AHL: Colorado and Carolina Prospects

AHL: Colorado and Carolina Prospects (posted 12.28.06)

by David Burstyn

McKeen's takes a look at several promising players from the Albany River Rats.

Johnny Boychuk (Col), D, Albany

Playing in his third pro season after a successful and steady junior career in the WHL .. is playing for his third AHL team as a result of Colorado shuffling around its AHL affiliates .. at 6'2, 215 he has good size and presence .. he moves very well for a player his size, he has deceptive speed and an additional extra gear that enables him to vault into the attack or create one on his own .. displays good reads in the offensive zone however he is prone to some mental mistakes and needs to eliminate doubt from his game .. moves well with the play, understands the game as he positions himself well on the ice .. played forward on a few shifts .. continuing to develop and his quick feet and ability to produce offensively should be the difference maker for him to play in the NHL.

Brett Carson (Car), D, Albany

Started his first pro season as a member of the Florida Everblades and got the promotion to the AHL after just three games .. there are many facets of his game that need considerable work .. he has a long stride and average mobility but fails to generate much speed .. he needs to keep his feet moving constantly as he does not react fast enough and can be easily fooled in one-on-one situations .. despite his size he failed to exhibit the type of toughness you would expect from him .. his puck skills are very limited and he needs to get more confidence to play better offensively .. partnered primarily with Boychuk he saw the ice every second shift and was rarely a factor throughout the game.

Kyle Cumiskey (Col), D, Albany

A typical late bloomer, the Colorado scouting staff should be pleased that they uncovered this gem in the 7th round as surprisingly he is leading the team in defenseman points .. plays a steady game that is literally mistake free, he is incredibly smart in shifting his body and moving to open ice .. he hangs back and reads the ice so well as his hockey sense could be his best asset .. decent speed, very deceiving it is his mobility and ability to move effortlessly in changing directions that makes him so effective .. offensively he is unflashy yet he gets the job done, often going unnoticed he does the small things at the line that result in longer periods of time in the offensive zone .. coaching staff has utmost confidence in him as he played the PK and did a great job containing forwards despite his obvious size deficiencies by angling off well and maintaining strong position in the defensive zone .. certainly a player who is capable of taking it to the next level.

Cody McCormick (Col), RW, Albany

Has played the better parts of the past two seasons with the Avalanche .. solid build he uses his strength to create .. he always finishes his checks and employs an aggressive style of play that can on occasion result in some turnovers .. does not have the natural finishing ability and at times he looked lost in the offensive zone as he just did not know where to be .. poor anticipation skills however he will drive to the net and try to create anyway he can .. useful player in down low situations as he is fairly strong .. upright skater, has an awkward first step but nevertheless is an efficient skater who can navigate around the ice fast .. still finding his game defensively .. works hard and could be used in a fourth line checking role but his limited offensive game still needs to develop for him to be considered for that role.

Jakub Petruzalek (Car), C, Albany

Played last year in the Czech Republic before returning to the Colts (OHL) after a rather unsuccessful 19 game stint with Litvinov .. enters his first full North American pro season as he also participated in six games last year for the Wolfpack .. a smaller, very skilled forward who sees substantial PP time .. he has great hands and decent finish .. good hand/eye coordination allows him to tip in many rebounds or knock down high errand pucks .. great speed, he can really move and is difficult to contain because he is very slippery and elusive .. good release in the slot however he rarely stays there for fear of getting pummelled as he is a very soft player that basically plays the perimeter .. tries to throw hits but they are very ineffective and often go unnoticed.

Justin Peters (Car), G, Albany

After a very successful junior career he joins the River Rats for his first pro season .. although he still needs to work on several aspects of his game he is a very polished goalie who shows great skill and athleticism .. his stick handling skills are top notch, he made several healthy passes up ice and acts as a third defender at times .. tall goalie, he covers the top portion of the net well but it is the bottom portion at times that gives him problems .. a competitor, he is tough and is not afraid to stick an opponent should they get too close to him or his crease .. good agility coupled with proper fundamentals and adequate rebound control .. ok glove hand .. very positionally sound on most occasions, he at times can get caught flopping around and he will need to minimize this aspect of his game .. showing the skill necessary to be an accomplished NHL goalie in a few short seasons.

NHL: Lightning Strikes Twice (posted 12.16.06)

by David Burstyn

If the rest of the Lightning team could ever get going like Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St.Louis, then they might be better than a .500 team. However the organization lacks depth at all positions and the drop off after the top line is huge as the talent pool is relatively thin. GM Jay Feaster has publicly announced that he is disappointed that too many of his first round picks are not currently with the club. Fortunately some later round picks have panned out for the Lightning including 8th round selection Ryan Craig and 6th round selection Paul Ranger, both from the 2002 drafts.

Doug Janik – Defense

U.S. native enters his fourth year in the league and the first with Tampa Bay after signing as a free agent in the off season .. provides little in terms of offence however he does provide the Lightning with decent depth as he can play upwards of 14 to 22 minutes a night .. good foot speed, he occasionally ventures deep into the offensive territory to create a chance but is quick to recover should it not unfold .. willingly blocks shooting lanes .. he is not agile enough and his consistency efforts at times wane.

Paul Ranger – Defense

It is a testament to the type of work Ranger has put in just to make this team .. he has stepped in and contributed a solid effort in both the offensive and defensive side of the rink .. he manages a PP well as his puck skills allow him to casually play the puck, fending off the opposition before he makes a quick accurate pass .. very calm when handling the puck .. his mobility coupled with his strength and toughness makes him hard to play against, especially down low .. he is aggressive in defending his goal and at times too aggressive as it costs him penalties .. good skater, he boasts a powerful stride .. concerned with his passion level and intensity as he looked very disinterested when the game was out of reach and did not play with the type of competitive drive one would expect from a professional .. all that aside, Ranger has developed quite a role for himself and aside from Boyle he is their most dangerous offensive minded defenseman.

Nikita Alexeev - Right Wing

After returning from Russia, the former Erie Otter and first round pick joins the Lightning and looks poised to stick this time around .. after playing the better parts of two seasons with the Lightning and toiling in the AHL, Alexeev is off to his best start in his brief NHL career .. he had 15 points in his first 20 games before hitting a slump in which he has recorded 2 points in his last 10 games .. nevertheless Alexeev brings size up front and his hands are very soft .. he is the type of player that could come off lazy because he is a big man and does everything so methodical .. long reach allows him to intercept passes .. slick hands enable him to dangle, as he showed a lot of flash in tight spaces .. very agile for a big player .. he has offensive instincts and is capable of playing and more importantly keeping up with 1st line players .. his work on the PP is very admirable .. skating is a bit of an issue, he lacks a top gear and his stride has a hic up in it nevertheless he gets around due to the length of his stride .. should continue to develop and mature as a player who can consistently play in the league.

