New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: 12/6/16

This post will recap the 9th week of Devils prospect action for the 2016-17 season. It's highlighted by Michael McLeod and Evan Cormier playing well in OHL action, Alexander Kerfoot staying hot for Harvard, and Albany cap off a busy week with a win after some tough games.

QMJHL

Brandon Gignac had a somewhat quiet week for Shawinigan, putting up an assist, even rating, 8 shots, and won 23/44 faceoffs across 2 games.

OHL

According to Bob McKenzie, Blake Speers has been medically cleared to return from his broken wrist. He'll be at Canada's WJC camp on Sunday.

Colton White played twice last week, being held scoreless with a +1 rating, 2 PIM, and a shot.

Mississauga was one of the busier teams last week with 4 games. Michael McLeod was held without a point in the first 2 games of the week. He turned it on with an assist in the third game and a goal and 2 assists in the final game of the week. Overall he finished with a goal, 3 assists, -1, 13 PIM, 16 shots, and won 51/94 faceoffs. McLeod will also be in Canada's WJC camp with Speers. Nathan Bastian didn't have a point in the first 3 games of the week but had 2 assists in the final game. Overall he had 2 assists, -2, 2 PIM, 13 shots, and won 11/20 faceoffs.

Evan Cormier made 2 quality starts for Saginaw last week, losing in a shootout and overtime, but still managing to steal a some points. He finished the week with a .936 SV% and if it wasn't for some ill-timed penalties late in Sunday's game by Saginaw, likely would've came out the victor.

WHL

Colby Sissons appeared in both of Swift Current's games last week, adding a goal, assist, -1, and 2 PIM to his totals. He is now on a 3 game point streak with a goal and 2 assists after a 5 game drought.

NCAA

Alexander Kerfoot has continued his hot play by putting up 2 goals, 4 assists, +3, 6 shots, and winning 10/22 faceoffs over the course of 2 games last week. On his 9 game point streak he has 5 goals and 13 assists.

JD Dudek had an assist, even rating, 5 shots, and didn't win any of the 3 faceoffs he took over 2 games last week for BC.

Brett Seney (Merrimack) and Joey Anderson (Minnesota Duluth) were off last week. Joey Anderson was confirmed to be in the upcoming USA WJC camp.

Jeremy Davies had an even rating, 2 PIM, a shot, and a block in a game against Boston College last week.

Europe

Yegor Rykov played 3 times last week, adding an assist, even rating, 2 shots, 2 blocks, and an average ice time of 12:49 per game. He'll be at Russia's WJC camp.

Mikhail Maltsev will also join Rykov at the Russian camp. Last week in 2 VHL games, Maltsev was a -1 with 5 shots, won 9/13 faceoffs, and had an average ice time of 14:28 per game.

Jesper Bratt played 3 times last week with an assist, -1, 9 shots, and average ice time of 14:18 per game to show for his efforts.

AHL

Albany went 1-3 last week and currently sit 2nd in the North Division with 27 points after 22 games. Their all situation PDO is currently 99.86%. They currently have a Shots For% of 51.16%. The PP is currently operating at 15.89% which is 24th in the league, while the PK is at 85.32% which is 7th in the league.

Injury Update: Carter Camper (upper body) and Scott Wedgewood (shoulder) remain sidelined.

Transactions: John Quenneville was recalled by New Jersey on 11/30 and sent back to Albany on 12/6.

Tuesday 11/29: Albany lost to Bridgeport 5-4 (SO). John Quenneville led the way with a goal and 2 assists followed by Ben Sexton and Kevin Rooney with a goal and an assist each. Max Novak had the other goal while Joe Blandisi, Brian Gibbons, and Reece Scarlett had an assist each. Novak, Quenneville, and Rooney had 4 shots each as the Devils were outshot 29-28. Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves in the game and stopped 2/3 shootout attempts. Gibbons, Blake Pietila, and Quenneville were unable to convert on their attempts. Albany went 2/5 on the PP and 3/5 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Friday 12/2: Albany lost to Utica 2-1. Rod Pelley had the goal with Jan Mandat and Andrew MacWilliam earning the assists. Blake Pietila led the team with 4 shots as the Devils outshot the Comets 25-17. Ken Appleby made 15 saves. Albany went 0/3 on the PP and 4/4 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Saturday 12/3: Albany lost to Utica 3-1. Blake Coleman had the short handed goal for the Devils. Vojtech Mozik had 6 shots followed by Ben Sexton with 4 as the Devils were outshot 32-29. Mackenzie Blackwood made 29 saves. Albany went 0/7 on the PP and 8/10 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Sunday 12/4: Albany defeated Binghamton 3-1. Kevin Rooney, Blake Pietila, and Joe Blandisi had the goals for the Devils. Petr Straka, Brian Gibbons, Brandon Gormley, and Blandisi had an assist each. Blandisi had 5 shots as the Devils outshot the Senators 29-25. Ken Appleby made 24 saves. Albany went 0/7 on the PP and 4/4 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Coming Up: Albany will take on Binghamton tomorrow night, Syracuse on Friday, and Providence on Saturday.

ECHL

Brandon Baddock played in 3 games last week, earning his first ECHL assist against Colorado on Friday.

Prospect of the Week

Rather than repeat with Kerfoot this week, I'm going to select Michael McLeod after his breakout performance against Ottawa on Sunday, in which he had a goal, 2 assists, 6 shots, and won 19/25 faceoffs. Even when he wasn't putting up points up last week he was getting his shots on net (average of 4 per game) and was doing solid work in the faceoff circle (53.54%). Hopefully he can build upon this performance going forward.

ADevil of the Week

This week's honors go to Kevin Rooney whose become a solid contributor as of late for the ADevils. Last week Rooney had 2 goals, an assist, +1, and 9 shots in 4 games. Over his last 7 games he's put up 4 goals, an assist, and 16 shots on goal. It appears that the former Providence College captain signed last spring to an AHL deal could be on his way to carving out a nice AHL career for himself.

Your Take

What are your thoughts on McLeod's season so far? What do you think of how Albany has been performing thus far? Leave your comments below and thank you for reading!