Everything Else

Decision Day

By 1547

I’ve seen people in some circles complain that we had to wait nearly a full month into the Stanley Cup Playoffs to get a Game 7. None in the first round and all that. Me? I love it.

Game 7s should be the thing you never want to get to. The “Please Don’t Make Us Do This” level. The absolute last resort. The “We’ve tried everything else and now this is the only way we can reach a conclusion. This is our only path to catharsis.” They should only happen a couple times per spring, to keep them special.

Because if you get a spring full of them… most of them turn out to be pretty disappointing. Rarely do you get November 2nd in Cleveland (and I still would have happily taken an easy, 6-3 Cubs win and been just as happy thank you very much) or Seabrook’s shot tipping off Kronwall’s stick and over Jimmy Howard or… well, we won’t mention that other Game 7 at home.

Everything Else

Honey Don’t Stop Tryin’ And You’ll Get What You Deserve

By 1314

A mere five days ago, I wandered in from whatever haze I was in and wrote a post on just what would the Capitals, their fans, and the hockey world in general conclude if things didn’t break their way the next three games. Because for the most part, they had done everything right and simply were not getting rewarded for it. And the last time they went down this road, they needlessly blew it all up. This time, after last year’s loss, they stuck to the plan. Are they finally getting what they have earned?

Or this being the Caps, are they reserving the biggest stomach-punch for their fandom for Wednesday night? You never can tell with this bunch.

Everything Else

On The Verge Of History…Hilarious History, Glorious History

By 1255

People, do you realize what we’re on the verge of here? Do you understand? We’re all so swept up in watching the Capitals throw away yet another brilliant team and season that I don’t think the hockey world is paying enough attention to what could happen on the other coast. The Anaheim Ducks are just one more, 60-minute spit-up from blowing their fifth-straight 3-2 lead and losing a Game 7 at home.

FIVE! They’ve done this four times in a row! They’re halfway to their 5th! Do you understand the magnitude here?! On level of sports accomplishments, this is Kerry Wood’s 20 Ks, Jordan’s 55 in the Garden, that one game where Cutler was great behind no offensive line (I forget which one). This is going to be a Picasso, a Rembrandt, a Monet of playoff idiocy.

Everything Else

Friday Foofaraw – Fireside Chat

By 1233

All hail the new lord of Tomato Cans – Tanner Glass.

It only took 65 playoff games but he finally strung together ten solid minutes of playing time and contributed 2 assists – and all in one game! Therefore, all the empirical evidence on the wasted roster spots of 4th line fighters is rendered moot and we now live in a world where everyone needs a Tanner Glass type player on their roster if they want to win 7 to 8 games in the post-season (Though I suppose that’s a step up from the combined 3 wins the Hawks have had the past two playoffs).

If you have to say anything about this Rangers/Senators series when Erik Karlsson is not involved, it’s that it will be completely forgotten by the the time it’s over and no one will ever remember it happened. God bless the Senator fans for being smart enough to realize their team has 0 realistic Cup aspirations and still had plenty of open seats for a playoff game as recently as Game 2. Perhaps some Senators fans can speak at the upcoming Bulls re-education camp this summer to help instruct some of the yokels here.

–I do feel slightly bad for Caps fans. Unfortunately, the Caps seem to have entered that rarified air of Murphy’s law of playoff weirdness that transcends sports. The Cubs and Red Sox are the first two teams that come to mind as former members of this group that needed this type of moment before they could finally break through. I’m sure there are others that aren’t coming immediately to mind.

Basically, what it boils down to is that it’s going to take a moment (or a comeback) like this if they’re ever going to win it. It’s sort of what I was expecting going into this series. There was no way the Capitals were going to sweep through or dismiss the Penguins in 5 or 6. When teams have failed this many times before and against the same team each time, it almost always requires some sort of revived from the dead/miraculous comeback.