Ryan Craig - Centre

After enjoying a fine junior career with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Craig stepped in for the second half of last season and posted respectable numbers .. a leader on the ice with his take charge attitude and willingness to compete .. not the prettiest of skaters, his hands are his best weapon as he is a pure sniper and has really developed his finishing skills, especially in close .. drives hard to the net and is a fixture in front of it on the PP as his sturdy frame and ability to withstand abuse allow him to tip in goals using his outstanding hand/eye coordination .. should continue to flourish as he is slowly seeing the ice in more key situations.

Dmitri Afanasenkov - Left Wing

Has taken a long time to develop .. does not bring much to the table in terms of offence .. more of a defensive minded player despite healthy stats in the QMJHL which resulted in him being a third round pick back in '98 .. big body covers the ice well and defensively he creates a considerable amount of turn overs .. shows decent puck skills but has a tendency to hold onto it too long and it results in costly turn overs, especially in the neutral zone .. needs to make decisions faster in all situations .. plays only when he wants, as he is prone to taking many shifts off and shows a complete lack of competitiveness .. a role player at best who will over stay his welcome as soon as another prospect emerges in the organization.

Blair Jones - Centre

Another Western born player who hopes to crack the line up ..played sparingly throughout the contest but saw more ice time when team fell behind and the game was out of reach .. uses his size to his advantage as he plays a feisty game and prefers to work down low to create his chances .. decent stride, it compliments his game as he employs a wider stance that really helps his stability .. has some ok offensive tools, as his release and wrist shot are improving.

AHL: Nsh & Mtl Prospects (posted 12.14.06)

by David Burstyn

Andre Benoit (Mtl), D, Hamilton

Has improved his skating however it still lacks explosiveness .. ok puck skills but he tries to push for too much on occasion, stretching his first pass .. shows more composure in PP situations where he works well with additional space .. saw considerable time on the 1st PP unit as he controlled the game rather well .. he is slowly learning on the job, as he is recognizing his spots better, making timely plays in terms of when to pinch all while maintaining a calm approach.

Matt D'Agostini (Mtl), RW, Hamilton

One thing you can say about D'Agostini is that he can score, however another thing you can say is that he is lazy and plays scared .. much like his junior playing days, he circles the half boards and then breaks into the middle looking for a quick pass to spring him all alone in the offensive zone .. this means he rarely comes back to assist in his defensive responsibilities .. physically he is not very strong, as he gets pushed around far too often and at times he won't even compete for a loose puck in the corner .. galloping stride has an awkward appearance but does not prohibit him from joining the rush .. many facets of his game need work for him to be a more complete player but for the time being he is at least producing, which is keeping his roster spot safe for the time being.

Mikhail Grabovski (Mtl), C, Hamilton

He has really elevated his game as he gets more familiar with the North American pro game .. capable of making sensational end-to-end rushes .. he can dangle with the puck but too often when opponents catch up to him he gets pushed off of it .. he is the best skater on the team, his first step quickness can not be compared to anyone else on the team and at times his line mates have a hard time keeping up .. he does show a healthy competitive streak as he does go into the corners[/db] (although not too often) knowing full well that he will take abuse and most likely not retrieve the puck .. great hand/eye coordination, he is agile and is an absolute magician with the puck .. his vision is his best asset as he makes precision passes through seems that connect to his team mates blade .. continuing to develop into a highly explosive playmaker that may hone his skills in the NHL soon enough.

Jaroslav Halak (Mtl), G, Hamilton

If Grabovski has been the most improved Bull Dog than Halak is the most valuable .. the Slovakian native has registered 4 shutouts this season and boasts a league best G.A.A and the highest save percentage .. he has been amazing, stealing games for the team even though they were badly outplayed .. butterfly style who has sensationally fast reflexes .. pounces on rebounds and rarely gives them up .. play around goal is solid and technical, he is very well positioned with players behind the net or back door plays, as he limits his movement in those situations and hugs the post constantly .. great skater, he moves well side-to-side while still remaining square to the shooter .. shows good concentration and composure when net is being crashed .. does not commit, stays up as long as he can, and has good down low coverage thus minimizing the shooting options for the opposition .. stopped Ramzi Abid on a penalty shot .. is playing with extreme confidence and could be another Huet in the horizon as Halak is ten years younger.

Kevin Klein (Nsh), D, Milwaukee

Klein joins an organization that is so deep in defence that it will be very hard for him to emerge with a roster spot .. he plays a very relaxed game, almost too relaxed as he does not exhibit the type of urgency he should .. very soft passes out of the zone and was not a physical force in clearing bodies in front of his goal .. he does throw the occasional hit, but does not display the nastiness he should .. offensively he is skilled, he has good puck moving skills and did rush the puck up on several occasions but not as frequent as he should have .. he joined the attack in the dying minutes of a close game to spark some sort of a come back but his efforts were in vein .. could protect the puck better .. hard to imagine where he will fit in the organizations plans, as he is not as physical as some of the other defenseman currently playing with the Predators or within the system and he does not show the offensive skill level yet to force GM David Poile hand in making a trade with one of his current blue liners to open up a spot for him.

Cal O'Reilly (Nsh), C, Milwaukee

Seaforth native enters his first pro season in the AHL, after seeing action in the playoffs last year .. has adjusted ok, as he has been able to score however his game is very far away in terms of development .. average skater and limited physical strength are immediate concerns .. he communicates well with the defence and is slowly starting to play better without the puck .. offensively his vision and passing ability are his bread and butter, he does not have much of a shot .. tad soft in traffic as he gets bullied out of the paint rather easily and he does not have the confidence to battle with men yet .. could do a better job keeping the puck close to his body .. shows good puck handling along the boards and tries to make plays down low or on the half boards .. his timing is still off as he is slowly getting used to the pro game .. appears to be a good complimentary player on this level.

John Vigilante (Nsh), LW, Milwaukee

Has struggled to find his game in the early going as he went scoreless in his first 17 games before scoring two in one contest to get the monkey off of his back .. ok skater, more of a north to south type guy as he is not overly agile .. battles on the boards with modest success as he has a decent frame and appears to be stronger than he looks .. was a tad behind the play all game as he was unable to create anything on his own and chased the puck more than it was in his possession.

