Lawrence Nycholat

Nycholat is a 32-year old minor leaguer. He has never been able to jump to the NHL level. He does have a few games under his belt, but does not seem to have what it takes to play in the NHL.

Nycholat provided the Canucks with depth on their back end in 2008-09, suiting up for 14 games while also seeing time with Manitoba of the AHL. He only dished out one assist in his limited action in Vancouver and appears to be destined for another year on the fringe of a deep blue line unit.

The Canucks brought in Nycholat to compete for the team's seventh defenseman spot. He was an AHL All-Star last season, scoring 49 points in 77 games. Nycholat will probably hover between Manitoba and Vancouver this season, but he could show some surprise value if the Canucks' blueline turns into a MASH unit for the second consecutive season.

Nycholat should see time in both Ottawa and Binghamton this year as he is one of Ottawa's better depth defenseman in the system. If an injury occurs to one of Ottawa's top-six defensemen, Nycholat will likely be the first defenseman called up from Binghamton.

Nycholat just seems to have no luck. Branded as a tweener, the 27-year-old, 6-foot 192-lb. defenseman lit up the AHL again in 2005-06, finishing fifth among defensemen with 57 points in 73 games. Despite tallying 196 points in 377 career AHL games, Nycholat has only skated in nine NHL games. The Caps are thin along the blue line, but absent a tremendous camp, Nycholat should spend most of his time at Hershey again this season.

The diminutive Nycholat has averaged over 40 points the last three seasons in the AHL, though if he makes the Caps he'll only serve as a sixth or seventh defenseman.