tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48563687447433654842011-07-08T05:08:07.666-04:00News about Atlanta Thrashers prospects in addition to my stories at Hockey's Future, with a broader outlook on prospects generally.Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.comBlogger4741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-73294038483535224752010-05-03T00:03:00.003-04:002010-05-03T00:10:14.296-04:00

Swedes in the first round two years in a row is likely impossible to happen on the Thrashers, but I ran across this quote that was mildly interesting, out of what I think is the Gotland, Sweden newspaper. Talks about Johan Larsson, who made a big run up some draft lists with his performance at the U18 World Championships in Minsk.Google translation of the section:[quote] Fredrik Jax, Atlanta

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-10427424880338376582010-04-24T20:32:00.003-04:002010-04-24T20:35:38.288-04:00

According to his LinkedIn profile, former Thrashers prospect Colin FitzRandolph is still employed at Goldman Sachs.The news coming out of the investigation of that company just gets worse and worse.I wonder if he is thinking he should have pursued hockey instead of jumping straight from Saint Lawrence to Wall Street..

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-42173230935121029942010-02-15T22:52:00.004-05:002010-02-15T22:55:40.495-05:00

Glads as Knights...Gladys Knights...get it?Anyway, here's some pictures I took before chasing Brady Calla around the building, no thanks to Malcolm Cameron.Michael Forney.Chad Denny.

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-88063405434289953162010-01-05T19:15:00.004-05:002010-01-06T07:47:40.428-05:00

I went to the Sears Centre in Chicago last weekend for the Shillelagh Tournament featuring Notre Dame and North Dakota. In the championship game, I looked to the left of the press box, and who's sitting there but Rylan Kaip, drinking a beer, and Andrew Kozek. They were there to see their alma mater of course. Kozek was interviewed on the UND broadcast during the second intermission. Tilt your

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-23128819218684157782009-10-17T14:04:00.004-04:002009-10-17T14:10:29.756-04:00

I went to Wheeling Nailers pre-game skate today to talk to one of the prospects that Pittsburgh sent down. Jimmy Sharrow is there now, having signed a contract just last week. Wheeling, though it has some very good Penguins prospects come through there, is the place that Thrasher prospects go to die. Both Mike Vannelli and Lane Manson retired after playing just a few games for Wheeling. We'll

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-47340744752297155192009-09-16T23:57:00.003-04:002009-09-17T00:00:38.017-04:00

Former prospect Brad Schell is an invitee at AHL Rockford IceHogs camp. The IceHogs obviously would have seen him play last year in Gwinnett. Click here for the press release.I'm a little surprised he didn't head to Europe this year..

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-21725875663606105342009-09-11T18:13:00.007-04:002009-09-11T23:14:56.839-04:00

I attended the Traverse City Tournament this year and was able to catch most of all four Thrasher games. If one had traveled all that way just to see the Thrashers, there wouldn't have been much reward, as the team had just spotty talent. They finished seventh out of eight, but had to go to a shootout to do it.Let's start with the two best players: Evander Kane and Eric O'Dell. O'Dell doesn't get

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-78843285649981451792009-08-27T06:29:00.004-04:002009-08-27T06:44:31.774-04:00

From the Windsor Star:If the Holland, Ohio native was looking for a confidence boost with camp opening Wednesday he got it Tuesday night when the Atlanta Thrashers invited him to attend their rookie camp in Traverse City.Unice is a goaltender perhaps best known for his play for Team USA. He is an unsigned draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks.Teams don't usually have three on the roster, so that

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-71495681983051640112009-08-23T18:08:00.004-04:002009-08-23T18:26:39.963-04:00

From the Columbus Dispatch:The Blue Jackets will have a new ECHL affiliation this season, the Dispatch has learned. The franchise will send two or three players to the Gwinnette [sic] Gladiators of the American Conference's South Division.They are the second team to pull out of Johnstown this summer. Colorado was the other. More evidence that Johnstown is on shaky ground. Financial stability is

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-31422966044367568982009-08-21T17:47:00.003-04:002009-08-21T17:55:07.948-04:00

This summer I worked on a long feature on the very successful goaltending coach Mitch Korn, who has worked in the NHL for 18 seasons. Interestingly, it was Rick Dudley who first gave Korn his big break into the NHL. If there's something Dudley can do, it's spot talent.In 1990, Korn was breaking down some video at a camp held at the Buffalo Sabres practice facility. Rick Dudley, then the head

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-26063106859752675912009-08-16T19:06:00.005-04:002009-08-16T19:17:47.324-04:00

The closest college hockey to Atlanta, University of Alabama-Huntsville, was looking to join a new conference this summer due to the demise of College Hockey America. They applied for entrance to the CCHA, but were denied, in what was a surprise to most watchers.This raises the specter that UAH could shut down its hockey program altogether. Yes, the team can play as an independent, but for how

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-4153761534436371922009-07-07T23:09:00.003-04:002009-07-07T23:15:50.346-04:00

Per the Predators' press release:NASHVILLE PREDATORS 2009 PRESEASON SCHEDULE Date Opponent Site Time (CT) Mon, Sept. 14 @ Atlanta Thrashers (Rookie Game) Duluth IceForum 6 pm Tue, Sept. 15 @ Atlanta Thrashers (Rookie Game)

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-16946227543946565702009-07-01T21:27:00.004-04:002009-07-02T22:29:49.455-04:00

The free agent list came out today and there are lots of Thrashers prospect alumni on it, and some alumni of affiliates too. I'll list them alphabetically by former team. These players are free to sign anywhere now. Some might end up in Europe like Mark Popovic did last year.Chad Painchaud (ANA) -- he was a throw-in to the Mathieu Schneider trade last fall.Dan Turple (ATL)Colton Fretter (BUF)

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-39330062238980454132009-06-23T18:12:00.002-04:002009-06-23T18:15:52.450-04:00

According to RedWingsCentral, the dates for the annual Traverse City Prospects tournament will be Sept. 6-10. The usual teams will be there, including the Thrashers. .