Kelsey Wilson (Nsh), LW, Milwaukee

Wilson has defied the odds and given hope to many who were labelled as a poor skater .. after exploding in his final year of junior with 38 goals, Wilson has proved to be a late bloomer and has since managed to elevate his game to pro status .. provides grit and toughness with a healthy scoring touch .. his skating is weak but he off sets this by working hard and constantly competing, throwing his weight around and being a physical force opens up tremendous room for him .. challenges guys both physically and when he is defending .. shows the occasional flash of stick handling brilliance as he made a nice toe drag that sent him in on a 2-1, opponents at times under-estimate his offensive abilities .. will slowly be a fan favourite in Milwaukee with his reckless style of play.

NHL: News and Views (posted 12.13.06)

by Cory Kornelsen

When the Anaheim Ducks acquired Chris Pronger everyone was talking about how good

their defense was going to be that already featured Scott Niedermayer, Francois Beauchemin and high quality goalies Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov. Now the defense has been suffocating and is currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference but what's even more impressive is the team's offensive production. The Ducks are ranked first in the west with 116 goals and only trail the high-octane Buffalo Sabres who have scored 121 for first in the NHL. The Anaheim Ducks continue to steamroll the competition and are now bullying the teams of the Eastern Conference.

The Ducks are currently on a five game eastern road swing and started off on the right webbed-foot with wins in Washington and Tampa Bay over the weekend. The line of Teemu Selanne, Andy McDonald and Chris Kunitz combined for ten points and continue their hot play but even Anaheim's third line is providing offensive support with Todd Marchant, rookie Dustin Penner and Shawn Thornton combining for five goals and 11 points. Selanne is the only Western Conference player in the top 15 in NHL scoring and although he has had some fairly productive seasons in the past, the transition and puck distribution skills of Niedermayer and now Pronger has rejuvenated his career and proved last season was no fluke. In fact, Selanne has not looked this excited, hungry and good since he had Phil Housley feeding him the puck during his record-breaking rookie year in Winnipeg almost 15 years ago.

Well, so much for the theory that Ken Hitchcock can't coach in the "new" NHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets and their once anemic offence scored only 11 goals in seven straight losses leading up to the firing of ex-head coach Gerard Gallant. Since replacing him with Hitchcock, the Blue Jackets have gone (5-3-0) scoring 26 goals along the way for an average of 3.25 goals-per-game. The biggest benefactors have been veterans Sergei Federov and Anson Carter who have responded with nine points each during that span. Rick Nash and David Vyborny also look to have found their stride by combining for eight points in the Jackets two wins over the weekend. It's still early and maybe the honeymoons's not over yet, but if Hitchcock can light the same fire under Nikolai Zherdev and continue to get quality net-minding, lookout for Columbus to make some noise and be in a battle for one of the final playoff spots in the West.

Speaking of coaching changes, it's nice to see Denis Savard doing so well in Chicago. He may not have the experience, but if anyone can preach offense it's Savard who had quite the dazzling and entertaining offensive career. The Hawks have yet to lose in regulation in the seven games with Savard as head coach and have averaged just over three goals-per-game. After missing 19 straight games with an ankle injury, Martin Havlat returned to the lineup in style over the weekend picking up five points in two games. The Hawks certainly missed Havlat who was on a mission to start the season with 13 points in seven games leading the Hawks to a respectable (4-3-0) start before falling to injury. The Hawks then proceeded to lose seven straight games and had a rash of other injuries to follow turning their season into a downward spiral. Hope however, is alive in the windy city with Havlat back, Radim Vrbata and Rene Bourque set to return and the recent production of Tuomo Ruutu and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. The Black Hawks are still a year or two away but should be a very exciting team in the future with prospects such as Jonathan Toews, Cam Barker, Jack Skille and David Bolland on the horizon.

We have all heard the jokes and talked about the circus-like developments in the New York Islanders front office over the years and attendance has been poor for the once proud franchise but there is cause for excitement. Head coach Ted Nolan has the team playing surprisingly well and is getting more out of Alexei Yashin than the National Arts Center in Ottawa ever did. Islander fans should be most encouraged however by the performance of top prospect Kyle Okposo. Okposo was the Islanders first-round pick this last draft and was taken seventh overall after a standout campaign with Des Moines of the USHL where he won rookie of the year honors as well as being named playoff MVP. Okposo is now lighting it up for the University of Minnesota leading his team in scoring with 24 points in 18 games and ranks third in the nation with 15 goals so far as a freshman. Okposo is a speedy-solid, two-way workhorse with a great set of hands and offensive skills. He scored a brilliant between-the-legs goal recently a-la Antoine Vermette but in motion skating sideways just outside the crease. He hasn't received that much exposure to date but fans wanting to catch a glimpse of him will have a chance at the upcoming World (U-20) Junior Championships in Sweden where he will be playing for Team USA. He's definitely one to keep an eye on.

Finally, on a more serious note, our thoughts go out to Montreal GM and hockey great Bob Gainey and his family. Mr. Gainey's daughter Laura Gainey is still missing after an unfortunate boating accident last Friday on the East Coast. Mr. Gainey has always been first-class, a true professional and has been admired, deeply respected and a part of the fabric in the Montreal community and the hockey world for years. On behalf of McKeen's I would like to extend our thoughts and prayers and continue to hope for the best.

AHL: Duke of Earl (posted 12.09.06)

by David Burstyn

McKeen's takes a look at several players from the Toronto Marlies.

Robbie Earl (Tor), LW, Marlies

Has not been finding the back of the net with the type of consistency he has hoped for .. scored two goals in this contest however his offensive totals have been sub par averaging less than half a point a game .. of the two goals he scored one was off a poor deflection and another he was lucky that a defenseman missed his assignment and let him go .. a speedy player who does everything in top gear however he lacks the true instinct and sound positioning to be an elite finisher or for that matter an NHL type of player .. shows good puck handling skills and can make decent plays behind the net .. learning to play defence better but more times than not he struggles to find himself involved and is always a step behind, due to his anticipation skills in all three zones .. must make improvements however it is too early to suggest Europe ..

Kris Newbury (Tor), C, Marlies

Entering his fifth season as a pro .. a gritty, hard nosed and determined player who plays an aggressive type of game .. has decent hands as he can execute and score on his chances .. more of a shot first, pass later as he lacks elite vision, nevertheless he does score and can contribute at this level .. has a decent wrist shot which catches some goalies by surprise because it has a fair bit of sting to it .. stays with plays and always tries to assert himself in some capacity .. an ok skater he can get modest speed but it is not NHL calibre .. he is a player best suited at this level as it is unlikely that a call up to the Leafs will occur, he fills a nice role on this AHL team and it appears that other prospects in the organization may have passed him by ..

