AHL: Americans Admirals

AHL: Americans & Admirals (posted 01.28.07)

by Max Giese

The return of Scottie Upshall and Pekka Rinne couldn't help the Admirals as the Rochester Americans came out fast by scoring four goals in the first period which turned out to be more than enough. Milwaukee would respond with a strong effort and a goal of their own but it was too little too late as the Americans won 4-1.

Marek Zagrapan (Buf), F, Rochester Americans

Crafty, savvy, smooth, and slick best describe the Slovakian native who saw first line center ice time tonight .. is a sleek, fluid skater that is very agile and deceptively quick .. accelerates effortlessly and swiftly .. actually owns a commanding top gear but he rarely uses it as he often stops moving his feet and begins to glide after a few strides .. rather thin but is balanced and handled traffic well .. deceptively strong on the puck .. possesses soft hands .. handles the puck smoothly and at times like it's on a string .. patient with the puck .. did a fine job of out weighting Rinne before beating him five whole .. is a pass first, shoot later type but his release is fairly quick with good accuracy although velocity is currently lacking .. sees the ice exceptionally well and distributes the puck instinctively .. can be a creative set up man .. can put some touch on a pass through heavy traffic while skating through the neutral zone .. often elects to pass the puck up the ice rather than skate it himself .. anticipates the game well .. his hockey sense is NHL caliber and plays a mature two way game .. competes away from the puck .. will come below his own goal line to help defensively .. knows his defensive assignments and is committed to them .. adequate on draws and ties his man up .. should keep his feet moving while pursuing the puck and didn't finish one check .. his statistics aren't eye popping but he's steadily developing into a second line center down the road.

Pekka Rinne (Nsh), G, Milwaukee Admirals

Played in his first game of the season as he was side lined with a separated shoulder .. looked shaky early by giving up four goals in the first period but settled in nicely and didn't allow another for the rest of the game .. was hung out to dry mostly in the first and you can't blame all goals scored on him as he faced several breakaways or odd man rushes .. blessed with a big frame and long limbs .. is aggressive and likes to challenge the shooter .. will over commit to a shooter and can take himself out of position for the second shot .. strong down low with impressive dexterity and leg extension .. possesses quick legs .. lateral movement is very quick but not always composed .. has a quick glove and uses it all over the body to control rebounds .. will resort to flopping to his belly on rebounds at times .. recovery quickness needs improvement .. opens wholes when you get him moving .. five whole was suspect and beaten three times tonight .. rebound control was inconsistent .. uses his stick well .. likes to poke check and doesn't allow the puck to go through his crease without getting a stick on it .. likes to play the puck but needs to improve how quick he can get the puck off of his stick and the velocity he gets behind his clearing attempts .. a strong first shot goalie that has some athleticism but is still raw and needs refinement mechanically.

Scottie Upshall (Nsh), F, Milwaukee Admirals

Has since returned to Nashville, but was in Milwaukee for a conditioning stint as he rehabbed his strained groin muscle .. received limited ice time .. has great puck pursuit and is strong on the forecheck disrupting the oppositions break out .. goes to the front of the net and does a good job staying there .. buzzes around the oppositions net and has a knack for garbage goals but isn't a natural goal scorer .. displayed impressive hand eye coordination by creating multiple deflections and tips .. sees the ice adequately and is a decent passer but lacks the creativity to be a play maker in the NHL .. competitive and got away with throwing a punch from the bench .. possesses a strong stride with a superb top gear but his first step quickness appears hindered by the injury right now .. has quick but sort of rough hands .. is a nice and well spoken individual with leadership capabilities but will probably never be more than a third liner permanently in the NHL.

Brandon Segal (Nsh), F, Milwaukee Admirals

Stuck up for his teammate after Dylan Hunter gave him a dirty slash to the calf .. went to the Americans bench and started a bench side brawl with him taking the brunt of it .. displayed his fine top gear tonight and handled the puck with confidence .. is doing better at getting himself open in the slot .. has a good release on his shot that is heavy but ultimately too wild to be a consistent finisher.

Kevin Klein (Nsh), D, Milwaukee Admirals

Must improve his play in front of his own net and must become a stronger one on one defender down low .. does a good job defending in the open ice but not in physical areas .. beginning to jump in the rush and pinch in down low that allowed him to be such a feared offensive defenseman last season but is ultimately still a step behind from last year.

Andrej Sekera (Buf), D, Rochester Americans

His poise and patience with the puck bellies his age .. his anticipation is top notch .. is a very savvy and creative distributor of the puck .. sees the ice exceptionally well and maturely moves the puck .. can quarterback the power play .. pinches appropriately and does a fine job holding the zone .. has a great release on his wrist shot and does a fine job of getting the puck to the net accurately .. isn't an explosive skater but has superb all compass mobility and is deceptively quick .. has soft hands with some slick one on one moves and can buy himself time with his stick handling ability .. is a very crafty player defensively .. isn't physical at all but does a fine job neutralizing his man by tying his stick up .. anticipates and reads the play well as he's always in position .. does a fine job clogging the oppositions passing or shooting lanes .. isn't a shut down defenseman but he does a more than adequate job in his own end systematically .. his hockey sense and anticipation are off the charts as he does everything so smooth that he's almost deceptively good .. should get another NHL audition soon if injuries strike the Sabres as he appears NHL ready.

Clarke MacArthur (Buf), F, Rochester Americans

Currently sits at seventh in the AHL in scoring .. sees the ice exceptionally well and is a creative play maker .. is a fluid skater who is quick and agile with impressive acceleration .. has a strong and long stride that produces a superb top gear .. has soft hands and protects the puck well .. he sees the ice well while in possession and is slippery to the opposition .. uses his speed to gain the offensive zone and then will curl to the center of the ice to buy himself time to see the ice and set up the play .. something Joe Thornton does .. likes to take the puck to the middle of the ice rather than use his speed to the outside .. has a quickly released snap shot .. has a heavy and quickly released slap shot that he isn't hesitant to use however it lacks accuracy .. plays on the half wall during the power play .. has a decent motor and works hard away from the puck .. back checks hard as he uses his speed to catch back up to the opposition .. should be in the NHL permanently next season.

