The St. Pete Times said today that Mike Sullivan is going to meet with Don Waddell about the Thrashers head coaching job. It's far from the first time Sullivan's name has come up though. It first came up right when Bob Hartley was fired in October, then was brought up again a few weeks ago by the Boston Globe. I mentioned it here at the time.
With Todd McLellan taking another post, the amount of time before the draft and the start of free agency is becoming an issue. Because of that, I think it's very likely that Waddell flew quickly to the Tampa area to meet with Sullivan instead of bringing him to Atlanta. Especially when you consider that Waddell owns a cottage in the St. Petersburg area (Madeira Beach). You'll recall the story about daughter Chelsea's parasailing scare several years ago. Waddell and Sullivan can meet very privately at the cottage, and be more flexible with the timing of the meetings. Sullivan would have little need to check out the facilities in Atlanta in order to make his decision, as he's already been to both the arena and practice facility with the Lightning.
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Friday, June 13, 2008
HF will provide video from the draft
As you may have heard, next weekend is the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. It's always a big day on the internet as fans of all 30 teams scramble to Google the names of players to see what they can find out on them. For the more obscure players in particular, they end up at Hockey's Future. We're happy to help.
This year, we will have something more -- video clips from the draft.
The NHL doesn't hand out video rights like candy, so you won't find this many other places. I'll be interested myself to see what the team comes up with. Video doesn't Google very easily though, so you may have to manually check in to see what's available. I'll provide links if I can figure out how to do it.
This year, we will have something more -- video clips from the draft.
The "Voice of Hockey's Future", Dustin Nielson, in conjunction with the good folks at Tangle Media, will be shooting video in Ottawa over the course of three days which will be posted at HF for your viewing pleasure. Some of this video will be shot before the draft, including a draft preview show. Video shot during the draft will include interviews with drafted players, NHL team personnel, and a few other hockey dignitaries of note. And there will be a post-draft wrap-up show, where Dustin and Co. will dissect the draft floor happenings from the two-day event.
The NHL doesn't hand out video rights like candy, so you won't find this many other places. I'll be interested myself to see what the team comes up with. Video doesn't Google very easily though, so you may have to manually check in to see what's available. I'll provide links if I can figure out how to do it.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Saponari could be first NHL draftee from Georgia
Tonight I was scanning through a scouting service rank of players for next weekend's draft, looking for a certain Belarusian (don't ask), and saw Vinny Saponari's name. I had forgotten that this is his draft year. Saponari is a 6'0 right wing from Powder Springs, currently playing with the US National Team Development Program. Before that, he played for Culver Academy in Indiana (which is also where Brian Sipotz played). Here's an article on Saponari that gives more info. He's headed to Boston University, where his brother Victor also plays.
ISS (International Scouting Service) has Saponari ranked 225th among all skaters, and Central Scouting has him ranked 135th among North American skaters. To figure out his chances, note that there are 211 picks in the 2008 draft. If he is taken, he'll be the first native Georgian selected. The Thrashers had another Georgian in their system in 2006-07, goaltender Dave Caruso, but he was an undrafted free agent.
Teams often go after local products in the late rounds, so it's not at all unreasonable to think the Thrashers may select Saponari. That is, if another team doesn't do so first.
ISS (International Scouting Service) has Saponari ranked 225th among all skaters, and Central Scouting has him ranked 135th among North American skaters. To figure out his chances, note that there are 211 picks in the 2008 draft. If he is taken, he'll be the first native Georgian selected. The Thrashers had another Georgian in their system in 2006-07, goaltender Dave Caruso, but he was an undrafted free agent.
Teams often go after local products in the late rounds, so it's not at all unreasonable to think the Thrashers may select Saponari. That is, if another team doesn't do so first.
Esposito back in his hometown
As expected, Angelo Esposito was traded from the QMJHL Quebec Remparts to the newest franchise, the Montreal Juniors last weekend.
