AHL Farm Report: Ducks Mine Kunitz, Penner

No system is perfect and the National Hockey League Entry Draft is no exception.

Despite countless hours of preparation and a myriad of scouts blanketing the landscape, inevitably some players fall through the cracks.

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks forward Chris Kunitz is a classic example.

Bypassed following a 57-goal season with Melville of the SJHL in `98-99, the Regina native went on to enjoy a sparkling four-year career at Ferris State University, emerging as a hotly-pursued free agent after a landmark senior campaign in which he recorded 35 goals and 79 points in 42 games and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Kunitz inked a two-year deal with Anaheim in 2003 and scored 19 goals in 59 games as a rookie with the Ducks' American Hockey League affiliate in Cincinnati. He also made his NHL debut, appearing in 21 games for the big club.

This season, despite missing 22 games due to injury, Kunitz continues to put up the numbers (32-12-12-24), but what is more impressive is just how critical a component he has become.

That was never more evident than during a 19-game stretch Kunitz was forced to miss with a broken jaw. The Ducks won only four times during his absence and have gone 18-9-1-1 since he returned to the lineup and vaulted from sixth to third place in the West Division standings.

"Kunitz was a real good player in the American Hockey League last year and also spent some time in the NHL and played pretty well," said Anaheim Head Coach Mike Babcock. "Obviously when you get hurt it puts you behind the eight ball, but he is battling back and the team has been much better since he got back so obviously he has had an impact."

PENNER MAGIC

Another free agent signing Anaheim is quite high on is former Maine Black Bear Dustin Penner, a Todd Bertuzzi-sized specimen at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds with soft hands.

"We like Penner a lot," said Babcock. "He has really come a long way in a short period of time and we don't have anybody like that in Anaheim. A guy with a big posterior to go along with the great hands down low and someone who can protect the puck like that. Hopefully one day, if he continues to improve, we will see him in Anaheim."

One other player currently skating in Cincinnati that management have high hopes for is former St. Mike's center Tim Brent. Drafted in the fourth round in 2004, Brent has appeared in 21 games this season, recording 3 goals and 9 assists.

"Timmy is one of these guys that has to find a way to play in the NHL probably has a two-way center or even as a defensive center," said Babcock. "He is a very, very intelligent player, great sense. Not a big guy so he will have to be real competitive."

VANEK ADJUSTS TO PRO GAME

Four games. That's how long it took Rochester American rookie forward Thomas Vanek to realize he wasn't in Minnesota anymore.

Never mind that he practically carried the Golden Gophers to an NCAA Championship as a rookie. Forget also that he amassed an impressive 57 goals and 113 points in 83 games and that he is the most promising prospect the Buffalo organization has seen in years.

In the pro ranks, especially the AHL, it is very much a 'what-have-you-done-for-us-lately' type of business, and four games into his rookie season Vanek had done little. That is why he found himself in street clothes the following game.

"I knew it was a good league and a tough league and I knew it wasn't going to be easy," stated Vanek. "And my first eight or nine games it wasn't easy."

Vanek returned to the Amerks lineup the very next game and scored his first professional goal. Three games later, he recorded his first multiple goal night and hasn't let up since. Vanek is tied for second among AHL rookies with 22 goals and 40 points in 52 games, and leads all first-year players with 11 markers via the power play.

Looking back, Vanek bristles at the notion that sitting out that one game was instrumental in turning things around for him. He points to more icetime as the factor behind his improved confidence.

"I don't think it was beneficial at all. I knew what I had to do and I just had to prove myself in practice," claimed Vanek. "Getting on the power play helped more. I was on the fourth line to start. I think the more you play, the easier the confidence comes."

Vanek made headlines recently when he decided to skip this year's AHL All-Star Classic to return home to play for Team Austria in the Olympic qualifiers. Unfortunately, he recorded only one goal as Austria failed to qualify for Turin in 2006.

STAFFORD PUTS `03-4 BEHIND

The 2003-04 season started off as a dream and ended up a nightmare for Cleveland Barons defenseman Garrett Stafford.

Signed by San Jose as an undrafted free agent out of the University of New Hampshire, Stafford was hoping to make his mark after being cut loose by two different organizations.

He achieved that and more, recording 12 goals and 34 assists and representing the Barons at the AHL All-Star Game. The Los Angeles native was also selected to the 2003-04 All-Rookie Team as well as the Second All-Star Team.

But his breakthrough season came to a crashing halt in the playoffs, where he was involved in a horrific stick-swinging incident with Hamilton's Alexander Perezhogin. Stafford suffered a severe concussion and was sidelined for nearly three months during the spring and summer, while Perezhogin was suspended for the entire 2004-05 AHL season.

Stafford's numbers are down significantly from his rookie campaign, but, more importantly, he has shown no lingering effects from last year's incident.

"As far as my head is concerned I feel great," said Stafford. "There are no side effects, nothing lingering and I feel great."

With his health in check, Stafford was recently given the opportunity to expand his already impressive resume by spending some time subbing in at forward for the Barons.

"We just had a lot of injuries up front and I guess they liked my offensive prowess," said a smiling Stafford. "It is probably just temporary, but it is fun to fly around when you are playing forward and I have been having a great time doing it."

ICE CHIPS

PlanetUSA rallied for a 5-4 shootout win over the Canadian All-Stars in the 2005 AHL All-Star Game played in Manchester. Tomas Plekanec of the Hamilton Bulldogs was named MVP of the game and also won the CCM Fastest Skater event, completing one lap in 14.196 seconds at the Skills Competition ….. Binghamton's Jason Spezza continues to lead the AHL in scoring, hotly pursued by Manchester's Mike Cammalleri. The Ontario native trails Spezza by five points overall, however his 32 goals lead the league. Cammalleri flashed his finishing ability in the skills competition when he beat Rochester's Ryan Miller with a highlight-reel goal to close out the event ….. With the NHL season officially canceled, the competition for AHL roster spots is heating up again as locked-out NHLers look to find employment. Two players have already signed with Nashville's Mark Eaton inking a deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins and Ryan VandenBussche of the Blackhawks joining Wilkes-Barre, who were looking to add some toughness after losing Mike Sgroi to a broken orbital bone.