Stefan Meyer (Fla), F, Rochester Americans

You can hang your hat on his ability to finish .. possesses an NHL caliber release the puck snaps off his stick in a heart beat .. generates impressive velocity on his shot with little wind up .. is a threat to score from far range .. shoots often and catches the goalie off guard at times .. uses the defender as a screen .. doesn't see the ice naturally but he emerges as an adequate passer .. isn't a creative play maker .. uses a long stick and has soft hands .. protects the puck well but lacks elusiveness .. seems to panic with the puck at times and brain cramps when pressured .. attempts to drive the net but he can't at this level because he lacks lower body strength .. is well balanced but can't drive through the opposition .. severely lacks a top gear as players just seem to skate around him or catch up to him in the open ice .. anticipation is adequate and he follows the play well .. displays keen awareness away from the puck and is used on the penalty kill .. does a fine job pressuring the puck carrier .. uses his anticipation, decent first step, and long reach to get on the puck carrier quickly .. disrupts passing lanes .. stops and starts as he doesn't float away from the puck .. finishes checks and doesn't back down from confrontations around the boards .. doesn't stick his nose in traffic much offensively .. for the caliber of his shot he should hang around the goal area more instead of staying to the outside.

Rob Globke (Fla), F, Rochester Americans

He can be a reliable role player in the NHL but he will never be a scorer .. has struggled to set up his line mates or find the back of the net on his own since leaving college .. is a strong north and south skater as he has a quick stride for a big man which propels a decent top gear .. agility needs work as his turns are rough and he's not shifty at all .. quickness in tight could be improved .. does a fine job away from the puck .. battles hard along the boards to get the puck out of the zone .. knows his assignments in his own zone and executes them with his strong work ethic .. balanced and strong along the boards and cycles the puck well .. uses his top gear and motor to be effective on the forecheck as his puck pursuit is strong .. will go to the net and has a quick release but his accuracy is far from precise as he often puts the puck in the goalies mid section or wide .. lacks offensive imagination, vision, and creativity to be an offensive threat .. should find a permanent role in the NHL shortly as a fourth liner but he'll never be the offensive power forward he was drafted to be.

Mark Mancari (Buf), F, Rochester Americans

Blessed with a tall, well constructed frame and superior strength .. should drive through the opposition more and should begin to finish his checks more .. isn't the power forward that his size would indicate possible .. was stood up at the blue line by the much smaller Kevin Klein .. is well balanced and protects the puck exceptionally well as his strong, long arms make it very difficult for the opposition to dislodge him from the puck .. is a natural around the net .. his finishing touch is his strong suit as he is patient around the net and has a quickly released shot with good accuracy .. generates impressive velocity on his slap shot which is why they utilize him on the point during the power play .. his adequate vision of the ice makes him a very decent passer but he lacks the top end creativity to be a set up man in the NHL .. plays a solid two way game as he back checks with vigor and shows adequate defensive awareness .. uses his long reach to clog passing lanes .. puck pursuit is impressive but he must finish his checks and utilize his size more .. has a quick first step and decent top gear for a big man .. agility is fine .. well on his way to the NHL but will never be on the top two lines and must add a physical edge to compliment his size.

Mike Card (Buf), D, Rochester Americans

Has good vision and distributes the puck well .. makes the first pass out of the zone properly every time .. holds the offensive zone well and pinches in instinctively .. currently lacks the creativity to be an offensive defenseman at the next level however that could come with time as this is his first year playing against men .. smooth, all compass skater with decent mobility but he lacks an explosive top gear .. displays solid gap control but at the same time he struggled to stay with faster opponents as he was beaten to the outside too often .. struggles with the opposition when they drive the net as he looks like a boy amongst men strength wise .. lacks any physical game .. needs to get stronger in front of his own net and must become a better one on one defender as he's beaten way to often to warrant a call up to the NHL any time soon .. did use his stick well and shows adequate defensive zone awareness … needs to add bulk and add a physical component to his game .. after this viewing it's perplexing to think that he already has played in four games for the Sabres as in terms of defensive play he doesn't appear ready for the NHL.

Dylan Hunter (Buf), F, Rochester Americans

Got under the Admirals skin with a late slash right between the benches that started multiple fights right on the Americans bench .. played the pest role early in this game as he did stuff behind the play to irk the opposition but didn't face up to any of it .. competes .. is a good skater with swift agility and a very decent top gear .. accelerates well .. works hard in his own end and willingly comes low to help get the puck out of the zone .. back checks hard .. has adequate hands but isn't a scorer at this level and definitely won't be in the NHL as he lacks the offensive imagination to be .. protects the puck well and is balanced for a smallish player .. speed and hockey sense keep him in the mix.

Patrick Kaleta (Buf), F, Rochester Americans

Sluggish skating hinders him greatly .. looks to be skating in quick sand at times as his stride severely needs more power behind it .. first step especially needs improvement .. he keeps his feet moving to help negate the lack of a top gear .. works hard as he forechecks and back checks with vigor .. finishes his checks with power but doesn't do so consistently enough to be a power forward .. hockey sense is adequate and he's at his best without the puck as he does a good job defensively .. hands need to be softer .. played on the penalty kill and power play units .. on the power play he went in front of the net and did an effective job of screening the goaltender but nothing more .. long shot prospect at this point but does the dirty work that keeps him in the mix as a possible role player.