From the Montreal Gazette:
Sometimes a change of scenery does players a lot of good. Maybe Esposito can get back on the right development path with the Montreal Juniors. They probably don't need to worry about losing him to the NHL this fall though, as he doesn't look ready to make that jump just yet.
He would need to want it incredibly bad, which is questionable given that he's still harboring so much hope of playing for the Canadiens:
I asked Thrashers Asst. GM Larry Simmons last weekend if Esposito would be signed before training camp. It's not an urgent thing of course, since he doesn't have to be signed until June 2009. Simmons thought perhaps he would be, but the Thrashers were letting the issue wait for now because Esposito has the same agent as Luc Bourdon, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago (Kent Hughes).
From the Montreal Gazette:
As a kid growing up in Town of Mount Royal, this is not how Angelo Esposito dreamed it would go down.
His introductory meeting with the Montreal media would have been held at the Bell Centre, not at a club on Crescent St., and he would be putting on the famed bleu-blanc-rouge of his beloved Canadiens as photographers' flash bulbs clicked around him.
Instead, Esposito was at Newtown yesterday afternoon trying on the burgundy and white colours of the Junior de Montréal, who acquired the 19-year-old's rights in a blockbuster deal that landed the transplanted major-junior hockey franchise a marquee, homegrown talent for its maiden season in the city.
Sometimes a change of scenery does players a lot of good. Maybe Esposito can get back on the right development path with the Montreal Juniors. They probably don't need to worry about losing him to the NHL this fall though, as he doesn't look ready to make that jump just yet.
He would need to want it incredibly bad, which is questionable given that he's still harboring so much hope of playing for the Canadiens:
"I obviously always dreamed of playing for the Montreal Canadiens, and hopefully that can happen one day, or maybe it will," said Esposito, quickly catching himself so he didn't upset his bosses in the Atlanta Thrashers organization.
I asked Thrashers Asst. GM Larry Simmons last weekend if Esposito would be signed before training camp. It's not an urgent thing of course, since he doesn't have to be signed until June 2009. Simmons thought perhaps he would be, but the Thrashers were letting the issue wait for now because Esposito has the same agent as Luc Bourdon, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago (Kent Hughes).
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Russian Super League contracts void -- what it means for Filatov and Nikulin
I wish I weren't blogging about this topic because it's an opaque and frustrating one, but since a lot of people are interested in it, I will.
First a bit of groundwork. The Russian Super League, which was probably the best league outside of the NHL, is going away. It's re-forming as the Continental League, with some changes and big plans. It will try to compete with the NHL, with things like drafts and salary caps. Here's an article by Larry Brooks on the potential tug of war with the NHL for players, and some general background info.
I spoke to Thrashers Director of Amateur Scouting and Player Development Dan Marr about Russian players last weekend. He said that because of the new formation of this Continental League, all previous Super League contracts are null and void. All players have to sign new contracts for the new league. This means that there will be a new wave of 18-year-olds coming to the CHL, NHL and even AHL to play this fall. Players like Nikita Filatov, a top 2008-eligible. Marr mentioned him as an example of this phenomenon, and Filatov has told multiple outlets that he intends to play in the CHL next year. This should help keep him in the top five in the upcoming draft, since playing in the CHL is a good indication the player will be signable.
I asked Marr how this all ties in with Ilya Nikulin (former second round pick) signing with the Thrashers -- would the lack of a contract providing an opening for the 26-year-old to finally come over? As expected, he was non-plussed by reports out of Russia that there could be increased desire on his part. Marr said the Russian press is always after both Nikulin and (2006 pick) Andrei Zubarev. Every year we hear things about Nikulin coming over, but bottom line if he really wanted to be here, he'd be here.