Ben Ondrus (Tor), RW, Marlies

Started the season with the Leafs before joining the Marlies .. the modest built Ondrus is a hard worker and will sacrifice himself for the sake of the team .. he plays an aggressive game and constantly looks to get under the opposition's skin, with a hard body check or words after the play .. generates good momentum in terms of speed once he gets going and is constantly moving his feet .. goes to the paint to score goals and is not afraid on the ice .. shows good agility and a decent scoring touch .. a capable player at this level and a proven fourth line player in the NHL, should be the first to receive a call up barring an injury ..

Martin Sagat (Tor), LW, Marlies

While he has not registered the points he does a lot to create .. he uses his size to his advantage at a stand still position, in corner battles and especially down low .. he is physical but does much of his work in the neutral zone which helps to produce turn overs and develop a healthy transition game .. awkward skating style and still working out the kinks to make it smoother, could be the result of weak ankles .. big lanky winger is improving and is still a work in progress ..

John Mitchell (Tor), C, Marlies

Certainly has elevated his game and is playing with much more confidence .. skating still holds him back to a degree but his raw, aggressive style opens up scoring opportunities as opponents generally fear him .. has healthy offensive skills, he protects the puck in the slot and is not afraid to drive to the net .. defensively he lacks the first step quickness which sometimes has him behind the play, he needs to be more aware of his positioning when the play breaks up .. tries to pick up the trailer but is sometimes unsuccessful and fails to make the defensive statement he should .. an offensive player first his skills have been maturing, he boasts a decent shot and his ability to crash and bang the net has not been rewarded on the score sheet but it is encouraging to see ..

Staffan Kronwall (Tor), D, Marlies

After recovering from an ankle injury, Kronwall has been in the Marlies organization as part of a reconditioning stint .. the big, long legged defender covers the ice effortlessly with his lengthy stride .. has ok puck skills and can manufacture decent scoring opportunities with his shot from the point and ability to manage a PP .. still not NHL calibre and it is doubtful he would ever play many PP minutes in the NHL however in an effort to rejuvenate his confidence he saw considerable PP time throughout this contest .. defensively he employs his long reach and works it to his advantage .. he does get caught standing still from time to time which would be a determent at the NHL level .. strong play of Leafs defenseman make it unlikely for him to crack the line up unless an injury is sustained ..

Justin Pogge (Tor), G, Marlies

Being groomed as the heir apparent to the Leafs number one goalie, Pogge is quite the fan favourite in the Ricoh Coliseum .. he has split the duties with J.F. Racine this season and even though he has posted a better G.A.A. and save percentage he has fewer wins .. he plays against tougher opponents and this could be the result of a losing record .. plays with confidence as his big 6'3 frame moves well laterally .. he has soft pads and his rebound control is good .. goes down early like most young goalies do in a new league but he does have a thick upper body that helps him save shots .. glove hand is quick .. could do a better job closing his five hole faster as it was exposed on a few occasions .. slowly coming along but no rush for him to see NHL action for at least another two years ..

NHL: Fantasy (posted 12.08.06)

by Gus Katsaros

Talented Mr. Roto League Update

Teemu Selanne had 10 minutes in penalties last week lifting Team McKeen's sad PIM's total. The margins between categories are so tight, it is difficult to justify removing an offensive player, but the PIM's total indicates otherwise, being dead last in the category. Having a modest increase in the category would create a better chance at taking away some valuable points from the glut of teams between first and fifth. Ian Laperriere is the newest addition to the roster, with his penalty average of 1.81 PIM's per game.

One bad goaltending night for R&R knocked Team McKeen's from first to fifth. Offensive production has been great, while goaltending has suffered. Roloson ate four goals in a game against Atlanta on the same night Dwayne Roloson got the hook in a six goal barrage versus the Avalanche. Goaltending categories are tight. One bad night has the effect of a drop in the standings. Fast. R&R now has Nikolai Khabibulin to fall back on as a waiver wire addition, because confidence in Andrew Raycroft, specifically, has dropped.

Streaking and Stinking

This section is where you will find the best and worst of the period.

Streaking …

Nikolai Khabibulin, G, (Chi)

The 'Bulin Wall's back. The quick glove hand, the acrobatics, they have returned and he has been spectacular in a week he won three starts with a 2.00 goals-against-average, great fantasy numbers. As good as he has been, he can't be the reason Chicago wins games alone, he needs support. The emergence of Tuomo Ruutu and the pending return of Martin Havlat make Khabibulin a great play. Change has blown through the Windy City, positive and hopeful for the future. Goals-against will be tough to control, with a weakened defense by the loss of Adrian Aucoin.

Viktor Kozlov, LW, (NYI)

Began the season strong, playing with Yashin and in his absence, was replaced with Chris Simon. Simon doesn't possess the same caliber offense while Kozlov hasn't missed a beat. Followed a two-goal, three point effort by scoring a career high four goals against the Rangers, for six goals and one assist in two games, enough to net him First Star of the week ending December 3. Has been a consistent threat all season, with or without Yashin but wont continue on this pace. Good addition and steady roster player.

Mike Knuble, RW, (Phi)

Knuble (11-7-3-10) is tearing it up this season, including enjoying a five-game goal-scoring streak starting from Nov 25, against Montreal. He scores the majority of his goals in close, around the crease using his six-foot-three frame to win battles for space in front of the net, knocking in rebounds, skating and driving to the net. The Flyers won once in six games, including an overtime loss, while he nursed a broken finger. He was scoring at a decent clip prior to being hurt and has continued just as strong. He is a must Flyer in your lineup.

Stinking …

Manny Fernandez, G, (Min)

Finally earned a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Earned, indeed, requiring a shootout and a fabulous goal by Pierre-Marc Bouchard. The team in front of him has been mediocre, at best, defensively. In many recent games, they left him out to battle pucks and his own confidence. With Marion Gaborik and Pavol Demitra both on the shelf and Minny's offense dry as a well, prospects for Manny Fernandez stringing together a few wins draw slim. Secondary offense of Brian Rolston, Todd White and Pierre-Marc Bouchard wasn't able to hold up the early season level of production. No offense, shaky defense. Until Gaborik and Demitra return and the Wild are able to play the type of offensive game they began this season, look for Fernandez to struggle.