So here they are. Down 3-1 and everyone ready to dance over their grave. If they can see past the smog of death, they’ll notice their only very difficult task will be winning one more game in Pittsburgh. If they keep playing as they are, they’re going to win (at least) one of those games in Washington quite easily. Pittsburgh would be foolish to play Crosby in anything but a Game 7 at this point. Winning the next three games shouldn’t be as monumental of a task as it probably feels to them right now.

Of course, it’s easier to say this as an outsider and not covered in the stench of previous playoff failures.

–In the West, Anaheim may have broken Cam Talbot in Game 4. With a 2-0 lead at home and facing a Ducks team that loves to fall on their face, the Oilers had their chance to put them away. That didn’t happen. Instead, the series heads back to Anaheim with the Ducks regaining home ice and the feeling that they’ve finally solved Talbot and therefore are never out of any game for the remainder of this series.

Naturally, this is the time to remind everyone that if a series was best-of-5, the Ducks would be a 7-time Cup winner already. No team loves to win 3 games and then forget how to play hockey more than this outfit. So while I’m inclined to believe Anaheim is going to push through; I will certainly not be surprised if Lucy pulls the football out from underneath them. Again.

–In one of the rare predictions we nailed in our playoff preview podcast, the winner of the Blues/Wild series appears to, indeed, be a speed bump for the winner of the Preds/Hawks series. Mike Yeo and the Blues just can’t help themselves and are more worried about what the Predators are saying to the officials between plays than how to actually slow down their attack. So the Blues will do what they do best – go away. Never change.

Should be a couple of fun ones tonight regardless who you’re rooting for.

 

Everything Else

Now The Capitals Are Fascinating

By 1530

Sometimes I think there’s this assumption about how you build a championship NHL team, or in any sport really. That you bottom out, collect your draft picks, hit on most of them, bring them through together, add the veterans at the right time and then you win. But that doesn’t really factor in for so many things that are out of your control. Because you can do all those things, and there just might be someone better or farther along their curve when you’re ready. And then when they’re done, one who is behind you on the curve is ready to come to the fore.

The Capitals have gone through this cycle twice. They had one of the NHL’s best teams in 2009 and 2010. They had blended Ovechkin with Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Fehr, Fleischmann, and a few others. They amassed what now looks to be a silly 121 points. But one year, they ran into Crosby and the Penguins in 2009 when they were a post-Therrien firing buzzsaw. They lost in seven games. Not all that far away. The next year they got goalie’d by Jaro Halak. Really, these are two things out of their control. And they lost both series on something of a knife edge.

Everything Else

So Predictable It Almost Isn’t Funny Anymore… Almost

By 1446

Here in Chicago, we usually don’t get much of a spring. Even with the temperate/weak-ass winter we had this time around, the April-May stretch bounces between glimpses of actual summer and then visions of November. Usually in this place it’s just cool and gray until somewhere around Memorial Day, and then the next day is gorgeous and it’s summer/construction. We don’t slowly ramp up to summer. It just arrives like Monty Python’s foot.

So rites of spring, we don’t really recognize them. We see leaves on trees but are suspicious. Our allergies kick up at various times, so it’s not much of an indicator either. We have to make up our own. The ivy showing up on the outfield wall at Wrigley. Streetfests and outdoor music festivals start releasing their schedules and tickets go on sale. Sadly, shootings go up, if it’s even possible at this point.

And oh yeah, the St. Louis Blues reveal that nothing has changed, and they’re still a collection of dumbasses trying to play a game the sport has long ago left behind.

Everything Else

The NHL Needs To Decide What It Wants To Be

By 1582

I suppose one of the main drawing points to another Penguins-Capitals series was that it was always likely to generate controversy, given how often these two teams have met, how hyped it’s been, and how the fanbases feel about each other. Make no mistake, a lot of the furor over Niskanen-Crosby: In Your House is one set of fans/media reacting to the other and then ratcheting up over reactions to that.

This isn’t just about this particular incident, and we’ll get to the others. As far as this one, I’m just not buying Eddie Plugs’s or any Caps fan/coach’s excuse on it, and it isn’t just about this one in particular. Yes, things happen fast on the ice. Why we love it. But the reason those dudes are out there and we’re sitting here is because they have the reaction time to deal with how fast things happen out there.