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-68235773516330720572009-06-03T21:55:00.004-04:002009-06-03T22:02:49.924-04:00

Assuming both teams are still agreeable as the summer passes, those two "rookie" games that were played at Nashville last year will be moved to Atlanta this year. From the Nashville City Paper:In its first few seasons, Nashville participated in a prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich., with several other franchises. Last season, two rookie games with Atlanta were held during the first week

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-23290740290702319882009-05-18T19:17:00.004-04:002009-05-18T19:39:27.580-04:00

Entertaining, if nothing else. From Sports Business Journal, Thrashers co-owner Bruce Levenson:Yet, from the IT department, to former sports editor Ron Ramos to Swartz, the AJC squandered precious dwindling resources chasing a meaningless dead-end story; one it sought to manufacture from one of a thousand sentences Whammer wrote in an e-mail the AJC should never have traced. In these tough times,

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-66469170693912358292009-05-03T21:21:00.004-04:002009-05-03T21:29:36.054-04:00

I was writing a story on draft-eligible Oliver Ekman-Larsson, one of Kevin Doell's teammates from Leksand this year, so I decided to contact him for his input. Doell went above and beyond in helping, which has always seemed to be his approach on everything.Here's the finished product, which should be interesting to Thrasher fans primarily because OEL is someone the Thrashers are looking at

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-73915127997640014012009-04-18T19:25:00.002-04:002009-04-18T19:36:40.686-04:00

Answer: He will only sign year-to-year contracts. This is the sign of someone who knows he can get another job in the NHL and doesn't want to be tied down to a bad situation. He doesn't ask for a long-term deal when he's on a crest. From the Tennessean:Predators General Manager David Poile said Friday he's agreed to a new one-year contract through June of 2010.Last summer, Poile decided to sign

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-70532292018251568552009-04-12T11:50:00.002-04:002009-04-12T11:56:12.220-04:00

I'm at the U18 World Championships, and when I interview players, I generally ask which NHL teams they've talked to. It's not always a good gauge of which teams are the most interested, since some wait to talk to a guy so as not to tip their hand, but it is a good gauge of how much general interest there is in a player. So that's why I ask.But in the process, I've been able to come up with a list

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-50947075232699907032009-04-05T15:15:00.004-04:002009-04-05T15:37:47.578-04:00

Last night in Charlotte, the Gladiators clinched a playoff spot. The players had already decided more than a week ago that they would all have mustaches for the playoffs after Matt Siddall brought one back from Chicago. Adam Berti got a jump on things last weekend, and has been showing off his plentiful lip hair:Kaleniecki has his going, as do Southern, Youngclaus and Turner. Mason has a beard

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-13857005788807344282009-03-25T19:08:00.002-04:002009-03-25T19:35:05.060-04:00

Dr. Michael Stuart, father of Colin and Mark Stuart, performed knee surgery on one of the top prospects for the 2009 draft, Jared Cowen. Dr. Stuart works at the Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minneapolis, and was previously the team doctor for the US national junior team.“Our team has its own surgeon, but my agent recommended Dr. Stuart because he has a lot of experience performing the surgery," Cowen

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-43068583064313818332009-03-23T18:50:00.005-04:002009-03-26T21:37:09.707-04:00

John Marks, who lost his coaching job when the ECHL Augusta Lynx went under, has a new gig. He's going to assist Malcolm Cameron coaching the league-leading Florida Everblades (who the Gwinnett Gladiators will likely meet in the first round of the playoffs).From the press release:“I wanted to look at the possibility of having an assistant coach for this year’s playoff run,” Cameron said. “Once

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-42296393186074426702009-03-22T12:16:00.003-04:002009-03-22T12:29:38.660-04:00

Well, this could have been predicted. Mike Vannelli, who quit hockey after being assigned to the ECHL Wheeling Nailers at the beginning of the 2007-08 season, has developed the itch to play again. He's over in Germany right now as an insurance player for the Dusseldorf EG Metro Stars in the DEL. I was reading an article about how the Las Vegas Wranglers could be sold, and it mentioned that they

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-58069765877137358272009-03-12T13:06:00.002-04:002009-03-12T13:12:05.124-04:00

Former Thrasher Ray Ferraro's son Landon is eligible for the 2009 draft, and quite highly rated in fact. Hockey's Future did a feature on Landon, and I made sure we asked him about the time he spent playing travel hockey in Atlanta while his dad was playing here. Those were his formative years...."In Atlanta I was a bit older so I could actually figure some stuff out. Just seeing where my

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-80588529297893034362009-02-24T17:54:00.004-05:002009-02-24T18:33:48.436-05:00

From the Winnipeg Free PressMILWAUKEE -- Last week there was Oscar buzz, but this week in the hockey world there is Dezzy buzz. Dezzy, as the Manitoba Moose refer to right-winger Guillaume Desbiens, is hot among NHL scouts these days and likely the next in a growing line of Craig Heisinger reclamation projects. Desbiens was cut adrift by the Atlanta Thrashers last summer and was unsure if his

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-77598591651313169512009-02-20T18:03:00.003-05:002009-02-20T18:11:23.614-05:00