Jarret Stoll, C, (Edm)

Hasn't been able to duplicate the offensive flair from last season, but is a warrior to take a shot off the right shin, go down hard and get back up, only to block another shot off the left foot, on the same sequence, killing a penalty against the visiting Hurricanes. Later on, he was thrown down head first into the boards, almost becoming another casualty for the Oilers who have already lost Ales Hemsky, and Ryan Smyth. Stoll plays the point on the power play, but has not been able to duplicate the same success and may have dropped off the fantasy radar.

Keep An Eye On

Cory Stillman, LW, (Car)

Sure questions linger, but the remarkable thing is that he is returning from shoulder surgery so soon. Stillman has provided some playoff heroics in both the Hurricanes and Lightning Stanley Cup runs. He scored 156 points in 153 games over two seasons with Carolina and Tampa Bay, including 46 goals. His return is thought of maybe taking away the time from Rod Brind'Amour, who led the Hurricanes in time on ice last season, a spot normally reserved for a defenseman (although he was hurt against the Oilers). Stillman's return should have the opposite effect and enhance Brind'Amour's point production, instead of hampering, and if the injury to Rod is more serious than first thought, Stillman stepping in gives the Canes the boost in offense they sorely miss at this point in the season.

Peter Schaefer, RW, (Ott)

Has been on fire, after starting off slow and not registering a point in the first 10 games of the season. He has scored four goals and 18 points since then, a span of 15 games. The smooth skating winger has been instrumental in providing the secondary scoring that made the Senators a threat last season. Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza have found their groove after looking lost early on, which bodes well for the first line. For the Senators to be successful, Schaefer will have to play the high tempo game and take more chances, keeping up with hardest working Sen, Mike Fisher.

Ray Emery, G, (Ott)

Emery is hampered by an early season injury to his trapping hand. He is battling pucks, not trapping shots as he normally would and may be trying to compensate with an altered stance. He has let in some goals up high, in which a ginger effort is noticeable, taking care not to put his hand in the way of blasts from opponent's sticks. This could be a time to get Martin Gerber in your lineups. Emery missed time already with the injury and with his performance this season overshadowing Gerber, the Sens may want to rest him and make sure he is healthy.

Joe Pavelski, C, (SJ)

Many rookies have done it, scoring the first goal of their NHL career in their first game. Next game was fruitless. Then in the third and fourth he scored power play goals, again in the fifth in the dying seconds of the third to lift the Sharks over the Red Wings. The rookie has been getting power play time and a regular shift, often with Patrick Marleau. It also shows a lot of confidence in the rookie to have him on the ice in the last minute of regulation in a game tied two all. The fact that he scored was made as he took advantage of some timely bounces and proper positional play. Until Jonathan Cheechoo returns, Pavelski will remain in the lineup, while only getting around 12 minutes a game.

Martin Havlat, RW, (Chi)

Another player who missed time, Havlat automatically makes the Blackhawks a dangerous team. Tuomo Ruutu has been all offense for Chicago and as a duo, should Savard end up pairing them on the same line, they will be a double threat. Add in the stability of Khabibulin and the Hawks will be a team that surprises the Western Conference. Havlat coming back gives Radim Vrbata and Bryan Smolinski hope for better numbers as well. It's well known what Havlat can produce, often with selfish lone ranger rushes, but there is always collateral production from his line mates.

Pascal Leclaire, G, (CBJ)

Back up Frederick Norrena has replaced Leclaire following up a shutout against the Oilers by shutting out the Avalanche in Denver with a 42 save performance. The win was the first in franchise history for Columbus. Controversy? Not really. The Blue Jackets had enough confidence in Leclaire to deal Marc Denis for offensive depth in Freddy Modin. Leclaire will benefit the most from the coaching change. Defensive minded Hitchcock won't affect the club's offensive woes, but he will implement good structure in the hopes of overall team performance. That means, the team will get better defensively and that translates into better numbers for Leclaire. The acrobatic goalie has been a wall in net, a great big wall, while the anemic offense has lost them some games they let slip. Look for improvement over the season for Leclaire, and study for a possible breakout next season.

Johan Holmqvist, G, Tb

May have taken over the starting duties from Marc Denis, at least lately. Denis looked good in a 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, with a team in front of him being mediocre. Coach John Tortorella played Dr. Hook last season when he wasn't convinced of a legitimate starter with John Grahame and Sean Burke sharing the duties. This season, he has continued the same tradition using both goalies, riding the hot hand. This provides a good opportunity for a roster looking for some goaltending depth. Watch the revolving goalies in Tampa Bay. A decent depth acquisition could be had for cheap.

Schedules

Teams with 4 games - Ana, Chi, Clb, Dal, Edm, Fla, NJ, NYR, Ott, Phi, Phx, SJ, Van

Teams with 3 games - Bos, Buf, Cal, Col, Det, LA, Min, Mtl, Nas, Pit, StL, TB, Was

Teams with 2 games - Atl, Car, Tor

Note* These are weekly games Friday-to-Thursday.

Games of Note

Edmonton takes a skeleton crew on a three game road trip (@Dal, @Chi, @Nas) before returning to host Minnesota. They will be without Smyth, Hemsky and Stoll.

Anaheim play four games on the road (@Was, @TB, @Flo, @Atl) as they swing through the East.

New York Islanders host the Panthers in their only game in the period.

Hot hands Slava Kozlov, Marian Hossa and Glen Metropolit have two games in the period, hosting Sid the Kid's Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks.

AHL: The Rochester Americans (posted 12.06.06)

by David Burstyn

The Rochester Americans have taken the AHL by storm. Much like their parent club the Buffalo Sabres they have reeled off an impressive start and firmly sit on top of the North Division. The team boasts eleven rookies in the line up and features the best prospects of the Sabres and the Panthers two teams that in recent years have been praised for their selections in NHL circles. The results have shown, as the Amerks have only lost three times in their first twenty games.

Kamil Kreps (Fla), C, Amerks

A well put together player as he is tall, thick and can skate with remarkable quickness .. great 1st step acceleration .. if his hands were as quick as his feet he would be in the NHL .. his offensive skills are ok but not sensational .. to his credit he stays with plays and is generally involved despite his lack of finish .. still learning in his third pro season in terms of poor passing plays and locating the proper outlet ..

Janis Sprukts (Fla), C, Amerks

A frustrating player who is very difficult to get a read on .. makes great plays one shift and the next makes you scratch your head .. one has to question his mental capacity to think the game as he is guilty of erratic performances on the ice .. that being said he does produce a good offensive game .. he works hard for his chances in the offensive zone and despite an awkward skating style that generates a poor 1st step he gets good speed in the straight away and usually likes to drive to the outside as a result .. his big frame opens up room for himself .. he does not have great vision, and usually takes shots from low scoring angles ..his defensive game is awful, he is an absolutely lazy back checker .. the Latvian born winger is the thickest player on the team ..

