AHL: Syracuse Crunch Report Card, Part One
While the Syracuse Crunch failed to qualify for the playoffs, there were still many positives to come out of the 2004-05 season. In Part One of this report card on the Crunch, we review the goaltending and defensive status of the team and assign letter grades to each player. Find out why Pascal Leclaire gets an incomplete mark, while Andrew Penner may well have been the most improved player. Defenseman Francois Beauchemin also easily proved to be the best off-season pickup for the team.
GOALTENDERS
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When the Crunch was officially eliminated from postseason contention, LeClaire followers were left to wonder "what if". Syracuse fans may very well find the answer to that question next season. Despite his rather pedestrian won-loss record (5-6-3), Leclaire posted career bests in GAA and SA% and appears to have taken that next step. The big question surrounding him now is can he do it over an entire season? That uncertainty may hang with Leclaire during his stay with the Crunch for at least a portion of 2005-06. Look for Columbus to re-up with Leclaire. The best case scenario for Syracuse has the Jackets also inking a pair of veteran goalies; one to back-up Marc Denis, the other to serve as Leclaire's mentor in his AHL swan song.
Grade: Incomplete. Let's see where he's at by the end of next year.
Consider this past season one big missed opportunity for Goehring. Given the chance to prove he is capable of being a number one goaltender, his numbers were sub-par and he never seemed to come up with that big game when it was needed. It will be interesting to see where the Apple Valley native lands next season and despite the fact he's a solid number two guy for most AHL clubs, he may still have more than a cup of coffee in the ECHL in his future.
Grade: C-. Crunch fans will always have a place in their heart for the affable Goehring, who is a great player and a better person.
Pressed into duty, Andrew Penner went from being a huge question mark to prospect status and it's possible no one improved as much as he did over the season. He appeared in many big games late in the second half and performed admirably. The Ontario native may be better served by another season in the Coast, but the promise he displayed may earn him an extended stay in the AHL. Can the Crunch win with a Leclaire-Penner tandem next season? Fans in Syracuse may soon find out.
Grade: B-. Not always sound fundamentally, but Penner uses his size to his fullest. Needs to continue making strides in the upcoming season to solidify prospect status.
DEFENSEMEN
Jamie Pushor:
What you see is what you get with Pushor. He's a solid veteran blueliner with strong leadership skills that doesn't pile up the points (1g, 9a), but his +12 rating was second only to Francois Beauchemin on the Crunch. The good far outweighed the bad for the Crunch's captain, although he certainly had his moments. Signed for next season, count on Pushor coming to camp in top physical condition and anchoring Syracuse's defensive corps for another season.
Grade: B+. Jumps half a grade for the numerous times he stepped up during Brandon Sugden's extended absence.
What more can be said about Beauchemin? He was tops in practically every category among Syracuse defenseman and he proved to easily be the best off-season pickup for Columbus. Paired late in the year with Pushor, the duo combined for a +17 rating in the last three games of the season.
Grade: A. How about the way this dangerous southpaw handled himself with the fists this season? His KO's of David Ling and Geoff Peters were the stuff legends are made from.
Komarniski isn't flashy and he may not pile up the board-rattling checks like in past years, but his presence definitely made the Syracuse defense better. He clears the crease well and makes that first pass effectively. Offensively Komarniski recorded only 14 points (3g, 11a), which was a career low for the Edmonton native. He also disappeared from the score sheet down the stretch, recording only one assist in his last 17 games played.
Grade: C. Lack of offense drops this vet down a grade.
What happened to Aaron Johnson last season? After appearing in 29 games with Columbus in '03-'04, Johnson seemed poised for a breakout season. Instead, he regressed to the point where it was hard to write his name in the lineup on a daily basis. Always the gambler, Johnson's high-risk, high-reward style of play backfired more than it worked. His sub par -13 speaks volumes about that, ranking the lowest on the club. Heading into the final year of his deal, next season will be a critical one for this young blueliner.
Grade: D. Painful to give such a nice kid this low of a mark.
After a slow start to the season Tollefsen made incredible strides throughout the course of '04-'05. A relentless body checker, he gets under the skin of opponents by constantly taking the body. Despite his shortcomings offensively (0G, 3A in 64 GP) he is a solid blueline prospect for the Jackets. Signed for next season, expect Tollefsen to be lining up forwards for at least one more season in Syracuse.
Grade: B. It is simply a matter of when – not if - Tollefsen makes the show
Kevin Dineen's discovery from the University of Maine progressed well in his rookie campaign. With great wheels and an offensive upside, Ryan also debuted at forward last season and didn't look that out of place. He plays aggressively, but has trouble controlling his temper at times. He's not afraid to mix it up or take the body at any time. Showed enough to warrant another deal from Columbus.
Grade: C+. Too many costly penalties kept him from earning a B-.
If Beauchemin was the best off-season pick-up, Lakos easily was the worst. He took too long to re-adjust to the North American game and just when he seemed to be turning the corner, injuries set him back again. He never really looked comfortable when he did get healthy and didn't play the physical brand of hockey that his stature warrants.
Grade: D-. Enough said.
Article courtesy of Syracuse-Crunch.com