International Spotlight: Em'ls Pot'povs

It seems almost stereotypical to think of how many young hockey players, several of them from small towns, get their starts on frozen ponds or rivers, hoping to make their dreams of going to the NHL come true.  The hope that all of those fun skates with friends and family members could amount to something great in the future.  Em'ls Pot'povs is one of those players who has enjoyed several skates on a frozen river, hoping to make his dream of professional hockey become a reality.  He may not be in North America yet but, just like when one begins to learn skating, he is taking small strides on his way to fulfilling his life’s passion.

Em'ls Pot'povs was born on May 3, 1994, in Riga, Latvia, but he has lived most of his life in Ogre, a town 40 minutes away.  Hockey was already in Pot'povs’ blood from the time he was a young child.  His father Lauris has been a fixture on amateur teams in the city and, while he never played professionally, his influence was certainly a positive one on his son.  It was the elder Pot'povs who taught Em'ls how to skate when he was six years old.  As time progressed, the Pot'povs family grew as Em'ls’ mother Jolanta, a housewife, gave birth to two other sons; Mikus was born in 1997 and Markuss was born in 2004.  In time, they were also taught to skate and play hockey, just like their father and older brother.  All three Pot'povs children were taught how to skate on the Daugava River, which freezes just perfectly in the winter for ideal skating.  The anticipation for the winter freeze is present every year for the three brothers.

When Pot'povs was a young child, hockey in Latvia was starting to become a reputable sport, especially at the NHL level.  In 1996, Sandis Ozolinsh became the first Latvian player to win the Stanley Cup, winning with the Colorado Avalanche.  By the time Pot'povs started attending primary school, Sergei Zholtok was just starting to find his niche, Art'rs Irbe was becoming one of the league’s better goalies and K'rlis Skrasti'' was just starting his soon-to-be successful career.  It was a great turn of events for hockey in the country and it surely boosted the optimism of the country’s ice hockey federation.  It seemed like a matter of time before a rink was built in Ogre and, in 2003, one was finally built.  To bide his time before he started to play hockey on a more consistent basis, Pot'povs spent three years — from ages 6 to 9 — in martial arts, taken to lessons by his grandmother.  As soon as the rink in Ogre was completed, his father asked him and his brother Mikus, who was six years old at the time, if they wanted to start playing hockey.  They both said yes and they never looked back.  They knew that this was going to become their destinies.

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Em'ls Pot'povs has become one of the best 1994-born players in Latvia over the years. He had humble beginnings in hockey, having to wait until the age of nine for a rink in his hometown of Ogre. As years passed, Pot'povs honed his talents and he even got the opportunity to play with some great individuals along the way, including Zemgus Girgensons. (Photo: Erlends Eisaks)

It was not known at the time but Pot'povs was about to join a veritable plethora of talented players born in 1994 from Latvia.  Coming up and ascending the ranks were players such as Zemgus Girgensons, Teodors B'ugers, 'ikita Jevpalovs, Edgars Kulda, Roberts Lipsbergs, Nikolajs Je'isejevs, Kristaps Ba'evi's, Rinards Rosinskis and Ivars Punnenovs.  It seemed as though the future of Latvian hockey was getting brighter and brighter.  Pot'povs was given the chance to shine, thanks mostly to the coaching of Gun'rs Krasti'', a former professional hockey player in his own right.  It was Krasti'' who took Pot'povs under his wing and helped him practice his skills; with this passionate coaching, coupled with admiration of Joe Sakic and Marián Gáborík, Pot'povs feels that the best years of his career have been under his tutelage.

For the first two years of his hockey career, he stayed in Ogre, playing on a team that was quite poor.  He was playing on two squads, one with players his own age and one with players just a few years older.  As time passed, Pot'povs started to do so well that he graduated from the team from Ogre, heading to bigger and better teams in Riga.  These players were much stronger than what he was used to but, thankfully, he was incredibly strong considering his smaller stature. This allowed for Pot'povs to thrive in a league that could have been quite difficult for a smaller player.

Just as things were looking up for Pot'povs and Latvian hockey as a whole, tragedy struck in 2004.  On November 3 of that year, Sergei Zholtok, who had been not feeling well during the last few weeks of his NHL career, collapsed in the dressing room of HK Riga 2000 during a game in Minsk, Belarus.  Teammate Darby Hendrickson, who was playing with him on that team and also played with him on the Minnesota Wild, tried to help but it was too late.  Zholtok died in Hendrickson’s arms, not even a month before he was to turn 32; his death was ruled as heart failure.  His passing sent shockwaves and sadness throughout Latvian hockey and throughout the country as a whole.  Pot'povs admits that the tragedy was quite a shock for all to bear, especially since Zholtok was just starting to become of the ambassadors for hockey in the country.  The next year, Riga Secondary School #55 was renamed after Zholtok, rechristened as R'gas Sergeja 'oltoka vidusskol'.

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Despite the tragic setback, Pot'povs was quickly becoming one of Latvia’s most solid young hockey talents as the years progressed.  He started entering several tournaments and he would do well in all of them.  He led tournaments in scoring on several occasions, including ones in Turku, Finland, and Zell am See, Austria. At a World Selects tourney, which was held in Riga, he had nine points (five goals, four assists) to lead all scorers.  He also did well at a Bauer tournament in Chicago, his first time in North America.

By 2009, Pot'povs was ready to take his talents to the higher echelons of junior hockey in Latvia.  He knew that, with hard work, maybe he could be like his good friend Zemgus Girgensons, who was already playing in North America.  Pot'povs started playing with SK Riga’s under-18 team for the 2009-10 season with such players as Edgars Kulda and 'ikita Jevpalovs.  In only 18 games, the then 15-year-old scored 58 points (28 goals, 30 assists), making him one of the team’s top scorers.  That year, thanks to his stellar play, as well as solid goaltending from Nils Gr'nfogels, SK Riga’s under-18 squad captured their league championship.

Pot'povs started gaining significant credibility and praise from coaches around Latvia.  Coaches have raved about his solid playing skills, including crisp passes, a good shot, and sharpness and speed from his skating.  They also have found that not only is a a good player but also a good person; his attitude is always pleasant and he enjoys playing the game.

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The next year, 2010-11, Pot'povs was quite busy, playing in three different leagues: the Latvian under-18 league, the Belarusian under-18 league and the second-highest league in Latvia.  He played a total of 84 games in those three leagues combined.  In 20 games in the Latvian under-18 league, he had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) and 30 penalty minutes.  In 44 games in the Belarusian under-18 league, Pot'povs shone even more, recording 55 points (27 goals, 28 assists); he also had 66 penalty minutes, which showed that, despite his smaller stature (5’11″, 170 pounds), he was incredibly strong and not willing to let anyone push him around.  Finally, in 20 games in the Latvia-2 league, he recorded 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) and 18 penalty minutes.

After the 2010-11 season was over, Pot'povs also got another incredible opportunity.  For the first time in his career, he wore the national team jersey for Latvia at the European Youth Olympic Festival, a tournament which was held in Liberec in the Czech Republic.  He scored a goal in the three-game tourney.  Despite it all, he was not invited to play at the 2011 World Under-18 Hockey Championships, despite the fact that he was one of the highest-scoring players in that age bracket in the country.

Overall, the 2010-11 season was not just good for Pot'povs.  It was also good for some other 1994-born talents from Latvia.  Zemgus Girgensons graduated to the USHL to play for the Dubuque Fighting Saints and, in his first season, he played in that league’s All-Star Game and also won a Clark Cup as league champion. 'ikita Jevpalovs also made his own trip to North America and he signed with the South Muskoka Shield, a team in the independent Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League; as a 17-year-old, he finished third in GMHL scoring with 91 points (48 goals, 43 assists) in 41 games and was named the league’s top rookie.

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After the summer of 2011 ended, Pot'povs and Latvian hockey suffered yet another tragedy.  On September 7, 2011, K'rlis Skrasti'', the former NHL defenceman who was also the captain of the Latvian national team, was killed in a plane crash with his teammates from the KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’ on their way to a game in Minsk, Belarus.  He was 37 years old.  Pot'povs even admits that he cried when Zholtok died but Skrasti''’ death brought back all the sadness of that day back in 2004.

On a professional level, things actually looked up for Pot'povs.  He made the significant leap from under-18 hockey to under-20 hockey.  He found himself in the MHL’s B league, the second-highest junior league in Russia and the surrounding area.  Playing for HK Juniors Riga, Pot'povs appeared in 30 games for the MHL B squad, recording a goal and an assist as an underage player.  HK Juniors Riga also had a team that moonlighted in the top league in Latvia and he was given the opportunity to play for them, as well.  He appeared in 26 games, recording 13 points (seven goals, six assists), quite remarkable for a 17-year-old in such a top league.  Yet again, though, despite his obvious talents, Pot'povs was not invited to play for the Latvian under-18 team.

Despite everything, Pot'povs was happy yet again to see that many of his friends were also enjoying their own successes.  Zemgus Girgensons was named captain of the Dubuque Fighting Saints and he was named to the USHL’s First All-Star Team; he was poised to help the team go far in the playoffs and possibly repeat as Clark Cup champions but he was felled by a broken jaw.  Girgensons got the opportunity to make Latvian hockey history when he was chosen 14th overall at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, making him the highest-drafted player ever from that country.  Kristaps Ba'evi's played two games in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders before being released, eventually signing with the NAHL’s Alaska Avalanche, showing that his first season in North America was not a complete washout.  After a successful senior year at Shattuck St. Mary’s in which he scored 88 points (24 goals, 64 assists) in 51 games, Teodors B'ugers was chosen 52nd overall at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins; he was later chosen 48th overall by the Oshawa Generals in the 2012 CHL Import Draft but opted out to honour an NCAA commitment to Minnesota State University-Mankato.  Despite the fact that he was eligible, Pot'povs was not chosen in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Even though he was considered, Pot'povs was also not chosen in the 2012 CHL Import Draft, which was actually quite successful for Latvia.  In addition to B'ugers, four other friends of his were chosen, three by teams in the WHL and one to the QMJHL.  Edgars Kulda was chosen 38th overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings; 'ikita Jevpalovs was chosen 40th overall by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada; Roberts Lipsbergs was chosen 60th overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds; and Rinalds Rosinskis was chosen 65th overall by the Prince George Cougars.