Stefan Meyer (Fla), C, LW, Amerks

Still has not put on the necessary weight to compete and be effective at this level and it has shown in his offensive production .. gets knocked around way too easily and simply does not have the strength to play the type of game he did in junior .. swift and agile skater, he has an upright position that gets good speed .. has decent offensive tools, protects the puck well and can make plays .. defensively he looks lost and does not have the physical capacity to really contain players along the boards .. he is more than likely 20 pounds less than advertised .. plays in many situations as the coaching staff likes what he brings to the table as he does compete and even though he gets knocked down he picks himself up again ..

Rostislav Olesz (Fla), LW, Amerks

Played four games as a wake up call before returning to the Panthers .. concentrated on shooting more and playing an edge something he was not doing at the NHL level .. simply dominated the game as he played with a mission, must not have liked the team bus .. outstanding hand/eye coordination, batted so many errand pucks out of the air and made a quick change of direction to provoke offensive chances .. a sneaky and elusive player down low, he spun off of players and made them look silly with his stick handling display .. strong along the boards as he has a great centre of gravity however in open ice situations he is vulnerable and gets knocked around a little bit .. needs to show the consistency he did in this game to sustain a healthy NHL career .. has all the tools and is still considered a blue chip prospect ..

Rob Globke (Fla), RW, Amerks

Has considerable size and helps to open up ice for team mates .. has a wide stance in terms of skating and is average in terms of speed however he is strong on his skates and very hard to knock off his skates or the puck when he is driving .. on most shifts he does not play with the consistency that you would think a player at his stage in his hockey career would .. appears to lack focus and determination and on some shifts is completely ineffective .. that being said he did earn a promotion with the parent club immediately following this contest and has played the last two Panthers games, logging the least amount of ice time amongst forwards in both games, a return to the AHL seems inevitable ..

Anthony Stewart (Fla), RW, Amerks

Considering the amount of ice time he sees on the PP and first line his offensive totals should be much higher .. if he played with a consistent effort and up to his potential he could be a game breaker every shift as he has the size, the offensive tools and the natural instincts to be an effective NHL second line player .. however the same problems that plagued him in junior continue to hinder his development at the pro game - poor work ethic .. a strong player who is effective when he is moving his feet and driving to the net .. looks to have trimmed down a little bit and it has helped in his speed however he is an average skater with one gear of quickness .. his mobility is limited and he is better suited as an up and down winger .. has a tendency to slow down with puck on occasion and his decisions with the puck still need to be quicker .. scored a beautiful goal with a wrist shot that he blasted at the top of the circle in which the goalie did not even move .. defensively he needs to pick up his man faster and stay with him .. work ethic is the difference between a perennial AHL player or one that will finally realize his NHL dreams ..

Marek Zagrapan (Buf), C, Amerks

Has not found himself on one of the top two lines where he needs to be .. has been a healthy scratch more times than he has played .. thanks to the recent call-ups of Amerks players to the NHL he has finally had a chance to crack the roster .. fourth line minutes he has not made an impression .. slick skater, he does get caught up ice when the play is developing the other way .. played with Hunter and Kaleta, hardly players that would complement his game .. managed to score his first AHL goal with a deflection in front .. needs to play more to develop, it will come in time ..

Clarke MacArthur (Buf), LW, Amerks

A player who continues to develop and has made vast improvements to his game .. dominates on certain shifts and helps to create with his reckless style of play .. at times tries to do too much as he tends to be overly fancy .. needs to simplify his game on occasion .. likes to drive to the outside but fails to make the extra stride and assert himself by driving the net .. creates offence as he has decent hands but could shoot more .. has good hockey sense as he pays close attention to detail and knows where to be .. a healthy skater he continues to improve on his speed ..

Dylan Hunter (Buf), LW, Amerks

Has not seen much time this season and has had difficulty staying in the line up .. his game lacks the strength and speed to be an effective contributor at the pro level, yet .. has a good approach to the defensive aspect of the game as he is aware of his positioning and more importantly his man .. still needs to move his feet more in the defensive zone .. helped to create chances the other way with smart touch passes in the neutral zone .. learning not to over handle the puck and make the quick pass which has helped his game .. his play than was subsequently rewarded with a promotion of better line mates in which he did make some noticeable plays to contribute .. slowly coming along ..

Patrick Kaleta (Buf), RW, Amerks

One of eight OHL alumni on this team .. brings forth a spirited effort every shift .. not an overly skilled forward he did produce enough at the junior level to warrant a spot on the fourth line and chip in with the occasional assist or goal .. has an ok wrist shot .. not much of high end gear in terms of skating but not lazy as he constantly moves .. energy guy employed to make a hit or spark his team mates with a committed work ethic that hopefully will rub off and have a positive influence on some of the more prolific scorers on the team ..

Mike Card (Buf), D, Amerks

After enjoying a fine junior career, in which he made three separate trips to the Memorial Cup as a member of the Kelowna Rockets he joins the Amerks playing his first pro season .. not overly big for a defenseman he does an adequate job containing players and not over committing to the puck, maintaining his position .. plays a smart game that is safe and reliable .. very economical with the puck, as he makes simple plays and gets his shot to the net .. offensive skills shall develop in time .. continues to mature and learn the pro game ..

Andrej Sekera (Buf), D, Amerks

A groin injury kept him out of the line up for a large chunk of the season thus far .. has returned but does not look 100% .. looked a tad tentative handling the puck in the early stages of the game but picked up his game towards the third period and made the first passes to launch an attack that he was famous for in the OHL .. takes a hit to advance the puck .. does things with such ease and makes the game look very easy, his poise and maturity are well above his peers playing at this level .. quick to react in the defensive zone but still would benefit from more experience in all situations before making the jump to the NHL .. great skater, effortless in his approach which helps him log the puck up the ice when he chooses too .. a future in the NHL is all but imminent ..

Mark Mancari (Buf), D, Amerks

Has returned to playing defence a position he played before joining the 67's of the OHL .. has lost some weight and has looked comfortable playing the newly appointed position .. throws weight around and is a healthy presence as his big frame blocks both the shooting and passing lane .. is partnered with a veteran defence partner in Smith who has helped his game by covering for him on the odd occasion that he gets sucked out of position .. responsible for handling the puck and his first pass is improving .. at times he rushes a play and could be a little more creative in his choices with the puck .. seeing plenty of minutes in all situations ..