There's been some speculation that James vanRiemsdyk could be traded to Atlanta.I met vanRiemsdyk at the 2007 draft and chatted briefly with him. I made sure to ask him about the spelling of his last name, and he confirmed that it is all one word, small "van." I've been militant about that spelling ever since. If I see thread titles on HFBoards that have it wrong, I change them. I noticed

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-7156580261616961022009-02-15T00:18:00.004-05:002009-02-15T00:24:40.646-05:00

This has some local interest, so I'll post it. Normally when the Gladiators are short a goalie, they call on Curtis Ryser, a former UGA goalie who lives in Duluth. Ryser was out of town this weekend though, so the Gladiators had an emergency backup to their emergency backup.Coach Jeff Pyle called up a guy he knows from a local men's league and asked for a referral for a goalie. He was given

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-59366294938754202462009-02-08T19:46:00.006-05:002009-02-08T20:38:07.284-05:00

Jared Ross has two ties to Atlanta -- he grew up in Alabama and played for the University of Alabama-Huntsville, the closest DI school to the city. Ross also played for a while for Thrashers affiliates before being traded to the AHL Phantoms. The Thrashers had indicated to Ross that he could work himself up to an NHL contract, but that never materialized.He has played eight games for the Flyers

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-1735511423997910442009-02-03T20:13:00.004-05:002009-02-04T17:49:32.211-05:00

Taylor Beck told me that he, Peter Holland and Michael Latta were taken out to lunch after practice by someone from the Thrashers early in the year. All three are rated highly for the 2009 draft (Holland a bit overrated).It wasn't hard to determine based on description and that the rep was based in Toronto, that it was Dan Marr who took them out. This kind of thing isn't unusual at all, as it's

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-60320293995954036682009-01-20T18:53:00.007-05:002009-01-21T20:13:17.359-05:00

You may remember back in 2005 there was talk that Kennesaw State University would add Division I hockey as a sport. They would have played at Philips Arena temporarily until they built an arena. The University of Alabama-Huntsville would be a natural rival. But adding hockey didn't work out at that time and they continue with just a club hockey team.About a year ago I heard from someone

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-83582473542247664692009-01-17T23:44:00.016-05:002009-01-18T00:21:53.486-05:00

Tonight was the Gwinnett Gladiators' annual Teddy Bear Toss.What the heck is that, I wondered as the crowd filled in.This guy is loaded for bear, er ... bunnies. I would venture to guess he's been married most of his adult life.It's not easy being green.Nor being sand and mauve-colored. Stoezer laughs as he shows this soccer ball to Sully. Hey, this isn't an animal.The bears actually rained

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-24756955335379324662009-01-16T07:43:00.001-05:002009-01-16T07:45:34.379-05:00

From Creative Loafing:On Wednesday, during the newspaper’s quarterly staff meeting, employees got to meet the new publisher, one Doug Franklin...Franklin also told the assembled crowd that the AJC is currently losing about $1 million every week...The AJC is owned by a private trust, but ultimately controlled by family scion Anne Cox Chambers, a charter member of Forbes‘ “Richest People in America

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-21064214333332308912009-01-15T20:12:00.002-05:002009-01-15T20:23:35.882-05:00

Over at HFBoards, I posted a notice that I’m moving on from covering Thrashers prospects at Hockey’s Future to more general topics in prospect development. Change is in the air, and this is a happy one.What does that mean for this blog? Well, it was always meant as a complement to what I was writing about for HF, so since I won’t often be working on Thrasher prospect topics, I won’t often post

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-3684881914685729852009-01-11T20:48:00.008-05:002009-01-12T00:51:57.309-05:00

Just a few things that aren't quite worth an entire post for.1. A well-respected sports publication is going to move into hockey in a few days/weeks. I'm not at liberty to give any details right now, but it's something people have been wanting and waiting for. I feel lucky to have a small role lined up with it -- a prospects angle, naturally.2. With all praises to the original Big and Little

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-23283322681791253882009-01-10T12:56:00.008-05:002009-01-10T23:23:27.658-05:00

The Tennessean is reporting that the Thrashers have claimed Rich Peverley from the Predators.Four years ago Peverley was a rookie in the ECHL, and after watching him play two shifts, you could see he didn't belong there. I interviewed him in January 2005 when he wasn't under contract with anyone but South Carolina, and have followed his career ever since. I remember talking to him very well --

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-86696248030176074182009-01-09T00:51:00.010-05:002009-01-09T17:15:29.267-05:00

There was a small storyline tonight at the Gladiators/Stingrays game. Ben Boudreau, son of Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, has managed to stick with the South Carolina Stingrays for 19 games now, in large part due to the injuries at the top of the system on his dad's team. But Ben isn't let out on the ice much. The Stingrays are playing short-handed, but they still only found a

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-54974425260902356312009-01-07T21:50:00.011-05:002009-01-08T01:07:09.651-05:00

Are we at the dawn of a return of the Lanny MacDonald trademark statement?In the playoffs last spring, several hockey teams grew mustaches as a team-bonding exercise -- the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, the AHL Toronto Marlies and the Chicago Wolves.(You can see why Valabik's nickname Borat is quite fitting.)The wearing of the mustache was done tongue in cheek. And lately mustaches

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-62944813598070257892009-01-07T07:15:00.007-05:002009-01-07T19:26:31.130-05:00

The WJC didn't change the Thrashers' thinking on who the top guy is for the 2009 draft -- to them it's still John Tavares. From CBCsports:“You have very few chances to get that kind of player,” said Thrashers executive vice-president and GM Don Waddell. “We still have four months left in the season to evaluate, but if it was the Atlanta Thrashers, we’d take John Tavares.”...Hedman not NHL ready?