Away from the rink, Pot'povs had a personally joyous occurrence.  On June 20, 2012, he graduated from R'gas T'lm'c'bas vidusskol', one of the best schools for distance education in the entire country of Latvia.  Not long after, he enrolled at RISEBA, the Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration, one of Latvia’s best business schools, for his post-secondary education.  He will graduate in 2016.

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Pot'povs went unpicked in both the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and the 2012 CHL Import Draft. After fielding three offers from teams in North America, he decided to stay home in Latvia, signing with HK Riga, the MHL junior team of Dinamo Riga, after a rigourous and competitive training camp. Pot'povs led HK Riga in scoring at the 2012 World Junior Club Cup in Omsk, Russia, this past September. (mhl.khl.ru)

During the offseason, Pot'povs thought about where he could emerge playing for the 2012-13 season.  He was given some offers in North America, one from the Ontario Hockey Academy, one from a team in the GMHL and one from the WSHL’s Arizona RedHawks.  It was a hard decision, especially with the fact that he also had a training camp with HK Riga. This team is in the MHL, the highest junior league in Russia and neighbouring countries.  It was tedious at first for Pot'povs, who found himself practicing with rookies despite being older than most of them.  It almost appeared as though they were not going to take him onto their roster.  After much doing, they finally signed him.  It was a good thing, too, because he was about to get another incredible opportunity in his hockey career.

In early September, HK Riga took part in the 2012 World Junior Club Cup, which took place in Omsk, Russia.  They joined a stacked tournament that included ten teams from several countries.  The other teams participating were the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves (the eventual champion); the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks; the MHL’s Omskie Yasterby (the host team), HC Energie Karlovy Vary U20 from the Czech Republic, and Dinamo-Shinnik from Belarus; Sweden’s Linköpings HC J20; Finland’s HIFK U20; and the national under-20 teams from Denmark and Norway. Despite the fact that HK Riga upset the Sudbury Wolves in the tournament opener in a shootout, they did not fare so well in the tournament.  Through it all, Pot'povs was ever solid and he led the team in scoring.  This season, despite going pointless in the first seven games of the year, he is hoping to have a big campaign, including a possible spot on the Latvian under-20 team who managed to avoid relegation and will remain in the top pool for the 2013 tourney, which is to be held in Ufa, Russia.

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If there is anything that has remained constant with Pot'povs, it is how much he is idolized by two aspiring hockey players who are very dear to his heart: His younger brothers.  Mikus is now on a similar path as Em'ls, making his Latvian under-18 league début this season with SK Riga, the team his older brother shone with for several seasons before making it all the way to the level he is now.  In addition, Mikus is wearing 16, the number his older brother has worn throughout his junior career.  Markuss is now playing minor hockey, taking his first steps toward joining his brothers in the same rink in Ogre that they started in, the one that they had to wait to be completed.  In a tribute to his idolization of his oldest brother, Markuss is wearing 94, symbolic of Em'ls’ birth year.  It seems as though things are coming full circle in the Pot'povs family.

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With the 2012-13 MHL season still in its infancy, there is no telling what the campaign will bring for this budding Latvian talent.  That being said, the future of hockey in the middle Baltic nation is starting to look brighter than ever and it is only going to continue.  While many thanks can go to several players who are in North America at the present time, it is also possible — nay, definite — that one must also say paldies to Em'ls Pot'povs, just another kid who grew up playing hockey with friends and family on a frozen river on the path to fulfilling his dream.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Trotman's Hat-Trick Paces Providence Bruins' First Intrasquad Scrimmage

Providence Bruins' training camp attendees took part in the first of two intrasquad scrimmages Saturday morning at the Rhode Island Sports Center. While each group turned-out some solid performances, defenseman Zach Trotman's hat trick highlighted the game ' which Team Black won, 5-1.

Zach Trotman (Photo courtesy Sarah Connors)

Trotman, (who describes himself as more of a 'two-way guy' than an offensive-defenseman) the rookie pro who spent three seasons at Lake Superior State, tallied two goals in the first of two 28-minute periods ' and added another (plus an assist) in the second-half.

While the first and third goals appeared to be  possible re-directions or deflections, the second was an absolute dagger of a wrister from the top of the right circle off a nice feed from Matt Pistilli. However, all three of his other points came off of well-directed and heavy point-shots.

Pistilli earned one of Team Black's other two goals via a Trotman rebound and Chris Bourque fired-home a wrister from the high-slot to make it five.

The Bruins’ rookie never passed-up on an opportunity to shoot. He put close to ten pucks on-net, many thanks to deft setups from David Warsofsky. After the game he told me, 'It helps that all the forwards are giving me real good passes, giving me time while they [hold the opposing defenders] down-low and I have time to see where everything's at and find a lane through to the net' give the forwards a chance to tip it or get a rebound.'

His teammates certainly noticed the auspicious start. Trotman said with a smile, 'They were laughing' [Defenseman Kevan] Miller came up to me and said 'why don't you just get the hat-trick' and I go out there and put the next one in.'

Trotman played nine games with Providence to end the 2011-12 season, and he believes that experience has aided his transformation into a full-time pro: “It definitely takes some of the nerves out of it… You’re a little less worried because you know what guys are going to be like and you have a mindset for what the plays are going to be like, it gives you confidence.”

The former last-overall-pick (#210 in 2010) wasn’t the only impressive performer on the day. Several other blueliners seemed to be in midseason form. Warsofsky (who possesses a cannon of his own) stole a few pucks and distributed well from the back end. Torey Krug's tremendous awareness and puck-moving game was on-display (the 5'9 D-man also brought some physicality). Ryan Button demonstrated some great offensive zone decision-making and poise.

Additionally, Tommy Cross' mobility and outlet-game were eye-opening. In my opinion, he's made significant strides in both areas since his final Development Camp during the summer. After the scrimmage, he said: 'I've been working on getting back for pucks quicker, and getting your head around and seeing what's available' just stuff that you do every year.'

Regarding his skating, Cross implied that he made an effort over the summer, but ''there's nothing like game-speed.'

Team White's lone goal came off the stick of Alden Hirschfeld, who beat Mike Hutchinson glove-side from the low slot in the first. Hirschfeld, formerly of Miami of Ohio, was fed by former-now-current teammate Carter Camper from behind the net. Jordan Caron's effort winning the puck behind the goal-line earned him a secondary assist on the play.

Highly-touted rookie forwards Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight brought consistent effort to the ice Saturday, but were held pointless. Spooner centered Chris Bourque and Max Sauve for most of the morning while Knight joined Bobby Robins on Trent Whitfield's wing.

The Bruins will play another scrimmage tomorrow morning as the competition for jobs heats-up. Thirty-four players can't make it all the way ' tough decisions lie ahead for the staff and management.

 

Follow Bob Mand on Twitter at @HockeyMand

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Katz Apologizes; Yakupov Plays

Nail Yakupov (Aaron Bell/CHL Images)

The Edmonton Oilers have been in the news quite a bit this week, but not exactly for good reason. Oilers owner Daryl Katz made waves when he and a group of team brass flew to Seattle to check out the cities arena. The visit prompted a sea of reports that the Oilers franchise may re-locate because of failed attempts to get a new arena deal. Many felt it was simply a negotiating ploy on the part of Katz, who didn’t appear to be on the same page as the City council. Today, Katz took out a full page ad in the Edmonton Journal apologizing to the fans in Edmonton.

Apparently the visit wasn’t supposed to be public information, but in the age of social media, it’s hard to believe that Katz actually thought it would stay private. Whether he did it to gain leverage, or sincerely didn’t want his visit to go public remains to be seen, but either way the cover-up is in full effect. In the letter Katz claims that he has no intention of moving the Oilers and that he is confident that a new deal will get done. The two sides have met and discussions are underway. According to the letter, Katz claims that he isn’t the best communicator. But you don’t get to a position where you can own a sports franchise if you didn’t know a thing or two about business, so this situation may continue to get ugly. For the sake of a great hockey town, here’s hoping there is no relocation in their future.

The other Oilers news making headlines? Well that would be the controversy surrounding Edmonton’s prized first overall pick, Nail Yakupov. Yakupov went over to Russia to play for his hometown during the lock-out, but after just two games, a contract dispute put his playing on hold. Hockey Canada claimed that they had not signed Yakupov’s International Transfer Card, thus he was ineligible to play in the KHL. And that reason for that? He was still under contract with the Sarnia Sting of the OHL, and they hadn’t released him to play elsewhere. Yakupov has no desire to go back to Junior, and the Oilers wanted him playing with the best competition possible. However the Sting were reluctant to let him go.

After both disappointment and confusion expressed by Yakupov, his agent and his father, the issue was thankfully sorted out. There were negotiations between Vladislav Tretiak of the Russian Hockey Federation and Bob Nicholson of Hockey Canada that resulted in this press release from Hockey Canada:

“Hockey Canada and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation have announced that the OHL has determined that Yakupov had no independent legal advice when, at the age of 17 years old, he signed his contract with Sarnia. His release goes into effect immediately.”(Yahoo Sports)

So all is well that ends well for Yakupov and his KHL team. But the whole matter brings to the light the concern that the OHL could lose players in this manner in the future, something that would be detrimental to the league. Whether or not Sarnia gets some kind of compensation for losing Yakupov is unclear, but one would hope that an issue like this doesn’t arise again anytime soon. Easiest thing to do is to blame the lock-out.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Still Not Satisfied: After Tremendous Rookie Campaign, P-Bruins' Carter Camper Looks for More

Even in the best of circumstances, it takes talent and effort to lead a pro team in scoring ' perhaps even truer for rookies. Carter Camper led the Providence Bruins with 48 points in 2011-12, but he's looking for more.