The next night I chatted with Thrashers Assistant GM Larry Simmons, who handles the organization's contracts, and he said much the same as Marr. Simmons said that he's talked to Ilya Nikulin's agent recently, and the agent said that Nikulin's contract was "assumed" by the new Continental League. I asked how that could be that only his contract was assumed when they were all supposed to be wiped out, and Simmons agreed that it's a good question. There's no way to verify this type of stuff, you have to just take their word for it. At the end of the day, to sign a player to an NHL contract, the player's side must show evidence to the NHL that they can get out of their Russian contract (via a clause or whatever). Otherwise the league won't validate the contract.
As far as this contracts question goes, here's the intrigue (there's always intrigue when it comes to Russia). One of our writers at Hockey's Future talked to a couple of Russian agents at the Combine, and they said the contracts were not wiped out. New contracts were presented to the players to sign, but everyone was told that the old ones would be enforced in court if new ones were not signed. Contracts are with the same team, just new league. If the players just refuse to sign and just try to leave, that's a huge problem -- and a lot of people recognize this. It sounds to me like the agents are saying the old contracts will be enforced in order to prevent clients from fleeing. But logically, if the old ones would be enforced, then there would be no need to sign new contracts in the first place would there? It's more likely that they are unenforceable and the agents are saying this for their own benefit (surprise!).
In light of all this, instead of an exodus to Russia for more tax-free money, we could be seeing more players leaving Russia for North America -- those who were in contracts they no longer want to be in.
(Note: NHL teams are retaining the rights to Russian players, and now all Europeans indefinitely because the league has classified them as "defected" players, a stipulation in the CBA. If and when the countries sign a new IIHF agreement, the regular rules for rights will apply.)
As far as Nikulin in particular goes, Simmons said he is still subject to the entry-level system (Europeans are subject through age 27). But the rub is that he would become an unrestricted free agent under the CBA at age 27, so if they signed him this summer, per the CBA they can only sign him for one year at an entry-level price (less than he reportedly makes in Russia), and then he'd be an UFA. It's hard to make this make sense with signing bonus, etc. Last year the issue with him coming over was money. For years we've been hearing things, but Larry ended saying the same thing as Marr -- the same thing everyone says -- they'll believe it when they see it.
First a bit of groundwork. The Russian Super League, which was probably the best league outside of the NHL, is going away. It's re-forming as the Continental League, with some changes and big plans. It will try to compete with the NHL, with things like drafts and salary caps. Here's an article by Larry Brooks on the potential tug of war with the NHL for players, and some general background info.
But initially at least, the league will amount to a refurbished, refinanced and slightly expanded Russian Super League, with the same 20 teams, plus one elevated from a lower tier and one each from the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Belarus and Latvia.
I spoke to Thrashers Director of Amateur Scouting and Player Development Dan Marr about Russian players last weekend. He said that because of the new formation of this Continental League, all previous Super League contracts are null and void. All players have to sign new contracts for the new league. This means that there will be a new wave of 18-year-olds coming to the CHL, NHL and even AHL to play this fall. Players like Nikita Filatov, a top 2008-eligible. Marr mentioned him as an example of this phenomenon, and Filatov has told multiple outlets that he intends to play in the CHL next year. This should help keep him in the top five in the upcoming draft, since playing in the CHL is a good indication the player will be signable.
I asked Marr how this all ties in with Ilya Nikulin (former second round pick) signing with the Thrashers -- would the lack of a contract providing an opening for the 26-year-old to finally come over? As expected, he was non-plussed by reports out of Russia that there could be increased desire on his part. Marr said the Russian press is always after both Nikulin and (2006 pick) Andrei Zubarev. Every year we hear things about Nikulin coming over, but bottom line if he really wanted to be here, he'd be here.
The next night I chatted with Thrashers Assistant GM Larry Simmons, who handles the organization's contracts, and he said much the same as Marr. Simmons said that he's talked to Ilya Nikulin's agent recently, and the agent said that Nikulin's contract was "assumed" by the new Continental League. I asked how that could be that only his contract was assumed when they were all supposed to be wiped out, and Simmons agreed that it's a good question. There's no way to verify this type of stuff, you have to just take their word for it. At the end of the day, to sign a player to an NHL contract, the player's side must show evidence to the NHL that they can get out of their Russian contract (via a clause or whatever). Otherwise the league won't validate the contract.