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-22756909271794949332009-01-05T22:46:00.007-05:002009-01-06T06:47:10.202-05:00

Lest anyone think that there's something wrong with the Atlanta marketplace for hockey, a few observations.1. I recently went to a late afternoon open skate at the Cooler in Alpharetta that was so crowded I left early.2. My rec hockey league is filled to capacity, despite the economic crisis, and many people were left out when registration closed.3. The Gwinnett Gladiators are fourth in

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-25335300802671458782009-01-05T00:32:00.009-05:002009-01-05T18:13:51.529-05:00

This is what an announced crowd of 10,750 looked like on Sunday at the beginning of the third period of a lackluster 4-1 loss to Tampa. The photos pretty much speak for themselves, but I would add that there have been several times over the years that I thought the Thrashers had hit rock bottom as a franchise, only to see an even lower bottom. Can it get worse? Sure because they're not yet

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-85841953908777286772009-01-04T23:42:00.004-05:002009-01-04T23:57:06.311-05:00

Thrashers 2008 draft pick Nicklas Lasu is playing in the 2009 World Junior Championships for Sweden. But an injury could hold him out of the final game against Canada, the gold medal match.From the Canadian Press:Like Canada, the Swedes are a little banged up.Los Angeles Kings prospect Oscar Moller has not been the force that was expected, but he played well and got his first goal against

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-46895816251665283072009-01-04T20:15:00.005-05:002009-01-04T21:12:08.646-05:00

For those looking to blow up the team, some good news. The presence of a team's own pro scouts often precedes a trade because you need to know what you're giving up as well as what you're getting. Mark Dobson (Dir of Player Personnel), and pro scouts Pete Mahovlich and John Perpich were all in the building for the game against Tampa, and so was Wolves GM Kevin Chevaldayoff, who really doubles

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-4538815856370163582009-01-04T11:31:00.004-05:002009-01-04T14:06:41.344-05:00

Yesterday I was a proxy GM in a recreational league draft, filling in for a friend who couldn't make it. Given the shenanigans that go on in the league on and off the ice, I thought drafting would be entertaining, and it was. And still pretty serious too, because people pay a lot of money to play in the league.How it worked: All the players were rated 1-10 on consensus (kind of like Central

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-81691932029457079292009-01-04T02:19:00.006-05:002009-01-04T13:35:05.277-05:00

Sometimes people say more than what's good for them.Tonight I was talking to Michal Neuvirth, a top goaltending prospect for the Washington Capitals. I had asked him all the questions I had written down, but for some reason I kept going. The equipment manager was rolling stuff out to the bus and I asked Neuvirth if he has to carry bags as a rookie or do anything else like that. He replied with

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-54869078866102955242008-12-31T17:23:00.010-05:002009-01-01T10:33:46.156-05:00

You may have heard some of the blowout scores in the preliminary rounds of the 2009 World Juniors against some of the lesser teams like Kazakhstan and Latvia. Those might be fun for padding stats, but those kind of games don't show you much about the players on either side.From Jason Menard at Hockey's Future:"Games like those blowout games, you have to be careful in your evaluations," Montreal

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-18218788853660567702008-12-29T23:36:00.017-05:002008-12-30T06:44:24.506-05:00

In Atlanta, when a transaction says Chicago, it means the Wolves, not the Blackhawks. That will change and become more confusing now that the Gwinnett Gladiators have affiliated with the Blackhawks (due to the demise of the Fresno Falcons).Four of the five assigned to the team were in the lineup tonight: Adam Berti, Adam Hobson, Jean-Claude Sawyer and Brennan Turner (who is on a Rockford

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-67425007780426897292008-12-25T12:23:00.004-05:002008-12-25T12:37:01.606-05:00

I'm finally done with my AHL/ECHL update. It took me this long mostly for the transcribing, over 40 minutes just of Wolves coach Don Granato. I don't think I asked 40 minutes worth of questions, but nevertheless that's how much he answered. He seems to really take the time with each individual.I couldn't include everything, so if you have questions, just ask.In years past, I've done a separate

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-36112332132462620182008-12-21T22:28:00.007-05:002008-12-22T00:05:08.227-05:00

Those who are new to the Thrashers might look at San Jose Shark Devin Setoguchi and think what a nice success story for the Sharks and Setoguchi himself. Those with longer memories look at him and shake their heads.The storyline here actually goes back to 2004, a year before Setoguchi was drafted. In that year, the Thrashers had the 10th pick and took Boris Valabik. They were criticized

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-51385257447988112742008-12-21T17:52:00.007-05:002008-12-21T21:20:58.686-05:00

The Wolves have what seems like fewest viable prospects than they have in several years. Makes notes go very quick.I always put these kind of notes together on a sheet of yellow paper after watching games, regardless of whether it goes directly into an article or simmers until the next opportunity. On the flight back from San Antonio, I lucked out and was upgraded to first class, and when I

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-43857784973432438862008-12-20T02:00:00.015-05:002008-12-21T12:19:22.371-05:00

I'll summarize the trip in photos for time purposes.This is San Antonio's heckler extraordinaire. He happens to sit near the photo hole, and on Thursday night, he struck up a conversation with me. As soon as I mentioned Hockey's Future, he asked me about the Organizational Rankings and when 1-10 was coming out. I promised it would be up that night. It reinforced to me how many people were

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-54789294088777095992008-12-19T16:31:00.015-05:002008-12-20T01:51:56.421-05:00