Martin Lojek (Fla), D, Rochester Americans

Has a tall but lanky frame that could still add about 10-15 pounds .. his mobility stands out for a player of his size .. is a strong backwards skater that can stay with the speedier opposition players effortlessly .. some times skates backwards too fast that he'll give his man to large of a gap .. his agility is a bit awkward .. appears to be standing straight up while skating but he still produces a strong stride .. plays on the power play .. likes to pinch in and does a good job getting open at the back door .. can be a creative passer at times but lacks the consistency distributing the puck from the point to be the quarterback .. shouldn't be so hesitant to shoot as he passed up a prime scoring chance by trying to get cute and making the perfect pass that his teammate wasn't ready for .. would benefit from developing a physical edge as he uses his stick well but he needs to use his size more .. saw some time on the penalty kill and did a good job clogging passing and shooting lanes .. size and mobility keep him in the mix.

Jeremy Swanson (Fla), D, Rochester Americans

Opened the game with a devastating but clean open ice when he caught the opposition with his head down and hit him with his shoulder so hard that his helmet went flying in the air .. the hit immediately sparked multiple fights .. exerts too much energy into his first few strides and overall lacks quickness .. doesn't possess a top gear .. backwards mobility and agility are decent .. is a good one on one defender .. keeps a tight gap with his man and does a fine job angling him to the outside .. takes the proper angle to his man .. is short but is very stocky and has a strong upper body that allows him to play the body well .. hockey sense is questionable as he often will get caught running around in his own zone and also looks lost offensively .. poor puck movement is the Achilles Heal at this stage .. he takes way to long to identify the open man and his passes are often off the mark .. is a stay at home type that is also a decent physical presence but until his puck movement improves he'll be a long shot for the NHL.

Martin Tuma (Fla), D, Rochester Americans

Tall and well constructed frame .. doesn't possess a mean streak but does a good job neutralizing his man one on one physically .. pins his man along the wall effectively .. uses his stick well .. maintains a healthy gap off of the rush .. isn't a pretty or explosive skater but Tuma possesses decent first step quickness and a nippy, strong stride .. has above average straight ahead speed for a big man .. okay back wards and lateral movement but agility could be smoother .. makes the first pass out of the zone showing decent vision of the ice and the touch to distribute the puck .. lacks the offensive imagination and hand skill to play on the power play .. if he gets caught up the ice he back checks very hard .. wins majority of foot races .. his once ice work ethic is exemplary .. potential depth defenseman.

AHL: Marlies & Admirals (posted 01.26.07)

by Max Giese

The Milwaukee Admirals beat the Toronto Marlies 1-0 despite playing this game being the last of three games in three nights in three different states. The low score wasn't an indication of the action as both teams had plenty of offensive chances but where stymied by the stellar goaltending at both ends.

Justin Pogge (Tor), G, Toronto Marlies

Dictates where the opposition is going to shoot .. uses his size to take away one half of the net completely while giving the shooter only one corner to shoot at which allows him to know where the shot is going to be aimed at .. very competent skater and is light on his feet .. impressive handling the puck .. can get the puck out of the zone on his own by sending it off the glass .. communicates appropriately and loud .. difficult to beat down low .. has quick leg reflexes .. his leg extension is superb as his flexibility is top notch as he can hit the splits easily .. has strong legs and his lateral quickness from the butterfly is remarkable .. nimble and his dexterity is impressive for his size .. recovers quickly from the butterfly back to his stance .. lateral range is just okay .. the way to beat him is by getting him moving .. rebound control is inconsistent as he will leaves some juicy ones time to time .. mental focus is impressive as he didn't receive a lot of shots, but was tested with difficult shots that he was ready for .. exceptional glove side but his blocker is just okay .. will challenge the shooter .. had a high light real stack the pads glove save that showed he can rob the opposition of a goal .. the combination of size, athleticism, and strong mental make up are very impressive.

Robbie Earl (Tor), F, Toronto Marlies

While other former national championship winning Wisconsin Badgers are enjoying success in the NHL, Earl has struggled to put up points in his first full season in the AHL .. an excellent skater who looks like he was born on skates .. possesses an effortless yet powerful stride .. agile and blessed with both quickness in tight spaces and speed in the open ice .. has a deceptive change of gears that he uses to get to the outside on a defender .. has very quick lateral cuts which makes him shifty one on one .. is beginning to learn how to use his speed away from the puck as he uses his speed to pressure the puck carrier and back check but still doesn't do it consistent enough .. when he uses his speed it appears as if he's all over the ice .. blessed with soft hands .. dangerous and slippery one on one with a few electric dangles up his sleeve but isn't a consistent threat .. is improving defensively and received some ice time on the penalty kill .. pressures the puck carrier as his speed forces the opposition to move the puck quickly or he can strip them of the puck and go the other way .. dangerous off of turn overs .. should compete harder to get the puck out of the zone .. could share the puck more as when he does, he emerges as an imaginative passer who can generate offensive by distributing the puck .. buzzes around the net and gets plenty of scoring opportunities .. his release is efficient but his accuracy and velocity don't stand out at this level .. disappears for long durations of time, and shift to shift consistency is missing .. despite poor numbers his stock as a prospect is still fine.

John Mitchell (Tor), F, Toronto Marlies

Distributes the puck exceptionally well .. is a savvy, slick play maker with superb vision as he can thread the needle with a pass through heavy traffic even at full speed .. moves the puck crisply and tape to tape .. gives his teammates a catch able pass every time .. has a soft pair of mitts with some nice moves and he protects the puck well .. seemingly can slow the game down for himself when in possession of the puck .. anticipates the game well which helps make up for his sub par skating .. his first step quickness and top gear both could use improvement although neither hinder him at this level as speed isn't his game but it could in the NHL .. should shoot the puck more often .. has a quickly released wrist shot with good accuracy and sneaky velocity he gets the puck to the net in a hurry .. has a high panic threshold as he can execute with the opposition all over him .. finishes his checks and is committed away from the puck .. although his numbers don't show it, Mitchell is still an impressive prospect with the potential to play in the NHL.