Providence's center surprised many with his team-leading production in '11-'12. The lone P-Bruin selected to the 2012 AHL All-Star Game, Camper's season became even more memorable. The 23 year-old received a call in late February to head up I-95 to the Garden, where the Miami of Ohio grad broke through for his first NHL goal with the Bruins.

'It was amazing,' Camper said of his first glimpse of the NHL, '' it was a dream' you learn a lot up there ' the guys made it a real comfortable transition while I was up [in Boston]. It definitely pushes you to get back up there' you're not satisfied down here' [The NHL] is where you want to be.'

But those early successes haven't stressed the sophomore forward. '' I guess it's a good kind of pressure. It pushes me to always want to get better and top [those numbers and successes] individually, and' you want to contribute more to have a better season and play in the playoffs ' you don't want to go home early like we did last year.'

Certainly, he's not the biggest or toughest customer at 5'9 and 173 lbs. ' but his quickness, his hands, his intelligence, and his willingness to play a complete 200-foot game make him an intriguing prospect going forward.

'I realize I'm not going to be the strongest guy out there and as a hockey player I want to try to outsmart people and use my vision ' but off the ice [I've worked on] leaning down a bit and getting quicker ' and getting stronger' but not bulkier.'

During the scrimmage today, Camper displayed all those qualities. His playmaking set-up his squad's lone goal, finding former Redhawk teammate and close friend Alden Hirschfeld with a tape-to-tape pass from behind the net. Camper said, 'We played together for a couple years in school' we go way back, I've known him since I was 10 or 11 and I just know where he is on the ice.'

Carter Camper (goaliej54/flickr)

Wonderfully understating his impact on the tally, Camper described, 'Jordy [Caron] put the put in-deep' I just wanted to get down there and support him and the puck came to me. I saw Hirsch driving down the middle and he doesn't miss from there.'

Camper's career began in Ohio, where the young Carter played for the Barons of the NAHL. Later he earned a spot in the USHL ' first for the US National U-17 Team, then the Lincoln Stars. Wherever he went, he scored. But he wasn't drafted.

Going undrafted was just something that needed to be overcome. Camper then laced 'em up for the RedHawks of Miami, playing four seasons and finishing second on the school's career-scoring list. His final year he averaged almost a point and a half per-game.

He led his team to the brink of a national title in '09, before the RedHawks were stunned by two goals in the final minute before losing in OT. Nevertheless, he earned the captain's 'C' in his senior year and numerous awards for his performances including a Hobey Baker finalist nod in his last season in Oxford (Ohio).

Signed by the Bruins after graduation, Camper jumped right-in with two points in three games getting his feet wet at the end of the '10-'11 season, leading to his outstanding rookie campaign.

While he's unlikely to earn a letter ' yet ' in Providence, Camper exudes the 'do-what-it-takes-to-win' attitude that hockey's leaders exemplify. He's '' not a guy who's going to talk that much. We obviously have some great leadership with Whitter [Trent Whitfield] and [Jamie] Tardif' I'm more than willing to help the rookies.' Even so, Camper's progress as a young leader in the P-Bruins' locker-room is something to watch.

Providence Bruins fans were treated to a tremendous rookie campaign in 2011-12 ' one tough to top. But rest assured ' Camper isn't satisfied.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

NCAA Women's Hockey: Week 1 Preview

The defending national champions preview the upcoming season.

Current Rankings:

1. Minnesota
2. Cornell
3. North Dakota
4. Boston College
5. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota-Duluth
7. Harvard
8. Boston University
9. Northeastern
10. Clarkson

Match-up of the Week: Mercyhurst @ Rochester Institute of Technology, Fri. 9/28 @ 7:00 PM E.T. & Sat. 9/29 @ 2:00 PM E.T.

On the first game day of the season, the RIT Tigers will play their first Division I game ever when they host Mercyhurst tonight.  The program made the jump to Division I this year after previously playing at the Division III level, and winning the D-III national championship last season. On an emotional level, this weekend will mean a lot for the RIT players and fans. This isn’t just “some throwaway game up in Rochester”, however; the Tigers will be facing off against the most prestigious program in the College Hockey America (CHA) conference.  These first two games will  mean a lot for the Lakers as well. They’ve lost a lot of talent over the past couple of years, and they have a lot to prove if they want to be in consideration for a spot in the NCAA Tournament again. It’s pretty crucial for both RIT and Mercyhurst to start the season off well, which should make for an interesting in-conference clash this weekend.

Things to Watch For:

Colgate @ #1 Minnesota: The defending national champions will kick off the season at home against Colgate this weekend. Two players to keep an eye on for the Gophers: Amanda Kessel and Hannah Brandt. Jeff Huffman of Examiner.com reports that Kessel will probably be used in a limited role for at least this weekend, after undergoing surgery in the offseason. It will be critical for Minnesota to have her back in top condition as soon as possible, as she is really the catalyst of their offense. Tonight we will also see the college debut of highly-touted freshman Hannah Brandt; comparisons to former Gopher and Team USA great Natalie Darwitz are unfair, but she definitely has that kind of star potential.

#5 Wisconsin @ Minnesota State-Mankato: How cohesive the Badgers’ offense is will be something to watch throughout the first few weeks of the season. This is also the first WCHA match-up of the year, putting a lot at stake for both teams right off the bat. This series (Fri. 9/28 @ 8:05 PM E.T. & Sat. 9/29 @ 4:05 PM E.T.) will be streamed live for free through the Mavericks’ athletics site.

Boston Blades @ #9 Northeastern (exhibition): Northeastern’s athletic site will provide a free stream of this game on Sunday at 2 PM E.T. This match-up will give fans a good taste of both NCAA women’s hockey and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, the premier women’s hockey league in North America, so it’s definitely something worth tuning into. There’s lots of talent to watch on both sides, and it will be a good test for the Huskies before they start playing regular season games.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Hope Abounds as Providence Bruins' Training Camp Opens

A damp, chilly afternoon in Rhode Island welcomed thirty-four prospective players to the opening day of the Providence Bruins' 2012 training camp. With the lockout sending hockey-fans looking elsewhere for on-ice action, the promising Baby B's opened their '12-'13 season in North Smithfield.

The P-Bruins missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons, the longest such streak in their existence. In 2011-12, the franchise saw its lowest point-total in over a decade with one of the AHL's worst offenses ' but offseason additions and another year of development result in hopes running high for the denizens of the Dunk.

A modest contingent of the press attended the first afternoon ' including a handful of Boston media bigwigs. A few stalwart fans showed up to dot the bleachers and thirty-odd players donned the spoked-P for the first time this fall.

Ryan Spooner (Photo: Amanda Mand)

Day one of camp saw the campers split into two groups and take to the ice for an hour apiece. Between the sessions, Bruins' General Manager Peter Chiarelli spoke to the media regarding the lockout, his plans for the season and the P-Bruins.

After the Group B left the ice, Providence Head Coach Bruce Cassidy answered some questions.

Cassidy was happy with the team's performances in the off-ice testing component of training camp. Only one player wasn't cleared to participate ' defenseman Kevan Miller ' who had a heart murmur during his physical (Cassidy believes Miller should be cleared soon).

Cassidy suggested that, while the P-Bruins added many rookies this offseason, '' the advantage we have is Spooner has played games in the American League, so has Trotman, so has Cross, so has [Florek]' so a lot of these first-year guys have had a bit of a taste from last year, so that should speed up their development out of the gate.'

Regarding the AHL's improved talent level during the lockout, Cassidy said: '' the better competition you play against, the better you get ' say we go into Adirondack and it's Schenn and Couturier, [the young players] are going to have a better taste of what they're going up against' I know they'd rather be in the NHL (who wouldn’t), but if they take advantage of it, they can really build their game.'

I asked Cassidy if he thought Providence's projected impressive depth (and youth) on defense was a challenge going forward, he replied: 'We're lucky that we have a lot of returning guys ' we have six or seven ' so we should be able to ease them in. If they're good enough to beat out the older guys, even better' that's a good problem to have. We do have that luxury this year with a few extra bodies.'

On the subject of the team's veteran leadership, Cassidy offered, 'Well [Trent] Whitfield is second-to-none in that department – his is by example. Jamie [Tardif] is good there'. I don't anticipate any issues at all in that regard. Even some of our younger guys have won championships ' and they'll be given the opportunity to speak their mind and demonstrate that' Any time that players police one another it has so much better effect than when the coach does.'

Rookie pro, Jared Knight looked strong on his skates. Wearing a burgundy sweater, he appeared much more mobile than during Development Camp over the summer.

Knight skated on a line with Providence captain, Trent Whitfield. The rookie voiced his appreciation for the veteran leader's help: 'Yeah, just coming back to the bench he's telling me things to do right, he's such a good player ' a really smart player ' knows where to be and it makes it a lot easier to play with a guy like that' It's nice to have someone like that who takes us under his wing.'

Fellow rookie Ryan Spooner made some noise skating on a line with third-year forward Max Sauve. The two fell into a nice rhythm during Group B's session, connecting on several of the break-in drills for pretty attempts and goals. Sauve drew a few impressed gasps from the sparse crowd for a Seguin-esque goal, batting a waist-high aerial pass into the net.

Following his hour on the ice, Spooner spoke of his appreciation for playing with players of Sauve's caliber: 'I played with Sauve a little bit here and there and it seems whenever [we] play together we make something happen' he's a real good hockey player ' he's smart and he knows how to pass.'

The first-year forward is living with his former OHL rival and friend, Knight while the two play for the P-Bruins.

Tomorrow, the P-Bruins will take to the ice for the first of two days of scrimmages. Providence's season kicks into high gear with the first intense competition of the fall.