Talented Mr. Roto League Update (posted 12.05.06)

by Gus Katsaros

Sid the kid missed three games and took his 1.6 points-per-game into the infirmary instead of on McKeen's Hockey's point totals. Fortunately there was enough scoring to keep Team McKeen's atop the standings for a second straight week. Movement in the league is tight from second to fifth. One good night is enough to put over the top, while the gap widens between third and last place. There have been limited amounts of trades, but a lot of waiver wire additions, including a $33 bid for Chris Mason by Christian Peterson from Fanball. That is steep! For context, the budget for the season is $100. Someone needs a goalie pretty bad.

McKeen's goaltending has been fairly good, considering they were question marks heading into the season. Now the need is for penalty minutes. I am even thinking of doing something drastic to elevate that total, because the gap is widening and becoming a mountain, fast.

Streaking and Stinking

Streaking …

Martin Straka, C, New York Rangers

Scored again versus the Thrashers to extend his point streak and has been a bright light this season, playing mostly on the Jagr line. Last season it took him 11 games to score his first goal, en route to a late season tear. This year he started with a bang, and has maintained that momentum. He is a fixture on the point, controlling the power play and getting pucks through and a knack for sneaking into spot next to the net for tap in goals. That takes good passing, the sorts he gets from linemates Jagr and Nylander. He is on pace to make score over 40 goals, something he has never done.

Wojtek Wolski, LW, Colorado

Channeled the frustration of being a healthy scratch against the Ducks to blow the roof off on his return to next game's lineup, scoring once and adding three helpers. Another goal the following game and Polish born, Brampton raised winger, has recovered the swagger prior, to a six game slide that earned the scratch. Right now, Wolski is flying and taking Paul Stastny (2-2-3-5) along for the ride. The two Colorado rookies have plenty to offer. Now they are hot. This fountain of points will level off but Colorado kept them in the lineup for a reason, which is now evident.

Stinking …

Pavel Datsyuk, C, Detroit

Other than boasting a decent face off percentage, the Wings, Datsyuk has been average so far this season. Playing with a deflated Henrik Zetterberg and the defection of Brendan Shanahan has had its toll on the five-foot-eleven Russian. With Datsyuk, the talent level is simply too enticing to have him sitting on the bench, or in reserve. On the ice, his defensive game has suffered recently, while he is receiving more attention from opposition checking units than he is likely used to. Still, he is a breakout away of crushing his regular season totals and still has enough magic left in his stick to pull off a miraculous turn around. Detroit is playing a tighter, cautious game and the opposition has focused their efforts on the dup of Zetterberg and Datsyuk. It may take a while for him to come around, but once he does, he'll be a fantasy stud. Keep him active on all rosters.

Jozef Stumpel, C, Florida

He plays a regular shift, mostly with Olli Jokinen, regular power play time – although that has dwindled recently – and kills penalties. His greatest effort this season was a shorthanded effort where he effectively took the passing and shooting lanes away from the defenseman on the point, stealing the puck and streaking in on a helpless Henrik Lundqvist. That was 16 games ago. Although he has matured defensively, his contributions on offense are too few and far in between to hold an active role on a fantasy roster. At this point, Stumpel is, at best, a possibility in deep, deep, DEEP leagues.

Glen Murray, RW, Boston

Being a Murray owner comes with its frustration. He goes through dips, as well as running long streaks. He will have two or three scoreless games, only to follow up with a streak. His recent slide had reached three before scoring the go-ahead goal with a rocket shot from the face off dot, against the Maple Leafs. Prior to going cold, he took over four shots in six out of nine games. His shot production dropped and the lineup was given a shake after a bad outing in Carolina, which saw his minutes drop. Most of the power play time is coming on the back end, as time ticks down. Murray goes through these dips and will eventually break out. On the ice, he is still generating chances. He looks like he may have turned the corner on the mini-slump, at least, his owners hope so.

Keep An Eye On

Jason Blake/Mike Sillinger, C, NY Islanders

Finding a positive in losing Alexei Yashin, after beginning this season on a tear, it could emerge in Mike Sillinger. The journeyman started last season with the woeful St. Louis Blues, then - surprise surprise - traded to Nashville. Last season he surpassed 30 goals. In St. Louis he had nothing to work with, and in Nashville, consistent. Now is his time to sparkle in New York. Can he step it up? The Predators thought so. So did the Islanders. He is a valuable insurance policy if he could pull this one off and his history shows, he could step up.

A player that may suffer could be Jason Blake, but keep in mind, he didn't start the season playing with Yashin. That developed after showing that Blake can score. The pace may slow but at this point he is the offensive asset for the Isles, until Miroslav Satan wakes up and helps out.

Mats Sundin, C, Toronto

Coach Paul Maurice eased Sundin back into the lineup, in which he responded by scoring the Buds only goal. The Swede's healing powers are incredible. He returned early from a broken orbital bone, last season, a feat he pulled off once before returning from an injury in the playoffs against Carolina. Make his debut a warm-up. Sundin has his occasional breakout games and then can disappear for a little while.

Scott Gomez, C, New Jersey

Returned against the Ducks in a post-Thanksgiving matinee to record an assist. Gomez averaged 3.8 shots per game over 15 games before missing seven with a groin problem. In his absence, Brian Gionta and Patrick Elias dried up, showing his importance to the club. Thus far it looks like the extended time off helped, similar to Wade Redden when he took the time for a nagging groin.

Tuomo Ruutu, C, Chicago

If newly named coach Denis Savard can inject some of the enthusiasm of the spin-o-rama into the cautious forwards, until the return of Martin Havlat, Ruutu is the best bet to blossom. Yet to break out this season, he has been gaining momentum. He scored a highlight reel goal against the Flames Miikka Kiprusoff on Chicago's recent Western road swing, teasing a glimpse of his talent. Add some Savard and voila, all the pieces fall into place. He is feisty despite missing 10 games with a sprained knee, another addition on a growing list of injuries. He is skating hard, keeping up with the play, shooting from everywhere and pucks somehow are finding their way to the back of the net.

Rob Blake, D, Los Angeles

The return to the Kings began with a whimper, but Blake has slowly come around. Blake scored one goal in 14 October games, had a two-assist effort in one game and a dozen scoreless games. Defender Brent Sopel picked up his game, while Blake struggled, before being injured. Blake has steadied the ship and found himself and recently has contributed some big points on the powerplay, even found a three game point streak. There is no set return for the time being with Sopel and this makes Blake invaluable at the moment, sharing the spotlight with Visnovsky. Of the three goals he has scored, two have come courtesy of sneaking in from the point and standing in front the netminder and knocking it in. Plays like that show some level of confidence, something that was missing in his game earlier in the season.

