The Left Wing Lock

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The Buffalo Sabres have announced their 2011 roster for the NHL prospect tournament at Centre I.C.E. arena in Traverse City, MI. The team features first round draft choices Mark Pysyk (2010) and Zack Kassian (2009).  The roster also features twenty players drafted by the Sabres and just four undrafted free agent tryouts – the lowest of any roster in the tournament. This year’s Tournament is scheduled from September 10 – 14 and will feature teams from Dallas, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Carolina, Minnesota, New York, and St. … Continue Reading

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When the Red Wings open their 2011 prospect tournament and training camp in Traverse City in a few weeks, there will be several players with a lot to prove. Jiri Hudler and Jonathan Ericsson are obvious candidates, but the pressure and competition will extend beyond the NHL roster with players fighting for positioning across the organization. The Red Wings love having these types of battles at training camp to put pressure on players and get the best possible performances. Below is a list of player who will enter … Continue Reading

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The Minnesota Wild have announced their 2011 roster for the NHL prospect tournament at Centre I.C.E. arena in Traverse City, MI. The team features  First round draft choices Tyler Cuma (2008) and Zack Phillips (2011) as well as Hobey Baker nominee, Chay Genoway. Also on the roster are a pair of goalies from the 2009 Draft – Matt Hackett and Darcy Kuemper. This year’s Tournament is scheduled from September 10 – 14 and will feature teams from Dallas, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Carolina, Minnesota, … Continue Reading

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced their 2011 roster for the NHL prospect tournament at Centre I.C.E. arena in Traverse City, MI. The team features  First round draft choices John Moore (2009) and Ryan Johansen (2010). Moore saw two games of NHL action last season with the Blue Jackets. Johansen, who was the fourth overall selection in 2010,  put up 92 points in 63 WHL games last season with the Portland Winterhawks. Also on the roster is Boone Jenner who was Columbus’s top pick in the 2011 draft. This … Continue Reading

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In addition to the MSG network broadcasting all New York Rangers games, the NHL Network will also pick up all Rangers games from the 2011 NHL prospects tournament. The NHL network is viewable in 20 million households across the U.S. The Red Wings are not currently scheduled to play the Rangers as the two teams are playing in different divisions. There is a chance the teams could face off on the final day but that schedule will be based on tournament standings from the first three games. Below is … Continue Reading

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In addition to finding the late round draft gems, the Red Wings have been able to find potential talent through the undrafted free agent tryout process [see this year’s group of invited tryouts here]. Notable players who tried out for the Red Wings after slipping through the draft include: Sean Avery, Jason Williams, Joey MacDonald, and Stacy Roest among others. The Wings have also stocked their minor league system with undrafted free agent players and the current group includes the likes of: Brent Raedeke, … Continue Reading

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The St. Louis Blues have announced their 2011 roster for the NHL prospect tournament at Centre I.C.E. arena in Traverse City, MI. The team features  two players who saw action in the NHL last season in Stefan Della Rovere (7 games) and Philip McRae (15 games). Also on the roster are five of the Blues 11 selections from this years entry draft including Ty Rattie who was taken with the 32nd overall pick. This year’s Tournament is scheduled from September 10 – 14 and will feature teams from Dallas, Detroit, Columbus, … Continue Reading

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The Carolina Hurricanes have announced their 2011 roster for the NHL prospect tournament at Centre I.C.E. arena in Traverse City, MI. The team features  all six of Carolina’s 2011 draft class including first round selection Ryan Murphy.  Also on the roster are Jared Staal (Brothers Eric, Marc and Jordan play in the NHL), Keegan Lowe (son of Edmonton’s President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe), and Brody Sutter (Son of Duane Sutter who is part of the Sutter hockey family). This year’s Tournament is scheduled from September 10 – 14 and … Continue Reading

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As expected the Red Wings opted not to sign Bryan Rufenach (pictured) and Nick Oslund by today’s deadline for college prospects. Both players completed their fourth and final years of college eligibility and are now unrestricted free agents. While Detroit opted not to sign either by the deadline, they have invited both players to participate in the 2011 prospect tournament and training camp on free agent tryout contracts.

The 6-foot-3, 210 pound Oslund never developed into the hard hitting gritty forward the Red Wings coveted when they … Continue Reading

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When the Red Wings announced their preliminary 2011 NHL prospects tournament roster, Brent Raedeke was no where to be found. The 20 year-old forward is eligible for the tournament having played in only one professional season last year with the Grand Rapids of the AHL. The tournament roster rules restrict participating teams to just four players with a maximum of one year of professional hockey. Detroit has five players who fit into this category – Raedeke, Brendan Smith, Willie Coetzee, Brian Lashoff, and Joakim … Continue Reading