Because of a pelvic injury, he played only 48 games last season but is said to be healthy now.
Long-time Devil Patrik Elias is excited about the signing of one of his close friends. “I hope he can be the player that he was, and I believe I can help him do that,” Elias said on Twitter.
The day before free agency opened up, the Devils announced that they would use their compliance buyout on Anton Volchenkov, which opened up cap space for New Jersey.
While the Devils seem to be done for the day, President/General Manager Lou Lamoriello said they will look to sign a veteran goaltender to backup Cory Schneider.
Photo Courtesy of www.sportsnet.ca
(photo: San Jose Sharks)
photo: Terry Wilson/ Yahoo sports
Round 1: (27th overall) Nikolai Goldobin
Goldobin, 18, spent last season with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he led his team in scoring, recording 94 points (38-56=94) and 21 penalty minutes in 67 games. His 94 points ranked seventh in the OHL, and he recorded at least a point in 22 consecutive games from Nov. 14, 2013 to Jan. 11, 2014. Goldobin recorded 43 points during the streak (21-22=43), including three four-point performances.
“His strengths are his offensive ability,” said Burke. “It kept coming back to this guy. He has a lot of offensive ability, scoring, playmaking.”
The six-foot, 185-pound native of Moscow, Russia, scored a goal and an assist and was named Team Cherry’s Player of the Game at the 2014 CHL Top Prospects Game. He also added an assist in two games for the Russian Selects at the 2013-14 Junior Super Series. Goldobin led all OHL rookies in both goals (30) and points (68) in 68 games during his first season in North America in 2012-13. He tallied an assist in four playoff games with Sarnia and was the runner-up for the OHL Rookie of the Year award while earning OHL All-Rookie Second Team honors.
In 2011-12, he tallied 22 points (13-9=22) in 50 games for Chekhov of Russia’s Junior Hockey League (MHL) and represented his country at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament, collecting three points (1-2=3) in four games. Goldobin was ranked 24th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Round 2: (46th overall) Julius Bergman
A defenseman from Frolunda of the Swedish Junior League, Bergman was ranked 19th by Central Scouting among all European skaters. Bergman recorded 34 points (13-21=34) and 54 penalty minutes in 45 games with Frolunda’s junior squad, ranking first on the team in goals, assists and points amongst defensemen. Among league blueliners, the six-foot-one, 187-pound Bergman ranked second in goals and tied for third in points.
“He has a good blend to his game, both offensively and defensively,” said Burke about the defenseman’s skill set.
photo: planetehockey.com
Round 2:( 53rd overall) Noah Rod
A forward from Geneve in the Swiss Junior League, Rod was ranked 27th by Central Scouting among all European skaters. Rod, a six-foot, 188-pound right wing collected 37 points (16-21=37) and 58 penalty minutes in 31 games in the Swiss Jr. League. The native of Switzerland appeared in 28 games in the top Swiss league, posting one goal and two assists. Rod represented his country in the 2014 World Junior U-18 Championship, registering six points (2-4=6) and 22 penalty minutes in five games.
“He’s a very hard-nosed, competitive guy and he played with men over there (in the Swiss League) and he did pretty well at a young age,” said Burke.
Round 3: (72nd overall) Alex Schoenborn 
From Portland of the Western Hockey League, forward Schoenborn was ranked 78th overall by Central Scouting among all North American skaters.He posted 36 points (18-18=36) and 121 penalty minutes in 72 games, leading Portland in penalty minutes while ranking eighth on the team in goals. The six-foot, 196-pound right wing is a native of Minor, North Dakota.
“He plays a heavier game, a big strong kid. He’s very physical,” Burke remarked on Schoenborn’s defensive skills.
photo: Terry Wilson/ OHL Images
Round 3: (81st overall) Dylan Sadowy
A forward from Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League, Sadowy finished the season ranked 33rd among all North American skaters by Central Scouting. The five-foot-eleven, 183-pound left wing recorded 36 points (27-9=36) and 69 penalty minutes in 68 games with Saginaw. Sadowy was Saginaw’s nominee for the 2013-14 Ontario Hockey League Most Outstanding Player of the Year after leading the team with 27 goals.
Tim Burke said of Sadowy’s game, “He’s a feisty, competitive guy. He goes to the net, stays at the net and is a relentless type of guy. He plays above his size.”
Round 4: (102nd overall) Alexis Vanier
From Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, defenseman Vanier was ranked 112th overall by Central Scouting among all North American skaters. The six-foot-four, 215-pound defenseman posted 36 points (15-21=36) and 52 penalty minutes in 61 games last season, ranking tied for first amongst team blueliners in goals and second in points.
Round 5: (149th overall) Rourke Chartier 
A center from Kelowna of the Western Hockey League, Chartier was ranked 136th overall by Central Scouting among all North American skaters. The five-foot-ten, 173 pound pivot compiled 58 points (24-34=58) and eight penalty minutes in 72 games. Chartier played for Canada Western at the U-17 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in 2013 and posted one assist in five games.
photo: Terry Wilson/OHL Images
Round 6: (171st overall) Kevin Labanc
Labanc, a forward from Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League, was ranked 115th overall by Central Scouting among all North American skaters. The five-foot-ten, 186-pound native of Brooklyn, New York, recorded 35 points (11-24=35) and 30 penalty minutes in 65 games last season. He helped Team USA earn a silver medal at the 2013 U-18 World Junior Championship, posting one goal in seven games.
All players drafted by the Sharks are expected at the 2nd Annual Sharks Prospect Summer Scrimmage presented by Playstation held at SAP Center on July 9th. Details and to purchase tickets can be found here.
Happy Canada Day/Bonne fête du Canada to all of our readers north of the border! Of course the NHL has decided to grant Canadians the greatest gift of all, the gift of a heart attack with free agency facing off on a day of celebration. May the only fireworks you see be those in the sky, and not your team imploding!
If you’re looking for something to keep your mind off the frenzy, try our Canadian Flag Pallet Tutorial. If projects aren’t your thing, perhaps give our Pucking Awesome Pink Strawberry Lemonade Sangria a taste or set up shop and follow @ThePinkPuck for all of your free agency needs. But most importantly enjoy the day, preferably with a hockey twist.
With Love,
The Pink Puck
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