In seven months, Scott Arnold has gone from cancer patient to cancer survivor and NHL prospect to Phoenix Coyote.
The Niagara sophomore's hockey season has new life as the 21-year-old became just the sixth Purple Eagle to sign an NHL contract Friday. The 6-foot-2 forward from Montreal agreed to a two-year deal with the Coyotes and will join them in Phoenix for a physical Monday and practice Tuesday. According to Arnold and NU coach Dave Burkholder, Arnold will practice with the Coyotes while they make their playoff push in the jam-packed Western Conference. The only way he'd likely play in a game would be if injuries forced him into the lineup.
"It feels a little surreal," said Arnold, who scored 26 goals and had 40 points in 67 games at Niagara. "I'm just trying to take it all in. It's a dream come true. I'm just really excited and really grateful to the Phoenix organization for giving me this opportunity."
Arnold has size and skills that attracted attention from NHL scouts since he joined NU.
He proved to be tougher than they could possibly have imagined. He played in all but four games for Niagara during the 2011-12 season, starting with the opener at Michigan, even though he was diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer six weeks prior to that game.
With four big schools going down this weekend, I think we'll start to see more signings.
Hopefully we're in on some, if only to shut Kevin O up (already complaining about a lack of ATO's and claims that every other team is adding them - yep, that's definitely an exaggeration, you hack).
I also watched the University Cup (the CIS championship) this weekend.
McGill won the championship and LW/C Alexandre Picard-Hooper caught my eye (former teammate of Sabres draft pick Benjamin Breault, who goes to Dalhouse now).
D Marc-André Dorion was also very good, but I didn't focus on him as much.
Picard-Hooper is one of the better offensive players in the CIS and has had some interest for a couple years now, including last year when he led the league in assists and points.
He didn't score as much during the regular season this year (6-16-22 in 20GP) but came up big in the playoffs (1-7-8 in 6GP) and the University Cup (1-5-6 in 3GP).
He did miss eight games during the middle of the season with an upper body injury and one during the playoffs, so that probably had something to do with his down year statistically.
He's not worth an NHL contract just yet and a two-way AHL/ECHL deal is more likely, but still, could be an interesting project.
Having watched a little of Union over the weekend... thoughts on senior center Kelly (brother of Travis) Zajac? Back-to-back 42 point seasons, a little small at 5'10/185... I haven't seen as much of him to have much of an opinion beyond news clips and glancing at the stat sheet. Welsh would be ideal -- they could use someone who has a big frame and can score immediately in Rochester -- but Zajac's UFA too.
With four big schools going down this weekend, I think we'll start to see more signings.
Hopefully we're in on some, if only to shut Kevin O up (already complaining about a lack of ATO's and claims that every other team is adding them - yep, that's definitely an exaggeration, you hack).
I also watched the University Cup (the CIS championship) this weekend.
McGill won the championship and LW/C Alexandre Picard-Hooper caught my eye (former teammate of Sabres draft pick Benjamin Breault, who goes to Dalhouse now).
D Marc-André Dorion was also very good, but I didn't focus on him as much.
Picard-Hooper is one of the better offensive players in the CIS and has had some interest for a couple years now, including last year when he led the league in assists and points.
He didn't score as much during the regular season this year (6-16-22 in 20GP) but came up big in the playoffs (1-7-8 in 6GP) and the University Cup (1-5-6 in 3GP).
He did miss eight games during the middle of the season with an upper body injury and one during the playoffs, so that probably had something to do with his down year statistically.
He's not worth an NHL contract just yet and a two-way AHL/ECHL deal is more likely, but still, could be an interesting project.
Maybe a question better-suited for the Amerks or Prospect Playoff threads, but given the Amerks' need for forwards that you touched on, any chance that the organization brings in Catenacci on an ATO to help the Amerks? Kitchener leads the series 2-0 heading into Game 3 in Kitchener tonight, so Owen Sound may be dispatched by Wednesday or Friday.
I figured Sundher would come to Rochester after Brandon's season ends, but thoughts on Catenacci?
Maybe a question better-suited for the Amerks or Prospect Playoff threads, but given the Amerks' need for forwards that you touched on, any chance that the organization brings in Catenacci on an ATO to help the Amerks? Kitchener leads the series 2-0 heading into Game 3 in Kitchener tonight, so Owen Sound may be dispatched by Wednesday or Friday.
I figured Sundher would come to Rochester after Brandon's season ends, but thoughts on Catenacci?
I don't think prospects usually join AHL affiliates without an ELC or a prospective ELC (they probably don't want to risk getting injured without having the guarantee of three years or salary), so unless they plan on signing him to one soon, I'd say no.
And so much for Drew Shore going to UFA next summer - he's signed with Florida per his agent.
I don't think prospects usually join AHL affiliates without an ELC or a prospective ELC (they probably don't want to risk getting injured without having the guarantee of three years or salary), so unless they plan on signing him to one soon, I'd say no.
And so much for Drew Shore going to UFA next summer - he's signed with Florida per his agent.
Thanks. I'm sure they can hammer something out if, as Bakes pointed out on Twitter, Sundher and Brandon advance past Calgary while Owen Sound gets eliminated, and the Amerks are still in need of bodies. Catenacci will no doubt get an ELC from the Sabres, so what does it hurt to get one done now.
Too bad on Shore. Not that I believed he'd sign here if he didn't sign with the Panthers.
