McGuire Wire – August 15 – Worcester Hockey Alums in NHL Playoffs

McGuire Wire – August 15 – Worcester Hockey Alums in NHL Playoffs

Hey Railers fans, Cam McGuire checking back in for another edition of the McGuire Wire! I hope everyone is enjoying having hockey back as much as I am. In general, having sports back has been awesome and having the NHL Playoffs in August is something that we have never experienced before.

The NHL qualifying round ended about a week ago and we are now into the thick of things with the first round underway. Worcester has such a rich hockey history and that history is running deep into the NHL playoffs with nine former Worcester Sharks partaking in round number one. Below are the former Worcester Sharks that are competing for the chance to take home the most coveted trophy in sports: the Stanley Cup.

Barclay Goodrow – Tampa Bay Lightning

Worcester Sharks: 2014-15 (6GP, 1-3-4)

Although Barclay Goodrow’s time in Worcester was short lived due to the fact that he played 60 games with San Jose in 2014-15 during his rookie year, Goodrow played parts of two seasons with the San Jose Barracuda from 2015-17, totaling 84 points (45 goals, 39 assists) in 118 games. Goodrow inked a two year extension with San Jose in October of 2018 after his three year entry level contract signed back in March of 2014.

The 6-foot-2, 215lb forward played 191 games for the San Jose Sharks from 2017-20, registering 55 points (22 goals, 33 assists) before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 24, 2020 in exchange for Tampa’s 2020 first round pick and forward Anthony Greco.

The 27-year-old has played in all five of the Lightning’s playoff games, carrying a plus one rating. Tampa Bay is the number two seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing 2-1 in the round robin. The Lightning are currently deadlocked at one game a piece vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets which included a 3-2 five overtime game winner on Tuesday night where Goodrow played 37:45 TOI. This is his third time competing in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs as he skated for the Sharks in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 playoff appearances.

Jason Demers – Arizona Coyotes

Worcester Sharks: 2008-09 (78GP, 2-31-33), 2009-10 (25GP, 4-13-17)

Jason Demers was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2008 and signed a three year entry level contract in September of 2008. The defenseman spent his entire rookie season in Worcester, logging 33 points (two goals, 31 assists) in 78 games. Demers split time with San Jose and Worcester the following year and would spend the next five seasons in San Jose from 2010-15 before being traded to the Dallas Stars on November 21, 2014 for the Stars third round draft pick in 2016 and defenseman Brendan Dillon. The 6-foot-1, 195lb defenseman spent time with Dallas and the Florida Panthers before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes on September 17, 2017 for forward Jamie McGinn.

The 32-year-old has been with the Coyotes now for the last three seasons and has played in all six playoff games so far this year, collecting one assist. The Coyotes advanced out of the qualifying round as the 11 seed, defeating the five seed Nashville Predators three games to one in the best of five series. This is his first trip back to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2015-16 season with the Dallas Stars, but it marks his seventh time competing in the playoffs. Arizona is currently down two games to none to the Colorado Avalanche.

Joe Pavelski – Dallas Stars

Worcester Sharks: 2006-07 (16GP, 8-18-26)

Joe Pavelski was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2003 (7th round, #205 overall) and signed an entry level contract in June of 2008. The forward was only in Worcester during his rookie season in 2006-07, totaling 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 16 games. Pavelski played 46 games in San Jose as a rookie, recording 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists). The 5-foot-11, 195lb forward went on to play 11 seasons with the San Jose Sharks and served as the team captain for four seasons from 2014-19. The Polver, WI native ranks third all time in Sharks franchise history with 761 points (355 goals, 406 assists) behind only Patrick Marleau (1,102 points) and Joe Thornton (1,055 points).