Sure, it happens too fast for Niskanen to plan it all and consider the consequences and the particular angle he’d like to take to Crosby’s face. But don’t tell me after watching him follow-through on it he didn’t see a window to Crosby’s head and take it. I just don’t buy anything else. And Niskanen’s previous behavior in this series does him no favors either.

Everything Else

Looks Like Fun: Weekend Wrap

By 1287

You can see just how weird hockey is with the two narratives going around right now. Let’s follow them.

This weekend, one team came out of the gate roaring in a playoff game. They first 16 shots at the opposing goalie, and only give up five. But the opposing goalie has an answer for everything, and then their own goalie suddenly forgets how his limbs work for just one period. Suddenly, they’re in crisis.

Another team comes out roaring, also at home. They outshoot their opponent 29-14 in the first 40 minutes of their game. And while the opposing goalie was good, they found a way to get one goal in their period of pure dominance, and that’s the difference.

And coming out of those games, the Capitals are doing it all again and are an utter mess, whereas the Predators are sitting in the proverbial catbird seat. And really, the only difference between the two was that Cody McLeod was able to corral a puck in the air and a bounce off the outside of the net, and the Capitals got no such bounce.

Everything Else

High On The Hog: Players Under The Microscope

By Jon Fromi 1580

It’s early in the offseason, but the Rockford IceHogs are going to be a very different looking group come fall.

In the face of a trying 2016-17 campaign, the Blackhawks AHL affiliate looks to be setting up in a similar fashion as in previous seasons. That means getting young and learning on the job.

Decisions will have to be made as to how much turnover takes place in Rockford, with a host of free agents among this past season’s roster. Who do the Hogs re-up with? Who moves on to the next stop in their career?

A lot of these questions may well depend on the new coaching staff. With Ted Dent no longer the head man, the team could opt for a clean slate in terms of retaining veteran skaters.

I spent most of this past week taking a look at the players who finished the spring with Rockford. I submit to you my thoughts on the IceHogs roster and how those players fared over the past season.

 

NHL Forwards (That is to say, forwards on NHL one or two-way deals)

Brandon Mashinter-61 games, 15 G, 15 A, 30 P, minus-20 (UFA)

Mashinter was briefly the IceHogs captain before being called up to Chicago in 2015-16. He served as an alternate captain for much of this season. He’s a steady AHL forward capable of 15-20 goals and 30-35 points year in and year out.

Mashinter plays a simple game in the shadow of the opposing net. He’s big and more than able to play physically. He commands respect in the locker room and with coach Ted Dent. At age 28, he may have had his shot at the NHL (at least in Chicago), but certainly can be a productive veteran in Rockford for at least a few more seasons.

Trouble is, Mashinter was on a one-way deal this past campaign. It’s possible the Hawks re-sign him to a similar contract. Then again, in an expansion year, maybe Mashinter tries to put himself in position to make an NHL roster.

He’s a guy I would welcome back in a heartbeat, though I couldn’t fault Mashinter if he keeps his options open.

 

Kyle Baun-74 games, 14 G, 20 A, 34 P, minus-14 (under contract through next season)

Baun, who really had a bounce-back season after a lacerated arm kept him on the shelf for a good chunk of his rookie year. He plays a similar game to Mashinter, only he looks to be a little better passer with a bit more skill around the net.

Baun benefited from a lot of special teams action that wasn’t available to him last season. He also was a regular on the top-six. Does that continue to be the case with a deeper prospect pool?

Having signed after a college career at Colgate, the standard question tends to focus on how much better you can expect Baun to be (he turns 25 in a couple of weeks). It should be interesting to see if he can make a jump of some kind in his game.

 

Michael Latta-61 games, 5 G, 17 A, 22 P, minus-four (RFA)

Latta played in 32 games for the IceHogs, racking up three goals and 13 helpers. He came to Rockford from Ontario in exchange for Cameron Schilling.

