Went over some AHL free-agent names with [Brigeport Team President] Howard Saffan, and he said Micheal Haley, Tyler Haskins and Andy Sertich are all signed. Pascal Morency will be given a tryout invitation. Scott Ford and Colton Fretter are among those who probably won't be back...
A reliable source, BTW, suggests not to ink Jason-Krog-to-Europe in pen just yet. We'll wait 'n' see.
I'm not sure what Fretts needs to do if 9 goals in 18 games wasn't enough to keep a job. Really.
Fornabaio writes a darn good blog, by the way. I first read it when Fretter was traded there, but since then have ended up there several times when researching things. That's the sign of a good blog to me -- you keep getting funneled back there for information you were looking for. So if that describes how you got here today, great.
Next item: The AHL has approved a larger roster for teams next year, 18 skaters instead of 17. There used to be three forward lines and two extras, but now there will be four lines. That's easier for coaches, and you would think good for the extra player, but since fourth lines don't play in the AHL any more than in the NHL, how much development is that player getting? It's supposed to be a development league, right? Does this change serve that end? Would the player be better off in the ECHL getting more ice time? I would suggest that it won't meet those ends.
2008 prospect camp is coming up. Free agent invitees are often guys who are known through team contacts somehow, friends of the family, etc. Occasionally they are actual relatives of coaches, or they are players the affiliates are recruiting. Sometimes they are guys who were known in a previous life.
An invite doesn't mean the Thrashers are serious about signing them, though. I can only think of a few who actually ended up being signed.
And for you lawyer types out there -- I know you're reading -- here's something from a legal blog Above the Law on the NHL suing MSG (Rangers owners). Maybe you will find it interesting. I didn't.
Finally, if you were planning on going to see the movie Wanted, don't waste your money. I like action movies, but it was barely watchable the plot was so poor. I was with an expert on graphic novels who said the novel was excellent, but that didn't bring my 2.5 hours back.
5 comments:
Ha! I don't know if I'd say the 'Wanted' graphic novel was excellent, but it's fun. At least it didn't include a "Loom of Fate."
\\The AHL has approved a larger roster for teams next year, 18 skaters instead of 17. There used to be three forward lines and two extras, but now there will be four lines. That's easier for coaches, and you would think good for the extra player, but since fourth lines don't play in the AHL any more than in the NHL, how much development is that player getting? It's supposed to be a development league, right?//
The irony of you including this in your blog is delicious after singing the praise of the Chicago Wolves all season. How many young Thrashers' prospects wasted games wearing suits and ties in the stands while they marched on to their league championship dressing that corps of career minor leaguers who had no business being under NHL contract. Full credit to them, they won a lot of games and their league's championship, but it doesn't say much for the "development" of young players in the Thrashers' system.
\\Would the player be better off in the ECHL getting more ice time?//
That's precisely why Guillaume Desbiens and Chad Painchaud ended last year with Gwinnett (until the Gladiators were eliminated from the Kelly Cup playoffs). Look for more of the same if Don WaddAHL's free agent signings don't improve dramatically.
Not sure where "singing the praises" comes from. I talk about players, not organizations. When I do refer to levels, I think I'm pretty even-handed because I understand the interests that each has -- selling tickets first of all. And in general I think the guys who earn ice time play.
Note that Wilkes-Barre Scranton had a very similarly structured team than the Wolves.
Are you saying that Dion Knelsen has been invited to the prospects camp? I know that his former UAF teammate, Wylie Rogers, will be there, but I hadn't heard that about Dion.
No, I had pieced together that someone from Alaska was coming, just wasn't positive who. Gave him as a likely example.
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