Minneapolis, MN - The Minnesota Rink Rats brought in a familiar face last week when they acquired forward Patrick O'Sullivan from the Grand Forks Gorillas. O'Sullivan, a former 1st round selection, was of course traded to the Rink Rats in what was considered arguably one of the worst deals GM Tyler LaDouceur had made at that point when he moved Marc Savard, Nikolai Zherdev and a 4th round pick for O'Sullivan and a 2nd round pick which turned out to be TJ Hensick. Hensick and O'Sullivan have taken similar career paths. Both were considered full of offensive potential, but have failed to live up to those high expectations. O'Sullivan's best season came in WHL14 with the Rink Rats when he scored 32 goals and 30 assists. O'Sullivan was also a key cog in the Rink Rats' run to the Cyber Cup Finals that season against the Icedogs. He scored 9 goals and 16 assists in 22 post-season games en route to leading the league in playoff scoring that year. Rink Rats management hopes he can regain that form this season.
"He's a kid that we still have a lot of faith in," stated GM Greg Sherman. "We're confident that we'll be able to re-sign him this offseason to a new deal and that he can regain the form he had for us in WHL14. He's got a lot of offensive talent. A combination of great speed and hands; he just needs to regain some of his confidence and consistency. Those are big things in this league and once he's able to do that, he'll get minutes and goals."
O'Sullivan may not be the only familiar face coming back to Minnesota. There are rumors that Minnesota has been approached on a deal that would send them one of the more prolific scorers on this team, but it's unknown if they're willing to give up what the other club is asking for, which is rumored to be a package of Viktor Stalberg and Tomas Fleischmann.
"We're certainly going to evaluate things here over the next couple of weeks," stated Sherman. "We don't want to do anything that doesn't make sense for our club. Our goal is to continue to improve and make the playoffs this season. We think very highly of Stalberg's potential in this league with his combination of size, speed and skill, and we already know what Fleischmann can do. We'll see what happens."
And when we asked Sherman about his recent trade to bring in goaltender Semyon Varlamov, and starting next season with 4 rookie goaltenders he responded by saying, "This will be an improved club next season; no question about it. With the moves we've already made to bring in Hejduk and Brown, we'll be a better club. I like our goaltending situation going into next season. Between Varlamov, Schneider and Bernier there should be competition, and there's no questioning those guys' talent. They may not have a lot of experience, but they've all proven they can win and play that tough position. We may have to bring in an experienced goaltender at some point, but right now I'm happy with what we have."
More News & Notes:
Minnesota will introduce O’Sullivan and Varlamov to the media Tuesday afternoon. There will also be an autograph session with Drew Stafford, David Krejci, TJ Oshie and Erik Johnson afterwards.
The Rink Rats are rumored to be working on a new deal for O’Sullivan as well as long-term extensions for Stafford and Johnson. No details have been finalized as of yet.
When asked about the constant turnover, and lack of team chemistry on the Rink Rats, GM Greg Sherman replied, “That’s going to change. There are a few guys on this team that I could see their numbers hanging from the rafters. We are in a good place financially and you’ll start to see us hanging onto our guys and reinvesting in the future of this club.”
The WHL is expected to announce the award winners from the past season this week. There were some intriguing decisions to be made by many of the WHL’s GMs so it’ll be interesting to see how everything goes.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Looking Ahead to WHL Draft
While this year's draft won't have a player a player with the elite capabilities of past 1st overall picks like Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin, there is certainly no shortage of talent. This year's WHL Entry Draft is deep, and will be highlighted by four highly skilled players who could go first overall led by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson, Jonathan Hubredeau and Gabriel Landeskog. The draft will also feature two WHL-ready goaltenders in James Reimer and Sergei Bobrovsky who
could both go very early. With the WHL's ruling on the removal of the league's waiver draft, there is even more excitement surrounding the upcoming draft.
PLAYERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:
Sergei Bobrovsky: Bobrovsky could go very early, but his NHL-counterpart will have to take on a backup role next season with the Flyers' signing of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. This could hurt Bobrovsky's stock a bit, and help Reimer heading into the draft.
James Reimer: The 23-year old goaltender had a great season for the Leafs last year, and has the potential to be a WHL starter in a year's time. He could fill in as a backup on most squads as early as next season - he's as WHL-ready as they get. Reimer could very well be the first goaltender chosen in this year's draft and it wouldn't surprise me if he went in the top-10.
Jonathan Huberdeau: Huberdeau had a terrific postseason and his stock rose fast. So fast that he was chosen third overall by the Panthers in the NHL Draft. He didn't perform very well at the Scouting Combine (he did only two reps at 150 pounds - wtf), but he still has a lot of offensive upside and will likely be a top-five pick.
Evgeny Grachev: If Grachev were in the entry draft two years ago, he would've been considered a lock to go in the first round. He has great size and scoring ability, but hasn't really found his touch in professional hockey yet. Because of this, and the WHL's waiver draft, it's quite possible that Grachev will go in the 2nd round and possibly even later. He could be the steal of the draft if he goes late.
Sean Couturier: With all the hype surround Nugent-Hopkins, Larsson, Landeskog and Hubredeau, Couturier seems to have been forgotten. This kid has a lot of offensive abilities, but just needs to develop into his frame a bit more to make an impact in the WHL. Is it likely Couturier slides down in the draft like Fowler did last season??? Time will tell.
Adam Larsson: Larsson fell to fourth overall in the NHL Draft but could have very well gone first overall and no one would've blinked an eye. Larsson is good - very good! He's been compared to future Hall-of-Famer Nicklas Lidstrom he's that good. Will he slide past third overall in the WHL Draft? With the Gorillas at number three, and the need there for a defenseman, I don't see it happening.
could both go very early. With the WHL's ruling on the removal of the league's waiver draft, there is even more excitement surrounding the upcoming draft.
PLAYERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:
Sergei Bobrovsky: Bobrovsky could go very early, but his NHL-counterpart will have to take on a backup role next season with the Flyers' signing of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. This could hurt Bobrovsky's stock a bit, and help Reimer heading into the draft.
James Reimer: The 23-year old goaltender had a great season for the Leafs last year, and has the potential to be a WHL starter in a year's time. He could fill in as a backup on most squads as early as next season - he's as WHL-ready as they get. Reimer could very well be the first goaltender chosen in this year's draft and it wouldn't surprise me if he went in the top-10.
Jonathan Huberdeau: Huberdeau had a terrific postseason and his stock rose fast. So fast that he was chosen third overall by the Panthers in the NHL Draft. He didn't perform very well at the Scouting Combine (he did only two reps at 150 pounds - wtf), but he still has a lot of offensive upside and will likely be a top-five pick.
Evgeny Grachev: If Grachev were in the entry draft two years ago, he would've been considered a lock to go in the first round. He has great size and scoring ability, but hasn't really found his touch in professional hockey yet. Because of this, and the WHL's waiver draft, it's quite possible that Grachev will go in the 2nd round and possibly even later. He could be the steal of the draft if he goes late.
Sean Couturier: With all the hype surround Nugent-Hopkins, Larsson, Landeskog and Hubredeau, Couturier seems to have been forgotten. This kid has a lot of offensive abilities, but just needs to develop into his frame a bit more to make an impact in the WHL. Is it likely Couturier slides down in the draft like Fowler did last season??? Time will tell.
Adam Larsson: Larsson fell to fourth overall in the NHL Draft but could have very well gone first overall and no one would've blinked an eye. Larsson is good - very good! He's been compared to future Hall-of-Famer Nicklas Lidstrom he's that good. Will he slide past third overall in the WHL Draft? With the Gorillas at number three, and the need there for a defenseman, I don't see it happening.
Finals Prediction
Congrats to the Conference Finalists!
Sparrows vs Stallions – Antoine Vermette and JP Dumont have led the charge for the Cinderella Sparrows club that continues to surprise in this year’s playoffs. JS Giguere may go down as the biggest offseason pick-up by any team as the veteran goaltender continues to lead this club to victory. The Stallions are a veteran club that’s getting excellent play out of Sidney Crosby and Olli Jokinen and a committee of others. The Stallions are looking really strong right now, and although the Sparrows will get a few wins, the Stallions are destined to play for the Cup.
Prediction: Stallions in 5
Gorillas vs Bulls – This series will likely go long. Both teams are exceptionally well built with quality netminders and offense. The Gorillas lack the depth on defense that the Bulls have, but the team has found some nice chemistry in this year’s playoffs and that will certainly help. Both teams have had plenty of rest and the stars are performing as expected. The Gorillas are built to win the Cup … just not this season.
Prediction: Bulls in 6
Cup
Stallions vs Bulls – This is pegged to be a classic matchup between veterans WHL GMs. Both teams have nice depth, quality goaltenders, and veterans who know how to win. The Stallions have some older legs on them which will be their only question mark leading into the finals, especially if they have a long series against the Sparrows. This will be a great series but expect the Bulls to repeat as WHL Cyber Cup champs.
Prediction: Bulls in 7
Sparrows vs Stallions – Antoine Vermette and JP Dumont have led the charge for the Cinderella Sparrows club that continues to surprise in this year’s playoffs. JS Giguere may go down as the biggest offseason pick-up by any team as the veteran goaltender continues to lead this club to victory. The Stallions are a veteran club that’s getting excellent play out of Sidney Crosby and Olli Jokinen and a committee of others. The Stallions are looking really strong right now, and although the Sparrows will get a few wins, the Stallions are destined to play for the Cup.
Prediction: Stallions in 5
Gorillas vs Bulls – This series will likely go long. Both teams are exceptionally well built with quality netminders and offense. The Gorillas lack the depth on defense that the Bulls have, but the team has found some nice chemistry in this year’s playoffs and that will certainly help. Both teams have had plenty of rest and the stars are performing as expected. The Gorillas are built to win the Cup … just not this season.
Prediction: Bulls in 6
Cup
Stallions vs Bulls – This is pegged to be a classic matchup between veterans WHL GMs. Both teams have nice depth, quality goaltenders, and veterans who know how to win. The Stallions have some older legs on them which will be their only question mark leading into the finals, especially if they have a long series against the Sparrows. This will be a great series but expect the Bulls to repeat as WHL Cyber Cup champs.
Prediction: Bulls in 7
WHL16 Season Review
Minneapolis, MN - It was a long and miserable season for most Rink Rat fans - a season that saw a lot of change on the Minnesota roster. Minnesota, who came into this season with low expectations while rebuilding, failed to make the playoffs for the first time since GM Tyler LaDouceur took over one of the worst WHL franchises back in WHL12. Minnesota started off well going 5-3-2 in the team’s first 10 games, and 10-10-5 in the first 25. Minnesota had one of the top special teams in the league at that point and although the team wasn’t marked by injuries, the momentum from the early part of the season definitely didn’t carry over throughout the remainder.
Finishing 28-46-10 and 7 games out of the playoffs, the Rink Rats ended the season in 9th place in its conference. The team had what seemed like a revolving door of players all season long, moving the biggest name – Ryan Miller prior to the trade deadline. Miller’s absence left a pretty deep hole in net for the Rink Rats, especially when Jimmy Howard went down for a 10 game stretch. Rookies, Cory Schneider and Justin Peters took over in Howard’s absence giving Minnesota a glimpse into its future behind Schneider. Minnesota was not disappointed as Schneider impressed in his time as the team’s starter. Howard returned after injury and improved his play with the confidence knowing he’s the man in Minnesota. The Rink Rats have a lot of faith in Howard’s ability to take over for Miller heading into next season and know that he can become one of the league’s elite goaltenders.
The high notes of the season included David Krejci, fighting off the sophomore slump and leading the team in scoring with 31 goals and 39 assists – quickly becoming one of the league’s top playmakers. Drew Stafford’s record pace early in the season was another highlight, although he failed to continue his pace late in the season, but still managed to lead the team in goals with 36. Minnesota also saw some nice progression from its prospects playing in the minors – a good sign for seasons to come.
Prospects such as Kevin Shattenkirk, Cam Fowler, Mike Santorelli, Cory Schneider and Nathan Gerbe may all be in the WHL next season; not only will they be playing, but they will be making an impact. Fowler and Shattenkirk both look to be very exciting young defenseman. Both Gerbe and Santorelli have nice offensive skill and great speed which will help their cause in making next year’s lineup. Jamie McBain could be there too, but a logjam at defense could keep him in the minors for another year.
The offseason and next year will both be exciting for Minnesota fans as this team continues to rebuild into a more competitive squad. Look for some noticeable improvement from Leopold, Berglund, Stafford, Jones and others as this
On the verge of an interesting and crucial offseason, the Rink Rats will no doubt be working the phones leading up to the draft. With a lot of depth at defense and Fowler and Shattenkirk ready to step up next season, Minnesota will likely look to move someone on defense, namely Jordan Leopold, Kyle Cumiskey, Marc Staal, John-Michael Liles or Scott Hannan. Derek Roy, Viktor Stalberg, David Jones and Troy Brouwer could also be shopped as could the team’s goaltenders. A few changes could unfold this offseason for the Rink Rats as the Rats continue to try to improve.
Up next for the Rink Rats – scouting for the WHL Waiver Draft & the WHL Entry Draft and quite possibly some trades as rumors have swirled the Rats have already received a couple of intriguing offers. Check back next week for Minnesota’s offseason game plan report. For now, here are some player awards and notes:
Minnesota Rink Rats Team Awards
Team MVP: David Krejci
Top Defenseman: John-Michael Liles
Top Defensive Forward: David Krejci
Top Rookie: Kyle Cumiskey
Most Exciting Player: Drew Stafford
Top Offseason Acquisition: Scott Hannan
Top Acquisition In-Season: Drew Stafford / Patrik Berglund
Player(s) We Can’t Wait to See Next Year: Patrik Berglund, Cam Fowler, Kevin Shattenkirk
Finishing 28-46-10 and 7 games out of the playoffs, the Rink Rats ended the season in 9th place in its conference. The team had what seemed like a revolving door of players all season long, moving the biggest name – Ryan Miller prior to the trade deadline. Miller’s absence left a pretty deep hole in net for the Rink Rats, especially when Jimmy Howard went down for a 10 game stretch. Rookies, Cory Schneider and Justin Peters took over in Howard’s absence giving Minnesota a glimpse into its future behind Schneider. Minnesota was not disappointed as Schneider impressed in his time as the team’s starter. Howard returned after injury and improved his play with the confidence knowing he’s the man in Minnesota. The Rink Rats have a lot of faith in Howard’s ability to take over for Miller heading into next season and know that he can become one of the league’s elite goaltenders.
The high notes of the season included David Krejci, fighting off the sophomore slump and leading the team in scoring with 31 goals and 39 assists – quickly becoming one of the league’s top playmakers. Drew Stafford’s record pace early in the season was another highlight, although he failed to continue his pace late in the season, but still managed to lead the team in goals with 36. Minnesota also saw some nice progression from its prospects playing in the minors – a good sign for seasons to come.
Prospects such as Kevin Shattenkirk, Cam Fowler, Mike Santorelli, Cory Schneider and Nathan Gerbe may all be in the WHL next season; not only will they be playing, but they will be making an impact. Fowler and Shattenkirk both look to be very exciting young defenseman. Both Gerbe and Santorelli have nice offensive skill and great speed which will help their cause in making next year’s lineup. Jamie McBain could be there too, but a logjam at defense could keep him in the minors for another year.
The offseason and next year will both be exciting for Minnesota fans as this team continues to rebuild into a more competitive squad. Look for some noticeable improvement from Leopold, Berglund, Stafford, Jones and others as this
On the verge of an interesting and crucial offseason, the Rink Rats will no doubt be working the phones leading up to the draft. With a lot of depth at defense and Fowler and Shattenkirk ready to step up next season, Minnesota will likely look to move someone on defense, namely Jordan Leopold, Kyle Cumiskey, Marc Staal, John-Michael Liles or Scott Hannan. Derek Roy, Viktor Stalberg, David Jones and Troy Brouwer could also be shopped as could the team’s goaltenders. A few changes could unfold this offseason for the Rink Rats as the Rats continue to try to improve.
Up next for the Rink Rats – scouting for the WHL Waiver Draft & the WHL Entry Draft and quite possibly some trades as rumors have swirled the Rats have already received a couple of intriguing offers. Check back next week for Minnesota’s offseason game plan report. For now, here are some player awards and notes:
Minnesota Rink Rats Team Awards
Team MVP: David Krejci
Top Defenseman: John-Michael Liles
Top Defensive Forward: David Krejci
Top Rookie: Kyle Cumiskey
Most Exciting Player: Drew Stafford
Top Offseason Acquisition: Scott Hannan
Top Acquisition In-Season: Drew Stafford / Patrik Berglund
Player(s) We Can’t Wait to See Next Year: Patrik Berglund, Cam Fowler, Kevin Shattenkirk
2nd Round Predictions
Snowdogs vs Stallions
The Snowdogs are playing the role of Cinderella in this year’s playoffs behind the goaltending of Cam Ward. They knocked off the WHL’s version of the Caps in the NY Demons in 7 games in what was one of the more surprising upsets in playoff history. The Demons had a stacked team who many (including myself) picked to go to the Cyber Cup this season but the Dogs stood tall and now have to play the veteran Stallions club. The Stallions swept the Corinths in the first round and Crosby, Jokinen and company are fresh and poised to do it again.
Prediction: Stallions in 6
Sparrows vs Citadels
The Citadels fought off the Cougars in another great first round matchup and have the depth to rattle the Sparrows who had no problems knocking out the Hooligans in the first round. Antoinne Vermette, Alexandre Picard and Trent Hunter had a nice first round series for the Sparrows but can they keep it up? This series will be a tougher test for the Sparrows and likely go a little deeper.
Prediction: Citadels in 7
Dugouts vs Bulls
Neither team was really tested in the first round, but on paper, not many teams match up against the Bulls. While Tomas Vokoun struggled a bit in the team’s first four games, the Dugouts’ Dwayne Roloson played strong which could even things out a bit, but these are the Bulls and this is playoff time.
Prediction: Bulls in 5
Cats vs Gorillas
Both teams swept their first round opponents and matchup well on paper. The Gorillas’ defense was exposed as evidenced by Halak’s 5.25 gaa in the first round. Still though, the Gorillas have some depth and nice offense led by Phil Kessel and Jordan Staal. The Cats have some guys who can play too, but appear to be limping a bit more than last year’s team.