Sorry for the delay, I had to go see the Alamo. It's very pleasant outside today in San Antonio, though quite humid. If I'm wearing sandals in December I'm not complaining.Here's the AT&T Center. I took a bus there this morning, which was very easy thanks to the concierge at my hotel. By the way, the weekend before Christmas is an excellent time to get a good deal on hotels.Who's leading this

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-7729526825100131842008-12-19T14:28:00.005-05:002008-12-19T14:59:43.349-05:00

Kari Lehtonen will return from injury imminently, which means a trip back to Chicago for Ondrej Pavelec. Word on the street (OK, the arena in San Antonio), is that Lehtonen will start "this weekend" and since there's only one game this weekend -- on Saturday, that looks like the one.Dan Turple has been out a few games with an injury in the area of the hip, but not true hip injury, according to

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-29882718095812984712008-12-18T21:36:00.007-05:002008-12-18T23:51:44.080-05:00

It's second intermission of Wolves vs. Rampage part 1 for the weekend. Why am I in San Antonio? Well, last time I went to Chicago in mid-April, the weather was just ridiculous. I had to pull my heavy winter coat out of storage, and as forecast, it snowed. This year I decided there had to be a warmer way. And Texas is largely unexplored territory for me. Tomorrow's forecast is for 80

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-61914116288808264802008-12-17T19:31:00.005-05:002008-12-21T21:55:24.709-05:00

Normally I don't pay much attention to player of the week in various leagues, because good play over a long period of time is what matters, not the sudden peaks. But I stopped in my tracks when I saw that Mike Brodeur has been named AHL Player of the Week.Two weeks ago, I saw Brodeur at what was a very low point. It was the last home game for the now defunct Augusta Lynx, who were in a losing

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-82580310775374864282008-12-16T23:02:00.005-05:002008-12-17T19:31:53.988-05:00

Teams ranked No. 11-30 in Hockey's Future's Fall 2008 Organizational Rankings have been revealed. I'll go ahead and tell you though, the Thrashers are ranked 10th.Everyone likes to argue about the rankings, and really, that's what they're there for -- to argue over. On any given day I'd rank the teams differently, depending on what was top of mind, so given that you can't expect wide agreement..

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-48945371841439350192008-12-15T19:37:00.011-05:002008-12-16T21:38:07.753-05:00

Here's a bunch of random stuff to get through before I start a new notebook. First two funny items.1. You must read former journeyman Sean Pronger's blog at the Hockey News. He's found a new calling as a humor columnist. My favorite bit in there is "turkey sub."From a reporter's standpoint, I would say that healthy scratches possess their own type of deflector shield. "Do not talk to me

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-16123237735621088902008-12-14T21:44:00.005-05:002008-12-14T23:22:58.419-05:00

Just a few items that stand out to me as we close the year 2008.1. It was a bad year for professional hockey in the south. The Nashville Predators are hanging on by a thread due to their ownership debacle, and the ECHL lost four southern teams in one calendar year: Beaumont, TX; Columbia, SC; Pensacola, FL and Augusta, GA. The outlook for 2009 is not promising either.2. It seemed like a good

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-61741766739553732232008-12-13T01:46:00.006-05:002008-12-13T02:38:05.354-05:00

Just as Brian Burke moves to the Eastern Conference, we get the beginning of his "west coast solution." Burke often touted the idea that the AHL needed to move some teams to the west coast in order to be closer to the western NHL teams. Having an affiliate all the way across the continent, like Portland, Maine, was inconvenient and expensive. Too hard to stash them for a day or two off the

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-35569599597173795332008-12-12T23:47:00.016-05:002008-12-13T01:26:53.876-05:00

Myles Stoesz has injured a few players with punches over his career. But tonight Michael Couch came out of a fight with Stoesz with a badly broken leg. According to Mississippi coach Steffon Walby, the toe of Couch's skate got caught in the ice, and he fell backwards breaking both his left fibula and tibia. Since the fight ended with Stoesz on top of Couch, it wasn't just Couch's own weight

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-60117906940204087582008-12-11T21:48:00.012-05:002008-12-15T19:17:06.779-05:00

If it's Christmas shopping season, that means the World Juniors is coming up. The Thrashers will have two, with an outside chance of three, prospects competing. That's a low number.Team USA has announced a final roster (not a preliminary one). They don't have a camp right before the tournament to pick the team, so they dive right in. Zach Bogosian, John Albert and Vinny Saponari attended the

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-70112797754470752912008-12-10T20:15:00.003-05:002008-12-11T22:54:16.615-05:00

Until today I was really just a spectator to the nation's economic troubles. I knew I was fortunate to be in a pretty safe sector in my day job. And at a small, well-managed company on top of that. We had delayed a major software upgrade and cut back on the training budget, but those were sensible actions, no problem.That changed today. We had a staff meeting in which we found out four people

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-75123759078420955612008-12-10T06:40:00.003-05:002008-12-10T07:01:27.217-05:00

The Tampa Bay Lightning found a home for one of their ECHL prospects: Riku Helenius has been assigned to the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Room for Helenius opened up because their No. 1 goaltender, Ryan Munce, has been called up to Syracuse. Tampa had called most teams in the ECHL's American Conference looking for a place to put their guys after Augusta folded, which makes this statement by

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-64907693515553763342008-12-07T22:35:00.007-05:002008-12-08T07:58:58.978-05:00

For months now, chatterers have brought up the idea of trading Ilya Kovalchuk. Well, we didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the world's been turning.Bruce Garrioch writes that the chatter among the NHL execs is that the Thrashers are shopping him.Multiple NHL sources told Sun Media yesterday that Thrashers GM Don Waddell has held serious talks with several teams about the

