League Leader Brodzinski Earns Call-Up with Rangers, Iowa's Dwyer Joins Wild Coaching Staff, Plus Trades, Suspensions, and More in our AHL Roundup

AHL Points Leader Brodzinski Receives AHL Call-up

The New York Rangers have recalled current AHL points leader Johnny Brodzinzki ahead of tonight's matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.

Brodzinski, 30, currently leads the Wolf Pack in both goals with eleven and points with 25 (11 g, 14 a) in 16 games this season. Brodzinski’s eleven goals rank him tied for fourth in the AHL, while his 25 points lead the league.

The native of Ham Lake, MN, is in his fourth season with the Wolf Pack and in his third season as the club’s captain. In 113 career games with the Wolf Pack, Brodzinski has notched 56 goals and 73 assists for 129 points.

In his career, Brodzinski has skated in 313 career AHL contests with the Wolf Pack, San Jose Barracuda, and Ontario Reign, scoring 267 points (126 g, 141 a).

He has also appeared in 102 career NHL games with the Rangers, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings, collecting 17 points (9 g, 8 a).

This season, Brodzinski has dressed in one game with the Rangers. He suited up in his home state of Minnesota against the Wild on November 4^th.

Brodzinski was selected in the fifth round, 148^th overall, by the Kings in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Monsters Forward Bemstrom Named AHL Player of the Week

The American Hockey League announced today that Cleveland Monsters forward Emil Bemstrom has been selected as the Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending November 26, 2023.

More on his offensive breakout here. 

Two NHL Trades with AHL Implications

A pair of trades this week featuring NHL clubs will have immediate implications on their AHL affiliates. 

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have acquired forward Peter Abbandonato and defenseman Owen Headrick from the Chicago Wolves in exchange for future considerations.

Abbandonato has notched one goal and two assists in 12 games with Chicago this season, his fifth pro campaign. He attended training camp this fall with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Headrick has appeared in five games with the Wolves this season, collecting his first career AHL point with an assist at Tucson on Nov. 3.

Second, the New Jersey Devils acquired forward Arnaud Durandeau from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Tyce Thompson.

Durandeau, 24, has recorded one goal and three assists in 12 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders this season. The fifth-year pro has competed in 179 career AHL games with Bridgeport, totaling 49 goals and 63 assists for 112 points.

Thompson, 24, has tallied five assists in 15 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets this season, his third pro campaign. In 98 career AHL contests with Utica and Binghamton, Thompson has registered 15 goals and 35 assists for 50 points.

Iowa's Patrick Dwyer Joins Minnesota Coaching Staff

Former assistant coach for the Iowa Wild Patrick Dwyer has joined the coaching staff of John Hynes in Minnesota following the exit of coaches Dean Evason and Bob Woods.

Dwyer, 40, began his coaching career in 2019-20 as an Assistant Coach with the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL). He served as an Assistant Coach for the Chicago Wolves (AHL) from 2020-23 and was a member of the Calder Cup-winning team in 2021-22. He was named an Assistant Coach for the Iowa Wild on July 5, as part of Brett McLean’s staff.

As a player, Dwyer totaled 93 points (42-51=93) in 416 NHL games as a forward with the Carolina Hurricanes from 2008-15. The Great Falls, Mont. native also added 196 points (94-102=196) across 345 AHL games with the Chicago Wolves (2005-06), Albany River Rats (2006-10) and Charlotte Checkers (2016-17). 

Dwyer also spent three seasons of hockey overseas; he played for MODO Hockey in the SHL (2015-16), Sønderjyske in Denmark (2017-18), and the Belfast Giants in the EIHL (2018-19). Prior to his professional career, Dwyer played four seasons (2001-05) at Western Michigan University, where he served as captain during his senior year.

AHL Hands Down Suspensions to Wranglers and Phantoms Players

The American Hockey League’s Player Safety Committee announced suspensions with ramifications on games for this week. 

Calgary Wranglers forward Alex Gallant has been suspended for four (4) games as a consequence of a cross-checking incident in a game vs. Abbotsford on Nov. 26.

Gallant will miss Calgary’s games on Friday (Dec. 1) and Sunday (Dec. 3) at Henderson, and Dec. 8 and Dec. 10 vs. Manitoba.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward Garrett Wilson has been suspended for one (1) game as a consequence of a roughing incident in a game vs. Rochester on Nov. 25

Wilson will miss Lehigh Valley’s game on Friday (Dec. 1) at Hartford.