Prediction: Gorillas in 5
The Snowdogs are playing the role of Cinderella in this year’s playoffs behind the goaltending of Cam Ward. They knocked off the WHL’s version of the Caps in the NY Demons in 7 games in what was one of the more surprising upsets in playoff history. The Demons had a stacked team who many (including myself) picked to go to the Cyber Cup this season but the Dogs stood tall and now have to play the veteran Stallions club. The Stallions swept the Corinths in the first round and Crosby, Jokinen and company are fresh and poised to do it again.
Prediction: Stallions in 6
Sparrows vs Citadels
The Citadels fought off the Cougars in another great first round matchup and have the depth to rattle the Sparrows who had no problems knocking out the Hooligans in the first round. Antoinne Vermette, Alexandre Picard and Trent Hunter had a nice first round series for the Sparrows but can they keep it up? This series will be a tougher test for the Sparrows and likely go a little deeper.
Prediction: Citadels in 7
Dugouts vs Bulls
Neither team was really tested in the first round, but on paper, not many teams match up against the Bulls. While Tomas Vokoun struggled a bit in the team’s first four games, the Dugouts’ Dwayne Roloson played strong which could even things out a bit, but these are the Bulls and this is playoff time.
Prediction: Bulls in 5
Cats vs Gorillas
Both teams swept their first round opponents and matchup well on paper. The Gorillas’ defense was exposed as evidenced by Halak’s 5.25 gaa in the first round. Still though, the Gorillas have some depth and nice offense led by Phil Kessel and Jordan Staal. The Cats have some guys who can play too, but appear to be limping a bit more than last year’s team.
Prediction: Gorillas in 5
Playoff Predictions
Wales
Boston SnowDogs vs New York Demons – The Snowdogs were one of my favorite teams all season to watch. They were getting solid goaltending from Craig Anderson and Cam Ward and had players that were really having great seasons statistically. Recently, however, the team has struggled going 3-6-1 in their last 10. To make matters worse, the Demons are quite possibly the league’s hottest team, and one of the better teams on paper.
Prediction: Demons in 4
Quebec City Corinthians vs Toronto Stallions – Crosby is playing as well as any other player in the league. The Stallions have gone 10-0-0 in their past 10 and the Corinths are banged up. The Corinths have some solid talent but look like they’re running out of steam as the season progresses.
Prediction: Stallions in 5
Detroit Cougars vs Halifax Citadelles – Likely one of the better first round matchupes, both teams have firepower and big names. Goaltending has been the Cougar’s weakness in past seasons but the Toskala-Niittymaki duo looks pretty good heading into the playoffs and the team has some positive chemistry. The Citadels, meanwhile, bulked up for the playoffs and could go deep so long as they beat the Cougars in the first round. I’d like to see the Citadels win, but they’re in for a tough matchup.
Prediction: Cougars in 7
Chicoutimi Sparrows vs Miami Hooligans – The Sparrows are always a tough team come playoff time and they’ve played well all season thanks to a solid team effort. JS Giguere is nursing some injuries which could be the team’s downfall against this high-powered Hooligans offense. It’ll be a good series, but the Hooligans probably have too much firepower to lose, and will upset in the first round.
Prediction: Hooligans in 6
Campbell
Rocky Mountain Express vs Las Vegas Bulls – The Express slept through the regular season and as a result draw the 8th seed and the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. Brendan Shanahan’s career is likely over and the rest of the Express club better have their depends ready as the Bulls are going to make them crap their pants with their quickness and depth.
Prediction: Bulls in 4
Anchorage Orcas vs Grand Forks Gorillas – The Gorillas have been the feel good story of the year going from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best. GM Jason Gudim has done a very good job with this club and Head Coach, Dean Blais should be up for the Jack Adams award at season’s end. The Orcas have some nice scoring in Mike Cammalleri, Dustin Brown and Devin Setoguchi, but don’t have the depth of the Gorillas. They may squeak out a win but not much more – sorry Putz!
Prediction: Gorillas in 5
Portland Timberjacks vs Kelowna Cats – The TJacks have been run by the league all season and have done quite well. It’s hard not to with the scoring threats the team has. Ryan Getzlaf is a supreme talent but the Jacks haven’t been able to get enough out of Alex Ovechkin this season. It’ll probably come down to whoever is the hottest goaltender and my money is on Antti Niemi of the Cats.
Prediction: Cats in 6
Pasadena Patriots vs Saskatchewan Dugouts – The Pats have been quite this season but still have a lot of talent on their roster. The loss of Marty Brodeur for the first 3 games however is going to hurt this club quite a bit as the Dugouts are finding their stride at the right time of the season. The Dugouts have some decent depth on their roster, and Miro Satan will thrive as a hero away from the Bulls in this first series.
Prediction: Dugouts in 5
Boston SnowDogs vs New York Demons – The Snowdogs were one of my favorite teams all season to watch. They were getting solid goaltending from Craig Anderson and Cam Ward and had players that were really having great seasons statistically. Recently, however, the team has struggled going 3-6-1 in their last 10. To make matters worse, the Demons are quite possibly the league’s hottest team, and one of the better teams on paper.
Prediction: Demons in 4
Quebec City Corinthians vs Toronto Stallions – Crosby is playing as well as any other player in the league. The Stallions have gone 10-0-0 in their past 10 and the Corinths are banged up. The Corinths have some solid talent but look like they’re running out of steam as the season progresses.
Prediction: Stallions in 5
Detroit Cougars vs Halifax Citadelles – Likely one of the better first round matchupes, both teams have firepower and big names. Goaltending has been the Cougar’s weakness in past seasons but the Toskala-Niittymaki duo looks pretty good heading into the playoffs and the team has some positive chemistry. The Citadels, meanwhile, bulked up for the playoffs and could go deep so long as they beat the Cougars in the first round. I’d like to see the Citadels win, but they’re in for a tough matchup.
Prediction: Cougars in 7
Chicoutimi Sparrows vs Miami Hooligans – The Sparrows are always a tough team come playoff time and they’ve played well all season thanks to a solid team effort. JS Giguere is nursing some injuries which could be the team’s downfall against this high-powered Hooligans offense. It’ll be a good series, but the Hooligans probably have too much firepower to lose, and will upset in the first round.
Prediction: Hooligans in 6
Campbell
Rocky Mountain Express vs Las Vegas Bulls – The Express slept through the regular season and as a result draw the 8th seed and the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. Brendan Shanahan’s career is likely over and the rest of the Express club better have their depends ready as the Bulls are going to make them crap their pants with their quickness and depth.
Prediction: Bulls in 4
Anchorage Orcas vs Grand Forks Gorillas – The Gorillas have been the feel good story of the year going from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best. GM Jason Gudim has done a very good job with this club and Head Coach, Dean Blais should be up for the Jack Adams award at season’s end. The Orcas have some nice scoring in Mike Cammalleri, Dustin Brown and Devin Setoguchi, but don’t have the depth of the Gorillas. They may squeak out a win but not much more – sorry Putz!
Prediction: Gorillas in 5
Portland Timberjacks vs Kelowna Cats – The TJacks have been run by the league all season and have done quite well. It’s hard not to with the scoring threats the team has. Ryan Getzlaf is a supreme talent but the Jacks haven’t been able to get enough out of Alex Ovechkin this season. It’ll probably come down to whoever is the hottest goaltender and my money is on Antti Niemi of the Cats.
Prediction: Cats in 6
Pasadena Patriots vs Saskatchewan Dugouts – The Pats have been quite this season but still have a lot of talent on their roster. The loss of Marty Brodeur for the first 3 games however is going to hurt this club quite a bit as the Dugouts are finding their stride at the right time of the season. The Dugouts have some decent depth on their roster, and Miro Satan will thrive as a hero away from the Bulls in this first series.
Prediction: Dugouts in 5
Trade Deadline Analysis
Winners
Demons
Who'd They Add: Ryan Miller, Drew Doughty, Chris Clark, Riley Sheahan, 1st Round pick (Sparrows)
Who's Gone: Jonathan Bernier, Carey Price, Ed Jovanovski, Jamie Benn, Mikael Granlund, John Carlson, 2nd round pick
Analysis: The Demons focused on adding quality versus quantity during this year's trade deadline and executed perfectly. They picked up the goaltender they needed in Miller and added one of the best young, two-way defenseman in the league in Drew Doughty. They were also able to add some youth in Sheahan and the Sparrows' 1st round pick. They may have moved a lot of youth but this team will be alright with assets such as Varlamov, Ellis, Kadri and others in the system. They certainly will be one of the top teams to watch leading into this year's playoffs.
Dropkicks
Who'd They Add: Brayden Schenn, Jamie Benn, John Carlson, Mikael Granlund, Andrei Loktionov, Jaden Schwartz, Tyler Ennis, Greg Nemisz, Many draft picks
Who's Gone: Drew Doughty, Ales Hemsky, Wojtek Wolski, Kristian Huselius, Patrik Berglund, Chris Clark, Kyle Beach, Jay Bouwmeester, Jochan Hecht, Mike Komisarek
Analysis: Probably the busiest team come deadline day, the Kicks' new GM made sure people knew he wasn't messing around. Deals for Doughty, Hemsky and Wolski yielded great returns; Deals for Beach, Komisarek and Hecht maybe left a little to be desired. Nevertheless this team was a winner on deadline day adding future pieces such as Schenn, Benn, Carlson, Ennis and others. The Kicks will be good and with the amount of picks they added in the coming draft they have to be happy with the start of the team's new direction.
Bulls
Who'd They Add: Ales Hemsky, Wojtek Wolski, Kristian Huselius, Mark Streit
Who's Gone: Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz, Andrea Loktionov, Jason Demers, Evgeny Dadonov
Analysis: Although these players span just two deals, the Bulls took care of what they had to on deadline day - adding key components to help them look for a Cyber Cup repeat. Huselius is by no means the biggest name coming to Las Vegas but he's a playoff warrior and knows how to find the back of the net. The Bulls added some much needed depth at defense in Streit, who would be any other teams top defenseman but will find a top four spot in Vegas. In adding Hemsky they add a good puck moving winger and bring back a familiar face in Wolski.
Gorillas
Who'd They Add: Matt Pettinger, Mike Comrie
Who's Gone: Matt Smaby, Fernando Pisani
Analysis: The Gorillas didn't do much but they have a lot of pieces in place to be an effective team for the foreseeable future. Mike Comrie gives the team some quality depth at center. He essentially was traded for Fernando Pisani which I think anyone would argue is a deal well in the Gorillas favor. Matt Pettinger is a playoff rental but has looked good of late and could contribute on Grand Forks' powerplay. Probably the biggest move though, was a move that didn't happen, long before the trade deadline when the Gorillas were very aggressively shopping goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Jaroslav Halak. Both players have been amazing this season for the Gorillas and with Jordan Staal having a career year, the Gorillas could make a nice splash in their first playoff appearance under GM Jason Gudim.
Stallions
Who'd They Add: Olli Jokinen, Craig Conroy, Matt Carle, Jay Bouwmeester, David Drewiske
Who's Gone: Matt Stajan, Brent Seabrook, Kurt Sauer, Greg Nemisz, Brent Sopel, Multiple Draft picks (2x 2nd round picks, 1x 3rd round pick)
Analysis: In the short-term the Stallions are winners adding Olli Jokinen, Jay Bouwmeester and Matt Carle to help them for the next few seasons. Bouwmeester can eat up huge minutes and will be a contributor on the Stallion's blueline for many years to come. He replaces the departed Seabrook on the Stallion's blueline and will probably be a better defenseman in the offensive zone. Jokinen meanwhile will be huge down the stretch. He was playing well for the Orcas and will fit in right after Crosby on the team's second line. He may only have a few years left but will definitely be a factor in the playoffs. Conroy and Carle add depth. Conroy is a playoff rental and will be a key player in the locker room and on the penalty kill. Long-term the team doesn't have a lot of youth and moved three good draft picks along with prospect Greg Nemisz. It'll be interesting to see how this club develops.
Citadelles
Who'd They Add: Danny Briere, Clarke MacArthur, Cal Clutterbuck
Who's Gone: James van Riemsdyk, Colten Teubert, David Rundblad
Analysis: The Citadelles were active long before the trade deadline adding goaltender Tuukka Rask, Alex Semin and David Booth - players that will make an instant impact on their lineup. This team is going for it and has the depth and pieces in place to make a nice run this season. After having one of, if not the best minor league club in the WHL the past few seasons, the Citadelles have an opportunity to make a major splash leading up the to the playoffs.
Losers
Fighting Irish
Who'd They Add: NA
Who's Gone: NA
Analysis: There are a lot of good, young players waiting to crack the Irish roster in the next few seasons and make no mistake, this team could be very good when Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, and Alex Pietrangelo join the likes of Keith Yandle, Patric Hornqvist and company, but the Irish were unable to move anybody heading into the trade deadline. Players like Jason Williams, Alex Kotalik, John Madden and others that don't fit into the club's long-term plans still hold a spot on the Irish roster while the club rebuilds. I'm sure the team and fans would've liked to move those players for picks or future pieces but somehow it just didn't happen.
Cougars
Who'd They Add: NA
Who's Gone: NA
Analysis: The Cougars have kind of disappeared this season and haven't made a move since August. Still though they're playoff bound and have a lot of very good players and pieces to make a run. Still though, it would've been nice to see this team make an upgrade or change to help improve the club's chances of winning this post-season. The defense could use some added depth or an upgrade, as could right wing.
Express
Who'd They Add: NA
Who's Gone: NA
Analysis: The Express generally make a strong run about this time of the year and this year is no different. The team sits just half a game out of the playoffs at the moment and has honestly one of the better rosters in the league. They should be a playoff team but for some reason things aren't clicking. Many of the club's top players are closing in on the end of their careers including Mike Modano, Brendan Shanahan, Bill Guerin, Owen Nolan and Scott Niedermayer. I'm sure many clubs
would've paid a good price to land those talents and improve their chances leading into the playoffs. But the Express was quiet and decided to hold steady. They probably could've benefitted from making a move or two.
Wait & See
Cats
Who'd They Add: NA
Who's Gone: NA
Analysis: A big surprise to say the least, because the Cats are usually one of the most active teams in the league leading up to deadline day. The team wanted to upgrade at right wing but held tight and didn't make any trades. Currently in 4th place in their conference, the Cats may be confident enough in what they have already. This team has a lot of guys playing well this season, and have some built-in chemistry from last year's playoff run. If they exit early, GM Jason Minton may kick himself for not landing the winger he desired. If they go deep in the playoffs and win it all, Minton will be considered a genius. Time will tell.
Rink Rats
Who'd They Add: Corey Schneider, Marc Staal, Patrik Berglund, Troy Brouwer, 3rd round pick, Matt
Smaby
Who's Gone: Petr Regin, Ryan Miller, Matt Pettinger, Devin Setoguchi
Analysis: The Rink Rats have made a commitment to get younger and have done so by adding Schneider, Staal, Berglund and company. Losing Miller will certainly hurt but the club remains confident in the skills of Jimmy Howard as it's leading backstop and feels Schneider is no doubt the number one goalie of the future. Marc Staal will be a solid shutdown defender and adds the size and grit on the blueline that they'll lack in the coming years. If Berglund can develop into a solid number one center and Schneider continues his progress, this team becomes a winner.
Orcas
Who'd They Add: Mike Cammalleri, Devin Setoguchi, Brent Seabrook, Matt Stajan, Tyler Kennedy, Kurt Sauer, Paul Ranger
Who's Gone: Brad Richards, Olli Jokinen, Tyler Ennis, Matt Carle, Fabian Brunnstrom, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Craig Conroy
Analysis: The biggest names of course include Cammalleri, Setoguchi and Seabrook; three players young enough, and good enough to lead this team for several years to come. In the short-term however, the moves don't payoff as the Orcas say goodbye to Jokinen who could've really helped push them to the next level in the playoffs. Long-term we shall see if Setoguchi can continue being a top flight scoring winger and if Cammalleri can stay healthy enough to make an impact.
Lunatics
Who'd They Add: Brad Richards, Fabian Brunnstrom, Mike Komisarek, Jochen Hecht, 4th round pick
Who's Gone: Mike Cammalleri, Tyler Kennedy, Draft picks (2x 3rd round), Maxim Laperriere
Analysis: The Lunatics are out of the playoff hunt that's for sure as they were probably one of the unluckiest teams in the league this season. On paper they had a lot going for them but just couldn't find a way to get the wins they needed. Fan support has dropped after having consecutive losing seasons. The team still has some nice pieces in place and traded for guys that can help them now including a deal for Big Buff a few weeks before the deadline (Byufgulien and a 2nd in exchange for Rask and Hedman). Richards is one of the league's best centermen and Brunnstrom has skills but needs to find some competitiveness and play two-way hockey in order to make the lineup. Time will tell if the team's moves paid off.
Stampede
Who'd They Add: Jonathan Bernier, Ed Jovanovski, Dustin Jeffrey, Chris Higgins, Manny Malhotra, Fernando Pisani
Who's Gone: Riley Sheahan, 1st round pick (Sparrows), Other draft picks (1x 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)
Analysis: In Bernier the Stampede now have their number one goaltender of the future. He's not to far away of being the guy of the present either. The team also acquired some help offensively in Chris Higgins and Dustin Jeffrey - a young prospect center/left wing that will help the team on both ends of the ice. In addition the Stampede acquired a veteran blueliner in Jovanovski who can lead the team on the ice and in the locker room. He's at the end of his career so if the Stampede could flip him for something younger in the offseason that'd be the ideal and make this an even better move. The team also acquired some character guys in Pisani and Malhotra but lost on many draft picks and prospect Sheahan who is probably a few years away from making an impact anyways. I could see things slightly favoring the Stampede right now but we'll have to see if the older guys can continue to make an impact in the WHL.
Demons
Who'd They Add: Ryan Miller, Drew Doughty, Chris Clark, Riley Sheahan, 1st Round pick (Sparrows)
Who's Gone: Jonathan Bernier, Carey Price, Ed Jovanovski, Jamie Benn, Mikael Granlund, John Carlson, 2nd round pick
Analysis: The Demons focused on adding quality versus quantity during this year's trade deadline and executed perfectly. They picked up the goaltender they needed in Miller and added one of the best young, two-way defenseman in the league in Drew Doughty. They were also able to add some youth in Sheahan and the Sparrows' 1st round pick. They may have moved a lot of youth but this team will be alright with assets such as Varlamov, Ellis, Kadri and others in the system. They certainly will be one of the top teams to watch leading into this year's playoffs.