Tim Thomas, G, Boston

Thomas has been rock solid over the last few games, making teams work extra hard for each goal. The B's compiled an impressive four game win streak thanks to some brilliant efforts by the diminutive goalie, prior to hitting a hot Carolina squad. Not yet a household name, he has posted decent numbers, making his owners happy poolies. He'll turn in a statistical stinker on occasion but that's due to the lax defense in front. Sometimes, the B's leave him out to dry, which is uncontrollable. What is controllable is the ability to make saves, control the rebounds, or swats pucks into the corners. Boston has three games next week including a return engagement versus the Leafs who he has kept at bay, in the last three games with a 1.00 GAA and including a 46 shot barrage in their last meeting in Toronto.

Schedules

Teams with 4 games (8)– Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Montreal, Nashville, NY Islanders, Pittsburgh

Teams with 3 games (19)– Anaheim, Atlanta, Boston, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Florida, Los Angeles, New Jersey, NY Rangers, Ottawa, Phoenix, San Jose, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Toronto

Teams with 2 games – (2)Vancouver, Washington

Teams with 1game – (1)Philadelphia

Note* These are weekly games Friday-to-Thursday.

AHL: Mtl, Van & CBJ Prospects (posted 12.03.06)

by David Burstyn

McKeen's takes a look at several AHL players from the Syracuse Crunch, Manitoba Moose and Hamilton Bulldogs.

Kyle Chipchura (Mtl), C, Hamilton

A pleasant surprise, he continues to develop .. showing a heightened urgency in his play recently .. showcasing the type of effort that is required for the NHL .. good presence in front of the goal .. accurate shot and playing with more confidence in terms of his puck skills and overall approach to the offensive game .. slowly climbing up the prospect ladder.

Andrei Kostitsyn (Mtl), RW, Hamilton

After getting a recent call up, he has responded better with a more polished game in both ends of the rink .. at times players like him need a carrot dangled in front of them to realize their potential and start playing their game .. playing with Grabovski and developing good chemistry .. slick stick handler he opens up room for his team mates .. must continue to show consistent efforts as Montreal management has been more than patient with him.

Alexander Edler (Van), Manitoba

Has been called up to the Canucks on a few occasions this season .. the tall, filled out defender is young however plays a mature game .. his mobility is his best asset as he has little difficulty keeping up with players in the AHL .. at times he pushes for too much and gets caught out of position .. he can QB a PP as he boasts a hard shot and decent puck distribution skills .. showed a willingness to eliminate players from the play but did not punish them.

Jannik Hansen (Van), Manitoba

The Danish sensation was a last minute cut of the Canucks this year and has played incredibly well in his first pro season .. has fast feet and a good feel with the puck .. still needs to work on his quickness in terms of making plays .. good transition game as he has adjusted well to the speed of the game .. developing his offensive skills and has become one of the more dynamic players on the Moose roster capable of spear heading the offence .. strength and conditioning needs improvement.

Nathan Smith (Van), Manitoba

Former first round selection of the 2000 draft is finally showing a well polished game after his fifth season in the AHL .. a hard worker who makes good defensive plays .. he works the PK with regularity .. decent skater but lacks top flight speed .. is more recognized for his defensive efforts although he is on pace to post his best offensive totals this year .. finishing skills are slowly coming along.

Marc Methot (CBJ), D, Syracuse

Second year in AHL, he made strides in his conditioning in the off season and it shows as he has gotten stronger .. adopts a safe approach to the game as his play is very quiet yet effective .. makes limited plays with the puck .. at times he made a charge with it up ice but still not comfortable handling it .. gaining more confidence and becoming more comfortable in his role .. has been able to identify his man quicker and check him out of the play .. was relied upon heavily in PK situations .. continued development should warrant NHL call-up and it is not inconceivable for him to be a fifth or sixth defenseman in the NHL in a season or two.

Filip Novak (CBJ), D, Syracuse

Former second round pick of 2000 has toiled in the NHL including an 11 game audition with the Senators last year before signing with Columbus in the off season .. quick feet .. has good core strength as he has decent balance and a low centre of gravity .. handles the puck and launches attacks up the ice .. one of the Crunch's bright spots on the back end he leads the team in points .. still needs to work on his defensive play and toughness .. recently called up to Columbus.

Geoff Platt (CBJ), C, Syracuse

Started the year with Columbus and has since been demoted to the Crunch .. leading the team in scoring he needs to be on top two lines to be effective .. great release and offensive weapons in terms of his shot selection .. his shot is on the money and he is more than capable of finishing .. he is a shoot first, pass later type of player .. shows good stick handling and concentration in traffic .. he is a bit feisty and while he can't clean anyone's clock he certainly does an admirable job of sticking up for himself .. needs to show a better defensive game .. he is too laxed and does not identify his man fast enough, often allowing them to go unchecked in his zone.

Ryan Caldwell (CBJ), D, Syracuse

Recently acquired in a deal that sent Eric Bogunicki to the Islanders .. a smooth skating defenseman who has good mobility and displays athleticism and agility .. needs to be more physical as he was pushed around considerably and made no effort to defend himself .. poor defensive coverage down low as he does not have the strength to contain players .. not flashy but economical in his decisions with the puck .. coming along slowly.

Adam Pineault (CBJ), RW, Syracuse

Rookie winger adjusting slowly to the pro level .. great season last year with Moncton as he came within one victory of a Memorial Cup and had a strong playoff in which he scored 14 goals in 21 games .. great speed and first step quickness .. he has a tendency to assert himself too much and needs to pick his spots better, is guilty of doing too much .. despite his poor offensive totals, he does a lot to create .. could hold onto the puck longer .. a PK player as he is active in his puck pursuit .. aggressive player he willingly engaged in a fight with Engelhardt and won the decision .. will need to bide his time at the AHL level but shows NHL potential in a few short seasons once his offensive skills mature.

Alexandre Picard (CBJ), LW, Syracuse

First round selection of 2004 has already played in two NHL games this season .. posted good numbers in his rookie AHL season posting 30 points in 45 games .. enters his second season and is producing at half a point a game .. still slight he needs to add some weight to his body .. as with most rookies he still needs to find his game and his positioning on the ice will come with experience .. lacks the anticipation skills to drive to the net .. healthy approach to the physical game, he does not back down .. still a tad behind the play but relies on his offensive skills to get on the score sheet as he can finish and is more of a goal scorer .. showed a healthy desire to improve and Columbus should give him a few more auditions to make a positive impression before season's end.