AHL: No More Chances With Wolves

After leading the regular season with 331 goals, and steamrolling past Milwaukee and Iowa in the first two rounds averaging four goals per game, the Chicago Wolves were finally stopped by the brilliant goaltending of Calder Cup MVP, Carey Price. Unable to capitalize on their chances, the Wolves saw their goal production dwindle to an average of two goals a game in the Western final. McKeen's looks at several key players for the Wolves this postseason.

Mark Popovic (Chi), D, Atlanta

Has emerged and appears to be on the verge of a roster spot in the NHL .. has shown consistency marked by successful back-to-back offensive seasons coupled with an impressive nine points in this year's postseason to lead defenseman in both goal scoring and points .. average skater with limited speed however, he boasts above average lateral agility and can stop and make plays fast .. very calm and relaxed approach to the game, he does not over rush the game but thinks it out very well and slows it down if need be .. he is capable of making the safe pass and is not caught up ice when attempting to spearhead the offence the other direction .. he reads plays coming at him well in the defensive zone, he is very difficult to knock off the puck and despite his somewhat limited physical play, he is very hard to contain along the boards, often winning battles and coming out with the puck .. he does a good job protecting his goal and focuses more on the man, not the puck .. his offensive game is ok and relies on shots from the point and his ability to make healthy plays at the line, as opposed to rushing the puck up ice .. he is NHL ready and should be able to satisfy a roster spot in a fifth-defenseman role, learning to improve his anticipation and overall game with NHL competition.

Nathan Oystrick (Chi), D, Atlanta

After spending the past four seasons with Northern Michigan enjoying a very successful college career, Oystrick joined the AHL fulltime this season after playing just two games last year with the Wolves .. as with most rookie defenders, the adjustment to the pro game is a lengthy process and Oystrick is very raw, yet shows considerable promise, and has already usurped prospects that were drafted considerably higher than he was .. his offensive imagination and ability to make a good first pass is his best asset .. he has average speed and at 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, one has to wonder if he is carrying too much weight .. his backwards skating is non-existent and while he may have been able to disguise it at the college level, he will need to make serious upgrades .. great shot on the PP, which he attempts to use often .. he likes to play physical however, he needs to be cognizant of his position, as he took himself out of the play looking for a perfect hit .. coming along slowly.

Brian Sipotz (Chi), D, Atlanta

After missing the entire second round with an injury, Sipotz returned for the Western final and had an impact on the games due to his size(6-foot-6), and his insanely long reach .. his skating is good but not great, as he struggles with coordination and would benefit in all areas by improving his foot speed and overall agility .. he attempts to play physical and can line up his man rather well when crossing the line, mainly because he forces his opponents out wide .. he could do a better job of keeping his head up, so he could handle and make better passes with the puck .. slowly improving and should make better gains next season, his third in the AHL .. shows potential, as he will never be a spectacular player but with his size and upside, he may get a shot as a defensive d-man.

Colin Stuart (Chi), LW, Atlanta

Set forth a solid effort during the postseason, as he found a healthy scoring touch to compliment his intelligent two-way game .. adopts a very simple approach to his game and while he is not blessed with excellent speed, he has just enough to close off the gaps and pressure the opposition into turnovers .. his hands are average but because of his persistent hard work, he is rewarded with many offensive chances and is getting better at cashing in his opportunities .. his release is improving and while his goal totals have been higher than his assists in recent years, he has good vision and can make decent passes in traffic .. his puckhandling skills however, are rather limited and as a result, he is always looking to advance the puck by dumping it in and chasing it deep into the offensive zone .. a fine role player who should continue to make strides to improve his game and may earn a brief call up for his efforts.

Andre Deveaux (Chi), C, Atlanta

Split time between the ECHL and the AHL this season but became a force in the playoffs with his mounting size .. covers a lot of real estate and is fluid on his skates, which allows him to get away from the opposition in the offensive zone, or get closer to them in the defensive zone .. his stride is awkward, as he appears to be galloping, almost like riding a horse however, his long stride is extremely effective .. creates with his size down low, as his gangly limps seem to be everywhere, shielding the puck especially around the net .. his shot is not overly strong and at times, he will pass it, as he does not appear to have tremendous confidence in it .. his hockey sense comes into question at times, especially with his play in the offensive zone, as he appears lost or confused on shifts however, his ability to drive the net makes him very endearing .. will need to focus on little things away from the puck and improving many aspects of his game just to remain a regular in the AHL.

Jordan LaVallee (Chi), LW, Atlanta

Based solely on statistics, his first season in the AHL was a success .. was able to stay in the lineup and play 79 games in his rookie season .. a big strapping player who excels by going through players rather than around them .. his skating is very average, he does not excel in any one category, his balance needs work, his first step is not quite there and he is not the most graceful of skaters however, he garners good overall speed once he gets going and considering his extremely young age, he will have plenty of opportunity to refine his skating skills .. like most power forwards, he will try to lean on guys to try to pry the puck from them .. he is strong on the cycle and along the boards .. stays in front of the crease in PP situations .. shooting more frequently has helped his offensive game, as he often employs a heavy, hard wristshot near the net and usually is more successful when he keeps his game simple and does not over handle the puck .. there are many positives to his game, most notably his improving strength and towering presence .. couple that with his steady offensive game and Lavallee may see limited spot duty next season .. is still two to three years away from being a NHL regular, as the type of game he plays will take time to mature, especially away from the puck.

Brett Sterling (Chi), LW, Atlanta

Surprise story of the year in the AHL, the Californian-born winger exploded with 55 goals in the regular season, captured top honours at the AHL All-Star game, and carried his terrific play into the postseason where he once again led his team in goal scoring .. generates his chances from hard work and exceptional skating ability .. he pivots and angles extremely well and at times, it appears his blades are not even touching the ice .. is constantly in flight, moving into open areas .. moves well both to the inside and outside and can usually sneak up on a player and strip him from the puck, which leads to a great transition game .. he is a better finisher and is at his best when he takes the puck late and drives hard to the net .. his shot is lethally accurate and his wristshot is NHL-calibre .. he can take a hit and bounce back nicely due to his low centre of gravity .. he is also not against using his stick and playing with sand paper, as he logged close to 100 PIM's in the regular season .. Sterling elevated his game in the playoffs when it mattered most and this should make him get a long hard look at training camp and potentially grab a coveted spot on the second line, as his play combines elements of both Martin St.Louis and Theo Fleury.