Lockout or no ' pro hockey is back in New England.

 

Follow Bob Mand on Twitter at @HockeyMand

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

The Precious Blood Florida Panthers: Truth Behind The Logo

Growing up in Scarborough, Ontario, and going to an elementary school called Precious Blood, we all thought we were pretty tough kids. One thing that everyone seemed to neglect, though, was the logo we wore on the front of all our jersey’s was one similar, no, exactly the same as the one the Florida Panthers bear.

Legitimately the logo the PBS Panther’s ripped off, substitute “Precious Blood” arching over the head of the Panther.

The Precious Blood Panthers were a large part of my life playing soccer every year since my eligibility in grade one, until my retirement in grade 8. Wearing that red t-shirt with a white logo of the pouncing panther – sometimes with the broken hockey stick in its paws – was used for every jersey I ever wore for PBS.

Sometimes the legs were missing, and the caption on the bottom again “Precious Blood”. Side note: none of our Jersey’s were exactly alike either.

Now, as a hockey fan growing up, I knew the Panther’s logo was pasted on the front of our PBS athletic uniforms – if you can even call a screen printed fruit of the loom t-shirt athletic wear. With the franchise coming into the league in 1993, and my elementary school built in 1953 on property purchased for $1.00, yes, these facts still drilled into my head, somebody was a Panther’s fan.

My dad attended this elementary school, we lived in the same Flynn family house he grew up in, and the logo before the stolen panther was like a Yankee’s logo; The P, B, and S, one on top of the other.

So when did this blasphemy take place? Who knows, but since my enrolment and outstanding contributions to the indoor soccer league age bracket grades 1-2, we’ve been the Panthers. And of course we’ve played soccer, ran track, played basketball and softball for years with a Panther holding a broken hockey stick in it’s paws, it just makes sense.

The original gangster of PBS logos, obviously screen printed all in white, colours are just too expensive.

A lot of questions arose from the hockey stick in the paws of the Panther. Most kids said “Our hockey team sucks, why does it have a hockey stick?” And of course, the tomboy said “It’s the Florida Panther’s logo” to which every other kid looked at me like I was an alien. I knew the school’s secret. The laziness to google “Panther” and say “Yep, that looks good, print ‘em up!”. I’ve actually gone over this scenario in my head and I’m 100% sure those are the exact words spoken.

I guess you could say I’ve always had a connection to the Florida Panthers as my elementary school, The Precious Blood Panthers, fraudulently stole a trademarked logo and threw it on a bunch of student athletes aged 6-13. Oh well, that’s Scarborough for you.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Why NHL Fans Should Learn from the NFL to End The Lockout

NHL fans need to follow the example set by the NFL to urge Garry Bettman and the NHL to end the lockout. (Tom Turk/THW)

Lockout: It is a word that no hockey fan wishes to hear.

But lo and behold, the NHL and its greedy owners have disgraced us with the second lockout in the past decade, and no resolution seems imminent. All preseason games have already been canceled, and regular season games are on deck.

So what should we hockey fans do to help end this brutal lockout? It may sound far-fetched, but just ask the NFL.

The NFL, arguably the most popular sports league in America, went through a tough stretch of their own in the past few weeks. Due to the lockout of the referees, the NFL turned to raw and inexperienced “replacement” officials to ref the start of the 2012 season.

That turned out to be a disaster, as the replacements blew calls left and right, drawing the ire of players, coaches, and fans from around the league.

This all led to an inevitable “breaking” point, when the referees completely botched a call at the end of the Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks game on Monday Night Football (Sept. 24), which cost the Packers the game.

Up to September 24th, there had been little progress made in the talks between the NFL and its referees to reach a deal. On September 26th, a tentative deal was struck, the “real” referees would be back on the field the next day, and players, coaches, and fans from across the league rejoiced.

So how did that work? How did the NFL reach an agreement in two days, while the NHLPA and the owners continue to take their sweet little time to make a deal?

The answer is simple: public outrage from players, coaches, and fans, pressuring the league to get a deal done as soon as possible.

The NFL’s replacement refs warranted a ton of negative reaction in the media and on social networking. Players and fans alike complained on Twitter, and the NFL’s commissioner’s office was flooded with angry voicemails. All of this public pressure obviously worked, as the NFL and the referees union worked swiftly to get a deal done.

We have not seen anything close to that with this NHL lockout thus far.

Although they obviously hope for the lockout to end, players and coaches aren’t necessarily griping about it to the media. Instead, they’re taking their talents to other hockey leagues, even overseas. Among these players are household names Rick Nash, Joe Thornton, and Evgeni Malkin. What kind of a message is sent when the faces of the NHL are simply waiting for the lockout to end while leisurely playing overseas?

Imagine what would happen if every single player and coach called commissioner Gary Bettman’s office and demanded that the lockout end immediately? Or if the players and coaches started tweeting about how ridiculous this lockout is? I can bet that Bettman and the rest of the gang would start picking up the pace a bit, considering that their most valuable assets (the players) are pushing them to reach a deal.

Then there’s the media. We’ve seen plenty of articles criticizing the NFL and their replacement referees, but have there been many articles written by the mainstream media that criticize the NHL for this lockout? In a previous post, I asked whether the mainstream media would give up on hockey as the lockout loomed, and the answer is probably a “yes.” In order for this lockout to be resolved faster, the media has to play its role to make people aware of the lockout, and to help rally for a resolution.

Last but not least comes the fans. At the end of the day, the NHL depends on us to fill their pockets with ticket and merchandise purchases. In return, we get to unite and enjoy the great game that is hockey.

So why can’t the fans rally up and push those greedy money-grabbers to get a deal done? Voice your displeasure on Facebook and Twitter, leave voicemails at the league office, hold a march up Times Square. Hell, go ahead and “occupy” Gary Bettman’s lawn until a deal gets done.

The point is, nothing is going to resolved, and the lockout will not end unless the negotiators are forced to speed things up. The NFL got the job done because of public pressure, so why can’t the same thing happen in the NHL?

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

THW Live #3: The Fight Begins Hockey Fans!

It is time to fight on for new causes on this week’s show. (Josh Smith / THW)

It is that time again to get ready for this weekend’s edition of THW Live. The first two episodes had a healthy mix of what was currently going on in the hockey world and expect the third to be more of the same. As always, it is our goal to not necessarily minimize the current NHL Lockout but to emphasize what else is going on in hockey besides the current impasse. There definitely is a fight hockey fans and that fight is something everyone has to believe in. While not everything can be solved at once, it is our hope that we give the fans something to believe in during these trying times.

Sunday Night’s show will contain a powerful theme and message along with the same, unique debate that people expect from us. There are so many causes to champion but only several can get our attention on such a fast paced show. The sport of hockey will always be the first but sometimes even in life there are just causes that take so much more precedence.

Fans come help us help those who really need it. (File Photo / THW)

October is normally “Hockey Fights Cancer” month for the NHL. With the lockout looking like it will last through at least all of October, Ross Bonander came up with an idea. This was something everyone could get behind and honestly we understand that other things are being planned and the NHL will have their “HFC” month when the league returns but what about now? That was when Ross created “Hockey Fans Fight Cancer”. Obviously the show comes at the perfect time and Ross will be coming on the show to explain to Josh, Jon, and I not only what he is doing but what we all can do to help. It is an idea that really has taken off in the last several days. Any donation is greatly appreciated ladies and gentlemen. That cannot be emphasized enough.

Now it is show outline time for Sunday and here is what is on tap.

• A hearty welcome.
• Spanning the hockey world with Josh from KHL to OHL and beyond.
• Ross Bonander of THW talks Hockey Fans Fight Cancer with us!
• Russ Cohen and Anthony Mingioni of Sportsology stop by!
• A little something about the Fantasy KHL with updates!
• Then it is time to say goodbye…. 

So what will be doing on a Sunday night? Honestly we will be talking hockey at 8pm ET on THW Live via the Fantasy Sports Channel. The phone number to call in is at 1-347-826-7358 like it always is. We want to hear from the listeners and the chatters so make your voice known. Furthermore, no topic is really out of bounds. You can send tweets to @ChrisWasselTHW or just come into the Blog Talk Radio chat room. Expect a highly charged show as the withdrawal for some gets more while others appreciate the rest of the hockey landscape. It should be a really good one. Thanks again.

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Boston Bruins Prospects ' Fall 2012 Rankings: 30-21

The Boston Bruins own a deep and talented prospect system. In the following rankings, I've listed the more than thirty Calder-eligible young men under contract or control of the Bruins' organization. In this second part, I discuss the Bruins thirtieth through twenty-first ranked prospects.

Because of the system's depth, I've split the rankings into five parts:

Part One: Honorable Mentions

Methodology:

Unlike some prospect-rankers, I don't value all prospects equally. While I rate excellent defensemen and goaltenders as slightly more valuable than their forward counterparts, they're significantly more risky (and goaltenders more so than blueliners). Consequentially, these players are devalued slightly in my rankings.

However, risk (and NHL-readiness) are small pieces of the puzzle compared to 'upside'. I hold 'upside' in the highest regard ' enough to diminish all but the greatest risk. For example:

A forward with first-line potential but significant risk is more valuable than a more ready, less risky forward with second-line potential. Similarly, a high-risk defenseman with first-pairing upside is worth more than a very low-risk defenseman with #4/5 upside. In other words, in all but the most extreme examples, Potential trumps Risk.

Additionally, I include my 'Current Favorable Projection' (CFP) for each prospect (where I expect them to land should their career advance positively); an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for significant NHL action under the same circumstances; and other rankings for the prospects.