Dropkicks
Who'd They Add: Brayden Schenn, Jamie Benn, John Carlson, Mikael Granlund, Andrei Loktionov, Jaden Schwartz, Tyler Ennis, Greg Nemisz, Many draft picks
Who's Gone: Drew Doughty, Ales Hemsky, Wojtek Wolski, Kristian Huselius, Patrik Berglund, Chris Clark, Kyle Beach, Jay Bouwmeester, Jochan Hecht, Mike Komisarek
Analysis: Probably the busiest team come deadline day, the Kicks' new GM made sure people knew he wasn't messing around. Deals for Doughty, Hemsky and Wolski yielded great returns; Deals for Beach, Komisarek and Hecht maybe left a little to be desired. Nevertheless this team was a winner on deadline day adding future pieces such as Schenn, Benn, Carlson, Ennis and others. The Kicks will be good and with the amount of picks they added in the coming draft they have to be happy with the start of the team's new direction.
Bulls
Who'd They Add: Ales Hemsky, Wojtek Wolski, Kristian Huselius, Mark Streit
Who's Gone: Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz, Andrea Loktionov, Jason Demers, Evgeny Dadonov
Analysis: Although these players span just two deals, the Bulls took care of what they had to on deadline day - adding key components to help them look for a Cyber Cup repeat. Huselius is by no means the biggest name coming to Las Vegas but he's a playoff warrior and knows how to find the back of the net. The Bulls added some much needed depth at defense in Streit, who would be any other teams top defenseman but will find a top four spot in Vegas. In adding Hemsky they add a good puck moving winger and bring back a familiar face in Wolski.
Gorillas
Who'd They Add: Matt Pettinger, Mike Comrie
Who's Gone: Matt Smaby, Fernando Pisani
Analysis: The Gorillas didn't do much but they have a lot of pieces in place to be an effective team for the foreseeable future. Mike Comrie gives the team some quality depth at center. He essentially was traded for Fernando Pisani which I think anyone would argue is a deal well in the Gorillas favor. Matt Pettinger is a playoff rental but has looked good of late and could contribute on Grand Forks' powerplay. Probably the biggest move though, was a move that didn't happen, long before the trade deadline when the Gorillas were very aggressively shopping goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Jaroslav Halak. Both players have been amazing this season for the Gorillas and with Jordan Staal having a career year, the Gorillas could make a nice splash in their first playoff appearance under GM Jason Gudim.
Stallions
Who'd They Add: Olli Jokinen, Craig Conroy, Matt Carle, Jay Bouwmeester, David Drewiske
Who's Gone: Matt Stajan, Brent Seabrook, Kurt Sauer, Greg Nemisz, Brent Sopel, Multiple Draft picks (2x 2nd round picks, 1x 3rd round pick)
Analysis: In the short-term the Stallions are winners adding Olli Jokinen, Jay Bouwmeester and Matt Carle to help them for the next few seasons. Bouwmeester can eat up huge minutes and will be a contributor on the Stallion's blueline for many years to come. He replaces the departed Seabrook on the Stallion's blueline and will probably be a better defenseman in the offensive zone. Jokinen meanwhile will be huge down the stretch. He was playing well for the Orcas and will fit in right after Crosby on the team's second line. He may only have a few years left but will definitely be a factor in the playoffs. Conroy and Carle add depth. Conroy is a playoff rental and will be a key player in the locker room and on the penalty kill. Long-term the team doesn't have a lot of youth and moved three good draft picks along with prospect Greg Nemisz. It'll be interesting to see how this club develops.
Citadelles
Who'd They Add: Danny Briere, Clarke MacArthur, Cal Clutterbuck
Who's Gone: James van Riemsdyk, Colten Teubert, David Rundblad
Analysis: The Citadelles were active long before the trade deadline adding goaltender Tuukka Rask, Alex Semin and David Booth - players that will make an instant impact on their lineup. This team is going for it and has the depth and pieces in place to make a nice run this season. After having one of, if not the best minor league club in the WHL the past few seasons, the Citadelles have an opportunity to make a major splash leading up the to the playoffs.
Losers
Fighting Irish
Who'd They Add: NA
Who's Gone: NA
Analysis: There are a lot of good, young players waiting to crack the Irish roster in the next few seasons and make no mistake, this team could be very good when Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, and Alex Pietrangelo join the likes of Keith Yandle, Patric Hornqvist and company, but the Irish were unable to move anybody heading into the trade deadline. Players like Jason Williams, Alex Kotalik, John Madden and others that don't fit into the club's long-term plans still hold a spot on the Irish roster while the club rebuilds. I'm sure the team and fans would've liked to move those players for picks or future pieces but somehow it just didn't happen.
Cougars
Who'd They Add: NA
Who's Gone: NA
Analysis: The Cougars have kind of disappeared this season and haven't made a move since August. Still though they're playoff bound and have a lot of very good players and pieces to make a run. Still though, it would've been nice to see this team make an upgrade or change to help improve the club's chances of winning this post-season. The defense could use some added depth or an upgrade, as could right wing.
Express
Who'd They Add: NA
Who's Gone: NA
Analysis: The Express generally make a strong run about this time of the year and this year is no different. The team sits just half a game out of the playoffs at the moment and has honestly one of the better rosters in the league. They should be a playoff team but for some reason things aren't clicking. Many of the club's top players are closing in on the end of their careers including Mike Modano, Brendan Shanahan, Bill Guerin, Owen Nolan and Scott Niedermayer. I'm sure many clubs
would've paid a good price to land those talents and improve their chances leading into the playoffs. But the Express was quiet and decided to hold steady. They probably could've benefitted from making a move or two.
Wait & See
Cats
Who'd They Add: NA
Who's Gone: NA
Analysis: A big surprise to say the least, because the Cats are usually one of the most active teams in the league leading up to deadline day. The team wanted to upgrade at right wing but held tight and didn't make any trades. Currently in 4th place in their conference, the Cats may be confident enough in what they have already. This team has a lot of guys playing well this season, and have some built-in chemistry from last year's playoff run. If they exit early, GM Jason Minton may kick himself for not landing the winger he desired. If they go deep in the playoffs and win it all, Minton will be considered a genius. Time will tell.
Rink Rats
Who'd They Add: Corey Schneider, Marc Staal, Patrik Berglund, Troy Brouwer, 3rd round pick, Matt
Smaby
Who's Gone: Petr Regin, Ryan Miller, Matt Pettinger, Devin Setoguchi
Analysis: The Rink Rats have made a commitment to get younger and have done so by adding Schneider, Staal, Berglund and company. Losing Miller will certainly hurt but the club remains confident in the skills of Jimmy Howard as it's leading backstop and feels Schneider is no doubt the number one goalie of the future. Marc Staal will be a solid shutdown defender and adds the size and grit on the blueline that they'll lack in the coming years. If Berglund can develop into a solid number one center and Schneider continues his progress, this team becomes a winner.
Orcas
Who'd They Add: Mike Cammalleri, Devin Setoguchi, Brent Seabrook, Matt Stajan, Tyler Kennedy, Kurt Sauer, Paul Ranger
Who's Gone: Brad Richards, Olli Jokinen, Tyler Ennis, Matt Carle, Fabian Brunnstrom, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Craig Conroy
Analysis: The biggest names of course include Cammalleri, Setoguchi and Seabrook; three players young enough, and good enough to lead this team for several years to come. In the short-term however, the moves don't payoff as the Orcas say goodbye to Jokinen who could've really helped push them to the next level in the playoffs. Long-term we shall see if Setoguchi can continue being a top flight scoring winger and if Cammalleri can stay healthy enough to make an impact.
Lunatics
Who'd They Add: Brad Richards, Fabian Brunnstrom, Mike Komisarek, Jochen Hecht, 4th round pick
Who's Gone: Mike Cammalleri, Tyler Kennedy, Draft picks (2x 3rd round), Maxim Laperriere
Analysis: The Lunatics are out of the playoff hunt that's for sure as they were probably one of the unluckiest teams in the league this season. On paper they had a lot going for them but just couldn't find a way to get the wins they needed. Fan support has dropped after having consecutive losing seasons. The team still has some nice pieces in place and traded for guys that can help them now including a deal for Big Buff a few weeks before the deadline (Byufgulien and a 2nd in exchange for Rask and Hedman). Richards is one of the league's best centermen and Brunnstrom has skills but needs to find some competitiveness and play two-way hockey in order to make the lineup. Time will tell if the team's moves paid off.
Stampede
Who'd They Add: Jonathan Bernier, Ed Jovanovski, Dustin Jeffrey, Chris Higgins, Manny Malhotra, Fernando Pisani
Who's Gone: Riley Sheahan, 1st round pick (Sparrows), Other draft picks (1x 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)
Analysis: In Bernier the Stampede now have their number one goaltender of the future. He's not to far away of being the guy of the present either. The team also acquired some help offensively in Chris Higgins and Dustin Jeffrey - a young prospect center/left wing that will help the team on both ends of the ice. In addition the Stampede acquired a veteran blueliner in Jovanovski who can lead the team on the ice and in the locker room. He's at the end of his career so if the Stampede could flip him for something younger in the offseason that'd be the ideal and make this an even better move. The team also acquired some character guys in Pisani and Malhotra but lost on many draft picks and prospect Sheahan who is probably a few years away from making an impact anyways. I could see things slightly favoring the Stampede right now but we'll have to see if the older guys can continue to make an impact in the WHL.
Rats Move Price Less Than a Week Since Acquiring Him
Minneapolis, MN - Heading into the wee hours of the trade deadline, it appears the Quebec City Corinthians and the Minnesota Rink Rats have made a last minute deal which has recently acquired goaltender Carey Price heading to Quebec. In return the Corinthians have agreed to send defenseman Marc Staal and prospect goaltender Cory Schneider to Minnesota. The Corinthians will also receive a 4th round pick in next season's draft. Price has been traded less than a week after being acquired in a deal that sent franchise goaltender Ryan Miller to the Demons but Minnesota likes what they see in Schneider.
"We had a lot of really good offers that came in for Carey and we want to thank all of the franchises for sending in their offers. We analyzed a lot of deals and both the Bulls and Lunatics had offers that were very competitive, but at the end of the day, Schneider is our guy. To be able to get him along with one of the elite shutdown defenders in the league in Staal, we're really pleased with this deal. Howard is a very good goaltender himself and we're comfortable giving Schneider some time to develop while riding Howie as our number one."
"We had a lot of really good offers that came in for Carey and we want to thank all of the franchises for sending in their offers. We analyzed a lot of deals and both the Bulls and Lunatics had offers that were very competitive, but at the end of the day, Schneider is our guy. To be able to get him along with one of the elite shutdown defenders in the league in Staal, we're really pleased with this deal. Howard is a very good goaltender himself and we're comfortable giving Schneider some time to develop while riding Howie as our number one."
Rats Say Goodbye to Miller
Minneapolis, MN - In a very surprising move this evening, the Minnesota Rink Rats moved goaltender Ryan Miller to the New York Demons in exchange for Carey Price and a 3rd round draft pick. Miller has been the star of the Rink Rats since GM, Tyler LaDouceur took over the club but it appears his days with the Rats are done as the team continues to look to the future.
Price will be introduced to the club tomorrow and will join the team in Minnesota to take on the Portland Timberjacks. No word yet on whether he will suit up for the club or not. The Rats have also traded Chris Higgins and Dustin Jeffrey in exchange for the Nashville Stampede's 2nd round pick this coming season. In addition to these moves, Devin Setoguchi was dealt last week to the Orcas for Tyler Ennis and the teams swapped draft picks.
The team will comment on the moves tomorrow at the press conference to introduce Price but it's definitely certain the club is looking to their future and still have some notable players on their trade block heading in to the league's day 70 trading deadline. The list is below and the team has also been in talks about moving TJ Oshie for another young forward but hasn't quite decided whether or not that will work out yet. Nevertheless, some big names appear on the block...
7 T.J. Oshie 2+ R RW 6 7 5 7 7 7 8 7 6 7 6 73
9 Derek Roy 1- L C 5 8 5 8 7 7 9 8 8 6 7 78
68 Roman Voloshenko 1+ R LW 6 7 7 7 7 9 6 5 6 5 7 72
12 Viktor Stalberg 2+ L LW 6 7 7 6 7 7 8 5 6 5 6 70
22 Troy Brouwer 2+ R LW 5 6 7 5 6 4 5 6 6 5 6 61
20 Jamal Mayers 1- R RW 8 6 8 6 5 5 6 5 6 8 5 68
4 John-Michael Liles 1+ L D 5 8 5 6 7 7 8 8 8 4 6 72
10 Kyle Cumiskey 2- L D 5 7 5 7 5 8 8 6 7 6 6 70
44 Scott Hannan 1- L D 8 5 9 8 9 7 5 4 4 8 3 70
74 Jay McKee 0 L D 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 5 8 4 68
8 Greg deVries 0 L D 6 5 7 7 7 6 5 5 5 7 4 64
24 Bryan Berard 0 L D 3 6 4 5 2 4 7 7 6 2 7 53
61 Luca Caputi 0 L LW 6 7 6 6 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 69
7 T.J. Hensick 0 R RW 6 7 6 6 7 7 7 6 6 6 5 69
60 Justin Peters 1+ L G 6 7 7 6 6 8 8 6 7 - - 61
Price will be introduced to the club tomorrow and will join the team in Minnesota to take on the Portland Timberjacks. No word yet on whether he will suit up for the club or not. The Rats have also traded Chris Higgins and Dustin Jeffrey in exchange for the Nashville Stampede's 2nd round pick this coming season. In addition to these moves, Devin Setoguchi was dealt last week to the Orcas for Tyler Ennis and the teams swapped draft picks.
The team will comment on the moves tomorrow at the press conference to introduce Price but it's definitely certain the club is looking to their future and still have some notable players on their trade block heading in to the league's day 70 trading deadline. The list is below and the team has also been in talks about moving TJ Oshie for another young forward but hasn't quite decided whether or not that will work out yet. Nevertheless, some big names appear on the block...
7 T.J. Oshie 2+ R RW 6 7 5 7 7 7 8 7 6 7 6 73
9 Derek Roy 1- L C 5 8 5 8 7 7 9 8 8 6 7 78
68 Roman Voloshenko 1+ R LW 6 7 7 7 7 9 6 5 6 5 7 72
12 Viktor Stalberg 2+ L LW 6 7 7 6 7 7 8 5 6 5 6 70
22 Troy Brouwer 2+ R LW 5 6 7 5 6 4 5 6 6 5 6 61
20 Jamal Mayers 1- R RW 8 6 8 6 5 5 6 5 6 8 5 68
4 John-Michael Liles 1+ L D 5 8 5 6 7 7 8 8 8 4 6 72
10 Kyle Cumiskey 2- L D 5 7 5 7 5 8 8 6 7 6 6 70
44 Scott Hannan 1- L D 8 5 9 8 9 7 5 4 4 8 3 70
74 Jay McKee 0 L D 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 5 8 4 68
8 Greg deVries 0 L D 6 5 7 7 7 6 5 5 5 7 4 64
24 Bryan Berard 0 L D 3 6 4 5 2 4 7 7 6 2 7 53
61 Luca Caputi 0 L LW 6 7 6 6 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 69
7 T.J. Hensick 0 R RW 6 7 6 6 7 7 7 6 6 6 5 69
60 Justin Peters 1+ L G 6 7 7 6 6 8 8 6 7 - - 61
Rats Selling at Deadline???
Minneapolis, MN – Trade talk is heating up in Minnesota as the Rats appear to be selling before this year’s trade deadline. The Rink Rats who are now winless in 4 games and are 1-8-1 in their last 10 appear to be out of the playoff hunt and stocking up to compete for coming seasons. Devin Setoguchi, Derek Roy, Jimmy Howard, Chris Higgins and Jay McKee are the big names on the Rats’ trade block this season. Rumors surrounding Setoguchi specifically is really heating up as Minnesota has received a few intriguing offers. Setoguchi, who was just recently acquired by the Rink Rats, has seen some good success in a Minnesota sweater this season and has been perhaps their most consistent goal scorer since being acquired from the Miami Hooligans. Rink Rats officials have also stated there’s been some interest in Derek Roy and goaltender Jimmy Howard.
“Things are definitely not quiet at the moment,” stated GM, Tyler LaDouceur. “We have talked to a few teams and there has been some interest in our players. We have a number of young players who will be on our professional squad next season, namely Shattenkirk, Fowler and even Jamie McBain, Nathan Gerbe and Mike Santorelli will compete for a job. These players will be able to fill some holes especially on offense. If we make moves, and deal some of our better players, it’s to continue to improve our club long-term.”
“Things are definitely not quiet at the moment,” stated GM, Tyler LaDouceur. “We have talked to a few teams and there has been some interest in our players. We have a number of young players who will be on our professional squad next season, namely Shattenkirk, Fowler and even Jamie McBain, Nathan Gerbe and Mike Santorelli will compete for a job. These players will be able to fill some holes especially on offense. If we make moves, and deal some of our better players, it’s to continue to improve our club long-term.”
Rats Continue Losing Ways - Look to Deal
Minneapolis, MN - The Rink Rats continued their losing ways following a 6-3 loss to the NY Demons. The Demons fired 47 shots on All-Star goaltender Ryan Miller in their losing effort. After an early goal by Tomas Fleischmann, the Demons responded by scoring 3 straight. Carey Price stopped 32 of Minnesota's shots in the Rats' losing effort. Minnesota who is now 1-8-1 in their past 10 games can't seem to catch many breaks these days and continues falling behind the Snowdogs and Corinthians for the last seed in the East.
To make matters worse, Minnesota's name has been in the rumor mill continuously the past few weeks. Even some of Minnesota's biggest names have been shopped recently to teams like the Gorillas and Corinthians. Although no deals appear to be imminent, Minnesota has announced that defenseman Shane Hnidy has been dealt to the Sparrows in exchange for prospect Nate Prosser. Hnidy won't likely be the last Rink Rat moved before the WHL's trade deadline. Minnesota is actively pursuing deals that could include players such as Jay McKee, Chris Higgins, Jimmy Howard, Devin Setoguchi, Jamal Mayers and others.
Farm Report
The future in Minnesota is clearly bright, especially on the defensive side. Minnesota has some very solid talent at defense especially in the likes of Cam Fowler, Kevin Shattenkirk and Jamie McBain. All three could end up making Minnesota's roster next season and Michael Sauer has also shown some solid talent defensively. Prospects Dustin Jeffrey, Nathan Gerbe and Michael Santorelli have potential to be on the roster as well and are playing well in the minors. Jeffrey is playing very well in the minors right now and could be recalled any day. If the Rats start moving a bunch of their defenseman, others may join Jeffrey on the pro roster including Luca Caputi.
