AHL Notebook: On the Farm

Jerry Seinfeld once made the analogy that ending a relationship is like knocking over a coke machine. You have to rock it back and forth a few times before it falls; you can't just give it one big push.

That same train of thought can be used when describing a top prospect's journey to the NHL. Quite often it takes one or two visits to the league before they stake their claim to a permanent spot and current Chicago Wolves defenseman Braydon Coburn is a prime example of this.

Atlanta's top pick, eighth overall in 2003, Coburn made his professional debut last season with the Chicago Wolves after four stellar seasons in Portland of the Western Hockey League. He appeared in three games to close out the regular season and then 18 more during the Wolves run in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Coburn opened the current season in Atlanta and spent a good portion of the first month with the Thrashers before being optioned back to Chicago near the end of October. It was a move that obviously disappointed Coburn, but he quickly saw the benefits of spending a little more time developing his game in the American League.

"At first it is a little disappointing coming down because you are on such a high," stated Coburn. "But from a standpoint of getting to play and getting ice time it is probably better for my development in the long run."

That development includes, according to Coburn, working on being ready to play every shift and also the mental aspects of the game.

"I have to be more consistent," stressed Coburn. "And I also have to be a little better in my decision making on my passes. I think that is an area of my game, as I get more experience and more confidence in myself, will improve."

One area Coburn does not need to work on is the physical side of the game. The 6'5", 220 pound Coburn routinely takes the body and when partnered on the blueline with the 6'7", 250 pound Brian Sipotz; they form quite an imposing tandem.

"I think we compliment each other really well," stated Coburn. "He is a big guy who skates really well and can handle himself plus he is a right handed shot so it works out well."

Crunch's Murray Likes to be Seen, Not Heard

Rookies in the AHL serve a variety of purposes. From baggage handlers to practice puck collectors, first-year players are asked to do a variety of tasks. One thing they definitely are not asked to do is voice their opinion. Syracuse Crunch rookie forward Andrew Murray can attest to that.

Drafted in the eighth round by Columbus in 2001 out of Bemidji State, Murray headed in training camp with the Blue Jackets as a relative unknown. His goal was to make an impression on the Columbus brass, but only with his play on the ice. So when he found himself lining up at wing during camp Murray decided to just grin and bear it.

"In college for four years I was a center and never touched the wing," said Murray. "But in Blue Jackets camp they threw me on the wing a little bit too."

Just making the jump to the professional ranks can be daunting enough. Trying to do that while also learning a new position can be downright frightening.

"It was a little nerve racking," said a smiling Murray. "It is kind of a tough place to learn a new position."

Murray has handled the transition rather well. In 13 games with the Crunch this season the Manitoba native has recorded four goals and one assist and has been a pleasant surprise for Syracuse.

Murray can trace his early success to relying on what he does best and that is using his 6'2", 218 pound frame to the fullest.

"I have to play physical and be a little bit of a presence out there," said Murray. "That and do the little things like going hard to the net and looking for rebounds. I know my role and I just go out there and do the best I can."

Prospect Watch:

Carolina prospect Andrew Ladd made his NHL debut this past week with the Hurricanes. Ladd saw over 12 minutes of ice time and registered three hits and one shot on goal. His recall came on the heels of a string of five games in which the rookie racked up three goals and four assists with Lowell .. Manchester rookie and Michigan product Jeff Tambellini has recorded a point in nine of his last ten games and has registered 11 goals and 8 assists over that span .. Portland Pirates rookie goaltender Nathan Marsters is a perfect 7-0-0 to begin his AHL career, with a 1.91 goals against average and a .937 save percentage .. Former Ranger first rounder Hugh Jessiman was demoted recently to Charlotte of the ECHL in an attempt to jumpstart his play. That apparently has worked. Jessiman recorded a hat trick in his first game and now has five points (4g, 1a) in six games with the Checkers .. In other Ranger news the Hartford Wolf Pack announced that forward Colby Genoway sustained slight injuries in an automobile accident on Monday, November 21. Genoway, a rookie out of North Dakota, has recorded eight goals and two assists in 17 games with Hartford. He is currently listed as day-to-day .. Former Kelowna Rocket netminder Kelly Guard recorded his first professional shutout this past week when his Binghamton Senators downed the Toronto Marlies 3-0. Guard then went out two nights later and blanked the Springfield Falcons 1-0 for his second shutout of the weekend .. Columbus recently recalled defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen from Syracuse. The product of Norway has developed quite a reputation as one of the most feared hitters in the American League. Tollefsen can agitate with the best of them, but he does it the old fashion way, with clean hard body checks.