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-33709988468459101682008-12-07T21:28:00.004-05:002008-12-08T19:13:43.474-05:00

The now defunct ECHL Augusta Lynx's top players have found homes -- Mike Brodeur to the AHL Rochester Americans (where he was headed regardless), Patrick Bordeleau to the AHL Albany River Rats, and Matt Auffrey to the ECHL Florida Everblades.But the Tampa Bay Lightning have yet to place their ECHL prospects with another team. The two that remained with Augusta when it folded (Chris Lawrence and

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-81115003330161910892008-12-06T12:28:00.004-05:002008-12-06T14:54:16.039-05:00

Terry Frei wrote a piece for ESPN about how impressive it is that through all the hardships the Nashville Predators have faced, they find a way to win and make the playoffs consistently. A few exerpts:In this economy and these times, it's not shocking that other franchises...are having problems at the gate, too.So, no, the Predators are far from alone, but in so many ways, the savvy management

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-20724367182890345182008-12-05T17:52:00.002-05:002008-12-05T18:11:20.140-05:00

It's been a melancholy week with bad news near and far, so while I was going to wait until close to Christmas to put this up, I'll do it now. It's become one of my favorite Christmas songs. I couldn't find an Mp3 of it so here are just the lyrics.Rudy, by The Be Good TanyasRudy lives on the borderlineBetween civilization and basic survivalThe summertime treats him fairly wellBut the wintertime

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-86371895738478515002008-12-02T18:04:00.006-05:002008-12-02T22:11:41.689-05:00

I'm saddened that they couldn't get things worked out. Unlike the NHL, the ECHL doesn't have the kind of budget where it can keep a team afloat for most of a year. The revamp of the schedule is going to be the worst part. It will mostly effect the South Division, which includes the Gwinnett Gladiators.Augusta Suspends OperationsPRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL announced that the Augusta Lynx have

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-68404263604455858142008-11-30T22:04:00.004-05:002008-11-30T22:33:43.679-05:00

On Friday, the Gwinnett Gladiators traded Bryan Esner to the Augusta Lynx for Travis Fuller. I attended Augusta's home game on Saturday, and sometime in the second period realized I hadn't seen Esner on the ice. I asked coach John Marks about him afterward. Knowing that Esner almost didn't report to Gwinnett when he was traded there from Phoenix, I suspected I already knew where he was.Where's

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-69003247607563600752008-11-30T13:24:00.005-05:002008-11-30T19:50:49.809-05:00

I didn't intend to get involved with this story. I intended just to get a complete update on Tampa Bay's prospects in case they were sent to another team in the ECHL if Augusta folded. But when I went into John Marks' office last night after the game, he also wanted to talk about the team's precarious situation, so I listened. Oddly, he didn't address his team after the game, he invited me into

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-84220018650721862232008-11-29T00:22:00.005-05:002008-11-29T11:27:00.004-05:00

I will be driving to Augusta tomorrow to report on Tampa prospects, since the Lynx are precariously close to folding and who knows where those prospects will go if they do. If Lehman Brothers can fold, the ECHL Augusta Lynx surely can too. From the Augusta Chronicle, Next Lynx game could be their last Augusta Lynx co-owners Dan Troutman and Jan Hodges Burch didn’t hide from their fan

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-56070669622448000302008-11-28T23:50:00.010-05:002008-12-06T13:12:38.727-05:00

Joey Crabb made his NHL debut tonight against Nashville. Here it is in photos.Crabb wasn't the most junior guy out there during the national anthem. Maybe this helped take the pressure off.Putting Crabb in the starting lineup was a nice touch. Here he is on the opening faceoff.He played on the fourth line with Eric Boulton and Jim Slater. Erik Christensen did not play.Crabb on the bench (

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-13018169967443478402008-11-27T23:23:00.008-05:002008-11-28T11:13:26.149-05:00

I've interviewed people in situations that were slightly odd before. Sitting on a dolly for one. I interviewed skills coach Kenny McCudden in a darkened room under a spotlight because it was the only quiet place we could find. But tonight I think takes the cake.So I'm in Jeff Pyle's office and he's commenting on the game. Someone knocks on the outside door, and being the nearest to it, I open

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-2884488145394667762008-11-27T10:53:00.002-05:002008-11-27T11:20:31.379-05:00

Here are a few things I've come across in the past few days.There are rumors that John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals, the No. 2 rated prospect for 2009, will be traded before the Jan. 10 deadline. This kind of thing happens a lot in junior hockey just like in the NHL -- if a top guy is on a lower-tier team, the team would rather sell him off and build for the future. In following the Tavares

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-53461794255395244872008-11-25T20:15:00.005-05:002008-11-25T21:40:19.139-05:00

Whoever wrote this headline was really on their game. From the Augusta Chronicle:Skid leaves Marks at a lossA new low point in Augusta Lynx hockey hit James Brown Arena over the weekend when the team dropped three home games by a combined score of 16-2. storyPhotos(); Saturday night's 12-0 loss to the Florida Everblades highlighted the forgettable weekend, and it might have marked the

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-33251133585533559512008-11-24T20:08:00.003-05:002009-01-04T13:58:56.268-05:00

If you're looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend, head downtown to Centennial Park for outdoor ice skating. About 15 years ago I was in Toronto in the winter, downtown, and came across an outdoor rink there -- the Canadian equivalent of Rockefeller Center. I skated, and it was really memorable. The one here is covered by a tent, since here in the south the sun could do

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-77311732887247378232008-11-22T10:21:00.005-05:002008-11-22T12:40:25.504-05:00