To make matters worse, Minnesota's name has been in the rumor mill continuously the past few weeks. Even some of Minnesota's biggest names have been shopped recently to teams like the Gorillas and Corinthians. Although no deals appear to be imminent, Minnesota has announced that defenseman Shane Hnidy has been dealt to the Sparrows in exchange for prospect Nate Prosser. Hnidy won't likely be the last Rink Rat moved before the WHL's trade deadline. Minnesota is actively pursuing deals that could include players such as Jay McKee, Chris Higgins, Jimmy Howard, Devin Setoguchi, Jamal Mayers and others.
Farm Report
The future in Minnesota is clearly bright, especially on the defensive side. Minnesota has some very solid talent at defense especially in the likes of Cam Fowler, Kevin Shattenkirk and Jamie McBain. All three could end up making Minnesota's roster next season and Michael Sauer has also shown some solid talent defensively. Prospects Dustin Jeffrey, Nathan Gerbe and Michael Santorelli have potential to be on the roster as well and are playing well in the minors. Jeffrey is playing very well in the minors right now and could be recalled any day. If the Rats start moving a bunch of their defenseman, others may join Jeffrey on the pro roster including Luca Caputi.
Rats Move Penner & Quincey
The Minnesota Rink Rats announced this morning that they have traded away a couple of big names, Dustin Penner and Kyle Quincey to the Miami Hooligans in exchange for Devin Setoguchi and Emerson Etem. Setoguchi and Penner have both had disappointing seasons for their respective squads this year so both organizations are hoping a change of scenery will do them well. Kyle Quincey has been Minnesota's best defenseman this season with 3 goals and 21 assists through 43 games. Quincey also sports one of the better plus/minus's on the Rink Rats.
Minnesota Head Coach, Dan Bylsma stated that he was excited about the trade. "Setoguchi has a lot of speed and has a solid history of finding the back of the net. He's still only 23 years old so he can very easily turn this thing around. We're also very excited about bringing over Etem. We contacted him and his family last night and while he was sad to hear he had been traded, I think he's excited about his future in Minnesota. The kid has blazing speed and also knows how to find the back of the net; something that will surely help his future in the WHL. It's tough to lose Quincey, but we have a lot of hope for our defense the next few seasons. Guys like Kevin Shattenkirk, Cam Fowler and Jamie McBain will all be stepping up in the near future to go along with what we already have on dee in John-Michael Liles, Kyle Cumiskey, and Erik Johnson. I wouldn't be surprised if Jordan Leopold bounced back next season as well."
Dustin Penner, who was a big acquisition for the Rink Rats this offseason in a move that dealt Mike Cammalleri, didn't have the success with Minnesota that many had hoped for. After a solid preseason and showing some chemistry with David Krejci, Penner only has 8 goals and 7 assists in 35 games played this season. While this is a big trade for both clubs, Minnesota has stated they're still shopping other players namely, Chris Higgins, Peter Regin, Shane Hnidy, Greg deVries, Dustin Jeffrey, and have even discussed goaltender Jimmy Howard.
Minnesota Head Coach, Dan Bylsma stated that he was excited about the trade. "Setoguchi has a lot of speed and has a solid history of finding the back of the net. He's still only 23 years old so he can very easily turn this thing around. We're also very excited about bringing over Etem. We contacted him and his family last night and while he was sad to hear he had been traded, I think he's excited about his future in Minnesota. The kid has blazing speed and also knows how to find the back of the net; something that will surely help his future in the WHL. It's tough to lose Quincey, but we have a lot of hope for our defense the next few seasons. Guys like Kevin Shattenkirk, Cam Fowler and Jamie McBain will all be stepping up in the near future to go along with what we already have on dee in John-Michael Liles, Kyle Cumiskey, and Erik Johnson. I wouldn't be surprised if Jordan Leopold bounced back next season as well."
Dustin Penner, who was a big acquisition for the Rink Rats this offseason in a move that dealt Mike Cammalleri, didn't have the success with Minnesota that many had hoped for. After a solid preseason and showing some chemistry with David Krejci, Penner only has 8 goals and 7 assists in 35 games played this season. While this is a big trade for both clubs, Minnesota has stated they're still shopping other players namely, Chris Higgins, Peter Regin, Shane Hnidy, Greg deVries, Dustin Jeffrey, and have even discussed goaltender Jimmy Howard.
Rats Make Some Changes
Minneapolis, MN – Following last night’s 4-2 loss to the Stallions, Head Coach Dan Bylsma had a one-hour closed door meeting with his team and staff. Bylsma followed the meeting up with a brief post-game press conference informing the media that he would not allow them to speak with his players.
Bylsma appears to be clearly frustrated in what is now a 5-game losing streak and going 3-6-1 in the past 10 games. The Rink Rats are now 12-15-6 on the season and sit in 8th place in the Wales Conference. Not bad for a team that’s said to be “transitioning” but still below the expectations of fans and clearly the Minnesota personnel.
As a result, Minnesota Rink Rats President, Tyler LaDouceur, has announced some changes in team personnel starting with new General Manager Greg Sherman. Sherman will take over LaDouceur’s role since the start of this franchise. The team also announced that Joe Sacco would be joining the WHL club as an Assistant Coach. Sacco will take over Barry Melrose’s job as Assistant for the remainder of the season. Finally, the Rink Rats have hired Joe Sakic as Director of Player Development and named Don Lucia as an assistant coach on their farm team in Colorado.
A busy day to say the least but the Rink Rats are looking to spark a team that doesn’t seem to be playing inspired hockey. In addition to these changes Minnesota is fielding offers for Chris Higgins, Greg deVries, Shane Hnidy, Peter Regin and Bryan Berard.
Bylsma appears to be clearly frustrated in what is now a 5-game losing streak and going 3-6-1 in the past 10 games. The Rink Rats are now 12-15-6 on the season and sit in 8th place in the Wales Conference. Not bad for a team that’s said to be “transitioning” but still below the expectations of fans and clearly the Minnesota personnel.
As a result, Minnesota Rink Rats President, Tyler LaDouceur, has announced some changes in team personnel starting with new General Manager Greg Sherman. Sherman will take over LaDouceur’s role since the start of this franchise. The team also announced that Joe Sacco would be joining the WHL club as an Assistant Coach. Sacco will take over Barry Melrose’s job as Assistant for the remainder of the season. Finally, the Rink Rats have hired Joe Sakic as Director of Player Development and named Don Lucia as an assistant coach on their farm team in Colorado.
A busy day to say the least but the Rink Rats are looking to spark a team that doesn’t seem to be playing inspired hockey. In addition to these changes Minnesota is fielding offers for Chris Higgins, Greg deVries, Shane Hnidy, Peter Regin and Bryan Berard.
Quarter Season Report
Minneapolis, MN – Over a quarter of the season has passed and the Minnesota Rink Rats find themselves in a familiar position - in contention for a playoff spot. After a hot start the Rink Rats have hit a bit of a skid as of late winless in their last 5. Jimmy Howard continued what has been a somewhat disappointing start for him in their most recent loss to the Hooligans - a 5-1 defeat. The loss put Minnesota at 9-9-5 on the season. Howard is now 0-4-0 with a 5.05 gaa and .829 sv%. His play has some wondering if he could be moved for a scoring forward or two-way defenseman.
Nonetheless, the Rink Rats have had somewhat of a surprisingly hot start. David Krejci has continued his great play from last season and Ryan Miller has returned to his MVP ways. The addition of newcomers Drew Stafford and TJ Oshie has also helped this offense and seems to have filled the void left by Matthew Lombardi. The hope is that Stafford can return to the form that netted him 44 goals in his rookie season for the Orcas and that Oshie will continue to progress into the speedy, two-way forward he's able to be. The future is bright in Minnesota.The present is a little unclear.
The recent losing streak has many wondering what type of team the Rink Rats are. Certainly the loss of puck-moving defenseman Kyle Cumiskey hasn't helped the team, and a nagging injury to Ryan Miller has caused some issues but fans wonder if this team is the team that started the season off very hot and in 2nd place within their conference or the club that's gone winless in 5 straight. Minnesota has been looking at the trade block and with a potential move for Jimmy Howard they may be able to add one or two pieces to help complete their puzzle and finally get over the hump to being one of the league's elite ... stay tuned.
Nonetheless, the Rink Rats have had somewhat of a surprisingly hot start. David Krejci has continued his great play from last season and Ryan Miller has returned to his MVP ways. The addition of newcomers Drew Stafford and TJ Oshie has also helped this offense and seems to have filled the void left by Matthew Lombardi. The hope is that Stafford can return to the form that netted him 44 goals in his rookie season for the Orcas and that Oshie will continue to progress into the speedy, two-way forward he's able to be. The future is bright in Minnesota.The present is a little unclear.
The recent losing streak has many wondering what type of team the Rink Rats are. Certainly the loss of puck-moving defenseman Kyle Cumiskey hasn't helped the team, and a nagging injury to Ryan Miller has caused some issues but fans wonder if this team is the team that started the season off very hot and in 2nd place within their conference or the club that's gone winless in 5 straight. Minnesota has been looking at the trade block and with a potential move for Jimmy Howard they may be able to add one or two pieces to help complete their puzzle and finally get over the hump to being one of the league's elite ... stay tuned.
Rats Lose Penner in Victory
Minneapolis, MN – Last night’s 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Warriors was certainly the toughest win for the Rink Rats this season. Down 2-1 and having a tough time putting goals past Chris Osgood Jamie Langenbrunner scored late in the 2nd period to tie the game on a wrist shot from the slot. As Minnesota continued to fire more and more shots on Osgood the Rats were finally able to break the tie with 5 minutes remaining in the game on a tip-in by David Jones off of a Kyle Cumiskey shot from the point right in front of Osgood. The screened tip-in by Jones left Osgood wondering where the puck went as it glided in the goal.
It was a bittersweet victory of course as the team’s leading goal scorer, Dustin Penner, skated off late in the 1st period with what sounds like a groin strain. Penner is day-to-day but is expected to miss at least a week. The Rats won’t be able to fill the void left by Penner without making a trade but have recalled winger Luca Caputi from Colorado to help out with the team’s offense. Caputi has played well in the minors this season and is another big presence that can score some “garbage” goals in front of the net.
“Luca will get his chance to play some minutes for us on the third line in tonight’s game against the Hooligans,” stated Head Coach Dan Bylsma. “He’s a big presence out there for opposing defenses which will be nice since we are a bit of a smaller team. Losing one of your best players before a big game like this is always tough but we’re fighters and I know our guys will respond.”
Penner has been tied in some trade rumors as of late and his injury could really impact the current talks going on. Attention may quickly turn to Jamie Langenbrunner who has a strong two-way presence and is a veteran leader. We’ll see how things play themselves out.
It was a bittersweet victory of course as the team’s leading goal scorer, Dustin Penner, skated off late in the 1st period with what sounds like a groin strain. Penner is day-to-day but is expected to miss at least a week. The Rats won’t be able to fill the void left by Penner without making a trade but have recalled winger Luca Caputi from Colorado to help out with the team’s offense. Caputi has played well in the minors this season and is another big presence that can score some “garbage” goals in front of the net.
“Luca will get his chance to play some minutes for us on the third line in tonight’s game against the Hooligans,” stated Head Coach Dan Bylsma. “He’s a big presence out there for opposing defenses which will be nice since we are a bit of a smaller team. Losing one of your best players before a big game like this is always tough but we’re fighters and I know our guys will respond.”
Penner has been tied in some trade rumors as of late and his injury could really impact the current talks going on. Attention may quickly turn to Jamie Langenbrunner who has a strong two-way presence and is a veteran leader. We’ll see how things play themselves out.
Interviewing the Coach
Minneapolis, MN – Barry Melrose here sitting down with Head Coach of the Minnesota Rink Rats, Dan Bylsma about the first week and half of the WHL season. Dan good to have you here in the studio.
Bylsma: Nice to be here Barry.
Melrose: Nice start to the season going undefeated in your first 5 with a 4-0-1 record and now sliding a bit with 2 tough losses. What are your thoughts on the team’s strong start?
Bylsma: Yeah thanks. We were pretty excited following those first 5 games and still are feeling really good even after losing a couple of tough back-to-back games. I’m pretty excited to see how well Ryan Miller has been playing. He’s been lights out and saved our butts quite a few times back there. He was last week’s first star and although he’s had a rough go as of late, he’s looking on top of his game.
Overall I’m pleased with the team’s effort. We’re getting scoring from all 3 lines, our penalty kill has been great, and David Krejci has really emerged as one of our best players. Dustin Penner and Matthew Lombardi have done a good job finding the back of the net; something we need them to continue moving forward.
Melrose: Hate to interrupt but with all of those positives and a balanced scoring attack the team really hasn’t played well on the power play. How do you improve on that?
Bylsma: Well you’re right; we’ve played pretty poorly on the power play this season thus far. With a lot of new faces on this team it’s going to take a while to find some chemistry on the power play and because we don’t really have a go-to-guy like we did last season in Mike Cammalleri the goals aren’t going to come as easy. For tonight’s game we’re going to try something out and see if it works. Viktor Stalberg may get a shot on the special teams tonight and because we’re a young club and guys will improve as the season progresses.
Melrose: You mention Stalberg – what rookies or young players have impressed you the most this early in the season?
Bylsma: Well Stalberg putting up 4 goals in limited time he’s played for us has been a really nice contribution for our team. With his speed and size he has a good future in front of him. Ryan O’Reilly has played well on our penalty killing units and I’ve been pleased with his hussle. He has some offensive potential but we’ve certainly enjoyed his defense. Kyle Cumiskey has also played well. He may be the only player with a minus-rating but he’s so fast and skates so well. He moves the puck well we just need him to take more shots. The other rookie on our squad is Gilbert Brule. I think he gets overlooked because of the other guys but he’s done a nice job centering our third line.
Melrose: Almost out of time. Any news you have regarding trades, team news, etc?
Bylsma: I know our front office is working on a couple of deals. I can’t say exactly who’d be involved or who we’d get in return but anything we do will keep the long-term success of our team in mind. Sadly, one of our top scorers may end up being moved out before the end of the week if one of the deals is finalized. The front office also discussed the notion of moving Jimmy Howard for a young goal scorer. I haven’t heard if there’s been any progress there or not.
Melrose: Well that’s all here from Minnesota.
Bylsma: Nice to be here Barry.
Melrose: Nice start to the season going undefeated in your first 5 with a 4-0-1 record and now sliding a bit with 2 tough losses. What are your thoughts on the team’s strong start?
Bylsma: Yeah thanks. We were pretty excited following those first 5 games and still are feeling really good even after losing a couple of tough back-to-back games. I’m pretty excited to see how well Ryan Miller has been playing. He’s been lights out and saved our butts quite a few times back there. He was last week’s first star and although he’s had a rough go as of late, he’s looking on top of his game.
Overall I’m pleased with the team’s effort. We’re getting scoring from all 3 lines, our penalty kill has been great, and David Krejci has really emerged as one of our best players. Dustin Penner and Matthew Lombardi have done a good job finding the back of the net; something we need them to continue moving forward.
Melrose: Hate to interrupt but with all of those positives and a balanced scoring attack the team really hasn’t played well on the power play. How do you improve on that?
Bylsma: Well you’re right; we’ve played pretty poorly on the power play this season thus far. With a lot of new faces on this team it’s going to take a while to find some chemistry on the power play and because we don’t really have a go-to-guy like we did last season in Mike Cammalleri the goals aren’t going to come as easy. For tonight’s game we’re going to try something out and see if it works. Viktor Stalberg may get a shot on the special teams tonight and because we’re a young club and guys will improve as the season progresses.
Melrose: You mention Stalberg – what rookies or young players have impressed you the most this early in the season?
Bylsma: Well Stalberg putting up 4 goals in limited time he’s played for us has been a really nice contribution for our team. With his speed and size he has a good future in front of him. Ryan O’Reilly has played well on our penalty killing units and I’ve been pleased with his hussle. He has some offensive potential but we’ve certainly enjoyed his defense. Kyle Cumiskey has also played well. He may be the only player with a minus-rating but he’s so fast and skates so well. He moves the puck well we just need him to take more shots. The other rookie on our squad is Gilbert Brule. I think he gets overlooked because of the other guys but he’s done a nice job centering our third line.
Melrose: Almost out of time. Any news you have regarding trades, team news, etc?
Bylsma: I know our front office is working on a couple of deals. I can’t say exactly who’d be involved or who we’d get in return but anything we do will keep the long-term success of our team in mind. Sadly, one of our top scorers may end up being moved out before the end of the week if one of the deals is finalized. The front office also discussed the notion of moving Jimmy Howard for a young goal scorer. I haven’t heard if there’s been any progress there or not.
Melrose: Well that’s all here from Minnesota.
Changes Looking Great Thus Far
Minneapolis, MN – When the WHL released its regular season schedule a couple of months ago Minnesota fans were very concerned that the first 4 games of the season would start on the road. The Rink Rats haven’t faired too well on the road in the past so the fans’ concerns were valid. To the relief, and perhaps the surprise of fans, the Minnesota Rink Rats found some good success on the road going 4-0 and looking quite good in the process. David Krejci leads the team in scoring after 4 with a goal and 5 assists while goaltender Ryan Miller carries a 1.50 gaa and .955 sv%. Minnesota has also looked quite good on the penalty kill thanks to the contributions of offseason acquisitions Jay McKee and Scott Hannan.
GM, Tyler LaDouceur was quite pleased with his team’s success following a recent scouting trip joking, “Maybe I should leave more often; the team responded a little too well during my leave.” Matthew Lombardi and Dustin Penner lead the squad with 4 and 3 goals a piece while the team continues to get contributions in both ends of the ice from players across the board.
“The rookies are looking good, Krejci’s looking good, Lombo and Penner are looking good and Miller has been great,” stated Head Coach Dan Bylsma. “For all the changes we’ve made as an organization in the past few months we’re very happy with this team. We’re playing more aggressive than we usually do but the penalty kill has done a good job thus far. Our power play needs a bit more help but overall I’m very pleased with our success.”
The Rink Rats are off today and tomorrow and will play host to the Snowdogs on Friday morning. Following an offseason with reduced season ticket sales the Rink Rats have sold out their first home game after the success fans have seen on the road.
GM, Tyler LaDouceur was quite pleased with his team’s success following a recent scouting trip joking, “Maybe I should leave more often; the team responded a little too well during my leave.” Matthew Lombardi and Dustin Penner lead the squad with 4 and 3 goals a piece while the team continues to get contributions in both ends of the ice from players across the board.