And there's talk that the Flyers are the frontrunners to get J.T. Brown.
The rich get richer.
They had Brown at their summer dev camp, so they already had the inside track on enticing him to sign. Regier sitting around, waiting on table scraps again...
patesonskates Minnesota Duluth senior center Travis Oleksuk has signed with San Jose Sharks. Likely to finish school year and report to Worcester in fall
Michigan’s other two graduating seniors, goaltender Shawn Hunwick and forward Luke Glendening, both said they’re exploring the option of lower-level pro deals. Hunwick is looking into playing in Europe as well as the East Coast Hockey League.
“I’ve definitely got the personality where I’d be able to live away from my family for so long and be OK,” Hunwick said of possibly playing overseas. “It’s all about getting the right opportunity and being in the right city. I’ve definitely heard some good things (from former teammates), but then like Hogey (Bryan Hogan) started out over there and didn’t like it and came back. ... There’s definitely some opportunities on the horizon, we’ll see what happens.”
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Hunwick's older brother, Matt Hunwick, said the two have had discussions about pro hockey and sees him trying to make it as far as he can.
"I think he wants to play pro hockey in some respect, whether that’s here in North America or over in Europe. I mean why stop now?" said Matt Hunwick, a defenseman with the Colorado Avalanche. "At this point, as a third-string goalie it looked like he wasn’t even going to be able to play (at Michigan). Might as well go out and give it your best shot."
Martin St-Louis might be one of the best UDFAs from the NC$$ with guys like Ed Belfour.
True but that was a long time ago. Same with Dan Boyle.
In recent years it hasn't panned out as well. Gilroy, Bozak, Hanson, etc. The high profile college signings tend not to be anything more than depth players if that. Probably because scouting has improved and the kids more likely to be difference makers are drafted.
But when was the last time a college FA really made that big an impact? Bozak?
They're likely not getting a superstar but rather a depth scorer.
Well, there are a few notable NCAA free agents like Boyle, Thomas (he was drafted but released from the Avs/Nords reserve list), and St. Louis.
There are also more current ones like Bozak, Desharnais, Girardi, Gorges, Z. Michalek, Penner (currently struggling), Peverley, and Purcell.
It's true that most become depth options, but nearly 10% of the players that in the NHL every year are undrafted.
Even if they're depth players, they're still useful.
True but that was a long time ago. Same with Dan Boyle.
In recent years it hasn't panned out as well. Gilroy, Bozak, Hanson, etc. The high profile college signings tend not to be anything more than depth players if that. Probably because scouting has improved and the kids more likely to be difference makers are drafted.
Matt Read in Philly was panned when signed this past summer due to the one-way nature of his deal. 44-point rookie seasons aren't anything to sneeze at.
Toronto gets Abbott.
Party's just about over, folks.
Oh, I wouldn't say that jfb. Still some good unsigned (as of this posting) collegiate free agents still available. Here's some of them:
F J.T. Brown (Minnesota-Duluth) - although the Sabres are apparently NOT on his short list.
D Brady Lamb (Minnesota-Duluth)
F Jeremy Welsh (Union College)
G Taylor Nelson (Ferris State)
F Kelly Zajac (Union College)
G Chris Rawlings (Northeastern) - I'm hearing that he's leaning towards finishing out his collegiate career.
Is it still possible that Mark Zengerele will sign somewhere, or has he officially announced that he is returning?
Well, the scuttlebutt I'm hearing is that he is planning to return to Wisconsin for his junior year. Whether Zengerle changes his mind or not before classes start in the fall, remains to be seen.
Oh, I wouldn't say that jfb. Still some good unsigned (as of this posting) collegiate free agents still available. Here's some of them:
F J.T. Brown (Minnesota-Duluth) - although the Sabres are apparently NOT on his short list.
D Brady Lamb (Minnesota-Duluth)
F Jeremy Welsh (Union College)
G Taylor Nelson (Ferris State)
F Kelly Zajac (Union College)
G Chris Rawlings (Northeastern) - I'm hearing that he's leaning towards finishing out his collegiate career.
Well, we Sabres fans are pessimistic by nature.
Brown has narrowed it down to three teams and Welsh has interest from some much better teams, so I'm not as hopeful as I was before.
What are the rumors on the Connolly brothers?
I'm happy with the signing of Flynn, though.
At least we got someone of note.
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Originally Posted by Fly Boy
Is it still possible that Mark Zengerele will sign somewhere, or has he officially announced that he is returning?
It sounds like he'll be returning:
Quote:
Zengerle the realist addressed the question of where he'll be playing in 2012-13.
"I'll be right here, 100 percent," he said, referring to UW.
Zengerle, from Rochester, N.Y., said his certainty is rooted in several quality-of-life aspects.
"I just don't see a reason for leaving," Zengerle said. "I don't see myself in the NHL next year and I don't think there's any better place in the American (Hockey) League that's better than this spot.
"More than that, I like being in college and the college life I've got. I've got a lot of friends here and everyone that I live with I plan on living with for a few more years."
Zengerle, a life sciences communication major, said he looks forward to the added offensive responsibility he'll have as a junior — assuming, of course, that Schultz pulls up stakes — as well as the opportunity to lead a young and promising club to big things.
"I have a lot I want to do here and accomplish," he said. "Unless we go far this year (in the playoffs), I haven't won anything here and that's pretty important to me."