Latta, who spent the last two previous seasons playing in the NHL, provides an experienced veteran option. He has some skill with the puck and can drop the gloves when needed. He wasn’t a standout in his time in Rockford in terms of filling the net, but he has shown goal-scoring potential in AHL stints with Milwaukee and Hershey.

He played well up the middle for the IceHogs in the last two months of the season. If the organization decides to clean house in terms of veterans, Latta could be a solid citizen on which to build next fall’s club.

 

Martin Lundberg-67 games, 9 G, 12 A, 21 P, plus-one (UFA)

Lundberg plays a steady, two-way game. As I pointed out a couple of weeks ago, he can be used on a checking or scoring line and not be terribly out of place in either role.

He wasn’t afraid to go into the corners or tussle with an opponent when he saw the need. Bringing him back would add a versatile skater to the mix in Rockford. This was Lundberg’s first season of North American hockey. He would be welcome depth for the IceHogs, but the money could be better for him in his native Sweden.

 

Luke Johnson-73 games, 8 G, 9 A, 17 P, minus-24 (signed through 2018-19)

Johnson, Chicago’s fifth-round selection in the 2013 NHL Draft, went through his rookie season with few other prospects to battle over ice time. The former North Dakota forward spent the majority of his time in the bottom six.

Scoring his first pro goal December 9 in Texas, Johnson also had an assist in what was his only multi-point game of the campaign. He scored six of his goals in the season’s last three months but wasn’t really a productive offensive player for Rockford.

Johnson did play a lot on the penalty kill; however his all-around game still has a way to go. He is going to have to compete a lot harder for minutes with a host of prospects. If Johnson can’t raise his game, he may see the press box on occasion.

 

Tyler Motte-43 games, 10 G, 6 A, 16 P, minus-19 (signed through 2018-19)

Motte made an immediate impact when he was sent down from Chicago in January-four goals in his first seven games. He went through a ten-game pointless streak from January 18 until scoring a goal February 11 against San Antonio.

A full season in Rockford from Motte might have seen him finish as one of the Hogs more productive scorers; obviously that didn’t happen.

 

Pierre-Cedric Labrie-52 games, 1 G, 7 A, 8 P, minus-12 (UFA)

I certainly wasn’t expecting to get another 20-goal season from the big man. However, what we did get was not enough from a veteran forward.

Labrie’s solitary goal came in the ultimate garbage time-the waning moments of the IceHogs final game. On his best day, it would be hard to call him fast. This past season, he seemed even slower on his skates. Maybe I never noticed Labrie ending his shifts 10-15 seconds earlier than his line mates in the past, but it happened with some frequency in 2016-17.

He has been a fan favorite in Rockford and deservedly so; he plays physical and works hard when he is on the ice. A lower-body injury kept him out of action for about a month. I suspect he was a healthy scratch on occasion as well.

Early in the season, you could make a case for some bad puck luck. However, Labrie scoring chances were few and far between the last three or four months. Injuries could also have factored into what was his least productive AHL season for the Hogs.

At 31, Labrie has some mileage on him. Could he be back in Rockford for a fourth season? I would suspect not, unless it’s on an AHL deal.

 

AHL Forwards (all of whom are UFAs)

Jake Dowell-66 games, 4 G, 11 A, 15 P, minus-10

The Hogs captain did not enjoy a repeat of last season’s career-high scoring numbers (11 G, 24 A), but wasn’t too far off from his usual offensive output.

Dowell isn’t in Rockford to score. His role is to mentor, win faceoffs, and play hard in his own end. He has worn a C on his sweater longer that any IceHogs player. Will that continue in 2017-18?

I don’t know.

Dowell is 32. His days as a legit NHL competitor are long in the rear-view mirror. After an uncertain future concerning his long-term health, Dowell and his wife had their first child this season. He also played in his 500th AHL contest.

He’s a known commodity; if the IceHogs offer him another one-year AHL deal, they know what they can expect. Does Rockford still value his leadership? Does Dowell want to continue this phase of his hockey career?