“The rookies are looking good, Krejci’s looking good, Lombo and Penner are looking good and Miller has been great,” stated Head Coach Dan Bylsma. “For all the changes we’ve made as an organization in the past few months we’re very happy with this team. We’re playing more aggressive than we usually do but the penalty kill has done a good job thus far. Our power play needs a bit more help but overall I’m very pleased with our success.”
The Rink Rats are off today and tomorrow and will play host to the Snowdogs on Friday morning. Following an offseason with reduced season ticket sales the Rink Rats have sold out their first home game after the success fans have seen on the road.
Preseason Gets Started with a "W"
The WHL preseason kicked off last night and Rink Rat fans were excited to get a glimpse of the new look squad as they played at home against the Nashville Stampede. A couple of Minnesota newbies connected to score the Rink Rat’s first goal half way through the first period. Viktor Stalberg took an outlet pass from Jay McKee to beat off two defenders and Brian Elliott stick side. Stalberg’s line of Matthew Lombardi and Jamal Mayers would combine to score 3 goals in Minnesota’s 5-3 win.
There are plenty of new faces for Minnesota fans to acquaint themselves with before the start of the regular season. Minnesota expects rookies such as Gilbert Brule, Ryan O’Reilly, Viktor Stalberg, David Jones, Kyle Cumiskey and Jimmy Howard to play key roles coming into this season. Some other notable new faces include Dustin Penner, Michal Rozsival, Chris Higgins, Jay McKee and Scott Hannan.
Minnesota coach, Dan Bylsma, has stated that he will play a full lineup for the first 3 games of the preseason, 2 of which are at home against the Stampede and Lunatics. Following those 3 games key starters like Ryan Miller, David Krejci, Derek Roy and others will likely play spot duty to give Minnesota coaches a better idea of who can help support these stars. This will also give coaches and management an opportunity to take a first look at some of the young players that will play in the minors this season or compete for one of the roster spots available. Ryan O’Reilly, TJ Hensick, Casey Wellman, Cam Fowler and Jamie McBain will all have an opportunity to get some minutes this preseason.
Minnesota is rumored to be on the lookout for a wing as the preseason rolls on. They are believed to be willing to part with a good draft pick or move prospects Dustin Jeffrey and/or TJ Hensick. The Rink Rats will continue their preseason tonight against the Waterloo Lunatics. David Krejci, Derek Roy and Jamie Langenbrunner are expected to start.
There are plenty of new faces for Minnesota fans to acquaint themselves with before the start of the regular season. Minnesota expects rookies such as Gilbert Brule, Ryan O’Reilly, Viktor Stalberg, David Jones, Kyle Cumiskey and Jimmy Howard to play key roles coming into this season. Some other notable new faces include Dustin Penner, Michal Rozsival, Chris Higgins, Jay McKee and Scott Hannan.
Minnesota coach, Dan Bylsma, has stated that he will play a full lineup for the first 3 games of the preseason, 2 of which are at home against the Stampede and Lunatics. Following those 3 games key starters like Ryan Miller, David Krejci, Derek Roy and others will likely play spot duty to give Minnesota coaches a better idea of who can help support these stars. This will also give coaches and management an opportunity to take a first look at some of the young players that will play in the minors this season or compete for one of the roster spots available. Ryan O’Reilly, TJ Hensick, Casey Wellman, Cam Fowler and Jamie McBain will all have an opportunity to get some minutes this preseason.
Minnesota is rumored to be on the lookout for a wing as the preseason rolls on. They are believed to be willing to part with a good draft pick or move prospects Dustin Jeffrey and/or TJ Hensick. The Rink Rats will continue their preseason tonight against the Waterloo Lunatics. David Krejci, Derek Roy and Jamie Langenbrunner are expected to start.
Rookies Impress at Training Camp
Minneapolis, MN – An impressive performance by many rookies at the Minnesota Rink Rats' training camp will leave head coach Dan Bylsma with some difficult decisions heading into the preseason. Rookies Gilbert Brule, David Jones, Kyle Cumiskey and as expected, Jimmy Howard all showed Bylsma they can compete at the WHL level but questions will remain how Bylsma fits them in to the depth chart. Other rookies such as Jamie McBain, Cam Fowler, Kevin Shattenkirk, Peter Regin and Nathan Gerbe impressed but they look a year or so away from competing in the WHL.
“There’s going to be some decisions to make that’s for sure,” stated Bylsma. “Viktor Stalberg is one that stands out – he’s probably not quite ready for the WHL but we’ll need to use him because of the lack of depth at wing. I like how well the young guys competed too. McBain, Fowler, Quincey, Shattenkirk and Cumiskey all look really strong on dee. I’m excited about these guys’ future with us. They all skate really well and have a lot of offensive upside. Cumiskey is just so quick. No wonder he got the nickname the road runner. The future of the Minnesota defense isn’t too far away.”
“Some of the new guys looked good too. Dustin Penner and Michal Rozsival both will play big roles on the team this season and they were able to find the back of the net quite a few times during camp. Jay McKee and Scott Hannan looked strong for us defensively. Derek Roy appeared to be in good shape which should hopefully help him bounce back this year. Both David Krejci and Matthew Lombardi appear to be ready for good seasons again and Ryan Miller looks better than ever. We’re in a transition state to say the least, but we’ll still have a pretty competitive team if these guys can stay healthy.”
Bylsma also acknowledged the job the front office did during this year’s draft. “I liked what we did this year. We had some needs; on defense especially, and they went out and got two very good defenseman in Fowler and McBain. McBain will likely play with us next season and Fowler isn’t too far behind. We’re really high on McBain’s potential. He should fill the void left by Burns. I liked our second round a lot too; getting Stalberg, O’Reilly and Wellman. There are some guys you draft and you wonder if they’ll succeed in the WHL. With our first five picks there’s no question. In the 3rd round, I really liked that we snagged Dustin Jeffrey in a trade but also were able to draft Justin Peters and Bobby Butler. Butler obviously was moved for Mike Santorelli, a deal we felt very comfortable with seeing as Santorelli is a very good and exciting young offensive player. We’re probably not a contender for this season but I feel this is a very exciting time for Minnesota hockey.”
“There’s going to be some decisions to make that’s for sure,” stated Bylsma. “Viktor Stalberg is one that stands out – he’s probably not quite ready for the WHL but we’ll need to use him because of the lack of depth at wing. I like how well the young guys competed too. McBain, Fowler, Quincey, Shattenkirk and Cumiskey all look really strong on dee. I’m excited about these guys’ future with us. They all skate really well and have a lot of offensive upside. Cumiskey is just so quick. No wonder he got the nickname the road runner. The future of the Minnesota defense isn’t too far away.”
“Some of the new guys looked good too. Dustin Penner and Michal Rozsival both will play big roles on the team this season and they were able to find the back of the net quite a few times during camp. Jay McKee and Scott Hannan looked strong for us defensively. Derek Roy appeared to be in good shape which should hopefully help him bounce back this year. Both David Krejci and Matthew Lombardi appear to be ready for good seasons again and Ryan Miller looks better than ever. We’re in a transition state to say the least, but we’ll still have a pretty competitive team if these guys can stay healthy.”
Bylsma also acknowledged the job the front office did during this year’s draft. “I liked what we did this year. We had some needs; on defense especially, and they went out and got two very good defenseman in Fowler and McBain. McBain will likely play with us next season and Fowler isn’t too far behind. We’re really high on McBain’s potential. He should fill the void left by Burns. I liked our second round a lot too; getting Stalberg, O’Reilly and Wellman. There are some guys you draft and you wonder if they’ll succeed in the WHL. With our first five picks there’s no question. In the 3rd round, I really liked that we snagged Dustin Jeffrey in a trade but also were able to draft Justin Peters and Bobby Butler. Butler obviously was moved for Mike Santorelli, a deal we felt very comfortable with seeing as Santorelli is a very good and exciting young offensive player. We’re probably not a contender for this season but I feel this is a very exciting time for Minnesota hockey.”
Campbell Conference Breakdown
Back again for a quick look at how the Campbell Conference breaks down this season. It will likely be a very tight race between the 2nd and 6th seeds with several teams having the talent to turn an upset or two. It's sure to be an exciting season!
Campbell
Western
Edmonton Dropkicks – A new GM could help motivate this squad to be a better playoff team; something that has plagued this squad for years. Sophomore Nicklas Backstrom will likely get more ice time as will winger Wojtek Wolski. Evgeni Nabokov may be on his last leg and last chance to win a Cup with the Kicks this season before heading to the KHL. The Kicks are likely a playoff team but they’re probably not a Cup contender this season.
Player(s) to watch: Kristian Huselius & Mike Comrie – Can Huselius repeat his awesome performance from last season? Huselius’s surprise performance excited many fans of Edmonton last season and they’re hoping he can continue to put up those kind of numbers. He’ll start the season behind Alex Semin on the second line which could hurt his stats a bit but if he can continue to provide that kind of secondary scoring it’ll be a good season for the Kicks. Mike Comrie will have to step it up from the 18 goals and 20 assists he provided last season. He’s the team’s second line center behind Backstrom so he’ll need to be more consistent this year.
Last Season: 49-28-7
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Kristian Huselius – 53 goals, 33 assists in 84 games
Predicted Finish This Season: 6th in Campbell
Saskatchewan Dugouts – They have some guys that can play, but they’re probably not among the league’s elite. Dwayne Roloson and Marty Turco will split time in goal while Anze Kopitar and Miroslav Satan assume scoring duties. The Dugouts have some question marks but could surprise some teams heading into this season if Kopitar can continue to produce.
Player(s) to watch: Miroslav Satan & Anze Kopitar – The Dugouts’ success will depend on the chemistry built by these two offensive studs coming into the season. Satan is getting older which led to his departure from Las Vegas. If he can keep up with Kopitar the Dugouts could have a very good top line.
Last Season: 40-36-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Anze Kopitar – 37 goals, 41 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 7th in Campbell
Saskatoon Fighting Irish – There is a lot of talent on the Fighting Irish’s roster…just not on the pro roster. The Fighting Irish could very well be the team of the future in the WHL with the likes of Patric Hornqvist, Magnus P.Svensson, Jordan Eberle, Keith Yandle and others in the system. They’ll be a good team someday very soon but this year look for the Irish to continue to make moves to help them with their rebuild.
Player(s) to watch: Patric Hornqvist & Keith Yandle – Fighting Irish fans have been excited to see these two skate in the blue and gold for quite a while now and they’ll get their chance this season. Both players have a shot at the Calder Trophy this season and both will likely get good minutes for the Irish. They represent the future and to some extent the present of Fighting Irish hockey.
Last Season: 32-46-6
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Zbynek Michalek – 11 goals, 37 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 11th in Campbell
Grand Forks Gorillas – The Gorillas will be a playoff team this season and will be very competitive. Their only weakness is on defense where the team will depend on Brent Burns, Adam Foote, Dennis Seidenberg and Kris Letang. Behind those four there isn’t much else and Burns is the only bona-fide top-four dman out of that mix. The Gorillas have two excellent goaltenders and some offensive punch from Phil Kessel, Jordan Staal, and Brandon Dubinsky. Matt Duchene and James Neal should benefit from some extra playing time this season.
Player(s) to watch: Brent Burns & Roberto Luongo – Burns struggled at times last season in Minnesota and for that reason was shipped to Grand Forks. Fans in Grand Forks love their hockey and they’ll love Burns if he can rebound into the form that won him the Norris Trophy just two seasons ago. Luongo’s name was on the trade block all offseason. It’ll be interesting to see how he responds to the trade rumors and if he can carry this club deep in the playoffs.
Last Season: 17-57-10
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Jordan Staal – 37 goals, 34 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 5th in Campbell
Anchorage Orcas – Just call the new GM of this squad a lucky bastard. He inherits one of the WHL’s best young squads especially on defense and in goal where this team drafted really well. There’s a need for help up front but Tyler Ennis and Alex Burmistrov could be viable options in the next couple of years. The Orcas surprised last year by getting into the playoffs. This year may be a little tougher.
Player(s) to watch: Erik Johnson & Steve Mason – Johnson continues to improve. As he matures and gets stronger, he’ll likely become one of the league’s best defenders. Mason played well sharing goaltender duties with Carey Price last season in his rookie campaign. This year Mason could get a bigger share of the load.
Last Season: 34-42-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Scott Gomez – 38 goals, 44 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 9th in Campbell
Winnipeg Warriors – It’s a good thing the Warriors still have their 1st round pick for next season. They’re going to need it. With very little to work with this year, it’s a sure bet the Warriors will be in the mix for a Lottery draft pick next season. The good news – the Warriors drafted Jack Campbell and has Jiri Hudler in the system.
Player(s) to watch: Tim Gleason & Mike Smith – How long until Gleason is dealt to help the rebuild in Winnipeg? He’s one of the guys who can make an impact on a club right now as a shutdown defender. With good size and average puck handling ability he’s arguably the best player on this club. Smith is a decent goaltender who will see a lot of rubber. He’ll have to be on his game to squeak out some wins.
Last Season: 15-64-5
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Jozef Stumpel – 22 goals, 42 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 12th in Campbell
Pacific
Las Vegas Bulls – The Bulls still have one of the best rosters in the league and with some crafty deals in the offseason they now have some good farm depth. Although they don’t have as much depth as they did last season, the Bulls still have arguably the best three lines in the WHL which should allow them the opportunity to defend their Cup.
Player(s) to watch: Ilya Kovalchuk, Dany Heatley & Zach Parise – There isn’t one player on the Bulls’ top 3 lines (forwards) who couldn’t play on any WHL team’s top line. The Bulls have some of the top scorers in the league and this trio tops the bunch. Heatley was acquired in the offseason and will only add to the Bulls’ chances of repeating as Cyber Cup champions.
Last Season: 69-9-6
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Ilya Kovalchuk – 54 goals, 85 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 1st in Campbell
Kelowna Cats – The Cats were a surprise last season and now have one of the better rosters in the league. Rookie Tyler Myers is slotted into the 3rd spot on defense while rookie Antti Niemi will start in goal. With good depth across this roster, the Cats still are looking for another solid defenseman. If they land one, the Cats could find themselves in a very nice position to take a shot at this year’s Cup. This team will face a lot of competition and starting their season in the CzechRepublic could lead to some serious jet leg to start the season. They could be as high as 2nd in the Conference or as low as 5th. Our prediction – a very close 4th behind Portland.
Player(s) to watch: Steven Stamkos, Tyler Myers & Chris Kunitz – Myers steps in as a rookie as the 3rd defenseman on the depth chart. He’s a legitimate Calder Trophy threat. Stamkos will assume added responsibilities and more ice time than last season. He could be on his way to becoming an elite scorer in the WHL this season. Kunitz’s performance surprised everyone last season when he scored 59 goals and 57 assists. Can he continue those numbers or was last season a fluke?
Last Season: 51-25-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Chris Kunitz – 59 goals, 57 assists in 81 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 4th in Campbell
Rocky Mountain Express – The Express were a surprise last season not because of how well they played but because of how poorly they played. They had one of the better rosters in the league and didn’t manage to make the playoffs. With an aging roster and plenty of depth, the Express are again one of the favorites going into the season. This could be their last chance for a while so guys must step up in order for them to be among the league’s elite again.
Player(s) to watch: Rick DiPietro, Mike Modano & Brendan Shanahan – DiPietro must stay healthy and regain the form that had many talking about him becoming one of the league’s best a few years ago. If he flounders, Cristobal Huet could step in but his inconsistencies leave you guessing. Shanahan has said this will be his last season. He can still produce numbers, and while he’s done after this year, Modano isn’t too far behind. They represent the old guard of the WHL and must step up for the Express to have a chance.
Last Season: 32-47-5
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Brendan Shanahan – 40 goals, 43 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 2nd in Campbell
Los Angeles Patriots – If there were ever a team in need of a rebuild it is the Patriots. The former management sold out for one last chance at the Cup. Their moves resulted in a first round exit and a bunch of old farts. There isn’t much youth on this club and they don’t have any picks coming up either. This team needs to make smart decisions from the get-go in how they move their players. The current squad has some solid players but this situation is in dire need of some youthful legs.
Player(s) to watch: Martin Brodeur & Daniel Alfredsson – Two of the best players on the squad, both are solid trade chips for this new GM. Brodeur had trouble last year in the playoffs but he’s proven that he’s one of the best to ever play the game and has enough gas left in the tank to carry another contending team. Alfredsson was the team’s leader in scoring last year. A long time Saint, Alfredsson could benefit from a change of scenery and some new teammates.
Last Season: 58-17-9
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Daniel Alfredsson – 52 goals, 52 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 8th in Campbell
Portland Timberjacks – The Timberjacks have some good depth and are always considered one of the league’s top contenders. Ryan Getzlaf will be counted on to lead this team again this season and the hope is that Alex Ovechkin can rebound after a rough season last year. Andy McDonald and Maxim Afinogenov should provide some good secondary scoring. The TJacks will be in a tough race for 2-4 in this year’s Campbell Conference.
Player(s) to watch: Alex Ovechkin & Henrik Lundqvist – Ovechkin needs to rebound from his 26 goals and 27 assists in 59 games last season. He has the talent to be the best in the league; he just needs to play with more consistency. Lundqvist is among the league’s best goaltenders. He can steal games on his own.
Last Season: 43-32-9
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Ryan Getzlaf – 36 goals, 52 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 3rd in Campbell
Vancouver Voodoo – The Voodoo gambled by moving Patrick Kane, two first round picks and a 2nd round pick for the 1st overall selection (Taylor Hall) and a late 1st round pick this offseason. Hall has the makings of a number one scoring centerman but the cost was high. The Voodoo should be excited about their first line in Brad Richards, Rick Nash and Thomas Vanek – one of the best top lines in the league. Kyle Okposo will continue to make strides as will Marc-Andre Fleury.
Player(s) to watch: Thomas Vanek & Marc-Andre Fleury – Vanek had a tough season last year. With only 33 goals and 15 assists (not to mention he was a -39), Vanek disappointed a lot of people in Vancouver. He’ll need to bounce back this year and play more responsibly in his own end for the Voodoo to make strides. Fleury hasn’t had to play much in the WHL to date. He’s played behind Martin Brodeur for the majority of his young career but when Brodeur was traded last season Fleury had to step up. He didn’t have much success with a 6.95 gaa and .857 sv%. He’ll need to limit his mistakes in order for the Voodoo to make some noise in the WHL this season.