As far as this contracts question goes, here's the intrigue (there's always intrigue when it comes to Russia). One of our writers at Hockey's Future talked to a couple of Russian agents at the Combine, and they said the contracts were not wiped out. New contracts were presented to the players to sign, but everyone was told that the old ones would be enforced in court if new ones were not signed. Contracts are with the same team, just new league. If the players just refuse to sign and just try to leave, that's a huge problem -- and a lot of people recognize this. It sounds to me like the agents are saying the old contracts will be enforced in order to prevent clients from fleeing. But logically, if the old ones would be enforced, then there would be no need to sign new contracts in the first place would there? It's more likely that they are unenforceable and the agents are saying this for their own benefit (surprise!).
In light of all this, instead of an exodus to Russia for more tax-free money, we could be seeing more players leaving Russia for North America -- those who were in contracts they no longer want to be in.
(Note: NHL teams are retaining the rights to Russian players, and now all Europeans indefinitely because the league has classified them as "defected" players, a stipulation in the CBA. If and when the countries sign a new IIHF agreement, the regular rules for rights will apply.)
As far as Nikulin in particular goes, Simmons said he is still subject to the entry-level system (Europeans are subject through age 27). But the rub is that he would become an unrestricted free agent under the CBA at age 27, so if they signed him this summer, per the CBA they can only sign him for one year at an entry-level price (less than he reportedly makes in Russia), and then he'd be an UFA. It's hard to make this make sense with signing bonus, etc. Last year the issue with him coming over was money. For years we've been hearing things, but Larry ended saying the same thing as Marr -- the same thing everyone says -- they'll believe it when they see it.
Picks owned by the Thrashers in the 2008 draft
A reference for next weekend. The Thrashers currently hold seven picks in this draft -- they made just four last year. If/when picks are traded, I'll update the list unless it's so close to the start that it becomes irrelevant. It seems fairly certain that the late first rounder from Pittsburgh will be used to upgrade the defense.
Round 1, No. 3 overall
Round 1, No. 29 overall (from PIT)
Round 3, No. 64 overall
Round 4, No. 94 overall
Round 5, No. 124 overall
Round 6, No. 154 overall
Round 7, No. 184 overall
The second rounder was part of the Keith Tkachuk deal with St. Louis.
Round 1 will be held on Friday night during primetime, with the remaining rounds on Saturday.
Round 1, No. 3 overall
Round 1, No. 29 overall (from PIT)
Round 3, No. 64 overall
Round 4, No. 94 overall
Round 5, No. 124 overall
Round 6, No. 154 overall
Round 7, No. 184 overall
The second rounder was part of the Keith Tkachuk deal with St. Louis.
Round 1 will be held on Friday night during primetime, with the remaining rounds on Saturday.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Wolves can close out Calder Cup at home tonight
The Chicago Wolves, who are up 3-2 in the AHL finals, are back at home on Tuesday for Game 6. In Game 5, Bryan Little scored the game's first goal and the team celebrated wildly -- perhaps a little too wildly because the Penguins came right back and then marched on to a 5-1 victory.
Little talked afterwards about what went wrong, citing mental breakdowns, losing control, taking penalties. "The good thing is that these things can be fixed," he said, sounding a bit like a philosophical coach. "Next game we've got to be smarter. Get control of our emotions." A reporter noted to him that the Wolves had given themselves some wiggle room going up 3-0 in the series and could afford some mistakes. Little admitted, "I think that's the attitude we had, but obviously we have to come in with a different attitude now. We really found out that this team (WBS) is not gonna give up, not gonna stop pressing. They want it as bad as we do."