Jay Harrison (Tor), D, Toronto Marlies

Moves well for a big man .. smoothly pivots and possesses swift lateral movement .. his first step still could be improved but his stride is adequately strong and relatively fluid.. just lacks explosiveness and quickness .. could improve his puck movement although he doesn't turn it over either .. lacks the vision and creativity to be an offensive defenseman although he is utilized on the point for the power play .. has a low, accurate shot from the point that because of his quick release, he gets it to the net routinely .. pinched in down low on a few occasions but doesn't carry the puck up the ice on his own .. hands could be softer .. more of the stay at home type as he's reliable, but not dominant in his own end .. maintains a healthy gap and does a good job staying stick on stick with his man .. will get chippy after the whistle around his net but he should use his size more to develop a physical edge .. a dependable depth defenseman.

Martin Sagat (Tor), F, Toronto Marlies

Has a sizable frame but a consistent physical edge to go along with it is would be welcome .. isn't soft, but is completely void of a mean streak .. is a smooth skater for a player of his stature .. his first step needs improvement but his top gear is above average .. agility is okay but his turns are rough at full flight .. lacks offensive imagination .. moves the puck adequately but doesn't generate offense from his passes .. shot needs work as it's inaccurate and lacks velocity .. doesn't shoot much .. aware away from the puck .. is an asset to the penalty kill as he clogs passing lanes with his long reach and positions him self properly .. methodically gets the job done away from the puck consistently .. adequate puck pursuit but should finish his checks more often as when he does, he can land a nice one .. hands are decent but he lacks any elusiveness .. protects the puck well but doesn't drive through traffic .. somewhat a perimeter player as he can be to soft on a play at times .. dependable but not dominant sums him up.

Dominic D'Amour (Tor), D, Toronto Marlies

Skating is the Achilles Heel and is holding him back .. often caught behind the play as he can be beaten with speed .. stride lacks any strength behind it .. first step is dreadful and it takes him too long to gain speed .. adequate offensive skill set .. handles the puck softly and protects it well making him slippery to the opposition's forecheck .. executes the first pass out of the zone .. sees the ice decently .. has a stocky build and is sturdy on his feet but could be more physical .. isn't soft either and willingly mixes it up in traffic .. his ice time is limited this season as his skating must improve before he is close to being ready for an NHL audition.

Brandon Segal (Nsh), F, Milwaukee Admirals

Has a nose for the net .. scored the games lone goal by isolating himself back door before finding the loose rebound and lifted the puck off of the ice for the game winner .. has been scoring as of late as he has a decent release with a fairly heavy shot .. accuracy needs refinement .. lacks vision, creativity, and patience with the puck to ever be a set up man .. competitive and intense individual who leads by example .. used on the penalty kill as he's aware of his defensive assignments and works hard to execute them .. back checks with vigor .. good north and south skater whose fast in long distances .. has some power behind his stride .. poor agility and lack of quickness hurt .. has a decent power game .. goes hard to the net and scores his share of garbage goals .. simple game that could possibly be used on the fourth line some day but he could never be any more than a role player.

John Vigilante (Nsh), F, Milwaukee Admirals

His first few strides appear sluggish .. a clever passer who sees the ice well .. his defensive habits are adequate as he works hard away from the puck .. has an exceptional one timer slap shot that he should utilize more often .. has a good feel for the offensive zone as he does a good job of staying the play by getting open for a pass or sneaking in back door near the net for a rebound .. hands are soft but he isn't dangerous one on one .. must improve his skating.

Cal O'Reilly (Nsh), F, Milwaukee Admirals

Handles the puck like it's on a string with ease .. a patient puck carrier .. is slippery and has some creative one on one moves .. likes to fake a shot than take the puck with him to the outside .. crafty offensively as he has a natural sense of what to do with or without the puck in the offensive zone .. is a creative passer who distributes the puck slickly .. can stretch the ice with a pass or put touch on a pass in tight areas .. perhaps passes the puck too much .. lacks a finishing touch .. very agile and is a quick skater although he lacks an explosive top gear .. okay defensively but not a future penalty killer .. small but is strong on his feet.

Kevin Klein (Nsh), D, Milwaukee Admirals

Smooth skater overall but he exerts too much effort in his first few strides .. has taken a step backwards compared to his impressive season last year .. just isn't the dominant offensive defenseman he was last year and he looks uncomfortable this year .. sees the ice well and has impressive puck movement .. can stretch the ice with an outlet pass and moved the puck through a tight lane on the point to a man back door .. passes the puck with authority .. takes the proper angles to his man but needs to solidify his one on one play .. can loose his defensive positioning and allow his man to get inside on him .. can be beaten one on one off of the boards .. strong on his feet and size isn't an issue .. has a low and hard point shot that he releases quickly .. his one timer is an asset he isn't hesitant to use .. should show more urgency away from the puck .. isn't joining or leading the rush as much as he did last season and his offensive output has been hampered because of it.

NHL: A Fleury of Prospects (posted 01.15.07)

by David Burstyn

There is plenty of reason to be optimistic if you are a Penguins fan. Years of futility have allowed the Pittsburgh organization to collect an impressive handful of prospects as they have had top five selections in the last five drafts. Led by first overall picks Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury and backed by second overall selections Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal the Penguins have the richest talent pool amongst players under 22. The rapid maturity and development of these players in particular has given this franchise something it hasn't seen in five years; a winning record coming into the New Year and a potential berth in the playoffs.

