Steve Eminger jets from KHL, signs deal with Norfolk

After only half a season in the KHL, Steve Eminger is on his way back to North America.

The 30-year-old Woodbridge, Ont. native has signed an AHL contract with the Norfolk Admirals, the Anaheim Ducks affiliate. In the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, Eminger played a depth role for the Rangers, suiting up in 35 contests and another 11 in the playoffs.

In four games with the Connecticut Whale last season, Eminger tallied one assist. The defensive defenceman has suited up for 114 career AHL contests, contributing with 26 points (4-22). His last full season in the A was 2004-05, when Eminger appeared in 62 games for the Portland Pirates, helping out to the tune of four goals and 20 assists.

Drafted in the first round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft (12th overall to the Washington Capitals), Eminger has bounced around since leaving Washington. He spent parts of 2008-09 season with Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, and Florida, settled in with the Ducks for ’09-’10 before being dealt to the Rangers, where he played three seasons.

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Jordan Hendry signs in DEL

According to a Straubing Tigers release, the team has inked defenceman Jordan Hendry to a one-year deal that will see the 29-year-old spend next season in Germany.

Hendry, who spent last season with the Anaheim Ducks organization, played 62 games in the AHL last year with the Norfolk Admirals. While with the Ads, Hendry had two goals and nine assists in 62 games. While it may seem like ancient history at this point, Hendry was a member of the 2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup team, and played fifteen games in the playoffs during that run.

Unable to get back to the NHL for any extended period of time since then — Hendry has only played 39 NHL games since 2009-10 –Hendry spent a year in Lugano of the NLA in 2011-12 before coming back to North America for a shot with the Ducks.

The Nokomis, Sask., native did suit up for two games with the Ducks this season, but was not re-signed by the team. In 277 AHL games, Hendry has put up 13 goals, 39 assists, and added 273 PIM.

(Cover photo courtesy Bridget Samuels)

Pelley signs one-year deal with the Devils

The New Jersey Devils have brought back defenceman Rod Pelley on a one-year, two-way contract.

Pelley, who was an NHL regular with both the Devils and Anaheim Ducks between 2009-2012, signed the deal yesterday and will end up back with the team that gave the 28-year-old a shot when his college playing days were done.

At 5’11” and 201 lbs., Pelley isn’t an intimidating force on the blue line, but he’s mobile and can benefit the Devils at both the NHL and AHL level.

In 60 games with the Ducks farm club in Norfolk, Pelley put up three goals and seven assists for the Admirals. A veteran of 256 games in the NHL, Pelley will have a difficult time cracking a deep Devils defence, but will likely play on the Albany Devils top pairing. In his NHL career, Pelley has amassed 29 points (9-20), to go along with another 80 points (37-43) in 211 games in the AHL.

A former CCHA Champion while with Ohio State, Pelley’s deal will carry an NHL cap hit of $550,000 in the bigs, and see him paid $150,000 in the minors.

 

Report: Yonkman, Stortini sign with Ducks

According to RDS, Nolan Yonkman and Zack Stortini have signed two-year deals with the Anaheim Ducks.

Yonkman, a 12-year AHL veteran, has spent the last three seasons in the Florida Panthers organization, captaining the San Antonio Rampage for the last two campaigns. At 6’6″, 251 lbs., Yonkman’s a towering force on the blue line and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves.

The 32-year-old vet has played over 600 games in the AHL, but he shouldn’t be expected to show up too often on the score sheet. Through his career, Yonkman has only scored 16 goals and added 63 assists. Seventy-nine points in 601 career regular season games doesn’t make Yonkman an offensive force, but it’s his understanding of the game and the efficient use of his size that will make him an attribute for the Norfolk Admirals.

Stortini, 27, comes to Anaheim from a season spent in the Canadiens organization last year. While with the Bulldogs, Stortini suited up for 73 games, amassing 241 PIM. With all that time spent in the box, it’s no wonder Stortini contributed only two goals and four assists — his hands aren’t necessarily used for scoring.

With Montreal’s signing of Nick Tarnasky, Stortini became expendable, and will help fill a hole on the Admirals roster. While he may be playing third or fourth line minutes in Norfolk, Stortini will still bring a veteran voice to the locker room and help guide Anaheim’s youngsters.

RDS reported that both deals are two-way contracts.

UPDATED: Sexton leaves Crunch, heads to Europe

Dan Sexton has reportedly signed a contract with a European club.

Sexton, a 26-year-old from Apple Valley, Minn., had a meteoric rise through the ECHL, AHL, and onto the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks roster, but it appears he’s onto new endeavours.

A veteran of 144 games, Sexton was an offensively gifted forward. Through his AHL career, Sexton posted 36 goals and 64 assists while playing with the Manitoba Moose, Norfolk Admirals, and Syracuse Crunch. During his most recent stint with the Crunch, Sexton helped the team make its way to the Calder Cup finals. In 18 postseason games, Sexton had six goals and six assits.

Though the Lightning submitted a qualifying offer to the winger, he’s decided to look for work elsewhere.

UPDATE: According to The Post-Standard’s Syracuse.com Hockey Twitter feed, Sexton will suit up with TPS of the SM-Liiga.

Sexton will play for TPS in Finland

— Syracuse Hockey (@syrhockey) July 5, 2013