Everyone else left and I mentioned to Little how while he's been scoring a fair bit in the playoffs, most of the goals were add-on goals until tonight -- finally a difference-maker. He agreed, and said going into that game he was determined to shoot more. "I'm playing good when I'm shooting the puck a lot, controlling the puck a lot," he said. He had three shots in the game, compared to just one shot in the previous two games. Look for Little to be shooting again in Game 6.
Last time I had seen him his hair was freshly buzzed and now it's all back. I remarked that it had grown fast. "It did," he said. "My hair grows very fast." At least that's a sign of good health.
The Wolves gave up five goals, but only on one goal did I think Ondrej Pavelec could have played it better. Most were defensive breakdowns. "Those were some f'ing great saves," my officiating neighbor remarked (a neutral part by definition). He also thought the Wolves couldn't put the puck on net, they were shooting wide constantly.
A funny thing was said by Friday night's referee Dean Morton, sitting two seats down from me. John Anderson had slammed him in Friday's press conference pretty hard, saying he was the sixth player for the Penguins, etc. Well, things weren't going the Wolves way under Saturday's ref Brian Pochmara either, and the ref supervisor and Morton made some reference to what Anderson -- long known for bashing officials -- might say about Pochmara at the end of this game. "He better not outdo me," Morton said.
No wait, here's a better quote, and ironic, given the above. A reporter asked Anderson about his team's physical play. "Are we a physical team?" Anderson asked out loud, with sarcasm in his voice. "We take lots of penalties -- I don't know how physical we are." He didn't mention the officiating that time, though there was as much, if not more, to complain about.
While the Wolves have home ice advantage on Tuesday night, the Penguins seem to have the good vibe around them which makes them dangerous. The game is on NHL Network if you want to check it out.
Little talked afterwards about what went wrong, citing mental breakdowns, losing control, taking penalties. "The good thing is that these things can be fixed," he said, sounding a bit like a philosophical coach. "Next game we've got to be smarter. Get control of our emotions." A reporter noted to him that the Wolves had given themselves some wiggle room going up 3-0 in the series and could afford some mistakes. Little admitted, "I think that's the attitude we had, but obviously we have to come in with a different attitude now. We really found out that this team (WBS) is not gonna give up, not gonna stop pressing. They want it as bad as we do."
Everyone else left and I mentioned to Little how while he's been scoring a fair bit in the playoffs, most of the goals were add-on goals until tonight -- finally a difference-maker. He agreed, and said going into that game he was determined to shoot more. "I'm playing good when I'm shooting the puck a lot, controlling the puck a lot," he said. He had three shots in the game, compared to just one shot in the previous two games. Look for Little to be shooting again in Game 6.
Last time I had seen him his hair was freshly buzzed and now it's all back. I remarked that it had grown fast. "It did," he said. "My hair grows very fast." At least that's a sign of good health.
The Wolves gave up five goals, but only on one goal did I think Ondrej Pavelec could have played it better. Most were defensive breakdowns. "Those were some f'ing great saves," my officiating neighbor remarked (a neutral part by definition). He also thought the Wolves couldn't put the puck on net, they were shooting wide constantly.
A funny thing was said by Friday night's referee Dean Morton, sitting two seats down from me. John Anderson had slammed him in Friday's press conference pretty hard, saying he was the sixth player for the Penguins, etc. Well, things weren't going the Wolves way under Saturday's ref Brian Pochmara either, and the ref supervisor and Morton made some reference to what Anderson -- long known for bashing officials -- might say about Pochmara at the end of this game. "He better not outdo me," Morton said.
No wait, here's a better quote, and ironic, given the above. A reporter asked Anderson about his team's physical play. "Are we a physical team?" Anderson asked out loud, with sarcasm in his voice. "We take lots of penalties -- I don't know how physical we are." He didn't mention the officiating that time, though there was as much, if not more, to complain about.
While the Wolves have home ice advantage on Tuesday night, the Penguins seem to have the good vibe around them which makes them dangerous. The game is on NHL Network if you want to check it out.
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