Marc-Andre Fleury - Goalie

A bit of a coming out party for M.A as he has a winning record and a respectable save percentage and G.A.A .. playing full time this year which has really helped him come into his own as a goalie and an impact player .. confidence level is up with increased minutes and key starts .. he maintains his angles and squares to the shooters fairly well .. will come out to challenge, rather aggressively for that matter .. his lateral movement has improved leaps and bounds especially when the play is behind the goal, as he is very aware of his positioning and that no longer is a weakness .. can make the first and second save but due to his inability to stay up he is often caught scrambling .. still goes down to early .. the one area of his game that needs considerable work is rebound control .. he kicks out too many bad rebounds in front and while his defence did come to his aid it is a glaring area of concern .. should continue to build on his stats however the acquisition of a more defensive minded player may help him out considerably ..

Ryan Whitney - Defence

Second season in the NHL and he is showing vast improvement in his play .. as is the case with many of the younger Penguins confidence plays a huge role in their game and a boost of confidence is what this former 5th overall pick needed .. relied more upon for his offensive prowess, Whitney has been a calming presence on the back end as his size (6'4, 220) keeps rushing forwards honest as he is able to match most forwards stride for stride simply because his is so long and wide .. he is able to stand guys up at the line however he must maintain his position in the neutral zone and not get caught deep as was the case on a few shifts when he was chasing offensive situations .. could improve on his agility, he looks as if he could still grow into his body .. offensively he assumes quite a load as he and Gonchar are fixtures on the PP .. jumps into the rush and has decent enough puck skills to make plays at the line .. able to identify much better this season when to pinch and when to retreat in PP situations, does not force things .. continuing to be the offensive minded player the organization had in mind when he was drafted out of Boston College ..

Maxime Talbot - Centre

Split time last year with both Wilkes-Barre and the Penguins .. made the team out of camp and has produced amicably .. an energy line type player, he creates with his speed and his determination in puck pursuit battles whether they are along the wall or in open ice .. good speed, he has a quick step in his stride .. lacks the anticipation to be an effective contributor as he is a serviceable third line player .. has a hard shot but rarely does he take advantage of an opportunity to fire it .. should continue to better his game with the increased competition he faces on a daily basis ..

Jordan Staal - Centre

Not expected to make the team he performed so well in his first ten games that the organization had no choice but to keep him .. first year rookie sees substantial PK time and has even contributed with five short handed goals .. not an overly fast skater but he makes up time and space rather effortlessly with his stride .. his active stick and keen anticipations skills make him very effective in manufacturing turn overs .. he is very agile for a player of his size and moves deceptively fast, many players under estimate his speed and that is how he gets his chances .. has got good hands he was able to bury a goal in front off a rebound, he stays with plays and shows the type of patience that is indicative of being a goal scorer at this level .. his large frame allows him to shield the puck which helps to generate scoring chances .. playing within his limits however his reverse skating and lateral movement will need to be addressed in the off season .. his development has been rapid and nothing short of brilliant as not even his older Stanley Cup winning brother (Eric) experienced such success so early in his career ..

Erik Christensen - Centre, Winger

After several successful seasons in the AHL, there was no other place for him to go but up .. tall and lanky centre is not able to stay or read the play as it appears on some shifts the game moves too fast for him .. needs to be a top two line player to be successful as his defensive efforts are not a strong suit, he has the worst +/- on the team .. skates ok however it is more a matter of anticipation that keeps him in the back ground .. has good offensive ability, as he can finish and his shot in the slot is strong .. his offensive skill set is in high demand .. needs to work on his play without the puck, he buys into defensive team concepts but too often he fails to recognize the changes that are occurring and is too slow to make the appropriate adjustments ..

Michel Ouellet - Right Wing

Has continued to be a bright spot for this team as his consistent efforts have been rewarded on the score sheet .. quietly putting up healthy numbers and is emerging as a break out player for this team .. his speed allows him many quality chances .. despite the fact that he boasts a minus on this team he is often pitted against the opposition's best players and as such is also a fixture on the PK .. he is the first fore checker into the zone .. not overly physical, he does pester players into coughing up the puck with his relentless persistence .. smaller player who is surprisingly strong as he can take a beating and make plays down low .. his vision and ability to take a hit to make a play bode well as he is able to make quick passes into the slot .. is the type of player that could emerge to be very valuable to this rebuilding organization as his work ethic and offensive skill set make him a quality third line scorer and an effective shut down player ..

Colby Armstrong - Right Wing

Much more has been expected from Armstrong than what he has been able to produce .. after finishing last season on a high, it appeared that Crosby and he had found some chemistry but since he has been removed from Crosby's side (earlier this year) he has struggled to produce .. shows a slight tightness of the stick and confidence has been sapped from him .. he has a good active stick and a release that can catch NHL goalies by surprise but he has failed to put himself in the proper position to fully take advantage of it .. he continues to do the little things that will warrant him ice like playing strong along the boards, constantly moving his feet and playing good defensive hockey earning valuable ice on the second PK unit .. suffering from the sophomore jinx syndrome ..

Evgeni Malkin - Centre

All the hype surrounding Malkin is for obvious reasons .. he is a very smart, dynamic player whose size and skill set are perfectly suited for the new NHL .. still could stand to put on some weight as he is rather slender, but that should come with time which in turn will make him more willing to challenge the front of the net and drive it .. excellent pair of hands, he is velvet smooth, as he can stick handle standing still, the puck is on a string for him it often appears .. extremely athletic and is a stealthy like player who can get in and out of areas with little effort .. his stick handling skills often draw people out of their defensive assignment, enabling him to feather a pass and create offensive chances .. accepts passes in full flight and remarkably maintains the same pace when handling the puck .. outstanding shot, he buried a goal top corner by waiting a split second longer with the puck as he out weighed Ryan Miller, one of the premier goalies of the league .. as he grows into his body and gets more acclimatized with the league he should be a force capable of challenging for the scoring lead as he has shades of Jagr in him although has a better shot ..