Last Season: 32-44-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Dany Heatley – 30 goals, 51 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 10th in Campbell
Campbell Conference Regular Season Predicted Standings:
1. Las Vegas Bulls
2. Rocky Mountain Express
3. Portland Timberjacks
4. Kelowna Cats
5. Grand Forks Gorillas
6. Edmonton Dropkicks
7. Saskatchewan Dugouts
8. LA Patriots
9. Anchorage Orcas
10. Vancouver Voodoo
11. Saskatoon Fighting Irish
12. Winnipeg Warriors
Campbell
Western
Edmonton Dropkicks – A new GM could help motivate this squad to be a better playoff team; something that has plagued this squad for years. Sophomore Nicklas Backstrom will likely get more ice time as will winger Wojtek Wolski. Evgeni Nabokov may be on his last leg and last chance to win a Cup with the Kicks this season before heading to the KHL. The Kicks are likely a playoff team but they’re probably not a Cup contender this season.
Player(s) to watch: Kristian Huselius & Mike Comrie – Can Huselius repeat his awesome performance from last season? Huselius’s surprise performance excited many fans of Edmonton last season and they’re hoping he can continue to put up those kind of numbers. He’ll start the season behind Alex Semin on the second line which could hurt his stats a bit but if he can continue to provide that kind of secondary scoring it’ll be a good season for the Kicks. Mike Comrie will have to step it up from the 18 goals and 20 assists he provided last season. He’s the team’s second line center behind Backstrom so he’ll need to be more consistent this year.
Last Season: 49-28-7
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Kristian Huselius – 53 goals, 33 assists in 84 games
Predicted Finish This Season: 6th in Campbell
Saskatchewan Dugouts – They have some guys that can play, but they’re probably not among the league’s elite. Dwayne Roloson and Marty Turco will split time in goal while Anze Kopitar and Miroslav Satan assume scoring duties. The Dugouts have some question marks but could surprise some teams heading into this season if Kopitar can continue to produce.
Player(s) to watch: Miroslav Satan & Anze Kopitar – The Dugouts’ success will depend on the chemistry built by these two offensive studs coming into the season. Satan is getting older which led to his departure from Las Vegas. If he can keep up with Kopitar the Dugouts could have a very good top line.
Last Season: 40-36-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Anze Kopitar – 37 goals, 41 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 7th in Campbell
Saskatoon Fighting Irish – There is a lot of talent on the Fighting Irish’s roster…just not on the pro roster. The Fighting Irish could very well be the team of the future in the WHL with the likes of Patric Hornqvist, Magnus P.Svensson, Jordan Eberle, Keith Yandle and others in the system. They’ll be a good team someday very soon but this year look for the Irish to continue to make moves to help them with their rebuild.
Player(s) to watch: Patric Hornqvist & Keith Yandle – Fighting Irish fans have been excited to see these two skate in the blue and gold for quite a while now and they’ll get their chance this season. Both players have a shot at the Calder Trophy this season and both will likely get good minutes for the Irish. They represent the future and to some extent the present of Fighting Irish hockey.
Last Season: 32-46-6
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Zbynek Michalek – 11 goals, 37 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 11th in Campbell
Grand Forks Gorillas – The Gorillas will be a playoff team this season and will be very competitive. Their only weakness is on defense where the team will depend on Brent Burns, Adam Foote, Dennis Seidenberg and Kris Letang. Behind those four there isn’t much else and Burns is the only bona-fide top-four dman out of that mix. The Gorillas have two excellent goaltenders and some offensive punch from Phil Kessel, Jordan Staal, and Brandon Dubinsky. Matt Duchene and James Neal should benefit from some extra playing time this season.
Player(s) to watch: Brent Burns & Roberto Luongo – Burns struggled at times last season in Minnesota and for that reason was shipped to Grand Forks. Fans in Grand Forks love their hockey and they’ll love Burns if he can rebound into the form that won him the Norris Trophy just two seasons ago. Luongo’s name was on the trade block all offseason. It’ll be interesting to see how he responds to the trade rumors and if he can carry this club deep in the playoffs.
Last Season: 17-57-10
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Jordan Staal – 37 goals, 34 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 5th in Campbell
Anchorage Orcas – Just call the new GM of this squad a lucky bastard. He inherits one of the WHL’s best young squads especially on defense and in goal where this team drafted really well. There’s a need for help up front but Tyler Ennis and Alex Burmistrov could be viable options in the next couple of years. The Orcas surprised last year by getting into the playoffs. This year may be a little tougher.
Player(s) to watch: Erik Johnson & Steve Mason – Johnson continues to improve. As he matures and gets stronger, he’ll likely become one of the league’s best defenders. Mason played well sharing goaltender duties with Carey Price last season in his rookie campaign. This year Mason could get a bigger share of the load.
Last Season: 34-42-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Scott Gomez – 38 goals, 44 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 9th in Campbell
Winnipeg Warriors – It’s a good thing the Warriors still have their 1st round pick for next season. They’re going to need it. With very little to work with this year, it’s a sure bet the Warriors will be in the mix for a Lottery draft pick next season. The good news – the Warriors drafted Jack Campbell and has Jiri Hudler in the system.
Player(s) to watch: Tim Gleason & Mike Smith – How long until Gleason is dealt to help the rebuild in Winnipeg? He’s one of the guys who can make an impact on a club right now as a shutdown defender. With good size and average puck handling ability he’s arguably the best player on this club. Smith is a decent goaltender who will see a lot of rubber. He’ll have to be on his game to squeak out some wins.
Last Season: 15-64-5
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Jozef Stumpel – 22 goals, 42 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 12th in Campbell
Pacific
Las Vegas Bulls – The Bulls still have one of the best rosters in the league and with some crafty deals in the offseason they now have some good farm depth. Although they don’t have as much depth as they did last season, the Bulls still have arguably the best three lines in the WHL which should allow them the opportunity to defend their Cup.
Player(s) to watch: Ilya Kovalchuk, Dany Heatley & Zach Parise – There isn’t one player on the Bulls’ top 3 lines (forwards) who couldn’t play on any WHL team’s top line. The Bulls have some of the top scorers in the league and this trio tops the bunch. Heatley was acquired in the offseason and will only add to the Bulls’ chances of repeating as Cyber Cup champions.
Last Season: 69-9-6
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Ilya Kovalchuk – 54 goals, 85 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 1st in Campbell
Kelowna Cats – The Cats were a surprise last season and now have one of the better rosters in the league. Rookie Tyler Myers is slotted into the 3rd spot on defense while rookie Antti Niemi will start in goal. With good depth across this roster, the Cats still are looking for another solid defenseman. If they land one, the Cats could find themselves in a very nice position to take a shot at this year’s Cup. This team will face a lot of competition and starting their season in the CzechRepublic could lead to some serious jet leg to start the season. They could be as high as 2nd in the Conference or as low as 5th. Our prediction – a very close 4th behind Portland.
Player(s) to watch: Steven Stamkos, Tyler Myers & Chris Kunitz – Myers steps in as a rookie as the 3rd defenseman on the depth chart. He’s a legitimate Calder Trophy threat. Stamkos will assume added responsibilities and more ice time than last season. He could be on his way to becoming an elite scorer in the WHL this season. Kunitz’s performance surprised everyone last season when he scored 59 goals and 57 assists. Can he continue those numbers or was last season a fluke?
Last Season: 51-25-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Chris Kunitz – 59 goals, 57 assists in 81 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 4th in Campbell
Rocky Mountain Express – The Express were a surprise last season not because of how well they played but because of how poorly they played. They had one of the better rosters in the league and didn’t manage to make the playoffs. With an aging roster and plenty of depth, the Express are again one of the favorites going into the season. This could be their last chance for a while so guys must step up in order for them to be among the league’s elite again.
Player(s) to watch: Rick DiPietro, Mike Modano & Brendan Shanahan – DiPietro must stay healthy and regain the form that had many talking about him becoming one of the league’s best a few years ago. If he flounders, Cristobal Huet could step in but his inconsistencies leave you guessing. Shanahan has said this will be his last season. He can still produce numbers, and while he’s done after this year, Modano isn’t too far behind. They represent the old guard of the WHL and must step up for the Express to have a chance.
Last Season: 32-47-5
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Brendan Shanahan – 40 goals, 43 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 2nd in Campbell
Los Angeles Patriots – If there were ever a team in need of a rebuild it is the Patriots. The former management sold out for one last chance at the Cup. Their moves resulted in a first round exit and a bunch of old farts. There isn’t much youth on this club and they don’t have any picks coming up either. This team needs to make smart decisions from the get-go in how they move their players. The current squad has some solid players but this situation is in dire need of some youthful legs.
Player(s) to watch: Martin Brodeur & Daniel Alfredsson – Two of the best players on the squad, both are solid trade chips for this new GM. Brodeur had trouble last year in the playoffs but he’s proven that he’s one of the best to ever play the game and has enough gas left in the tank to carry another contending team. Alfredsson was the team’s leader in scoring last year. A long time Saint, Alfredsson could benefit from a change of scenery and some new teammates.
Last Season: 58-17-9
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Daniel Alfredsson – 52 goals, 52 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 8th in Campbell
Portland Timberjacks – The Timberjacks have some good depth and are always considered one of the league’s top contenders. Ryan Getzlaf will be counted on to lead this team again this season and the hope is that Alex Ovechkin can rebound after a rough season last year. Andy McDonald and Maxim Afinogenov should provide some good secondary scoring. The TJacks will be in a tough race for 2-4 in this year’s Campbell Conference.
Player(s) to watch: Alex Ovechkin & Henrik Lundqvist – Ovechkin needs to rebound from his 26 goals and 27 assists in 59 games last season. He has the talent to be the best in the league; he just needs to play with more consistency. Lundqvist is among the league’s best goaltenders. He can steal games on his own.
Last Season: 43-32-9
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Ryan Getzlaf – 36 goals, 52 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 3rd in Campbell
Vancouver Voodoo – The Voodoo gambled by moving Patrick Kane, two first round picks and a 2nd round pick for the 1st overall selection (Taylor Hall) and a late 1st round pick this offseason. Hall has the makings of a number one scoring centerman but the cost was high. The Voodoo should be excited about their first line in Brad Richards, Rick Nash and Thomas Vanek – one of the best top lines in the league. Kyle Okposo will continue to make strides as will Marc-Andre Fleury.
Player(s) to watch: Thomas Vanek & Marc-Andre Fleury – Vanek had a tough season last year. With only 33 goals and 15 assists (not to mention he was a -39), Vanek disappointed a lot of people in Vancouver. He’ll need to bounce back this year and play more responsibly in his own end for the Voodoo to make strides. Fleury hasn’t had to play much in the WHL to date. He’s played behind Martin Brodeur for the majority of his young career but when Brodeur was traded last season Fleury had to step up. He didn’t have much success with a 6.95 gaa and .857 sv%. He’ll need to limit his mistakes in order for the Voodoo to make some noise in the WHL this season.
Last Season: 32-44-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Dany Heatley – 30 goals, 51 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 10th in Campbell
Campbell Conference Regular Season Predicted Standings:
1. Las Vegas Bulls
2. Rocky Mountain Express
3. Portland Timberjacks
4. Kelowna Cats
5. Grand Forks Gorillas
6. Edmonton Dropkicks
7. Saskatchewan Dugouts
8. LA Patriots
9. Anchorage Orcas
10. Vancouver Voodoo
11. Saskatoon Fighting Irish
12. Winnipeg Warriors
Wales Conference Breakdown
As we near the start of a new WHL season, many clubs are optimistic thinking “this is the year”. Today we take a team-to-team look at the Wales Conference and see how the conference breaks down. Check back tomorrow as we break down the teams in the Campbell Conference.
Atlantic
Ottawa Capitols – The Capitols are in rebuilding mode and are a good bet to land one of the top 3 picks in next year’s draft. The Caps have a good young goalie in Josh Harding and just drafted playmaking center Tyler Bozak in the first round of this year’s draft so there are some pieces in place. Scottie Upshall could be a nice trade chip or provide some much needed offense for Ottawa this season.
Player(s) to watch: Tyler Bozak – Arguably the most exciting player on the Capitols’ roster, Bozak will step in right away for this club and make an impact. The Caps hope he can build some good chemistry right away with winger Scottie Upshall to give this club a much needed boost.
Last Season: 15-63-6
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Jarret Stoll – 23 goals, 40 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 12th in Wales
Halifax Citadelles – With two of the best centers in the game and some good depth across the lineup the Citadelles are an easy pick for a playoff berth. The question remains whether the Citadelles can go deep into the playoffs.
Player(s) to watch: Kari Lehtonen & Shea Weber – Much of the success of this Citadelles club rests on the health of Lehtonen. If he goes down so does the team. If he can stay healthy, this will be a tough group to beat. With the departure of Dion Phaneuf, Shea Weber will be the go-to guy on the point for the Citadelles. He will be counted on to teach youngsters Michael DelZotto and Ryan Wilson how things are done in the WHL.
Last Season: 42-32-10
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Travis Zajac – 43 goals, 50 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 5th in Wales
Quebec City Corinthians – The Corinths got a lot younger last season and still have a very good roster led by Paul Stastny, Danny Briere and Ilja Bryzgalov. John Tavares may get a chance at a roster spot this season and could produce
some solid numbers if given the minutes. David Backes could also break out with added responsibilities this season. This team is a playoff team, but probably not as strong of a contender as in year’s past.
Player(s) to watch: Ilja Bryzagalov & Bryan Little – Bryzgalov had a rough season last year for the Corinths but the hope is he can bounce back and lead this team back to the dominant squad they once were. Bryan Little didn’t get much of a chance with the Saints last year so a new team and new teammates could help his numbers this season for the Corinths.
Last Season: 54-30-0
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Andrei Markov – 31 goals, 66 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 4th in Wales
New York Demons – This very well could be the Demons’ year. They have solid depth at every position with the exception of goal, which is their only weakness. The Demons will have to hope their towering defense lead by Zdeno Chara will be able to hold off opponents enough to win the Cup.
Player(s) to watch: Rene Bourque & Niklas Backstrom – Bourque will get top-six minutes this season on a very good squad. His numbers should escalate by being around better talent. Niklas Backstrom is a good goalie but by no means is he elite and if he goes down Legace is the next best option and the Demons’ Cup hopes (at least for this season) could be squashed.
Last Season: 55-17-12
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Joe Thornton – 42 goals, 63 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 1st in Wales
Boston SnowDogs – This team continues to get better on paper and they’ll only continue that trend if they continue to make smart moves. The Snowdogs have a lot of young talent from the likes of Tyler Seguin, Mikael Backlund, Nikita Filatov, Mikael Boedker and others so the future looks quite bright. The present will see an improved team but likely a year or two away from being a playoff contender – unless Jokinen, Phaneuf and Anderson play way above their heads.
Player(s) to watch: Dion Phaneuf & Craig Anderson – There’s a lot to be excited about for this squad. No doubt the Snowdogs will improve on the 12 wins they had last season. This team has a lot of potential and it starts with defenseman Dion Phaneuf. An acquisition in the offseason Phaneuf adds a lot to this young club. Phaneuf will log a ton of minutes and could be one of the team’s top scorers this season. Craig Anderson backstops this young club and will likely be an upgrade over Cam Ward.
Last Season: 12-68-4
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Joffrey Lupul – 35 goals, 37 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 10th in Wales
Chicoutimi Sparrows – The acquisition of JS Giguere was a huge move for this season’s Sparrows. The team didn’t have much hope without him, but now have a much better chance at the playoffs. Giggy, Mike Ribeiro, P-M Bouchard, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Marc-Andre Bergeron will be counted on for much of the Sparrows’ success this season.
Player(s) to watch: JG Giguere & Marc-Andre Bergeron – Without Giggy, the Sparrows likely aren’t a playoff team this season. With him, they have a very good chance at turning some heads. Bergeron adds a lot of offense from the point. He will get top-line minutes alongside Marc-Edouard Vlasic and could be one of the team’s top scorers.
Last Season: 47-27-10
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Rob Niedermayer – 41 goals, 56 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 6th in Wales
Central
Detroit Cougars – The Cougars, much like the Demons, have solid depth and a good chance to make a run this season. Jonas Hiller could get a chance at number one duties this season in goal while Marian Gaborik, the Sedin bros, Jonathan Toews and Paul Kariya provide the bulk of the scoring. They could be the dark horse for this season.
Player(s) to watch: Marian Gaborik & Doug Weight – Gaborik played in all 84 games last season for the Cougars and as a result scored 39 goals and 42 assists. IF he can stay healthy, Gaborik will continue to be one of the best offensive players in the game. If he doesn’t, the Cougars may have to re-evaluate his status with the squad. The Cougars opted to keep weight over Mikael Backlund before this year’s waiver draft and they’re hope is that it pays off with a trip to the Cup. Weight is nearing the end of his career but still can contribute offensively.
Last Season: 46-30-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Paul Kariya – 49 goals, 48 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 3rd in Wales
Niagara Falls IceDogs – A monster deal at the draft landed the Icedogs a lot of good talent to help them rebuild but also stay competitive right now. The Icedogs are without a GM but the GM that lands this squad will have plenty of options when they take the helm. Pavel Datsyuk, Patrick Marleau, Alexei Kovalev and Jarome Iginla will provide the majority of the scoring while Pekka Rinne backstops the squad. The Icedogs are a top contender from the Wales Conference this season.
Player(s) to watch: Patrick Marleau, Patrick Kane & Jarome Iginla – A full season of this great offensive trio will be a treat for Icedog fans to watch. In what could only be described as crazy, lopsided deals, the rich definitely got richer when the Icedogs acquired each of these three players. With a rookie in goal, this team may rely on high scoring, offensive contests.
Last Season: 60-20-4
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Pavel Datsyuk – 65 goals, 97 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 2nd in Wales
Waterloo Lunatics – The Lunytics will be a much improved team over last season’s squad with Martin St. Louis, Mike Cammalleri and Olli Jokinen in the fold. Questions on defense and in goal may be the only thing holding this squad back this season. The Lunatics have a strong chance at the playoffs this season if Tuuka Rask plays well in his rookie season.
Player(s) to watch: Olli Jokinen & Nik Antropov – The top two centers in Waterloo will benefit from having two diminutive scorers in St. Louis and Cammalleri. Both players could be on their way to career numbers this season if St. Louis and Cammalleri can stay healthy.
