Prospects of the Week 3/2 – 3/9

The following is a collection of some of the best performances by a prospect in an NHL organization, or eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Goalies

Cal Petersen – Buffalo Sabres

Irish freshman goaltender Cal Petersen watches game action during Notre Dame’s 3-0 loss to Minnesota Duluth on Sunday.

Photo By: Kevin Sabitus | The Observe

Cal Petersen makes the list for best goalie performance for the 2nd straight week, and without question. After a 55 save win against Boston College, one of the stronger teams in the NCAA, how is it possible to outplay yourself? Easy, record the NCAA record for most saves in a game, as well as play in the longest game in NCAA history. That’s exactly what the Notre Dame goalie did on Saturday. Petersen and the Fighting Irish lost the game however 4-3. Then 17 hours later Petersen followed that up with a 23 save shutout over UMass on Sunday. That puts him at 4 shutouts on the year, tying a Notre Dame record for freshmen.

Matt Miller – Pittsburgh Penguins

Matt Miller of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins set an AHL record for longest shutout streak. At 304 minutes and 11 seconds, he passes previous holder Barry Brust. Brust in currently playing in the KHL but held the record with the Abbotsford Heat. Miller started he streak in February with 4 straight shutouts that would carry into March. The former third-round selection now leads the AHL in shutouts with 9 and is looking to be a promising fill-in for the long tenured Marc-Andre Fleury.

Defense

Trevor Carrick – Carolina Hurricanes 

Photo By: Gregg Forwerck, Carolina Hurricanes.

Trevor Carrick is an AHL rookie this year after playing in the OHL the past three years. He is the brother to the Toronto Marlies’ Sam Carrick and Jake Carrick (CIS). He had a goal and an assist in the Charlotte Checkers shootout win over the San Antonio Rampage on Wednesday, opened the scoring for the Checkers on Thursday, and added an assist in his final game of the week on Sunday. Carrick has 2 goals and 4 assists in his last 4 games.

Joe Hicketts – Detroit Red Wings

Photo By: Dan Hickling

Joe Hicketts showed us that he can play with his contributions to Team Canada during the World Juniors. This past week, Hicketts provided us with an underrated performance much like Trevor Carrick’s. The captain of the WHL’s Victoria Royals had 2 goals and an assist through 4 games during the week. His stats are not the only thing that made him stand out during the week though. Hicketts played a very noteworthy shutdown game.

Forwards

Peter Quenneville – Columbus Blue Jackets

WHL player profile photo on Brandon Wheat Kings’ Peter Quenneville during a recent game in Calgary, Alberta on January 31, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Larry MacDougal

Peter Quenneville had the best week in the WHL this week, which earned him WHL Player of the Week honors. Quenneville had 6 goals and 3 assists in 3 games this past week for the Brandon Wheat Kings. He had a hat-trick in his first game of the week on Wednesday, 1 goal and 1 assist on Friday and another multi-goal performance with 2 goals and an assist on Saturday. Peter is a 7th round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization while his brother and teammate John is a 1st round pick of the New Jersey Devils. However, Peter has had a better year this year with 61 points, whereas John has 41.

Oliver Bjorkstrand – Columbus Blue Jackets

Sep 17, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff (10) and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand (65) battle for the puck during the third period at Nationwide Arena. The Sabres won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

Oliver Bjorkstrand set the record for the most consecutive game scoring a goal for the Portland Winterhawks with 12. Bjorkstrand only played 2 games during the week but fortunately he broke the record in the first game during the week. In that first game, Bjorkstrand had 4 goals and no assists. 12 would be it for consecutive games with a goal because he recorded no goals and 2 assists in the 2nd game of the week.

Nikolaj Ehlers – Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets have a stellar young prospect in Nikolaj Ehlers and everyone who watches the QMJHL knows it. Ehlers is arguably the best player in the Q and he showed why this week. Ehlers played in three games and finished with 12 points. He accumulated 5 goals and 7 assists. His individual effort to create goals is incredible. Yet the Halifax Mooseheads still sit 3rd in their division.