Sidney Crosby - Centre, Winger

Sidney is on pace to become the youngest player to lead the league in scoring .. the last player to achieve such a feat was Wayne Gretzky .. what makes Crosby so good is his ability to hold onto the puck a little longer than most, his patience and poise are remarkable considering his age as most players in his age group are quick to rush or force a play .. maturity well beyond his years .. is a very methodical player, he thinks the game very well and his movements are calculated much like a chess grandmaster who is thinking five to ten moves in advance .. he has great lower body strength to draw from and can really explode in open ice, he recognizes and knows slower players and takes advantage of it .. defensively he has made the considerable strides in his game as he is proving to be a valuable 5-on-5 player by moving his feet and correctly positioning himself .. has committed himself to improvements in his defensive game (team high +/- rating) as he is slowly earning some time on the PK unit .. must be seen live to truly appreciate his craft as Crosby will be an elite player in this league for as long as his health holds up and expect to see him win his fair share of scoring championships and a Stanley Cup in the next five years as he will carry this team much like Mario did on his shoulders and make everyone around him a better person and player ..

NHL: Buffalo Log Jam (posted 01.10.07)

by David Burstyn

Young Sabres must feel a tad frustrated as there is simply no place for them in the NHL. Many Sabre forwards have been called up briefly this season due to injuries and although their numbers and play have dictated they receive more ice time the rookies have had to be patient due to an abundance of depth and talent at all positions. Currently this is a slight draw back as players are not fully able to develop at an NHL level despite their obvious skill sets. However in the long run it will bode well for team success as the Sabres have positioned themselves well in the new NHL salary cap landscape with a surplus of young prospects who eagerly await their turn.

Derek Roy – Centre

No Sabre has been hotter than Roy in recent weeks as he had a seven game point scoring streak coming into the New Year.. Roy has recreated himself as a hockey player, willing to do whatever it takes for team success .. he has sacrificed good scoring opportunities to be more defensively diligent .. blocking shooting lanes and employing an active stick, he is also finding his spots better and has matured so much this season in terms of play away from the puck and picking his spots better .. is a fearless competitor and shows his determination night in and night out .. his skating technique is fluent and compact, it garners top flight speed in a few effortless strides .. Roy displays uncanny hockey sense and coupled with his offensive ability he has the potential to be a future team scoring leader in a few short seasons ..

Jiri Novotny - Centre

All things considered Novotny has established a niche for himself on this young Sabres team .. it is not easy to play the type of role he does as he is a fourth line player who displays the versatility needed on this young Sabres team .. he is not overly gifted as far as scoring is concerned but what he does bring is a reliable two-way game and dependable work ethic .. he never takes a shift off and works very hard for his limited ice .. he has a long erect stride and is rather continual in his puck pursuit efforts .. he makes smart plays that often go unnoticed and much like Jochen Hecht he needs to be watched a few times to see what he really brings to the table .. small chip plays, and proper positioning in key neutral zone battles that negate a rush are certainly his best assets ..

Drew Stafford - Right Wing

Stafford is another hot young prospect who has had to be patient in terms of a roster spot .. cap issues factor in his development as does a lack of a true spot for him .. he is too good for Rochester as he scores at close to a point a game and there are few things he could still learn at that level as he is NHL ready now .. he lacks the confidence due to lack of playing time and is the type of player that needs to play in key offensive situations .. played sparingly throughout the contest, he was shuffled quite a bit between the fourth and first line in an effort to generate some sort of offence .. blessed with an abundance of skill but as most players who boast his size and play the type of game he does, (power forward) it will take some time for him to mature as a second line player that the Sabres see in him ..

Thomas Vanek - Left Wing

Vanek has been frustrating as he still lacks the type of intensity required to be a true superstar capable of breaking a game open by himself .. he teases with performances but does not always follow that up with the same consistent effort .. he has all the offensive tools however at times his work ethic tails off a bit and it reflects poorly on him .. needs to constantly keep his feet moving as he is an average skater at best and it shows on a daily basis .. he gets beaten too often to loose pucks because of his speed deficiencies and lack of physical involvement .. offensively Vanek tries and is rather successful of establishing position down low, as he uses his hands in front to convert on his chances .. his hands are very skilled although he does score a majority of his points on the PP and due to the speed and creativity that line mate Afinogenov creates .. still needs to be more responsible when puck is not on his blade ..

Nathan Paetsch - Defence

The Sabres were wise to keep him around as years of AHL grooming has made him a serviceable defender who can easily step in and be effective when called upon .. despite the fact that he had not played in the last dozen or so games he eagerly stepped in and made an immediate difference in the minutes he played .. shows remarkable poise with the puck, his panic point is non-existent .. great mobility in all directions as he is very fluent in his movements and makes plays with relative ease .. will have to bide his time, nevertheless he shows the ability to play on any of the 29 other teams and be a top five defender ..

AHL: Dallas Prospects (posted 01.10.07)

by David Burstyn

McKeen's takes a look at several promising players from the Iowa Stars.

Yared Hagos (Dal), C, Iowa

Suits the role of a third line, shut down player .. his offensive game is very limited as he simply has no shot .. he shows on occasion some creativity with the puck with his vision and passing skills .. likes to cycle the puck down low as he shows decent strength and elusiveness along the boards .. not the best stride, needs to lengthen his stride as he produces only moderate speed .. he relies more upon his anticipation and positioning to get to the puck .. not much upside to this prospect in terms of being NHL ready although he does give the coaching staff of the Iowa team a serviceable player capable of playing 12 to 14 minutes a game, playing a defensive style that will keep the puck out of their net and zone.

Marius Holtet (Dal), RW, Iowa

Holds the distinction of being the highest Norwegian born player after a distinguished three year international career with Norway's World Junior program in which he led the team in scoring twice .. entering his third pro season he is slowly becoming more adjusted however he still lacks the intangibles to be a solid player .. has benefited from injuries to receive ample ice time with the Stars this year ..while his offensive numbers are ok he fails to truly bury all the chances he is given .. at times is behind the play and just does not move his feet enough .. needs to get more involved both physically and mentally, as he is prone to some lapses and his efforts are not consistent from shift to shift .. boasts some decent stick handling moves as he has quick hands and can make moves at top speed .. is on pace to have his best offensive year to date but is far removed from an NHL job.