 

30. Cody Payne, C ' 6'2, 190 lbs., Shoots: R; 1/14/94

Other Rankings: Kirk Luedeke (NEHJ) ' HM; Bill Ladd (HF) ' NR; Corey Pronman (HP) – NR

2011-12 Clubs: Plymouth Whalers (OHL), Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Projected 2012-13 Club: Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

Cody Payne (67) attending the Boston Bruins 2012 Development Camp. (Photo: Bob Mand)

With only sixteen points in sixty games, London-born Payne's production in 2011-12 failed to live up to expectation. Still, many regarded him as a classic 'sleeper' pick thanks to his projectable size and substantial toughness and upside. Banking on that, the Bruins grabbed him with their second fifth-round pick in '12.

He's very skinny for his playstyle and will have to focus considerable effort on building muscle to play the power-forward role at the pro level. He's not ready for prime time by a long stretch – but there's a lot to like moving forward. He's got excellent low-risk, high-reward potential.

After a few seasons of sparse usage, Payne's role will likely increase for the talented Whalers' squad. With a marked jump in production – and some added bulk, Payne's ranking could jump as well.

Current Favorable Projection: Tough Bottom-Six Forward (ETA: 2017)

Previously Unranked

29. Tyler Randell, RW ' 6'1, 195 lbs., Shoots: R; 6/15/91

Other Rankings: Kirk ' 27; Bill ' NR; Corey ' NR

2011-12 Clubs: Providence Bruins (AHL)/ Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Projected 2012-13 Clubs: Providence Bruins (AHL)/ S.C. Stingrays (ECHL)

A big, hulking winger with talent in his fists, Tyler Randell's performance in Providence early last season made him look more like a longshot than we'd envisioned last fall. After an unproductive stint with the P-Bruins, he was shipped back to the Kitchener Rangers, where he picked up some goals (eleven in eighteen games) in solid performances.

Much will depend on his return to Providence this fall. Randell is a solid net-front presence with good finishing capabilities, but he'll need to improve his skating or show more consistent creativity and distribution skills or he'll have to punch his way in.

CFP: NHL/AHL Grinder/Fighter with Goal-Scoring Upside (ETA: 2016)

Previously Ranked: 25

28. Maxim Chudinov, D ' 5'11, 187 lbs., Shoots: R; 3/25/90

Other Rankings: Kirk ' 6; Bill ' NR; Corey ' NR

2011-12 Club: Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

Projected 2012-13 Club: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Maxim Chudinov is one of the most difficult prospects in Boston's system to place. On the one hand, he's played major minutes for Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL in recent years, even tallying 35 points in just-over fifty games last season.

A plus-physical player (despite possessing less than ideal size), Chudinov brings grit and a nasty edge night in and out. He's mobile and savvy with solid offensive instincts and projects as an above-average puck-possession defenseman.

Chudinov could very well be in the top-ten (or even top-five) in the Bruins' system. Because he's an established player in a well-paying league in his homeland, one has to wonder if he's significantly motivated to journey across the pond. Of course, if he shows-up next summer (or the following) at Development Camp, he's instantly one of the B's best prospects and a challenger for an NHL job.

CFP: Middle-Pairing Two-Way Defenseman (ETA: 2014)

Previously Ranked: 22

27. Lane MacDermid, LW ' 6'3, 205 lbs., Shoots: L; 8/25/89

Other Rankings: Kirk ' 23; Bill ' NR; Corey ' NR

2011-12 Clubs: Providence Bruins (AHL)/ Boston Bruins (NHL)

Projected 2012-13 Club: Providence Bruins (AHL)

The Providence enforcer, MacDermid got his first taste of NHL action in five games with the Bruins in 2011-12. He dropped the gloves once for the big club, a solidly 'even' bout with Rangers' heavyweight Mike Rupp. In Providence, his production mirrored his previous season's ' just under a point every four games.

His ceiling is modest ' he never tallied more than 35 points in any season since starting junior. His possession-game isn't terrible (for his fourth-line prospects) but his grit and fighting-ability should make him all but a no-doubter for NHL action. It remains to be seen if he'll get a legitimate opportunity with Boston, but his enforcer-game should earn him a shot with some franchise in the future.

CFP: Fourth-Line Middleweight Pugilist. (ETA: 2013)

Previously Ranked: 23

26. Colby Cohen, D ' 6'2, 215 lbs., Shoots: R; 4/25/89

Other Rankings: Kirk ' 30; Bill ' NR; Corey ' NR

2011-12 Club: Providence Bruins (AHL)

Projected 2012-13 Club: Providence Bruins (AHL)

Acquired from Colorado for Matt Hunwick in November, 2010, Cohen's growing pains during his first full year with Providence failed to impress. Despite possessing a well-noted cannon from the point he only managed four goals for Providence in 2011-12 and has tallied under a point every four games during his pro career.  Some qualify his decision-making as questionable and he needs to work on his defensive positioning.

Of course, you can’t forget this:

However, for a big defenseman with all the physical tools and offensive upside that Cohen presents, you can't help but be a bit bullish about the future. It was a difficult season for so many of the B's youngsters at the Dunk; he may be one just looking forward to starting fresh start this September. Still, in the defense-laden Bruins system, Cohen might be the sixth defenseman in-line for a shot with the big club and with Dougie Hamilton likely turning pro next season ' it's not going to get any easier.

CFP: Bottom-Pairing Defenseman and Triggerman (ETA: 2016)

Previously Ranked: 19

25. Justin Florek, LW ' 6'4, 194 lbs., Shoots: L; 5/18/90

Other Rankings: Kirk ' 24; Bill ' NR; Corey ' NR

2011-12 Club: Northern Michigan University Wildcats (CCHA)

Projected 2012-13 Club: Providence Bruins (AHL)

The Northern Michigan University senior was second on his team in scoring and sixth overall in the CCHA with 36 points (including 19 goals) in 37 games with the Wildcats. Florek was a finalist for the league's top defensive forward award and also selected to the All-Conference Second Team.

After the Wildcats were eliminated from postseason play, he signed a contract with the Bruins and started contributing immediately with Providence, registering two goals and two assists in game one of his pro career against the Manchester Monarchs. He's been held scoreless in six games since but there's some significant offensive upside in the Michigan native.

With his impressive frame and finish, it's somewhat surprising that Florek (who, at one time, was considered to possess first-round potential) was passed over in two drafts before being selected by the B's in 2010. His foot speed is a major concern and he doesn't have plus playmaking capabilities or vision but he's defensively responsible and a solid forechecker. He fits the mold of a depth scorer but will have to pay his dues in the AHL before he gets a crack.

CFP: Third-Line Power-Forward (ETA: 2015)

Previously Ranked: 27

24. Lars Volden, G ' 6'2, 189 lbs., Glove: L; 9/26/92

Other Rankings: Kirk ' HM; Bill ' 20; Corey ' NR

2011-12 Clubs: Espoo Blues (SM-liiga), Jokipojat (Mestis)

Projected 2012-13 Club: Jokipojat (Mestis)

It's hard to put a finger on the Norwegian netminder's past season. He played poorly in time split between the Espoo Blues of Finland's SM-Liiga and their junior team, saving less than 90% of the shots he faced in twenty-one games between the two squads. However, he was a major player for Jokipojat of Finland's second division (after a mid-season loan) with a sub-2.00 GAA (both in the regular season and playoffs) and added a borderline-obscene .954 Sv% in the postseason, getting them to the final playoff series before losing to Sport Vaasa.

Volden is another long-term goaltending prospect for the Bruins. He has the size (6'3), technique and athleticism to be an NHL starter a long way down the road if he continues to progress. That said he's another relative long-shot.

He was loaned again to Jokipojat for the 2012-13 season, where we expect he'll get the lion's share of starting duties. If he continues to thrive, the Bruins may have no choice but to offer him a contract in the next two summers.

CFP: Good NHL Backup/Solid Euro Starter (ETA: 2016)

Previously Ranked: 29

23. Ryan Button, D ' 6'1, 190 lbs., Shoots: L; 3/26/91

Other Rankings: Kirk ' 28; Bill ' NR; Corey ' NR

2011-12 Clubs: Providence Bruins (AHL)/ Reading Royals (ECHL)

Projected 2012-13 Club: Providence Bruins (AHL)

Ryan Button (Sarah Connors/flickr)

One of the biggest on my board, defenseman Ryan Button's inconsistent play earned him a ticket down to Reading of the ECHL for a spell where he scored his only goal of the '11-'12 season. His time with Providence resulted in two assists and a minus-eight in just under thirty games.

Still, there are few defensemen in the Bruins system with his upside (some even had him as the B's best blueline prospect as recently as last summer). Buttons solid size (6'1), plus-skating and puck-handling capabilities give him the raw tools to be a middle-pairing offensive blueliner. He attacks aggressively and is a good puck-advancer and rusher ' but his hockey sense sometimes fails him, getting caught up ice and making bad decisions with the puck. Button's certainly not a bust yet, but he has a long way to go before fulfilling that potential.

The former third-round selection will have to fight for ice-time on a very (very) deep Providence blueline. With such a pivotal season ahead, he must start strong.

CFP: Bottom-Pairing Puck-Moving Defenseman (ETA: 2015)

Previously Ranked: 10

22. Matt Bartkowski, D ' 6'1, 203 lbs., Shoots: L; 6/4/88

Other Rankings: Kirk ' 26; Bill ' NR; Corey ' 12

2011-12 Clubs: Providence Bruins (AHL)/ Boston Bruins (NHL)

Projected 2012-13 Club: Providence Bruins (AHL)

The Bruins' defensive depth in Providence remains quite strong thanks in no small part to Matt Bartkowski. Bartkowski, acquired in the Dennis Seidenberg trade, consistently stands-out as one of the more NHL-ready blueliners in the B's current crop.

Bartkowski's best attribute ' physically solid own-zone play ' makes him an attractive call-up option. His offensive game is far less developed and could be classified as 'fringe' by NHL standards.

Unfortunately, in Bartkowski's brief stints with the big club he's looked very shaky. With the B's offseason acquisitions of Garnet Exelby and Aaron Johnson and potential big-league jumps for Torey Krug and Dougie Hamilton, the 24 year-old Bartkowski's opportunities for NHL time in Boston will only diminish unless he makes a big impression ' and quickly.

