Americans solid down the middle with signing of NHL draft pick Graham
The Allen Americans announced the signing of center Bruce Graham today. Graham, 23, was a second-round draft pick of the New York Rangers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, going fifty-first overall.
2009 CHL Off-Season Transactions
“We are thrilled to add a player like Bruce to our roster,” Americans General Manager and Head Coach Dwight Mullins said. “He makes an automatic impression with his size, speed and skill. Bruce brings front line qualities to our team that we are going to depend on every night.”
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound center played for the Gwinnett Gladiators and Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL last year. Between the two teams, he recorded 27 goals and 25 assists in 72 regular season games.
Graham will attend training camp for the Dallas Stars’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Austin Stars, in September. This won’t be the Moncton, New Brunswick, native’s first AHL experience, though. Before signing with the Americans, he had stints with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack during the 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
Graham played four seasons with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) prior to beginning his pro career.
He is the fourth center the Americans have acquired. Earlier this summer, the team announced the signings of centers Jarret Lukin, Justin Bowers and Chris Gaudet.