The 36-year-old is in his first season with the Dallas Stars after signing a three-year, $21 million dollar deal. He has played in all six of the Stars’ playoff games, scoring two goals. Dallas is currently the three seed in the Western Conference and trails two games to one vs. the Calgary Flames. The Stars finished 1-2 in the round robin to obtain the third overall seed. In his 14 professional seasons, Pavelski has competed in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 13 times, only missing the playoffs with the Sharks during the 2014-15 season.

Justin Braun – Philadelphia Flyers

Worcester Sharks: 2009-10 (3GP, 0-3-3), 2010-11 (34GP, 5-18-23), 2011-12 (6GP, 0-3-3)

Justin Braun was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2007 (7th round, #201 overall) and signed an entry level contract in June of 2010. Braun split time in San Jose and Worcester during his first two seasons from 2010-12, logging 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in 40 games with Worcester, while producing 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in 94 games with San Jose. The 6-foot-2, 205lb defenseman went on to play seven seasons with the San Jose Sharks before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on June 18, 2019 in exchange for the Flyers’ second round draft pick in 2019 and third round draft pick in 2020.

The 33-year-old has played in all five playoff games for the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers went a perfect 3-0 in the round robin to lock up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia is currently tied at one game a piece with the Montreal Canadiens in round one. Braun has only missed the playoffs one time during his ten year career so far in the NHL.

Matt Nieto – Colorado Avalanche

Worcester Sharks: 2012-13 (11GP, 2-4-6), 2013-14 (2GP, 2-3-5)

Matt Nieto was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2011 (2nd round, #47 overall) and spent parts of five seasons with the Sharks organization from 2013-17. Nieto made his first stint in Worcester in 2013 after finishing his four-year career at Boston University and went onto play 11 games in Worcester, tallying six points (two goals, four assists). During his rookie season in 2013-14, Nieto only appeared in two games as a Worcester Shark, notching five points (two goals, three assists) and played 66 games in San Jose registering 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists). The 5-foot-11, 185lb forward was placed on waivers by San Jose and claimed by the Colorado Avalanche on January 5, 2017. He has been a member of the Avalanche since.

The 27-year-old has played in four of the Avalanche’s five playoff games. Colorado is the second seed in the Western Conference after finishing 2-0-1 in the round robin. The Avalanche currently have a two to zero lead in the best of seven series vs. the Arizona Coyotes. Nieto is competing in his third straight NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and his fifth overall during his seven year NHL career.

Ryan Carpenter – Chicago Blackhawks

Worcester Sharks: 2013-14 (12GP, 0-2-2), 2014-15 (74GP, 12-22-34)

Ryan Carpenter signed an entry-level contract with the the San Jose Sharks on March 26, 2014 after finishing his collegiate career at Bowling Green State University. Carpenter appeared in 12 games in the spring of 2014, tallying two points (two assists). The following season in 2014-15, the forward played 74 games for Worcester registering 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) and made his NHL debut with San Jose the following season. From 2015-17, he spent time with the Sharks as well as the Barracuda. On December 13, 2017, Carpenter was claimed off of waivers by the Vegas Golden Knights. The 6-foot, 200lb forward spent the rest of the 2017-18 season as well as the 2018-19 campaign with the Golden Knights.

On July 1, 2019, Carpenter signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. He has played in all six of the Blackhawks’ playoff games, recording one assist. Chicago was the 12 seed in the qualifying round and took down the five seed Edmonton Oilers three games to one in the best of five series. Chicago is currently down two games to none in the best of seven series vs. Carpenter’s former team, the Vegas Golden Knights. No stranger to the NHL playoffs, Carpenter skated in 17 of the Golden Knights’ 20 playoff games back in their inaugural season in 2017-18 where they lost in the Stanley Cup Finals four games to one vs. the Washington Capitals.

Taylor Fedun – Dallas Stars

Worcester Sharks: 2014-15 (65GP, 6-28-34)

Taylor Fedun spent just one season in Worcester which came in the 2014-15 season and he also played four games with the San Jose Sharks were he totaled four assists.