Three funny things from last night after the Gladiators game. First a quick note on the lines.I noticed Brad Schell was playing wing and asked about it, thinking maybe he hurt his shoulder again or something."I just threw him and Foxy and Nesy together just to kind of change things up," Jeff Pyle said. "Put Grahamer on the left side with Sully and Brando. Just change the lines around to...I

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-69530852838308021922008-11-17T18:19:00.003-05:002008-11-17T18:28:23.732-05:00

From today's ECHL transactions:Reading: Delete Tyson Marsh, D loaned to Chicago (AHL) Utah: Delete James Sanford, D loaned to Chicago (AHL) There was a really interesting transaction today too. Looks like Anaheim is saving money on the cap by stashing Bobby Ryan and Brett Festerling in nearby Bakersfield for a couple days. Because they are too good to be playing there for real.Bakersfield:

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-32640000048712750692008-11-16T10:17:00.010-05:002008-11-17T21:02:57.228-05:00

The Winnipeg Sun has a feature on Desbiens, with accompanying video. Desbiens now has eight points in 15 games from the fourth line. A strong start notwithstanding, Guillaume Desbiens has no illusions about his role with the Manitoba Moose. Through 13 games of the American Hockey League season, Desbiens easily qualifies as the biggest surprise on a roster that boasts plenty

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-21648702404038436112008-11-13T19:15:00.002-05:002008-11-13T19:21:00.069-05:00

I heard this essay on NPR yesterday. It's called "Failure of Feral Cats Roundup has Explanation," but it's not really about feral cats. It's just funny. The only way it could be improved would be to read it in a film noir voice, but let's not quibble. Just listen. .

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-65247631568965788772008-11-12T18:57:00.004-05:002008-11-12T19:16:27.994-05:00

I wish someone else had found this so I wouldn't have to post it, but nevertheless, here it is.OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 12, 2008) - Hockey Canada, Fenn Publishing, and McAlpine Sports Management announced today that the book Dominant Dany Heatley, authored by National Hockey League (NHL) player Dany Heatley with Lorna Schultz Nicholson, will be released Tuesday, Nov. 25.Written in the

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-2184669919884550982008-11-11T21:43:00.009-05:002008-11-11T22:04:18.851-05:00

There's been a lot of talk about head shots in hockey lately and I haven't seen anyone bring up the fact that the NCAA already has a rule against shots to the head. Maybe it's because most people writing about it aren't very familiar with college hockey.From section 8 of the NCAA rulebook (page 62):Contact to the HeadSECTION 8. A player shall not make contact with an opposing player’shead or

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-52173519569943589852008-11-11T18:52:00.001-05:002008-11-11T18:54:21.209-05:00

From NY Sports Day. McCudden is a skating and skills coach who works with the Thrashers and their system.NEW YORK – It’s called the rebound board and it’s nothing more than two 2x4s put together at a 90 degree angle.Yet, Chris Drury swears by this low tech device and the Blueshirts have used it in practice almost every day since the Ranger captain brought it with him from Buffalo after he signed

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-12178884593523378182008-11-10T21:55:00.008-05:002008-11-11T17:42:05.308-05:00

FYI, my Q&A with Albert is up at HF. The conversation was a little bit scattered, so I thought it would read best as a Q&A.Soon I'll have what we're calling a "system audit," that goes over each position in the prospect pool. I waited to do it until after seeing Leveille and Albert in game action. At the same time, I'm chairing the Organizational Rankings Committee, which is probably the most

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-43353995275353654052008-11-09T15:03:00.007-05:002008-11-09T15:25:23.005-05:00

Just briefly on the second game of the MSU/OSU series because I have to catch a plane. John Albert (middle) during pre-game intros. I like this one. OSU has great ice, by the way.Albert ready to jump off the bench. Again he made great passes, to wingers who didn't finish. I couldn't help but think his production would skyrocket if he had a better finisher on his line. Or was just on a better

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-4795009428340548192008-11-09T00:14:00.003-05:002008-11-09T00:27:41.360-05:00

Ohio State's John Albert was going to shave his head, but as an intermediate step, went with a mullet. The team won both of its games against the Michigan State Spartans, so, well, the mullet stays. He was a good sport and let me take a picture of it. I talked to him as he had his leg in a mechanical cold water treatment. OSU's training room is amazing. I think they share it with the

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-3393631270490449482008-11-07T23:23:00.013-05:002008-11-08T13:04:59.561-05:00

Looking for Jeff Lerg. (That's a short goalie joke).Here's Thrashers first rounder Daultan Leveille on a face-off. He look fine. Once he gets a lot stronger on the puck and reads the play perfectly, he'll be a lot more effective. His skating is so effortless. It doesn't seem like he's trying that hard, and suddenly he's at his destination. MSU was shutout tonight. Leveille had two shots and

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-21574809335295452312008-11-07T16:32:00.003-05:002009-01-04T13:59:33.445-05:00

I'm in town to see Michigan State take on Ohio State, which means Thrashers prospects Daultan Leveille and John Albert against each other. I'm looking forward to the college atmosphere. I already saw a tuba player waiting to cross the street next to the arena. Awesome.I guess I better get going. I have about a mile walk from my hotel to the arena, which seemed like a fine plan on paper, but

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-1580286054114420502008-11-05T23:10:00.006-05:002008-11-06T18:00:37.729-05:00

It's November, but the standings indicate that Atlantans may want to pay attention to the top picks in the draft for 2009. Currently ranked No. 2 on most lists is John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals. I talked to his muscle from last year, James DeLory. The four questions about Tavares are at the end of the article.HF: You played with (2009-eligible) John Tavares there in Oshawa. What should