Vojtech Polak (Dal), RW, Iowa

Is an offensive minded player first and foremost .. he rarely comes back or exhibits the type of defensive diligence that is required to be an NHL'er .. that being said his offensive skills are at a premium on this team as the offence is geared around him when he is on the ice .. protects the puck well in the slot but too often he gets pushed around and he does not have the physical capabilities to withstand abuse associated in the danger zone .. plays with fear, bailed out on many checks and failed to compete for loose pucks if contact was going to be made .. hunched over skater with a deep knee bend that surprisingly generates modest speed .. his tall lanky body is tough to get a read on because his limps are going everywhere so he can be elusive .. guilty at times of making brain dead plays as he coughs up the puck without looking for options .. will need considerable time to develop his game and needs to work on being less selfish.

Janos Vas (Dal), LW, Iowa

After splitting time between the AHL and ECHL last year, Vas joins the Stars to start the season .. an ok skater who is efficient in his stride and mobility .. his hard work was rewarded throughout the contest with time on both special teams .. started off the game slow but eventually found his legs going into the second .. has a good understanding of positioning and defensive concepts .. offensively he lacks the anticipation associated with being a producer .. he can handle the puck ok but too many times he did nothing in terms of advancing the puck or making a play with it .. making improvements and should be able to compete at this level.

John Lammers (Dal), LW, Iowa

Plays a very hard nosed game as his hockey sense and two-way play make him a very attractive prospect .. his play without the puck is impressive as he is always moving and going to where the puck will be .. has a good feel for the game .. not afraid to get physical either, he readily launches himself into the attack .. clever stick handler, he can shred a defence apart with a timely pass .. he drives to the net and tries to make things happen .. doesn't get much ice time but works very hard for what he is given .. a player to monitor in the future.

Nicklas Grossman (Dal), D, Iowa

Starting in his second full AHL season .. has played a few games with the Dallas Stars this season .. traditionally not known as an offensive contributor as his seasons in Sodertalje of the Swedish Jr. league he never accumulated more than three points in a thirty plus game season however former 2005 Team Sweden captain has elevated his offensive game considerably at the professional level as his puck skills and decisions in the offensive zone have improved .. is having a career year in terms of points as he already has more this season that he has combined in his last two years .. has made improvements in all areas of his game and has been rewarded with more minutes as a result .. a decent skater, he has a long stride but he is not overly strong on his skates .. he has good jump and his fluid stride helps him get to errand pucks .. a smart defender who blocks shooting lanes but must make some improvements in terms of mobility to truly keep up with forwards .. has good size and presence on the ice although he does not assert himself physically he does get involved .. continuing to develop and improve.

Mark Fistric (Dal), D, Iowa

After enjoying five successful seasons with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, Fistric makes his professional debut .. first round pick provides the Stars with a reliable stay-at-home defender whose size and strength are his best assets .. more defensive minded as he usually covers for his defence partner should he decide to join the rush .. is usually found on the red line when the puck is in the opposition's end .. nice graceful stride yet he only achieves one gear of quickness .. he needs to be more aware of moving his feet .. lacks puck skills but did manage to score his first professional goal by carrying the puck and shooting it on net scoring by means of a deflection .. can lay out the body however he will need to time his hits better, in time he should be quite a punishing hitter as his 6'2, 235 pound frame is equipped for NHL play.

Mario Scalzo (Dal), D, Iowa

Returned to the Stars after competing in his second straight Spengler Cup .. smooth skating defender continues to be an offensive contributor at this level for the Stars and is on pace to improve on last year's totals .. appears thicker this season and has not lost his speed as a result though he still gets bullied along the boards .. good first step quickness and does not hesitate to jump into offensive situations however this year he has become more aware of when to hang back .. is picking his spots better as he doesn't over commit and looses his positioning in the neutral zone which helps his play in the defensive zone .. slowly coming along but an NHL career may be out of reach, he could join his Spengler Cup team mates and be a dependable European player.

Dan Ellis (Dal), G, Iowa

Has struggled this season to play with the type of consistency needed to play at an NHL level .. boasts a winning record but shoddy save percentage and G.A.A statistics .. did not find his game till the second period as he came out very slow and looked very unsure of himself in the early going .. his play down low needs to be improved as he reacted to slow to plays that were developing around the goal .. can get into a flopping mode when he is unsure and it was not uncommon to see him on his back or stomach to make a safe .. has ok puck handling skills, he can make a good pass on occasion and then fumble the puck on the next .. needs to limit the amount of times he comes out of his crease to play the puck .. butterfly goalie that is guilty of dropping down too fast, he was easily beaten on a 2-1 in overtime because he simply put himself out of position by dropping down .. needs considerable work and starts to truly develop into an NHL goalie, although time is not on his side.

AHL: Aeros vs. Wolves Update (posted 01.07.07)

by Max Giese

Benoit Pouliot (Min), F, Houston

His combination of size, skating ability, and offensive tools are rare .. he isn't consistent shift to shift, but yet he managed to produce four prime scoring opportunities in this game for himself and his line mates .. has a long, powerful stride that makes him move elegantly all over the ice effortlessly and swiftly .. blessed with silky hands and he can really dangle, add that to his enormous reach and it makes him a real one on one threat .. protects the puck well and while he appears lanky, he is deceptively strong, especially on his feet .. instinctive, and creative with the puck, Pouliot can manufacture offense in any situation .. his poise with the puck is uncanny, and he's a natural around the net area as he can finish in a number of ways .. scored a pretty breakaway goal when he faked the shot before going to his back hand and put it top shelf .. distributes the puck slickly with creativity, but his finishing prowess is the dominant offensive weapon at this stage .. doesn't get involved physically often, will hang around the net area but didn't finish one check all game .. his defensive habits for the most part are poor as he's too inconsistent with the effort he puts fourth defensively, although he did fine when he was in the NHL .. can disappear for a long duration of time during the game and must refine his consistency .. a true talent that needs a bit of work away from the puck, but could be a future horse, but should remain in the AHL, besides the occasional cup of tea in the NHL as he works on becoming a consistent dominant offensive threat as well.

