Prospect Info: 2015-2016 In The System: Portland Pirates, CHL, NCAA, Europe, etc.

[Dread Clawz]

Position with the 1st pick:
2010 - RD
2011 - LW
2012 - LD
2013 - C
2014 - RD
2015 - LW
2016 - C/LD?

I think that the choice from 2016 will go through a longer route to the show i.e. 4-5 years in the system.

That would be fine, hopefully Kulikov is re-signed by next summer and then we'll have potentially soon 6 D here for several years in Ekblad, Kuli, Gudbranson, Matheson, Petrovic, and McCoshen. No immediate need for more D, but to take the next step to SC contender we will need more offense from our backend. The next few years can be an evaluation process to see who we want to keep on our blueline e and who is expendable. Winger, should we go that route, would have an easier and quicker path to the nhl, but would still face a big challenge cracking this lineup within 3 years with Huby, Smith, Crouse, Rau, Hawryluk, Howden, Lammikko, Brickley, Shaw, etc here. Maybe Hudler too if he's re-signed.

We'll be picking late too, so the chances of that prospect being truly ready in less than 4-5 years is pretty slim.

 

[batting1k]

I would still draft one in the middle rounds. We've neglected goaltending for too long. Monty looks great, Bednard and Montembeault oozes potential, Brittain and Cowley are solid. Keep it going...

Fixed that for you.

 

[vendetta]

were getting to the point where we can draft bpa in the later rounds to maximize chance of nhl player...we still need a good defensive center I think hopefully lamiko can be that guy but we need center depth for ahl at the very minimum... Also d... Ya probably time to move on from Racine and other bottom pairing ahl plugs

 

[Dread Clawz]

Fixed that for you.

Monty = Montembeault. Believe me, I'm a huge fan. Kid looks very legit

 

[Brokin]

Portland

Welp, all the young guys are playing tonight. Downing already got 2 minutes for a head shot + hooking that cost us a goal. This guy just doesn't get it with the head shots. Somebody is going to do a nasty on him eventually.

Lammikko, Bukarts, and Crouse are also in as they are playing a bottom feeder tonight in Springfield. Portland up 2-1 in the 2nd.

 

[batting1k]

Monty = Montembeault. Believe me, I'm a huge fan. Kid looks very legit

Oops, that's my bad. Only saw Bednard, didn't see you mentioned Monty...sorry

 

[batting1k]

Welp, all the young guys are playing tonight. Downing already got 2 minutes for a head shot + hooking that cost us a goal. This guy just doesn't get it with the head shots. Somebody is going to do a nasty on him eventually.

Lammikko, Bukarts, and Crouse are also in as they are playing a bottom feeder tonight in Springfield. Portland up 2-1 in the 2nd.

Yep...

and it was sooo uncalled for too. Had no reason for it at all.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Yep...

and it was sooo uncalled for too. Had no reason for it at all.

 

[batting1k]

Some thoughts at the end of the game if you're not following Cats On The Prowl on twitter.

Thought Crouse was pretty good. Didn't create a ton of offense but was certainly engaged in all 3 zones on every shift. Had a couple chances, one of which missed the net on the power play at the side of the crease. Was somewhat physical which is typical of him, threw the body several times. Wasn't out of place at all but I assume he needs to adjust to the speed of the game before he starts producing on his own a bit. Not really concerned about him honestly.

Lammikko was decent, probably a tick behind Crouse. Good on the forecheck, didn't really create much offensively but made a nice play early on to force a turnover and steal the puck inside the offensive zone blue line. I may rewatch the game to see if I can find anything else, he didn't stand out much but not in a bad way.

Downing was meh. he had that elbow to the head which you can watch in the post up there and sometimes he got caught deep in the offensive zone along the boards. Positioning was fine overall but has some things to clean up. His foot speed is pretty decent, there was a play where he was caught deep and ended up getting back to negate a 2-on-1. Reminder that he's only 20 and this was his first pro game...I can only assume he'll get better with time.

Also thought Sam Brittain was really good. Made a lot of big saves and was seeing the puck really well. The first two goals allowed by him were on the power play... The 2nd goal he allowed was a redirection probably no goalie would've stopped. The OT goal was a really really nice move to get around John McFarland (made him look silly) and then a shot which deflected in off Brittain's pad. Would like to see more of Brittain...he's been decent this season and I think he has some potential. Reminds me of JS Gigeure with his movements and the way he covers the net.

 

[vendetta]

Some thoughts at the end of the game if you're not following Cats On The Prowl on twitter.

Thought Crouse was pretty good. Didn't create a ton of offense but was certainly engaged in all 3 zones on every shift. Had a couple chances, one of which missed the net on the power play at the side of the crease. Was somewhat physical which is typical of him, threw the body several times. Wasn't out of place at all but I assume he needs to adjust to the speed of the game before he starts producing on his own a bit. Not really concerned about him honestly.

Lammikko was decent, probably a tick behind Crouse. Good on the forecheck, didn't really create much offensively but made a nice play early on to force a turnover and steal the puck inside the offensive zone blue line. I may rewatch the game to see if I can find anything else, he didn't stand out much but not in a bad way.

Downing was meh. he had that elbow to the head which you can watch in the post up there and sometimes he got caught deep in the offensive zone along the boards. Positioning was fine overall but has some things to clean up. His foot speed is pretty decent, there was a play where he was caught deep and ended up getting back to negate a 2-on-1. Reminder that he's only 20 and this was his first pro game...I can only assume he'll get better with time.