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-63431313811760797632008-11-03T21:25:00.004-05:002008-11-03T21:55:54.991-05:00

Tonight I went to the Gladiators/Everblades game to talk to James DeLory, their rookie enforcer who is under contract with the Panthers. He didn't come out for warm-ups though, which caused me to utter something we'll abbreviate as "#%*!@^$."Since he wasn't in the line-up, I didn't get to see him play, or get a photo in uniform for his profile, but I managed to get a good interview and -- bonus

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-1800546221170233482008-11-02T11:32:00.004-05:002008-11-02T11:38:07.041-05:00

Anaheim GM Brian Burke has something to say about everything. The topic of 18-year-old defensemen playing in the NHL is no exception. “I worry about some of these kids," he said. "The number of drafts from '08 that are playing in the league I’m not sure how many of them are ready. I think Drew Doughty (LA) is clearly ready and he’s playing extremely well, Luke Schenn (TOR) appears to be

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-85003870411994898292008-11-02T11:12:00.005-05:002008-11-03T07:49:33.949-05:00

My posts on rules relating to prospects have consistently been the most popular on the blog. In fact, I should give a shout out to southern Californians visiting via the LA Kings official site, which recently cited my post explaining why junior-aged players have to return to junior if they're not in the NHL. Welcome, California.I've referred to AHL roster limits in passing before, but never

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-55681861583375505152008-10-25T10:36:00.003-04:002008-10-25T10:40:51.753-04:00

The poll question was "Who will be the last man sitting? (Last to finally play a game this season)" Sterling is at the NHL level, with Lehman and Turple currently assigned to the AHL Chicago Wolves. A forward, a defenseman and a goalie.The responses:Brett Sterling 4%Scott Lehman 4%Dan Turple 91%Sterling played last night for the Thrashers, scoring a very Brett Sterling-like goal, so it's just

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-45451329543186846642008-10-23T20:28:00.009-04:002008-10-24T23:15:32.958-04:00

The Thrashers are last in the NHL in attendance, averaging 13,943 tickets distributed (which importantly includes both paid and comp'ed). The Gladiators official attendance was just 3014 on Tuesday. Both of those are indeed bad.But, the AHL Lowell Devils sold just 904 tickets yesterday for a game. 904. If they weren't owned by the New Jersey Devils, who can afford to operate them at a loss,

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-9357021551706872172008-10-23T06:36:00.002-04:002008-10-23T06:40:08.503-04:00

From the Chicago Daily Herald. I don't really buy this explanation of what happened though. Sounds like Pavelec is covering for his agent flying off the handle.When the Atlanta Thrashers started him only once in the preseason and demoted him to the Wolves late into training camp, Pavelec and his agent decided to send a message and delayed his return to Chicago. It was an uncharacteristic move

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-62049421433948957272008-10-22T18:23:00.005-04:002008-10-23T06:29:44.539-04:00

This is just your basic statistical glimpse at how the prospects are doing. A few things to note are that John Albert has taken 14 shots in four games, so he's shooting more, as he intended to. He leads his team in points as a sophomore. Esposito has nine points, but six of them came in one game. I heard he's out with a broken hand, which he injured in a fight of all things.I didn't include the

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-15976734703448993722008-10-22T18:19:00.005-04:002008-10-22T18:46:18.759-04:00

Per the AHL transactions page.Stoesz played no games for the Wolves. The Gladiators do not play again until next Tuesday, at home against Charlotte.My guess is that Jeff Pyle asked Chicago to keep Stoesz until he decided who he wanted to get rid of. ECHL teams have no wiggle room on the roster..

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-12341316569521289312008-10-18T13:43:00.005-04:002008-10-18T14:02:44.862-04:00

I finished my ECHL prospects preview today. While there was a lot of research that went into it, it didn't take that long to write, partially because there's just 36 NHL-contracted guys sent down to start the year. Why so few? Because AHL teams are now able to dress 18 skaters (like the NHL). That's 29 more guys (mostly forwards) who are getting minutes in the AHL every game. Goaltenders

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-88658055855324518222008-10-15T19:20:00.008-04:002009-03-29T22:07:02.054-04:00

In preparation for tomorrow's release of opening day rosters, here's a list of NHL affiliates of ECHL teams. It includes today's announcement that Philadelphia will be affiliating with the Mississippi Sea Wolves. I was very glad to see that announcement since Mississippi figures prominently on the Gladiators schedule. Philadelphia had previously doubled up with Pittsburgh in Wheeling. Perhaps

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-35076894574841259572008-10-13T21:08:00.010-04:002008-10-14T18:20:05.950-04:00

Ross had both geography and size against him, and he still made the NHL. Good for him.Being the son of a NCAA coach helped I'm sure. He got into Saturday's Flyers game due to Steve Downie's knee injury.PRINCETON, N.J. – Former Gwinnett Gladiators center Jared Ross became the 358th player to play in the National Hockey League after playing in the ECHL when he made his NHL debut with the

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856368744743365484.post-71959218831954601972008-10-13T01:25:00.002-04:002008-10-13T01:31:09.667-04:00

Dan Marr has told me that the Thrashers like to talk to players early in the season before other NHL teams so they aren't rehersed. Well, we have evidence they're sticking with that game plan. From The Province:Let the watch of who's watching Evander Kane begin.The Vancouver Giants sniper had his first extended talk with an NHL type after Friday night's 7-1 win over the Kelowna Rockets when

Holly Gunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380514635466420919noreply@blogger.com0