 

Jeremy Langlois-66 games, 8 G, 6 A, 14 P, minus-four

Langlois was Rockford’s most productive AHL contract by far. Like Lundberg, he could fit in in a number of areas at both ends of the ice.

In what was about a one-month stretch in the middle of the season (Jan. 27-March 3), Langlois shone brightly. In 17 games during that run, he had six goals, four helpers, and was a plus-four. Langlois saw time on special teams. For an AHL signing, he brings a lot to the table and would be a welcome addition to next year’s IceHogs.

 

Evan Mosey-41 games, 4 G, 5 A, 9 P, minus-one

The Downers Grove, Illinois native made the jump to the AHL from several seasons in lower-tier European hockey. He fared pretty well; his goals-for relative to team was fourth-highest among the Hogs regulars. This despite playing almost exclusively on the lower lines with defensive oriented line mates.

Following the season, Mosey played very well for Great Britain in the IIHF World Championships in the IB Division. He led his team with seven points (3 G, 4 A) and helped them win a gold medal. Great Britain will be promoted to the second tier of the World Championship structure.

The 28-year-old Mosey adjusted well to the step up in class and is certainly worth another AHL deal from the IceHogs.

 

Chris DeSousa-36 games, 4 G, 1 A, 5 P, minus-eight

DeSousa played the same type of game he was known for in 2015-16. The 5’9″ forward finishes checks and looks to initiate physical play.

He started the fall injured and never really got rolling the way he did the season before, when he totaled 13 points (7 G, 6 A) in 67 appearances with the Hogs.

 

Tyler Barnes-25 games, 4 G, 3 A, 7 P, minus-six

Barnes is a point-a-game producer in the ECHL who signed on with Rockford but did not finish the season with the IceHogs. He did play in a career-high 25 AHL games, splitting his time between the Hogs and the ECHL. Barnes had 15 points (5 G, 10 A) in 15 games with the Indy Fuel before being loaned out in the spring to the Allen Americans. There, he totaled six goals and six helpers and helped Allen advance to the second round of the ECHL playoffs.

Bryn Chyzyk got into two games with Rockford without making a dent in the score sheet. He played 30 games with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel (5 G, 7 A, minus-22).

 

NHL Defensemen

Eric Gustafsson-68 games, 5 G, 25 A, 30 P, minus-27 (RFA)

Like most of the blue line, Gustafsson suffered from the lack of finishers up front. With more talent at forward next season, he might be primed for huge offensive numbers.

In 2016-17, though, Gustafsson and the defensive corps were forced to fend off the attacks of opponents. It led to a lot of goals in the Rockford net.

In terms of offense, Gustafsson had a pretty decent season. He led the IceHogs with 185 shots on goal and 25 assists. Eleven of those came on the man advantage.  He played a prominent role on the Hogs power play unit, even though that group was one of the AHL’s least effective.

Like I said, re-signing Gustafsson and improving the skill at forward could result in him being a dangerous offensive weapon.

 

Ville Pokka-76 games, 6 G, 24 A, 30 P, minus-25 (RFA)

Interesting stat: Pokka did not score an even-strength goal this season. He had four on the power play, one via a 5-on-3, and a shorthanded goal. He was at his best on the power play, notching 18 of his 30 points when in that mode.

Like Gustafsson, Pokka had to play back on his heels quite a bit, limiting his effectiveness. At age 22, Pokka is still learning to be a solid defender. I don’t think he took a step back; he was a similar player as he was the past two seasons, minus a veteran partner. On the other hand, his defense is still a question mark if Pokka is to make it to the NHL.

 

Viktor Svedberg-51 games, 2 G, 9 A, 11 P, minus-seven (Signed through 2017-18)

As has often been the case with Svedberg, staying healthy was an issue this past season. He missed most of January due to injury and last played for Rockford on March 18.

When he was on the ice, Svedberg showed improvement in his defensive positioning. In a season where the defense was constantly facing odd-man rushes, you would think the 6’9″ Svedberg would be getting lit up right and left. That didn’t really happen.