Last Season: 11-65-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Eric Belanger – 28 goals, 30 assists 79 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 7th in Wales
Minnesota Rink Rats – A lot of new faces will be coming into Minnesota this year. Much of this team’s success will rely on the play of Ryan Miller. The Rink Rats also will be counting on David Krejci, Derek Roy and Dustin Penner to do the bulk of the scoring if Penner isn’t moved before the season’s start. The Rink Rats are likely on the outside looking in this season but could surprise some people.
Player(s) to watch: David Krejci & Derek Roy – The offense will begin and end with Krejci and Roy. Krejci won the Calder Trophy last season and proved to be one of the better puckhandlers in the game. He’s patient with the puck and has great vision but his numbers may drop with the departure of Mike Cammalleri. Roy had a rough season last year after guiding the Rink Rats to a Cyber Cup appearance the year before. He’ll need to bounce back and provide top-line numbers in order for the Rink Rats to crawl into the playoffs.
Last Season: 33-42-9
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Mike Cammalleri – 43 goals, 39 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 9th in Wales
Toronto Stallions – Can the Stallions’ old legs compete for 84+ games this season? The core of this team is pretty old and that alone brings some question marks, but guys like Sidney Crosby and Bobby Ryan should have the legs to log plenty of minutes to help the old guys out. Miika Kiprusoff is among the league’s elite goaltenders while Brent Seabrook and Dennis Wideman will command the defense. The Stallions will make the playoffs but likely be an early round exit.
Player(s) to watch: Sidney Crosby & Bobby Ryan – These two could be on the Stallions’ top line for many years to come or the Stallions could use them as awesome trade chips to get younger and bring in added depth. The last scenario is highly unlikely, but Crosby and Ryan will be counted on to continue to be top scorers for this aging team. Ryan could have a breakout year and move into elite status for the league’s scorers.
Last Season: 56-24-4
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Shane Doan – 51 goals, 40 assists in 84 games played / Sidney Crosby 41 goals, 50 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 8th in Wales
Nashville Stampede – There’s a lot to be optimistic about in Nashville … Just not this season. The future is bright for Nashville with players like Kyle Turris, Nikolai Kulemin and Brian Elliott in the system. The present looks to be a bit of a struggle. The team will rely on Marek Svatos, Lee Stempniak, Ryan Suter and Mark Giordano for success. Without a lot of depth and a proven goaltender the Stampede are good candidates for a Lottery pick next season (which has to please the Gorillas) and should continue to try to build from within.
Player(s) to watch: Marek Svatos & Brian Elliott – Svatos complained about ice time in Las Vegas and now he’ll be the star. He’ll be one of the only proven scorers on this young, rebuilding squad. Elliott will finally get the chance to start in the WHL. He was in a logjam of goaltenders in Minnesota and now will be able to show what he can do as a WHL rookie. With not much help in front of him, Elliott could suffer from severe sunburns this season.
Last Season: 21-54-4
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Andrew Brunette – 44 goals, 26 assists in 80 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 11th in Wales
Wales Conference Regular Season Standings Prediction:
1. Demons
2. Icedogs
3. Cougars
4. Corinthians
5. Citadelles
6. Sparrows
7. Lunatics
8. Stallions
9. Rink Rats
10. Snowdogs
11. Stampede
12. Capitols
Atlantic
Ottawa Capitols – The Capitols are in rebuilding mode and are a good bet to land one of the top 3 picks in next year’s draft. The Caps have a good young goalie in Josh Harding and just drafted playmaking center Tyler Bozak in the first round of this year’s draft so there are some pieces in place. Scottie Upshall could be a nice trade chip or provide some much needed offense for Ottawa this season.
Player(s) to watch: Tyler Bozak – Arguably the most exciting player on the Capitols’ roster, Bozak will step in right away for this club and make an impact. The Caps hope he can build some good chemistry right away with winger Scottie Upshall to give this club a much needed boost.
Last Season: 15-63-6
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Jarret Stoll – 23 goals, 40 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 12th in Wales
Halifax Citadelles – With two of the best centers in the game and some good depth across the lineup the Citadelles are an easy pick for a playoff berth. The question remains whether the Citadelles can go deep into the playoffs.
Player(s) to watch: Kari Lehtonen & Shea Weber – Much of the success of this Citadelles club rests on the health of Lehtonen. If he goes down so does the team. If he can stay healthy, this will be a tough group to beat. With the departure of Dion Phaneuf, Shea Weber will be the go-to guy on the point for the Citadelles. He will be counted on to teach youngsters Michael DelZotto and Ryan Wilson how things are done in the WHL.
Last Season: 42-32-10
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Travis Zajac – 43 goals, 50 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 5th in Wales
Quebec City Corinthians – The Corinths got a lot younger last season and still have a very good roster led by Paul Stastny, Danny Briere and Ilja Bryzgalov. John Tavares may get a chance at a roster spot this season and could produce
some solid numbers if given the minutes. David Backes could also break out with added responsibilities this season. This team is a playoff team, but probably not as strong of a contender as in year’s past.
Player(s) to watch: Ilja Bryzagalov & Bryan Little – Bryzgalov had a rough season last year for the Corinths but the hope is he can bounce back and lead this team back to the dominant squad they once were. Bryan Little didn’t get much of a chance with the Saints last year so a new team and new teammates could help his numbers this season for the Corinths.
Last Season: 54-30-0
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Andrei Markov – 31 goals, 66 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 4th in Wales
New York Demons – This very well could be the Demons’ year. They have solid depth at every position with the exception of goal, which is their only weakness. The Demons will have to hope their towering defense lead by Zdeno Chara will be able to hold off opponents enough to win the Cup.
Player(s) to watch: Rene Bourque & Niklas Backstrom – Bourque will get top-six minutes this season on a very good squad. His numbers should escalate by being around better talent. Niklas Backstrom is a good goalie but by no means is he elite and if he goes down Legace is the next best option and the Demons’ Cup hopes (at least for this season) could be squashed.
Last Season: 55-17-12
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Joe Thornton – 42 goals, 63 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 1st in Wales
Boston SnowDogs – This team continues to get better on paper and they’ll only continue that trend if they continue to make smart moves. The Snowdogs have a lot of young talent from the likes of Tyler Seguin, Mikael Backlund, Nikita Filatov, Mikael Boedker and others so the future looks quite bright. The present will see an improved team but likely a year or two away from being a playoff contender – unless Jokinen, Phaneuf and Anderson play way above their heads.
Player(s) to watch: Dion Phaneuf & Craig Anderson – There’s a lot to be excited about for this squad. No doubt the Snowdogs will improve on the 12 wins they had last season. This team has a lot of potential and it starts with defenseman Dion Phaneuf. An acquisition in the offseason Phaneuf adds a lot to this young club. Phaneuf will log a ton of minutes and could be one of the team’s top scorers this season. Craig Anderson backstops this young club and will likely be an upgrade over Cam Ward.
Last Season: 12-68-4
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Joffrey Lupul – 35 goals, 37 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 10th in Wales
Chicoutimi Sparrows – The acquisition of JS Giguere was a huge move for this season’s Sparrows. The team didn’t have much hope without him, but now have a much better chance at the playoffs. Giggy, Mike Ribeiro, P-M Bouchard, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Marc-Andre Bergeron will be counted on for much of the Sparrows’ success this season.
Player(s) to watch: JG Giguere & Marc-Andre Bergeron – Without Giggy, the Sparrows likely aren’t a playoff team this season. With him, they have a very good chance at turning some heads. Bergeron adds a lot of offense from the point. He will get top-line minutes alongside Marc-Edouard Vlasic and could be one of the team’s top scorers.
Last Season: 47-27-10
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Rob Niedermayer – 41 goals, 56 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 6th in Wales
Central
Detroit Cougars – The Cougars, much like the Demons, have solid depth and a good chance to make a run this season. Jonas Hiller could get a chance at number one duties this season in goal while Marian Gaborik, the Sedin bros, Jonathan Toews and Paul Kariya provide the bulk of the scoring. They could be the dark horse for this season.
Player(s) to watch: Marian Gaborik & Doug Weight – Gaborik played in all 84 games last season for the Cougars and as a result scored 39 goals and 42 assists. IF he can stay healthy, Gaborik will continue to be one of the best offensive players in the game. If he doesn’t, the Cougars may have to re-evaluate his status with the squad. The Cougars opted to keep weight over Mikael Backlund before this year’s waiver draft and they’re hope is that it pays off with a trip to the Cup. Weight is nearing the end of his career but still can contribute offensively.
Last Season: 46-30-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Paul Kariya – 49 goals, 48 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 3rd in Wales
Niagara Falls IceDogs – A monster deal at the draft landed the Icedogs a lot of good talent to help them rebuild but also stay competitive right now. The Icedogs are without a GM but the GM that lands this squad will have plenty of options when they take the helm. Pavel Datsyuk, Patrick Marleau, Alexei Kovalev and Jarome Iginla will provide the majority of the scoring while Pekka Rinne backstops the squad. The Icedogs are a top contender from the Wales Conference this season.
Player(s) to watch: Patrick Marleau, Patrick Kane & Jarome Iginla – A full season of this great offensive trio will be a treat for Icedog fans to watch. In what could only be described as crazy, lopsided deals, the rich definitely got richer when the Icedogs acquired each of these three players. With a rookie in goal, this team may rely on high scoring, offensive contests.
Last Season: 60-20-4
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Pavel Datsyuk – 65 goals, 97 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 2nd in Wales
Waterloo Lunatics – The Lunytics will be a much improved team over last season’s squad with Martin St. Louis, Mike Cammalleri and Olli Jokinen in the fold. Questions on defense and in goal may be the only thing holding this squad back this season. The Lunatics have a strong chance at the playoffs this season if Tuuka Rask plays well in his rookie season.
Player(s) to watch: Olli Jokinen & Nik Antropov – The top two centers in Waterloo will benefit from having two diminutive scorers in St. Louis and Cammalleri. Both players could be on their way to career numbers this season if St. Louis and Cammalleri can stay healthy.
Last Season: 11-65-8
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Eric Belanger – 28 goals, 30 assists 79 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 7th in Wales
Minnesota Rink Rats – A lot of new faces will be coming into Minnesota this year. Much of this team’s success will rely on the play of Ryan Miller. The Rink Rats also will be counting on David Krejci, Derek Roy and Dustin Penner to do the bulk of the scoring if Penner isn’t moved before the season’s start. The Rink Rats are likely on the outside looking in this season but could surprise some people.
Player(s) to watch: David Krejci & Derek Roy – The offense will begin and end with Krejci and Roy. Krejci won the Calder Trophy last season and proved to be one of the better puckhandlers in the game. He’s patient with the puck and has great vision but his numbers may drop with the departure of Mike Cammalleri. Roy had a rough season last year after guiding the Rink Rats to a Cyber Cup appearance the year before. He’ll need to bounce back and provide top-line numbers in order for the Rink Rats to crawl into the playoffs.
Last Season: 33-42-9
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Mike Cammalleri – 43 goals, 39 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 9th in Wales
Toronto Stallions – Can the Stallions’ old legs compete for 84+ games this season? The core of this team is pretty old and that alone brings some question marks, but guys like Sidney Crosby and Bobby Ryan should have the legs to log plenty of minutes to help the old guys out. Miika Kiprusoff is among the league’s elite goaltenders while Brent Seabrook and Dennis Wideman will command the defense. The Stallions will make the playoffs but likely be an early round exit.
Player(s) to watch: Sidney Crosby & Bobby Ryan – These two could be on the Stallions’ top line for many years to come or the Stallions could use them as awesome trade chips to get younger and bring in added depth. The last scenario is highly unlikely, but Crosby and Ryan will be counted on to continue to be top scorers for this aging team. Ryan could have a breakout year and move into elite status for the league’s scorers.
Last Season: 56-24-4
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Shane Doan – 51 goals, 40 assists in 84 games played / Sidney Crosby 41 goals, 50 assists in 84 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 8th in Wales
Nashville Stampede – There’s a lot to be optimistic about in Nashville … Just not this season. The future is bright for Nashville with players like Kyle Turris, Nikolai Kulemin and Brian Elliott in the system. The present looks to be a bit of a struggle. The team will rely on Marek Svatos, Lee Stempniak, Ryan Suter and Mark Giordano for success. Without a lot of depth and a proven goaltender the Stampede are good candidates for a Lottery pick next season (which has to please the Gorillas) and should continue to try to build from within.
Player(s) to watch: Marek Svatos & Brian Elliott – Svatos complained about ice time in Las Vegas and now he’ll be the star. He’ll be one of the only proven scorers on this young, rebuilding squad. Elliott will finally get the chance to start in the WHL. He was in a logjam of goaltenders in Minnesota and now will be able to show what he can do as a WHL rookie. With not much help in front of him, Elliott could suffer from severe sunburns this season.
Last Season: 21-54-4
Last Season’s Top Scorer: Andrew Brunette – 44 goals, 26 assists in 80 games played
Predicted Finish This Season: 11th in Wales
Wales Conference Regular Season Standings Prediction:
1. Demons
2. Icedogs
3. Cougars
4. Corinthians
5. Citadelles
6. Sparrows
7. Lunatics
8. Stallions
9. Rink Rats
10. Snowdogs
11. Stampede
12. Capitols
Rumor Roundup - Rink Rat Housecleaning
Minneapolis, MN – The housecleaning that’s going on in Minnesota continued today as Minnesota has acquired two first round draft picks, a third round draft pick and Chris Higgins and Luca Caputi. To obtain these picks/players the Rats have traded Andy McDonald, Nikolai Kulemin, Michal Repik and the recently acquired Lee Stempniak in separate deals unconfirmed by the league at the time of this release.
With all of the recent moves made by Minnesota, tomorrow’s draft surely will be an important day in the history of the club. Minnesota now has six picks in the first two rounds of tomorrow's draft which gives the club a lot of options including the possibility of moving a 2nd round pick for next year’s draft or bringing in a veteran blueliner who can score goals. Rumor has it the Rink Rats have expressed an interest in defenseman Joe Corvo and Michael Roszival for a 2nd but no deals are imminent.
“We’re willing to consider any and all options,” stated GM Tyler LaDouceur. “We certainly could use a veteran defenseman who knows how to score from the blueline so a draft pick may be moved for some help there. But we’re also willing to consider moving a 2nd round pick for next year year’s draft. Moving these players wasn’t easy by any means, but we’re looking to get younger and better so we’re a good team for the long haul. There’s some good talent in this year’s draft. We haven’t had a 1st round pick the last two years so this will be exciting for us.”
Minnesota is sure to stay busy heading into the hours of the draft and have already began discussing other opportunities with GM's. Stay tuned ...
With all of the recent moves made by Minnesota, tomorrow’s draft surely will be an important day in the history of the club. Minnesota now has six picks in the first two rounds of tomorrow's draft which gives the club a lot of options including the possibility of moving a 2nd round pick for next year’s draft or bringing in a veteran blueliner who can score goals. Rumor has it the Rink Rats have expressed an interest in defenseman Joe Corvo and Michael Roszival for a 2nd but no deals are imminent.
“We’re willing to consider any and all options,” stated GM Tyler LaDouceur. “We certainly could use a veteran defenseman who knows how to score from the blueline so a draft pick may be moved for some help there. But we’re also willing to consider moving a 2nd round pick for next year year’s draft. Moving these players wasn’t easy by any means, but we’re looking to get younger and better so we’re a good team for the long haul. There’s some good talent in this year’s draft. We haven’t had a 1st round pick the last two years so this will be exciting for us.”
Minnesota is sure to stay busy heading into the hours of the draft and have already began discussing other opportunities with GM's. Stay tuned ...
Rats Interviews with GM & Coach
Minneapolis, MN – As the Rink Rats gear up for this season’s draft, GM Tyler LaDouceur has been busy restructuring his team for long-term success. Part of that was acquiring four 2nd round draft picks and two 3rd round picks in the coming draft. LaDouceur has also stated that he has an interest in moving up in this year’s draft to obtain a 1st round pick. As such, names like Andy McDonald, John-Michael Liles, Jamie Langenbrunner, Peter Regin and even Brad Richards have been brought up in trade talks. Leading up to the draft, we had the opportunity of sitting down with LaDouceur and Head Coach, Dan Bylsma.
Q: Do you have any specific needs you’re looking to address in the coming draft?
LaDouceur: We have plans to take the best player available this year. With that said, we feel pretty comfortable with our goaltending situation at the moment so we’re obviously going to place an emphasis on forwards and defenseman but if Gustavsson or Campbell slide to the 2nd round will snag them up.
Bylsma: Looking at how the draft is projecting at the moment there are a lot of good prospects who could slide to the 2nd round. Guys like Emerson Etem, Nick Bjugstad, Jarred Tinordi, Derek Forbort, etc aren’t projected as 1st round players at the moment and could fall to us in the 2nd round. There’s some good potential in this group, especially in a guy like Etem who is one of the fastest players in the draft.
Q: There have been rumors you’re looking to move up in the draft; any truth to them?
LaDouceur: Absolutely! We have been in talks with a few teams about moving up to the middle of the 1st round. Nothing concrete yet but there’s some prospects. We’ll see what happens.
Q: What about moving Brent Burns? That had to be a tough decision and ultimately what made you decide to move him?
Bylsma: It was a very tough decision. Burns won the Norris for us two years ago. He had a tough time last season but was battling nagging injuries. We got a good offer that included a young prospect in Peter Regin who has a lot of potential plus a couple of good picks for this season. Burns has had some issues with concussions so that also played into the decision a little bit.
Q: There were rumors about some last-minute issues with the deal. Any truth to them?
LaDouceur: We confirmed the deal but had some second thoughts so we nearly backed out. We did get a very good offer from another club as well but that didn’t play a role in our decision to try and back out.
Q: What about the status of Ryan Miller?
LaDouceur: Miller is the best goaltender in the world. He’ll probably win 5-10 games for us this season on his own. We’ve made no secret that no player is untouchable on this club but it’d take a lot to move Miller. We’ve had a few teams inquire but nothing is going to happen. The asking price would be 1-2 good prospects or a goaltender in there, plus a 1st round pick this season. Not many teams could pull it off.
Q: Finally, what’s the outlook for this season? Do you feel you are a playoff/Cup contender?
Bylsma: On paper I imagine we’re on the bubble for playoff teams. We have some issues on the wing, and are still searching for a puck-moving defenseman to help us out, but we have three great centers and two amazing goalies which should set us apart from other teams. It’ll be an interesting season to say the least. The way the league is structured now, if we’re going to make the playoffs we better be sure we’re going to have a shot. I don’t want to be an 8th seed and worry about losing 2 players in the waiver draft. So we’re going to be aware of that moving forward and who knows we could be looking at a rebuild.