CFP: Bottom-Pairing NHL/Top-Pairing AHL Defenseman (ETA: 2013)

Previously Ranked: 12

21. Kevan Miller, D ' 6'2, 200 lbs., Shoots: R; 11/15/87

Other Rankings: Kirk ' 18; Bill ' 19; Corey ' NR

2011-12 Club: Providence Bruins (AHL)

Projected 2012-13 Club: Providence Bruins (AHL)

Miller opened eyes in 2011-12 ' his first as a professional ' with his consistent defensive zone play. After four solid seasons with the University of Vermont Catamounts (as captain in his senior season), the Los Angeles-born Miller impressed the B's with a solid performance at the Bruins' rookie camp last summer (notably for a big hit he laid on Milan Lucic). He was quickly signed to an AHL deal ' and then a two-way NHL deal in rapid fashion.

His play has helped him lead the P-Bruins with a +16 rating through all but four games of the regular season (second best among AHL rookie blueliners on a team with a heavily-negative goal differential). Miller is a solid stay-at-home type with good instincts. He doesn't have the offensive acumen to project into a top-four role ' but if he continues to progress and develop his physical game and first-pass, he could find himself a role in the future with a NHL Club.

CFP: Number-Six Shutdown-Defenseman (ETA: 2014)

Previously Unranked

 

Follow Bob Mand on Twitter at @HockeyMand

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Epic Flyers Moments: Sami Kapanen's Heart VS. Toronto Maple Leafs

In 2004, the diminuitive Sami Kapanen was one of the fastest players in the NHL. Standing only 5’9″, his speed went unmatched in both “Fastest Skater” events before the All-Star games in 2000 and 2002. It helped him to beat defenders out wide on offense, and it helped him to avoid big hits along the boards.

It didn’t help him in avoiding Darcy Tucker in Game 6 of the Conference Semifinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tucker hit Kapanen high in overtime; the impact of the hit knocked him horizontal and pinned him on the glass, leaving him with a long fall back to the ice.

The Flyers were taking more chances offensively in hopes of ending the game – and series – with one more goal. The pace at that particular point in the game was fast and furious, with chances going back and forth. A pace like that favored the Flyers, who also had Jeremy Roenick, Mark Recchi, Alexei Zhamnov, and trade deadline acquisition Tony Amonte.

However, an injury timeout would have brought that pace to a screeching halt. The play started going back towards the Flyers goal quickly after the collision, so Kapanen had to get back to the bench to get another Flyer on the ice. But in his condition, he struggled to stand, let alone skate. You didn’t need to be a medical expert to figure out he was in trouble. Play continued on as he tried getting to his feet repeatedly, only to fall again and again.

At first, he laid on the ice for a few seconds to gather his stick (and his composure). His first attempt to get up sent him head first back into the boards before fully standing upright. Unphased, he tried again and successfully took a few strides before his imbalance caused him to lose his balance backwards and veer back into the boards. Once again, the stick fell out of his hands.

He could have given up at that point. He was hurt, but he made a more-than-respectable effort. No one would have faulted him for staying down. But he never gave up. Kapanen picked up his stick again and used the boards to get back to his feet. In a combination of a stride/dive, he urged himself further along.

 

 

As he neared closer, Keith Primeau actually opened the bench door and reached out with his stick, literally hooking him towards the Flyers bench. Once in arms length, several Flyers reached out to pull him off the ice. From the time Kapanen was crushed, it took him close to 20 seconds to make his way to the bench, with his teammates needing to assist him.

A professional athlete and one of the best skaters in the league, Sami Kapanen’s dazed state had made him no better on his skates than a little boy skating for his first time.

Approximately 40 seconds later, Jeremy Roenick roofed a goal on a two-on-one to end the series, propelling the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals. Roenick ran along the near-boards on his skates in sheer jubilation. The Flyers cleared the benches to celebrate with their overtime hero.

Many fans will recall Roenick and his unique celebration of his 50th career postseason goal. But what will always stand out to me is the heart of Sami Kapanen. I’ll always wonder how that game, and even the series, could have ended had he stayed down on the ice. The team could have deflated. They could have taken a foolish penalty to “get even.” Either way, the play would have stopped and Roenick definitely wouldn’t have been able to score the way he did.

Sami Kapanen made me proud to be a fan of the Philadelphia Flyers. To me, those 20 seconds define the perseverance, toughness, and teamwork it takes to win in the NHL.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

NCAA Women's Hockey: 2012-2013 Preseason Rankings

Preseason Rankings

1. Minnesota
2. Cornell
3. North Dakota
4. Boston College
5. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota-Duluth
7. Harvard
8. Boston University
9. Northeastern
10. Clarkson

#1 Minnesota

The loss of Sarah Erickson, Jen Schoullis, and Emily West up front for Minnesota cannot be understated, as they each logged important minutes and provided experience and production. The Gophers' offense should still be competent, however; Amanda Kessel is a preseason Patty Kazmaier candidate, and freshman Hannah Brandt likely slots immediately into the top-six. Kelly Terry and Sarah Davis both look poised to produce consistently. What remains to be seen is how well players like Terry, Davis, Rachael Bona, and Meghan Lorence handle more important scoring roles. Anne Schleper leaves big shoes to fill on the blue line, but Megan Bozek is a proven top-pairing defenseman and Rachel Ramsey showed a lot of promise last season. Finnish national team player Mira Jalosuo, Baylee Gillanders, Jordyn Burns, and incoming freshmen Lee Stecklein and Milica McMillen provide a good amount of depth and skill for Minnesota's defensive corps. Goaltender Noora Räty enters the season with a career save percentage of .943; she will give the Gophers a chance to win every night. It might take some time for the team to adjust to their losses, and for Kessel to get back to full health, but I expect Minnesota to finish the season at the top of the rankings once again.

#2 Cornell

Cornell loses a very special player to graduation in Rebecca Johnston, but they have enough skill throughout their lineup to handle her departure. The offense might not be as prolific as last year without Johnston, Chelsea Karpenko, and Catherine White, but they have enough skill and depth to provide sufficient production. Brianne Jenner and Jill Saulnier will lead the charge in that department, and Jess Campbell and Emily Fulton should be able to step up and produce at top-six level. The Big Red also add Canadian U18 player Hayley Woods. The blue line will be led by the terrific pairing of Laura Fortino and Lauriane Rougeau; Hayleigh Cudmore, Amanda Young, Alyssa Gagliardi, and Cassandra Poudrier add above-average talent to fill out the defensive corps. Lauren Slebodnick will most likely take sole control of the starting goaltending duties this season, and if she can post consistently good numbers, Cornell could take over the number one spot in the rankings. Overall, this is a squad with a good amount of experience and a high level of talent. They should face a decent amount of adversity over the course of the season playing in the ECAC. If they successfully overcome that adversity and fill the holes they need to fill, they could be playing for a national championship come March.

#3 North Dakota

North Dakota rosters an absolutely formidable offense, the best in the country, and it will be led by Monique Lamoureux-Kolls and Jocelyne Lamoureux, two of the most dominant players in the world. Michelle Karvinen is sure to produce at a high level, and players like Josefine Jakobsen, Andrea Dalen, Meghan Dufault, and Rebecca Kohler will provide offensive depth. Although all of the graduated seniors played important roles on the team, they have enough players at each position to effectively replace them. Jordan Slavin is a talented offensive defenseman and incoming freshmen Sam LaShomb and Tanja Eisenschmid will add more skill to the back-end. Whether senior defenseman Candace Molle will be available to UND this season is still unknown but it's a big loss if she won't be, as she could really be the key to providing a dominant two-way force on the blue line. Depth might be a question for the defense, and they might be a little shaky overall in their own zone, which is really what hampers them from being ranked higher. Goaltending is also a question mark going into the season; if they can get consistently good numbers from Jorid Dagfinrud, Shelby Amsley-Benzie, or both, North Dakota is a very strong contender to at least make it to the Frozen Four.

#4 Boston College

The Eagles enter the year with a very good all-around team with loads of potential, especially up front. Sophomore forward Alex Carpenter is one of the most intriguing players in the nation. A point-per-game scorer last year, she was the definite leader for BC's offense as a 17-year-old. Emily Field, Taylor Wasylk, Ashley Motherwell, Haley Skarupa, and Dana Trivigno will help balance the scoring. The Eagles will also have a very solid defensive corps, headed by Blake Bolden, Dru Burns, and Emily Pfalzer. Freshmen Kaliya Johnson and Lexi Bender add some immediate skill, and Jackie Young and Meagan Mangene will be good bottom-four players. The only real question mark for Boston College is in goal. Corinne Boyles posted decent numbers in her first season as a starter, but she wasn't very consistent, and I see Megan Miller taking over the starting role at some point. Head coach Katie King-Crowley did a fantastic job of putting it all together last year after losing Kelli Stack and Molly Schaus, so she should be able to get everything to work nicely this year. Although I wouldn't consider them a favorite to win it all, if everything is clicking come March, the Eagles could be the first women's Hockey East team ever to win the national title.

#5 Wisconsin

It's going to be very difficult for Wisconsin to replace the scoring of Hilary Knight, Carolyne Prevost, and Brooke Ammerman. Production-wise, this could be one of the weakest Badger squads in years, even figuring in last year's Patty Kazmaier Award winner Brianna Decker. On the plus side, Brittany Ammerman looks poised for a breakout year. While players like Ammerman, Madison Packer, Katy Josephs, Blayre Turnbull, and Karley Sylvester could all start contributing much more this season, it's no sure thing that enough of them will. The blue line will be anchored by Stefanie McKeough, and Saige Pacholok, Kelly Jaminski, and Courtney Burke add a decent level of surrounding skill. It's a good defense, but it's not much improved from last year, and I thought the Badgers' defense was the issue last season. At any rate, Alex Rigsby will provide very good goaltending almost every night, easing some of the worries defensively. I think Wisconsin will be a good team this year, and I definitely don’t expect them to slip out of the top five in the national rankings, but there are some legitimate concerns about the Badgers that haven’t been there in recent years.

