Cody Almond

Hometown:

Calgary Alberta

Team:

Minnesota Wild

Currently Playing In:

Europe

Birthday:

1989-07-24
Position:

C
Eligible for draft:

2007
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2007
Height:

6-1
Acquired:

5th round (140th overall), 2007
Weight:

199 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
6.5

About Prospect Talent Score and Probability of Success»

Probability of Success
  • C

History

2006-07: Almond saw regular shifts on one of the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) top two lines. Initially he struggled, but came on strong and played more aggressively through the final stretch of the season.  He led the team in scoring with 43 points on 15 goals and 28 assists, in 68 games 19 of those points in the final 19 games of the season. Drafted by the Wild in the 5th round, 140th overall.

2007-08: Increased his scoring totals to 22 goals and 34 assists in 69 games. Also increased his penalty minute to 114 from 72. Fourth leading scorer on a Rockets team that returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence. Had one goal and two assists in seven playoff games.

2008-09: Almond provided toughness and offense for the WHL champion Kelowna Rockets in his third full season in the league. Almond was the Rockets' third-leading scorer with 33 goals and 33 assists and was +15 in 70 game. He tied defenseman Tyler Myers for third on the team with 105 PMs. The Rockets finished second to Vancouver in the BC Division and Almond skated in all 22 games as the Rockets rolled through the playoffs and defeated Calgary in the finals. He was the team's second-leading scorer with 10 goals and 17 assists and racked up a team-high 51 PMs. Almond scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was even with 4 PMs at the Memorial Cup as Kelowna won all three pool play games but fell to Windsor in the championship game. He signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Wild in March 2011.

2009-10: Almond made his NHL debut as a 20-year-old in a single game call-up in February and played in six games at the end of the season for the Wild in his first pro season. Averaging just under eight minutes of ice time per game, he scored 1 goal and was -3 with 9 PMs in seven games. In 48 games with the Wild's AHL affiliate Houston, he scored 7 goals with 11 assists and racked up 77 PMs. Almond had a -7 plus/minus as Houston finished last in the West Division.

2010-11: Almond saw limited time early in the season due to knee and wrist injuries (the latter required surgery). He appeared in eight NHL games with the Wild in three separate stints and skated in 65 games for AHL Houston. Almond averaged just over seven minutes of ice time with the Wild and had no points with 2 PMs. He showed flashes of offense as well as the combativeness of his junior days with the Aeros. Almond's 124 PMs were second most on the Aeros and he scored 15 goals with 19 assists; finishing -2. He played in 22 of 24 playoff games as Houston reached the AHL finals and was -2 with 6 assists and 20 PMs.

2011-12: Almond saw his most extensive NHL action to date, skating in 10 games with the Wild in his third pro season, spending most of the season with AHL affiliate Houston. Mostly used in an energy-type, physical role, Almond scored his second career goal in a game against the Kings during and eight-game stint with the Wild in December and was minus-five with 15 penalty minutes – averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time with Minnesota. Skating in just 46 games with Houston, he was second on the Aeros with 91 penalty minutes and was minus-eight while scoring 7 goals with 8 assists. Houston finished fourth in the West Division; falling to Oklahoma City in four games in a best-of-five first round playoff series.  In four playoff games Almond scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was minus-one with 6 penalty minutes. Tendered a qualifying offer by the Wild in June 2012, he signed a contract to play with Geneve-Servette in Switzerland in 2012-13.

 

Talent Analysis

A big power forward with better than average speed and scoring ability, Almond likes to play a physically aggressive game, but needs to make sure he maintains his discipline as he can take too many penalties.

 

Future

Already an AHL regular, Almond has seen some spot duty with the Wild in the 2011-12 season. He is situated to earn a regular role in the Wild's bottom six, perhaps as soon as next season.


 

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Cody Almond, C, 22
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