Svedberg is a pretty good defender, provided he can keep an opponent at stick length and turn the play to the outside. If a skater gets inside Svedberg’s reach, good night. However, I think Svedberg is much more adept at compensating for his lack of mobility that when he first arrived in Rockford in 2013.

Svedberg could someday prove to be quite the capable defender. The question is in his durability.

 

Carl Dahlstrom-70 games, 6 G, 5 A, 11 P, minus-12 (signed through 2018-19)

In what was his first full season in Rockford, Dahlstrom showed potential at both ends of the ice. His size makes him a good candidate for an old-time defensive blue liner.

Paired with several teammates over the course of the season, Dahlstrom posted the best goals for relative to team of any of the defensive regulars. All his scoring occurred at even strength. Dahlstrom also led IceHogs defensemen with a 5.9 shooting percentage.

Bulking up his assist numbers will be an area to watch for the big Swede; at age 22, there is definitely room from improvement.

 

Robin Norell-65 games, 1 G, 8 A, 9 P, minus-21 (Signed through 2018-19)

Norell is another Swedish rookie who should be in the mix when putting together next season’s club. I wasn’t overly impressed with Norell’s game; I’m not sure what he does particularly well after watching him this season.

Ted Dent’s tendency to employ seven defensemen in the lineup gave Norell some extra time on the ice. He was most often a member of the bottom defensive pairing. He got 42 shots on goal, by far the fewest of any of the regular defensemen.

He doesn’t create a lot of offense. He’s not a physical defensive type. Norell is 22 and is signed for two more seasons. This was his first full season of North American hockey, so we should look to him being more aggressive and/or productive in his sophomore campaign.

 

Nolan Valleau-46 games, 3 G, 5 A, 8 P, minus-19 (RFA)

Valleau wasn’t used nearly as often as his rookie season, when he appeared in 62 games. In Valleau’s last 29 appearances, from December 31 to the end of the season, his offensive output was two goals and no assists.

Like Norell, Valleau was often a bottom pairing or seventh defenseman this season. I’m not sure he’s shown enough potential to garner an extension from the Blackhawks.

Technically, Hawks prospect Dillon Fournier was on the Hogs roster for the bulk of the season. He played four games in Indy, was reassigned to Rockford by the Blackhawks November 7, and never appeared in a game for the IceHogs. This was the final season of Fournier’s entry deal. Two of those seasons were lost to injury, but right now it would be fair to term the second-rounder from 2012 a bust. I would doubt Fournier receives an extension.

 

AHL Defensemen

There weren’t many of these. Jonathan Carlsson was released mid-season after spending most of his season in Indianapolis. Nick Mattson skated 63 games for the Fuel (1 G, 15 A) and just two January contests for Rockford.

Robin Press is a player I would figure to be back on an AHL deal, mostly because the organization seems to feel he has potential. After his team in the SHL found little use for him this season, Press was signed to an AHL deal with Rockford and sent to Indy for some much-needed playing time.

He got into 30 games with the Fuel, scoring two goals and adding ten assists. He got into nine games in the latter half of Rockford’s season but was pointless in that time. I never got the feeling that Press was comfortable on the ice in any of his appearances with the IceHogs.

 

NHL Goalies

Jeff Glass-20 games, 8-10-2, 2.63 goals against average, .914 save percentage (signed through 2017-18)

Glass was signed mid-season, initially on an AHL contract, and played his way to a two-year NHL deal a few weeks later. With Scott Darling’s rights now belonging to Charlotte, Glass is, on paper at least, Corey Crawford’s backup.

I cannot imagine that Chicago is content with this arrangement.

First off, Glass is likely to be the goalie exposed in the expansion draft. Secondly, he has zero NHL appearances at age 31. Is it possible that Glass is an older version of Darling? Put me in the camp that is not of that belief.

Glass, who toiled in the KHL for seven seasons before returning to AHL rinks, was solid for Rockford and could well find his way back with the Hogs as a veteran presence in net. I would have to believe that the Blackhawks will be signing a goalie with NHL experience this summer. If Glass beats that man out in training camp, so be it.