#6 Minnesota-Duluth

Haley Irwin is a big loss up front for the Bulldogs, but she is the only player they will have difficulty replacing this year. Audrey Cournoyer is a proven 20-goal scorer and point-per-game player, and expectations are high for Jenna McParland after her rookie season. Senior Pernilla Winberg's production was down last season but she also has a high offensive ceiling, and freshmen like Hannah Bramm and German U-18 national team member Marie Delarbre will only boost UMD's forward group. Headlined by senior Jessica Wong and sophomore Brigette Lacquette, the Bulldogs' defensive corps is one of, if not the best in the WCHA, and that should translate to national prestige as well. Jennifer Harss is one of the most underrated netminders in the country, and she's capable of posting big numbers this year for the Bulldogs. I see Minnesota-Duluth as a well-coached, very solid all-around team, and as long as they don’t go through any extended slumps, they should find themselves playing in the NCAA Tournament in March.

#7 Harvard

Except for Alissa Baumgartner's four points, the Crimson return all of their scoring from last season. Although not a particularly potent offensive squad, losing only one senior will be extremely helpful, especially when it comes to experience. Jillian Dempsey and Lyndsey Fry are both point-per-game players and will definitely be counted on heavily to produce. Harvard's real strength, however, is on the back end. Josephine Pucci is an absolute workhouse and probably the most underrated defenseman in the country; Sarah Edney, Marissa Gedman, and Michelle Picard round out one of the best top-fours in the nation. The Crimson also have some prestige behind the bench. It was announced this summer that head coach Katey Stone will coach the United States National Team at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Goaltender Laura Bellamy is very similar to Boston College's Corinne Boyles. Although she posted decent numbers last season, she wasn't very consistent and she doesn't possess true game-stealing abilities. That could end up being the difference for the team this year. With two talented players up front and a defense this good, Harvard should find themselves qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in March.

#8 Boston University

It remains to be seen how well they will cope without Canadian National Team player Jenn Wakefield, but I'm a big fan of the Terriers’ offense heading into the year. Their top-six is easily their strength. Between Marie-Philip Poulin, Isabel Menard, Kayla Tutino, Jenelle Kohanchuk, Louise Warren, and rookies Sarah Lefort and Rebecca Russo, BU boasts an abundance of talent up front. Poulin especially will be a constant threat; she’s one of the best players in the world and is a probable Patty Kazmaier Award finalist if she stays healthy. The Terriers will need all the offense they can get as they look to be a little weak on the back end; they lack both experience and a defenseman with true top-pairing talent. Shannon Doyle, a junior transfer from Colgate, will help shore things up a bit, but shutting down opponents' top players most likely won't be this team's strong suit. Goaltender Kerrin Sperry has shown flashes of game-stealing abilities in the past, but she will have to be much more consistent this season if the Terriers expect to make the cut for the NCAA Tournament.

#9 Northeastern

Much like Boston University, Northeastern's strength is very clearly in their forwards. Kendall Coyne and Casey Pickett lit up the score sheet last season, and they have a talented supporting cast in Paige Savage, Brittany Esposito, Lucie Povova, and Katie MacSorley. Maggie DiMasi, Colleen Murphy, Sonia St. Martin, and Jordan Hampton make for a solid top-four defensive corps. The Huskies are young but they have experience; they do, however, have a lot to prove this year as they had a considerably weak schedule last season. There is a huge question mark in goal as of right now for Northeastern, due to the graduation of all-world goaltender Florence Schelling. She broke a Hockey East record for save percentage last season, and the Huskies' success was due in large part to her play. It is not even clear at this point who will replace her, although Chloe Desjardins probably has an inside track to the starting role. Ultimately, I foresee Northeastern's goaltending situation and slight lack of depth being a problem for them, causing them to be on the outside looking in come March.

#10 Clarkson

The Golden Knights are my dark-horse team this season. Although not a particularly high-scoring squad last year, they did have two point-per-game players in Jamie Lee Rattray and Carly Mercer. Danielle Skirrow also posted solid numbers, and the Golden Knights will add Canadian Under-18 Team forwards Cayley Mercer and Shannon MacAuley. On the back end, Hailey Wood had a breakout year offensively in 2011-2012, making her a very solid two-way defenseman. It's not a particularly deep group of blue-liners, but they are serviceable, and incoming freshman Erin Ambrose should be able to contribute in a big way right off the bat. The one player that makes Clarkson so dangerous, however, is junior netminder Erica Howe. A consistently dominant goalie, she's posted great numbers in back-to-back seasons, and there's no reason why she shouldn't be able to do so again. A goalie can make a huge difference, especially in the postseason, and I expect her to be a difference-maker for the Golden Knights. They probably don't have enough skill to make the NCAA Tournament, but they are certainly a team worth keeping an eye on this season.

 

Preseason First Team All-America

Monique Lamoureux-Kolls, Senior, Forward, North Dakota

Marie-Philip Poulin, Junior, Forward, Boston University

Amanda Kessel, Junior, Forward, Minnesota

Laura Fortino, Senior, Defenseman, Cornell

Megan Bozek, Senior, Defenseman, Minnesota

Noora Räty, Senior, Goaltender, Minnesota

 

Preseason Second Team All-America

Jocelyne Lamoureux, Senior, Forward, North Dakota

Alex Carpenter, Sophomore, Forward, Boston College

Brianna Decker, Senior, Forward, Wisconsin

Josephine Pucci, Senior, Defenseman, Harvard

Lauriane Rougeau, Senior, Defenseman, Cornell

Alex Rigsby, Junior, Goaltender, Wisconsin

 

Preseason Third Team All-America

Kendall Coyne, Sophomore, Forward, Northeastern

Michelle Karvinen, Junior, Forward, North Dakota

Jillian Saulnier, Sophomore, Forward, Cornell

Jessica Wong, Senior, Defenseman, Minnesota-Duluth

Stefanie McKeough, Senior, Defenseman, Wisconsin

Erica Howe, Junior, Goaltender, Clarkson

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

St. Louis Blues and President John Davidson Part Ways

John Davidson will no longer be the Blues’ Team President

After a summer full of speculation, John Davidson and the St. Louis Blues have officially broken off a six-year marriage.

Davidson was announced as the team's president in June 2006 after leaving a long-time role as a color analyst for the MSG Network in New York.  He has since been vital in the acquisitions of such talent as Blues mainstays Andy McDonald, Alex Steen, Jaroslav Halak and Kevin Shattenkirk.

Davidson's greatest contribution was doing what he does best; thrusting himself in the public spotlight while speaking his hockey knowledge eloquently and directly.

Under Davidson's reign, the Blues have seen a point jump from their dismal 57 points in 2005-06 (last in the NHL) to 109 points last season (3^rd in the NHL).  Possibly just as important, Davidson has succeeded in putting fans in the Scottrade seats again.  The Blues had the 4^th worst attendance numbers in 2005-06, bringing in an average 14,213 per game.  Last season, the Blues finished with the 9^th best attendance, averaging 18,809 fans per game.

But it just could not last.  Brought in as a member of the Dave Checketts regime, Davidson saw the writing on the wall when the team was sold to former minority owner and local businessman, Tom Stillman.  Not only is it common practice for a new owner to bring in his own front office help, but Davidson and Stillman's relationship has been described as 'frosty' at best.

Davidson's contract, which had three years remaining on it at about $2 million per season, gave the 59-year old a negotiating window this summer that allowed him to seek other employment without repercussions .  Davidson used that time to talk with the Columbus Blue Jackets about a management position similar to his role with the Blues.  Nothing materialized at the time and Davidson saw his window expire.

New owner Stillman has made it abundantly clear that he will need to make cutbacks in the front office to make his investment into a truly profitable franchise.   Along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Blues have one of the highest paid front offices in the league.  When including names such as Doug Armstrong, Al MacInnis and Ken Hitchcock, you get a resourceful yet expensive hockey operations staff.

The question now stands: where might Davidson end up?

Davidson spent 8 years in the New York Rangers organization as a goaltender

While Columbus likely remains on Davidson's radar, another fit could be the Calgary Flames.  Although both sides deny negotiating over the summer, Davidson has some roots in the Canadian city.

Blues reporter Andy Strickland reported this in May:

Davidson has deep roots in the Calgary area going back to his junior hockey days not to mention he broadcasted Flames games prior to his legendary career in New York. He and his wife have family living in the Calgary area and for years have hosted an August charity golf tournament in the city.

The Flames have had their struggles over the years, missing the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.  They are also in the midst of seeing their NHL All-Stars flame out, so to speak.  Captain Jarome Iginla (35) and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff (35) have begun the inevitable downward slope of their careers.

Flames President and CEO Ken King could be seeking someone to assist in a speedy rebuild of the storied franchise.  Why not pursue someone who has been there and done that very recently?  After all, King has been rumored as showing interest in shifting to a more business aspect-role of the Calgary Flames Limited Partnership.

Davidson also has the alternative to move back into a broadcasting role.  He was awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2009 by the Hockey Hall of Fame for his contributions to broadcasting.

With the lockout in full swing, there is plenty of time for Davidson to find out what his next career move will be.

Andy Strickland reports that the deal is days away from being finalized, despite reports from numerous media outlets.  The Blues will release an official statement in the next few days.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Young Sabres Set To Don Rochester Red

While there’s no question that the NHL lockout is a serious disappointment for many who love and are involved with the game of hockey in North America, sometimes it’s good practice to reframe how we look at a situation in an attempt to glean something more positive from it.

For example, as it relates to Sabres fans, consider this an opportunity to acquire (or at least admire) some hockey memorabilia that may not have existed without the “benefit” of a lockout.

