Eagles in the Pros: 2016-17 AHL Roundup

We’ve already graded former BC hockey players that ended their season in the NHL, so now it is time to check in with the Eagles in the AHL. Many of these players saw some NHL time this season, but all spent the majority of 2016-17 in the minor league.

Patrick Brown (Charlotte Checkers)

2016-17 Season Grade: B+

Brown earned the Checkers’ captaincy for 2016-17 after serving as an alternate in 2015-16. He played 66 games in the AHL and 14 in the NHL (for the Carolina Hurricanes). Brown was unable to put up any points during his NHL call-ups, but he recorded 28 points for the Checkers. He has increased his offensive output in each season with Charlotte (he’s been in the AHL for 3 seasons).

Paul Carey (Hershey Bears)

2016-17 Season Grade: A+

The highlight of Carey’s season was a 19 game point streak early in the year. He scored 55 points in 55 games for Hershey, averaging a point a game. His 24 goals earned him his first 20+ goal pro season and tied him for the Bears’ lead. He spent most of the season with the Bears, but did play 6 games for the Washington Capitals. If Carey continues to play like he did this past season, he should see more NHL time in the future.

Austin Cangelosi (Albany Devils)

2016-17 Season Grade: N/A

Cangelosi played 8 games for the Devils following the conclusion of BC’s season and recorded 2 assists.

Tommy Cross (Providence Bruins)

2016-17 Season Grade: A

Cross, in his second season as Providence’s captain, was second amongst defensemen on the team with 35 points in 2016-17 (plus 9 post-season points). Cross earned a playoffs call-up to the Boston Bruins this past season, during which he scored his first NHL goal. He maintained a solid +18 rating with Providence and recently re-signed with the Bruins for another season.

Thatcher Demko (Utica Comets)

2016-17 Season Grade: Slow to adjust

Demko initially struggled to adjust to the AHL after leaving BC. He was able to find his footing by the end of the year, even recording 2 shutouts. Demko ended the season with a 2.68 GAA and .907 save percentage. For comparisons sake, he had a 2.10 GAA and .926 save percentage in 3 years at BC.

Ryan Fitzgerald (Providence Bruins)

2016-17 Season Grade: N/A

Fitzgerald joined the PBruins at the conclusion of BC’s season. He played 8 regular season game and 13 post-season games for Providence, picking up 2 regular season assists and 5 post-season points.

Brian Gibbons (Albany Devils)

2016-17 Season Grade: B+

Gibbons was third on the Devils with 36 points during the 2016-17 season. He set a new career high with 16 goals and notched a respectable 20 assists. With his tough style of play and ability to score, Gibbons is a prototypical AHLer, but it is a bit of a surprise that he did get at least a short call up for the struggling New Jersey Devils.

Ian McCoshen (Springfield Thunderbirds)

2016-17 Season Grade: A-

McCoshen led Springfield in +/- (by a lot) with a +23 rating. He put up decent offensive numbers (4 G, 12 A), but mostly continued to be the strong defensive defender that BC fans know him as. McCoshen also played in 3 games for the Florida Panthers and recorded a single assist.

John Muse (Rochester Americans)

2016-17 Season Grade: #FreeJohnMuse

Muse split the season between the Rochester Americans and the (now defunct) Elmira Jackals. He played in only 14 AHL games and 6 ECHL games. Muse didn’t put up his best career numbers for Rochester, but did earn a shutout. Despite a mediocre season, Muse has the skills to be a starting goalie on an AHL team, not just a 14 game backup.

Philip Samuelsson (Charlotte Checkers)

2016-17 Season Grade: Good (in) Charlotte

Samuelsson split the season between the St. John’s Ice Caps and the Charlotte Checkers. He struggled with the Ice Caps, recording 5 points and a -7 rating over 40 games, before being traded to Charlotte. Samuelsson scored 14 points in 25 games for Charlotte, including 3 goals. He also recorded a +9 rating. During the post-season, he had a goal and an assist.

Zach Sanford (Chicago Wolves)

2016-17 Season Grade: B+

Sanford ended the season with the Wolves after the Blues’ season ended, only playing in 2 games for Chicago. He played in 13 games for St. Louis, recording 5 points. Sanford spent the bulk of the season in the Washington Capitals organization before being traded at the deadline. He had 3 points in 26 games for the Caps and scored 11 goals for the Hershey Bears.

Steve Santini (Albany Devils)

2016-17 Season Grade: B

Santini split the 2016-17 season between the New Jersey Devils and the Albany Devils. He had a solid defensive season, particularly for Albany. He also contributed a bit to the offense, including scoring 2 goals in the NHL.

Scott Savage (Cleveland Monsters)

2016-17 Season Grade: N/A

Savage played in 3 games for Cleveland following the conclusion of BC’s season. He did not record any points but was fairly strong on defense.

Rob Scuderi (Ontario Reign)

2016-17 Season Grade: N/A

Scuderi played in only 15 games this season, all in the AHL. He’s been in the pros since the 2001-02 season and played only in NHL games from 2006-15.

Alex Tuch (Iowa Wild)

2016-17 Season Grade: A

Tuch played 6 games for the Minnesota Wild in 2016-17, but spent most of the year in Iowa. He led Iowa in goals with 18, and was second on the team with 37 points. He also led the team in +/- with a +10 rating.

Joe Whitney (Tucson Roadrunners)

2016-17 Season Grade: B

Whitney started the year with the San Antonio Rampage, where he was captain, before being traded to the Roadrunners. He recorded 36 total points between the two teams, including 14 goals in 74 games. Whitney averaged almost a goal per game from 2014-16, so this pst season was a bit of a slump for him in that regard.

Colin White (Binghampton Senators)

2016-17 Season Grade: N/A

White played in 6 total professional games in the 2016-17 season, 3 in the AHL and 3 for the Ottawa Senators. He did not record any points in the NHL, but scored a goal for Binghampton.

Miles Wood (Albany Devils)

2016-17 Season Grade: A-

Wood spent most of the season in the NHL with New Jersey, but he ended the year with Albany. He had 17 points (and 86 PIM) over 60 games with New Jersey. With Albany, Wood recorded 4 goals and 4 assists over 15 games.