appeared in his fifth consecutive AHL All-Star Classic this winter. A native of Waltham, Mass., Aucoin recently became the highest-scoring American-born player in AHL history (629 points). He also has five points in nine NHL matches with Washington this season.

Jerome Samson, Right Wing (Albany River Rats):Third-year pro Jerome Samson has enjoyed a breakout season in 2009-10, pacing Albany’s offense with career highs in goals (37), assists (39) and points (76) through 72 games. He ranks second in the AHL in goals and fourth in points and has recorded four separate four-point performances this season, and his 327 shots on goal are 33 percent more than anyone else in the league has registered. A native of Greenfield Park, Que., Samson earned his first NHL action with Carolina this yearfor the lead among AHL defensemen with 18 goals and placing fifth with 50 points in 71 games. A Montreal native, Noreau enjoyed a seven-game scoring streak from Nov. 28 to Dec. 16 and racked up a career-high five points (2-3-5) at Abbotsford on Jan. 22. The 22-year-old Noreau, who contributed two game-winning goals and 11 points during Houston’s run to the 2009 conference finals, appeared in his first AHL All-Star Classic in January.

Clay Wilson, Defenseman (Rochester Americans):Clay Wilson has averaged a point per game since the calendar turned to 2010 and currently ranks second among AHL defensemen with a career-high 60 points (14-46-60) in 73 games, good for second on the Americans in scoring. Wilson is tied for the league lead among defensemen with 32 points on