The defenseman is competing in his second straight NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Dallas Stars. He has played in two of the Stars two six playoff games. Dallas is currently the three seed in the western conference but are trailing the six seed Calgary Flames two games to one.

Thomas Greiss – New York Islanders

Worcester Sharks: 2006-07 (43GP, 26-15-2, 2.61, .912), 2007-08 (41GP, 18-21-2, 3.09, .892), 2008-09 (57GP, 30-24-2, 2.47, .907), 2012-13 (1GP, 0-1-0, 5.04, .815)

Thomas Greiss was drafted by San Jose in 2004 (3rd round, #94 overall) and spent parts of six seasons with Worcester and San Jose from 2006-13. Greiss is currently in his fourth season with the New York Islanders and has not seen action yet in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs but is serving as the backup goaltender to Semyon Varlamov.

The 34-year-old is competing in his fourth NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and his second with the New York Islanders. The Islanders were the seventh seed in the qualifying round and defeated the ten seed Florida Panthers three games to one to advance to the first round. New York is the six seed in the Eastern Conference and currently has a two to zero lead in the seven game series vs. the three seed Washington Capitals.

Yanni Gourde – Tampa Bay Lightning

Worcester Sharks: 2011-12 (4GP, 1-2-3), 2012-13 (58GP, 8-6-14), 2013-14 (25GP, 4-20-24)

Yanni Gourde was undrafted out of the QMJHL and made his professional debut with the Worcester Sharks in 2012 after his third full season with Victoriaville in the QMJHL. The 5-foot-9, 175lb forward spent parts of three seasons in Worcester from 2011-14, totaling 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 87 games. In March of 2014, he signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning where he was on an AHL contract for the rest of the 2013-14 season and then a two-way NHL contract for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Gourde has been part of the Tampa Bay organization for the last seven seasons and signed a six year contract on November 2, 2018 worth $5.166-million AAV.

The 28-year-old has played in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for three straight seasons and has skated in all five of the Lightning’s playoff games this year, recording a goal and an assist. Gourde’s lone tally of the playoffs came on August 11, just 23 seconds into the third period to tie the score at 2-2. The Lightning would eventually go on to win the game 3-2 in five overtimes where he logged 38:56 TOI.

Closing Time

Well, there you have it: the eight former Worcester Sharks who are competing in this season’s NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, the Worcester ties run much deeper than just those eight players. Goaltender Alex Stalock participated in the qualifying round with the Minnesota Wild who were defeated by the Vancouver Canucks in game four of the best of five series. The 33-year-old netminder stopped all 28 shots he faced in game number one as the Wild took down the Canucks 3-0. In addition, former Worcester Sharks netminder Troy Grosenick (2013-15) was in the bubble with the Nashville Predators.

Other notable connections that come to mind: Todd Reirden, the Head Coach of the Washington Capitals, played seven games for the IceCats during the 2000-01 season. Former Worcester Shark Freddie Hamilton’s (2012-14) brother Dougie Hamilton is skating for the Carolina Hurricanes, while Rylan Schwartz’s (2012-15) brother Jaden Schwartz is with the St. Louis Blues. Last but not least a shoutout to former Worcester Sharks Head Equipment Manager, Chris Davidson-Adams, who has been the Head Equipment Manager for the Vegas Golden Knights since their inaugural season in 2017-18.

Alright everybody… I’ve got some hockey to watch!

Until next time, so long.

-Cam

Worcester Railers HC

Worcester Railers HC

DCU Center – Door 22
105 Commercial St.
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 365-1750


HOME         ABOUT         SCHEDULE         TICKETS         TEAM         NEWS


PARTNERSHIP         COMMUNITY        SHOP        PRIVACY POLICY

DCU     NYI

Worcester Railers HC sign forward Jacob Hayhurst for 2020-21 seasonRailers Roundup Episode 9 – Jacob Hayhurst (8/17/20)