As the Rochester Americans get set to open training camp today in Buffalo, there’s no question that guys like Cody Hodgson & Marcus Foligno would not be skating with their AHL counterparts if they were not currently locked out by the NHL and its owners. To his credit, Hodgson does appear to be making the best of it, despite the fact that his burgeoning NHL career seems to be stalled once again:

I’m excited. We’ll get some serious hockey going. The AHL’s going to be a good league this year. Obviously, everyone wants the lockout to end and get the NHL going, but I’m excited to get started here. (via John Vogl of the Buffalo News)

(Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE)

Hodgson played only 20 games with the Sabres last year, but was set to battle Tyler Ennis for the #1 centre position with the team this Fall. As Vogl points out, a stint in Rochester – however long it lasts – will allow Hodgson to become more acclimated with the organization and its other young, developing players, with a view to creating some chemistry which will hopefully translate into a measure of success at the NHL level, just as it did for those who came out of the last lockout in 2004-05 (Miller, Pominville, Vanek etc.)

This brings us back to what it means for fans of the team, who now have a limited opportunity to watch Hodgson & Co. in the Amerks sharp new third jersey, as introduced in this video from the team:

While talks between the two parties are expected to resume today, there’s still no telling how long it will be until we see NHL hockey again. In situations like these, it’s too easy to sit back and gripe about what’s wrong while making no effort to embrace something good. There’s no question that an active NHL is the best case scenario, but the reality is that hockey goes on.  At just a shade under an hour and a half, Sabres fans can catch a glimpse of the future, and witness a scene that would not have existed without a lockout situation.

To be one of a few people out there to have a Hodgson #19 Americans jersey in its new red form is small consolation to be sure, but at this point, it’s a slightly bright idea in the midst of an otherwise grim predicament for the fervent Sabres fan.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Nail Yakupov Locked Out of Russian Hockey

Nail Yakupov (Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

It didn’t take long for players to begin scattering once the NHL owners announced they will be going ahead with a lock-out. Some were assigned to the AHL, some went back to Junior, some went to various European leagues, and some went to the KHL. One such player was Edmonton Oilers prospect Nail Yakupov. He was selected first overall in this past summers draft, and signed a three-year entry level contract with the Oilers back in July. He wants to play hockey, and since the NHL isn’t letting him do that in Edmonton, he did what many of his Russian counterparts did. He headed home.

Yakupov has already played two games for Neftekhimik Nizhnekams, his hometown team. But news came out today that he won’t be hitting the ice again until his International Transfer card is approved. Obviously, to hear that a Russian player isn’t allowed to play in Russia is certainly strange, but the matter is more complicated than it appears.

Yakupov’s contract with the Oilers only allows him to play in the CHL or the NHL, though he made it very clear he didn’t want to go back to Junior, and he wanted to play with men in an adult league. He is thought to be NHL ready, therefore going to back to dominate in the OHL with the Sarnia Sting wouldn’t be in his best interest. The Oilers knows this, and evidently have nothing to do with Yakupov getting temporarily suspended. They want him to be playing in the best league he can. It’s believed that the Sarnia Sting, who signed Yakupov to a three-year contract, haven’t released him to play in Russia, thus the source of the controversy.

Hockey Canada stated that they didn’t sign his International Transfer Card, and he is therefore ineligible to play under IIHF rules. They have a released a statement saying that until Sarnia gives them permission, they cannot sign the transfer card. Unfortunately for Yakupov, he has to sit and wait for the matter to resolved. He took to his Russian twitter account today saying that he believes he’ll be able to continue playing for his hometown team in the KHL and that “everything will be worked out in the near future.” (Winnipeg Free Press)

As for the Oilers organization, they haven’t been talking. Reports suggest that they want to stay out of it, however considering that Yakupov is their prized prospect, they might not be quiet for much longer. No doubt this story is far from being over.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

An Open Letter To The Hockey Fan'.Part 1

The fans have been alienated, here is a letter writing series just for you. (Ross Bonander / THW)

 

Dear Hockey Fan:

I am writing this to you in the hopes that you are still hanging in there. Yes, the NHL and NHLPA may start talking meaningfully soon but it looks like at least part of the NHL season is pretty much gone. It is a tough and bitter pill to swallow that a significant part of the 2012-2013 season could be wiped out or the whole enchilada. This is one that hurts. Everyone feels it right to the core.

By now, you have heard all the excuses and reasons. Some are just plain sick and tired of what is going on. Remember when TSN’s Bob MacKenzie said he could not believe this was happening again? Here we are, right back in the middle of a steaming pile of poo as the other major sports laugh in our faces. Even the NFL has their referees back. This of course has already sparked NHL fan outrage to a level probably not seen since the end of the 2004-05 season was announced. Thanks to social media these days, that is the reality. Everything is amplified.

If you do not think so, just look at the reaction around Twitter. The message is simple.

From John Shannon of Sportsnet:

NFL Lockout of its Officials is now over…Gary….Don…You are now on the Clock!

Do the Maple Leafs Have the Worst Goaltending in the NHL?

Ben Scrivens has dominated at every level he has played' can he do it at the NHL level???
(Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE)

There has been a lot of debate this summer over the validity and quality of the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending, both at the NHL level and throughout the system.

James Reimer, Ben Scrivens, Jussi Rynnas and Mark Owuya are the Maple Leafs top-four goaltenders in the organization, with Reimer and Scrivens considered 1 and 1A.

All four have upside, but none of them has proven to be 'the answer' between the pipes for the Maple Leafs.

Let's take a look at the Maple Leafs top goalies and where they will play this season.

James Reimer, 24: Posted some very average numbers with the Red Deer Rebels (WHL) and Reading Royals (ECHL) before impressing the Leafs brass with his work with the Toronto Marlies in 2009-10 where he posted a 14-8-2 record while registering a 2.25 goals against average and a 0.925 save percentage.

Reimer followed his work at the AHL level up with a stellar partial season with the Maple Leafs in 2010-11 posting a 20-10-5 record while registering a 2.60 GAA and a 0.921 save percentage.

Reimer, who stands 6'2' and weighs in at 208 pounds, impressed the Maple Leafs enough that they went into the 2011-12 season with Reimer as the undisputed starter ahead of the now departed Jonas Gustavsson. Reimer started last season off with four wins in his first five games (although we'll acknowledge his numbers were very average up to that point) before succumbing to a neck ailment which derailed his season considerably.

Reimer ended the 2011-12 season with a 14-14-4 record, a bloated3.10 GAA and a paltry 0.900 save percentage.

Unless Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke deals for a veteran goaltender Reimer is expected to get the lions share of the duties with the Maple Leafs this season, with Ben Scrivens pushing him for time between the pipes.

Reimer has genuine upside, but the jury is still out on whether or not he can be a number one goalie at the NHL level.

Ben Scrivens, 26: Scrivens, who stands 6'2' and weighs in at 192 pounds, came up with the Cornell Big Red at the ECAC level. Scrivens had an exceptional 2009-10 season where he won the NCAA (ECAC) Championship, was named to the NCAA (ECAC) First All-Star Team, as well as being selected as the NCAA (ECAC) Goaltender of the Year. Scrivens was also Hobey Baker Finalist, posting an impressive 1.87 GAA and a 0.934 save percentage.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Scrivens as a free agent in 2010. Scrivens started his career with the Maple Leafs organization the way many goalies have, making his way to Reading to play with the Royals at the ECHL level.

Scrivens dominated the ECHL, earning a 10-3 record through 13 games while posting a 2.23 GAA and an exceptional 0.938 save percentage.

Scrivens spent the majority of the 2011-12 season with the Toronto Marlies posting a 22-15-1 record, a 2.04 GAA and a 0.926 save percentage. Scrivens followed his dominating regular season up with an equally impressive playoff, registering a 11-6 record, 1.92 GAA and a 0.935 save percentage, taking the Marlies all the way to the Calder Cup Finals.

When you consider Scrivens' body of work it is easy to see that he has dominated at every level he has played. Thus far, his work at the NHL level has been spotty at best, registering a 4-5-2 record, 3.13 GAA and a rather ordinary 0.903 save percentage.

With the leasons learned at the AHL level and a long playoff run behind him, Scrivens is expected to push James Reimer for significant minutes next season.

While Burke continues to praise Reimer, Scrivens might just be the most technically sound and mentally tough goalie in the Maple Leafs organization. Don't be shocked if he eventually beats Reimer out for the starters job as early as next season.

Mark Owuya, 23: A product of Sweden, Owuya stands in at 6'2' and weighs in at 192 pounds. Owuya posted a .930 save percentage and a 2.63 goals against average with the Reading Royals in the ECHL before being called up to the Toronto Marlies where he posted excellent numbers including a stellar 1.94 goals against and a .929 save percentage through 19 games.

Owuya played for Sweden at the 2009 World Ice Hockey Championships, leading Sweden to a silver medal.

A butterfly goaltender by nature, Owuya still has a lot of development to do, especially in terms of his overall agility, which has been questioned at times. Owuya could also have a better glove hand and needs to be better with high shots.

With Ben Scrivens expected to get the lions share of the work with the Marlies until the CBA is settled there may not be a place on the Marlies' roster for Owuya.

Look for Owuya to start the season with the Reading Royals (ECHL) with his eyes set on competing for a spot on the Marlies.

Jussi Rynnas, 25: A product of Finland, Rynnas spent the past two seasons with the Toronto Marlies, posting 10-15-1 record in 2010-11 while boasting a save percentage of 0.911 and a 2.47 goals against average. Rynnas followed the 2010-11 season up with a 11-9-0 record, earning a 2.55 goals against average and a 0.910 save percentage.

At 6'5' and 212 pounds, Rynnas is a big body goaltender who is known as much for his quickness as he is for playing the position aggressively. Ryannas also has an excellent glove hand and a high compete level.

Rynnas has the ability to be a starter at the NHL level, but will likely see another year of action at the AHL level this year where he will further acclimate himself to the North American size rinks and work on his angles.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.