Also thought Sam Brittain was really good. Made a lot of big saves and was seeing the puck really well. The first two goals allowed by him were on the power play... The 2nd goal he allowed was a redirection probably no goalie would've stopped. The OT goal was a really really nice move to get around John McFarland (made him look silly) and then a shot which deflected in off Brittain's pad. Would like to see more of Brittain...he's been decent this season and I think he has some potential. Reminds me of JS Gigeure with his movements and the way he covers the net.

Thanks for the roundup... really hope crouse can transition to pro hockey soon... his developemnt over the next year is huge for this team going forwar..sorely lack a player of his ilk

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

What's the scoop on Wegwerth? He gon' be our Bickell, the future overpaid AHLer?

 

[batting1k]

What's the scoop on Wegwerth? He gon' be our Bickell, the future overpaid AHLer?

The scoop is he did pretty much nothing this season. He was a freshman though so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Definitely a project though.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

The scoop is he did pretty much nothing this season. He was a freshman though so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Definitely a project though.

I think his m.o. is to get under people's skin rather than be visible on the scoresheet. Considering that he gathered only 18 PIMs, something must have happened, is it for the better or worse remains to be seen.

 

[batting1k]

I think his m.o. is to get under people's skin rather than be visible on the scoresheet. Considering that he gathered only 18 PIMs, something must have happened, is it for the better or worse remains to be seen.

Well as a freshman, he probably didn't get much time honestly...kind of like Chris Wilkie who played 4th line for UND all season and was scratched for all of the playoffs.

 

[wildcat48]

Pirates down Falcons in season-finale; will face Hershey in opening round of playoffs
By Chris Roy | Updated: April 18, 2016

The Portland Pirates wanted to head into the upcoming American Hockey League Calder Cup playoffs with some momentum on their side.

They also wanted to avoid facing the league’s top-seeded Toronto Marlies in the opening round.

Mission Accomplished.

Matt MacKenzie and Sena Acolatse scored third-period goals for the Pirates, giving them a 3-1 victory over the Springfield Falcons in their regular season finale at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

“I thought we needed that,” said Pirates coach Scott Allen. “We didn’t want to rely on anybody else to get the job done for us. We did what we needed to do.”

READ MORE>>>>>

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The Pirates finished the season with 41 wins, 14 games over .500, and had multiple records set during the regular season. It's been a good season for the Pirates in their first year as the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers. Now its time for the playoffs against the Hershey Bears. The series gets underway Friday night with Game 1 at Cross Arena.... The season series between the two clubs was 2-2-0 with both teams sweeping the other team on home ice.

 

[Caser]

Yaroslav Kosov has become KHL champion with Magnitogorsk Metallurg.

 

[EnforceTheLaus]

 

[IM Clutcm]

Mike Downing was released from his ATO. What does that mean?

 

[RainingRats]

Mike Downing was released from his ATO. What does that mean?

I would assume the equivalent of being cut

 

[Brokin]

Mike Downing was released from his ATO. What does that mean?

Good. This is not the type of player you want in an organization that is trying to build a bond through chemistry. Anyone that continually does this type of thing and shows no ability to learn from it has mental health issues. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if one of his teammates and him got into it. Sayonara Michael, maybe you can hook up with Gudas in the Flyers organization.

 

[batting1k]

Good. This is not the type of player you want in an organization that is trying to build a bond through chemistry. Anyone that continually does this type of thing and shows no ability to learn from it has mental health issues. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if one of his teammates and him got into it. Sayonara Michael, maybe you can hook up with Gudas in the Flyers organization.

Well the Panthers signed him to an ELC so he'll be fighting for a spot next year, just isn't staying with the Pirates for the playoffs.

 

[Brokin]

Glad to see Dryden Hunt got an ATO. Since the series is best of 5, I would assume he will get some playing time before it's over. He needs a setup guy and I hope they put him with Grimaldi and Harper. They are the best set up guys on the team and I trust Hunt will see PP time also. Excited to see how he does.

 

[batting1k]

Glad to see Dryden Hunt got an ATO. Since the series is best of 5, I would assume he will get some playing time before it's over. He needs a setup guy and I hope they put him with Grimaldi and Harper. They are the best set up guys on the team and I trust Hunt will see PP time also. Excited to see how he does.

Agree with him being with Harper...definitely should be. He's a PP specialist and usually spent entire 2 minutes on the ice during PP for Moose Jaw. Brilliant shot and can get it off in traffic or with little space, so if he doesn't get PP time I'd be surprised. Portland's power play is incredibly bad

 

[Brokin]

Agree with him being with Harper...definitely should be. He's a PP specialist and usually spent entire 2 minutes on the ice during PP for Moose Jaw. Brilliant shot and can get it off in traffic or with little space, so if he doesn't get PP time I'd be surprised. Portland's power play is incredibly bad

Everyone blames Kelly for the Cats PP problems, but it boils down more to talent. The talent on the PP transcends the organization and you are right the Pirates were just as abysmal. Tro and Nick (as he is playing now) certainly will add to the potency next season with a year's more experience. If Hulstrom is signed and Hunt is the real deal, then watching them grow in Portland next year will also offer the Cats some depth for call-ups if the PP continues to be flat.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Everyone blames Kelly for the Cats PP problems, but it boils down more to talent. The talent on the PP transcends the organization and you are right the Pirates were just as abysmal. Tro and Nick (as he is playing now) certainly will add to the potency next season with a year's more experience. If Hulstrom is signed and Hunt is the real deal, then watching them grow in Portland next year will also offer the Cats some depth for call-ups if the PP continues to be flat.

Maybe you guys know if the org has a tendency to teach players to play the game in a way that suppresses creativity. The creativity is at a low level but it remains to be seen if it's because of the players or coaches. GG's approach to the game is definitely defense first so maybe some offensive players are suffering because of this.

Tort's opinion at 'round 0:40.