It’s quite possible that Glass has developed into a reliable goalie with NHL potential. I think he’ll have to continue to prove that for him to win a permanent spot behind Crawford.

 

Lars Johansson-39 games, 12-17-4, 2.75 goals against average, .907 save percentage (UFA)

I would imagine that an extension for Johansson depends heavily on what goes on above and below him. If Glass remains in the organization and Chicago elects to sign an experienced veteran, Johansson may find himself looking for work.

Johansson, like all the Hogs goalies, didn’t have a lot of help keeping pucks out of the net. He was up with the Hawks backing up Darling following Crawford’s appendectomy (playing zero games). Johansson was a bit shaky upon his return to the IceHogs, but was very solid the rest of the season.

Johansson turns 30 over the summer; are the Hawks confident enough in his NHL potential to re-sign him?

 

Mac Carruth-24 games, 5-11-5-3, 3.64 goals against average, .879 save percentage (UFA)

I can’t imagine a scenario that ends in Carruth being re-signed by the Blackhawks. He’s had an up-and-down run over parts of four seasons; that will likely end this summer.

From mid-January, when Glass arrived, to the end of the season, Carruth was given four starts. He was not very good in any of them. The sporadic work was clearly the writing on the wall for Carruth.

 

AHL Goalies

Rockford had former Michigan State net-minder Jake Hildebrand under contract, along with ECHL journeyman Eric Levine. As expected, neither player figured much into Rockford’s season.

Hildebrand appeared in three games for the Hogs in December while Johansson was up with Chicago. He posted a 4.58 goals against average and an .868 save percentage. In 39 games with the Indy Fuel, Hildebrand had a 3.75 goals against average and a .899 save percentage.

 

The Kids

It’s difficult to asses the slew of ATOs that arrived in the final weeks; these are players who have finished their respective seasons elsewhere and are getting their first taste of the next level. However, here are a few random thoughts:

As previously mentioned, the makeup of the IceHogs will be vastly different come fall, particularly up front. Currently, Chicago has eight players signed to entry contracts-Matheson Iacopelli, Anthony Louis, Matthew Highmore, Alexandre Fortin, Graham Knott, Nathan Noel, Alex DeBrincat, and (assuming his signs as expected) David Kampf.

The player who made the most noise was one that is not signed with the Blackhawks. William Pelletier made an immediate impact when he came in on his ATO in terms of scoring chances. The team put up a very nice article on the Hogs website on Pelletier’s success jumping from Division III collegiate hockey to the AHL. A great coda to that story would be Chicago or Rockford signing the kid to a contract.

Add in Baun and Johnson, along with possibly others like Motte, and Rockford is going to comprised mainly of young talent, at least the way it looks right now.

On the defensive side, Luc Snuggerud made an impression as a player who can get pucks to the net. Including the rookie, Rockford has four defensemen under contract heading into next season. This group could have a very similar look, barring some moves from the front office.

It was another fun season covering the IceHogs, even if Rockford’s fortunes weren’t the most sunny. I’ll be back in a few weeks to update you on signings and re-signings that may happen. I will also send out thoughts on my twitter feed (@JonFromi) on occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything Else

That Looks Like Fun: Eastern Conference Game 1s and Previewing West’s Game 2s

By 1158

As much as it’s been built up, even by just me, certainly the first round of Caps-Penguins didn’t disappoint. It was just about as fast as you could hope, close, with the biggest names stepping to the fore. And yes, I mean Nick Bonino, of course.

In truth, the Caps were pretty much all over the Penguins for most of the game, kicking them around in shots and possession, the latter to the tune of a 65% adjusted Corsi-share. The Caps can get push from all three pairings from Carlson, ShattenKevin, Orlov, and even Schmidt. The Pens aren’t short of go even without Letang with Hainsey, Schultz, and Daley but it’s just not the quality of what Washington is rolling. And you don’t want to be in a place where you really have to depend on Schultz and Daley, however good they’ve looked in black and gold.