Q: Do you have any specific needs you’re looking to address in the coming draft?
LaDouceur: We have plans to take the best player available this year. With that said, we feel pretty comfortable with our goaltending situation at the moment so we’re obviously going to place an emphasis on forwards and defenseman but if Gustavsson or Campbell slide to the 2nd round will snag them up.
Bylsma: Looking at how the draft is projecting at the moment there are a lot of good prospects who could slide to the 2nd round. Guys like Emerson Etem, Nick Bjugstad, Jarred Tinordi, Derek Forbort, etc aren’t projected as 1st round players at the moment and could fall to us in the 2nd round. There’s some good potential in this group, especially in a guy like Etem who is one of the fastest players in the draft.
Q: There have been rumors you’re looking to move up in the draft; any truth to them?
LaDouceur: Absolutely! We have been in talks with a few teams about moving up to the middle of the 1st round. Nothing concrete yet but there’s some prospects. We’ll see what happens.
Q: What about moving Brent Burns? That had to be a tough decision and ultimately what made you decide to move him?
Bylsma: It was a very tough decision. Burns won the Norris for us two years ago. He had a tough time last season but was battling nagging injuries. We got a good offer that included a young prospect in Peter Regin who has a lot of potential plus a couple of good picks for this season. Burns has had some issues with concussions so that also played into the decision a little bit.
Q: There were rumors about some last-minute issues with the deal. Any truth to them?
LaDouceur: We confirmed the deal but had some second thoughts so we nearly backed out. We did get a very good offer from another club as well but that didn’t play a role in our decision to try and back out.
Q: What about the status of Ryan Miller?
LaDouceur: Miller is the best goaltender in the world. He’ll probably win 5-10 games for us this season on his own. We’ve made no secret that no player is untouchable on this club but it’d take a lot to move Miller. We’ve had a few teams inquire but nothing is going to happen. The asking price would be 1-2 good prospects or a goaltender in there, plus a 1st round pick this season. Not many teams could pull it off.
Q: Finally, what’s the outlook for this season? Do you feel you are a playoff/Cup contender?
Bylsma: On paper I imagine we’re on the bubble for playoff teams. We have some issues on the wing, and are still searching for a puck-moving defenseman to help us out, but we have three great centers and two amazing goalies which should set us apart from other teams. It’ll be an interesting season to say the least. The way the league is structured now, if we’re going to make the playoffs we better be sure we’re going to have a shot. I don’t want to be an 8th seed and worry about losing 2 players in the waiver draft. So we’re going to be aware of that moving forward and who knows we could be looking at a rebuild.
Minnesota News - Burns Gone; Rumors on Miller
Minneapolis, MN - A lot has happened in Minnesota since the end of last season including the trades of stars Mike Cammalleri and Brent Burns. While the Cammalleri deal sent a couple of players that will help Minnesota this season, the Burns deal has created a big hole on defense for this year's club. Minnesota has been looking at adding a less expensive option at defense to help the club this season. The team has also received a few inquiries about the status of goaltender Ryan Miller after a report out of Las Vegas suggested the goaltender may be moved this season.
Rink Rats GM said that while no player is unobtainable, it would take a nice package to move Miller out of Minnesota. "Ryan is an outstanding talent - one of the best in the world. In order to move him we'd need an offer that absolutely blew us away. It could happen and we've spoken to teams the past few days but we're very happy keeping him here in Minnesota too."
Minnesota has also received inquiries on and has been shopping Andy McDonald and Jamie Langenbrunner. If either player moves its to get younger, and/or move up in the draft. Both players have the ability to help a team this season. One thing is for sure, it's likely going to be a busy couple of weeks for Minnesota.
Rink Rats GM said that while no player is unobtainable, it would take a nice package to move Miller out of Minnesota. "Ryan is an outstanding talent - one of the best in the world. In order to move him we'd need an offer that absolutely blew us away. It could happen and we've spoken to teams the past few days but we're very happy keeping him here in Minnesota too."
Minnesota has also received inquiries on and has been shopping Andy McDonald and Jamie Langenbrunner. If either player moves its to get younger, and/or move up in the draft. Both players have the ability to help a team this season. One thing is for sure, it's likely going to be a busy couple of weeks for Minnesota.
Burns on the Move???
Minneapolis, MN - First Cammalleri now Burnsy??? Rumors are the Rink Rats are entertaining an offer and could make a decision as early as tomorrow (if the roster freeze & waiver draft are completed by then). The former WHL Norris Trophy winner is the Rats' top defenseman so moving him would likely be a tough move, but one they could consider. The next 24 hours and 84+ games could be interesting for Minnesota and GM, Tyler LaDouceur.
Waiver Draft - The Top 20 & Mock Draft
An inside look on the top 20 players available in this year's waiver draft as well as a prediction for how things will breakdown:
1) Mikael Backlund - Cougars
Young center with a lot of offensive upside. With an aging group at center in Calgary, Backlund could very well get more ice time and play an important role
this coming season.
2) Eric Fehr - Citadels
Scored 21 goals last season in Washington and was a top 50 prospect in the NHL for many years before making it to the show. Still young and full of potential.
3) Nikolai Antropov - Icedogs
Has the numbers in the WHL and is still scoring in the NHL. Will get nice ice-time for a young Atlanta club so that boasts well for a team looking for more than a one-season guy.
4) Kris Russell - Corinths
Offensive dman has looked nice for Columbus the past two seasons.
5) Ryan Callahan - Cougars
Would fit in well on most WHL clubs. Plays well in his own zone and knows how to score. Still only 25, he has scored 22 and 19 goals in the past two seasons.
6) Zach Hamill - Orcas
A former first-round pick in both the NHL & WHL, this young playmaking center is coming along really nicely in Boston's farm club. Still a year or two away but will jump right in and make a difference as soon as he does.
7) Jiri Lehtinen - Demons
On the older side but could immediately step in and help a club. Would be a nice fit to help a team's PK and add some complementary scoring.
8) Dan Cleary - Stallions
A solid veteran who knows how to score. He'd benefit a team like the Gorillas who are a player or two away from making a strong impact this season.
9) Chris Mason - Dugouts
Would be a nice fit on most clubs. He's a little bit older but he's still getting starts and still putting up numbers. Plus he's got a nice WHL rating which bodes well for him in this spot.
10) Cristobal Huet - Saints
Oh how I bet the Cats wished they had a pick in this draft. Huet has a solid WHL rating and would benefit a lot of teams picking in this draft for the next
couple of seasons.
11) Jiri Tlusty - Bulls
Has all the tools to be a solid offensive force in this league. Like many young players, just needs to learn how to bring it every night.
12) Fabian Brunnstrom - Cats
Was a top-10 pick in last season's draft and now is part of the waiver draft. Brunnstrom has a lot of creativity in the offensive zone and would be a solid
addition for teams rebuilding.
13) Dustin Jeffrey - Demons
Played very well in the AHL last season and moved to the wing which will help him in this year's camp for the Pens. The Pens need wingers, which means
Jeffrey will get a long look for a scoring line at this year's camp.
14) Sergei Zubov - Saints
He's on his last leg in the WHL but the kid still has solid offensive abilities. Would help a team like the Express who are better than a lot of teams they're still picks from in this draft.
15) Marc-Andre Gragnani - Corinths
A future PowerPlay quarterback and Buffalo needs help on defense. Will this be Gragnani's year to put up big numbers in the NHL?
16) Samuel Pahlsson - Cats
Solid two-way forward will immediately step in and help a club in need.
17) Enver Lisin - Kicks
This kid can fly. He's bounced back-and-forth between the NHL and AHL the past couple seasons but he oozes offensive potential if he can find the right fit.
18) Alexander Sulzer - Bulls
Nashville knows how to pick defenseman and Sulzer fits the Nashville mold. With Hamhuis gone Sulzer may step right and fill a top-four role for the
Predators.
19) Chuck Kobasew - Kicks
Knows how to score just needs to stay healthy.
20) Devan Dubynk - Orcas
For those teams on the rebuild looking for a free goaltender, this is your guy. A little more upside than Montoya for a young goalie.
Other Notable Players
Daniel Girardi - Corinths
Jordan LaValle - Corinths
Ryan O'Byrne - Corinths
Fredrik Modin - Cougars
Trent Hunter - Demons
Luca Caputi - Demons
Ruslan Salei - Sparrows
Rob Blake - Icedogs
Bryan Allen - Stallions
Martin Biron - Kicks
Scott Hannan - Rink Rats
Shane O'Brien - Bulls
Round 1
1. Mikael Backlund, SnowDogs - Snowdogs are rebuilding nicely and Backlund will fit in well on this young club.
2. Nikolai Antropov, Lunatics - Just added Heatley and Cammalleri so Antropov could be a nice addition to this club who will get more wins than last season.
3. Eric Fehr, Hoodrats - They need young assets and Fehr fits the mold.
4. Ryan Callahan, Capitols - In need of young wingers, Callahan will be a solid building block for this club.
5. Dan Cleary, Gorillas - They're looking for scorers and Cleary will be their guy.
6. Kris Russell, Stampede - Will learn well under Suter and Foote.
7. Jiri Lehtinen, Express - I see the Express taking a guy that helps them win now. They have an older club built to win this season. Lehtinen will be the
guy here.
8. Zach Hamill, Fighting Irish - The Irish are rebuilding well. Hamill's their guy here.
Round 2.
1. Dustin Jeffrey, Fighting Irish - This kid will be ready soon and will play a solid, two-way role for the Irish.
2. Chris Mason, Express - Another pick to help them win now, Mason will be a nice backup to DiPietro if he goes down, which lets face it is pretty likely.
3. Fabian Brunnstrom, Stampede - Crafty, speedy and good in the offensive zone. This could be the steal of the draft.
4. Ruslan Salei, Gorillas - He's not part of the top 20 but the Gorillas need help on defense. They'll take a crack at a guy that will help them this season.
5. Jiri Tlusty, Capitols - Would be a nice addition to this club here.
6. Marc-Andre Gragnani, Hoodrats - Would go well on a second line, second PowerPlay with Chris Butler someday soon.
7. Samuel Pahlsson, Lunatics - Have made some moves to help them win this season. Pahlsson could help them out.
8. Alexander Sulzer, SnowDogs - If he's still on the board, Sulzer would be a fine pickup at this spot.
1) Mikael Backlund - Cougars
Young center with a lot of offensive upside. With an aging group at center in Calgary, Backlund could very well get more ice time and play an important role
this coming season.
2) Eric Fehr - Citadels
Scored 21 goals last season in Washington and was a top 50 prospect in the NHL for many years before making it to the show. Still young and full of potential.
3) Nikolai Antropov - Icedogs
Has the numbers in the WHL and is still scoring in the NHL. Will get nice ice-time for a young Atlanta club so that boasts well for a team looking for more than a one-season guy.
4) Kris Russell - Corinths
Offensive dman has looked nice for Columbus the past two seasons.
5) Ryan Callahan - Cougars
Would fit in well on most WHL clubs. Plays well in his own zone and knows how to score. Still only 25, he has scored 22 and 19 goals in the past two seasons.
6) Zach Hamill - Orcas
A former first-round pick in both the NHL & WHL, this young playmaking center is coming along really nicely in Boston's farm club. Still a year or two away but will jump right in and make a difference as soon as he does.
7) Jiri Lehtinen - Demons
On the older side but could immediately step in and help a club. Would be a nice fit to help a team's PK and add some complementary scoring.
8) Dan Cleary - Stallions
A solid veteran who knows how to score. He'd benefit a team like the Gorillas who are a player or two away from making a strong impact this season.
9) Chris Mason - Dugouts
Would be a nice fit on most clubs. He's a little bit older but he's still getting starts and still putting up numbers. Plus he's got a nice WHL rating which bodes well for him in this spot.
10) Cristobal Huet - Saints
Oh how I bet the Cats wished they had a pick in this draft. Huet has a solid WHL rating and would benefit a lot of teams picking in this draft for the next
couple of seasons.
11) Jiri Tlusty - Bulls
Has all the tools to be a solid offensive force in this league. Like many young players, just needs to learn how to bring it every night.
12) Fabian Brunnstrom - Cats
Was a top-10 pick in last season's draft and now is part of the waiver draft. Brunnstrom has a lot of creativity in the offensive zone and would be a solid
addition for teams rebuilding.
13) Dustin Jeffrey - Demons
Played very well in the AHL last season and moved to the wing which will help him in this year's camp for the Pens. The Pens need wingers, which means
Jeffrey will get a long look for a scoring line at this year's camp.
14) Sergei Zubov - Saints
He's on his last leg in the WHL but the kid still has solid offensive abilities. Would help a team like the Express who are better than a lot of teams they're still picks from in this draft.
15) Marc-Andre Gragnani - Corinths
A future PowerPlay quarterback and Buffalo needs help on defense. Will this be Gragnani's year to put up big numbers in the NHL?
16) Samuel Pahlsson - Cats
Solid two-way forward will immediately step in and help a club in need.
17) Enver Lisin - Kicks
This kid can fly. He's bounced back-and-forth between the NHL and AHL the past couple seasons but he oozes offensive potential if he can find the right fit.
18) Alexander Sulzer - Bulls
Nashville knows how to pick defenseman and Sulzer fits the Nashville mold. With Hamhuis gone Sulzer may step right and fill a top-four role for the
Predators.
19) Chuck Kobasew - Kicks
Knows how to score just needs to stay healthy.
20) Devan Dubynk - Orcas
For those teams on the rebuild looking for a free goaltender, this is your guy. A little more upside than Montoya for a young goalie.
Other Notable Players
Daniel Girardi - Corinths
Jordan LaValle - Corinths
Ryan O'Byrne - Corinths
Fredrik Modin - Cougars
Trent Hunter - Demons
Luca Caputi - Demons
Ruslan Salei - Sparrows
Rob Blake - Icedogs
Bryan Allen - Stallions
Martin Biron - Kicks
Scott Hannan - Rink Rats
Shane O'Brien - Bulls
Round 1
1. Mikael Backlund, SnowDogs - Snowdogs are rebuilding nicely and Backlund will fit in well on this young club.
2. Nikolai Antropov, Lunatics - Just added Heatley and Cammalleri so Antropov could be a nice addition to this club who will get more wins than last season.
3. Eric Fehr, Hoodrats - They need young assets and Fehr fits the mold.
4. Ryan Callahan, Capitols - In need of young wingers, Callahan will be a solid building block for this club.
5. Dan Cleary, Gorillas - They're looking for scorers and Cleary will be their guy.
6. Kris Russell, Stampede - Will learn well under Suter and Foote.
7. Jiri Lehtinen, Express - I see the Express taking a guy that helps them win now. They have an older club built to win this season. Lehtinen will be the
guy here.
8. Zach Hamill, Fighting Irish - The Irish are rebuilding well. Hamill's their guy here.
Round 2.
1. Dustin Jeffrey, Fighting Irish - This kid will be ready soon and will play a solid, two-way role for the Irish.
2. Chris Mason, Express - Another pick to help them win now, Mason will be a nice backup to DiPietro if he goes down, which lets face it is pretty likely.
3. Fabian Brunnstrom, Stampede - Crafty, speedy and good in the offensive zone. This could be the steal of the draft.
4. Ruslan Salei, Gorillas - He's not part of the top 20 but the Gorillas need help on defense. They'll take a crack at a guy that will help them this season.
5. Jiri Tlusty, Capitols - Would be a nice addition to this club here.
6. Marc-Andre Gragnani, Hoodrats - Would go well on a second line, second PowerPlay with Chris Butler someday soon.
7. Samuel Pahlsson, Lunatics - Have made some moves to help them win this season. Pahlsson could help them out.
8. Alexander Sulzer, SnowDogs - If he's still on the board, Sulzer would be a fine pickup at this spot.
Cammalleri Traded???
Rumors are swirling that Mike Cammalleri has been traded this morning to the Waterloo
Lunatics. Oscar Moller, Keaton Ellerby and Tyler Kennedy are also believed to be a part
of the deal. More on the story as it comes.
2nd Round Predictions
WALES:
Halifax Citadelles(8) vs. New York Demons(2)
- The Citadelles had a surprise upset to knock off the Saints in the first round, a team that sold off any future to win it all this year. The Saints’ plan didn’t work but the Citadelle’s future looks very bright. Built around three great centers the Citadelles are going to be tough to beat but there are question marks in goal. Can Tobias Stephan continue to lead the way? It’ll be tough. The Demons boast a high-powered offense and have some good depth. They may have too much for the Cits to handle.
Halifax Citadelles(8) vs. New York Demons(2)
- The Citadelles had a surprise upset to knock off the Saints in the first round, a team that sold off any future to win it all this year. The Saints’ plan didn’t work but the Citadelle’s future looks very bright. Built around three great centers the Citadelles are going to be tough to beat but there are question marks in goal. Can Tobias Stephan continue to lead the way? It’ll be tough. The Demons boast a high-powered offense and have some good depth. They may have too much for the Cits to handle.
Prediction: Demons in 7
Toronto Stallions(4) vs. Niagara Falls IceDogs(3)
- The Stallions have only played one more game than the Icedogs but their legs are old and they’re banged up with minor injuries and slumping players. Kiprusoff will have to stand on his head to beat the likes of Datsyuk, Marleau, Kovalev and company. The Stallions will put up a fight but the Icedogs have too much depth for the Stallions to go on.
Prediction: Look for the Icedogs in 6
CAMPBELL:
Portland Timberjacks(4) vs. Las Vegas Bulls(1)
- The Voodoo surprised the Bulls with a couple of wins in the first round but they were completely outmatched by one of the best rosters in league history. The Bulls will be without stud dman Nicklas Lidstrom for the first 3 games but the depth on this team will be able to more than makeup for his loss. The Timberjacks are a tough opponent with Demitra, Getzlaf, Afinogenov and company but there’s just too much talent on this Bulls team.
Prediction: Bulls in 5
Kelowna Cats(3) vs. Edmonton Dropkicks(2)
- This one has the makings to be a great series. Chris Kunitz, Brian Campbell and company have played like they’ve wanted the Cup all season long. Brian Boucher has played above his skill level and the Cats hope he can continue his strong play. The Kicks easily knocked off my Rink Rats, but they’ve lost Nabokov for the first 3 games of the series. Biron is a good backup but will he have enough to hold off the Cats? There is shootout potential with Huselius, Semin and Backstrom taking on the Cats’ high-powered offense.
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