Roman Voloshenko (Min), F, Houston

His numbers are down drastically from last season, and it's easy to see why .. he plays a passive game away from the puck and needs his line mates to win the battles for loose pucks, and then to pass him the puck .. Voloshenko anticipates the play very well and the puck seems to follow him .. clogs the oppositions passing lanes and can create the odd turn over .. however his decent puck pursuit is almost wasted as he never finishes a check .. his defensive habits are very discouraging, he's very lackadaisical back checking and he rarely battles along the boards to get the puck out of the zone .. his first few strides are swift and he's quick in tight spaces, but he overall he lacks explosiveness and a top gear .. has very soft hands and sees the ice well .. he displays above average offensive imagination but he lacks the top end vision to be a play maker .. wastes no time getting the puck off of his stick to the net and has a quick release that produces an accurate shot with above average velocity .. could blossom in the NHL down the road with gritty, play making line mates but he needs to improve his game instead of waiting for his line mates to get him the puck.

Josh Harding (Min), G, Houston

His athleticism and the dexterity is impressive .. blessed with quick reflexes in his legs and gloves .. his lateral movement and foot work is superb .. his puck handling skills have improved ten fold over the years as he now makes wise decisions of when to play the puck and he can move the puck up the ice .. makes himself appear larger in the net than he really is as he keeps his chest up and is well balanced even in the butterfly .. plays his angles well and does a good job remaining square to the puck .. could challenge the shooter more as he will play too deep in his crease at times .. rebound control is merely average at best .. will resort to flopping when there is a scrum in front .. should be out of the AHL next season.

Danny Irmen (Min), F, Houston

Irmen's two way game has translated very well to the AHL .. his swift acceleration and anticipation make him a great defensive asset .. plays on the penalty kill and definitely has a future there in the NHL .. is a threat to score off of a turn over even while short handed .. also uses his speed offensively and has a separation gear .. has some sand paper to his game, finishes his checks, and battles in traffic .. isn't a gifted finisher or creator, but does an adequate job at both thanks to his work ethic and hockey sense .. a solid third line candidate in the near future.

Peter Olvecky (Min), F, Houston

He's a savvy centerman who is fairly mobile and did some things well .. scored a goal while camping at the back door to the put the game out of reach late in the third on the power play .. has a good understanding for the game and is always in proper position .. defensively aware and plays a strong two way game .. isn't over powering but handles himself in traffic well .. lacks the vision and offensive imagination to be a play maker .. his shot is rather inaccurate and lacks velocity, which hinders him from being a scorer and with that said he gets plenty of shots on net and willingly goes to the goal area for rebounds .. a smooth skater with decent balance and quickness, but ultimately he lacks explosiveness.

Clayton Stoner (Min), D, Houston

A big defenseman who uses his strong upper body to be physically imposing .. isn't a physical presence nor mean, but he competes and uses his size to its advantage .. skating must improve .. skating forward he's fine, but he can be beat with speed repeatedly when skating backwards and his pivots are rough .. plays a proactive game, and is willing to pinch in offensively .. has a heavy point shot but it has a slow release and he struggles to get it to the net .. adequate puck movement .. still a ways off.

Alex Bourret (Atl), F, Chicago

He's quickly getting close to the NHL and should be there at some point next season .. he's a good, not great skater with quick strides that produce adequate power, but he lacks that elite top gear to be a special skater .. has an accurate shot with a fine release but it lacks that top end velocity to be a pure goal scorer .. uses his quickly released, cannon slap shot .. has soft hands and thanks to his quick lateral cuts, he is can be elusive one on one .. distributes the puck with creativity but he's not an instinctive passer either .. did a good job defensively, will never kill penalties but he works hard in his own zone, back checks, battles for loose pucks, but he lacks that high end defensive savvy .. plays the role of a pest, gets involved after the whistle, and noticeably does things to get under the oppositions skin .. finishes every check he can and plays with noticeable passion every shift .. can land devastatingly powerful checks that can send a much larger opposition to their backs .. willing to stick up for his teammates or drop the gloves and fight, as he took on the much larger Erik Reitz .. he's a real fan favorite type who does a lot of things very well, and his physical component is just icing the cake .. however he lacks any true elite qualities to be a first liner, more of a second line type.

Jordan LaVallee (Atl), LW, Chicago

Scored a high light real goal when he did an inside to the outside move just inside the blue line before driving the net with a defenseman draped all over him and then one handed took the puck from his forehand to back hand and then shot it home past Harding .. his skating just keeps getting better and better .. his first step quickness is more than adequate and the power behind his stride is really coming along as his swift top gear is a true asset .. continues to improve his physical game and is really starting to look the part of a power forward and is using his brute size .. can finish but he lacks the vision to be much of a play maker .. defensively aware and puts the effort forth in that department, and is even seeing time on the penalty kill .. his development has been impressive.

Nathan Oystrick (Atl), D, Chicago

His comfort level has increased and that has lead to stronger play as of late .. quarterbacks the power play and is his offensive instincts are impressive .. he distributes the puck with creativity and maturity .. pinches in at the appropriate times and his quickly released wrist shot is NHL caliber .. defensively is hard to notice, and that's a good thing as he doesn't make any mistakes but isn't a shut down type either .. his on ice work ethic is exemplary as he'll lay it all on the line to make a play.